News Releases

During Burn Awareness Week (February 1 – 7, 2015), the Saskatoon Fire Department reminds parents and those responsible for young children that a child’s skin is especially susceptible to burns and scalds and we need to take extra precautions to protect them.

Statistics Canada reports that in 2010/2011, 346 children aged 0-4 and 59 children aged 5-9 were admitted to hospital as a result of a burn and that burns were the leading cause of hospital admissions from injury for children aged 0-4.

Children are particularly at risk of scalds because their skin is thinner and more sensitive. A child’s skin can burn four times quicker and more deeply than an adult’s.

Some safety tips to decrease the number of burns and scalds to children are:

• Set your water heater to 49°C (120°F). Water heated to 60°C (140°F) can cause a third-degree burn on a child’s skin in just one second.
• Use a travel mug with a tight-fitting lid when drinking hot liquid like coffee or tea.
• Cook on the back burners of your stove and turn the handles of pots and pans inwards.
• Ensure cords from appliances like slow-cookers or kettles are not within a child’s reach.
• Place a safety gate around your fireplace. The gas fireplace’s glass barrier can heat up to over 200°C (400°F) in about six minutes and when switched off, take about 45 minutes to cool to a safe temperature. For young children just learning to walk this is a significant risk.
• Install a smoke detector and test it every month to protect your family and home from fire and smoke.

Burns and/or scalds often happen in a split second but the consequences are long term. A child’s natural curiosity and sensitive skin makes them vulnerable. We need to do what we can to make sure they stay safe.

NEW SATURDAY

4TH AVE S SB LANES CLOSED FROM 21ST ST E TO 20TH ST E
(Crane Lift)
Start: January 31, 7:00 a.m. End: January 31, 10:00 a.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.

City of Saskatoon road crews are now using a pre-wetting delivery technique to apply sand on high traffic streets to improve vehicle traction in icy conditions.

"This is the second anti-icing pilot program we are implementing this year as we identify the best mix of products for our broad range of winter driving conditions. It involves modifying our equipment to spray a liquid chemical de-icer onto the sand before it is placed onto the street," says Pat Hyde, Director of Public Works. "The wet heavy sand adheres better to the road and provides enhanced traction for vehicles."

This program is expected to be more effective in extreme temperatures as low as -65C, where salt is ineffective and dry sand would otherwise bounce off or be blown off the roadway by passing vehicles.

“We started using the new equipment this week on Circle Drive and bridge decks ahead of the forecasted cold snap,” says Hyde. “We will be monitoring the effectiveness and expect drivers will notice the results.”

Through December and January, the first pilot program we have been testing is the sand/salt and magnesium chloride blended mixture.  Salt on its own is only effective to a temperature of approximately -16C.  When temperatures have dipped below that, the sand/salt blended with the magnesium chloride mixture has been effective. 

Today, priority streets are in good winter driving condition with City crews continuing to work around the clock monitoring roadway conditions and utilizing the new processes for salting and sanding roads as required.

Winter Progress

• Approximately 4,000 tandem truckloads of snow have been hauled away from priority streets so far this winter, including centre median and parking lane windrows on many Priority 2 and 3 streets.
• So far this winter, 30 tons of cold mix asphalt has been used to temporarily repair potholes.
• Crews are also maintaining more than 500 utility cuts until they can be permanently repaired with hot asphalt this spring.

For the safety of operators and other drivers, priority street snow removal occurs throughout the evening when there are fewer vehicles on the road. The large machines used are equipped with flashing amber lights, move slowly in teams of two or more and can be found on the road at any time.  Drivers are advised to keep a safe distance from the equipment (15 metres), slow down when approaching, and pass only when safe, using extreme caution.

Crews continue to monitor residential streets and investigate reports of hazardous locations.  Residents are encouraged to report potholes and impassable or hazardous streets by calling Public Works Customer Service at 306-975-2476.

We’re Plowing Ahead and ready for whatever winter brings! Go to Saskatoon.ca and click on Better Winter Roads to learn more.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

The Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board (LRB) today ruled it will not be asking the City to undo the changes contained in the General Superannuation Bylaw No. 9224 adopted by City Council on September 22, 2014.  The bylaw approved by City Council will be left intact and the City will proceed with implementing the amendments with the exception of Transit union members for the four-month statutory freeze period.

“The LRB did not set aside the pension bylaw,” says City Solicitor Patricia Warwick.  “The board said it would not undo the pension amendments passed by City Council on September 22, 2014 and said it would read down those amendments for Transit union members for the statutory freeze period.”

“In other words, during the period of June 3 to October 3, 2014, Transit union members will be treated as if the pension amendments were not made,” Warwick says.  “The City will have to abide by previous pension guidelines for any Transit union members between June 3 and October 3, 2014.”

This also means there is no pension deficit, and the General Pension Plan is protected.  Prior to the September 2014 bylaw changes, the total general pension plan deficit was $68M and the Transit union’s portion of the deficit was $7M.

For more City of Saskatoon Public Service Announcements, News Releases, Traffic Detours and Service Alerts, visit www.saskatoon.ca or connect with the City of Saskatoon on Twitter and Facebook.

NEW

CIRCLE DR E NB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM HIGHWAY 11 TO TAYLOR ST E
(Underground directional boring)
Start: January 30, 9:30 a.m. End: January 30, 3:30 p.m.

PRESTON AVE NB MEDIAN (INSIDE) LANE CLOSED FROM LOUISE ST TO ADELAIDE ST
(Underground directional boring)
Start: January 30, 9:30 a.m. End: January 30, 4:00 p.m.

All restrictions will be lifted as indicated, weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances.

Slow down, pay attention and respect work zones. Watch for pedestrians and work crews, and for everyone’s safety, please obey all detours, signs and barriers.

Know before you go! Plan your route around road work by checking our Road Restrictions and Construction Projects interactive map. Find traffic detour information on our saskatoon.ca homepage or subscribe to our Traffic Detour Service Alerts. You can also follow us on Twitter @YXEServiceAlert and with #betterroadsYXE and like Saskatoon City News on Facebook.