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Since the infamous blizzard of 1979 changed Chicago’s political course, mayors have tried to stay prepared for a storm of Doctor Zhivago strength by keeping an auxiliary army of snow removal workers on call. Last fall the city inked new contracts with several private companies that agreed to be ready to mobilize 24/7 for the next five winters. If they’re not needed, the contractors don’t get paid. If they are, they’ll roll out their plows, dump trucks, backhoes, and other equipment at rates ranging from $125 to more than $200 an hour. According to the contract terms, the city could pay nearly $409 million to four top snow contractors over the next five years:

  

CONTRACTOR

 VALUE OF CONTRACT

YEARS OF CONTRACT

PER YEAR

Christophano Equipment Co

 $           233,046,000.00

5

 $          46,609,200.00

Servisair

 $            63,225,000.00

 $          12,645,000.00

MAT Leasing Inc.

 $            57,345,000.00

 $          11,469,000.00

Lindahl Brothers

 $            55,110,000.00

 $          11,022,000.00

 

 $           408,726,000.00

North American Salt

Detroit Salt

Hutchinson Salt

Morton Salt

 $           1,594,535.31

 $20,168,918.85

 $    3,301,703.51

 $  9,241,723.17