zettapixel (Anonymous) says…

Logistics 101.

torcia (Anonymous) says…

After living in Lawrence for a few years I am glad to have moved back to Minneapolis. We get alot more snow here but at least public works knows how to handle it. Good luck

b3 (Anonymous) says…

This wouldnt be a big deal if even half the drivers out there had a clue as to what they are doing.

paperplate (Anonymous) says…

Those guys do a thankless job. Early mornings and long hours. So, thank you for helping to clear the roads for us.

purplesage (Anonymous) says…

I'd rather run out of snow.

Bassetlover (Anonymous) says…

We seem to be one of the few communities who use sand to treat the roads. Of all the cities this size and smaller that I've been to this winter, Lawrence seems to be the only one filled with sand. Why? Yes, it is effective in preventing lots of slipping and sliding, but the ensuing mess it creates after the roads dry….uggghhh! And we're forced to live with the mess til the end of March when the street sweepers finally clean it all up. There is enough sand on our street to build a beach. All the other towns/cities seem to do fine without it. Why can't we? Please enlighten.

its_getting_warmer (Anonymous) says…

They should use sand with the salt.

And paperplate has it right. The crews and staffs would hustle their tales this time of year are owed a big thanks. The power crews too, who helped through that horrible ice storm, and come out in the middle of the night when yet another KU student takes out a power pole in my neighborhood.

geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

“After living in Lawrence for a few years I am glad to have moved back to Minneapolis. We get alot more snow here but at least public works knows how to handle it.”

Public works knows how to handle it because Minnesota gets a lot more snow, you ninny.

offtotheright (Anonymous) says…

That is their job. They also get paid overtime to do it.

They are probably thankful for the extra money.

rhoadsstevens (Anonymous) says…

I'm not trying to be mean here—I understand plowing can be a thankless job—but I don't think the roads look good at all right now. Does anyone else agree with me? Around 12:30 this afternoon, I drove down Iowa St. and it was horrible. It didn't look plowed at all, and I saw several cars skid. What's more, I saw no plows. I also drove down 23rd, and it was also bad.

aeroscout17 (Anonymous) says…

They never used to use salt in Montana and I think the roads were easier drive on (although snow-packed). Seems that the sand was a little coarser than what is used here however. Anyone that is familiar with Minnesota should remember what straight salt used to do to vehicles; we used to call it body cancer…lots of rusted out wheel wells and side panels.

Haiku_Cuckoo (Anonymous) says…

After living in Lawrence for a few years I am glad to have moved back to Minneapolis. We get alot more snow here but at least public works knows how to handle it.
================
Maybe public works should have used some of that money to strengthen your bridges.

more_cowbell (Anonymous) says…

I second paperplate and its_getting_warmer—guess that means I “third” the kudos to the road crews for putting in the hard work today.

It's hard to keep up with all the plowing that needs done, rhoadsstevens, and as long as people are driving carefully (a BIG ask for undergrads, of course), the big streets are at least driveable… much more so than the side streets.

So to everyone who *has* to drive today, drive safely!

lawrenceguy40 (Anonymous) says…

I agree with rhoadsstevens - the main routes don't look plowed at all. I cleared my driveway at 9am and by lunch it was melted and drying. No salt, just plowed the snow off of it! On my way to and from work (across town west to east) I never saw a single city crew. Maybe it was shift change?

Ragingbear (Anonymous) says…

Lawrence has also been substituting plowing with sprinkling sand and salt on the road, even though there is 6 inches of accumulation on them. This is pointless and worthless. The city needs to get a grip.

BTW, if you get up early on the mornings the plows run, you will find the streets out mayor lives on will be freshly plowed and salted.

kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…

As long as the city doesn't run out of wheat beer, we're still ok.

pomegranate (Anonymous) says…

Not that I am a big fan of Hacksaw, but higher-ups get perks. You get on the commission, and become mayor, and I will bet your street is taken care of too.
Give the lady a break sometimes—she takes a lot of flak from we “commentors”.

logicsound04 (Anonymous) says…

I love the city of Lawrence, but winter conditions road maintenence gurus they are not.

I moved to Overland Park about 8 months ago—the change in winter road conditions is amazing.

