The City of Estevan has had to do some snow and ice removal work already this fall, thanks to the snow that Estevan received in October and early November, but it hasn’t been forced to have an all-out snow clearing effort.
Estevan has received a few centimetres of snow multiple times this fall. City crews have had to apply sand to the streets in some troublesome intersections, and clear snow from some parking lots, such as Affinity Place and the Estevan Fire Rescue Service.
When Estevan receives a light snowfall, the city will monitor the accumulations. If it’s wet snow, then it often melts when it hits the ground.
“We’re really trying to spend the money that we do have efficiently and not waste it, because we never know what’s in the future for the winter and what the weather has in store for us,” said Norm Mack, the manager of the roads and drainage for the city’s public works division.
The weather also served as a reminder to make sure their equipment was ready for the upcoming winter season.
“Over the last five years, we have purchased the essential equipment that we really need,” said Mack. “We put that on our list first and foremost, with loaders and blowers and graders. They’re late-model equipment that we’ve replaced in recent years.
“We feel pretty confident about the equipment that we have, and my goal when I first started this job was to make sure that we had decent equipment to contend with snow and other projects.”
Mack noted there won’t be any changes to the city’s snow removal procedures or its priority map this year. Arterial roads such as Fourth Street, King Street, Kensington Avenue, 13th Avenue, Perkins Street, and Souris Avenue North and South, as well as some industrial roads, are considered Priority 1. Also top priority is access to the police station and St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“Priority 1s, in the event of a snowstorm, will be the first to get cleared,” said Mack.
Priority 2 roads include collector roads and secondary roads with higher traffic volumes.
The rest of the roads are Priority 3. These include the bulk of the city’s residential routes.
Mack believes the city’s snow removal system works.
“With a big snow event, we’re going to hit it hard right off the beginning and get at it.”
If it’s a large storm, the city can also draw on contractors to help with the snow clearing efforts.
“If we get it going really good, it doesn’t take that long to clear the whole city.”
He hopes Estevan will get some nice weather in the final two months of the year, and prevent the city from spending too much money on snow removal.
Snow removal expenses have been lower the last two winters, because the city has had just one large snow event each year.
“Last winter had that cold spell in February, but as far as snow accumulation is concerned, the last couple of years have been relatively easy on us. Keeping that in mind, with all the moisture that we’ve had in September and October, we have a feeling that we could be contending with a lot of snow if it keeps up the same pattern.”
People seem to be satisfied with the level of snow removal in the community, and Mack said it’s nice to be in an environment in which they’re not second-guessed by the public or city hall.
“I think 99 per cent of them probably are satisfied with the snow removal. It’s probably one of the best programs you’ll find anywhere as far as snow removal. People have spoken and they want the streets cleared.”
