It's "snow decision" in North Mankato

The North Mankato City Council is debating snow plowing policies for this year with the choice between being nice and saving taxpayers money.

Maybe, I'm turning in the abominable snowman here, but I vote for saving taxpayers money.

The choice is between running a traditional snow emergency and ticketing cars that are violating parking rules even though they've been given fair warning and city plow crews going back and back again, waiting for reluctant vehicles and recalcitrant owners to move them.

A lot of other cities have snow emergencies. They can't afford overtime paid snow plow crews going again and again over streets waiting for owners to move their cars. Mankato doesn't do it. North Mankato shouldn't either.

Mankato has done everything possible to notify residents of the danger of being towed. They can sign up for text messages and the like.

There's plenty of opportunities for residents to comply.

North Mankato has been a bit reluctant to give its residents some "tough love" when it comes to snowplowing because so many have complained when it happens.

But many of those same taxpayers are saying North Mankato suffers from excessive municipal spending. They can't have it both ways.

A city can only do so much. Fair warning is fair warning. North Mankato has the right, and indeed the obligation, to save taxpayers money by "getting 'er done."

No whining.