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Public Works Dept.

The R.M. of St. Andrews Public Works Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the municipal infrastructure. The department delivers a wide range of services including road construction and maintenance.
 
Some others services include:
  • Winter road maintenance and snow clearing operations (plowing, sanding and salting of roads)
  • Construction and maintenance of roads including gravel and dust control application, street sweeping, road grading, road building, patching and repairs
  • Roadside ditch maintenance and grass cutting
  • Maintenance of the Waste Disposal Grounds (Earl Grey and Clandeboye as well as the Village of Dunnottar) as well as Petersfield Sewage Lagoon and South St. Andrews Wastewater System
  • Maintenance of Public Works equipment and buildings
  • Municipal drainage works, culvert installations, steaming and clearing of culverts
  • Road signage
  • Civic addressing signage
  • Lot grade surveys
  • Operation of Department, including administration and budgeting
If you have any concerns, please contact the Public Works Department at 204-738-2076 or submit a service request. You can also check out our Frequently Asked Questions section which may assist with your inquiry.
 

The R.M. of St. Andrews Municipal Office is located at 500 Railway Avenue in Clandeboye. The Public Works Department is located in the building north of the Municipal Office.

RM Office: 204-738-2264 or 1-866-738-2264
Public Works Direct Line: 204-738-2076
Submit an online service request: Service Request Form
  
Trevor Antichow - Public Works Manager

trevor@rmofstandrews.com - Ext. 139

Vacant - Public Works Clerk

Chad Therrien - Engineering Aide


Public Works staff spend many hours managing drainage throughout the municipality. Some of the tasks performed to maintain proper drainage levels include: 
  • Ditching (maintaining grades and slopes)
  • Maintenance and replacement of culverts as required
  • Grass cutting in right-of-ways as well as in the ditches
  • Opening of the main drains each spring
  • Culvert steaming (if blockage is found)
Every spring the main drains in the municipality get opened up to allow the ditches to carry off the snow melt. Our snow removal policy and a list of all of the drains we open can be found here: Snow Removal & Drain Openings Policy.
  
During the summer and fall, ditching/drainage works are done as recommended by the Public Works Department, staff, Council members or as requested by residents. Any resident who is experiencing drainage problems is asked to complete a Service Request Form. All submissions will be reviewed and assessed on a case by case basis, based on the necessity of the work requested and budgeting allowances.
The Petersfield Lagoon is used by septic haulers to dispose of collected wastewater where it can then decompose enough to warrant discharge into the Netley Marsh.

Our Engineering Aide is a certified small systems operator. The operator is required by license to operate the control valves, take samples and submit them for laboratory analysis, and to provide chemical treatment to reduce the fecal coliform count sufficiently to meet the license in order to discharge into the marsh. Discharge is typically performed once or twice a year. Currently an expansion to the lagoon is in the design phase. 
 
Information on our Waste Disposal Grounds and Recycling Program can be found on the following webpage.
The Public Works Department does a significant amount of vegetation management throughout the municipality. Below is a brief summary of some of our tasks:
 
Tree Cutting
  • Public Works performs general tree cutting where required in order for the RM equipment to drive down public right-of-way roads and ditches without obstruction.
  • RM staff perform general tree cutting and removal due to storms or rot, or if the trees encroach or pose a safety hazard to residents on public right-of-ways.
Grass Cutting
  • Grass along the side of roads and in the ditches requires cutting primarily to prevent snow accumulation on the roads during winter and to improve drainage.
  • Top cuts are performed typically starting after the May long weekend. Top cuts may be done a 2nd time dependent on weather and time.
  • Bottom cuts are performed typically in the late summer and into the fall until snowfall. Bottom cuts are also performed if the conditions allow and there is no water in the bottom of the ditch.
  • Public Works also perform grass & weed cutting using hand operated trimmers where the heavy equipment cannot access or along trails and around culverts or wherever it's needed.
Weed Control
  • The Selkirk Weed Board is contracted to cut grass if RM resources are not available or able to complete the work.
  • Public Works manages and coordinates the contracted work performed by the Selkirk Weed Board to spray for weeds along roadsides and ditches. High priority drains are sprayed on a bi-annual basis.
Dutch Elm Disease
  • Public Works manages and coordinates the contracted removal of diseased Dutch Elm trees within the RM. The diseased trees are either chopped on-site or transported by the contractor to either waste disposal ground in order for the custodian to burn the wood. Burial or burning are the acceptable methods of disposal. Burial is not practiced due to the usage of landfill space required.
When building a home in the R.M. of St. Andrews, a Lot Grade Permit must be applied for at the Municipal Office. A Lot Grade is required so that your new home is built at an appropriate elevation to protect your home from flooding and/or any drainage issues.
 
