By Mark Squibb/January 27, 2023
Councillor Jim Locke spoke for some time during this past week’s meeting on the first major snow storm.
“We had quite a significant snowfall episode over the weekend,” said Locke. “Councillor (Mark) Rice was saying that he believed that in some areas we got a little more than the quoted 55 centimetres, and I wouldn’t doubt that, given the different microclimates we have throughout the city. To put it in context, we received about two-thirds of the same amount of snow we received during Snowmageddon, as people like to call it.”
He noted that on top of the snow, residents had rain, and then freeing and thawing conditions, that made the snow even more difficult to deal with.
“We all know how sticky and heavy the snow was afterwards,” said Locke. “So, it was a significant amount of snow to deal with, and I’ve got to say, our staff answered the call, as they typically do. I heard nothing but positives about the efforts and the pushback against the snow and how quickly it was done. Some chuckled and said that they were frustrated because the plows were coming around too often. They would get their driveway cleared and then the plow would come and fill them back in again.”
He said there were complaints from some residents that sidewalks were not cleared as quickly as they would have liked, but Locke said folks have to remember there are certain protocols in place that the City must follow.
“We do certain streets first, the mains, and then the secondary streets, and we put an emphasis on the school zones,” said Locke. “Our staff are very well trained and very good at doing this, so we just ask for patience. We can’t start everyone’s street at the same time, so someone has to be the first street, someone’s got to be the middle street, and someone has to be the last street.”
He also noted a number of issues that can hinder the City’s snow clearing efforts, such as folks parking their cars in the street while clearing their driveways.
“That will prevent the plows from getting down,” said Locke. “And if you’re blocking the roads and the plows can’t get down, sometimes they’ll blow their horn, and other times they may look down and if they can’t get down they’ll go on and continue their route. So, they may by-pass and, then people get frustrated that the plow wasn’t down their road. But it’s due to the fat that some of their neighbours, or perhaps themselves, had put up obstacles with their cars.”
He said some people also complained that the T’railway had been groomed, perhaps at the expense of sidewalks.
Locke said that was not the case.
“It’s not ‘either/or’,” said Locke. “We didn’t groom the trail and not do sidewalks.”
Locke explained a different type of equipment is used to groom the trails, and that all available plows and snow blowers were out and about clearing streets and sidewalks.
“So, we didn’t groom the trail at the expense of city sidewalks or roads,” said Locke.
He said that while out walking along the T’railway that morning he met folks who said they were quite pleased the City had taken the time to groom the trails and salt St. David’s Park.
Cleaning was still underway as of Tuesday’s meeting.
“So, it was a huge snowfall,” concluded Locke. “Like I said, it was two-thirds of what we got with Snowmageddon. I think people were really surprised with the amount of snow that did fall. I thought we handled it quite well and I got far more compliments for our snowclearing, with respect to some of the concerns that I expressed.”
Director of Public Works Glen Dollimount concurred the City has not had to deal with such snow since Snowmageddon three years ago.
“So, in my time as director, this would be the biggest snow event that we’ve had to date,” said Dollimount. “And given how heavy and wet the snow was in this particular event, when it’s on the asphalt, if there’s any amount of vehicle traffic that travels over the snow before we have a chance to scrape it off, it sticks to the asphalt and it’s near impossible to get off. “
He said for that reason some city vehicles had to go out to clear routes that had already been plowed, and that crews were working around the clock to clear the snow.
“We received some criticism, and that’s all good, that’s part of it,” said Dollimount. “But we received a lot of positive feedback as well. And part of that goes to good planning from the City and good budgeting over the years. Our equipment is where it needs to be. It takes a team effort to make this effort. It’s a lot of work to make this happen, but we do it, and we do it well.”
Late last year, the City passed a motion to tender over $530,000 worth of snow clearing hours to a private contractor, Farrell’s Excavating, a first in the City’s history.
The rationale provided by council at the time was that the move would ensure the City was relying less on its own workers — who had been on strike for over 11 weeks this past summer — working overtime to clear snow.
Following the meeting, City staff confirmed to The Pearl that the contractor was not called in, and that all snow clearing was completed ‘in-house.’
Dollimount seemed to have the final word on snow, but councillor Bill Antle broached the subject a moment later during council’s round table.
Antle said he had received a number of calls from residents claiming that folks using trucks with snowblades and plows attached to them were clearing their driveways and pushing snow into the road.
“Even though you’re not supposed to do that and it’s a municipal by-law, people still continue to do that,” said Antle. “Sometimes, you just have to be a little bit more respectful. When you’re plowing your driveway with those snow scopes, don’t pop it in front of your neighbour’s driveway.”
He added that attaching snowblades and pushing snow onto the streets is against the law.
‘’You’re going to get a ticket,” warned Antle. “We’re paying attention to it now. Don’t plow on the roads. It impedes traffic and as councillor Locke said, ambulances and fire trucks have to get by, and if your plowing snow on the road, we can’t get by.”
Mayor Dave Aker asked whether council shouldn’t ban pickup trucks from plowing with blades.
“Because, unless you can do lift and place, which is really what is preferred, especially after any snowfall, my suggestion is, because we talk about it a lot, is why not take that back to committee?” said Aker. “I know there are other jurisdictions that will not allow those blades.”
Antle was agreeable to Aaker’s suggestion to bring the matter back to the Recreation and Community Safety committee, adding the fines would have to be stiff enough that folks don’t use the blades anymore.
“When you make it part of our regulations, you, how do I say this, ‘up the ante,’” said Aker. “It’s not just a traffic violation, it’s now a breach of a regulation and typically the penalties are a little bit more severe.”
Councillor Mark Rice added that a few residents on his street had a run in over the issue and that “a few words were exchanged.”