There's no business like snow business....

For the most part, folks around these parts don't get too concerned about things unless it really hits home.

When I was president of my condo association before becoming a single-family home owner in 'burbs, I quickly learned that the things that ticked off residents the most were:

1. Doggie defecations
2. Parking
3. When the pool was open
4.  Snow removal.

And not necessarily in that order.

Things don't seem to change with folks when they move into their own little acre of the world.  Residents who have issues with the village do, for the most part, focus on parking, fence height, fire works and, oh yes, snow removal.

Been there, done that.  Some readers think I started blogging because I was friends with the Board and was out to get she-who-shall-not-be-named.  In actuality, my contact with the folks on Raupp began after a couple of snow storms when the snow plow operator saw fit to use my driveway as a place to pile snow.

Rather than wait until the next business day, I called Elliott Hartstein at home.  I am not sure what he was going to do, but removing mounds of snow from my driveway was not my idea of a good time.

For the record, Hartstein called me back, as did then Village Manager Bill Brimm and whoever it is/was/maybe who handles snow removal.

Was the problem resolved?  The next time we had snow, I was outside cleaning my driveway when the plow started down the street.  Much to my amazement, the driver stopped, got out and asked "Are you Mr. Zoller?"

We discussed a way to pile the snow away from my driveway and some other options and since then, there has not been an issue -- problem solved.  I'm not saying it's always perfect, but it's an example of how the village, to steal a phrase from Chicago, is a village that works.

A simple path and clean-up job is all
the Fire Department needs for
snow-covered hydrants

So as we dig out from "The Blizzard of 2011" here a couple things to take into consideration:

*  Snow removal is a thankless job.  Been there, done that.
*  There are folks who habitually  screw it up -- like a neighbor's snow plow service that leaves stuff all over the street.
*  Record snows take time to remove.  The village went into the storm with a plan, one which was distributed by Lake County and is available at the village's web site (www.vbg.org).
*  Yes, the end of your driveway will get blocked when the plows go by -- believe me, I know.

So cope with it -- and by the way, while you're digging out, take a minute to dig out a fire hydrant.  The fire department has a "Pluggie Pal' program meant for kids -- but if kids don't want to do it -- step up.

It's only a snow storm.  The village has been faced with a lot of snow jobs recently --- this one we can deal with.