I think that the city cutting back on needed services is not very wise! I live right off Milton av. and my street is hardly ever plowed! Thankfully it was last night. That being said, if the city wants to cut back why not on the library costs? We support that thing at over a million a year. How about stupid stuff that they want to put in the works like the tunnel and childrens museum? Those things should not even be put out there if we can't even plow our streets and keep our citizens safe! Not to mention the cost of other services they have to call out when someone gets into an accident because of unsafe road conditions!

The people that are crying about the streets not being plowed are the same people insisting the city needs to cut back its spending. Wake up people! You get what you pay for. And if you want to keep insisting the city make cuts, than quit your crying after the cuts are made! glock21sf said we should get what we pay for. Thats exactly the problem....we are!
Our council members want to cut back the city budgets, but then they complain about getting calls from citizens about the lack of services so they turn around and blame it on the city's department heads when its the councils own fault to begin with!
Remember, saving money is great, but failing to adequately fund services means a reduction of services for all.

Legally, private citizens are not allowed to plow public streets. There lies a liability issue. What if he had caused damage, and the city was blamed for it? Does that individual even have a insurance rider? I am sure he meant well, but it isn't advised.

I witnessed something remarkable about two hours ago. A private citizen in a red truck with a plow on the front drove south on Main Street here in Janesville and plowed away at the snow. I wanted to thank that person for doing a good deed.

I hope the city stops plowing completely, so we can keep this blog going.

As long as they don't knock my mailbox down again this year, I really don't care if they plow or not LOL.

beeferer - You think Janesville should be more like Charter Communications? There's a City website, and anybody can send an email to just about anybody in the city, not just council. They actually reply to you in a kind and civil manner, too. Of course, you should have sent a kind and civil email to begin with.

Some people in this city would complain if they were hung with a new rope. You know who you are. We are plum with arm chair city managers who think they can do better by posting on this blog.

Beeferer, all of the counsel members have email that you can leave your suggestions and comments on.

It's nice to know that the city logs the calls and then reviews them a few days later.

I can't type that without a tone of sarcasm...

Message to Mr. Messer; A little less "logging" of complaints, a little more plowing of that mysterious white substance that seems to fall from the sky in abundance every winter.

I wish the city of Janesville would create a website that has message boards for a wide range of topics for people to make complaints/suggestions about how the city is run, how our tax dollars are used, and general comment sections for businesses in town that are doing an outstanding job or not living up to their individual contracts with the city (Hmmmm... Maybe like CHARTER?)

Sometimes on my way home from work when the country side is a frozen wasteland, I try to imagine what it would have been like to ride up in a horse drawn wagon, and survive here with basically nothing except what you brought. Then I snap out of it, and I'm back driving my warm car on paved roads that are plowed, and I know if I slide off the road there's people and equipment that will save me.

If I still lived in Janesville I'd be livid that they are not spending tax dollars on needed services. The only way to fix this is to go to the City council meetings and let them know your feelings then vote them out if they don't listen

How is it negativity? I pay my tax dollars to be provided with specific services. When those services are not being provided, don't I have a right to question how my money is being spent?

I log on to read the gazette extra and read the blog's and I am alway's surprised on all the b------g that goes on in this town(Janesville) there is so much going on in the world that we should all be thankful that our roads do get plowed. It's a wonder that anyone would ever want to live in Janesville, because of ALL the negetivity here!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not gonna matter today anyway. It's not going to stop snowing for many hours. The streets can't be totally clean until after then.

I have a suggestion, Why don't all of you who are complaining here attend a city council meeting and speak up there? Instead of whining at them tell them that the streets need to be plowed for safety reasons. Let them know plowing will cut down on accidents and damages which is a cost cutting measure. Let them know the streets need to be plowed so the police and emergency services can safely respond to calls for service. Word your complaints wisely so they will listen.

it takes time to take care of all the miles of highway there are, you can't expect all the streets and highways cleared in a few minutes, wait your turn, everyone wants to be first, the best thing to do is get out of the way and let people do their job, and be patient..

I agree with you shagcarpet, it's not about immediate removal - for me it's about safety, where I'm at, it does not matter who fast or slow you drive, the curves that are on the street being covered with ice is treacherous regardless of speed. Unfortunately spinmaster I'm not so concerned with my lawn, I can fix that, that's part of the seasons of Wisconsin, frustrating as it may be, but I would much rather have my lawn ripped to shreds than someone killed or injured in my front lawn due to the poor road conditions.

