The latest figures are in from the Mattagami Region Conservation Authority… and to no one’s surprise, this is a particularly snow winter.
Right now, Timmins has 86 cm or 34 in. of snow on the ground. That’s the most since April 2008 and March 2009.
Based on that, the public works department is changing how it clears snow.
Manager Ken Krcel says the normal process was taking too long, based on the sheer volume of snow – three times as long. So gone for now are graders and sidewalk plows to clean up loose snow or shave down build-up on streets.
From December 1st until today, clean-up crews have hauled away close to the same amount of snow as they did all last winter. Krcel says equipment, employees and contractors have all been pushed to the limit.