First, I apologize. I haven't read through all of the comments yet so if I repeat, I'm sorry.
Hmm, so the city has chosen only to go through my street once since the snow and icy weather started resulting in every intersection and curve being literally a sheet of ice and has now resulted in mailboxes being hit. Next thing you know it will be a child or a person walking to school and it'll be the driver's fault because they were going too fast or something. At what point do we start to sacrifice community safety and the safety of our drivers and pedestrians in order to save money? I guess we're there...talk about a decision that makes little sense. Don't get me wrong, I know things cost money, but with all due respect, I am SURE there are other things that could get cut from spending in order to assure the safety of the city's residents. It's your job city government, make it happen, make your city desirable otherwise don't sit back and wonder why people move away when they have become fed up with what happens in it. Just Ridiculous.

Lets solve two problems at once, everybody run out and buy the biggest GM tank you can find then we won’t need the city to plow, and just maybe with a Christmas miracle we will save GM in Janesville ! *wink wink*

I know one way they can infuse some cash into the snowplow fund...ticket the morons that blow snow out of their driveways into the street. I don't know the ordinance number, but I recall seeing it on the city website that that is against the law.
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And if someone does it AFTER a plow goes past, double the fine

shaemsvil,

Mayebey, juzt mayebey, befour you beginn maeking raceist uneducaited comints like that, you shuld take an inglish clas.

Also, you're right--it's such a bad thing to waste money on education. You know, it's not like educating people would increase our taxbase or anything.

What? Plan ahead? Prioritize money? Is that not too much to ask people that still drive SUVs for no reason, complain about high gas prices, but refuse to find a more economical vehicle (especially if there are no kids in the family)?

I Remeber Last Year almost getting stuck Everyday goin to work Cause the ROADS were not plowed

outdoors; if the city truly has zero dollars, then how did the streets get plowed after this last snowfall? I don’t think Santa came early. The city made it work, just as they should if it snows again. And if they need more money then they take in now (I don’t think they do, they just need to prioritize better), then they should raise taxes.

Edgewater; it must be much harder for you to read and respond than it is for the rest of us, because personally I’m not putting much effort into this at all… certainly not as much as shoveling snow. If it really bothers you so much that people are discussing this issue, I suggest you quit “whining” and solve your own problem by moving on and find something else to do.

Plow half the streets, just make sure it's my side.

Aren't we building a parking ramp downtown, too?

They plowed our side street, and little fairies flew over sprinkling fairy dust over the road to melt the rest. Actually, even after they plow much of it is slick ice, so I bought a 4X4, and put lots of weight in the back. It's fun!

The city could find the money for it if they tried.

Archer-Its the end of the year...no one has any money left except for wages and operating costs. Do you forget that the city has been cutting back for years...there is no fluff, no extra money, no surplus, the city is operating at a bare minimum. Get use to reductions in service, I do not blame the city we are in an economic crisis. I am cutting back, so is the city.

What a bunch of whiners! Get off your butts and take some action. If there was as much energy put into this snow plowing issue as there is complaining about it, maybe, just maybe, you wouldn't need to depend on others for a resolution. If there's a problem - solve it! If you don't have an issue with this - even better.

Yes ddrink; I realize what I said. You don't think the city would seriously consider paying such a bill even if I did send one do you? My point is... I am responsible to take care of my sidewalk. If I fail to do so, I am fined. It is the cities responsibility to maintain the roads. So what happens when they don't? Or when they do it so poorly that they may as well of not even bothered? Nothing. It's a matter of responsibility. The city could find the money for it if they tried. Where does the snow plowing money go in years where there is a surplus? That's right... they use it for something else. Now it's time for the fat to be trimmed somewhere else, or postpone some silly project the powers that be are dreaming about. I also have a four wheel drive truck, so I will get where I'm going if the roads are snowy or not. But not everyone does, and road safety is not the place to make cuts in my opinion. >>>------>

Read the artical again. SLOWLY!!! The budget for 2007-2008 has been exhausted. They are trying to limit plowing as safely as possible. In 27 days we will be in the 2009 budget. They are NOT going to completely stop plowing side streets! Take a breath people!

For those of you that think it's a good idea to "bill" the city if you plow your own road, where do you think that money would come from if you did get paid? You do understand you just said that you want to bill yourself for it? Why not just call Jack Messer and tell him that you want your taxes raised?

Hey, didn't they cut back every year for the last 5? The street I live on doesn't get plowed for a couple of days after a snow fall, if at all. And by the way, by then it is an ice patch from end to end and plowing doesn't take up the ice.

You people that post on here need to wake up! You sit on here and cry when an accident happens and we need a stop sign or stop lights put up. Then cry because you pay taxes and your road isn't plowed. Maybe you all that are crying should think about what is important. They are called accidents for a reason and most of you crying on here don't get out of your house anyways GET A LIFE!

Some of you do not get it. They are out of money...simple. Do you want your taxes raised every year so they can pay for record snowfalls all the time? It is not predictable to say...next year will be record snow we will need more money. How about this, a special tax that we all pay for the rest of the year to cover snow removal? No? Then accept it, plan more travel time, slow down, and be considerate. GOOD MORNING, ITS WISCONSIN, ITS WINTER.

First, the city doesn't have stop signs on most side streets. Now, they are only plowing major streets. What the heck is being done with my tax dollars?

