Many residents are feeling frustrated with snow removal in their neighbourhoods.

A concerned resident Linda Vanweeteringen doesn't understand why the Town of Okotoks isn't plowing residential or side roads. She says this is the only place she's ever lived in that doesn't include residential roads.

"Never ever in my life have I ever lived where they don't actually plow residential streets." Vanweeteringen says "I grew up and lived on Baffin Island - they plowed, I lived in Yellowknife - they plowed, I lived in the middle of the mountains in British Columbia and even they plowed!"

Vanweeteringen says she also had no idea they didn't plow the residential roads in the area, until she along with many others have had to live with it this winter.

"When we were looking to move here from British Columbia, I went on the website because I did some major research and there was no word of not plowing roads."

Many Okotokians have expressed their frustrations at not being able to get in or out of their streets, and many share Vanweeteringen's views, wondering when they will see their streets plowed.  

Unfortunately those living on anything other then a primary or secondary snow route probably wont see a plow at all this winter.

Jamie Greenshields with the town says the snow removal plan can be found on the town website.  An outline of the snow removal plan you'll find there is three pronged approach. First priority to the town is "priority routes" those are the most heavily used roads in town.

"We're talking thousands of vehicles that travel those roads everyday so our initial response is to make sure those driving lanes are all cleared on those routes. Once we're caught up on the snow event we have to go back to those routes to widen them out even further using the grader and things like that."

Once those are taken care of, the town will move onto secondary routes, and clear things like bus routes and school zones, then they'll turn their attentions to the other routes in town, primarily the residential routes.

Greenshields says they won't clear the snow on the residential streets unless it's impeding emergency services from entering an area.

"We don't do any snow clearing efforts on residential roads, but we do go in to sand those on an as-needed basis when we receive calls from our residents." He adds "If the ruts are getting really bad in there, then we have ice blades that we can use to go in and shave ruts down."

Greenshields says that he needs the public to call the town if they're having problems so they are aware. Communication and patience while digging the town out of the snow will be key.

For more information on the Town's snow removal plan click here!

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