Image Credit: FILE PHOTO

KAMLOOPS - As the city faces yet another snowfall warning, the man in charge of snow removal in Kamloops hopes to stay within the year's budget.

Streets manager Glen Farrow says there is approximately $130,000 left in the city's snow removal budget of $1.6-million for 2017, but things could change in the next couple of days.

"We’re pretty well bang on budget," Farrow says. "Between 95 per cent and 105 per cent of (the budget) will be spent."

This season's snowfall didn't really hit until the past couple of weeks and crews have been working around the clock to not only remove snow, but also sand and salt roads.

Although it may sound like there's a large chunk of the city's budget left in the year, Farrow says maintaining roads and removing snow is expensive.

"A typical snowfall can exceed, you know, $50,000 quite quickly," Farrow says. "So looking at the $130,000 that remains, that can get eaten."

With more snow in the immediate forecast, it's possible the city could go slightly over budget.

Farrow says there are three eight-hour shifts every day, and about 10 crew members to a shift. He says crews are doing all they can to keep up with the massive accumulation from the storms.

He says keeping the roads safe and maintained comes first, not staying on budget. If any money is left over from this year, it will go into the city's snow removal reserve which is there for when crews do go over budget.

"It’s really not about the budget," Farrow says. "It’s hard to predict the budget with how the weather will be, the type of snow, how frequently the snow events occur."

Residents can also do their part to help. First off, don't park on the road when it snows if you can park in your driveway.

When you're shovelling your driveway or sidewalk, don't move the snow onto the road. Instead, Farrow says to shovel onto the side of your property, specifically the left side if you're facing it from the street.

Go here for more information on snow removal.

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News from © iNFOnews, 2017