The cost of a Lot Grade Permit for Residential & Agricultural use is $500.00, with a refundable deposit of $2,500.00.

The cost of a Lot Grade Permit for Commercial & Industrial use is $500.00, with a refundable deposit of $10,000.00. 

For properties within the Lower Red River Designated Flood Area, the lot grade is established by the Province. In such cases, the $500.00 permit fee is waived, however, the applicable Damage Deposit is still required.

More information about fees and the lot grade process can be found in our Lot Grade Brochure. This brochure will give you all of the information required to apply for a lot grade.

If you are requiring a permit application form, you can download a copy here: Lot Grade Permit Application Form.

Lot grade permits and inspections are not typically done in the winter due to:
  • Snow covering the topographic features that the RM needs to inspect/survey in order to set lot grades and do the final inspections
  • Frost in the ground moving/making inaccurate construction stakes and once the ground freezes, preventing construction stakes from being installed

The RM starts up again in the spring after the snow/ice melts.

More information on building in the municipality and permit information can be found on our Building Permit Information page.

If you still have questions, feel free to call the Public Works Office at 204-738-2076.
Anyone installing a new driveway/access to their property must obtain a Private Approach Permit from the Municipal Office. The cost of this permit is $500.00.
 
Included in the $500.00 is a damage deposit of $350.00, which will be refunded once our inspector has approved the culvert’s placement. 
 
A copy of the Private Approach By-Law and permit application form can be obtained here: Private Approach By-Law and Permit Application Form

Private approach permits and inspections are not typically done in the winter due to:
  • Snow covering the topographic features that the RM needs to inspect/survey in order to do the inspections
  • Frost in the ground moving/making inaccurate construction stakes and once the ground freezes, preventing construction stakes from being installed
  • Approaches need to be built out of unfrozen clay fill material and there is no unfrozen backfill material in the winter. Temporary/poorly built approaches will typically not be permitted

The RM starts up again in the spring after the snow/ice melts.

The R.M. of St. Andrews is one of the largest municipalities in the Province and there are many roads that need maintaining. Our boundary spans all the way from Winnipeg Beach, south to St. Andrews Airport, west to the R.M. of Rockwound Boundary and east to the river.

A listing of all the roads in our municipality can be viewed in our Road Reference Manual. This document also provides detailed directions on how to access each road. 

Road Construction Standards
These standards were developed to provide guidance documents for planning of any new subdivision roads as well as for any upgrades required to existing roads. This document ensures that all road construction standards are adhered to. 

ROAD MAINTENANCE
The RM has paved, gravel and mud roads to maintain. 
 
Gravel
  • The R.M. of St. Andrews has an annual budget for gravelling roads.
  • An annual assessment is done of all roads by R.M. staff.
  • Gravel is applied based on the assessment and on the set budget for that year.
  • Spot dumping is done, as required according to assessment and budget. We do not gravel all roads in the municipality annually, only as required.
Dust Control
  • This is a combined effort between R.M. staff and the dust control supplier to dust control gravel roads in front of residences, intersections & heavily traveled roads.
  • Provides road stabilization and gravel retention in addition to a reduction of dust.
  • Is performed once a year with a 2nd application in late summer only where required.
Paved Roads (Asphalt & Chip Seal/Seal Coat) - the following tasks are performed:
  • Snow removal
  • Sanding & salting at intersections (not full roads)
  • Cold mix patching
  • Crack sealing
  • Emulsified spot patching by patch truck
  • Road Works Program
  • Engineering design
  • Road reconstruction, preparation & paving
  • Gravel Roads - the following tasks are performed:
  • Snow removal
  • Sanding & salting at intersections (not full roads)
  • Dust control roads. Provides road stabilization and gravel retention in addition to a reduction of dust. Performed once a year with a 2nd application as required.
  • Grading - Four graders with each operator having their own area to maintain.
    • Area 1 – RM South Boundary to PTH 67
    • Area 2 – PTH 67 to Clandeboye Rd
    • Area 3 – Clandeboye Rd to Netley Rd
    • Area 4 – Netley Rd to RM North Boundary
Mud Roads (not all-weather roads)
These are primarily used for agricultural access. On these roads, the following tasks are performed, as required: 
  • Disking
  • Grading
Please note, snow removal is not done on mud roads
Road Name Signage and Stop Signs
The Municipality has road name signage installed on all municipal roadways. If your road name sign is missing or you notice a stop sign that is gone or damaged, please report it to the Public Works Department at (204) 738-2076 or submit a service request and we will repair or replace any missing signs.
 
