Looks like Mayor Stoneless thinks we did a Heckuva job;
I will first defend Public Works and say that many things are out of their control. We often get early Spring heavy snowstorms, this is nothing new and they cause a ton of issues. Also, when it comes to snowgates, I think they tried to use them at first but with heavy snow they often break sheer pins and cause maintenance issues, so that argument is also moot.
What I find interesting is the response time. The two previous administrations tried to get the city plowed very quickly. I have heard behind the scenes that is not the goal of the current Plowing Czar and Mayor. In fact my street wasn’t plowed until after NOON on Tuesday, and it was pretty pointless because most of it had already melted by then.
I will still maintain that this administration is trying to get away with spending less money on snow removal each year. But $94 million dollar tax rebates to egg roll factories from Korea? Money well spent!
i didn’t think mmm did too well with snow removal either. but he was better than p10h.
There was obvious a standard, when it comes to snow storms, that was lost under Huether and the ThuneHaken administration is now accepting the Huether standard as the norm, unfortunately.
At my home, you could tell that the snow gate gave up after it was half way past my driveway. They also don’t seem to be worried about fire hydrants or corners where sidewalks meet, when it comes to snow gates either.
I complained to the city about my half snow gated driveway. And kudos to them, because in less than a hour they had a city truck out there clearing the mess on the edge of my driveway that the plow left, which I am very thankful for.
But it increasingly seems that snow removal in this city appears to be a bother and not a necessity for our local city government, and this attitude needs to change. We used to have in this town an April attitude for April snowfalls, which most of us understood, but now that April attitude seems to be throughout the entire snow and winter season.
But, at least we don’t have someone in charge anymore of snow removal like we had under Huether, who used to always pre-empt a pending snow storm in local TV interviews by trying to expand why they probably won’t plow everything. But now, there is no talk and they just don’t plow, that often.
An other issue is sanding and salting, that standard is lost too. At the corner I live at, I was out shoveling/plowing my sidewalk at night a couple of months ago, when I noticed an officer across street investigating a hit and run involving a yield sign and an apparent car. I went over to talk to him and then went back to shoveling,/plowing, then the next thing that happen was that I and the officer both witnessed an other car a block away slide through an intersect and then hit a utility pole. I’ts fair to say that both of these accidents, or incidents, were weather related and due to the lack of a proactive nature with our city in dealing with weather/road issues, and thus, sanding and salting. So, this needs to changed, too. Because, it’s not just plowing, but sanding and salting that need to be brought back to pre-Huether standards.
( and Woodstock adds: “VSG, how many times have I told you, that you aren’t supposed to worry about things like that anymore?”…. “Instead, you should just go to the dented Events Center with your $250 concert ticket and enjoy your $10 beers”….. “Get with it, that’s what they do in Taupeville”…. )
VSG, we used to be a city that took care of the basic needs of our citizens. Not any more. I look at snow removal on a basic service for economic development. If the hardworking citizens of this town cannot go to work because they don’t own a F-ONE-$60K-4-drive truck and just want their jump started Hyundai something to start to go to their poverty wage job, combating wet stoopid snow only adds to the struggle.
Absolutely! White and black SUV Taupeville doesn’t understand that not everyone can be like them.
( and Woodstock adds: “VSG, you and I should go in together and buy one of those badass monster Ford F-150 ‘Raptors'”… (“blue or black?”…) “That would be so cool!”… “We could even have Biden flags waving from its pick-up bed, too”…. )
There are approximately 900 centerline miles of streets maintained by the City. Approximately 84% are paved with asphalt, 14% paved with concrete, and 2% are unpaved (gravel) streets. I suppose 3200 lane miles is possible out of 900 centerline miles, but not likely. Paul should double check those figures he was given.
To be fair, this was an unusual snow storm. It was a big squall then smaller increments and wet snow. Once one area was finished, another pass was needed. The wet snow is harder and slower to move. With the unusual problems, snow gates slowed the process. I’m not a big fan of city government. However, snow removal performance this time was better than to be expected. I’ve noticed serious potholes are handled almost immediately. Huether didn’t handle storms well. This response was above average and somewhat commendable.
Is this a compliment. I’m not sure. I can’t believe I had something good to say about the city or at least the street department.
No problems down here in Taupeville. Plows were here early and we have warm sidewalks. Good job on the city!!!
You did a job on the city?
I have lived here for 18 years and have seen better snow removal. Gayland (sp) retired two years ago and snow removal has been crap since then. I live on a snow emergency route across the street from Harvey Dunn and we are NOT the first to get cleared after the main streets. Trying to save money instead of having safe clear streets.
The F150 Raptor a perfect choice for the pothole-strewn streets of spring in Sioux Falls, Woodstock. The chassis offers greater length of travel to dance through the potholes without hitting bottom. Even two inches higher clearance. (I am making some assumptions of anatomy, but …) Your Truck Nutz won’t even drag.
“TGfG, that’s a good idea!”… “If we buy her, will have to get some Truck Nutz, too”…
Has this blog become a center of negative news, like Kelo, CNN, and MSNBC? Come on, lets get along like peas and carrots.
I didn’t think it was positive or negative, just truthful. As taxpayers we pay for services, those services should always be absolute. Our mayor wants to impose his feelings about what he thinks should or should not be done. Not up to him. Some things are like following the recipe for boiling eggs.
“‘Negative’?” “You know what Harry Truman once said: ‘If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen.'”… “He also said: ‘I don’t give them hell’… ‘I just tell the truth and they think they’re in hell’…”