The City of North Battleford discussed its snow removal plan at Monday's council meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff) : Angela Brown

By Angela Brown

Snow removal priorities

City outlines snow removal priorities

Feb 26, 2019 | 2:49 PM

North Battleford residents concerned about high windrows of snow piled around their properties caused by the city’s snowplows may be able to get some help.

At council’s meeting Monday, Utilities Director Stewart Schafer gave an update on the city’s snow removal efforts over the winter.

Schafer said if a windrow left behind by the city’s snowplows is more than 12 inches high at the end of a resident’s driveway the city will be able to come to assess the situation and remove the windrow if it’s warranted.

The city crews will also remove a windrow if it covers more than half the width of a sidewalk in front of a resident’s property.

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Most of all, Schafer pointed out if residents have any issues about snow on their properties or roads, they should call the city directly at its main number at 306-445-1700 and speak to a receptionist for assistance, not call the public works department.

Mayor Ryan Bater said some residents have been seeking clarity on the level of service the city provides for snow removal.

“We received a very concise report tonight (Monday) about what the city is able to provide given the resources we currently have,” he said following the meeting. “It’s getting more and more rare in Saskatchewan to have a city as big as ours, still clearing all streets including residential streets.”

Bater said based on the amount of accumulation of snow the city has had this season he believes the city has done a “very good job in clearing the snow, making the streets safe for traffic.”

In his report, Schafer outlined the city’s priority system for snow removal following a major snowfall.

In total the city has about 140 km of streets to maintain. Its top priority includes clearing emergency routes, arterial streets as well as collector streets, and the downtown district and commercial area within three days of a major snowfall. Its second priority includes cleaning the road to the airport, and minor collector roads within seven days after the snowfall event.

Other roads not identified as priorities such as residential streets will be cleared after the priority streets have been addressed first. Highways including Territorial Drive are maintained by the Department of Highways.

Schafer went on to remind residents when clearing their properties, that they should clear snow to their yards that they have removed from their driveways or walking paths; when removing snow from their sidewalks they should move it off to the road.

Mayor Bater pointed out it seems as though the city has had a lot of snow this year that’s been unrelenting.

“One thing that is different from the last five years is we did not have a mid-winter melt,” he said. “It’s been below zero (temperature) for a long time so the snow has been accumulating.”

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow