Comments on: We Are Snowbound! Boise Assists ACHD

By: Incompetency Tracker

Incompetency Tracker — Mon, 16 Jan 2017 19:02:52 +0000

I differ from Bikerboy that we are wussified, some of us just expect to get what we pay for… go look at their budget Bikerboy. What we are doing is accepting bad behavior and lack of ownership. If I look down the street today I see all the sidewalks dry and clean. I see the storm drains cleared and little irrigation like cannels leading to them- all happily managed by the citizens. I also see when I walk a few paces further toward the roadway one slick road of ice and parking spaces loaded with snow and now trash pick-up disabled. ACHD is a government agency that has failed to manage their responsibilities (a competent snow emergency plan for one). They own ALL the roads. They own the parking space areas of ALL these roads. They own effective communication so they can plow ALL surfaces of these roads. They own the alleys. They have prioritized roads, all fine and good, but they own the entire poodle, not just the front end. And when “shit happens” they are expected to have a bag (an effective plan) that allows them to pick up the entire poop, not just a piece of the poop here and there. Sadly we have all had to struggle through their lack of planning, ineffective communication and just poor management once again. I am stepping in their poop everyday and I am disgusted with their incompetency.

By: Plowed under

Plowed under — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 01:58:48 +0000

Can’t even get to the street because ACHD has plowed so much snow to the roadside that it it impossible to get through. I cannot do anymore because the runoff is ice and it has nowhere to go because of the mounds of snow that have been plowed up on to the gutters. You would think that they could pile snow where there are no driveways. They are now just causing difficulty. Oh I do appreciate them clearing the streets, but they need to improve the methods used. Big snow towns could teach them some lessons.

By: You flunk, do over until you get it right.

You flunk, do over until you get it right. — Mon, 09 Jan 2017 22:14:09 +0000

Leadership was too busy promoting global warming to be prepared for a series of winter storms. A national problem to some extent.

We got lucky it warmed up or this leadership vacuum would still be very apparent. Local leaders would all freeze to death in North Dakota.

People in river bottoms might still have a problem coming.

Local media was highly irresponsible to allow ball scratching handymen to become experts on nearly everything winter. They caused a mass hysteria about things that are not an issue for 99.9% of the population. Old claw hammer, poorly tuned truck with $4000 tires, and a vape pipe is not what an expert looks like unless you’re talking about cheap beer.

ACHD needs to be incorporated into Ada County as a tightly controlled department. ACHD has repeatedly demonstrated they are out of sync with the community. The employees of ACHD can actually swing an ACHD commissioner’s election due to low voter turnout.

All the local leaders need to kiss and make up during times when unusual events stress the community. No doubt it was an event which stressed resources, but it was made so much worse by lack of preparedness and lack of cooperation between the divisions of local government. Fortunately we have only pretend weather events here.

Has anyone noticed the enormous amount of money the local emergency management preparedness people have been smoking? Holy crap! And a snowstorm catches them off guard? You Flunk!

By: Porcupine

Porcupine — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 01:13:01 +0000

If we only had a trolly to ride to work all problems of plowing snow would be solved…… Just kidding

By: Clancy Anderson

Clancy Anderson — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 20:57:25 +0000

I agree with Bikeboy about ACHD. They were a little late in publishing a schedule, but that helps the general public see the priorities. I have heard reports of neighborhood plowing in NW Boise, Vista, west of Glenwood and yes in the Northend.

And the shovel crews are great to see. I saw 4 crews this morning on my ride to work. Some of these crews are also Parking Services.

By: Boise Glacier

Boise Glacier — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 20:32:13 +0000

It could be a lot worse. Around 10,000 years ago, the snow was a mile deep in the Boise area, and at some point, it will be again.

By: bikeboy

bikeboy — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 18:58:33 +0000

“It’s colder than a mother-in-law’s kiss!” as my grandpa was fond of saying.

I will not scorn the ACHD – I believe they are doing a bang-up job, all things considered. (Consider: do the taxpayers want to pay for a 10-lanes-in-each-direction freeway because we have congestion for an hour in the morning, and an hour in the afternoon? And likewise, do we want to buy a huge fleet of snow-removal equipment that will be used for our once-in-a-generation snowstorm but sit idle otherwise?)

As a life-long Boise resident, I can confidently say we’ve become wussified over a couple generations. Quick to point the finger of blame while wringing the other nine fingers! ha!

This morning downtown, I saw (manual) shovel operators in dayglo vests, and with “Parks and Recreation” trucks nearby. They were clearing the storm drains. Pretty smart! I’d much rather try to clear those drains on a clear, sunny (cold) day, than on a gray rainy (cold) day standing knee-deep in ice-cold floodwater!

By: Pete

Pete — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 18:57:10 +0000

Boise will focus on North End and downtown first!

By: erico49

erico49 — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 14:02:33 +0000

“and residential areas across the city.” Yeah. Right. Let’s see how they do in west or southwest Boise.