Councillor urges rethink on 'unsustainable' snow removal methods in Prince George

Coun. Brian Skakun says that the city is spending too much on snow removal and that it could be done more efficiently.

Brian Skakun says hauling snow costs roughly 10% of the city's budget

Christine Coulter CBC News Posted: Feb 20, 2019 11:00 AM EST | Last Updated: February 20, 2019

Coun. Brian Skakun says the city used to leave snow piles on intersections and let them melt in the spring, but now more snow is being hauled to dumps which is costly. ( Andrew Kurjata)

A Prince George councillor says the city must rethink the way it removes snow from its streets, calling thecurrent policy "unsustainable"due to the millions it spendsevery year on moving snow to local dumps.

Coun.BrianSkakunsays the city now spends $9.5 million on snow removal, which works out to nearly tenper cent of the budget. The city hashauled morethan 15,000 truckloads from city streets to dumps this winter.

"We have to pick up the snow, we have to hire contractors, we have to run a snow dump," said Skakun, adding thatall of these steps cost money.

He says the city can trim costs by minimizing the amount of snow that needs to be picked up and then transported.

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"We used to put snow on the boulevardsand it just thawed out in the spring," he said.

Skakun references the MercuryReport, a third-partyreview of the city's snow-clearing processes.Twenty-six recommendationscame from that report, one of them being that trucks should plow onto the sides of boulevardsas one way to cut costs.

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When it comes to concerns over sight lines around snow banks at the sideof the road, Skakun says that most people are used to driving in snowy conditionsand thatthe city always cuts banks down to improve visibility.

"What people have to do, and what we're doing, is work around those, be a little more cautious when you pull out."

Balancing act

GarthFrizzell,who also sits on council, says it all comes down to a balancingacttrying to keep the taxes low and also deliver an essential service.

"It's always looking at the trade-offs and seeing what the best option is," saidFrizzell, whoadded that he's willing to hearSkakun'sproposal at council.

Skakunsays he is confident that the city will find solutions that work for everyone.

"It is a touchy subject and people realize they're paying a lot of money but they also expect a good service."

Click below to hear the full interview withBrianSkakun:

With files fromDaybreak NorthandBetsy Trumpener

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