Question: Allen Abbot, a western NC merchant, hires a local Snow Plow contractor to clean his parking lot after heavy snowstorms. The contractor charges $60 each time he clears the parking lot. Long-term weather statistics are given in the table below:

How much should he expect to pay each year? If he can purchase a self-propelled snow blower for $625 and could use an employee to clear the parking lot for $18 in labor costs and $5 in gasoline costs, should he do this? Assume the snow blower would be replaced every 5 years.