Columbia neighborhoods still need plowed

Almost one week after last week’s snow, some Columbia neighborhoods report their roads have yet to see a city plow. Columbia Public Works serviced priority routes yesterday again after a brief snowfall, but yesterday’s accumulation only added to roads that plows had not reached.

Ventura Road, located in a subdivision off of Scott Boulevard, was completely covered in snow pack around 1 p.m. Only hours later, crews came to clear the road after a resident called the city to ask for assistance.

Paul Lindquist is only one of several residents in this subdivision that could not get out last week. Until last night, the roads leading to his home had not been touched. It’s a problem that stranded some of his neighbors for six days.

“From what we hear from our neighbors, this street is kind of chronic in terms of being the last to be plowed,” Lindquist said. “I don’t think it would have been plowed today if I hadn’t called last night.”

Lindquist undergoes weekly physical therapy for a double-knee replacement. Without four-wheel drive, he missed his appointment last week because the roads were too packed with snow.

Columbia Public Works said clearing the roads is a process that takes time, emphasizing that road crews handle more than 1,700 miles of roads within the city limits.

“People should realize streets are not going to be perfect. They’re not going to look like they are in the spring or summer, so we try to the best we can for the majority of our customers,” said Columbia Public Works Director, Steve Sapp.

By this afternoon, Sapp said crews received around 30 calls or comments from residents still requesting their streets to be plowed. While Lindquist said crews responded quickly to them, he said he should not have to call at all.

“You know, a day, two days, great. But, six days was way too long to wait,” Lindquist said.

Sapp urges residents who believe their streets still need plowed to comment on their Facebook page, e-mail or call them. They will complete this post-snow cleanup during normal business hours from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The link to their Facebook page facebook.com/ColumbiaMissouriPublicWorks.