Rob Carney - It's an all new edition of Take 5 with Carney and Carmichael featuring Moose Jaw City manager Maurice Carmichael!
Maurice let's start with the snowfall. We've had lots of it, as a matter of fact, we're running out of places to put the snow here in Moose Jaw, and I'm wondering about the snow removal budget, and I'm sure a number of others are as well.
It is certainly going to be a challenge and I'm assuming we're over budget, Am I wrong?
Maryse Carmichael - So, we have a brand-new budget year that just started in January. So, if we're talking strictly 2025, we're okay obviously because we have a full budget for the year.
If we're talking about 2024, and yes, Mother Nature has served us something completely different this year and we've been hit by a lot of snowstorms.
In 2024, our budget was $1.43 million for snow removal. We actually spent $1.766 (million). We are about $340,000 above for 2024. That's where we're at now.
Fortunately, because of the way we've managed our finances over the last few years at the city, we have a snow reserve and in that snow reserve there's $600,000. So, that over expense from last year will be taken from the snow reserve that we have that was accumulated.
Rob – Okay, I know a lot of people have complained about snow removal. I also see a number of people saying the City of Moose Jaw is doing a great job. We should make it clear that city crews work on snow removal, and we also have contractors to chip in here and there right?
Maryse – That's right, I mean, we all know living in Saskatchewan, it really changes from one year to the next. Last winter was a really mild one, not a lot of snow.
So, we have our base crews, from the grader operators to the sand trucks and all that. We have our crews at the city. But of course, we supplement, and this year we've had to supplement with contractors, of course with the two back-to-back snowfalls in November with the ones that we have now.
I mean, we see snow banks everywhere. I drove by our snow dump which is just by the flats, and (there are) lots of contractors there dumping snow.
There is just snow everywhere in the city. So yes, we are using contractors and trying to move the snow and manage it. It's quite a challenge this year, that's for sure.
Rob – Yeah, and for those residents who don't think we're removing any snow, go take a look at the snow dump on the Hamilton Flats, right across from the Yara Centre. There is a ton of snow over there.
Maryse - There is a lot snow! Even in the streets. Of course for me right now, I'm thinking about the next few weeks, the next few months and how, eventually, spring will come.
Eventually temperatures will go up which means all the snow is going to melt. We're already in the next phase of looking at either flooding - depending on the type of spring that we have - so, we're preparing, we're doing what we can in the next few weeks to move this snow and to put in areas that will not affect the city, should we have a really quick melt.
You know, if we get 10, 15, 20 degrees (in the spring) really quickly and the snow melts (rapidly) so we're looking, and planning for flood prevention.
Rob - Fingers crossed we don't have to deal with that, but I'm glad that you are preparing for it.
Maryse - We have to, absolutely, because some streets have 6 or 7 foot snowbanks on the side of the road, so we need to be prepared.
Rob - To add to the snow clearing discussion, I know you want to remind residents to download the City app to receive ‘No Parking updates’ and to check the clearing progress map for updates while you're in the process of removing snow.
Maryse - It really helps the city crews or contractors and even for your fellow residents and neighbors. We do communicate it ahead of time, typically give 24 hours' notice of what priority area that we're clearing, and we ask people to refrain from parking on the streets.
It's faster for our crews to clean and it makes the end result a little bit better.
Rob - We can also watch the city's website for that information, right?
Maryse – We do update the map on the city website, absolutely. You can access it through the app or on the full website for more information.