BENTONVILLE — This winter’s snow and ice storms have already cost Benton County an estimated $332,505.45, according to Terry Nalley, the head of the county’s Road Department.

“Right now, this is the best estimate I can give you,” Nalley told the Finance Committee of the Benton County Quorum Court on Monday.

Nalley said the county’s cost estimate is based on costs used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency in calculate reimbursement for federal disasters. Nalley said the county will not be reimbursed for any of its costs since Benton County has not been included in any disaster declarations for the winter storm events.

Nalley also said the county cost estimate did not include fuel costs, which he estimated separately at $70,000 for diesel and $19,000 for unleaded gasoline during December and January.

The justices of the peace questioned the cost estimates since they included $106,882.05 for “equipment time” and $18,839.41 for additional hours worked by salaried employees. Nalley said he included those costs to give an idea of the overall costs. Joel Jones, justice of the peace for District 7, asked Nalley how much other work was not being done because of the time needed to focus on snow removal.

“We’re not doing anything other than this right now,” Nalley said.

Tom Allen, justice of the peace for District 4 and chairman of the committee, said he wanted Nalley to focus on extra costs to the county because of the winter storms.

Nalley said the only cost that might be taken out of his calculation was the extra hours for salaried employees.

Kurt Moore, justice of the peace for District 13, said the other costs had to be considered even though the manpower and equipment were already in the county budget since the Road Department isn’t able to perform its normal work while focusing on snow removal.

“That’s the cost of us not being able to do this other work,” Moore said

The committee also discussed salaries for elected officials, including members of the Quorum Court. Allen said he raised the issue so anyone who might be interested in running for a county office will know what the position pays. The filing period for county offices begins Feb. 24 and ends March 3.

“This is the appropriate time to do it because we’ve got to be fair to those who want to run for office,” Allen said.

The justices of the peace recommended an increase in pay for the county coroner from $71,237.14 to $81,901,30 beginning in 2015. The increase would bring that position to the same level as the treasurer, assessor, collector, county clerk and circuit clerk. The county judge and sheriff are paid $88,054.20.

The justices of the peace declined to consider an increase in pay for members of the Quorum Court, but did recommend a change in how they are paid. Barb Ludwig, the county’s human resources manager, said a new state law requires justices of the peace be paid on a per diem basis, not the flat monthly $350 rate Benton County’s justices of the peace now receive for quorum court and committee of the whole meetings. the justices of the peace recommended the pay be changed to $175 for quorum court meetings and $175 for committee of the whole meetings to reflect the per diem requirements.

Also Monday, the committee recommended approval of a pair of ordinances appropriating additional money for work on the county’s new Rogers office building. The ordinances add $23,500 for moving expenses and new chairs for the building and add another $138,900 for extra renovation work to the building.