Snow clearing machines at work. (Dawson Thompson/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

White stuff

Mother Nature’s bill: the cost of P.A.’s snowstorm cleanup

Dec 3, 2020 | 5:26 PM

Cleaning up after early November’s massive blizzard cost the City of Prince Albert $131,651.

In an email to paNOW, director of public works, Wes Hicks said most of that was spent from Nov. 8 to Nov. 17, as crews worked 12-hour days clearing arterials, collector roads, residential areas and completing a snow lift in the downtown.

In total, 21 pieces of equipment, including graders, loaders, tandem trucks and snowplows were used by city staff and private contractors.

“Considering the time, equipment, and cost, compared to say Saskatoon, I believe the roadways department has done a fantastic job,” Hicks said.

In Saskatoon, snow removal operations following the November storm are estimated to cost the city well over $10 million.

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Hicks explained Prince Albert was right on budget for snow management before the storm, but the blizzard has put them over their $790,000 annual budget by 14 per cent with 29 days left in the fiscal year.

However, he and roadways manager Brent Kennedy are hopeful they won’t have to spend much more in December.

“The weather looks like it’s going to be on our side to the end of the year so that’s a big plus,” Kennedy told paNOW.

Reflecting back on how his team handled the November snowfall – the magnitude of which he estimates is a one-in-10 year event – Kennedy said he’s impressed.

“They came, they did their job, they never bucked at any of the situations we had to deal with,” he said, adding staff regularly started at 3 or 4 a.m. in the morning.

Kennedy also thanked residents for their cooperation, staying out of the way of machines and moving their cars.

“The public treated the guys quite well as we moved through this,” he said. “So the citizens should be patted on the back also.”

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom