Snow woes

When Hamilton was hit with the first big snowstorm of the year last week, was your street plowed?

At yesterday's public works meeting, several councillors weighed in on the snow plowing efforts in their wards. Russ Powers told the committee that he was "not a happy camper" because several streets in Dundas were left untouched. Tom Jackson, Lloyd Ferguson, and several other councillors also mentioned they had problems with snow clearing in their wards.

However, other councillors said the snow clearing in their wards went like clockwork. Sam Merulla said he didn't have any plowing problems at all, and none of the other councillors at the public works meeting yesterday piped up about uncleared streets. It seems like some areas of the city got plowed and others were left hanging.

What was your snow-clearing experience like last week? How would you rate Hamilton's snow-clearing overall?

Comments

[Michelle Hruschka]

I do not have issues with the snow clearing in my area but I have noticed that for those who are disabled and use wheelchairs that though the sidewalks may be cleared, when the snow plows come along and do their thing, that it blocks areas and those who are disabled cannot get out and about.

As a community we must also remember those others who are disabled and need to get out and do their thing as well, so there could be better attention made to issues such as this.

[kevv]

rating fail.

with no snow all winter we get a few inches and the road crews seem perplexed like we live in florida and werent prepared to handle this amount.
major streets werent plowed till the evening, forget side streets.
we had people being paid all season to just sit in thier trucks and when they were finally needed they seemed to forget where the keys were to start the trucks.
luckily it was not a major storm or we have needed the military.
i am sure our snow budget is exausted now and will be big trouble if we get hit again. (yawn)

[JoanneB]

I'm right on a bus route so the snow clearing for the road is always awesome. What I really take issue with is how many residents do not clear their front sidewalks and I don't mean for just one snowfall. Many leave it for the entire winter. It becomes packed down, lumpy, very slippery and dangerous. We have discontinued walking our dogs in the winter in our neighbourhood because of this. It's simply too treacherous. I would like to see some enforcement on this issue.

[Jerry]

JoanneB, unfortunately in Hamilton bylaw enforcement is compaint based. email complaints to mle@hamilton.ca or call 905-546-2782

[Robbie]

There wasn't enough snow to warrant plowing side streets. I thought the new standard was 15cm and we only received 10cm. I was ticked that the plow came needlessly and placed a bank in front of my drive.

[Kathy Hagan]

Because we had little snow this winter the crews forgot how to plow. Or, perhaps they hoped the sun would do their jobs for them.
Just wait our wonderful council will scream loud about the snow budget next year { perhaps this year too if we receive any further snow} but, we wont hear any news about savings.

[Rick]

Good Grief!! - we don't ask for too much from the city. Garbage collection, sewers, water, and snow removal.

If they can't even do the basics , what the hell are we paying taxes for?

[LouieM]

Stop griping. The snow clearance was fine. I live in a court and it wasn't plowed and I was fine. This is Canada...we had the best snowless winter ever and still some complain. Geesh!

[Markalanwhittle]

Here on Bluebird Avenue by the time the snow plough came down the street, all the residents already had their snow blowers out so all our sidewalks were cleared and most of the curb and driveway windages were cleaned up by residents, from one end of the street to the other.

The city hall plough went right up the middle and finished off the street, long after the storm had passed.

Nobody got their driveway ploughed in, kudos to the plow operator.

Better late than never, the residents win the day, again.

Bluebird Avenue rocks!

[JoanneB]

Jerry, thanks for that!

[Mike Russell]

I live on a dead end street and our snow was plowed within 24 hrs. We have never had a problem.

It seems to me that some people can't help but complain if they don't get immediate service. During a snow storm streets will get missed, it's inevitable. I am sure when it is brought to the attention of city officials, action is taken.

[ed]

epic fail..
all the money we pay for these services, they've been sitting around all winter long with their thumbs up there arse, streets don't move in the middle of the night, there the same streets as last year and the year before that. you would think these guys would be so ready to plow they could taste it. streets in my area were plowed way late or not at all, and don't tell me not to complain just because your road was plowed. the bills keep going up for this stuff and the quality of service goes down.
can't you guys get anything right, all the things ya screw up, could we at least get top rate basic city services.

[Ward 2 Resident]

My street was not plowed. Doesn't matter...it must of saved money. With the nice weather, a few days later and it was melted. No harm no foul.

I agree with Louie, this is Canada and the winter is a part that I love.