The temperature outside is dropping and residents frustration is rising - a sure sign that the snow clearing season is upon us.
It's no surprise that plowing is a challenge for a winter city with 670 kilometres of roads.
Between 1991 and 2009, the city received an average of 195.7 centimetres of snow per year - and as much as 293.6 centimetres in 1994.
During the same period, the city hauled from 49,600 cubic metres to 641,776 cubic metres of snow per year.
No matter how you measure it, that's a lot of snow for a small city to plow and haul.
On the other hand, it's hard not to fume when a week goes by without a plow in sight in your neighbourhood, and when it finally comes a huge pile of snow ends up blocking your driveway, and then being told you'll be fined for pushing that snow onto the street - put it all together and it can be as coronary-inducing as shovelling the wet stuff.
But before venting that frustration toward city employees, remember, it's city council - not staff - that sets the snow clearing policy and service levels.
Last winter city councillor Brian Skakun published his phone number and requested residents call him, not staff, with complaints about the level of service - and he got an earful.
With what Mother Nature has in store for the winter of 2011/12, we hope Skakun has a good phone plan if he chooses to do that again.
Mayor elect Shari Green made it clear in her platform that she believes Prince George should "be the best at snow clearing."
Being a centre of excellence in snow plowing is a laudable goal. There is no doubt that Prince George could do a better job a clearing snow, but at what cost?
Snow plows, loaders, dump trucks and graders cost money to purchase and operate or contract.
The city already allocates more than $5 million per year for snow removal and the city's snow removal reserve is running on fumes for the
remainder of this year.
Perhaps some efficiencies can be found, and changes can be made to alleviate residents' frustrations, but ultimately better snow clearing means putting more plows on the road.
Given the platform of frugality that landed Green and many of her new colleagues in their lawmaking roles, they may find it difficult to justify spending more on one service when many others face stretched out budgets.
Perhaps Green and the new council have a magic wand up their sleeves to allow them to spend more on snow removal and reduce taxes, but don't go selling your studded tires just yet.
-- Prince George Citizen
