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10.e Public Works -Staff-Report Staff Report Date of Meeting: 1/20/2026 For: Mayor and City Council From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works Subject: PW - Staff Report Roads/ ROW The last month has been very busy for PW staff controlling ice and snow on the roadways. The weather has been mild in temperature causing a heavy snow event which was followed by multiple rain/freezing rain events. The gravels roads and mild weather have caused freeze/thaw cycles on a daily basis over the last two weeks. Nearly everyday staff have been required to apply traction material (sand or grit) to allow the gravel roads to be passable. Additional staff time monitoring and completing applications to the gravel roads has reduced maintenance activities in other areas of the City. Public Works continues to monitor residents plowing snow on or across the road throughout the City. This year has been plagued with residents plowing snow on or across the roadway. Public Works included a warning in the fall newsletter of the issuance of warning and citations for this activity. In past years there were a number of residents plowing snow across the road which caused the action of developing the warning system, but today we are witnessing a manifold of residents doing this activity. Currently 40 warning letters have been disturbed to residents and the ability to monitor this behavior is becoming overwhelming for staff. Public Works estimates 40 more warning letters to be sent out before the end of the season. Public Works has planned to begin sending public announcements on a regular basis in an attempt to curb some of the activity we are seeing, but fear it may have an opposite effect as we have seen already this year. Public Works would like to see the warnings be successful and would rather not administer a Deputy to write a citation as this is considered a misdemeanor offence. Parks Staff began flooding the rink for the first time this season on December 4th. Since the initial flooding, warm cycles of 30+ degree weather have limited the ability for staff to establish the rinks. PW staff have continued to clear the snow out of the skating area hoping the weather would return to normal conditions and allow flooding and maintenance on a regular basis. Last week the two days of 40+ degree weather and sunny conditions melted the entire north end of the hockey rink. Public Works staff will be flooding as much as we are able with the cold weather that has set in and hope there will be enough ice in the north end of the rink to survive the tournament during the Vinterfest Event. Sewer In the last week PW works staff have responded to multiple residences for sewer alarms at their property. Issues have stemmed from pump failures to control panel failures. City staff and contracted services have been able to repair these issues within a short window as to not cause damage to property or other infrastructure. Staff Report Date of Meeting: 1/20/2026 For: Mayor and City Council From: Charles Fischer – Director of Public Works Subject: PW - Staff Report Buildings The kitchen project reached substantial completion on January 14th. Public Works staff completed ceiling tile installation, painting, wall paneling installation, moved all of the counters, sinks and appliances back into the room, and cleaned all of the surfaces upon substantial completion. The gas and water use appliances required plumbers and electricians to re-connect each appliance and were able to be available throughout the scheduling of the project. Due to the long duration of the floor coating process, winter weather disruption, and holiday schedule the window of completing the project by January 9th became difficult to adhere to. Public Works staff worked diligently to keep City roads open for travel, the ice rinks maintained and equipment operational in conjunction with completing the kitchen project. A small amount of punch list items remains as of this report, but will not affect the usability of the kitchen. The pressure washer which serves the Public Works wash bay experienced a major component failure in mid- December. The wash bay has been inoperable since then and a new pressure washer is to be installed by the end of February. Equipment Public Works has been informed that the new tandem plow truck will be ready for delivery in February. Once delivered, the truck with go through inspection prior to placing it in service.