For the Townsman
The snowy weather has begun to arrive in the region and City of Cranbrook Public Works staff is ready to clear, salt and sand City streets at a moment's notice. In order to help keep the public safe and mobile during the winter months, the City is asking residents and businesses to help out by keeping streets and sidewalks clear of snow and ice.
"During and following major snowfalls, our snow removal operation runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and operates with a small fleet of vehicles; four salt/sand trucks with belly plows, two graders and two loaders." says Joe McGowan, Director of Public Works. "With this schedule and the equipment we have, it is reasonable to expect most areas of the City to be cleared within 3 or 4 days of a snowfall, depending on the amount of snow and how fast it comes down."
Clearing snow is not just the responsibility of Public Works, which does the best they can with the resources available to keep the community moving during the winter months. Responsibility also lies with each resident and business owner to help clear around their home or business.
"Regularly clearing ice and snow from your sidewalks and driveways will allow much easier access to your property by the fire department, RCMP or paramedics should an accident or other emergencies happen," says Wayne Price, Director of Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services.
Avoiding leaving your vehicle parked on the street during snowfalls wherever possible will also help make clearing the streets easier for City plows. Residents are also asked to please avoid pushing or blowing snow from their sidewalks, driveways and any windrows back into the street, after the City plows have been by.
"It creates issues for our crews, as the plow will need to make an additional run down your street to clean it up," says McGowan. "That additional run increases the City's costs with additional staff time, fuel and equipment wear and tear, not to mention delays in getting to other areas of the City that also need to be plowed."