LOL you people crack me up. You all attack each other on every article blog.

I wonder how many people had part of their lawn ripped up by a plow, like I did.

I don't think anyone is asking to have their streets completely clear of snow immediately after a snow fall. But when people are sliding onto my lawn, because my street is so slick and full of snow, that is a problem.

I agree with you too localboy. So its a little snow... it's WI, we get snow. Just drive a little more careful than normal and everything is fine. Yeah residential streets are packed with snow, but you should be driving pretty slow on those anyways. I dont see it as a problem and they shouldnt have to plow the snow to the concrete after every snowfall... gotta save on costs somewhere.

Well localboy, you've been looking down on me for a while now, so I'll be happy along with my fellow Beloiters to take your money. It's sort of a karma penalty for your holier-than-thou attitude.

It's Wisconsin. It's winter. It is cold, snowy, icy.
I do believe even if the city plowed the driveways, shoveled the sidewalks, there would be those who would continue to complain.
I am sure that there are plenty of people in Beloit and other cities that complain about the lousy snow removal job there and wonder why they can't do as good a job as in Janesville.
Mother Nature will continue to provide lousy weather and the city and county will try their collective best to keep ahead and stretch the TAXPAYERS MONEY so they don't have to raid other expenditures. It's a difficult battle.
Apparently you can do a better a job at snow removal so will be looking forward to seeing you out on the highways and by-ways, behind the wheel of those snowplows, doing the excellent job you would require of others.
Happy Holidays.

Don't you just LOVE the way this "city" handles everything? They respond to plowing complaints by have the supervisor do a drive by check. Here's an idea- have that supervisor do a little real life multitasking. How about we have the supervisor do the drive by in a snowplow!!! (Can you just here the city manager slapping his forehead as he reads this?) Kind of a no-brainer. (Don't you just love sarcasm?)

Localboy hits the nail on the head. The plow drivers aren't perfect, experience, common sense and attitude play a part as well. Then we have the citizens that don't know how to use their snowblowers/plows and they blow/plow the snow into the plowed street. (Then come on here to complain.) If you can do it better apply for the job, otherwise zip it!

At least Beloit knows how to plow, economy aside.

Hey Localboy, I live in Janesville and have been a professional driver for 14 years and have never been in a ditch. That said, I am sick of the condition of my street every winter. I guess that makes me a welfare case?? LISTEN UP PEOPLE FROM BELOIT!! Just because of your geographical local, you are welfare scum according to Localboy1968.

localboy you are exactly right. I'd rather drive on a little slop or hardpack and help the city control snow removal costs. Spend my money wisely. Maybe the complainers should pay extra to get special snow removal treatment.

hey localboysince1968...nowhere did I say I was from Beloit, I live in the city of Janesville, nice try though. I too have been driving for decades in WI and have never been ditch bound or the like - that's not the issue here. If our tax money is going to Beloit, well, that's something that our city officials should be handling if there aren't enough funds for our city.

We have become a nation of pansy complainers. The real driving skills of certain individuals are exposed when we have a little snow on the ground. I have been driving for decades in Wisconsin (including for a living)and never as much as hit the ditch. Maybe we should start a counter complaint line and tell the city we don't want side streets cleared to save money.

By the way, our Janesville tax dollars are helping to pay for Beloit's budget. That city is a perfect example of a whole city that is on welfare. When Gov. Doyle proposed freezing revenue sharing, Beloit declared that over 50% of their operating budget came from the revenue sharing fund. That is city welfare. That means you Glock21sf and greaselightning.

I got up early, got in my vehicle, and drove to Whitewater. I didn't slide down Wright road by Ruger Ave, so they plowed OK.

Here's a thought...plow the streets and manage your city...problem solved...no complaints. I could probably drive on any back country road in the middle of nowhere that has been blanketed with multiple feet of snow and have better road conditions than this city. Each call is logged and put on a list...woohoo! Maybe I'll sit and videotape the traffic on my street sliding and slamming into light poles and mailboxes and they can add that to their little list. I might as well just throw my tax money down the drain and save the city some time because they seem to be doing a pretty good job of it when it comes to snow management and street conditions.

This city is a joke when it comes to snow removal. I have a good friend who is a firefighter in Beloit. He was amazed with the conditions of the streets in Janesville compared to Beloit. This is our tax dollars at work people. We should get what we pay for.