The abrupt arrival of winter has the City of Flin Flon reminding residents not to push snow from their yards onto public property.
At last week’s city council meeting, concerns were raised over snow from people’s driveways ending up on the road.
Coun. Skip Martin suggested the city use its weekly Reminder ad to remind the public that this is illegal.
“The by-law is there and we have enforced it,” added Mayor George Fontaine.
Coun. Bill Hanson noted that it is also illegal for residents to use a quad to push snow from their yards across the street.
In 2007, a previous council adopted a by-law against shoveling snow from yards or businesses onto the road.
The by-law stemmed from worries over mounds of snow narrowing streets, congesting traffic, and making it more difficult for snow removal crews to do their job.
Around the time of its introduction, Chief Administrative Officer Mark Kolt described the by-law as “an educational tool.”
“We felt that we didn’t have any particular rule to point to when we had complaints about that sort of issue in the past,” he said, “and given the volumes of snow that we’ve had this year, it was a concern.”
While many saw it as a positive step, the by-law did not come without controversy.
A letter to the editor in The Reminder questioned whether council was “going to solve the problem or are they just shifting the burden to someone else.”
“Shoveling snow onto the streets happens because there is no other convenient place to put it,” read the letter. “Most can’t contain it easily in their own yards and, without the proper facilities, can’t haul it away themselves.
“I think council should reconsider their actions and come up with an alternate plan that will solve the problem and make life better for everyone.”
Another letter writer liked the idea but was concerned about city plows pushing snow into driveways and residential parking spots.
“Why should we not shovel our snow into the street or alley when they are going to just push it right back,” read the letter.
Residents caught breaking the by-law could face fines as high as the $200 range, though $50 or so is seen as a more likely amount for a first-time offender.
