Fire Ban in Effect (April 23)

A FIRE BAN is issued for Lamont County effective April 23, 2024, at 2:30 p.m. - NEW Off-Highway Restriction and any type of outside burning is prohibited until further notice.

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Private Snow Removal

Residential Snowplowing - Private Snow Removal

In effort to best serve Lamont County residents, Council has recently made amendments to the custom snow plowing/grading on private driveways (Residential Snowplowing: Policy #5100 and Snow and Ice Control: Policy #5104). Please note, Custom Snowplowing shall be conducted given the following factors:

  1. The landowner(s) have submitted a Snowplow/Grading Agreement and the County has accepted, no later than the earlier of November 15 or the first significant snow event.
  2. The County has conducted, in the presence of the Landowner, an Occupational Health and Safety Inspection/Hazard Assessment to determine the suitability for Snowplow/Grading.
  3. While conducting the Inspection/Hazard Assessment, should the County representative determine that the condition of the Private Laneway poses an undue hazard, the County may conclude not to provide this service or until such a time as the hazard has been eliminated.
  4. The Snowplow/Grading Agreement and the Inspection/Hazard Assessment must be completed on an annual basis.
  5. If the application is submitted after November 15 or there is too much snow present, the inspection cannot be done and therefore the service cannot be provided. The Landowner can request to be placed on a list for the following year.
  6. Upon execution of the Snowplow/Grading Agreement, an inspection has been conducted and approved; the Landowner must place the flag at the entrance to the property and contact the County office (Contact Public Works Department directly) when maintenance is required.

Medically Fragile

County residents who are medically fragile and/or require at home medical services on a regular basis will receive the service on a reduced basis. This is only provided subject to provision of an doctor's note (annually) and also be recorded separately so that a flag is not required. The service provided for medically fragile is $100.00 +GST /season. (Contact Public Works Department directly when service is required.)

Seniors (65+)

The service provided for seniors (65+) is $200 +GST /season and will be recorded separately so that a flag is not required. This service will only be provided after all roads have been opened and medically fragile residents’ driveway clearing has been completed. (Contact Public Works Department directly when service is required.)

Regular Flags

All other landowners/designates have the opportunity to buy flags at $125 +GST /each flag (Regular Flags, per one-time use). 

For snowplowing purposes only, if four extra flags are posted, County forces will clear snow for agricultural purposes. This is to the equivalent of a maximum of one hours’ work (not including time spent clearing the driveway).

1 flag – Driveway cleared only;
4 flags – For agricultural purposes; or
5 flags – Both driveway and for agricultural purposes.

The service provided for the driveway clearing will be the distance from the County right-of-way to the residence and supporting infrastructure and back to the right of way. Service will be initiated subject to a flag placed at the entrance of the property unless the resident is a senior, medically fragile or requires at home medical services. (Contact Public Works Department directly when service is required.)

Please note: time spent on driveway clearing is a maximum of 30 minutes per clearing. This is due to the sheer volume of requests. Public Works receives approximately 120 driveway clearing requests, including church clearing requests per snow event. If your driveway is cleared of snow prior to Public Works driveway clearing arriving, please also let us know so we can efficiently clear all requests in a timely manner!

During a snowfall event, the County will use the following order of priority for snow removal (connecting roads with a lower priority will also be treated for efficiency purposes):

a) Emergencies (Ambulance, Police, Fire, Utilities);
b) Major collector roads and Hamlets;
c) Bus Routes;
d) Minor collector roads;
e) Local roads (e.g., Dead End Roads, etc.);
f) Private Driveways;
g) Public Facilities as requested (churches, cemeteries, community halls);
h) Snow removal from approaches (including snow ridges that may have accumulated
on approaches); then
i) Private approaches (if not done as part of snow clearing) and unmaintained road
allowances used for agricultural purposes, on a per request basis as equipment and
resources are available.

1. Where can I purchase a flag?

Lamont County Public Works Office. After a Snowplow/Grading agreement is completed, flags can be purchased at the Town of Mundare, Town of Andrew, and online through OptionPay. 

