Mountain residents weary from snow

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - As snow continues to pile up in the East Mountains, the money and patience it takes to get rid of it is wearing thin.

The storm that moved out on Thursday was the fourth to bury the area in the past two weeks.

"We normally budget about $50,000 a year for two to three storms," said Bernalillo County Public Works Operations Manager Dave Mitchell.

However, this year, snow removal in Bernalillo County has already cost nearly $75,000.

Mitchell says the last three winters have been light, so the county has enough money saved up to keep its crew working.

Much of the backup salt and sand supply from Bernalillo County's yard in Albuquerque has been transferred to the county's storage facility in the East Mountains.

Meanwhile, East Mountain residents are getting tired of the routine of digging out their driveways.

Lori Nelson, with a little help from her 6-year old daughter Haley, spent 2 hours shoveling out her 150-foot driveway on Thursday afternoon.

"At least once a week it seems like we are shoveling," she said. "Some days we'll come out and shovel two or three times because it snows again and again. It's been pretty frustrating."

Nearby resident Scott Stanton agrees.

"You got to shovel then you go back and have to shovel again," he said. "If you don't stay up on it, then it gets to be ice."

The New Mexico Department of Transportation reports that labor hours for road crews in the East Mountains are up 27 percent from this time last year.