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Winter Maintenance Policy
Section
Infrastructure and
Operations
Date
September 16,
2025
By-law Number
122-2025
Page
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Subsection
Winter Maintenance
Repeals By-law Number
118-2018
Policy Number
IO-4-1
Policy Statement
This policy is intended to be a guide as to how the Roads Maintenance Branch
conducts its winter maintenance program. At least one of the following which may
delay all or some of the services provided may affect all or parts of this policy:
-
Equipment breakdown or manpower shortage
-
Vehicle disabled in the snow
-
Weather so severe as to cause crews to be called in from the streets
-
Equipment rendered inadequate by the depth of snow and drifts
-
Crew breaks, breaks required for refueling, refilling of abrasive materials,
changing of blades
-
Unforeseen conditions and emergencies
-
Shift breaks as required by applicable regulations (CVOR/Employment
Standards Act)
Purpose
The purpose of this Winter Maintenance Policy and Procedure is to establish the
process and level of service for the winter season.
General Objectives
The following are the objectives of the City of Kenora Winter Maintenance Program:
(a)
To reduce the hazards of icy road conditions to motorists as well as
maintain safe possible routes for buses, emergency vehicles as well
as for commercial and passenger vehicles;
(b)
To maintain safe visibility for the operation of motor vehicles at
driveways and intersections as well as to allow access to sidewalks
from those exiting from parked vehicles and to provide space for
plowing snow.
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Procedures:
1. Implementation
1.1 In order to meet these objectives, O.Reg 239/02 and O.Reg 366/18 Minimum
Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways shall be adhered to (as closely
as possible) by the Roads Maintenance Branch. It must be noted that because
no two winter storms are alike, it may not always be feasible to achieve the
standards below due to insufficient equipment or manpower, or the severity
of a storm. However, these standards should act as a guide to be followed
wherever possible.
1.2 The following policies and procedures outlined herein will be in effect when
the weather conditions could cause accumulations of frost, sleet, ice or snow
on Municipal roadways and lots and will be in effect during the normal winter
season.
1.3 The normal Winter season for the City of Kenora is to be considered from
November 15 to April 15 of the following year.
2. Monitoring and Notification of Snow/Ice Events
2.1 During normal hours, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, the
observations of staff and / or police may alert the first response for snow
plowing. After hours, police may contact the Roads Supervisor or Manager
regarding road conditions. The Roads Supervisor or Manager will make the
necessary arrangements to begin sanding and snow plowing operations.
2.2 The Roads Supervisor and Manager will monitor weather conditions when
inclement weather is approaching.
3. Winter Parking Bans
3.1 A Permanent Ban Remains in effect on downtown streets between 2:00 a.m.
and 6:00 a.m. The permanent ban means that there is no parking on any
signed street between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. for maintenance
purposes.
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3.2 Also, no motorized vehicles shall park or be positioned in a manner so as to
interfere with snow plowing/ removal by the Roads Maintenance Branch. Any
vehicle parked in violation of this section can be ticketed and towed at the
expense of the owner.
3.3 Calendar Parking is also in effect in accordance with the City's Traffic and
Parking bylaw from November 15 to March 31.
3.4 Temporary Snow Removal signage is placed out the day before an area is to
be cleared. Any person failing to remove their vehicle from the street may be
towed at the owner's expense.
3.5 Our goal is to restore safe road conditions quickly and this can be done more
efficiently when roads are free of traffic and illegally parked vehicles.
4. Abandoned Vehicles
4.1 All abandoned vehicles left more than 48 hours along the roadway may be
towed at the owner's expense.
5. Illegally Plowed Snow
5.1 No person shall take snow from their property or driveway and deposit it on a
highway or roadway within the Municipality.
5.2 Every person having deposited snow or permitted snow to be deposited on a
municipal highway or roadway shall be responsible to remove the snow from
the highway or roadway.
5.3 No person shall clear or remove snow from a municipal highway or roadway
in front of their residence and stock pile it on a municipal highway or roadway.
5.4 No person shall take snow and deposit it on a municipal highway or roadway
or private property that abuts a municipal highway or roadway in such a
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way as to obstruct the safe flow of traffic, for example impaired site lines
when exiting private driveways or causing people to park in a traveled portion
of highway or roadway.
6. Snow Plowing and Sanding Operations
6.1 The City's equipment shall be stored in the heated equipment bays at the
City's Operations Centre when equipment is not in use. Warmed equipment
helps ensure equipment is reliably available to start work when required.
6.2 When City trucks or equipment require cleaning/cleanout (box emptying, etc.)
at the beginning, during or after a work period, staff shall do so only at the
snow dump area in the rear of the City's Operations Center. Staff shall
endeavor to minimize tailgate noise whenever possible.
6.3 All truck and equipment departures from, and arrivals to, the City's Operations
Centre, shall be via the West end of 14th St N, to and from the D2 - Veterans
Drive, to or through Veteran's Drive, Ninth St N or Rabbit Lake Road. Mellick
Ave shall not be used as an access route unless Winter Maintenance work is
taking place on Mellick Ave, or in the Rideout neighbourhood, immediately
connected to Melick Ave.
