Graham Jaehnig/For the Gazette Laurium village’s snow removal millage renewal request will appear on the November ballot. The renewal request is for five years and is used exclusively for the purpose of snow removal.

LAURIUM — The village is seeking a millage renewal for snow removal, according to Village Administrator Ed Vertin. The millage is used exclusively for snow removal operations, and the money is deposited into the Village of Laurium Municipal Street Fund for that purpose only.

“In other words,” said Vertin, “it is restricted revenue. That’s all it will be used for. The first year’s anticipated revenue is $23,815.”

The millage has been in the system for many years, he said. It was there before he started with the village 27 year. The simple reason is, he added, “we live in big snow country.”

The renewal request is for one mil total, Vertin said, and with the Headlee renewal requirements, it gets a bit complicated to explain. The referendum will be on November’s ballot

“It’s one question,” he said. “When you add it all up, the split millage, it comes out to one mil.” The millage renewal request will be for five years.

While hours per week spent clearing village streets can vary depending on the amount of snow received, the millage is used to pay street department hours, overtime hours, which included weekends and holidays, as well as plowing, sanding and keeping snowbanks cut back.

“The snow doesn’t know if it’s a weekend or a holiday,” said Vertin, “and we provide this service, unlike other areas.”