Comments on: The Road to Hell is Ice Rutted http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600 Minnesota 2020's Official Blog Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:06:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Tim Bonham http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600&cpage=1#comment-5576 Tim Bonham Fri, 08 Jan 2010 00:16:54 +0000 http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600#comment-5576 "Quick, someone check the governor’s contributor list." You will find many contributions from companies that profit from global climate change. And that is a factor in unusual storms like this. So yes, we are suffering from increased storms like this while he is out of state somewhere running for President. “Quick, someone check the governor’s contributor list.”

You will find many contributions from companies that profit from global climate change. And that is a factor in unusual storms like this. So yes, we are suffering from increased storms like this while he is out of state somewhere running for President.

]]> By: Fred Willard http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600&cpage=1#comment-5567 Fred Willard Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:03:08 +0000 http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600#comment-5567 It's obviously a consiracy afoot, and the autobody shops (the only ones making out) are at the heart of it. Quick, someone check the governor's contributor list. It’s obviously a consiracy afoot, and the autobody shops (the only ones making out) are at the heart of it. Quick, someone check the governor’s contributor list.

]]> By: Lois Braun http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600&cpage=1#comment-5563 Lois Braun Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:40:48 +0000 http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600#comment-5563 It's dangerous even for pedestrians--especially for pedestrians! Even if we don't actually fall, we can twist joints in awkward and painful ways, as I already have. I don't know how the elderly cope in these conditions! It’s dangerous even for pedestrians–especially for pedestrians! Even if we don’t actually fall, we can twist joints in awkward and painful ways, as I already have. I don’t know how the elderly cope in these conditions!

]]> By: Kevin Johnson http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600&cpage=1#comment-5562 Kevin Johnson Thu, 07 Jan 2010 18:20:03 +0000 http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600#comment-5562 I can't speak to Saint Paul's funding in particular, but based upon my own anecdotal knowledge of my neighborhood, I'd agree that cuts have decreased the effectiveness of the plowing each year. It has deteriorated over the last two years until the plowing on Christmas weekend looked, at best, incomplete. When the day plow routes were finally plowed, it looked like the plows had enough time to sweep straight through but not to finish off the job. As a result, slushy piles grew into every side street intersection and (predicatably) became icy ridges that still remain today and that will not vanish until almost April. These ruts and ridges will result in increased accidents, damage to car suspension and whhels (etc.) and a general decrease in the quality of driving and life in Saint Paul for two to three months. I don't say this to complain about the actual work in my neighborhood, and I'm glad to cut the workers slack for having to plow on Christmas eve and Christmas day. I'm complaining because it LOOKS like the workers were on a time budget, that they were not permitted to clean up problems on that day or in subsequent days, and that these problems exist (and will continue to exist) all over the city. These are the facts that lead me to believe that there are indeed funding problems behind our plowing issues and that we've cut crucial funding that will result in nearly every resident being inconvenienced or damaged as a result. In Minnesota, plowing is absolutely crucial to the general welfare and should not be cut in such a political, short-sighted way. I can’t speak to Saint Paul’s funding in particular, but based upon my own anecdotal knowledge of my neighborhood, I’d agree that cuts have decreased the effectiveness of the plowing each year. It has deteriorated over the last two years until the plowing on Christmas weekend looked, at best, incomplete. When the day plow routes were finally plowed, it looked like the plows had enough time to sweep straight through but not to finish off the job. As a result, slushy piles grew into every side street intersection and (predicatably) became icy ridges that still remain today and that will not vanish until almost April. These ruts and ridges will result in increased accidents, damage to car suspension and whhels (etc.) and a general decrease in the quality of driving and life in Saint Paul for two to three months. I don’t say this to complain about the actual work in my neighborhood, and I’m glad to cut the workers slack for having to plow on Christmas eve and Christmas day. I’m complaining because it LOOKS like the workers were on a time budget, that they were not permitted to clean up problems on that day or in subsequent days, and that these problems exist (and will continue to exist) all over the city. These are the facts that lead me to believe that there are indeed funding problems behind our plowing issues and that we’ve cut crucial funding that will result in nearly every resident being inconvenienced or damaged as a result. In Minnesota, plowing is absolutely crucial to the general welfare and should not be cut in such a political, short-sighted way.

]]> By: Jen Olson http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600&cpage=1#comment-5559 Jen Olson Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:43:32 +0000 http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600#comment-5559 I've lived on a snow emergency route corner in NE Minneapolis opposite to two churches for 12 years. My neighbors have lived here their entire lives walking the sidewalks to their church a few times a week. I learned quickly to keep my sidewalks clear and ice free for them. I was out with my snowblower during that storm/thaw/freeze 3 day period and was BEGGING for the snowplows to come through so I could clear the curb before it froze up. No luck. Here's my snow emergency time schedule: Snow Emergency declared daytime: ran a plow down the middle of road. People moved their cars during that night, No Plow came down during the night or the next day. Melty snow was shoveled all day by the churches and neighbors to avoid the freezing pile up of ice coming. Plow came through the following night finally on one side of the street during the big freeze. Very little was gotten off the road and left as icy ruts leaving driving and walking treacherous. It was pretty obvious to me that waiting for 2-3 days was a very inefficiently handled plowing schedule. I can only assume they cut the numbers of trucks and drivers; because in the past, everything was cleared during the night for the morning shoveling. I’ve lived on a snow emergency route corner in NE Minneapolis opposite to two churches for 12 years. My neighbors have lived here their entire lives walking the sidewalks to their church a few times a week. I learned quickly to keep my sidewalks clear and ice free for them. I was out with my snowblower during that storm/thaw/freeze 3 day period and was BEGGING for the snowplows to come through so I could clear the curb before it froze up. No luck. Here’s my snow emergency time schedule: Snow Emergency declared daytime: ran a plow down the middle of road. People moved their cars during that night, No Plow came down during the night or the next day. Melty snow was shoveled all day by the churches and neighbors to avoid the freezing pile up of ice coming. Plow came through the following night finally on one side of the street during the big freeze. Very little was gotten off the road and left as icy ruts leaving driving and walking treacherous. It was pretty obvious to me that waiting for 2-3 days was a very inefficiently handled plowing schedule. I can only assume they cut the numbers of trucks and drivers; because in the past, everything was cleared during the night for the morning shoveling.

]]> By: Andrew Olson http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600&cpage=1#comment-5527 Andrew Olson Wed, 06 Jan 2010 18:42:27 +0000 http://www.mn2020hindsight.org/?p=3600#comment-5527 Is this really a funding problem? If the public works departments really felt unprepared, shouldn't this article have been written in November? It was the biggest storm in years, nature surprises again. The plowing crews did a good enough job that it didn't stop me from driving anywhere. job well done. Is this really a funding problem? If the public works departments really felt unprepared, shouldn’t this article have been written in November? It was the biggest storm in years, nature surprises again. The plowing crews did a good enough job that it didn’t stop me from driving anywhere. job well done.

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