FLT Non-Snowplow Policy?

In the past, Fish Lake Township (FLT) was very responsive and reliable to promptly plow snowfalls and salt/sand roadways in a logical, efficient manner. However; in more recent years, Fish Lake Township’s snow removal work performance has suffered and digressed to the point of negligence. In fact, Fish Lake Township has not only provided decreased and diminished snow removal services over recent years, but attempted to justify and support their reduction of service as well.

Perhaps motivated by complaints, Fish Lake Township took the rare step to document its “Snow Removal Policy” in December 2003 when Supervisors Cupit and Larkin served on the town board. The policy documented the change in township procedures to plow snowfalls exceeding 3 inches instead of 2 inches as per previous practice. On April 13, 2009, the policy was “ammended” by Supervisors Carter, Cupit and Larkin to change township procedures once again to plow snowfalls exceeding 4 inches instead of 3 inches as previously documented in 2003. While the change in procedure may sound insignificant, 4 inches of blowing, drifting snow on winding country roads can and does cause winter travel safety issues especially for emergency vehicles such as ambulances or fire trucks. Although Fish Lake Township routinely leaves gravel roads unplowed for snowfalls up to 4 inches, it preferentially plows paved roads under the same circumstances. Perhaps the residents who live in the small developments with paved roads deserve better service than those who live on gravel roads. Current town board supervisors, Carter, Cupit and Larkin, are quick to point out to complainers that they all live on gravel roads and are receiving the same (poor) service levels as the majority of residents. However; Carter, Cupit and Larkin each live a stone’s throw away from a well-maintained, paved county road or state highway which is plowed during or immediately following any measurable snowfall. They have no need to navigate treacherous, snow-drifted township roads which turn to glare ice with the compaction caused by constant traffic.

Each year after the first measurable snowfall, Fish Lake Township publicizes its “Snow Removal Policy” on the township website. This year, Fish Lake Township received about 8-9 inches of wet, heavy snowfall in the season’s first major snow event occurring on Saturday, November 13th. Although the township recently purchased a new, high-tech Caterpillar road grader to the tune of $246,025 to plow such snowfalls, no gravel roads were plowed after the record-breaking snowfall. Apparently, Supervisors Carter, Cupit and Larkin ignored their own “Snow Removal Policy” and instead subscribed to the “Meltdown Theory” of winter snowfall “management” in Minnesota. With November overnight temperatures dropping into the twenties, the 8-9 inches of wet, heavy snow froze upon the gravel roadways into icy piles and treacherous ridges.

Managing and maintaining safe township roads is the single, most important responsibility of a town board and the primary reason a town board exists. Considering the current level of non-service, what will the next snowfall bring for Fish Lake Township residents?