6.4 All storm conditions are dictated by temperature, the amount of moisture
present in the storm, wind speed and duration. The combination of these
factors is directly related to the conditions that dictate how a storm will be
dealt with. Freezing rain, sleet, wet snow, dry snow, amount of snow, wind
condition and time of day contribute to storm conditions.
6.5 During major storms, crews will continuously plow and sand higher priority
routes to ensure proper traffic flow.
6.6 For snowfall events exceeding 8cm, sidewalks will be cleared to a depth of
8cm or less within two (2) days (48hrs) of the end of the snowfall event.
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6.7 The prioritization of plowing and sanding operations is based on the roads
classifications (Class 1-6) as described in the Municipal Act 2001. The City of
Kenora has no Class 1 or 2 roads. Class 3, 4 and 5 roads are outlined in
Appendix "A". All remaining roads are deemed as Class 6 roads.
6.8 Roads Maintenance Branch to Determine Routes
The residential road surfaces shall be bared as time and equipment permit, or
at the discretion of the Roads Supervisor. Subject to policy, the Roads
Supervisor shall determine when the plows and sanders should be called out.
6.9 The City's goal is to open streets as quickly as possible and keep them open
throughout the storm. After heavy storms, snow on all roads will be pushed
back to as close as the curb as possible and corners widened. Since the City
uses different types of snowplow equipment it is sometimes necessary to have
larger equipment go back after each heavy snow to push snowbanks back on
some roads. Residents need to be aware that snowbanks will be pushed back
and end up into driveways. The City will not be responsible for nor will the
Roads Maintenance Branch clear driveways.
6.10 Before or after season storms on an equipment available basis.
Equipment normally used for the winter season might not be available for the
storm event. The City of Kenora will make every effort to achieve the Standard
Levels as outlined.
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7. Snow Removal
The level of service for snow removal shall be in accordance with the following:
7.1 Downtown Core
Snowbanks in the downtown core shall be removed using graders, loaders,
blowers and dump trucks when the bank is 600 millimeters high from the
curb, as staff and resources are available.
7.2 Arterial, Collectors and Intersections
Snow shall be picked up using graders, loaders, blowers and dump trucks
when the bank is one meter in height from the curb, as staff and resources
are available.
7.3 Residential Streets
Snow shall be picked up if and when it reaches a height of 1.2 meters, as staff
and resources are available.
On rural municipal roads snow will only be picked up on bridge decks and in
areas where the boulevard space will not accommodate a bank of 1.2 meters
in height (intersections and areas with sidewalks).
7.4 Railway Crossings
Snow shall be picked up as required to ensure that the bank does not exceed
800 millimeters in height within 50 meters of the crossing.
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8. Winter Sanding and Salting
8.1 Screened sand is stockpiled at the Public Works Yard located at 60 14th St
North by the 31st of October each year. Salt is added to the sand at a rate
of 1:25 to prevent freezing. During freezing rain events, salt is applied to
Arterial and Collector routes only.
8.2 Police shall contact the Roads Supervisor or designate to call out sanding
trucks after hours and on weekends in the event that unpredicted working
weather conditions are causing a road hazard.
8.3 Priority routes shall be sanded first, followed by Arterial roads. Special
attention will be paid to hills and intersections.
9. Municipal Parking Lots
9.1 The Roads Branch is responsible for maintaining municipal parking lots. The
lots will receive a priority lower than the streets and will be plowed and sanded
as equipment becomes available and the storm conditions allow. Depending
on the time of the storm and normal operating hours of each municipal
building will dictate the priority for plowing each lot.
10. Cemetery
10.1 The cemetery staff will endeavor to clear snow within two (2) days of a
snowfall event. The Roads Branch will provide additional support after
significant snow events, following the plowing of all streets, sidewalks and
parking lots. If a burial is scheduled, priority will be given to clearing and
sanding only those laneways needed to adequately serve the funeral service
and grave site area. In most cases, other than after large snow events, all
roadways will be cleared within (5) days.
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11. Claims for Damage
11.1 Mailboxes
The Department will not be responsible for any damages to objects located in
the highway right of way including mailboxes, utility poles, garbage boxes,
bus shelters and commercial signs. Mailboxes installed in the Right-of-Way
are placed at the owners' risk. Each mailbox installation should be sufficiently
solid to withstand snow clearing efforts by the City. The rolling action of the
snow may damage mailboxes and posts. Residents may want to place a
second post to act as a brace or place reflectors on the box and post for
visibility in poor conditions
11.2 Windshields
The Department will not accept any claims from the public for windshield or
vehicle paint chip damage resulting from snow and ice control during winter
operations of snow equipment.
12. Driveways
12.1 City equipment and contracted snow plows will not clear private driveways or
other private property. Snow placed in a driveway or on a sidewalk where
the driveway or sidewalk meets the Right-of-Way is the responsibility of the
property owner to remove.
