Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Jill Sperling

Snow fury

City asks residents to be kind to snow plow operators after reports of mistreatment

Dec 29, 2020 | 4:45 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops is voicing its disappointment over the way snow plow operators have been treated by residents over the holidays.

City Streets Manager Glen Farrow says street clearing crews have been at the receiving end of angry outbursts from community members. He says drivers have been yelled at and stopped. There have been incidents of of people blowing snow directly at the plow and people striking the trucks with shovels.

Much of the anger has been over windrows left by city plows.

“As we’re clearing local roads right now expect a large windrow,” Farrow said. “That’s what we do, that’s how are practices are. In a cul-de-sac bulb those windrows are even larger, it’s a larger area of asphalt and a larger windrow. Our operators are directed to distribute that snow evenly to each and every property. It’s the responsibility of the property owner to remove that windrow and ideally when you are removing snow from your driveway, it should be on your grass, on your property, not putting your snow from your property onto the road.”

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Farrow adds that it is not possible to haul away all the snow that has accumulated at the side of roads. He encourages people with concerns to call 250-828-3461 or email CivicOperations@Kamloops.ca instead of taking out their frustrations on plow operators.

“It’s just shocking some of the behaviours that we’re seeing out in the community right now,” Farrow said, “so we’re really looking for people to respect the operators and understand why they’re doing and what they’re doing.”