I'm all for being proactive rather than reactive. But I can't figure out how it makes sense for Lincoln's road crews to
lay down anti-icing solution even in beautiful weather. Sure the stuff is relatively cheap ($0.05 per gallon). But it isn't free, and more importantly, neither is the labor. Public Works Roger Tiedeman says it's to help prevent frost build-up on bridges and arterials. I guess I didn't realize that frosty arterials were a major cause of fender benders.
In any event, now that December has arrived it's much easier for the City to sell the idea that once-per-week preventative sprayings serve a useful purpose. The deeper into winter we get, the more likely that a "winter weather event" -- snow, sleet, freezing rain -- will occur within the next week (the stated duration of effectiveness of the solution). And let's be fair: a big chunk of Public Works' motivation is their woeful performance and the subsequent public outcry a couple winters back. By being (appearing?) on the ball, Public Works may be saving itself from a lot of flak later on. Or maybe not. We Lincolnites like to complain about the snow removal crews. There's always something.
Maybe we should shift our complaints to the meteorologists. Public Works could be much more efficient if
Ken Siemek could just get his four-week weather models perfected.