Click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.

City of Prince Albert doing its best to keep warm

Jan 20, 2011 | 10:21 AM

Windchills in Prince Albert this week have been hovering in the low 30s.

As the mercury drops, anxiety rises within the City of Prince Albert.

“Our underground utilities will sometimes be affected by frost heaving. We may experience more (water main) breaks in that regard,” said Alan Trudel, the city's Public Works Operations Manager.

He said though that they have been fortunate to have more snow cover this year which acts as an insulation barrier.

Trudel said their equipment is also a lot more brittle in cold weather.

“Our sanitation garbage pickup, all those things are automated piece of equipment, and with many moving parts. They are sort of controlled through computers and electronics so those types of things seem to want to fail in these colder temperatures.”

Trudel said the city makes sure all of its workers are properly dressed for the weather and there is more time allowed for warm up breaks.

nmaxwell@rawlco.com