Snow-plowing fund depleted
by BRIAN NADIG
The more than 60 inches of snow this winter could force a second Northwest Side community group to suspend its snow-plowing program due to insufficient funds.
On Feb. 5 the Forest Glen Community Club called out its plowing service for the seventh and what could be the last time this winter. The association wrote in a Feb. 6 e-mail message to residents: "With this plow, we have exhausted our current snowplow funds. It is only Feb. 6, so there is really almost two months to go. But due to this crazy weather, unprecedented plowing (almost one plow a week in this season’s 9 1/2 weeks) and shortfall of residents paying their dues, we have run dry.
"Starting this weekend we are going to re-boot our dues drive to bring in the funds we need to continue plowing until the spring. As of Jan. 30, we have less than half of our households that are paid. Our goal is 370-400 paid, or 75 percent of the Glen. There are very few homes that do not benefit from the plowing and other fun activities that the Glen sponsors, so please do your part."
The club’s 50-year-old snow-plowing program calls for crews to come out when there is 4 or more inches of snow and for snow to be cleared curb to curb. The club’s $20 annual dues can be paid online at www.forestglenchicago.org.
Since the Indian Woods Community Association suspended its snow-plowing service last month, more residents have been paying their dues, and the association hopes that that recent appointment of block captains will bring in new members. "If we get a good response from that effort, we may reinstate the plowing program," Indian Woods president Jonathan Sladek said.
Many residents have cleared streets since the snow-plowing program was suspended, Sladek said. "People have been very good in our neighborhood about getting out with their shovels and snow blowers and clearing sidewalks and even the streets," he said. "Some streets look almost as good as if we had private plowing, while others look like a normal city side street."
