City to hire contractor for snow clearing

The City of Brandon is expecting to pay an extra $15,000 for a third-party snowplow operator this season as it struggles to maintain its three-person fleet.

The city has posted three job postings for a vacant snowplow operator position since November 2024, without any success.

The estimated cost for the contracted position is $75,000, compared to $60,000 for a city employee, gas and maintenance, according to a presentation at Monday evening’s city council meeting.

“For a minimal increase, in the 2025-26 winter season we can continue the current level of service we’ve had in the past couple of years,” said Travis Woloshen, the city’s maintenance manager.

Council approved the change.

The $75,000 figure is an estimate based on about 15 working days, but the number of days can vary depending on how much snow the city receives over the winter.

“Securing external services will guarantee adequate resources are available at the time of a snow event,” Woloshen told council.

The viability of contracting a third-party, which Woloshen described as a pilot project, will be reviewed at the end of the season.

Coun. Tyson Tame (Ward 10) asked if the contract could be terminated early if a new city employee is found.

Woloshen answered that while people can still apply for the vacant position, the one-season contract will be fulfilled.

The higher cost was part of a full presentation on this year’s updated snow-clearing plan for the city. Updates also included giving better notice to residents about the city’s snow clearing.

An online snow map will track where city-owned plows are in real time and tell residents which roads will be prioritized. That includes updates for sidewalks and back lanes. People can find that information online at snowmap.brandon.ca.

People can also sign up for updates from the city on topics such as parking bans and details about the start of a snowstorm. People can do so at brandon.ca/news.

People are also encouraged to use a “report an issue” tab on the city’s website to report problems with snow clearing in their neighbourhood.

Additionally, the city will share an event schedule with residents, so people are aware of what the city will prioritize, including start dates for clearing streets in residential areas.

“By improving our messaging, we aim to reduce public inquiries related to snow-clearing schedules and enhance overall transparency,” Woloshen said.

Coun. Shawn Berry said the added transparency is a positive step for the city.

“This is excellent, this is everything on my checklist I’ve been asking for over the last several years,” the Ward 7 councillor said.

Berry asked Woloshen if it would be possible to alternate which residential neighbourhoods are cleared first, so that the same low-priority residential areas aren’t completed before other neighbourhood.

Woloshen said after the city’s main arteries are completed, the city usually tries to clear the downtown core and the outskirts. Then it alternates between other residential neighbourhoods.

“We do try and alternate,” he said, adding that priorities can be given depending on which areas of the city are hit hardest by a storm, and when garbage, recycling and green-bin collection happens.

City council approved all changes presented at the council meeting.

Also during the meeting, Coun. Bruce Luebke (Ward 6) suggested that the city start paying for the tuition of students taking the heavy equipment technician program at Assiniboine College as a way to combat the staffing shortage in snowplow operators.

Woloshen said he is in contact with the city’s human resources department about hiring the vacant position, and that talks are “still ongoing.”

Luebke also suggested holding a competition to name the plows, which Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett agreed is a good idea.

“If you’re going to be able to follow (the plows on the online map), naming them is not the worst thing in the world,” Fawcett said.

» alambert@brandonsun.com