As the snow continues to accumulate, the bills from the first major snowstorm of the winter are still being tallied.
District of Muskoka Engineering and Public Works Committee recently received a staff report on the storm, which began Nov. 29.
According to the report, in a 72-hour period, the area received a roughly 5 ft 6 accumulation of snow, with the highest accumulations in Gravenhurst. The town of Gravenhurst estimates expenditures in excess of $2 million for additional operational expenses between the beginning of the storm and Dec. 19.
District staff indicate that the final cost of the storm event is still being determined as invoices are still being received from each of Muskoka’s municipalities.
The District estimates the cost of road maintenance during the significant weather event cost approximately $750,000. Staff peg those costs at roughly 37% more than during the same time period in a typical year.
The cost of maintaining water and wastewater systems also spiked significantly, as emergency snow removal was required to access critical facilities and fire hydrants. Wow those duties are typically assigned to District staff; the extraordinary snowfall required contracting services to be used at a cost of roughly $230,000.
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Our municipal and district employees are undervalued until a situation like this occurs! They are there when they are needed.
I do however wonder if we would be better off if our roads departments were restructured so that we don’t have a situation where municipalities are invoicing the district. Why do we need a district roads department when each lower level municipality has the equipment do do the work? Each town and township has the ability to hire contractors, just like the district has. OR Maybe the district should take over all the roads departments just like was done with water and sewer
Is it time for our elected reps to make a decision? Is it proper that tax payers in each municipality pay for two roads departments? Eliminating a level of administration would save tax payers money if done properly.