City of Merritt CAO Sean Smith (File Photo. Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve / Q-101 Merritt

City of Merritt

‘We didn’t meet your expectations for snow clearing’: City CAO pens open letter to Merritt residents

Jan 6, 2021 | 9:35 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — Merritt’s CAO Sean Smith has penned an open letter to Merrittonians regarding the snow removal process around the City following the storm that hit the region before Christmas.

“We didn’t meet your expectations for snow clearing during the Christmas and New Years’ season. As the Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Merritt, I want to personally express that we can and will do better,” began Smith.

“On December 21, 2020, our City saw 44cm of snowfall in a 14-hour period. We threw every internal resource we had at the snowfall, but it was not enough. Despite the best efforts of our public works team, snow accumulated faster than we could manage. As a result, layers of compact snow started to build up on side streets. City maintained sidewalks were not cleared as quickly as they ordinarily would be. These issues were compounded as 12 more centimeters of snow fell over the course of the next week. We fell behind and never caught up,” continued Smith.

The letter also addressing the treatment of City workers as well as Council.

“Vilifying and bullying is not fine. Staff and Council have been cursed at, flipped off, and been the subject of dozens of comments, both in-person and online, that is downright cruel. On multiple occasions, equipment operators have been stopped in the streets only to be yelled at. Nobody deserves this kind of treatment. These actions demoralize and hurt people that are trying their best to serve their community,” said Smith. “Hold us accountable for our response to one of the largest snowfalls that Merritt has seen in the past 40 years. Require us to put plans in place to ensure that the next time this happens, service is better. In doing that, be civil and kind.”

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The full release can be read here – https://www.merritt.ca/open-letter-on-snow-clearing-in-the-city-of-merritt/