Feedback from Residents

I get feedback from residents on a variety of different issues. Sometimes the feedback is positive and sometimes it isn't. We don't always agree and that's ok, I value everyone's thoughts and opinions. 

In a recent Council meeting, I asked administration to  look into why taxpayers are paying for vehicles towed during snow removal. Why don't we tow and then issue a fee for towing?

A resident responded to that article saying:
"I just read the article in the Park News on the cost of towing vehicles for snow removal. I was not aware that taxpayers are paying for this?  I can not believe that this is a reality?
How did this come to happen?  Why are taxpayers responsible for someone who is neglecting the no parking signs?  If I park in a no parking zone anywhere in the County and happen to be towed, are taxpayers paying for the tow charges?  I would expect that to be the case based on the no parking towing for snow removal. If no parking signs are in place, wether they be a permanent sign or temporary sign, there should be no difference.  Who decided this was a fair and good idea to have taxpayers pay for towing charges?"

In keeping with the snow clearing theme comments are coming in for and against the proposed sidewalk clearing bylaw! 

One resident said:
"Within one block of xxxx Crescent there are four widows living and trying to stay in their homes. As they are in their 70s and living on a fixed income it gets harder every time they are forced to hire a snow removal company. Yes they know about having it done through Snow Busters ,but pride prevents them from going to the County on bended knees. I am certain that if you check out how many one resident homes we have in Sherwood Park you might get a glimpse of the potential fallout on our tax base if all these people become forward enough to get it done by the County.

I also invite you to visit our home and see how much harder it is to keep the sidewalk clear as we face north and the sun is low in the southern sky thus houses shadow the front yards lleaving ice while across the street the sidewalk melts off clear." (A physical disability prevents me from lifting snow)."We have been able to have family come from Edmonton to clear our snow but it hasn't always been within 48 hours as they work and have their own property to clean. I guess we will also be forced to go to the County on bended knees to get Snow Busters to keep us within this Big Brother bylaw..What next??"

but others express another view:
A lady called to tell me that she wanted to see a sidewalk snow clearance bylaw - the sooner the better: "Seniors can hire a landscaping company to clean their snow. Or have family do it. My thirty year old neighbours haven't cleaned their walks in two years!"

Speaking of snow removal, Chuck, a County resident had this to say: 

"I have recently made my trek to a community in SW Edmonton.  This year the community streets have been bladed to near pavement, and the snow 'windrowed' to each side of the street.  (This was completed five weeks after the snow fell)  The two way streets have been reduced to one way streets, with no on street parking, even so, this is much better than last year, where there was no winter maintenance or snow removal.  By January last year, the streets were rutted so bad most vehicles were stuck when making a trip.

Compare this to my Sherwood Park - where my community was cleared of snow a week after the snow, and not once, but twice.

I suspect the efficiency of the Sherwood Park operation has results costs which a fraction of those of Edmonton, on a per house basis, from my observation the two operations."

Keep the input coming!