OLDS — Starting the week of Nov. 14, town crews are expected to begin clearing snow on residential streets, and if your vehicle is parked there, it could be towed.
Operations director Scott Grieco made that announcement during town council’s policies and priorities meeting Nov. 7.
“New this year, we will be towing vehicles in residential areas,” he said.
“It is problematic for our crews in residential areas when there’s cars parked to get this equipment around. There’s potential for damage to equipment.”
“The town has always towed vehicles in certain areas of town but has not done so in residential areas as much. This will improve the efficiency and safety of the program,” chief administrative officer Brent Williams wrote in an email.
“In Uptowne we have always towed to the parking lot at 49th. An example of that is this morning we towed a few vehicles to the lot in Uptowne,” Grieco wrote in an email Tuesday.
“In residential areas we only wrote tickets but did not tow; however, this is very problematic for the efficient removal of snow in residential areas as crews have to use the grader and the blower around the parked vehicles.
“Operating heavy equipment around these vehicles increases the chances of damage, and not to mention that if a vehicle is parked on (a) street then we get a flood of concerns indicating that we didn’t remove snow in front of a residence and they want us to return which is not feasible.
“Vehicles that are towed in residential areas will be towed to the nearest cleared area and ticketed.”
Grieco also added that snow removal is a big job.
“Snow removal in residential areas is rotational as it requires all of the town’s resources in public works plus contractors to do the removal," he wrote.
During discussion in council, mayor Judy Dahl asked if the program to tow vehicles considered to be in the way for snow clearing vehicles will be in place all winter. She was assured it will.
Grieco said the town has issued a couple of messages about its plan to clear streets via its Did You Know feature.
Notice will also go out via social and other communications media. In addition, signs will be posted in neighbourhoods where the removal is expected to occur.
Dahl suggested providing notice of snow clearing in residential areas via the radio. That too is part of the plan.
She praised the snow clearing communications plan.
“I think that’s a great idea, because once it’s out once and everybody knows it’s going to happen, they’ll spread the word,” Dahl said.
A couple of snow storms blew through town last weekend. Grieco said crews were busy dealing with them on major arteries all weekend.
Grieco said that was a challenge.
“It’s not only the two snow events, it’s also the blowing wind creating a lot of drifting out there too,” he said.
Town crews began clearing snow on major streets and the Uptowne area of Olds in the early morning hours Tuesday.
Under the town’s snow clearing plan, crews endeavour to clear the red routes first (major arteries such as 50th Avenue, 57th Avenue, 70th Avenue, 54th Street, Shannon Drive and collector streets leading into the Uptowne area).
Residential areas are plowed later.
According to the plan, clearing of Highways 27 and 2A are a provincial/private contractor responsibility.
