Is the Sault’s pothole problem getting worse?
Shelley Olar, Risk Manager for the City of Sault Ste. Marie, doesn’t seem to think so.
“The number (of pothole claims) was lower in 2021 as fewer people were driving during the pandemic,” she says.
As of Dec. 20, the city had received 175 pothole claims in 2022 compared to just 25 the previous year.
While the rise in damage claims this year was steep, Olar says there are logical explanations for it.
“The numbers can change for a myriad of reasons – people are not driving, staying home more during a pandemic, a milder winter where there are less potholes etc.,” she wrote in an email to SooToday.
According to Olar, most pothole claims are investigated and completed within 90 days.
“When the city receives a claim, the legal department gathers all relevant data from the appropriate departments and refers the matter to an independent insurance adjuster who determines if there is liability,” she says.
“This is done to ensure an impartial review of the circumstances and to provide a fair resolution of the claim."
If the city is deemed to be responsible for claimed damages, as per the independent review, Olar says the most they would cover is the current value of the damaged property.
In any damage claim, she suggests people go to their own insurance provider because:
- Their insurance policy may provide coverage for the damage
- They may be eligible for greater compensation than they can legally recover from the City
- The insurance company will pursue any party they believe to be responsible for the damages
To submit a pothole claim, or to report a pothole, residents can visit here.