While the snowfall has slowed, the Significant Weather Event declaration in the Town of Huntsville remains in effect as road and sidewalk conditions still require significant snow clearing efforts. Due to the volume of snow, it will likely take 72 to 96 hours to return to normal snow maintenance services. Residents are asked to exercise extreme caution and only travel if necessary.
Public Work Crews have been working in challenging conditions over the past 24 hours to safely plow our roads and, will continue to address snow removal in high-traffic areas to low-traffic areas in our community. Residents are asked to remain patient as our crews safely address and maintain their routes.
“Our crews have been absolutely amazing, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for continuing to work through these challenging and difficult conditions, away from their families and friends, during this Holiday season.” Notes Tarmo Uukkivi, Director of Operations and Protective Service.
The Town of Huntsville would also like to thank the community for their understanding as our crews work during this weather event. Please remember these helpful tips to assist the snow removal efforts over the next few days:
- Do not park vehicles on roadways or block sidewalks
- Clearing your snow onto sidewalks or roadways is prohibited and interferes with removal efforts
- Stay clear of the snowplows and other snow equipment
The Town of Huntsville will continue to monitor weather over the next few days and will provide additional updates as they become available.
I find it very disturbing that during a major weather event that people have the lack of respect for the people that are working their butts off to keep services going. With the amount of snow that fell of coarse things are going to be slow in getting opened up and services returned to normal. If it takes 24 hours to do a complete cleanup after a 15 cm snow storm do you honestly think that it can be cleared to the same level of service after a 130 cm in the same amount of time?. The operators of the snow removal equipment do the pass as directed by their supervisor that takes into consideration many factors such as snow fall amounts , population density , surface conditions and traffic flow as well as parked cars along the route. If the plow is driving at a snails pace it’s it could very well be because the amount of snow they’re pushing is too much to do any faster without loosing control and sliding off the road. Then where would you be?
I spent almost an hour to get home on a 5km trip because there were people stuck everywhere. I could have sat there in my vehicle and honked my horn at the guy that was stuck in my way or I could get out help shovel to get them on their way.
I suggest that you lay off the horn and try to lend a hand It accomplishes a lot more and you might earn a new respect for just how difficult it is do the job
WOW !
I just finished reading all the comments, some positive, most negative and damning the lack of snow plow clearing of the roads and streets, one comment even was directed at the plow operator in that the chain was tight on the slusher blade. All of a sudden when the tough gets going many people ,some claiming to be experts on dispatching, and knowing how to operate a plow truck , to blaming local elected officials on not managing reserves properly, all to their personal liking, etc. etc. etc.
As a former councilor sitting on Huntsville & District public works many years ago , I’ve heard most of these complaints before. I can remember in particular ,a similar situation as we have now, back when all plow and grader operators were working their butts off , and because the laws of the day that states that at 13 hours of driving operators must take rest time. Highway truck drivers to this day by law are require to log their hours showing hours of operation. This law obviously is for the safety and protection of themselves and others out on the streets and highways. Its my understanding this law can only be lifted if the Municipality declares a State of Emergency. Back when Huntsville received a similar snow storm as we have experienced , the roads supervisors Don Cooke, Merv Page, Bill McDonald all stepped in and operated the plows while some of the drivers were resting. Back then road commissioners, supervisors, dispatch personnel and foremen all had previous experience on knowing how to step up into a plow truck and temporary keep at least 3 plow trucks operational out the fleet. Today we have management that have no hands on know how, or experience on operating a plow truck . And BTW some of these management/supervisors employees are at or very near the “sunshine List” especially at the District Of Muskoka level. I’ve personally in recent years conversed with a District roads supervisor on the policy and timing of winter maintenance on my District Road, I could sense fairly soon that in my opinion and experience that this man lacked winter maintenance experience grossly.
Another issue that got changed a number years back is that “the powers to be” in their wisdom eliminated the wingman in the trucks, so now just the driver alone has to operate the wing position and slusher blade and now only one set of eyes watching out for potential dangers in the process of plowing. Maybe the writer from Gravenhurst was around when a wingman was the norm , always at the ready to lift the wing or making sure the chain from the jews harp wasn’t tight , with the plow down riding on its shoes.
To person pointing out to the Town that Fieldale Road wasn’t getting plowed to her satisfaction, well the Fieldale Road that I know isn’t even in the town of Huntsville, its in LoB.
Its always sometimes amazing how some former GTA residents move to our area and expect the same or better service in things including winter road maintenance. Some have chose to live at great distances away from shopping and health care , but still expect their road to be maintained , especially because the huge amount of their tax bill. Well I can tell those people if the Town invested in the amount required to meet all theirs, and our wishes for faster more efficient services, the money required would skyrocket our tax bills.
As for us living on any of the District of Muskoka maintained roads in my opinion the service leaves much to be desired.
Ever since the Town of Huntsville gave up plowing or contracting out the snowplowing of District roads in my opinion have been much of a substandard situation. My Road District Road 31 has never been so poorly winter maintained in all the over 50 years I driven an lived on it. Right from when the former Stisted Township, to the Town’s own yellow plows to the Town contracting the plowing of this road was by far superior quality of service. The timing now is laughable, the sanding is an incredible wasting procedure, and all added up requires often a grader to repair the travelled surface. It only makes one wonder about who on District doesn’t have the experience or knowledge to manage our tax dollars efficiently.
