It seems rather fitting somehow that I wrote my first column of 2008 in the middle of a record 14-inch snowfall, and I am writing my first column of 2009 in a record-breaking snowfall. Only, the first one was in Michigan, not Renton. This time, I wasn’t able to GET to Michigan for our annual holiday trek. Like many of you, our holiday plans were scrapped and we just stayed home. There wasn’t much else to do. Flights were canceled, church was canceled, and even immediate family from West Seattle couldn’t make it here We didn’t dare have them navigate the treacherous streets.

But while we were cozy in our home, there were others working hard in Renton to make you safe when you did go out. During the storm, Renton City Council member Marcie Palmer went down to check on the staff who work for the City of Renton, who were busy clearing your streets just to see how they were doing. She was worried how they were holding up. (That’s the mom in Marcie – always worrying). They were tired, but persevering, despite working non-stop, 12-hour shifts from Dec. 12 through the end of the storm. Peter Hahn, deputy Public Works administrator, reported that they had to navigate Renton’s more than 551 lane miles of city streets — which includes primary, secondary and collector streets. All this with astonishingly only FIVE snowplows (four five-ton and one 10-ton), and one 300-gallon deicer truck, some of which experienced mechanical problems during the storm. The city estimates that it used more than 4,000 tons of sand.

Mayor Denis Law told me via e-mail that: “Our crews did a marvelous job! I was pleased with their sense of commitment to serving the needs of our citizens.”

Law drove the main streets of Renton on many occasions and found Renton’s main arterials to be well-maintained, despite ongoing snowstorms. “Our police and fire personnel also did a great job,” Law said. And, I know that things weren’t perfect out there; I live in unincorporated King County and our side streets were awful until Dec. 29. But for a gal from Michigan, I think that our Renton crews deserve to be lauded for their hard work and long hours during the holidays, in an environment that we only see once every couple of decades. I, for one, enjoyed the White Christmas! Until the next storm blows, stay safe out there and Happy New Year!

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