Jess McDiarmid
Northern News Services
Published Friday, November 23, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Snow is getting carted away early this year to deal with the sloppy streets left by higher than average snowfall and warm temperatures.

About 57 centimetres of snow have fallen this year between Oct. 1 and Nov. 19, which is the average for all of October and November. The city will be removing it from city streets this week and next. - Jess McDiarmid/NNSL photo

"There's been more of it and we haven't had cold temperatures so it hasn't been freezing and compacting," said Greg Kehoe, director of public works for the city. "What we're left with ... around city streets is this sugary snow that is causing some challenges for some of our residents."

Kehoe said downtown property owners' use of salt and de-icers to clear sidewalks gets into snow on the street, making it harder to pack down.

The city removed snow from Franklin Avenue this week and will start to clear out downtown sidestreets next week.

Typically, snow is removed twice a year from downtown streets and once a year from residential areas.

Franklin Avenue is the only street that usually gets cleared before Christmas.

According to Environment Canada, about 57 centimetres of snow has fallen this year between Oct. 1 and Nov. 19, which is on par with the average for October and all of November.

Last year, 89 centimetres of snow fell in that timeframe, with the vast majority occurring in November.

Coun. Paul Falvo raised the issue of excess snow at the Nov. 13 city council meeting, citing concerns from residents.

Kehoe said the department has also heard some complaints.

"There's been some and understandably so," he said. "We're getting more snow earlier in the year and we're reacting as best we can and trying to stay within budget.

"There is an added cost to starting the snow removal but you can see from the city streets that it's probably time to do it."