City of Regina prepares for spring

The City of Regina has reallocated resources to prevent flood damage. Crews were out near St. James Park on Thursday laying down sand barriers in anticipation of flooding.

“Engineers are working on the elevations, the next point our survey crews go out and mark that in, and then they’re followed up by the crews that are putting up the sandbags,” said Jay O’Connor, Manager of Emergency Operations at the City of Regina.

The city bought over 500 metres of them this year, spending $90,000. They’re quicker to set up than sandbags, they don’t rot, and can be stored for the next season.

With water levels expected to rise, drainage is also a concern. The city has hundreds of catch basins, but many of them are blocked by snow and ice, causing water to pool in the streets, and on sidewalks.

“As the snow melts, it needs somewhere to drain, so this  is the system that was designed to handle any kind of water that the city does receive,” said Chris Warren, Manager of Winter Maintenance at the City of Regina.

It’s a big task, and with so many storm drains to clear, residents are being encouraged to pitch in on their streets.

The melting snow is turning sidewalks into ice. While the city’s regular ice control program is still in effect, the majority of sidewalks are up to residents and business owners to clear.

As the weather warms up, another challenge is being revealed: garbage.

“There’s a lot of litter that’s accumulated on the roadsides over the winter, especially on places like the Ring Road, and we spend a considerable amount of time out there picking that litter,” said Charmaine Neufeld, Manager of Parks Maintenance at the City of Regina.

Workers will begin cleaning that trash soon. The city says it has had some informal discussions about the possibility of an anti-littering campaign, but so far, no concrete plans.