Ohio State pays good money to keep students and faculty in school.

Doug Fries, engineer for OSU Transportation and Parking, said his crews are out clearing the snow until sidewalks and roads are clear for students and staff, no matter the cost.

“To clear two inches of snow, it costs $15,000. After (Monday morning’s) storm, we probably spent a little more than that,” Fries said.

The costs of last week’s snow storm, which buried Columbus with a record of 15.6 inches of snow, breaking the old record of 15.3 inches set in 1910, have not yet been estimated.

The storm caused many schools and businesses in Ohio to close. OSU canceled classes, but employees of the OSU Medical Center and the Office of Student Affairs had to report to work.

“As long as the university is open, we run,” said Steve Basinger, assistant director of Transportation and Parking.

Two Courtesy Shuttles and one Handivan ran last Monday for those who were on campus, Basinger said.

The buses weigh 37,000 pounds empty, and buses are generally safe to ride in most weather conditions, Basinger said.

Clearing crews get to work shortly after storms begin to make certain campus roads are safe.

Transportation and Parking has its own crew, but it also has six contractors that come in to help clear the area, Fries said.

Sunday night, the entire OSU clearing crew of nine came in around 8 to clear the parking lots, and they stayed until the lots were clear.

Off-campus streets were not cleared so quickly after last week’s storm.

“We’re responsible for 8,918 streets,” said Mary Webster, assistant director of public service for Columbus.

Snow plows are unable to get down certain streets because of parked vehicles, Webster said.

COTA buses allow customers to ride for free if there is a weather advisory. In a level two weather advisory, which Columbus was in last weekend, drivers are advised not to be on the roads.

Gov. Bob Taft has declared 15 counties in Ohio to be in a state of emergency from last week’s snow storm, allowing them access to state funds for problems caused by the storm. Franklin County was added to the list this past weekend.

It is possible that central Ohio will see another hard snow storm tomorrow night.

“It’s a hit-or-miss snow storm,” said meteorologist Chris Bradley. “It will either miss us completely or hit us at full force.”