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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Yellowknife homeowner says city graders are responsible for creating a 16-inch ledge at the end of her driveway that subsequently led to damages to two vehicles.

Cindy Digness stands at the end of her driveway outside her home where she said a huge drop-off of snow caused damage to two vehicles. She is seeking a claim from the city for compensation because she said this problem was caused by city snow-clearing practises. - Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo

Cindy Digness, a resident of Jeske Crescent, complained last week when she backed her 2011 Buick Enclave out of her driveway after city graders came through her street Tuesday morning.

What she found was about a 16 inch drop to the roadway that left damage to the car. When her front tires made the drop from the ledge, it smashed the front bumper.

"When I left for work, there was no way to avoid having to smash the vehicle," she said. "I was not really surprised because it happens about the same time every year."

Unfortunately, it was not the only vehicle she said she damaged from the drop-off. She noticed upon further inspection later in the week that her truck had a ripped mud-flap and a crack on the inside of the fender wall from trying to get it up over the ice ledge.

"When I drove it out and backed it back in again, because of the bump, it stops the truck. I had to give it gas to come up over the little hill and this is what caused the damage," she said.

Most of the damage is a result of the tendency of the city graders to clear the sidewalks when they are clearing the road, she said. She said this has left almost a foot-and-a-half of ice buildup from the sidewalk to the driveway.

"I think they should compensate the damage from the work they do," she said.

Digness said she sent a claim by e-mail to Mayor Gord Van Tighem, who referred the issue to the city's manager of legal services, Kerry Penney. Digness said she thinks the municipality ought to cover the damages done to her car, which she estimates to be about $1,165.

Van Tighem confirmed Digness submitted the compensation claim last week. He said the situation isn't too uncommon, especially if driveway owners don't clear snow and allow it to build up high.

"When they come out in the morning and don't chip away the edge, they go for a bit of a leap," he said. "If you're shoveling the driveway regularly, it usually doesn't create such a jump. There are some places in town where people have had to make modifications to their driveway in the summertime to avoid that in the winter time."

Several of Digness' neighbours said they were familiar with the issue. Gildo Baisi, who lives in the neighbourhood, said the problem is most likely due to a resident who clears the sidewalks with his ATV after the city runs the graders through.

"When we get a heavy downfall of snow, some guy with an ATV builds even more of a gulley because he clears the sidewalk. That leaves a gulley between the driveway and the road," Gildo said.

Baisi was a bit more accepting of the situation. Because of the elevation of the street, he said the city could have levelled the road a bit more at the time it was made in the late 1980s.

However, Baisi said any damage suffered to vehicles can be avoided by staying on top of regular shoveling.

"Some people will have a foot to a foot-and-a-half lip and then they have to chip away at it. But, if you stay at it all year, then that helps you by this time of the year," he said.

In Baisi's case, he was able to hire a private contractor to remove snow piled up all winter.

Ray Pirker, who lives on Jeske, said damage to vehicles is not really the city's fault.

"The city does very well and they do have to clear the way," Pirker said. "I think it just depends on how you look after your driveway."

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