The City of Kimberley’s new council was able to chew on an old bone Dec. 12 – keeping the alpine city’s streets clear of snow.

Coun. Albert Hoglund, chair of the Public Works and Utilities Committee, discussed a concern aired by a downtown business owner, who believes that a “wind row” plowed in front of his operation “is unsafe.”

Additionally, the Ministry of Transportation (MOT) established a ‘no parking’ zone in front of the business, forcing customers to park elsewhere and walk, often having to lug computer equipment and other awkward-to-carry items over wind rows.

Hoglund, the lone returning councillor from the last council, explained that snow is cleared three times a year, depending upon snowfall. If it snows more than usual, it gets cleared. The business owner is asking the city to remove the wind row now and the Hoglund warned that if the city complied, “we’d be setting a precedent that we’d have to do it for all downtown businesses.”

However, there could be another solution, he said, suggesting that a crosswalk be established near the business in question and the city should send a letter to the ministry requesting one.

“We feel it was all their doings and we’d like to see an assigned crosswalk,” he said of the MOT, adding he believes the city has been “very consistent” clearing snow away in business areas.

Mayor Ron McRae said the city needs to help businesses where and when it can.

“There is a really important principle here – as a city we have to be business-friendly as possible. Personally, I think it is unacceptable,” he said, suggesting the city should consider “on just a one-time basis” cleaning the wind row away.

McRae also said the city should “go back to the Ministry and protest the fact how they declared that ‘no parking.’ It could be a loading zone,” he pushed, noting that would allow customers time to unload items more conveniently and safely.

Hoglund pointed out the downtown area in question, along Highway 95A, “is not the only area they (ministry) took parking away from, pointing at the Overwaitea stretch of the highway. Additionally, he pointed out, “all the businesses in the lower end” (around Top Crop) do their own plowing.”

McRae suggested there is available language that would allow the city to sidestep the setting of precedence, suggesting “without prejudice” and a few other options.

“I think we need to pull out all the stops,” he said. “This is a small thing but it’s something that could chart a course for us.”

In the end, Hoglund made a motion, as recommended by the Public Works and Utilities Committee, to look at the establishment of loading areas instead of ‘no parking’ areas. Council unanimously agreed.

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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