Dr. Jon Cooper’s and his son’s attempts to share goodwill in times of distress is remarkable. Civility is alive and well and I applaud them for doing a good-hearted deed.
I realize rules are in place to protect citizens by maintaining safety and order amongst busy-minded individuals unaware of what their actions might do to impede someone else. However, sometimes rules are just someone’s interpretation of what order ought to be. When nature throws her best punch, rules don’t stand a chance and need to be replaced with common sense.
I understand the city supplies Bobcats to clear city sidewalks. These machines can also pose a problem with those who cannot see or hear. Yet they are allowed, because in times of winter snowstorms, these machines are efficient. The city also has large obtrusive vehicles that can block or impede traffic (and if drivers are not watching, they can collide with these vehicles too). The city has a bylaw in place that will allow the issuance of fines if private residents do not remove the snow from their property and in some cases adjacent public property, within 48 hours.
With the unusual impact of this past week’s record snowfall, it seems quite extreme for those who are less able to effectively remove all their snow within the designated timeline. What options do they have? I suppose they could hire a contractor for about $75-plus per hour, but this contractor would likely be using a Bobcat. So why would using an ATV with a blade be any different? What happens in situations when people’s vehicles get stuck or stall on main roads? Are they not also blocking the roadway? I believe tow-trucks are deployed and sometimes policing officers are at the scene to ensure all safety measures are in place. Dr. Cooper’s situation doesn’t seem all that different, other than he could have just left the sidewalks blocked with snow and avoided the whole situation altogether.
I appreciate the work our officers do and understand they can be faced with very stressful situations. Sometimes, however, they too can become agitated and react unfairly, just like anyone else can. I can see how someone going about his or her business, suddenly forced to react to Dr. Cooper’s obstruction, can become emotional. The officer(s), being witness to the mishap, are obligated to respond to the safety hazard. Unfortunately, the officer(s) may have interpreted aggression from Dan Cooper and, coupled with the notion of a potential accident, made a rash judgment call with emotion rather than heart.
Perhaps the City of St. Albert could use some heart and dismiss the bylaw charges. Perhaps apologies and forgiveness could be given for apparent “heated tempers.” Are we not all just trying to do our best in an unforgiving situation brought on by Mother Nature?
A final thought — in war-torn countries or places devastated by tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding or snowstorms, the local bylaws some how become irrelevant when clean-up efforts are enforced.
K. Hartley, St. Albert
