Chamber of Commerce director Mitch Everton says the state of city streets in recent days “affords an excellent opportunity for civic leadership to review both existing procedures and resources.”
Everton says, in a recent letter to the editor of the Anacortes American, “The inability to provide passable roads over an extended period has created significant issues for both residents and chamber members.” He added “ This could not have happened at a worse time for our merchant community.”
Everton emailed the letter to Chamber members this week, along with a statement that “The intent of the letter was to act as a common voice for membership, hopefully expressing frustrations felt and proposing improved planning.”
Everton is proposing that the city clearly define the state's responsibility vs the city's; line up additional equipment and work crews prior to a large snow event; and get that extra equipment and manpower out on the streets before snow compacts into ice and can't be removed.
Everton noted that the city was slow to realize that the state was not plowing Commercial Ave. and 12th St., which are part of state highway 20, though the city. Mayor Dean Maxwell had assumed the state would handle that chore, while the state apparently assumed the city would do it.
Everton also noted that the city doesn’t own a snowplow, but the school district does. The school district has loaned their plow to the city for as long as it’s needed.