Snowplowing

[Salty]

A friend of mine who is a talk show host in the DELMAVAR area said people were calling his talk show and complaiing that (private) snow plow trucks are actually charging people to plow out their driveway during the recent snowstorm in that area of the country.

From Bills Email:

About ten inches of fresh snow was blowing around on 50 mile per hour gusts outside our studios and this on top of the 30 some inches we’d seen in the few previous days.

So, since it was in essence a state of emergency, should these businessmen be required to plow personal driveways without charge?

Salty

PS, I was going thur some old saved email and found this one that Bill wrote a few months ago

I've been carrying around a Bible and daily read a chapter and one of the Psalms before going on-air. I don't fear a negative response from my employer. I've been here before. He carried me through the darkness.

 

[abcgrad94]

A friend of mine who is a talk show host in the DELMAVAR area said people were calling his talk show and complaiing that (private) snow plow trucks are actually charging people to plow out their driveway during the recent snowstorm in that area of the country.

So, since it was in essence a state of emergency, should these businessmen be required to plow personal driveways without charge?

It's the job of the property owner to take care of his own property. If you want your driveway plowed, you pay for it. Unless of course, you decide to make your driveway a public road and start paying taxes on it so the Dept. of Highways can take care of it for you.

Seriously, since when did Americans get this entitlement attitude that it's someone else's job to take care of them? I guess next it will be someone else's job to deliver free groceries to their front door since it's "a state of emergency" and they can't get to the store?

 

[targus]

So, since it was in essence a state of emergency, should these businessmen be required to plow personal driveways without charge?

Absolutely not.

I will find it interesting to see if anyone here says otherwise.

 

[Mexdeaf]

Don't you people know that if a man has a snowplow and his neighbor does not, then it is his socialist responsibility to plow his neighbor's driveway?

 

[Crabtownboy]

A friend of mine who is a talk show host in the DELMAVAR area said people were calling his talk show and complaiing that (private) snow plow trucks are actually charging people to plow out their driveway during the recent snowstorm in that area of the country.

This is Capitalism at work. One person has a product or service another needs and they sell them that product or service.

Don't you people know that if a man has a snowplow and his neighbor does not, then it is his socialist responsibility to plow his neighbor's driveway?

Neighbor is one thing, the entire community or town is another. Who will reimburse the fellow for the oil, gas, wear and tear on his truck?

I clear the lady's drive across the street. She is 87 and should not be out shoveling.

I let anyone on my street use my snow blower who wants to use it. They, on their own accord, fill it with gas and one fellow bought me two sets of new belts. It was good he did, we had to replace the old ones this week.

We are planning a "Remember the Snow" block party in June. The one good thing about this snow is neighbors get to know neighbors.


I am curious, how much snow do you get in S. Texas? Send us some of your warm sunshine, please.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

It is bizarre to me how anyone would think someone would not charge for a service. I bet they don't work for free. Charitable acts to a neighbor is one thing. Doing general work for free is another.

 

[Jerome]

From Gilford, New Hampshire:

Selectmen reconsider church plowing agreement

Controversy ensued this fall after resident and former Budget Committee member Doug Lambert pointed out that the town was still plowing the church parking lot at no cost

Tomlinson said $6,000 worth of plowing is still unbudgeted in the church budget now that the decision is up in the air, and had not been anticipated.

"Why don't you leave it where it is, and allow someone else to have a job," said Bolduc, who said he did his homework and contacted insurance companies for information. "I'm not against the church. Our church (in Laconia) is open to everybody. If you do it for one, you'll have to do it for all. Gilford Community Church pays zero for taxes. This opens up lots at supermarkets, even driveways."

Debate is over: town will plow church lot

[Selectman Kevin Hayees] said the church should have already included plowing expenses in their own budget.

"I have to accept what Gilford votes would want. I will have to vote yes," said [Chairman Gus] Benavides.
O'Brien said he was impressed with the amount of feedback that the selectmen received back on the issue, and said he would have to support the agreement as well, and vote yes. The town will now continue to plow the church parking lot on an as-needed basis to allow for public use.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

From Gilford, New Hampshire:

Selectmen reconsider church plowing agreement





Debate is over: town will plow church lot

This will likely be challenged. If this church doesn't pay taxes, it is forcing everyone in town to subsidize someone's private lot being plowed.

 

[Crabtownboy]

This will likely be challenged. If this church doesn't pay taxes, it is forcing everyone in town to subsidize someone's private lot being plowed.

The church would loose on this one if it wee brought to trail .... separation of church and state. If one church is plowed free all churches would have to be plowed free.

