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The following is an open letter to Orillia City Council in response to a previous letter to the editor on sidewalk snow removal.
I think we could do a better job with sidewalks.
1) They should be sent out whenever they are not scraped down. Recently it snowed three inches and they were not and the sidewalks were not navigable, I'm referring to West, Peter and North among others.
2) The corners should be cleared when the street plows create piles. At least on the major streets. .
The new building at West and Borland... I saw some people in walkers trying to navigate the sidewalks after a few days of no precipitation and struggling, and I thought to myself, this isn't necessary. We can do better.
I'm experienced in snow removal. I drove a Kubota in downtown Toronto. I was responsible for banks, private schools, and I understand a lot of what is involved.
I think for these main roads, where walking on the street is not an option, more people would leave their house, and it would be safer, if they were scraped. Put on the plow attachment, and scrape it down, and put the salter on the back, on the minimum level.
Make it low priority, after the storm; the machine is sitting there, the plow attachment is there, send them out to fix the corners and scrape and salt. It's very doable and very cheap.
That is my suggestion.
Andrew Connor
Orillia
