LYNN — With winter on the horizon, the city is looking to add contractors to its fleet of snow plows.

Department of Public Works Commissioner Andy Hall said that the goal is to have 250 pieces of equipment under contract in addition to the 47 pieces owned by the DPW to cover 28 routes throughout the city. Last year, the city had slightly fewer than 200 pieces of equipment under contract.

“We’re ahead of where we were last year at this time,” Hall said. “The reality is some of the drivers just show up when the first storm hits, but we have made a concerted effort the last few years to try to get as many under contract in advance as possible.”

To help attract more contractors, the city has increased pay for certain vehicles.

This year, the hourly rate for a standard pickup truck will range from $105 to $115 per hour, a 15-17% increase. The rate for a backhoe will increase 23%, from $130 to $160 per hour.

Mayor Jared Nicholson acknowledged that snow plowing is near the top of the list of city services that residents depend upon.

“It’s something that we pay attention to throughout the year,” Nicholson said. “We know that how much snow we get is out of our control, so we have to be prepared for any scenario.”

Having a sufficient amount of drivers and equipment is key to providing that service in a timely manner.

“Not having enough equipment delays the work, which can be frustrating for residents and the DPW,” Hall said. “We want to have the streets clear as soon as possible.”

The city requires every plow vehicle to have a portable GPS unit engaged while working for the city.

“That allows us to know immediately if a particular street has been plowed yet, if we get a call from a resident,” Hall said. “If it hasn’t, we will dispatch a truck as soon as possible.”