 

[Magnetic Poles]

The church would loose on this one if it wee brought to trail .... separation of church and state. If one church is plowed free all churches would have to be plowed free.

Actually, none should be plowed by the city. Why should a Baptist's tax dollars subsidize a Mormon church, for example. Or vice versa?

 

[Deacon]

This is a local issue.

Church lots are generally crowded only on Sundays.
If the church is centrally located in a crowded community the lot may be used during the work week by the public to get their cars off the streets which allows easier access for the snowplows to clear narrow streets.

Therefore the local government, to insure continuance of such a practice, may want to plow the lot.

Shopping malls wouldn't wouldn't want local cars in their lot during the week because they would take up spots their patrons might use.

It's a win-win solution IMO.

Rob

 

[targus]

The church would loose on this one if it wee brought to trail .... separation of church and state. If one church is plowed free all churches would have to be plowed free.

A careful reading of the linked article shows that it isn't for for free.

"Stated in the MOU proposal is an agreement between the church and town stating that the town will plow the GCC parking lot, connected to the public library lot, on an as-needed-basis during winter months, in exchange for public use of the youth center space for non-sectarian purposes and town events, such as Old Home Day or a "stage" for parades."

This is a contractural exchange of services for services - snow plowing in exchange for use of the facilities.

I see no problem in this agreement.

 

[Jerome]

Unfortunately, the church's pastor admitted in a letter to the editor that the facilities were open to such uses regardless of whether the lot was plowed or not.
Doesn't that suggest that the "contractual exchange" is a sham?

 

[targus]

Unfortunately, the church's pastor admitted in a letter to the editor that the facilities were open to such uses regardless of whether the lot was plowed or not.
Doesn't that suggest that the "contractual exchange" is a sham?

No, not if the church has the right to make the facilities not available if they so choose absent the agreement.

By entering into the agreement the city assured that the church could not change their mind.

 

[annsni]

A friend of mine who is a talk show host in the DELMAVAR area said people were calling his talk show and complaiing that (private) snow plow trucks are actually charging people to plow out their driveway during the recent snowstorm in that area of the country.

From Bills Email:


So, since it was in essence a state of emergency, should these businessmen be required to plow personal driveways without charge?

Salty

PS, I was going thur some old saved email and found this one that Bill wrote a few months ago

That's ridiculous. Around here (Long Island) all private property is done by private companies that are contracted to do the work. Our church landscaper did our church parking lot on Thursday/Friday. Each of us do our own homes (all the pastors) except the senior pastor who is in the parsonage - that is done by the landscapers since they're just across the street from the church. Some private contractors are hired by the village/town here to do the streets if it's needed though. Oh - and I found out there is a team of young men from our church who went out on Thursday morning early to do the driveways/walks of 8 of the elderly in our church for free. That made me smile.

 

[Salty]

Oh - and I found out there is a team of young men from our church who went out on Thursday morning early to do the driveways/walks of 8 of the elderly in our church for free. That made me smile.

What a great ministry for the church! :thumbs: :saint: :jesus:

 

[Hardsheller]

What a great ministry for the church! :thumbs: :saint: :jesus:

Yes Finally - someone who sees through the Father's Eyes!!!!

 

[annsni]

We have some great men in our church. Late in the evening of that storm, we got a phone call from the family life pastor asking if we wanted our driveway done with his snow blower. We told him we were fine - we'd do it the next morning and as I went to hang up the phone, I saw him at the end of our driveway in his truck! He had just come from doing a family's driveway who's dad is disabled and he figured since he was passing our neighborhood, he'd check to see if we needed help too.

I gotta say, I LOVE this church and the people in it. What amazing servant's hearts.

 

[Salty]

The OP was about a businessman being required to plow personal driveways.

But it slightly got hijacked to churches making this a ministry (A hijack I fully approved)

So, now that winter is upon us, will any of your churches make this a ministry?

 

[JohnDeereFan]

A friend of mine who is a talk show host in the DELMARVA area said people were calling his talk show and complaiing that (private) snow plow trucks are actually charging people to plow out their driveway during the recent snowstorm in that area of the country.

From Bills Email:


So, since it was in essence a state of emergency, should these businessmen be required to plow personal driveways without charge?

Wow. I live on the Eastern Shore on the Delmarva Peninsula and I was in the same two blizzards they were in. I have no idea I could have had those guys plow our driveway for us. That would have been pretty sweet, particularly since the road that acts as our "driveway" is about two miles long.

Where was I when all this was going on?