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Town of Ladysmith creates new policy around snow removal

Communicating priority areas for snow clearing is considered best practice, reports staff
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Ladysmith town council has approved a recommendation for a new snow and ice removal policy. (Black Press Media file photo)

The Town of Ladysmith has put a new snow and ice removal policy in place in time for winter.

Town council, at a meeting Nov. 15 at the Ladysmith Seniors Centre, approved a recommendation from the committee of the whole to adopt the policy.

Over the years, snow and ice removal has been handled by town staff based on their best ability, past practices, and reports on road conditions from residents.

“Recent court decisions have alerted many municipalities of the need to have a comprehensive snow and ice removal policy,” noted a staff report. “It’s important to identify priorities, resources, and expectations for staff and the public in order to avoid injuries, collisions, and other harm. A clear policy and associated plan provide staff and emergency services with unbiased and clear instruction as to how snow and ice will be handled.”

The new policy recommends that first-priority roads would include emergency routes, community health centre access, school zones and town water and wastewater facilities. The second-priority zones would be hills, the town’s commercial core and main collector roads and then the third-priority roads would include residential roads, cul-de-sacs and alleyways.

The clearing of snow and ice from sidewalks will be considered only when resources are available after first-priority areas have been addressed. Snow clearing on sidewalks that are in front of residential properties are the responsibility of the property owners in accordance with Town of Ladysmith bylaws.

The policy also states that town equipment operators will not lift plows to avoid blocking driveways and the town will not use staff to clear driveways or sidewalks after plowing.

The full snow and ice removal policy can be found on the Town of Ladysmith website and it includes a list of all emergency roads as well as commercial and collector routes.

editor@ladysmithchronicle.com





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