[Dartem]

I work for the city as a sander driver/plower let me just address some of the things in this thread. Feel free to ask away

Originally Posted by Oxygen-Supply

Blame this blame that, 8: Calgary has long period between snow falls, keeping a big staff on payroll would be a big waste of money. Yes they can do other things when it is not snowing. But having 300 people doing odd jobs waiting for a snow fall seams like a big waste of tax payers dollars.

This is your only point I can disagree with. Nobody wants us sitting around doing nothing until the snow falls until the snow falls. Then everyone screams about why the snow wasnt cleared in 20 minutes. Ever try to call in somebody to work at 2am when you have grumpy bitter old men who only stay working for the city to collection their pension and spite their superiors?

Originally Posted by ken0042

You obviously missed the news reports when they talked about this, and the threads here. The estimated cost to the tax bill to plow the residential streets after every snow fall was closer to $60 per homeowner per year. Never mind would I be willing to pay that, but I also don't need it done after every snowfall. 2 or3 times per year would be fine. That would also address the issues of not enough staff when the big snowfalls hit.

Its not just staff its equipment the city needs to buy. We are running so many sanders that are so old and they break down. Add in new equipment, maintainance costs, training to use them and staff for 4 shifts, it adds up in a hurry.

Right now at full capactity, with the size of the city it works out to around 1 plow for every 70lane km of road out there. Travel time to get to a depot that has material (pickle or salt),waitin g for the loader guy to finish taking a crap and get out to load you etc etc its a time consuming job.

Originally Posted by Nancy

IMO, the City doesn't need to spend more, they need to spent smarter. Fewer staff, less equipment... but have contracts with private companies that can be pulled in on an emergency basis after these snowfalls. Especially given that this works needs to be done at night anyway, I am sure there are companies out there that have equipment sitting idle at night and staff who would be more than happy to take the overtime a few times a year.

Thanks for advocating putting me out of a job first of all. Secondlu there arent many companies out there with the equipment sitting idle. Carmacks is busy with the Deerfoot and other companies are contracted out doing parking lots and other bull. I guaruntee there isnt a lot of snow clearing equipment sitting idle when there is snow. And what you propose paying them OT to do is costing more when you have city drivers making substantially less on straight time, already doing it.