The tedious and hard work of removing snow from several of Elliot Lake’s municipal buildings is moving ahead.
Three contracting companies, including Liam Halligan’s LH Outdoor Living of Elliot Lake, are undertaking the work.
Snow removal from the roof of the Collins Hall has been completed allowing for a concert to be held there this evening.
Crews are currently working on the Ruben Yli-Juuti Centre municipal swimming pool which, according to Halligan, has areas of the roof under four to five feet of snow and ice.
“There’s three contracting companies up there doing their best,” Halligan told ElliotLakeToday as a crew of about eight people worked on the pool building.
Workers all have licences to work on heights and the contractors have equipment needed to carry out the work. The snow pack is first broken up to allow the snow blower to remove the ice pieces and snow.
“It’s very heavy snow—there’s two layers of ice in it and it’s wet and heavy—it’s not four feet of powder,” Halligan added.
Crews have been working two shifts from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
City crews have been busy working around the clock to remove snow from streets and intersections.
“Mother Nature has kicked us,” he said.
“Everything has to be done by the book,” Halligan said, with a Ministry of Labour order to close the Lester B. Pearson Civic Centre after part of the roof of that building collapsed a week ago. The civic centre remains closed along with the Centennial Arena. It’s hoped the pool will be re-opened next week.
“Those guys are working hard—they’re earning their pay.”
Crews also cleared ice from the edges of Elliot Lake Secondary School to ensure ice doesn’t drop on entryways or parked vehicles.