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Knoxville's spent at least $300,000 battling winter storm

The city, like Knox County, has had to cover materials costs as well as overtime for personnel.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Knoxville's still adding up the cost of battling this week's snowstorm, but so far it's well over $300,000.

Eric Vreeland, city spokesman, said Knoxville purchased an extra 1,800 tons of salt to replenish its salt pile this week and that employees have been working around the clock since snow started falling.

Salt costs $122 per ton, Vreeland said.  That means $219,000 worth of salt is on its way to town.

"Supplies never ran out or dropped to a troubling level," Vreeland said. 

The overall price tag of dealing with the storm won't be known for a few weeks, but the combined costs of the city's public services, including overtime and resource purchases, has exceeded $335,000, Vreeland said.

Vreeland said those costs only account for time and supplies used mid-week, and crews have been out at all times since then. 

As of Wednesday, Knox County engineering and public works officials estimated they'd used approximately 1,500 tons of salt, valued at $200,000.

Additional costs for overtime, fuel and equipment repairs totaled approximately $50,000, according to the county.

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