PERTH — Perth council received an update on winter road and sidewalk maintenance and approved support for a Stewart Park Festival grant application at a recent regular council meeting.
With winter weather continuing to affect the region, Perth director of environmental services Grant Machan provided council with an overview of how the town manages snow removal and winter maintenance.
Machan said operations are guided by provincial minimum maintenance standards, but Perth exceeds those requirements. Crews monitor Perth-specific weather forecasts, pre-treat roads with salt and plow continuously during storms rather than waiting for snowfall to end.
Town staff maintain 98 lane kilometres of roads, 45 kilometres of sidewalks and eight municipal parking lots. Priority is given to main routes, downtown, the hospital, schools when open, employment areas and parking lots before residential streets and cul-de-sacs.
Each snow removal event can cost about $24,000 over three nights, not including town staff and equipment costs. Crews rotate to comply with safety requirements and prevent fatigue while also ensuring water, sewer and emergency access remain operational.
Machan reminded residents that overnight parking bans are essential, as parked vehicles slow plowing and can leave icy conditions behind. Business owners were also encouraged to use the town’s free red “overhead danger” barricades to warn of icicle hazards downtown.
Despite the challenges, Machan praised staff for managing nearly five feet of snow so far this season.
“It may not always look pretty,” he said, “but it’s safe, functional and it gets people where they need to go.”
As Perth continues to grow and weather events become more severe, Machan noted additional staffing needs may need to be assessed in the near future.
Perth council supports Stewart Park Festival grant application
The Town of Perth is supporting the Stewart Park Festival in its application for up to $18,500 from the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund.
Following a recommendation from the committee of the whole, council authorized Cathy McNally, director of community services, to submit the grant application to help offset festival costs.
The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund supports events that attract visitors and showcase local culture, making the Stewart Park Festival a strong fit for Perth’s single annual application. Festival organizers have a proven track record of securing grants and view the funding as an opportunity to enhance programming and improve the visitor experience.
If approved, the grant would cover up to 30 per cent of eligible costs, with remaining expenses funded through the 2026 Stewart Park Festival operating budget via the Perth BIA.
“This is a grant application that goes to Stewart Park Festival organizers directly, but they have to then demonstrate their own financial commitment,” said McNally. “So if, let’s say, it was a $20,000 marketing campaign, they would get coverage for about $7,500. They wouldn’t have to pay any money back.”
Keep connected to your community—Read the latest Perth Ontario news.
For all Perth council and committees meetings, visit the Town of Perth’s website or watch them on the town’s Youtube channel.
