A hand for plow crews

Regarding letters from Ray Blowers (Dec. 23) and Betty Jean Blackman (Dec. 26), your facts are wrong.

1. The city of Spokane Valley is not plowing its streets this winter.

2. Neither has it contracted anyone else to do so.

3. Spokane County is plowing our streets, as they have done in the past.

See, here’s the deal. Spokane County decided (over the protests of city of Spokane Valley) to not renew the plowing contract for the year 2009-10, but the contract with the county is in place for 2008-09.

It is Spokane County out there doing the plowing right now. And a darn good job of it, too. Yes, the street in front of my house is in bad shape even though the plows have been by once so far. My neighbors and I are taking the initiative to clear it as best we can until the big guys come by again. We are able to get out and conduct our normal daily business without complaining about it.

Plowing priorities are obvious and correct: First, the highways. Second, the major arterials (Sprague, Pines, University, etc). Third, the minor arterials (Bowdish, McDonald, Eighth Avenue, etc). Finally, residential streets.

I applaud the crews that are out there on 12-hour shifts, 24/7.

Tom Cameron

Spokane Valley