(City of Lacombe)

By rdnewsNOW staff

say goodbye to windrows?

Report shows improving snow clearing in Lacombe comes with a cost

Jan 15, 2020 | 10:05 AM

Increasing snow clearing efforts is getting further consideration in Lacombe this year.

On Monday, council accepted for information a report from administration discussing what it would cost the city to change from its current practice of windrowing snow on most roads to hauling it off-site where feasible.

“The proposed changes are significant. However, council is looking to strike the right balance between costs and service,” Mayor Grant Creasey says in a release. “I see this as a great start to something that can have a number of positive impacts on the community, and look forward to hearing from residents as we discuss this issue further.”

Of the 97 kilometres of roads included in the City of Lacombe’s Snow Clearing Policy, snow on 14 kilometres is currently hauled away by city staff with help from private contractors.

For approximately 30 kilometres of roads, officials say there is sufficient room to windrow snow onto adjacent ditches or open space. It is proposed the practice of windrowing snow at these locations continue, leaving 53 kilometres of additional road from which to remove snow.

Prevention, Access, Recovery, and Coordination

Safe Harbour officially hands over shelter keys, establishes accessible navigation hub

9h ago

lacombe and sylvan lake

December 2025 (un)employment data released for Alberta sub-regions

11h ago

21 years with WCPS

Darcy Blum appointed principal of Lacombe Outreach School

12h ago

The Roads Department estimates an increase of $73,600 would be required to implement the change, primarily for additional contracted services, which translates into an approximate 0.5 per cent tax rate increase.

Should council elect to proceed with the proposed service level changes, administration has recommended council’s 2020/2021 snow clearing budget include a 20 per cent contingency on top of the newly calculated costs, for a total recommended budget of $202,600.

In addition, the potential service level change to snow clearing operations, combined with the need to follow Alberta Environment and Parks recommendations, and the construction of a new Infrastructure Services Facility, are considered major factors for the relocation of municipal snow dump sites.

The City’s current snow dump site is located on a four-hectare (10 acre) industrial lot in Phase 2 of the Len Thompson Industrial Park. The Roads Department also uses the road allowance west of 126 Woodland Drive as a satellite location to stockpile snow during residential snow clearing operations.

However, City officials say the current sites will not be able to accommodate the anticipated three-to-four times more snow volume hauled off city roads, so a new snow dump site that adheres to current standards will have to be constructed.

Also, converting a portion of the City’s decommissioned lagoons to a long-term snow dump site at a capital cost $500,000 is considered to be economically advantageous.

“Repurposing a section of the lagoon for a long-term snow dump will allow the City to control the rate of snow melt discharges into Wolf Creek, and minimize any safety and environmental impacts to help protect the watershed,” adds Chief Administrative Officer Matthew Goudy. “It would enhance operations to conform to current regulations, and allow us to meet future operational needs in an environmentally responsible manner.”