LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Posted January 9, 2025
Dear Editor:
Local street departments are going above and beyond to keep our towns safe and moving smoothly during the recent snowfall. However, some community members have been expressing frustration over the snow-clearing process, leading to confusion, miscommunication, and a breakdown of community connections.
One common complaint is the perceived lack of salt on side roads, with residents questioning the prioritization of main roads. It’s important to note that road treatments like salt and salt brining can be costly for the taxpayers in the short and long run.
While rock salt can be costly, the corrosive damage that it causes to roads, bridges, vehicles, and sidewalks can create an additional tax burden. If salt were to be used on every street, it would damage landscapes by causing nutrient imbalances and deficiencies.
Many large cities have also had to limit the amount of salt used for snow and ice treatment because it infiltrates groundwater, contaminating reservoirs and wells and negatively impacting community members, fish, bugs, and animals. While it may be frustrating to deal with snowy roads, something that we don’t often have to deal with, our local officials are making decisions that prioritize environmental damage mitigation, traffic volume and community safety considerations.
Residents have expressed concern about snow being pushed into driveways during street plowing efforts. While this may be inconvenient, street departments do not have the means or equipment to clear the edge of every driveway. If they did, the tax burden on community members would be astronomical. While a snowstorm can be inconvenient, it is important to remember that patience and understanding during snow removal efforts are key.
Additionally, residents must take responsibility when planning for snow/ice storms and removal. Residents can take some simple steps to ensure they are prepared for the next snowstorm. First, make sure you are tracking local weather predictions. In Illinois, weather can change quickly, so checking outlooks several times a day before a storm can allow individuals to plan for any condition properly.
If it looks like snow will be accumulating locally, residents should be thinking about their personal ability to remove snow from home sidewalks and/or driveways. Residents may want to contact local snow removal companies early to inquire about price and availability. Everyone has different needs, and it can be important to let a snow removal company know about work schedules or medical issues that may require your property to be at the top of their service list.
Area residents who use social media should follow local community pages. These pages will have weather and safety-related updates, information about businesses available for snow removal, road and business closures, and more.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the means and ability to remove snow. The elderly and those with health problems often need to be checked on and assisted. Make sure to check on your neighbors to see if they need assistance finding someone to help with snow removal. The sooner the snow can be removed, the better. As snow continues to sit, it becomes compacted and the sun will start to melt the snow, which will then freeze and delay removal.
To better understand the decisions made by local authorities, residents are encouraged to stay informed about their town's snow removal plan, be patient during winter weather events, and take proactive measures to help alleviate the burden on street departments.
Lastly, getting angry about snow and taking it out on community workers and leaders over social media does not alleviate the snow problem. Don’t worsen a snowstorm with a bad attitude, instead, work together to ensure safety for all residents this winter season.
Written by:
Valerie Belusko, Community and Economic Development Educator
Serving Christian, Jersey, Macoupin & Montgomery Counties
