The City of Estevan’s Public Works Division has had to have its equipment out a few times this fall, but it hasn’t had to worry about a full-blown snow event.
Estevan was supposed to be hit by a powerful winter storm on Nov. 8 and 9, with freezing rain, ice pellets, strong winds and 20-30 centimetres of snow. And while there was the ice, creating tricky road conditions, the city received a minimal amount of snow.
Other weather systems have brought freezing rain and snow to the city, but nothing that would cause the city to have a large-scale removal effort.
“We were out … pre-salting with liquid salt before the ice even came that morning (Nov. 8), so we were in pretty good shape even with the ice that we had,” said Norm Mack, the manager for the city’s public works roads and drainage division. “The streets, for the most part, we kept them wet all day, and they were dry the next day (on Nov. 9).”
The city was able to complete the work without the assistance of outside contractors.
“I know we can use the moisture around this area and in the southeast … but we did evade a major storm, and it virtually saved us a lot of money by missing us,” said Mack.
If Estevan would have received the 40-50 centimetres that Swift Current and other communities received, it would have likely cost the city approximately $200,000 for snow removal efforts.
“Our main focus is to try to do most of our work ourselves, and when it comes to where we see we need to speed up the action that we’re taking, then we’ll bring in contractors, but usually you’re looking at 20 centimetres of snow, plus, to bring in contractors to help us out,” Mack said.
Equipment has held up well so far this fall. City crews will check the equipment used for snow removal, including blowers, graders and trucks, in early spring so that they can order and install parts, and take care of any needed maintenance, by the winter.
“We don’t want them breaking down, so they’ve been ready for months,” said Mack.
He estimates the city has spent about half of its snow removal budget so far this year. Estevan did not receive a lot of snow or adverse conditions in the first three months of the year, and that trend has continued in the final three months.
“One storm, as you know, it can drop, 30, 40 or 50 centimetres and blow your budget in just … two days,” said Mack.
The city has not altered its snow removal priority routes for this year. Priority 1 routes include arterial roads such as Fourth Street, King Street, Kensington Avenue, 13th Avenue and Souris Avenue. Some industrial roads are also included as Priority 1s.
Priority two includes a mix of residential and commercial roads, while most of the residential roads are considered Priority 3s.
There won’t be changes to the snow removal protocol this year.
“We have things working and that’s the way we’re going to leave them,” said Mack.
He finds people are still supportive about the city’s snow removal plan, as there aren’t many cities in the province that will clear all the main arteries, the collector routes and the residential roads, and haul the snow away. Talking to other cities in the province, many people have a hard time driving on the quiet residential roads.
“After each storm, the public works roads crew, we debrief our crews, and our foremen, we brainstorm what we can do better, or how we can make it better or faster,” said Mack. “Through those discussions, (we know) what we’re doing is working, so we’ll continue to do what we’re doing.”
