Back in December, Coun. Gerry Warner asked whether the city could advise the public on whether the ice on Idlewild and Elizabeth Lake is safe to skate on or not. CAO Wayne Staudt told council at the Monday, Jan. 6 meeting that the City of Cranbrook currently does have a process in place to inform the public about the ice conditions. Staudt said it is done through the Communications Office, Leisure Services and Public Works.
"Once the weather begins to get cold enough in the late fall, the City advises the public through advertisements, the local media and the city website with the attached ad," Staudt wrote in his report. The mentioned ad shows a cartoonish figure falling through the ice with the text "THIN ICE" below.
Staudt said the ice thickness is monitored by public works on an ongoing basis. Once the ice is deemed thick enough to be safe for the public to use, the Communications Office and Leisure Services department are advised and in turn the public is advised.
"So to some degree you rely on the media to get the message out," said Coun. Gerry Warner.
Staudt said the city also puts the information on the city website.
He said staff Public Works keep those at Leisure Services updated with the latest ice information throughout the winter months. To find out conditions you can call Leisure Services at 250-489-0220.