Snow_Plow_

If you move your car from the road, there’s a better chance your road gets plowed.

The city’s public works department says snow removal and plowing has gone relatively well.  Public works manager Ken Kercel says their biggest hurdle has been people breaking the overnight parking ban rules.

“We’ve been calling for assistance from police and our bylaw officers to get the cars towed if need be but we haven’t had much luck with tow truck operators. We plow as far as we can but we can’t wait for those cars to be moved so we back out and carry on.”

Kercel says they’ll circle back throughout the day to see if the car moves even if they have to remove snow during the day.

Another problem facing the city’s employees is residents who own small tractors or ATVs with plows pushing snow onto roads or sidewalks.

“Even after we’ve completely clear the sidewalks, people plow snow right back into them and we have to constantly go back,  It’s not fair to the tax payers and we’re trying to get our bylaw officers to talk to them case by case but it keeps happening.”

“The real reason we remove snow is to get rid of the snow piles caused by plowing – not to get the snow out of your yard. Pushing more into the road isn’t helping anybody.”

Kercel says the city’s snow removal budget hasn’t been as strained as last year’s.  He says a mild 2015 came in handy and so far 2016 is looking on par.  He adds that could change if we get a long winter.