District of Sparwood - Planning Department

Public Works and Utilities

Garbage

Two thirds of respondents use a container to place their garbage on the curb and over half (54%) know that they can purchase a tag for extra bags at the municipal office. Other comments about garbage:

Garbage should be incinerated and used to create electricity. This should be [looked at] as we can make money and break even by using our garbage wisely. This is done elsewhere so can be done here. Why haul it away when we can create electricity?
No garbage in bush roads, our tax dollars would be wasted if our transfer station is closed and loss of local jobs. We need to support our landfill and keep it.
Concerned about closing Sparwood dump? Will people discard garbage in bush instead of driving to Fernie?
Announce altered garbage days, spring clean up, and pick up
I’m so disappointed with all the garbage around town and clean the walking trails along the way. The youth of Sparwood have many party sites in these areas and they are a mess!!
There seems to be a lot of garbage and cans and bottles lying around. Was just wondering if there should be a bylaw for that or any type of clean up or work crew
Should we consider recommending making available bear proof garbage containers?
I’m proud to live in such a well maintained community
Why are we paying for Fernie’s landfill?

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Snow Removal

With regards to snow plowing, 80% are satisfied with how service is in Sparwood and while there was no comment box here there was some written in the end or on the side. Some of the comments about snow removal that were found throughout the survey include:

[Post the] times that snow plows will come in A.M [on the web page]
If paving [of trails] happens then trails should be cleaned of snow and sanded in winter
I would like to see stricter monitoring of the parking on the streets in the Heights. The parking on the streets is affecting snow removal and street cleaning, and safety
Every spring my boulevard, along with numerous others in town, is gouged by loader buckets and other snow removal equipment.
Some plow operators come by so fast that windrow goes 4 to 5 feet onto the drive
What if you live on leased land and still live in town limits how come the snow removal is so poorly done?
Snow plowing/removal in back alleys uptown not plowed wide enough to park in back and have room for traffic to drive by and when doing snow removal take snow to the dump or out of residential areas. Some of us work nights and having equipment dump and stack next to the house is very unpleasant
Sparwood's snow removal is awesome even the sidewalks get done good job!!
If it snows on Friday night roads don’t get done until Monday. No sense of balance one side of the road gets plowed right up to property line other side doesn’t same as windrows one side of street gets more than the other. Too much ice left on side streets, unable to walk

Almost two thirds (63%) help out seniors to remove their windrow and 71% think that the District should remove all windrows for seniors. Less than half (40%) of respondents did not know that there is a Snow Buddy program to award helpful people.

Opinion on removal of the windrows for the entire District was closely divided, with 29% in favour, 39% not and 32% undecided.

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Water Metering

There were no formal questions in the survey regarding the Water Meter program at the District of Sparwood but there were at least 44 mentions of water metering in other comment areas.

Why we are getting water meters?
Water meters-a complete joke spend millions to install meters to save what? We have plenty of water here in Sparwood e.g. Wilson Creek. no shortage.
Water meters should not [be] forced on this community, as this should go to a vote and be a community decision, not one made by a few that affects many. Sparwood has many fields and parks, grassed areas etc, who meters that water
I have a huge issue with the water meters. As far as I am concerned it is nothing but a tax grab!
Why do we need water meters? You are not conserving water so why should we.
We do not think a water meter is necessary considering all the water running by Sparwood. We are not in favour of the meter, shouldn’t be made mandatory being installed in our homes need more info on this
Water Metering: This issue should be dealt with in a referendum. Let the taxpayers decide. I support industrial metering but not residential you want to make Sparwood a place where people want to live and move to. Giving them another bill is not the right way
Water Metering=user pay= fair policy
Water Metering: What other problems is council creating e.g.: Dry Grass/Sewer Problems, Easements for utilities, there is NO SHORTAGE OF WATER IN OUR AREA metering of any type is a cash cow.
I am against the use of water metering I feel that I will only end up paying more for no extra service. If the meters are for future up grade, they should have a sunset clause.
Waters meters [are an] unnecessary use of taxpayer’s money with the abundance of water we have. If water meters are installed and damage is done to the residents walls in the installation I feel the District is responsible for this
I think that the water metering is crap, there are cities like Cranbrook who don’t have meters why us!!!
I do not believe that water meters should be installed in homeowner’s houses. Businesses yes homeowners no