Town of Sundre officials are investigating alternative protocols for future snow removal.
A larger than normal amount of snow fell last winter, averaging 15 to 20 centimetres per week, according to Jim Hall, gas manager with the town.
“The difficulty staff faced in this season was the inability to complete secondary streets, such as 2nd Street NE and residential streets, due to having to start clearing primary routes again,” Hall reported to council during the June 9 workshop meeting.
“In most years, there is enough time between snowfalls that we are able to clear streets and sidewalks,” he said.
“As a result of the heavy workload in 2013-14, some new ideas have come to light and they may need to be added to the snow removal/clearing process.”
One of the ideas is to include streets where doctors and other emergency workers reside – such as Alder Close NE and 7th Street NE – to the secondary removal list.
He said doctors were calling in to the office last winter because they couldn't make it to the hospital without getting their vehicles stuck in snow.
The Tanis Concrete hill and River Road have been added to the primary list, he noted, because of dangerous icy conditions.
He suggested enforcing no parking on the north side of 6th Avenue NE from the end of October to April, because it interferes with plowing. There are about 15 vehicles parked on the north side of the street on average, he said, noting it is a primary street because it's where the RCMP detachment is located.
“Vehicles parked in that area cause interruption to the sanding of the street and can be damaged by the sander,” he said.
Coun. Tony Jordan expressed concerns that that could cause excess vehicles parked on the south side of the street.
Officials discussed enforcing a towing bylaw, but Hall suggested against it.
“The lack of a firm towing bylaw has been pointed to as a deficiency in the current program,” he said. “It is the opinion of the operators that there is no need for a towing policy at this time.”
He suggested for town officials to start sanding primary streets at 5 a.m. to allow for minimal traffic and parking.
He also requested that the town's map for sanding and snow removal clearly indicate that Bergen Road is Alberta Highway's territory and not the town's.
“Streets that can be plowed clear and the snow pushed to the end or the side – without the need to physically take it away – should be completed during daytime working hours,” he added. “This should reduce overtime costs and the amount of costs in hauling snow to storage areas.”
Officials also discussed sidewalk snow removal.
“Sidewalk snow removal typically takes an operator five to seven hours to complete, depending on snow type and accumulations. This work is currently done by utilizing small tractors with a blade or blower,” he explained.
But officials are investigating purchasing a new tractor for both snow removal and cutting grass.
“…That is narrow enough to fit across our bridges, has a better blade system and a sander attachment on the rear to allow for sanding of icy spots on sidewalks and trails.”
Wanda Watson-Neufeld, the town's director of corporate services, said this would replace the mower, which is due for replacement in 2015.
Hall said the town would have the option to rent implements to attach to the new tractor, such as a brusher.
The town currently owns one Case backhoe rubber tire with a two-yard snow bucket, one John Deere skid-steer with various attachments, one Volvo grader and two Kubota lawn and sidewalk plows.
“For the businesses on Centre Street north and south it should be added to the sidewalk removal map due to the fact that Main Avenue businesses are having sidewalks cleared and our equipment drives by the Centre Street businesses,” he added.
Mayor Terry Leslie agreed.
Coun. Paul Isaac said there are residents in town who have offered to help plow snow, using their own equipment, but only in extreme winter conditions like last winter.
Hall expressed concerns about insurance and people hitting gas or water valves, which could cost $5,000 to $10,000 to repair. Town officials are aware of where the valves are located, whereas others may not be, he said.
“What you don't know is dangerous,” said Leslie.
Hall noted that people were removing snow from their sidewalks and dumping it on the roads last winter, which interfered with plowing.
However, he said there were several helpful volunteers, like one man who used his snow blower to remove all the snow off 9th Avenue.
