Council here has approved an agreement with Owen Sound Highway Maintenance Ltd. to plow connecting links on Highway 9 in Clifford and Highways 9 and 89 in Harriston.
Public Works Director Brian Hansen, in a report at the Sept. 25 meeting, noted the province has tendered the work out for 12 years and awarded the contract to the Owen Sound company.
“The proposed rates are three per cent higher than last year’s rates, but still are very competitive,” noted Hansen.
Last year’s cost for winter maintenance on the Clifford connecting link was $6,900, plus HST, while the cost for the Harriston highway maintenance was $7,750, plus HST.
Council also agreed at the meeting to a recommendation the municipality take over plowing of municipal lots during the winter.
Last year, when the work was tendered out, it cost just over $16,000 for snow removal for the 2011-12 winter season. Municipal staff took care of sand and salt applications.
In order to facilitate the change, the town will keep a 2004 GMC TopKick, rather than trading it in on a new plow truck, and outfit it with a new plow at a cost of $6,265.
“By keeping the 2004 TopKick the town would have a fully-equipped backup truck in case of emergency storm response or if another plow truck goes down for repairs,” noted Hansen.
CAO Bill White said the town will evaluate the system in the spring to determine if it is more cost-effective than contracting the work out.
