Sault Blog

Sometimes, you don’t realize your situation until you view it from another angle. The recent revenue tribulations of a “snow-blowing” company put into perspective the exhaustion and frustration Saultites have dealing with this year’s massive snowfall accumulation.

The understanding is that as of mid-February, our City had a snowfall accumulation of approximately 360-420cm, depending on who you believe. As a person who prefers imperial measurements, that’s a massive 12ft. snow accumulation, and winter is not done.

The snow-blowing company claimed the higher amount of 420cm, invoking the additional fine print surcharge claiming the contract held a 400cm total snowfall limit. This angered and enraged customers who were marketed an all-inclusive, snow-blowing seasonal package. The snow-blowing company forgot that the customer is always right, especially in the Sault, where customers have long memories.

The snow-blowing companies worsen things for the homeowner and the City Board of Works. They clear the snow from a driveway by dragging all the snow from the driveway and then blowing it onto the hellstrip at the end of the driveway. They do this so the blowing snow and other debris does not damage adjacent houses, cars, trees, etc. Therefore, the snow-blowing companies create snow mountains at the end of driveways. The City plow trucks then drag that mountain of snow into your driveway, exaggerating the size of the windrows left behind by the City plow trucks.

The customer, also known as the Taxpayer, is especially frustrated by the City Board of Works taking that 12ft of snow from the street and plowing it right into your driveway. There is a limit to how much snow can be pushed to the side of a street until it becomes unbearable for the homeowner to deal with because there is nowhere to put the snow.

In a recent communication, the City Board of Works’s official position requires you to deal with windrow removal yourself; “hire a private company to remove the windrow left behind by the City plow-trucks at your cost.” Many citizens feel that this policy is just another policy that has eroded the “core” duties and responsibilities of the City. Windrows were removed at one time in this city after plow trucks scrapped the road. The City removed snowbanks on residential streets; in some areas, that has not happened for years. It is a constant erosion of fundamental core City services and responsibilities.

The snow our City has received is extreme and unlikely to subside soon. It has reached a crisis and should be treated as such. The callous and uncaring directive by the City Board of Works reinforces how out of touch our City Management has become. Indeed, our City Management could find additional funds to help overwhelmed citizens.

My neighbor said it right: “The City Board of Works has done a good job of keeping up with plowing the streets, but they are overwhelmed with snow removal. The City just doesn’t have the workforce and equipment to remove the mountains of snow. The City needs to declare a snow removal emergency, get help removing the snow, and help citizens who are physically unable to cope with the vast amount of snowbanks.” The City Board of Works needs to ask for help with snow removal, and City Management needs to listen to and be responsive to the needs of the Taxpaying citizens.

Mark Menean, http://www.saultblog.com