Skip to content

Main Street sidewalk snow removal service a no-go this season

A potential sidewalk snow-clearing program announced last winter to support businesses impacted by the Main Street Revitalization program will not be rolling out this year.

LAC LA BICHE - A potential sidewalk snow-clearing program announced last winter to support businesses impacted by the Main Street Revitalization program will not be rolling out this year. 

Last December, the potential program was proposed to support new sidewalks and bulb-outs created through the multi-million-dollar project, after it was complete. The program would offer relief to business owners who will have new infrastructure around their businesses, while providing residents and visitors with clean walking spaces during the winter season. 

The original $16 million Main Street Revitalization Project includes not only repaving and adding additional sidewalks but repairing aging underground utility infrastructure, new street-lighting, bulb-out traffic controls, architectural designs, outdoor seating spaces, street art and improved traffic flow. Since spring, the project has been stalled due to increased contracting costs that ballooned to a minimum of $24.6 million.  

Council is expected to open bids on a re-tendered Main Street project on Nov. 29.

County of Lac La Biche officials were planning to roll out the snow removal service program in late 2022, as the infrastructure became available. However, the Main Street modernization stalled due to rising costs, leaving many business owners with questions about this year’s snow removal, said the County’s Mayor Paul Reutov. 

“I brought it forward to clarify. There are still some questions being asked,” said Reutov, during last week’s council meeting.  

Alongside the details of the program, a change is also required under the Community Standards Safety Bylaw before the snow removal service potentially becomes the County's responsibility. Currently, the bylaw details that snow must be cleared within 72 hours by property owners along any major highways in the County. 

A change to the bylaw needs to be approved by council to include the new service level, said Melanie McConnell, the County’s associate CAO, corporate services division. 

The intent of the program was always to support upgrades on Main Street that would benefit not only businesses but the increased foot traffic that is expected, said Coun. Lorin Tkachuk.  

Tkachuk also clarified it is not definitive that the program will roll out once Main Street projects are complete but will be a decision for council to “consider” subsequently. 

"We were going to look at costs pre-construction and then it would be approved post-construction when there is more sidewalk to be cleaned including bulb-outs,” he says. New seating and décor are also expected to run along the sidewalks once the project is complete. 

“I think snowpack was a concern. We didn’t want people piling up snow on benches or planters,” which was discussed last winter, said Tkachuk. 

In the coming months, County officials will discuss the financial feasibility of a municipally run sidewalk snow removal service along Main Street. 

“We still need five hands to go up and approve the budget,” once cost and service options are discussed and voted on by council, said Tkachuk. 

 

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks