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Vol. 15, No. 50, Thursday, November 12, 2020 www.LamontLeader.com
Snowstorm buries Lamont County
Lamont resident, 13-year old Cayden Albert, spent his Sunday clearing the freshly fallen snow. Photo: Jana Semeniuk
BY JOHN MATHER Communities have different rules for snow removal After the first major snowstorm of the 2020 winter season dumped several inches of snow across the Lamont area during the weekend, there are certain requirements citizens need to be aware of when it comes to snow removal. In Mundare the main street is the first street cleared following a major storm, reports Chief Administrative Officer, Colin Zyla. “We then start clearing the remaining streets starting in different parts of the town on a rotating basis,” he said. Zyla said they do try to notify residents when snow removal will take place in different areas, but there is no requirement to move cars prior to the plows coming through. The town also clears all street sidewalks. In the Town of Lamont, CAO Christine Beveridge points to the town’s snow clearing policy, which with maps, is on the town’s website. “There are priority routes that get plowed first,” she said. “We also put signs out indicating snow clearing will take place in certain areas of the town 24-hours prior to the snow clearing taking place.” Under the town’s community standards by-law the snow must be cleared from sidewalks within 24-hours of the snow stopping. Snow clearing on the town’s streets takes place after the total snow accumulation reaches 10 cm. or four inches. In the County of Lamont there were no accidents during the weekend’s snowstorm, according to Peace Officer Derek Wright. “I haven’t had anything reported from our county Roads,” he said on
Nov. 9. Wright said once the snowfall stops the main county roads are cleared as a priority and then they move to the other county roads. The County doesn’t do any of the secondary highways. Lamont County Communications Officer Heather Atkinson said the most important message they like to convey to residents is to not push or plow snow across the roads from their driveways. “That leaves ridges on the road surface that can be dangerous for drivers and it does leave the landowner liable for any damages or injury that may occur.” Other information that is important for residents to know is County residents who are medically fragile and/or require at-home medical services on a regular basis will receive snow clearing on a no-charge basis. The service provided for seniors (65+) is $100 + GST. All other landowners/designates will have the opportunity to buy flags at $40 + GST per flag. There is much more information on the County’s snow removal programs and policies at www. l a m o n t c o u n t y. c a / p r i v a t e - s n o w removal Meanwhile, in Bruderhiem, much of the parameters around snow removal echo other municipalities’ regulations. According to their website, bruderheim.ca, a snow removal priorities map shows where areas, marked priorities one to four, are located and at what points the snow will be removed. The website also indicates that residents need to remember to remove their rubber curb ramps, remove vehicles from the street once street cleaning signs are posted, and not to shovel snow onto the roads.