THUNDER BAY -- While there will be more sand on the roads this winter, the city won't be seeing a reduction to snow removal.
City council unanimously agreed to consider a $700,000 bump for snow removal during next year's budget deliberations. It also agreed to see residential streets sanded instead of salted, with the exception of some curves and hills, when the snow falls after assurances from administration. It will also consider a $100,000 ask for route optimization software.
"We're confident that the safety standard won’t be impacted,” roads manager Brad Adams said.
There were several options to consider changes in the future as the city faces $2.2 million deficit in its snow budget after back-to-back harsh winters. Currently a residential streets are plowed after ten centimetres of snow. That could be bumped up to 15. The expected time to plow those streets, right now three days, could increase to four. Sidewalks would also not be plowed during overtime hours.
But councillors wanted to keep the standards where they are.
"No one around this table wants any reduction in service,” Coun. Joe Virdiramo said.
Many councillors, including Virdiramo wanted to know if the city actually needs more than the $700,000 being considered. City manager Tim Commisso said that's always an option during budget time.
"One of the nice things about having a budget in January and February is we will know more about that at that time,” he said.
