Following is an abridged form of the Town of Bowden's snow clearing policy. (Some editing was undertaken to clarify points or to fit space available. Check out the town's website or contact the town office for more information).
The purpose of snow plowing operations is to remove accumulated snow from roadways to enable safe passage of traffic.
This may involve creating windrows of snow either in the centre or curb of the road. Windrows will be removed as soon as possible and will not be left overnight.
Plowing and snow removal priorities are primarily based on street traffic volumes but access to key community buildings are also factors when snow clearing priorities are determined.
This includes the school route, the fire hall, the intersection by the post office, the town library, town administration office, the Igloo Ice Arena, access to Highway 2 from 20th Avenue, the pumphouse and the rest stop.
Following any major snow storm and accumulation of snow, the town's chief administrative officer (CAO) will make a decision on how to proceed with snow plowing, snow removal, and/or ice control, based on severity and snow accumulation.
The CAO (or designate) is responsible for:
- overall implementation and co-ordination of all snow and ice control operations, including the deployment of personnel and equipment,
- Determining snow accumulations for the purposes of this policy,
- Implementing revised procedures as necessary in response to any severe winter event or adverse factors,
- Updates and revisions to this policy.
Back alleys will be plowed and cleared whenever practically possible but not as a matter of priority.
Residents should expect a lesser quality of service if specialist, high-capacity contracted equipment is not available.
A low priority is given to the removal of snow stockpiles from 20th Avenue (Highway 2A), cul-de-sac stockpiles, fire hall stockpile and the town office stockpile.
All sidewalks bordering municipal-owned property will be cleared as soon as practically possible.
Limitations
This policy does not apply to
- commercial properties and private parking lots,
- those routes under agreement with Alberta Transportation for the responsibility of snow plowing, snow removal and sanding, i.e. Highway 2A (20th Avenue and 27th Avenue), the intersection of 22nd Street/ 27th Avenue/Highway 587, the southbound access to Highway 2 from Highway 587,
- those routes under agreement with Red Deer County for the responsibility of snow plowing, snow removal and sanding, i.e. the access drive (Rge. Rd. 10A).
Town staff don't work weekends.
They may not be able to remove snow as quickly as one might like, due to other public works priorities (ie.water testing, water main breaks).
The actual amount of snow or wind-blown snow that has accumulated is another factor in determining snow clearing action.
Residents' obligations
As per the town's traffic bylaw, residents must move their vehicles from the streets when required. Signs will be erected to provide advance notification when vehicles must be removed.
The town cannot provide snow clearing services to individual residents or to commercial properties.
The CAO will consider any cases of hardship, but no precedent will be set (for all residents) if assistance is provided under special circumstances to a particular resident.
Residents can contact FCSS on 403-224-2207 to determine the availability of any snow angels.
