$125K Snow Removal Contract Awarded In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — An increase in fuel costs has caused Bridgewater Township to shell out more money for snow removal for the 2022-23 season.

The township received three bids for the snow removal contract with K & J Tree Service LLC of 16 Stony Brook Road in Branchburg being the lowest at a rate of $225 per hour.

The competing bid from Frank Galbraith & Son of Scotch Plains came in at either $250 or $365 per hour (depending upon truck size), according to the township.

The township council unanimously approved the resolution for the $125,000 contract with K&J at its Aug. 15 meeting.

Township Administrator Micheal Pappas noted there was "an increase from last year mostly attributable to the additional cost of fuel and also the addition of a few larger vehicles that will be available for use."

The rate last year was $173 per hour, which totaled out to $89,953.50 spent for the year based on actual snowfall, according to the township.

The average price for a gallon of regular gas in Somerset County totaled $3.81 as of Tuesday, with diesel at $4.97, according to AAA.

In New Jersey, the average price of a gallon of gas has dropped 12 cents from last week to $3.81 from $3.93. In New Jersey, the average price is 50 cents lower than a month ago, when it was $4.31, but it is still 60 cents higher than this time last year when it was $3.21.

Councilman Michael Kirsh noted that with this contract the township's Department of Public Works will be doing the majority of the snow removal work with K&J providing supplemental help.

Snow removal became a hot topic in the township in February 2021 after Bridgewater was hit hard by a snowstorm getting 23 inches. Following the storm, some residents aired their grievances over the response. Read More: Bridgewater Mayor Responds To Frustration Over Snow Removal

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