If it gets any worse, it will be trimmed down to three guys, a shovel and a broom.

Don't the people that live on these side streets also pay taxes? Their tax money goes towards snow plowing. If their streets don't get plowed then they should be getting some money back.

If our street gets plowed, it's days later so nothing new here.

I agree with you , Archer, we should be able to fine them for not plowing. and within a reasonable amount ot time,like they give us for shoveling! I was beginning to think janesville didn't have snowplows! After this story, i see they do, they just choose not to use them on my street! Great job city!!

This is not a new situation. I have to wonder how they come up with the numbers?
Maybe that should have been in this article?
Obviously one cannot know how to truly predict the problem snow falls, but one would think that year after year, a type of formula could be used, and if there is a surplus, just continue to leave it in the budget because eventually one year might just be worse and the money would be there.
I don't know how city budgets work, but that is how my budget would work.

Better yet, lets have a bike tunnel. I don't like driving on plowed streets anyways, its overrated...and we always use the bike trail and snowshoe to work! NOT

maybe this city should look at what we need instead of what we want when times are tough, if we dont take care of the streets it will be even more money we will need to repair those next year

If I don't clear my sidewalks, the city will do it and send me a bill. Shouldn't that work both ways? If they don't clear the streets, we should be able to hire a contractor and bill the city.

So the city didn't see this coming back in spring? There is money to send council members to Arizona to interview a new city manager (boy I wouldnt want his job if he is smart he tells Janesville thanks but no thanks. Approve money for a proposed bike tunnel on Milwaukee St. Oh yeah and pay and merit increases. Whats next no trash pickup? This town is a joke. Maybe they can join GM and beg congress for a bail out.

This really is an outrage. Something as basic as slow plowing shouldn't be "cut back." Anyone know who is all running for City Council?

SarahB, you're welcome to come shovel/snowblow my PUBLIC street any time you please! Can I have your phone number to call you when all my neighbors get stuck in our street???

It's bad enough that the city owns my terrace, too. But I have to mow and water that myself.

gotta love it -- city governments, wherever they may be, announce draconian cuts in essential services,
YET, they rarely cut where the waste really exist (like unnecessary employees, gold standard health benefits).

I don't think the roads are that bad, I drive a two wheel drive pick-up and haven't had an issue the past five years with it. As long as you don't drive like a donkey you should have a problem.

Ever heard of taking care of it ourselves? Last I heard there, is no law against taking our snowblowers and shovels to the streets. These are hard times, folks. Maybe only the strong will survive after all.

I'll bet you Jack Messer had his street plowed, Hey Jack you shouldn't try to save money by causing unsafe street conditions! Why is it common sense seems to be the least common thing in our fair city these days?

WTF? We've exhausted our plowing budget IN JANESVILLE??? I wonder if all those cities in California exhausted their budgets on fighting wildfires and maybe all the communities in the Gulf states exhausted their budgets for hurricane preparedness. When the communities in Kansas run out of money do they quite cleaning up after tornados?

Janesville should plan EXTRA cash in the plowing budget every year! If they don't use it by March, allocate it to other special projects that need to be done (like those STUPID speed limit signs on Milwaukee Street & Wuthering Hills Drive that display your speed and have cameras attached to them)! It's clear to me that Janesville would rather spend the extra money on getting Big Brother in place than the safety of its residents. Pathetic!

Wait a sec... They have been plowing? Hmmm...I must of either woke up on the wrong side of the bed or in a different city because since moving here (15 yrs ago),I just always thought the city didn't even own plows. Here is the next headline "Janesville's discount shopping centers and chain restaurants shut down because people are snowed in and can't get out".

I got stuck on the centerway hill a couple days ago in my honda civic, I couldnt get out because if i let off the brake i would have slid into the 10 cars behind me. Thankfully a nice lady in the SUV behind me got out and pushed me a little to get momentum going. Nice to confirm that there are Some nice people out there.

Hey, why not spend money on a childrens museum that no one will be able to get through the snow to get to. Can Janesville do anything right? I don't think so.

Maybe I woke up on wrong side of bed today but I think they do a great job of plowing. Just don't have it in me today to get up and find anything I possibly can to b--- about. Maybe some streets are not plowed good due to too many people playing on computer, crabbing about how everyone owes them something, city should do everything for them and they forgot to move car off street. Oh yea, darn ticket, I shouldn't get one I pay taxes! Grow up and quit bitchin.

Add to it all the money we have to pay back to the state because of the overpayment for police at U-Rock. Yep, gonna be messy this year. So, I agree with the "bet they're going to increase taxes" comments.

like i havent noticed my street wasnt plowed! Janesville cuts back but raises taxes.

how are the students going to get to their new gyms if they don't plow the streets. maybe the school board won't be able to meet so they can think up ways to raise our taxes.

Great, they already do a rotten job of plowing side roads now they probably won't plow them at all!

I had less problems with the Center Ave and Centerway hills this past year with all that snow, than in years past.

Limit plowing as much as safely possible.....many residential streets have suffered this fate for many years already. This is Wisconsin-sad to hear that their budget was exhausted last winter. Perhaps they should plan for things like that to happen.

Is this a joke? From what I've seen during my many visits to Janesville, the only way your city could possibly "cut back" its snow plowing efforts would be to find extra snow and dump it ONTO the streets.

(Yes, I am kidding... but just barely.)