'It may take a little longer on a weekend to clear the snow'

Thestar.com
Dec. 3, 2021

The first significant snowfall of the winter season has brought with it questions about Scugog’s snow-clearing response.

In response to inquiries received by the township following the Nov. 27 and 28 dusting, Carol Coleman took a few minutes at the start of the Nov. 29 council session to outline Scugog’s protocols.

According to Coleman, Scugog’s director of public works and infrastructure, the majority of public works staff who clear snow work a day shift, with only two scheduled for evening work. If it snows overnight, those two employees will focus on “priority roads to make sure they are cleared in a timely manner,” she said.

The remainder of the local roads will be cleared by day shift workers who, when necessary, will begin working at 4 a.m. after a snowfall.

There are no public works staff dedicated to weekend work, added Coleman.

“We don’t have any scheduled staff, but staff do come in voluntarily for overtime and there are times we may not have full crew so we ask for patience during those times. It may take a little longer on a weekend to clear the snow,” she said.

The first priority of works crews is to clear primary roads before getting to secondary roadways, added the director.

“We’ve got to clear the travel lanes first and then we’ll come back and the next day do a cleanup,” she said, noting such work would include widening travel lanes, clearing cul-de-sacs and pushing snowbanks back on rural roads.

The township is required to clear all roads within 24 hours after a snowfall “and we almost always exceed this standard,” said Coleman.

And, she added, “unfortunately” the township doesn’t have the resources to clear windrows left behind by snowplows.

“We know this is frustrating for homeowners, we all experience that. But we recommend that if you’re not able to clear them yourself that you hire a contractor or you find a good friend that will help you out,” said Coleman.

The township also attempts to remove the snowbanks that build up in downtown Port Perry two or three times a year.

Scugog also requires residents and business owners to clear sidewalks adjacent to their property within 24 hours of a snowfall.

Residents are also reminded that there’s no parking allowed on township roads between 2 and 6 a.m. from Nov. 1 to April 15 to allow room for snowplows to clear streets.

For more information, visit www.scugog.ca.