Morinville residents won’t see increased snow clearing this winter, but will have to pay more to use the town’s snow dump.
Morinville council approved minor changes to the town’s snow-clearing policy during their Sept. 13 meeting.
Morinville public works was hit by a perfect storm of COVID-related staff shortages, skyrocketing fuel costs, freezing rain, and unusual heat mixed with blizzard-like conditions in January, resulting in thick ice on roads and roughly 170 snow-related complaints. Town infrastructure services manager Jordan Betteridge had to ask council for extra money in February just to keep up with the snow, and recommended that council revise its snow-clearing policy.
On Sept. 13, Betteridge tabled revisions to the town’s snow policy. The revisions clarified that the town would deploy sanders and snow ploughs when total snowpack reached certain depths (or whenever it was icy out, in the case of sanders), and could suspend snow operations during extreme cold to protect staff. Instead of using it for free, contractors will now have to pay $25 per tandem load to use the town’s snow dump to help cover costs. Snow-clearing zones are also now identified with letters (Zone A, B, C, D, and E) instead of numbers.
Morinville currently clears snow in residential areas when the snowpack reaches 15 centimetres for $275,000, resulting in two residential clearings per year, Betteridge told council. St. Albert’s threshold is nine centimetres, while Spruce Grove’s is 22.
“Our curb heights are only eight centimetres high,” Betteridge noted, so when that 15-centimetre snowpack melts, it melts onto the sidewalk instead of into the gutter and creates floods and ice.
Betteridge said a lower depth trigger could reduce the risk of ruts and floods, but would cost more. A higher one might save money but could also lead to more ice and damage to vehicles.
Coun. Stephen Dafoe proposed lowering the trigger for residential snow clearing to 12 centimetres, which would result in three clearings per year and cost an additional $75,000 to $100,000. He noted how council added $75,000 to this year’s snow budget in February, and said additional clearings could reduce the amount of ice and flooding problems seen last winter.
Coun. Jenn Anheliger opposed the change, citing its substantial cost. Betteridge added that this change would do little to address sidewalk flooding.
Council voted down this change 3-4 (councillors Dafoe, Scott Richardson, and Rebecca Balanko in favour).
Council is set to review the snow and ice policy again prior to the end of 2026.