2. How much does a flag cost?

$125.00 + GST per flag/use (unless designated as Medically Fragile or Seniors).

3. How many can I buy at once?

You can buy as many as you wish. We recommend you purchase as many as you feel you will use in a year and ALWAYS have some on hand in case of a storm.

4. What if I want more than the driveway cleaned?

  • 1 flag - Driveway one cleared;
  • 4-flags for Ag purposes; or
  • 5 flags both driveway and Ag purposes.

5. Where do I place the flag?

At the end of the driveway/approach where you would like the snow cleared. The grader operator needs to clearly see them and be able to retrieve them.

6. Do the flags expire?

No.

7. Can the flag be used summer or winter?

The flag is for winter use only, not summer.

8. Can my neighbour use my flag?

No only you can use flags purchased for your property. When the flag is purchased, an agreement was signed and a map drawn. This means until the flag is used it is limited to only on this parcel of land.

9. If I move from the County can I return the flag?

Flags can be returned at the price it was purchased. The unused flag can be returned to the Administration Building and a cheque will be issued. This process can take up to two weeks.

10. If the grader has gone past my driveway and has not done my driveway what do I do?

If all of the roads have not been opened up, wait your turn (roads are completed on a priority basis), if the roads have been opened up, contact Public Works or submit a service request.

11. Does the County provide a senior’s rate for snow removal?

The service provided for seniors (65+) is $200 +GST per season and is purchased in advance (no flags are needed).

12. Who is eligible for reduced rate driveway snow clearing (medically fragile)?

County residents who are medically fragile and/or require home medical services on regular basis will the service with a significantly reduced rate ($100 +GST per season). The service is only provided each year - subject to the provision of a doctor’s note (annually). Special concessions will be given for unique homecare situations. Advance purchase and doctor's note is required.

13. If I am a senior or am eligible for the medically fragile program will I need to put up a flag?

For both of the services a flag is not required. At the time of purchase, Lamont County requires your legal land description or rural address. Medically fragile services require a doctor's note each year.

14. What are the priorities of the grader operators?

During a snowfall event, the County will use the following order of priority for snow removal (connecting roads with a lower priority will also be treated for efficiency purposes):

a) Emergencies (Ambulance, Police, Fire, Utilities);
b) Major collector roads and Hamlets;
c) Bus Routes;
d) Minor collector roads;
e) Local roads (e.g., Dead End Roads, etc.);
f) Private Driveways;
g) Public Facilities as requested (churches, cemeteries, community halls);
h) Snow removal from approaches (including snow ridges that may have accumulated
on approaches); then
i) Private approaches (if not done as part of snow clearing) and unmaintained road
allowances used for agricultural purposes, on a per request basis as equipment and
resources are available.

15. What constitutes an emergency?

Life threatening individual emergencies such as fire, request from police and emergency services, birth, illness, death, and deliveries because of absence of home fuel.

16. What are the land owner’s responsibilities?

  • To be prepared to sign an annual agreement and clearly mark on a map provided (by the county) any obstacles.
  • Land owner is responsible for any damage done to landscaping or amenities (a hold harmless notice in included in the agreement). Lamont County will not be sending crews out in the spring to replace gravel from lawns to driveways, or to roll back sod that has been pealed.
  • Ensure there is enough room to accommodate the grader.
  • The driveway must be staked out and problems/concern areas clearly marked.
  • Residents are responsible to be prepared during periods of significant snowfall or weather circumstances, it may take 7-10 days before all roadways and driveways are plowed. Residents should always be prepared with a basic emergency kit and other preparations such as backup fuel, food, water, medications, etc.).

17. Who can sign an agreement?

Only the landowner can sign the agreement. Landowners are able to assign a designate on a yearly basis.

18. How can I get an agreement?

An agreement can be found at all the locations that sell the flags (Lamont County Administration and Public Works Buildings, and the Village of Andrew and Town of Mundare offices). The agreement can be mailed, faxed or emailed to the Lamont County Administration Building.

19. Will the service be provided without this agreement signed every year?

A new agreement (seniors and medically fragile) needs to be signed each year before the services are given. Regular flags do not require this update unless updates such as land area changes.