After heavy snowfall clogged Summerland streets last week, the municipality’s public works department will revisit the way it handles snow removal.
Don Darling, director of engineering and public works for the municipality, said the existing snow clearing schedule has collector routes and bus routes as priority areas, with secondary roads cleared later.
In the past, Trout Creek has also been given a lower priority for snow removal.
Darling said this is because the area, along the lake, tends to receive less snow and the snow tends to melt faster than in the rest of the community.
However, the recent snowfall also affected access in Trout Creek.
“This last snow event has opened our eyes,” he said.
By late last week, there was still considerable snow in the Trout Creek area, he said.
Snow removal crews will give a higher priority to the neighbourhood during future snow events.
“Trout Creek residents had difficulties,” Mayor Peter Waterman said at the municipal council meeting on Monday. “In the future, as snowfalls reach approximately four to six inches, collectors and bus routes will de done as quickly as possible, just like the other areas of town.”
Warmer temperatures later in the week had municipal crews working to remove excess snow and to inspect catch basins to ensure they are ready for the runoff.
Waterman said the public works crews responded quickly to clear the streets.
“I think staff did an excellent job,” he said.
The municipality has four trucks for snow clearing. The public works department clears snow from 315 lane kilometres.