Letter to the Editor – City can fix winter street problems

By David Payne, Charles City

I have read that Mr. Hamm and Mr. Starr have different views on how to handle the snow and ice removal from the streets in the city. Mr Hamm has stated that it seems that there is always snow and ice all winter long on the streets.

I have to agree that there does not seem to be much thought into how to improve the situation. I have lived here since 2015 and have observed that after every snowfall the plows have to drive around parked vehicles on both sides of the streets. Then they have to return to plow those areas that are now empty.

This happens continuously all winter with the results being that now that snow has been driven on and freezes to the roadway. There are solutions to almost any problem, you just do not say, “that is the way we have always done it.”

While living in other towns and cities I saw several different ways they had adopted to make it easier for the city crews to do their jobs of removing the snow. Some used alternate side parking during the winter months.

Sioux Falls did not allow on-street parking in the business district during certain hours, example from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. during declared snow emergencies and no parking on the marked snow emergency routes until plowed curb to curb. They started in the core area (business district) at 11 p.m. until 8 a.m. Then it was out to the surrounding area. Of course Sioux falls is many times bigger than Charles City.

I ask why do you keep doing it the same way year after year and expecting different results? In the residential areas why not start alternate side parking in the winter and start ticketing those who refuse to follow the ordinance and on the 2nd ticketing tow the vehicle to get their attention.

It happened to me one time and I followed the embargo every time after that.

I see this as a problem that can be remedied with the council and public cooperating to make things better for all.