Kimberley is getting more snow this year than last. And, says Mayor Don McCormick, for a ski town, that’s great news. But it does mean that snow removal crews are going full out and calls are coming in to City Hall from those dissatisfied with the service they are receiving.
“I wouldn’t say we’re getting a higher than normal amount of calls, but the usual complaints are coming in,” McCormick said. “We also had a perfect storm over the holidays, when we received the majority of complaints. We had a weekend and then the stat holidays. A lot of the snow came on those days when we do emergency clearing only.”
Complaints include questions as to when the snow piles will be removed; when a back alley will be plowed and more.
“This is my third winter as mayor and we always have some suggestions that provide incremental improvement and we appreciate that,” McCormick said.
The reality is, he says, that the City has a 72 hour snow removal plan, and when it snows every day, as has happened several times in December and January, it does slow things down.
“The way the plan is set up, there are 72 hours to clear the city,” McCormick said. “There are priority roads first and then down to back alleys. If it snows within the 72 hours, you go back to the beginning. So somebody who is in the third tier, if we get a lot of snow, you may not see a plow for a while.”
The same is true for the snow piling up, which are also the subject of complaints.
“We have a three day run through the city. Once that is done, then we start clearing piles. We don’t have the manpower to do it at the same time.”
And the same principle applies. If it snows again before crews get to the job of removal,it has to wait until the 72 hour clearing is done.
Patience is required, McCormick says.
“I do have some empathy for Mainroad and all the complaints they receive. It’s a pretty thankless job. We are never going have conditions the same as summer in the winter.
“Patience is a big deal. And also remember, the more snow we get, the better it is for the economy. I empathize. I live up on the ski hill and we get a lot of snow.”
And it’s not all complaints either. City CAO Scott Sommerville says there has been an increase in compliments on the job the crews do.
McCormick agrees. “Our snow crews are doing an awesome job.”