Penticton set to add more snow removal equipment to roster

PENTICTON – City staff are preparing for winter with a pitch to city council for more snow removal equipment.

Buiding and Permitting Manager Ken Kunka asked council for an additional $20,000 to purchase more ice and snow clearing equipment. The request was made to facilitate clearing of nearly 10 kilometres of city lanes that will now require snow and ice removal.

A number of new, multi-family developments in the city have been constructed that are accessed primarily from lanes. Staff proposed purchasing a one-ton pickup with a front mounted blade, along with a sanding unit to service the additional road surfaces.

Staff also asked for an additional $10,000 to be added to the city’s the $320,900 snow removal budget, beginning in 2016, in order to operate the new unit. The additional money will allow the city to clear primary access lanes in these new developments in addition to servicing new traffic calming areas at Wiltse Boulevard, Carmi Avenue and Kinney Avenue. Two sidewalks and a set of stairs servicing Sendero Canyon will also be serviced through the additional budget.

Kunka also reviewed the city’s snow and ice control policy, which now include provisions for the clearing of designated lanes providing primary access to multifamily developments.

Council agreed unanimously to staff’s request for an additional $20,000 from the 2015 budget, to be funded from general reserves, as well as a $10,000 annual addition to the snow clearing budget, starting in 2016.

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