Residents are becoming increasingly frustrated at the level of snow removal this winter.

It’s the same thing every year, but the city took the time recently to explain why things are done the way they are.  Director of Public Works Luc Duval says the downtown gets plowed first, followed by frequently used roads and bus routes.

He adds it can cost the city an upwards of $65,000 to put out a full compliment of plows for one snowfall, and a minimum of around $50,000.

They’re also trying to be money-conscious, as Timmins has seen more snow on average over the last four years.

When it comes to the level of service, Duval says there is a chart they follow that tells them how much minimum snowfall is required for them to plow certain roads.

For example, Class 2 roads like Theriault, Airport, Lafleur and Municipal Road requires 5cm of snowfall and the city has six hours after a storm to get them up to standard.

Meanwhile, a Class 4 or 5 road—Sandy Falls Road, Kraft Creek, Mahoney Road, etc.—would need 8-10cm of snowfall and those roads have a requirement of 16-24 hours after a storm to get up to standard.

For snow removal, it’s a little different with costs.  Duval says it’ll cost them a minimum $17,000 for regular wages and upwards of $24,000 if workers need to be paid extra for overtime.

Overall, the average the city has spent on winter maintenance is just over $6.28-million dollars in the last eight years.  The average over the last four years is significantly higher, at just under $6.87-million.

The presentation is rather detailed, but you can check it out HERE.  You can also CLICK HERE to see the video presentation, under Item 3A.

Filed under: Local News