This winter has been particularly tough for northern towns like Sault Ste. Marie, where residents are facing challenges clearing their snowy driveways. City workers clearing the roads overnight often leave behind large ice chunks, making mornings difficult for locals. To address this issue, the City of Sault Ste. Marie is exploring the possibility of hiring private contractors to remove these ice piles, known as windrows, where driveways meet the road.
During a recent city council meeting, Coun. Luke Dufour proposed investigating the cost of bringing in private contractors to assist with clearing the heavy snow and ice. Dufour mentioned receiving numerous complaints from residents struggling to remove these obstacles, especially the ice chunks, without the necessary equipment or physical ability.
Previous attempts by the city to clear windrows using front-end loaders were not successful, as they were not suitable for residential driveways and often caused more harm than good. Dufour highlighted the effectiveness of residential tractor blower models with rear-mounted blowers for this purpose.
While there is an existing motion to determine the cost of public works clearing windrows with appropriate equipment, the council’s recent approval will further enhance that investigation. The goal is to explore cost-effective solutions and potentially save money by involving private contractors who already offer similar services to a wider customer base.
City staff is expected to present a report this summer detailing the estimated costs of hiring private contractors for this task. If approved in time for the next winter season, the arrangement would only come into effect after regular snow removal operations are completed. Homeowners would still be responsible for clearing their portion of the driveway following standard plowing services.