It's the one aspect about living in OP that I prefer to Lawrence.

ukillaJJ (Anonymous) says…

Another prime example of Lawrence Public Works sitting on their laurels until the sun begins to shine. Both 9th and 19th streets looked like giant white slip-and-slides all morning and they are just now plowing them (at 2:00 PM). Plus, these streets are “major arteries” according to the city of Lawrence.

hawkperchedatriverfront (Anonymous) says…

Is this really a city? If so, why aren't Tennessee,Kentucky, Maine St for example all designated snow routes and cars have to be off the streets when snow is on them.Why? duh? Snowplows can clean the street efficiently.
Same with sporadic street cleaning the city does. Signs should be put up with street cleaning days and no cars allowed to park. I wonder how sharp this new auditor is when it comes to looking at those expenses and how efficiently the present street cleaning and/or snow removal could be.

I am not holding my snowball 'cause it might melt before the facts are figured out.

kujhawk (Anonymous) says…

Maybe we should be like other major communities and not plow residental streets at all, after all Lawrence is in a budget crisis?? So not doing residentals would save the city quite a bit of money, correct?? To all of those that do the snow work, thanks, your work is appreciated by many, although, not on here!!

Haiku_Cuckoo (Anonymous) says…

I moved to Overland Park about 8 months ago—the change in winter road conditions is amazing.
===============
I'll take snow-covered roads in Lawrence over cleared roads in O.P any day of the week. I used to live in Leawood and found the heavy traffic and lack of character in that area to be depressing.

bobbie1207 (Anonymous) says…

It can be difficult to plan for salt needs. Even Des Moines is facing running out of salt and they “know” how to do snow. Des Moines has over 1500 miles of residential streets and no one expects them to be plowed six hours after a snow storm. In fact, it's the norm for them to not be plowed until the day after a storm as the main arteries are worked on and kept open as well as possible.

It's snow. You live in the midwest. Deal with it.

lionbacker (Anonymous) says…

To all the negative people on here, Is the sun shinning to bright for you? Get over yourself, big deal you cleared your driveway that had not been driven on, there is a big difference.

workinghard (Anonymous) says…

I just hope they clear the streets completely around ALL the schools. They never have in the past. Unless your school entrance is on a major street you're out of luck. It doesn't take a genius to figure out if there is school that day, there will be hundreds of cars dropping off their kids. But go completely around the school where the parents have to drive. Maybe then people won't stop on major streets such as 19th during rush hour to drop their kids off causing rear end collisions. Don't get me wrong, the workers do their best and I appreciate it, but maybe this just hasn't occurred to them.

gccs14r (Anonymous) says…

If people would take the time to clear the piece of roadway in front of their houses, the City wouldn't have to send plows (or sand or salt) into the residential areas at all. Same goes for sweeping. It doesn't take much time to clear a 12'x50' chunk of roadway. I suppose that's too much to ask of a populace that can't be bothered to clean sidewalks, though.

geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

gccs14r —

Let me get this straight—I pay the city money. That money goes to maintain their property. Yet you suggest I pay the city money and maintain their property?

ASBESTOS (Anonymous) says…

That “Global Worming” sure creates a lot of snowfall,… HEY Wait a minute, that is cold!!

merrill (Anonymous) says…

Some options:
* move closer to job site
* leave earlier and drive slow
* drive slow wherever you go
* walk
* ride the T - one bus pollutes a whole lot less than 50 cars
* stay home, play cards, relax and maybe add a brew or vino later in the day. Yes enjoy yourself!

Thanks city staff for working on call cuz we know sometimes that ain't always fun no matter what the pay. I don't expect city staff to work all night.

Hoots (Anonymous) says…

The plows took out my Parent's mailbox for the 3rd time this year. They are a couple of unhappy senior citizens.

Puff_Dragon (Anonymous) says…

Streets were empty at 6:50 a.m. anyway. All those outdoorsey mountain men couldn't handle it in their 4x4's so they had to take a 'terrible road conditions' day……haha

kneejerkreaction (Anonymous) says…

GitS, I was wondering the same thing. I can recall getting stuck in the snow as I was trying to park, abandoning the car and hoofing it to class at KU. That's deeper snow than yesterday's.

I've noticed more snow days given for schools in general, seems everytime it snows even a little. I chalk it up to our litigious and politically correct world.

volunteer (Anonymous) says…

I gotta agree that the OP has a reputation for quick snow removal. The city council, I guess, places a high priority on it.

