The City of Yorkton's Snow and Ice Control and Removal Policy describes how snow and ice control will be handled by the City once a snowfall hits.
Snow removal
Snow plowing is based on a priority system, starting with highways, main streets and emergency routes. Next are collector streets (Dracup avenue, Morrison drive, Darlington street and Myrtle avenue), then residential streets, cul-de-sac and bays.
Snow Removal Map
When storms are continuous, or closely follow one another, operations will be repeated or continued on the routes of highest priority until completed before moving onto streets of lesser priority.
Snow route parking bans
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Snow Route Parking Bans are declared to restrict on-street parking during our snowplowing operations. There are signs in place on all designated routes.
Fines may be issued and vehicles may be towed if they are not moved during a snow route parking ban.
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Commercial and residential snow clearing
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Snow plowing on main streets are not typically done until 2” (5 cm) of snow has accumulated, with forecasts of more snowfall. Residential streets will not be plowed unless there is more than 4” (10 cm) of accumulated snowfall.
Refer to the Snow Facts document for a break-down of snow removal information.
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Sand and salt operations
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In the winter, salt and sand trucks are out regularly during the week targeting high traffic roadways, intersections and problem areas throughout the city.
With salt and sand, we would like drivers to keep in mind that there are conditions that can limit its effectiveness:
- Salt will not melt the snow/ice if temperatures are colder than -18 degrees.
- Sand can be quickly worn away from traffic on high traffic streets.
If there is an area that you think needs attention, please report it to the Public Works department.
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Sidewalks and cul-de-sac snow clearing
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Sidewalks
Some road right-of-ways and public sidewalks will be utilized for snow storage as snow plows have no place else to push the snow. This is to accommodate on-street parking as much as possible, and help to prevent narrowing of streets.
Cul-de-sac
Snow is often piled in the centre of a cul-de-sac or in the middle of a main street to allow for timely clearing of driving lanes. City crews will return at a later time to remove the pile of snow.
| Keep children safe |
| Don't let them play, or build snow forts in the snow banks at the side of the road. |
| Snow from your driveway |
| Sometimes snow plows go past your property just after you have finished shoveling your driveway and/or sidewalk. We appreciate that this can be frustrating; however, we ask your cooperation in clearing the snow without placing it on the roadway. It is illegal to push snow from your property onto the street. If you hire a private contractor to clear your driveway, make sure the contractor does not push snow into the traveled portion of the roadway or fill in sidewalks. |
| Fire hydrants |
| Remove snow from around fire hydrants on or near your property to enable quick access by emergency personnel if the need arises. |
| Garbage and recycling |
| DO NOT place your garbage or recycle boxes on top of snow banks. If possible place them on your driveway near the edge of the road. |
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Snow clearing problems
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You can report any snow clearing issues to the City Public Works department.
Please send us an email or call 306-786-1760 during and after regular office hours. If you are calling after regular office hours, you may leave a message or be connected to our after-hours on call representative.
Report a Snow Concern
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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
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Below are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about our winter maintenance operations.
| Why doesn't the City plow all the sidewalks? |
| There are over 80 km of sidewalks throughout the city of Yorkton. Unfortunately, the City does not have the budget or the staff resources to provide maintenance for all sidewalks. |
| Why do plows fill my driveway with snow? |
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There are approximately 150 km of roads in Yorkton. When a snowstorm hits the city, our crew's primary objective is to keep the transportation network free-flowing and for emergency services.
To help reduce the amount of snow created by the plow at the end of your driveway, pile the snow on the right side of your driveway (when facing the road) if possible when shoveling.
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| How do I avoid possible damage to my property from snow plows? |
| Reflective snow markers are available at many local retailers and can be an inexpensive way to help mark the driveway boundary, especially in high traffic areas. Snow markers also help to guide road plows and sidewalk plows during storms and can protect properties from potential damage to the lawn. |
| Why does my small local street always seem to be the last street to get plowed? |
| The plowing operation is based upon a hierarchy system. Snowplows are first deployed to clear the main roads (such as arterial roads), followed by secondary roads (such as collector roads and bus routes) and lastly, by local roads (such as small crescents and cul-de-sacs). Since hospitals and emergency services such as police, ambulance and fire services are all located on arterial roads, the hierarchy ensures that these essential services can still operate. |
| How can I help prevent street flooding from melting ice and snow? |
| Clearing snow away from storm sewer catch basins near your property greatly reduces the chance of your street flooding in the springtime. |
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