Slow start to winter not impacting local snow removal contractors

Keith Pollock is going into his 10th season of operating a snow removal company in the city of North Bay. 

His company, Keith & Company Lawn Care, isn’t concerned about a later than normal start to winter.  

“I didn’t mind the late start this year because I had a lot of prepping to do. I had a work shop to work on too and I didn’t have to rush to do the changeover from summer to winter so I didn’t mind that giving me a little extra barbecuing time,” said Pollock. 

Pollock operates a business that operates with half winter contract and half “pay as you go” clients.   

He says they were ready for the worst on Saturday night.    

“When the Weather Network put up the red screen of death forecasting 20 centimetres and heavy snowfall I got as prepared as I could and when there was like 5 on the ground. Again it didn’t hurt my feelings, but I was ready for it,” said Pollock. 

Pollock, who operates his business with three staff, says  competition is heating up as more and more people are trying to get their scoop into the snow removal business.  

“It is getting a little bit tough out there,” admitted Pollock.   

“My company as well as some other ones in the city have got a good reputation going on so we do pretty well, but there are a lot of people doing this nowadays so the focus is that we have to do the best job possible and to make our customers happy so they don’t stray off and get somebody else because there’s lots of people doing this now with all the doom and gloom happening with layoffs and the high cost of everything.” 

Regardless of competition or the forecast, Pollock says he’s already ready for a heavy winter snowfall. 

“A warm winter wouldn’t hurt my feelings any, but I am still forecasting a lot of snow,” he said.