In keeping with town administration's move to update town policy, a report regarding a proposed snow removal bylaw was brought to the table at Monday night's regular Battleford town council meeting.
The report, prepared by the town's Chief Administrative Officer John Enns-Wind, states the Town of Battleford does not have an existing snow removal bylaw, but there are two outdated policies enacted by councils in 1985 and 1996. The purpose of the proposed bylaw is to "facilitate the handling of emergencies by police, fire and ambulance services during the winter," "to reduce the hazards of the icy conditions for motorists and pedestrians" and "to minimize the economic losses to the community and industry resulting from unsatisfactory winter driving conditions."
The proposed "snow removal" bylaw, which outlines the town's snow removal priority and use of salt and sand, as well as owner/occupant accountability, passed its first reading at council and will be brought back to council next meeting, Dec. 5, after which it will have to pass its third reading before it will be adopted by the town.
As per the bylaw, residents are to shovel the snow from driveways and sidewalks onto their own properties and not into the street, which many residents currently do, and "makes driving in some neighbourhoods difficult and increases the load and strain on equipment" tasked with removing it.
Infractions of the bylaw carry fines "not less than $100 and not more than $1,000," with Mayor Ames Leslie noting at the meeting that the new bylaw was not a "revenue getter," but rather a way to provide incentive to residents and business owners.