M.P. Scott Aitcheson when he was Mayor started a movement to bring back the winter maintenance on District roads to the Town’s responsibility, however unfortunately wasn’t able to carry through.
Its two fold of the District , Poor service and Wasting tax payers hard earned money.
Thank You for Listening, John Earl, Aspdin
Thank you so much for all you have done. We live on Stephenson # 2 East. It took two days to get plowed out. We were without power, but neighbours helped each other. We appreciate the fact that you were all working long hours away from your families, very appreciative.
We have finally seen the plows after struggling for 4 days. No power either by the way. It seems to me the people that live the remotest should be given priority but it never ceases to amaze me that we are ALWAYS the last road to be plowed. Shame on your organizers in the town.
There are many seniors on this road! An ambulance could not make it on Fieldale road without having to call the plows. Extremely disheartened by the town.
To whom it may concern
I am very disappointed in the management of the snow removal equipment and the crew members in Huntville. The crew members are not to blame but the management is. Your own standards have not been met for road and sidewalk clearing.
The main arteries in this town were not serviced during this storm. This was not a freak storm. It was known to management for over 24 hours that this storm was coming. Centre St., Main St., Young St. in my opinion would be considered main arteries and they were definitely not repeatedly cleared throughout Saturday December 24, 2022 by the crew that as you put it are designated to a certain area. I can only speak of these streets as they are the ones that I had to try to travel on.
Pedestrians were forced to walk on unplowed roads because the sidewalks were not cleared which was extremely dangerous. I don’t accept that a continuous use of your equipment on these main arteries was demonstrated as I was on these roads between 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm on Saturday Dec. 24 2022 and I saw very little activity with snow removal maintenance.
I have read peoples comments about not seeing plows for days as I also experienced and this is simply not acceptable. Ambulance and fire vehicles responding to calls must be able to get through to people in need.
I was not on the road unnecessarily as I am an essential worker and feel that if your equipment was managed properly these roads would be passable. I don’t expect the roads to be perfect but I did not expect the main roads to have 6 to 8 inches of snow which made it impossible for many vehicles to get home. Due to this lack of maintenance (plowing and sanding) vehicles needed to be abandoned everywhere which has now made your job even more difficult.
If all of the taxpayer had a monetary budget issue would it be acceptable that we don’t pay our taxes, no we would be expected to make adjustments so that we could as a community have our services that are required to function safely.
I trust you will make adjustments so that the current taxes we pay will provide the standard of services you have posted as your guide lines.
Thank you.
The streets in Brookside Crossing have not had snow removal in past 3 days..residents have had to use personal snowblower to help essential workers get out to work and family in to homes..I have spoken with counsellor Clarke and director of public works and sent message to mayor..this lack of service is dangerous and inappropriate..the town tax surplus funds that mayor and politicians bragged about during election need to be used to buy more equipement and hire more staff and have private plowing contractors available for extreme situations like this storm..this is what other communities do in this situation..action is required now before these conditions result in fatalities..spoke with triage nurse at hospital today who advised had to walk an hour yesterday and today because roads were not cleared and she couldnt drive her car. No more excuses..do the jobs you were elected to do..protect the citizens of our community..adequate service is expected by all..make it happen.
Yes i noticed the same thing when the plow went down George St… put the blade down and drive a little faster than a snails crawl… you r leaving a HUGE PLOW ROW than even a snowblower has trouble handling…
the operator of the plow didn’t have his plow down all the way to clean the snow completely. l know this because I am experience in plow since l have worked in gravenhurst public work and Huntsville. the chains on the slusher were still tight when he went by me. only half the street was clean by the wing. maybe you are proud of your operator, he just costing the taxpayers money, not doing the job correctly
Great news. Plow just came through! Yay!
Veterans way hasn’t been done and some of us drive to work and there’s an emergency response vehicle that is on that street. That poor person can’t get out for work and people are constantly getting stuck at both stop signs
The roads to yearley haven’t been plowed yet. I have parents out there and everyone is out of gas and no phone or hydro. Maybe ask the sprucedale plows if they could help!!!!
I completely understand how hard these folks have been working to clear our roads and we Thank you however, we live on Britannia Rd and as of today, Dec. 26th we have not had one plow go down our road. This is very concerning if any of us have a medical emergency. It is not drivable unless you are driving a pick up truck possibly. The odd car has gone down and plowed the snow over their windshield and landed off the side and could not get out.
Please, come down our road for one pass as we have to get out today.
Donna Hughes
Vernon shores hasn’t seen snowplow since 23rd. Completely cut off from any services. No power, people freezing and hungry . Cars abandoned on roads into Vernon shores since 23rd . Send help 😢
We live on a higher volume street as well.
There’s just so much snow, its going to take time and we all need to be patient and let the folks do their job.
I appreciate all those who worked and spent time away from their families on Christmas and the other holidays to keep things as good a possible.
We’re stuck too, so, time to exercise and walk — enjoy the snow. Life is short.
Why haven’t any snow plows been around on Florence street West? It is normally a high trafficked area. If they would clear our road, my snow plow could get here to clear my driveway. As it is, I am stuck.