Town of Osoyoos council voted last week to make changes to the town’s snow and ice control policy bylaw. Moving forward, the runway at the Osoyoos Airport and clearing big piles of snow on Main Street following snow events will become a priority. (Richard McGuire file photo)
Changes to the Town of Osoyoos’ existing snow and ice control policy will mean the runway at the Osoyoos Airport will become a priority as will removing large snow piles on Main Street following snow events.
Jim Dinwoodie, the town’s director of operational services, told members of Town of Osoyoos council on Monday that the existing snow and ice control policy fails to prioritize the plowing of the airport or identify timelines with regards to the removal of snow piles in the downtown area.
To address these concerns, his staff has made numerous modifications to the current policy.
“It is proposed that the plowing of snow from the airport runway occur after the clearing of town parking lots in the list of priority snow removal locations,” said Dinwoodie. “Therefore, the list of snow removal priority locations would be as follows:
1. Emergency vehicle access.
2. Schools (during school days).
3. Downtown area.
4. Inclines.
5. Town parking lots.
6. Airport
7. Churches (main entrances as parking lots are not a town responsibility).
Following any snowstorm, Dinwoodie said he would personally contact Nav Canada and provide them with a Runway Service Condition Report.
Prior to snow removal operations commencing at the airport, Dinwoodie will once again contact Nav Canada and request that they issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) informing them the time period during which snow removal operations would be taking place.
After all snow clearing operations have been completed by town crews and contractors, town crews will be deployed to remove snow from the on street parking spaces in the downtown core, said Dinwoodie.
Snow will be plowed into several empty parking spaces (preferably in front of vacant businesses or lots), where it will be removed within 72 hours, he said.
“This activity will occur at the discretion of the director of operational services or his designate, who will consider ease of travel, resource availability and the safety of pedestrian and vehicular traffic in the downtown area before undertaking this activity,” said Dinwoodie.
The remaining snow clearing activities in the existing policy will be appropriately renumbered to include snow removal at the airport.
Council unanimously supported the proposed changes suggested by Dinwoodie.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
