The winter season has arrived and the Town of Orangeville’s sidewalk snow clearing program has begun.

The Town is gearing towards clearing all municipal sidewalks of snow and ice by the winter of 2007/2008. Each year additional sections of sidewalk are added to the municipal program. To see the sections added to the municipal program for this winter season please visit the Town’s web site at www.orangeville.ca under Departments & Services/Public Works or obtain a map at the counter at the second floor of the Town Hall.

Council passed a motion in August directing staff to arrange for four pieces of equipment to perform winter maintenance on sidewalks during the coming winter season. One additional piece of rental equipment will be added for the 2006/2007 winter season and a further additional piece of rental equipment will be added for the 2007/2008 winter season so that by the 2007/2008 winter season all sidewalks in Town will be cleared using six machines. Here are some tips for residents to help minimize damage to the boulevard adjacent to the sidewalk during the winter snow clearing program:

 Cut back all brush/tree branches that overhang the sidewalk and may impede/interfere with sidewalk snow clearing operations (cut all the branches that overhang the sidewalk to at least 7 feet or 2.15 metres above the sidewalk).

 Remove all landscaping features and/or street furniture that may interfere with sidewalk snow clearing. For example, curbs, rocks, planters, etc. should be kept back a minimum of 0.50 metres for each side of the sidewalk, but not within 1.2 metres (four feet) of the curb. If for some reason existing features can’t be relocated they are to be clearly marked (flagged) to provide guidance for the sidewalk snow plough. Note: the Town will not be responsible for damage to any private features (structures) that are located on the public right-ofway. In addition, if a feature (structure) causes damage to the snow clearing equipment the adjacent property owner may be responsible for damages.

The areas added this year to the sidewalk snow clearing policy have not been cleared by sidewalk plough previously. Therefore, there may be some damage to the boulevards adjacent to the sidewalk. This is especially true in areas of 1.2 metre (4-foot) wide sidewalk or areas where the boulevard grass has grown over the sidewalk. In these areas, the grass boulevard may be peeled back and large clumps of sod (grass) will be left behind when the sidewalk snow plough makes its pass. The Town will make every effort to clean these clumps of grass up and reinstate the damaged area as soon as possible and, when weather permits. Some of the work may have to be delayed until the spring.

To assist the Town in its efforts to minimize damage to the boulevards it would be helpful if after the first snowfall you established a path for the sidewalk snow plough machine by clearing the sidewalk and leaving the edge of the walk clearly visible and by forming windrows (banks of snow) along the edge of the sidewalk to guide the sidewalk machine along the sidewalk.

The Town appreciates residents’ co-operation as the effort is made to achieve an equal level of sidewalk snow clearing service throughout the municipality. We can all do our part to make our sidewalks accessible during the winter weather.

For more information on the winter control of sidewalks call the Town of Orangeville at 941-0440 ext. 292 or the Operations Centre at 941-9124 or visit the Town’s web site at www.orangeville.ca.