Rough ride in North Kildonan after snow-clearing delayed

North Kildonan’s city councillor has said penalties could be levied against a contractor after snow plowing in his ward was delayed by more than a day.

Some drivers who had to move their cars from 7 a.m to 7 p.m. Monday as part of the three-day residential parking ban this week, found their street untouched despite the ban being lifted. Most streets had been cleared by Tuesday evening; plows did touch-ups Wednesday morning.

Coun. Jeff Browaty said the delay was caused by issues with SM Ventures Inc., a local heavy equipment company hired to support the snow-clearing operation in North Kildonan.

“After many decades of good service, things were absolutely terrible this year,” Browaty said Wednesday.

Paul Minsky, the owner of SM Ventures, said his staff, who operate 25 pieces of snow-clearing machinery, have been working nearly non-stop since last week, when two back-to-back snowstorms hit Dec. 18 and 19. By Tuesday, several staff had called in sick and machines had broken down.

“It’s a combination of things, and sometimes it’s hard for people to understand what’s involved, and how much is in the snow amount,” he said.

“I mean, it was a big storm. It was a whiteout. At one point, we couldn’t even move because it was dangerous. You do what you can, and we’ve done it.”

He’s had various contracts with the city since 1982 and said this was the first time he’d experienced such a delay. His vehicles were still out Wednesday morning finishing the job.

“I was up at five this morning, and I went to bed at one… I will be here till this is finished,” he said.

Browaty said contractors can be hit with financial penalties for not completing snow clearing within the parking ban period and that he’d spoken with city streets maintenance manager, Michael Cantor, about the issue.

“He suggested that the contractor would be brought in to ensure that they’re resourcing up, to ensure that they are able to deliver within city times,” he said. “So, yeah, (people are) not happy.”

People who parked on a street after the residential ban in their neighbourhood was lifted will not get a ticket, said council public works chair Coun. Janice Lukes.

A day-long delay is uncommon, she said.

“I know with these newly expanded neighbourhoods, it’s getting tight to get the zone done within the 12 hours, because the area has expanded, but it’s maybe an extra hour where they have to come back,” Lukes (Waverley West) said.

The residential parking ban was lifted Tuesday evening. The city budgeted about $50 million for snow clearing this year.

malak.abas@freepress.mb.ca