COMMENTARY: Clearing Icy Streets Is Slippery Business

By the time you read this, I hope for weather that is sunny and 75 degrees — as Rogers native Joe Nichols is singing about these days on country radio.

The forecast, however, is not promising.

Two weeks before the official start of winter, we were in snow mode with 8 or so inches topping a couple of inches of sleet.

Oh, the joy — if you are a kid who is out of school. For those of us who work snow or sun, not so much.

We have a couple of young reporters who are transplants to the area. It’s been interesting to watch their reactions.

Our California girl was so excited she was almost jumping up and down at the thought of snow. It took only one trip driving in the mess, however, before she ceded the wheel to a more experienced driver.

Our young man from Nebraska was incensed at the fact by Monday, roads still weren’t clear. Nor were parking lots. I explained we don’t have the equipment they have in Nebraska — nor the winter weather to justify the purchase.

We got an email of a photo that is making the rounds supposedly showing the difference in road conditions on U.S. 71 between Arkansas and Missouri at Bella Vista. Snowy to the south, clear to the north. I thought it was a little suspect only because I saw a photo taken on U.S. 65 north of Harrison showing a similar situation, but the Missouri side — while clearer — wasn’t near as clear as it supposedly is on 71.

You’d think Missouri would be an equal opportunity highway clearer.

There has been the usual grumping on Facebook about the streets. Honest to Pete, the people who can stay home gripe about having to, and those of us who want to stay home gripe because we have to get out.

Could crews do a better job clearing streets and highways? Certainly — if they had the equipment and manpower to do it. The question becomes if taxpayers want to foot the bill. My guess is no.

That’s the problem that impacts all government services. People moan and groan about one thing or another, but ask them to pay more taxes for it, they break the sound barrier punching the “no” button so fast.

Complaints were so bad a couple of years ago, Mayor Greg Hines took the unprecedented step of creating an official street clearing policy. It varied little, if any, from the policy followed since I moved to Rogers. Priority goes to the area around Mercy Medical Center, the Police Department and fire stations; that’s as it should be, and if anyone has argument against it, I’d like to hear it.

Next comes major arterial roads including New Hope and Dixieland roads and Poplar and First streets. Where’s Walnut and Eighth streets? Technically, these are state highways. I have seen city crews — possibly in a fit of desperation — do some work on them, but that’s not their job.

Areas addressed next are Lake Atalanta Road, Pleasant Ridge Road and the southern entrance to the Brush Creek subdivision off North Second Street.

I really don’t have any problems with this except for the omission of the part that reads: “We will clear the streets by Leeanna’s house as well as her driveway as soon as emergency service areas are taken care of.”

Here are some facts from the city about our streets and the crew who work on them:

There are 400 miles of streets in Rogers.

There are 24 Street Department employees.

There are two graders, three front-end loaders, three dump trucks with snow plow attachments, five gravel spreaders and three salt and liquid spreaders.

Sand, magnesium chloride, (effective from 32 to 5 degrees) and salt (effective from 32 degrees to –6 degrees) are used as de-icing agents.

Sure. I really, really wish the streets were cleared within 24 hours of snowfall. I also really, really wish to be wealthy and living in a tropical area. Neither are going to happen.

Give the street/road/highway crews a break. They are doing a pretty good job considering what they have to work with.

Of course things could be better, and if you have a viable, affordable plan to make it that way, I am sure the powers that be would love to hear from you.

LEEANNA WALKER IS LOCAL EDITOR OF THE ROGERS MORNING NEWS AND THE SPRINGDALE MORNING NEWS. FOLLOW HER ON TWITTER AT WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWALEEANNA.

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