EDITORIAL – Ideas for improving snow removal and making everyone happy
An ArmchairMayor.ca editorial by Mel Rothenburger.
SINCE EVERYBODY else has ideas on what to do about snow removal, I may as well offer my own two cents.
In a column a few days ago I took a friendly dig at urbanites for not counting their snow-removal blessings but I have a couple of serious observations.
If there’s a deficiency in urban snow-clearing, it’s in the detail. For example, the windrows-in-the-driveways issue has been raised every single winter for decades, and nothing is ever done about it. The reason is cost.
It’s too expensive to remove those mini-snow banks, say the experts, so get out the shovels. But other cities do it.
Windrow-removal plow in City of Vaughan, Ont. (Image: YorkRegion.com)
Mel Rothenburger’s Armchair Mayor editorials appear twice daily Mondays through Thursdays on CFJC- TV. His Armchair Mayor column is published Saturdays on ArmchairMayor.ca and CFJC Today. Contact him at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.
ArmchairMayor.ca 
I certainly agree with Mel’s post. Our city managers need to “think outside the box” more sincerely and come up with options for our council to consider if that is the case. I’m sure it would be much cheaper than our $4 million parking lot
LikeLike
The firemen, especially the youngest hires could be used within the reach of their posting for priority wind-throw removal.
The Parks & Rec. buggy could plow sidewalks on its way to the various sites.
Unless mechanical failure, a snow plow should always have the plow down. It has been noted before and on different occasions plow trucks going by with their plow up.
Since snow is a real possibility five months of the year, a more realistic budget needs to be set aside. And a careful review of all other spending should be undertaken to make room for an increased snow removal budget. the City does spends much money in questionable ways and the time has come for full accountability.
LikeLike