An enterprising youth with a shovel and willingness to work would have made a mint on my block today. Three of us retirees were shoveling driveways about the same time, a little past noon. I had a $20 bill by the door just in case, but didn't really expect anyone to come by. Oh well, probably good exercise anyhow. Took it a bit at a time.

00jester (Anonymous) says…

I love the thankless job bit.

We all work thankless jobs. And the more money you make doing it, the less thanks your recieve.

No thanks, unless they start doing for free.

toefungus (Anonymous) says…

I have been running out of salt for a while now. Time for toefungus to say good bye and head for warmer weather. Having to wear shoes all the time is murder.

gccs14r (Anonymous) says…

G-man, it's your property out to the middle of the roadway, but the City has an easement to put a road there.

Look at it this way: if everyone shoveled their own streets, there would either be more money in the budget for street repair, or taxes could be reduced.

gccs14r (Anonymous) says…

Oh, and the streets would be cleared faster if 80,000 people each leaned on a shovel for a bit than they are by waiting for a plow (or the Sun) to come around.

geniusmannumber1 (Anonymous) says…

It's actually a right-of-way in many (if not most) cases, not an easement, and it doesn't necessarily go to the middle of the street (although mine being an older neighborhood, it happens to). However, I cannot take it back from the city; I cannot forbid others from using it; for all practical purposes, I cannot sell it. For all intents and purposes, it belongs to the city, regardless of whether I “own” the property on paper. But thank you for the lesson.

gccs14r (Anonymous) says…

How much (little) would your property be worth if it were inaccessible, except by air? You receive a benefit from having a road out front.

Lovethephog (Anonymous) says…

I used to live in Lawrence 4 years ago moved from bodunk Tonganoxie. Enjoyed the delivery pizza the college town atmosphere, and the challenges of getting around in the snow. Now if you really want to gritch about something how about the flow of the traffic lights in lawrence and how that messes with your day ??????????

mr_economy (Anonymous) says…

hawkperchedatriverfront,

Have any bright ideas for where the students who LIVE along those streets without any other possible place to park might place their vehicles? I live on Illinois in a fourplex that provides 4 parking spots in the alley, but there are 8 cars from the people living here. We are forced to park on the street if we're not one of the lucky 4. Until you can solve the lack of parking space, deal with having to drive a few more blocks West to Iowa St.

KsTwister (Anonymous) says…

Some people work all hours of the day and night and must drive(no buses) but when the little amount of snow we get doesn't get cleared the roads are a hazard. People here are not asking for much but one lane on each road would be better then what we are getting to deal with. Lawrence did a better job in the past with more snow and ice. I suggest you call that city manager and ask how! We are paying for the service I think the city should give us a refund.

workinghard (Anonymous) says…

gccs14r — Just curious, did you set a good example for us all and clear your 12x50? Maybe you live on a corner and did twice as much. No fair using a riding mower or snow blower, citizens should not have to buy one when they already helped pay for snowploys.

workinghard (Anonymous) says…

I was told that if KU cancels classes they do not get any state funding for that day. The teachers can cancel the class if they want to if KU stays open. At least that is what I was told.

gccs14r (Anonymous) says…

Yes, I did shovel my side of the street, plus along the curb line in front of the retiree who lives next door. (My gf had already shoveled the drive for her, or I would have done that, too.)

Most homeowners have neither the expertise nor the equipment for proper road repair, so that is something best left to the City.

KsTwister (Anonymous) says…

Just to make a point,many of the stores who had plows come in and do no more than to scrape the snow in a pile. Their pavements are cleared and dry. Perhaps because they put the blades down??? Even the highways were cleared better then the main city streets. I understand not being able to do all of them but one or two would have been a good attempt. Why wait until it stops to try to catch up?? Lawrence did great jobs in the past with even 10-12 inches all at once. I remember that very well. But then maybe our cheaply made surfaces can take it?

Stain (Anonymous) says…

I saw a bad wreck - one car totaled - last night on a very icy intersection in Old West Lawrence. Other cars were skidding like crazy at the same intersection.

its_getting_warmer (Anonymous) says…

I will sacrifice my margarita glass rim adornment for the good of my community.