How to haul grain?

[gregpet]

Just wondering what other RM's procedure is for clearing roads after a storm.

We have been blown in since Saturday evening. Some main roads and the west side of the RM were cleared starting Sunday. We just got plowed out this afternoon about 3 PM. We have kids that go to school, so we are on a bus route. High school was having exams this week. Bus will finally run tomorrow.

The RM 'claims' they run on a rotation and every division has their turn to be left to the very end. Would it not make more sense to do the main roads and then bus routes before they do an entire division and leave people stranded for 4 days?

I had to plow out the yard for our elderly neighbor and about 3 miles worth of road so he could get to the highway to get medication that he had run out of. Phoned Monday morning for the plow, it finally showed up Tuesday around 1 PM and only plowed the road I had already plowed.

They wanted canola hauled in this week but I had to cancel. Am I being stupid and this is the way it works everywhere because the other 2 RM's beside us have plowed their main roads 3 times since the storm and had done all other roads by Tuesday.

Any councilors and other ratepayers care to comment.

Really p***ed and had to rant a little.

[parsley]

Stoneboat with gallon ice cream pails nailed along three sides so I don't fall off and an old nag who can't gallop. Only 8 miles to town so we're good to go.

Pars

[oneoff]

Don't you know (and more particularly your reeve and councillors know) that Occupational Health and Safiety has decided that unless you are a competent and trained snow plow operator; operating equipment that meets their standards that you must not even be thinking of cleaning snow off municipal road allowances.
It is simply a case of not being allowed to look after yourself; and that no one else can or will look after you. Therein lies a delima that has no satisfactory solution.
But trust a regulatory body like Occupational Health and Safety to come up with something. If you will sign that you are not competent or trained to operate snow removal equipment; but are on a municipal snow plow club as a contractor of the municipality
; but not in the business of snow removal; your machinery is right up to snuff; has lights; you won't work after dark; you know all the hazards etc. etc ; then for a period of 9 months (at their discretion; they will issue an exemption (which of course can be revoked).
Of couse you and I know we really aren't contractors for anyone. We're just helping out a neighbor; and doing what needs to be done because someone can't/won't/isn't physically able to do a job that needs to be done in a timely manner.
But why do others need to make you feel like the one doing wrong? Lead, follow or get out of the way comes to mind.

[gregpet]

Actually on Tuesday another neighbor had a bad fall, broke some ribs and punctured a lung. Ambulance would not leave the highway. Had to wait for an incompetent, untrained farmer to come clear the road for them.

[oneoff]

And I'm sure that in the rare case that something unfortunate happened; that Occupational Health and Safety would not consider anything other than the liability issues; and the noncompliance with their standards.

Sad, truly sad.

[SASKFARMER3]

16 ft blade, 400hp tractor and ps on it open your own road. Priceless, let the snow fly its fun. Gave up on some Rms doing any thing right. One of ours first years of a new terminal in our area and the RM wouldn't even open a back road to the place but we did and the RM phoned and thanked us.

[gregpet]

Well SF3 where do you stop. Open up for yourself, then 1 neighbor, then 2, then the third... Who do you leave out? How far do you travel already. I hate to pick and choose.

[food4u]

I am a RM councillor and when we have a storm the school bus route get plowed first followed by super grids, grids,main farm access,then ordinary roads in that order except in the case of an emergency. The emergency takes precidence.

[gregpet]

That sound's sensible.

[oneoff]

Any comments about Ocupational Health and Safety. They don't mean it as a joke.