By James Bowler

Snow removal policies updated, budget may increase

Nov 4, 2014 | 3:17 PM

The City of Prince Albert is already over budget for snow removal budget, but it is looking to set aside more funds for 2015.

Alain Trudel, acting public works director and operations manager, said that with heavy snowfall last year, the public works department went over the budget to about $575,000 from the $512,000 amount for 2014.

“We do have two more months of weather to deal with,” said Trudel.

He added that moving forward they have proposed an increase to $640,000 for the 2015 budget.

“We do have a planned increase for 2015, it’s before council now,” said Trudel. “It will be discussed in the next month or so and whether it’s approved or not, it will be council’s decision to make.”

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This increase is, in part, due to the fact that snow removal skyrocketed to about $953,000 in 2013.

With the excessive snow being a main part of the reason why the removal budget exceeded for 2014, public works also needed to purchase a new grader, costing about $280,000.

This new grader will allow crews to remove more snow with a wider blade.

In terms of snowfall this year and moving forward, the City has updated its policies when it comes to parking bans on priority streets.

Brent Kennedy, roadways manager with public works, said that they have spoken with the city’s bylaw officers and are going to be getting much more aggressive with persons who leave their vehicles parked in areas marked for plowing or snow removal.  

“These signs will be put out 12 hours before the snow plows move into an area, we’re hoping people will move the vehicles on their own,” said Kennedy. “If not they could be ticketed or they could be towed away and we will be more aggressive this year in moving vehicles off the road for our graders.”

Kennedy added that the City has purchased new signs that will indicate specifically whether the street is going to be plowed or if snow is going to be removed.

“This year we went with the new sign, it says on it snow plowing this block,” said Kennedy. “They’re quite visible, people shouldn’t have to worry when they see one, move your vehicle.”

When it comes to priority one streets, Kennedy guaranteed that snow will be removed within 24 hours of it reaching about two to four inches.

Priority 2 streets will see snow removed within 24-36 hours and priority three and beyond may have to wait up to 120 hours.

jbowler@panow.com

On Twitter: @princealbertnow