Comments on: Snow Plowing SNAFU http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/01/08/94 Councillor Rob Lantz - Charlottetown | Ward 3 (Brighton) Fri, 20 Jan 2012 19:14:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Councillor Rob Lantz http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/01/08/94/comment-page-1#comment-79478 Councillor Rob Lantz Fri, 11 Jan 2008 03:24:55 +0000 http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/01/08/94#comment-79478 Hi Ann! It was no big deal, but yes, I did receive a thank you. Hi Ann! It was no big deal, but yes, I did receive a thank you.

]]> By: Ann http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/01/08/94/comment-page-1#comment-79447 Ann Wed, 09 Jan 2008 17:06:04 +0000 http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/01/08/94#comment-79447 I noticed in your side bar there that you went out and cleared a storm sewer yourself. I hope the homeowner thanked you, because you certainly deserve it. That was a very nice thing for you to do. I noticed in your side bar there that you went out and cleared a storm sewer yourself. I hope the homeowner thanked you, because you certainly deserve it. That was a very nice thing for you to do.

]]> By: Councillor Rob Lantz http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/01/08/94/comment-page-1#comment-79441 Councillor Rob Lantz Wed, 09 Jan 2008 15:08:14 +0000 http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/01/08/94#comment-79441 Dave, I'm already familiar with that spring ritual. I received several calls last year from residents looking for curb and lawn repair. To their credit, the city does many of these repairs without being asked; however, that proves your point that it might be less costly to slow down and avoid the damage in the first place. I know last year there was a paving crew with an asphalt curbing machine and they had a list so long they expected to take most of the summer to repair damaged curbs. It's always been my opinion that those asphalt curbs are a waste of money (I was disappointed they used asphalt curbing for the new crosswalk area at Queen Charlotte -- I expect it to be mostly peeled away by spring). It's a balancing act though, as I've discovered over the last week, people want streets and sidewalks plowed yesterday. Short of staking off every property/curb/street/driveway in town, damage is inevitable. I'm always amazed after a heavy snowfall that the sidewalk plows have any clue where the sidewalk actually is. It's like mowing your lawn blindfolded -- you're bound to run into something. With that said, I am aware of complaints that people have made against specific plow operators, and these do indeed filter down to the driver, but that is not quite a performance review. Worth looking into. Dave,
I’m already familiar with that spring ritual. I received several calls last year from residents looking for curb and lawn repair. To their credit, the city does many of these repairs without being asked; however, that proves your point that it might be less costly to slow down and avoid the damage in the first place.
I know last year there was a paving crew with an asphalt curbing machine and they had a list so long they expected to take most of the summer to repair damaged curbs. It’s always been my opinion that those asphalt curbs are a waste of money (I was disappointed they used asphalt curbing for the new crosswalk area at Queen Charlotte — I expect it to be mostly peeled away by spring).
It’s a balancing act though, as I’ve discovered over the last week, people want streets and sidewalks plowed yesterday. Short of staking off every property/curb/street/driveway in town, damage is inevitable. I’m always amazed after a heavy snowfall that the sidewalk plows have any clue where the sidewalk actually is. It’s like mowing your lawn blindfolded — you’re bound to run into something. With that said, I am aware of complaints that people have made against specific plow operators, and these do indeed filter down to the driver, but that is not quite a performance review. Worth looking into.

]]> By: Dave Hyndman http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/01/08/94/comment-page-1#comment-79436 Dave Hyndman Wed, 09 Jan 2008 10:36:22 +0000 http://ward3brighton.ca/blog/2008/01/08/94#comment-79436 Rob: I think you're going to be dealing with another issue, too. For the streets that were widened with the use of a snowblower, there was substantial damage done to a lot of lawns. With the current melt this is just starting to show. I suspect come Spring you'll be getting a lot of calls from homeowners looking for the city to show up with landfill and sod. I've wondered before about how the city manages the "performance" of their snowplow operators. Every year these guys rip out a bunch of asphalt curbs and do other damage. I understand that there's pressure to clear things up as quickly as possible after a storm, but there should at least be some analysis done to determine whether it's more efficient to have them plow fast and recklessly and pay for cleanup in the Spring, or to have them slow down and not do the damage in the first place. I've also wondered if the plow operators are held accountable at all for their performance? Shouldn't a supervisor or inspector take a drive around from time to time (they could come check out our neighbourhood) and take the responsible operators to task for damage done. A lot of folks would likely lose their job if they performed in a similar manner at work. Keep us posted. Rob:

I think you’re going to be dealing with another issue, too. For the streets that were widened with the use of a snowblower, there was substantial damage done to a lot of lawns. With the current melt this is just starting to show. I suspect come Spring you’ll be getting a lot of calls from homeowners looking for the city to show up with landfill and sod.

I’ve wondered before about how the city manages the “performance” of their snowplow operators. Every year these guys rip out a bunch of asphalt curbs and do other damage. I understand that there’s pressure to clear things up as quickly as possible after a storm, but there should at least be some analysis done to determine whether it’s more efficient to have them plow fast and recklessly and pay for cleanup in the Spring, or to have them slow down and not do the damage in the first place. I’ve also wondered if the plow operators are held accountable at all for their performance? Shouldn’t a supervisor or inspector take a drive around from time to time (they could come check out our neighbourhood) and take the responsible operators to task for damage done. A lot of folks would likely lose their job if they performed in a similar manner at work.

Keep us posted.

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