Marilyn Kirk brings snow removal issues to Pincher Creek Town Council

Toni Lucas

Marilyn Kirk met with Town Council during the regular meeting of March 24. Kirk lives on Edna Street in Pincher Creek and wanted to address problems with flooding she said were due to the way snow removed from the road has been deposited in her area over the course of several winters.


"I bought my house in 2005," Kirk said.  She said that she came home one day in January 2006 to a flooded driveway. According to Kirk the snow had been cleared off the street and was then piled in a way the blocked the gutter, preventing the water from draining as the snow melted. Kirk said she contacted the Town and asked them to remove the snow from where it had been piled, and that at that time she was told that it would be done.

"I had water come down, eventually, into my basement," she said, explaining she then  hired a private contractor to remove the snow. "It drained down the gutter, around the corner, and that was fine." Maps were displayed by Kirk and a Google map of her corner was also displayed to better show council the area in question. "There are no drains on my side of the street, at all,"  Kirk said.  She added that sometimes the snow removal off the street is put in areas that she can deal with, but inconsistently.

"I keep the gutters clean." She said that she offered alternatives to town employees in the past as to where the snow can be left, including on a nearby green space  at the side of her yard, and offered that they can pile the snow directly on her lawn if necessary. She said she is just not capable of keeping the gutters clear for drainage if snow is piled on the curb.

""I realize that I'm not a priority, but I'm asking for the 8th year in a row, to please don't leave the snow there,"" she said, explaining she has been in touch with the Town over this particular problem numerous times.

The Mayor thanked Kirk for bring this to the attention of the council and indicated the issue will be discussed by them at a future meeting.

"It is so exasperating to deal with this water problem every year," Kirk said after the meeting. "I just want to find a solution going forward."