Home Ā»
Notes from City Hall
Clearing Snow and Ice
Icy sidewalks can be a hazard for everyone including seniors, children, mail carriers, meter readers, firefighters and paramedics. As the weather warms up and then freezes again, water from melting snow can run onto cleared sidewalks. Here are a few tips to help maintain your walkways:
- Warm weather during the day can make ice soft,Ā so it’s easier to chip or shovel away.
- Spread sand or gravel on icy patches to make your sidewalk safer for pedestrians. Spreading sand on a sidewalk before ice forms can also makeĀ future ice easier to remove.
- Microwaving sand in a microwave-safe container and spreading it while it is still warm will make the sand embed itself into the ice, creating a gritty top layer.
- Pile snow in a place where it will not run across your sidewalk when it melts and aim your downspouts away from areas where people walk.
Frozen Water Line Prevention
If theĀ water service line to your homeĀ has ever frozen or if you have noticedĀ a reduced water flow in your home during the winter, leave one tap running cold water day and night (stream should be theĀ size of a pencil). This will help to prevent your lines from freezing.Ā Since frost sinks deeper into the ground when air temperatures rise after a period of extreme cold, you will need to keep the water running 24/7 until mid-April to avoid having the lineĀ freeze.
The City of Kimberley encourages residents who have experienced frozen water service lines in the past to be pro-active by ensuring indoor lines are properly insulated, keeping a good snow cover over the ground above the service lines and installing a bleeder line system. For more information.
Frozen Sewer Lines
To aid in preventing frozen sewer lines, it is important to run hot water through your sewage system once per day when we are experiencing cold temperatures. If you suspect your sewer line to be freezing, fill your bathtub one quarter full of hot water then release the water to thaw the sewer line (while monitoring for possible backup in the line). Control the release of the water with the drain plug. This may need to be repeated one or two times, and possibly every day or two to ensure the line does not freeze. Performing a load or two of laundry each day using hot water will also help to reduce freezing issues.Ā Please contact a plumber if you have attempted this and nothing is draining or changing.
Free Family Swim
Come to the Aquatic Centre and enjoy a Free Family Swim on Wednesday, December 20 from 6 to 7 p.m. sponsored by the Kimberley Health Care Auxiliary. Remember persons 18 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult in the water.
Gift Ideas from the Pool
Kimberley Aquatic Centre has great holiday gift ideas!Ā Give the gift of fitness with gift certificates, swim passes, goggles and caps, or swimming lessons. Please call 250-427-9678 for more information!
FREE Downtown Shuttle
The Peak to Platzl downtown shuttle (pictured above) is a FREE scheduled service between the ski resort base area, the upper-mountain accommodations, and the downtown shops, pubs and restaurants. The shuttle service operates every day (except statutory holidays) from December 27 until March 29, 2018. The shuttle will run on the Saturday schedule for extended hours on New Yearās Eve! To view the shuttle schedule please visit www.kimberley.ca.
Wood Burning Appliances
For those using wood burning appliances to heat their homes this fall and winter, the city asks that you familiarize yourself with our Wood Burning Appliance Emissions Control Bylaw. Please visit our website for more information.
