With temperatures approaching the high 20's what better time to talk about ice and snow removal.

High River's Manager of Operational Services, Eugene Lund went before town council Monday and told them there were certainly some challenges last winter.

"We aren't receiving that many complaints from people about the main roadways, there have been a few call-ins as far as parking and that sort of stuff downtown and a few places that we're responsible for," Lund says. "Under the policy that we have right now we keep the priority one and two route clear and then parking spots and that type of thing we follow up on as staff resources are available."

He says the Town is responsible for clearing parking lots at the Rec Plex, Library and Charles Clark Medical Centre. The new lot where the Foothills School Division head office used to stand is not the Town's responsibility.

He says last winter they had to deal with more snow than in any of the last few winter seasons.

The cost for the 2016/17 season for downtown Snow Removal: $39,822
Downtown Snow Removal (Parking Spots and Lots) & Rec Centre Parking Lot: $42,906
Priority 1-3 Routes, Centre Street and 12th Avenue SE: $32,513
Total: $115,241

That compared with $55,900 for the 2015/16 season.

The cost of hiring contractors was much higher but those costs are offset by reserves held over from previous years.

Lund says when they come to council in the fall during budget talks they'll be asking for an increase of $15,000 to maintain the level of service.

 

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