Re: Jim Sutherland’s roads wagon ruts, Red Deer Advocate, Feb. 7
With all due respect to columnist Jim Sutherland, I was quite disappointed in his city winter road perspective, particularly because Jim has been around Red Deer for a long time and surely has learned or acknowledged a few realities about our winters and the city’s roads section’s determined and effective efforts to ensure priorities are maintained quickly and efficiently — throughout the year.
Sutherland’s quote, “So snow removal is a minimalist approach in which major arteries are cleared long after the horse has left the barn in terms of snowfall.”
When does he suggest the city clear the roads? Before the snowfall perhaps?
In my long history living in Red Deer, I have been very impressed by and grateful for just how quickly the hills, bridges and major routes are cleared of snow and ice, and/or treated with de-icer/aggregate. The Public Works/Environmental Services staff are out all night long, over weekends and throughout busy workdays working in and among many and often difficult, thoughtless drivers, within hours of a substantial snowfall.
In reference to the neighbourhood, lower priority access routes, I find the ruts that build up, slow the traffic down a good thing; anyone who does a “Richard Petty (whatever that means) spin” must be traveling too fast and carelessly.
If Sutherland or any others in Red Deer who seem so fond of criticizing the city’s attempts to maintain our hundreds of kilometers of streets while being proficient and efficient with our tax dollars are so frustrated with the snow in front of their homes, why don’t they do something more proactive and effective?
For instance getting out with a shovel and removing the snow that is causing them so much angst. They might even find the experience invigorating and rewarding.
Thank you for this opportunity to expound on this issue and, in doing so, express my gratitude and appreciation for all those responsible for the excellent work done to make the City of Red Deer a safe and wonderful place to live, work, play and drive.
Peter A. Weddell
Red Deer