The lack of snow this winter had mixed effects for Missouri snow removal companies.
Some were hit hard financially because of the decrease in work available, while others were able to survive with other services they provide.
Kirksville resident Steve Embree said he has been plowing snow the last several years in Kirksville and relies on that income during the winter. Embree said that last year, he pushed snow three or four times a month, but has only had to do it three times so far this year
Embree said he usually hires one or two people to help him plow the properties that he has contracted. This year he didn’t need the extra help. He said he has about 40 contracts to plow snow this year and didn’t even need to work on half of them.
Embree said he had to work several part-time jobs this winter to make up for the income he usually earns from plowing. The money he did earn from plowing only covered the costs of the supplies needed for the job.
“Next year I might look at doing something entirely different and not depending on snow removal at all,” Embree said.
Snyder’s New Lawn Service hasn’t been affected much by the lack of snow, owner Shannon Snyder said. He said the snow has run in cycles like this throughout the past and he is used to having the occasional mild winter and less income from snow removal.
He said the company makes enough money from lawn care services during the summer that it doesn’t have to rely on snow removal during the winter. The company is based on landscaping but provides snow removal services so that it can maintain its yearly contract, he said.
Snyder said his employees technically are unemployed during the winter months and only work for him when snow removal is needed. Because they collect unemployment checks during the winter, the lack of snow has little financial impact on Snyder’s employees, he said.
The lack of snow is a good thing for local businesses, Snyder said, because they don’t have to pay for the snow removal, especially after the heavy winter last year.
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