13. Sand Boxes
13.1 Sand boxes are strategically placed on steep hilled streets for residents to
utilize as determined by the Roads Supervisor. Sand boxes are filled at the
start of each Winter season and are re-filled as required during the winter
months. Sand boxes may be emptied by residents sooner than they are
refilled. Residents can submit a service request for the refilling of sand boxes
as required. Winter sand is also made available to residents at the Transfer
Station, during the Transfer Station's operating hours.
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14. Complaints
14.1 A phone line has been established to register complaints. Calls for service
should be avoided early in a storm event since it may take several hours for
plows to make their way to certain streets. If there is an immediate
emergency or feel that a street was missed, please call the snow number.
15. Significant Weather Events
15.1 Driving in winter snowstorms should be avoided whenever possible. In every
storm event there are, at times, conditions when the road becomes too
hazardous despite all efforts.
The City may declare a Significant Weather Event when an approaching or
occurring weather hazard poses a significant danger to users of the City's
roads. In such event, maintenance standards timelines shall be in accordance
with O.Reg. 239/02 Minimum Maintenance Standards for Municipal Highways.
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Appendix "A"
Class 3 Roads:
Highway 17 East
Highway 17 West
Lakeview Drive
Main Street South
2nd Street South
Veterans Drive
Class 4 Roads:
Airport Road
Chipman Street
Darlington Drive
8th Avenue South
5th Street South
14th Avenue North
4th Avenue South
Government Road
Jones Road
Matheson Street South
May Avenue
McLellan Avenue
Miikana Way
9th Street North
Norman Drive
Ottawa Street
Park Street
Parsons Street
Railway Street
Rabbit Lake Road
7th Avenue South
16th Avenue North
6th Avenue South
6th Street
6th Street North
6th Street South
10th Street
12th Avenue North
Valley Drive
Class 5 Roads:
Agate Bay
Agur Street
Amethyst Street
Anderson Road
Bay Street
Bayview Drive
Beach Road
Belle Avenue
Bernier Drive
Beryl Winder Road
Brinkman Road
Bunny Street
Cambrian Drive
Carlton Road
Charles Street
Clarence Avenue
Coker Road
Colonization Road
Crestview Street
Currie Road
Darren Avenue
Donbrock Drive
Doner Avenue
Dowsett Street
Duffus Road
East Melick Road
18th Avenue North
8th Avenue North
8th Avenue South
8th Street
8th Street North
11th Avenue North
11th Street North
Erie Street
Essex Road
15th Avenue North
5th Avenue South
5th Street
1st Avenue South
5th Street
5th Street North
1st Avenue West
1st Street North
1st Street South
Florence Avenue
14th Street
14th Street North
4th Avenue North
4th Avenue South
4th Street
4th Street North
4th Street South
Front Street
Gerald Street
Golf Course Road
Gould Road
Granite Court
Guelph Street
Guernsey Street
Gunne Crescent
Heenan Place
Hennepen Lane
Hillside Crescent
Homestake Road
Huron Street
James Road
Kay Street
Kirkpatrick Avenue
Lake Street
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Class 5 Roads (cont'd):
Lakeshore Drive
Lakeside Crescent
Laurenson Lane
Lyndale Avenue
Main Street
Main Street North
Main Street Rideout
Maple Street
Mary Lou Street
Mascott Avenue
Matheson Street North
May Avenue
McLean Avenue
McQuillan Avenue
Mellick Avenue
Mikado Avenue
Mill Street
Minnesota Street
Minto Avenue
Minto Crescent
Minto Drive
Minto Street
Nairin Avenue
Nelson Street
Nethercutt Drive
19th Avenue North
19th Avenue South
9th Avenue North
9th Avenue South
9th Street
9th Street North
9th Street South
Norman Drive
North Campbell Street
North Hamilton Street
Ocean Avenue
Old Chalet Lane
Ontario Street
Pearl Avenue
Peterson Road
Pine Portage Road
Pine Ridge Drive
Poplar Lane
Poplar Street
Portage Street
Preston Street
Pump Avenue
Rat Portage Road
Regina Avenue
Ritchie Road
River Drive
River Street
Robertson Street
Rocky Heights Road
Rupert Road
Sandstone Place
School Road
Scramble Avenue
2nd Avenue East
2nd Avenue South
2nd Avenue West
2nd Street North
17th Avenue North
7th Avenue North
7th Avenue South
7th Street
7th Street North
7th Street South
Shauna Crescent
Silverstone Drive
16th Avenue North
6th Avenue South
6th Street
6th Street North
6th Street South
South Park Drive
Spruce Street
Street A
Superior Street
Sylvan Street
10th Avenue South
10th Street
10th Street North
3rd Avenue South
3rd Avenue West
3rd Street
3rd Street North
3rd Street South
13th Avenue North
13th Street North
Transmitter Road
Trojan Street
12th Avenue North
12th Street
12th Street North
Water Street
Wharf Street
Wolsley Street
Woodfield Drive
Woods Drive