Editor,
The anticipated snow, icy sleet began on Sunday afternoon, January 29, and fell steadily through the rest of that day & Monday, turning colder as it progressed.
Sadly, no one from local Public Works was out either salting/sanding, spreading gravel or otherwise “treating” the streets and thus assuring that all citizens wouldn’t be trapped in the event of any icy build up. Particularly troubling is that the EMS posted a caveat that it “might” be difficult to access anyone needing emergency services, due to the streets.
State and county roads remained clear and passable, due to the diligence of their employees, working throughout the night and into the next day
In previous years, city workers did indeed spread sand and throw gravel; what happened this year?
I, and many others, were needlessly trapped on our streets for a solid week, due to Public Works ignoring reports of a cold front heading this way and not getting out and treating streets before they became ice. Whatever happened to the “old” trucks with attached plow and why on earth did the city purchase a new truck that couldn’t handle all streets? And, who decides what’s a “major road?” Main Street and Hwy. 62 aren’t city owned.
I do indeed understand cold weather, snow and ice; my family in mountainous northern Italy have hilly and narrow streets but their roads are being cleared while it’s snowing/sleeting. I never missed work in my previous location because workers are out continuously. If local private parking lots could be cleared (privately), so should have Eureka’s streets.
Yes, this isn’t a regular occurrence yet; but there is indeed climate change and our winters have become colder and more unpredictable. Shouldn’t Public Works accustom themselves to this and work accordingly?
Marty Cogan