Council adopted a new Snow Removal – Windrow Clearing Policy
The main objective behind this policy is to reduce the burden for residents who are 65 years and older or those residents who are physically disabled and unable to move the snow windrow for themselves.
Some of the Criteria that must be met in order to be eligible to qualify for this service include:
No person must reside in the property under the age of 65 who is able and physically capable of removing the windrow. Any resident of the home under 65 must complete Part C of the application form which must certified by their physician;
1)    Residents applying for assistance due to physical disability will be required to have their physician complete and endorse Part C of the form with their initial application only; and
2)    The residence must be the applicant’s principle residence.
Residents who are eligible to have the windrows cleared by the City can expect that at some point during the course of the day or evening the windrow will be moved or substantially reduced as operational requirements permit.
Clearing of windrows will only be done during normal operational hours; overtime will not be expended solely for the purpose of clearing the windrows.
In no case will the City clear the snow from the driveway or snow pushed from the driveway into the windrow.  Windrows clearing will not be carried out when only plow trucks are dispatched for street clearing.
This is a brief overview of the policy, for a complete copy of the Policy and Windrow Clearing Assistance Application form please visit our website at www.fernie.ca or stop by City Hall and pick up an application.
Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia
The October 7, 2008 letter from the Ambulance Paramedics of British Columbia re: provision of acceptable level of service for proper wages was reviewed by Council.  An invitation to the local Ambulance attendants to attend an upcoming Committee of the Whole meeting has been extended on behalf of Council to discuss the concerns the paramedics have in supplying proper service in the Elk Valley and South Country.
Further to this, Council has extended an invitation to Mr. Larry Jackson; Executive Director for BC Ambulance to attend an upcoming Committee of the Whole Meeting to provide an overview of the BC Ambulance Service and the proposed plans and changes to ensure adequate care and service to the citizens of British Columbia.