The City of Sault Ste. Marie has offered a rebuttal to concerns expressed by a taxpayer from the West End who is frustrated by the large chunks of snow and ice left in his neighbour’s driveway.
In Michael Paul’s letter, which ran on SooToday yesterday, he described having a “defeated soul” after seeing the work of the city’s “Snow Squad.”
“We have struggled with snow all season and most of the city has nowhere else to put it and they woke up and said ‘guess what, I think tonight is a great night for placing four feet by two feet wide ice dams at the end of your driveways!’” Paul said in the letter.
Tessa Vecchio said staff with the City of Sault Ste. Marie understand the challenges that people face this winter.
“Heavy and frequent snowfall has created challenging conditions for residents and the frustration that can come with snow removal operations,” said Vecchio, corporate communications officer with the city.
City crews work around the clock to keep roads safe for drivers, pedestrians, and emergency services.
“When snow accumulates rapidly, our teams use all available tools, including graders and plows, to manage the volume effectively.
“Unfortunately, plows must sometimes push back snowbanks, which can result in deposits at driveway entrances.
“This is unavoidable in winter road maintenance, particularly in seasons with heavy snowfall,” Vecchio said.
She said the city acknowledges that the ice ridges left behind can be difficult to clear, “especially for seniors and those with mobility challenges.
“While the city does not have the resources to remove snow from individual driveways, we encourage residents to take advantage of many local snow removal companies.
“Our team is always reviewing snow-clearing operations, and we appreciate those who take the time to share their concerns.”
Vecchio thanked residents for their patience and resilience and encouraged them to reach out to the Public Works department with specific concerns.
“If you have specific locations that require urgent attention, please report them through the Public Works department at [email protected].”