Snow and ice removal policy updated to better serve residents in Lac La Biche

LAC LA BICHE - Last year’s winter weather has prompted Lac La Biche County officials to update the municipal snow removal policy to better serve the area this season. 

The amended Snow and Ice Control Policy will see schedules updated for the hamlet for services such as plowing, sanding and snow removal within the hamlet of Lac La Biche, said Brian Shapka, the County’s Associate Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of Infrastructure Services, during the the Sept. 27 council meeting. 

“Part of it was to include 102 Avenue from 103 Street to 104th Street; and 103 Street from 101B Avenue to Churchill Drive —that was to add that to the downtown core cleanup so that it gets the same level of service” as other areas, he said. 

The changes are expected to cost up to $50,000 annually if the season is as dire as last year, says Shapka. 

“That’s based on worst-case scenario, which was like last year when we were getting dumped on every other day it seemed like…. On an average year [it should cost] $20,000 to $25,0000,” he said. 

Last week's motion will also include changes to 101B Avenue from 101 Street to 105 Street; and along 104 Street from 101B Avenue to 101 Avenue. 

Policy updates 

The request for the update was brought forward by County council in May, and changes will also see service improvements in rural areas. Additionally, grader operators in the County will be able to clear roads at their own discretion, the policy document reads. 

“Snow clearing on rural roads will be performed as soon as [they] can be reasonably accommodated after the weather clears; however, at the discretion of the grader operators, and during periods of continued snowfall events,” to ensure safety for drivers and pedestrians, “plowing operations will be initiated when the roadways have been deemed hazardous to public safety.” 

County Coun. Sterling Johnson believes the change will benefit rural communities' snow and ice removal needs. 

“I do like that it’s played out that the grader operators do have the discretion… they have full authority to go out when they think that it’s hazardous.” 

The policy states all gravel roads in Lac La Biche County will be cleared within five days of snowfall; while “paved and oiled surface roads” will be cleared within a 24-hour window. 

In urban areas, plowing and de-icing service will occur after 5 cm of snowfall in commercial areas and 10 cm in residential areas. The policy also reflects that after a major snow event in urban areas, snow will be removed once 10 cm is reached in business/commercial areas and 15 cm in residential within the five-day time frame. 

Reducing the five-day commitment 

However, considering the challenges faced last year, making a commitment to complete services in a shorter time would better serve communities, said Johnson. 

“What I’m worried about is - I know you want to strive for completing it - but if you can complete it in four (days), five is a little sloppy,” he said. “A lot of the rural subdivisions in our areas, when you got five days to complete them, it gets a little long… it gets to be tiresome.” 

But reducing the five-day mark could potentially come with legal challenges, the manager of  infrastructure said. 

“If it came down to something legal and you’re not meeting what you said you are going to, you could be held accountable for that or at least be questioned,” Shapka explained, noting at times the work is completed in less than five days. 

Making a commitment for a shorter time frame would require a better understanding of the services and whether there is room in the budget for it, explained Dan Small, the County’s CAO. 

“But If we are going to go from five to four, that’s a level of service increase and I think we need to be sure that we can offer it and I can go back and review how much extra that would cost before we approve it.” 

Considering the excess workload snow and ice removal staff experience, Coun. Colette Borgun said gratitude is owed to them. Amending the policy is too much “pressure” Borgun said, while agreeing that often work is already completed well before the five-day goal. 

“I feel that our snow removal folks do a great job. It’s a humongous county and I certainly wouldn’t want to put more pressure on them... I agree with you Mr. Shapka, sometimes we see them finished way before.” 

Council aims to review the snow and ice removal policy annually in case changes are needed.