Saint John, New Brunswick, snow-clearing budget overspent by $2M

Report for councillors says city has faced twice as many large snow storms as a normal year

CBC News Posted: Apr 25, 2014 10:43 AM AT Last Updated: Apr 25, 2014 10:43 AM AT

 

Saint John 2014 snow-clearing budget is projected to hit $8.2 million, more than $2 million over budget, according to a city report.

An internal report prepared for Saint John council's meeting on Monday notes there have been 19 major snow events this winter and three major rain events that were immediately followed by freezing temperatures.

That is twice the number of major snow events what would be expected in a normal winter.

Environment Canada data indicates there were 46.1 centimetres of snow in Saint John in March, with 79.4 cm in February, 44.8 cm in January and 70 cm in December 2013.

In the same months the previous winter, there was 12.3 cm of snow in March 2013, 20.2 cm in February, 12.7 cm in January and 57.9 cm in December 2012.

The city is in the process of reviewing each department and asking what would happen if each department had its spending limited to a two-per-cent increase for inflation and what would happen if the budget was frozen.

The process, which was prompted by Saint John Mayor Mel Norton, was designed to give councillors a thorough understanding of the spending pressures in the city.

Norton also said in March the comprehensive review will almost certainly result in a shifting of funds and with some city services being cut.

Last Winter Storm of the Season? event summary

AWCN14 CWHX 251433
CORRECTED WEATHER SUMMARY FOR NEW BRUNSWICK ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT
CANADA AT 11:33 A.M. ADT FRIDAY 25 APRIL 2014.

  A SLOW MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM APPROACHED NEW BRUNSWICK FROM
NEW ENGLAND TUESDAY NIGHT.  THE LOW THEN MOVED SOUTHWARD ACROSS
THE PROVINCE TO LIE SOUTH OF NOVA SCOTIA WEDNESDAY NIGHT BEFORE 
FINALLY PULLING AWAY FROM THE REGION THURSDAY NIGHT.
  PRECIPITATION BEGAN OVER NORTHWESTERN NEW BRUNSWICK TUESDAY NIGHT 
AS RAIN AND SPREAD ACROSS THE PROVINCE.  THE RAIN THEN CHANGED TO OR 
BECAME MIXED WITH SNOW OR ICE PELLETS ON THURSDAY OVER MOST OF THE 
PROVINCE BEFORE ENDING THURSDAY NIGHT.

THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF WEATHER EVENT INFORMATION RECEIVED BY 
ENVIRONMENT CANADA AS OF 9:00 AM ADT APRIL 25.


                                  RAINFALL (MM)         SNOWFALL (CM)

MANNED OBSERVATION SITES
MONCTON                             36.6                   6
SAINT JOHN                          17.6                   1
GAGETOWN                            27.8                   3
BATHURST                            40.8                   8

UNMANNED OBSERVATION SITES*
MECHANIC SETTLEMENT                 15.2                  11
RED PINES                           47.5                   7
MISCOU ISLAND                       37.6                   3
EDMUNDSTON                          43.4                   4
ST. LéONARD                         52.2                   7
FREDERICTON ARPT                    25.6                   3
FUNDY PARK                          24.2                   1
KOUCHIBOUGUAC                       42.1                   7
POINT LEPREAU                       50.0
ST STEPHEN                          29.2
GRAND MANAN ISLAND                  37.8
CHARLO                              42.3                   6
BOUCTOUCHE                          41.3                   6
MIRAMICHI                           31.7                  10


OTHER UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATION SITES:
OAK POINT                           17.6                   3
BAS CARAQUET                        41.6                   7


END

AWCN11 CWHX 251437
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR NOVA SCOTIA ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA AT
11:37 A.M. ADT FRIDAY 25 APRIL 2014.

  A SLOW MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TRACKED SOUTHWARD ACROSS
NEW BRUNSWICK ON WEDNESDAY TO LIE SOUTH OF NOVA SCOTIA WEDNESDAY 
NIGHT BEFORE FINALLY PULLING AWAY FROM THE REGION THIS MORNING.
  RAIN BEGAN OVER WESTERN NOVA SCOTIA ON WEDNESDAY THEN SPREAD
ACROSS THE PROVINCE.  THE RAIN CHANGED TO OR BECAME MIXED WITH SNOW, 
ICE PELLETS OR FREEZING RAIN THURSDAY EVENING.

THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF WEATHER EVENT INFORMATION RECEIVED BY 
ENVIRONMENT CANADA AS OF 9:00 AM ADT APRIL 25.

                                RAINFALL (MM)           SNOWFALL (CM)

MANNED OBSERVATION SITES
HALIFAX                             28.7                   1
YARMOUTH                            29.0
GREENWOOD                           19.0                   1


UNMANNED OBSERVATION SITES*
SHEARWATER                          39.8                   1
MALAY FALLS                         18.9
WESTERN HEAD                        44.9
BACCARO POINT                       48.0
KEJIMKUJIK                          30.2                   1
KENTVILLE                           25.0                   1
DEBERT                              23.8                   1
NAPPAN                              24.9                   5
PARRSBORO                           29.0                   1


VOLUNTEER OBSERVATIONS
CAPE SABLE ISLAND                   63.1
LAKE MAJOR                          39.2

END

AWCN15 CWHX 251347
WEATHER SUMMARY FOR PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND ISSUED BY ENVIRONMENT CANADA 
AT 10:47 A.M. ADT FRIDAY 25 APRIL 2014.

A SLOW MOVING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TRACKED SOUTHWARD ACROSS
NEW BRUNSWICK ON WEDNESDAY TO LIE SOUTH OF NOVA SCOTIA WEDNESDAY 
NIGHT BEFORE FINALLY PULLING AWAY FROM THE REGION THIS MORNING.
  PRECIPITATION BEGAN OVER THE ISLAND WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS RAIN THEN 
CHANGED TO OR BECAME MIXED WITH SNOW, ICE PELLETS OR FREEZING RAIN
ON THURSDAY.

THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF WEATHER EVENT INFORMATION RECEIVED BY 
ENVIRONMENT CANADA AS OF 9:00 AM ADT APRIL 25.

                               RAINFALL (MM)            SNOWFALL (CM) 
MANNED OBSERVATION SITES
CHARLOTTETOWN                     29.2                      1

UNMANNED OBSERVATION SITES*
SUMMERSIDE                        34.9                      2
HARRINGTON                        31.5                      1
ST. PETER'S                       24.0
EAST POINT                        21.1

OTHER UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATION SITES:
ALLISTON                          26.0                      1
MIMINEGASH                        35.3                      5


END