The township of Selwyn is taking a more proactive approach to snow removal in front of school areas thanks to a petition organized by local resident Danielle Lavender.
Lavender started a petition requesting that the township priority school zones for snow ploughing and sanding. She stated in her petition to council that conditions have become unsafe and hazardous for students, staff and parents following multiple recent snowfall events siting that the roads and sidewalks around both schools have repeatedly remained unploughed and untreated during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times.
Her petition that was signed by about 130 community members requested that the township:
• Designate the area surrounding St. Paul Catholic Elementary School and Lakefield District Public School (LDPS) as a high-priority zone for snow ploughing and sanding
• Remove snow within 6 to 12 hours of the end of the snowfall
• Ensure roads are cleared and treated before morning drop-off times
• Maintain roads to bare asphalt, where feasible
• Apply salt and sand as needed
• Provide clear communication when weather or operational challenges delay service
• Implement a consistent and reliable winter maintenance plan for school zones
Her letter with the petition that was presented at Tuesday afternoon’s council meeting stated, “While some road treatment has occurred at other times, the school areas continue to be left unaddressed after snowfalls — despite being high-traffic zones involving children. Concerns have been raised with municipal officials; however, the issue continues…School zones should be treated as a priority for winter road maintenance, especially during active school hours.”
From her petition, which was received for information by council, the Selwyn township Public Works department reviewed Lakefield’s winter control operations. According to the agenda from Tuesday’s meeting they have since implemented adjustments to address earlier snow removal at St. Paul’s School in Lakefield. The department will monitor the change to assess the impacts of these adjustments in the area as well as overall winter control operations in the Village of Lakefield.