Civic Addressing
The Municipality assigns civic addresses to all properties that have dwellings or buildings, so that fire and ambulances can easily find your home in case of emergency. If you have not been assigned a physical address to your property, please contact the municipal office at info@rmofstandrews.com or submit a service request to have one assigned to the property. 
 
If you require a civic address sign for the end of your driveway, please submit a service request (under Public Works/Civic Sign Request). We will order one at a cost of $40. Once the sign is received, staff will install the post and sign on your property.
The R.M. of St. Andrews provides regular snow removal and ice maintenance on all "all-weather" roadways. In the event of a major snowfall, roads will be cleared as soon as possible, or once the snow has stopped accumulating. If there are high winds and blowing snow, equipment will be sent out as soon as the winds die down enough so that visibility is safe enough for snow clearing operations.
 
Staff will work evenings and weekends when required, to remove snow from municipal roadways to make roads accessible and safe. Our staff will monitor roads and sanding trucks will be sent out for ice control throughout the winter. Winter sand will be applied to all intersections and portions of roadways where required.  
 
To ensure your roadway is maintained efficiently, please adhere to the following requirements:
  • All property owners are responsible for clearing residual snow ridges/windrows from the end of their approaches and driveways. 
  • Snow is not to be pushed, shoveled or blown from any residential or commercial property onto municipal property, including roadways and ditches. If snow is pushed onto a roadway, the snow can form an ice block which will damage our equipment and if hit by motorists, can cause a great deal of damage. Your cooperation reduces the time required to plow all streets which in turn reduces costs.
  • Vehicles are not to be parked on roadways as they will obstruct and may cause inefficient clearing of snow.
  • Ensure your private properties (ie. garbage bins, driveway markers and/or property signs, mailboxes etc.) are not in the way of the snow plow or the overflow of the snow wake being removed.
If we receive a large amount of snowfall and it is causing our roadways to be unsafe, the municipality will ridge snow on agricultural land to prevent this accumulation on the roadway. Snow ridging is performed to create safer driving conditions for the public and notice will be given to land owners affected.
   
How can you help during snow clearing efforts?
  • Clear the way - before the snow flies, please remove newspaper boxes from roadways to avoid interfering with snow removal operations.
  • Slow down - reduce your driving speed to account for slippery road conditions and snow clearing operations during and after a snowstorm.
  • Practice plow patience - our plow operators work extremely hard to maintain high levels of service during a snow event. Please be patient while roads are being cleared.
  • Timelines for this work depend on the severity and duration of the storm. As a result, it is difficult for the RM staff to give residents a specific time by when their street or sidewalk will be cleared.
  • Do not pass an active plow on the right-hand side. Passing an active plow and following too closely is dangerous for you, the plow operator and other drivers. Snow plow operators will pull over and let you pass when it's safe to do so.
  • Stay 20 meters behind snow-clearing equipment.
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions section for more information on snow clearing operations. 
Manitoba Hydro is the agency responsible for the repairs and replacement of streetlights and any outages. 

To report any problems regarding streetlights, please contact Manitoba Hydro directly or click on the following link: Report a Streetlight Outage or Emergency.
 
Any requests for new streetlights must be submitted to the Municipal Office for review and the request will be brought forth to Council before approval is granted.