I wanted to have a snow day this year, my senior year, more than anything, until I began my internship at the city. While I look out the window, wishing for snowflakes now, however, a new part of me pictures dollar bills falling from the sky with any snowfall. This is because every time there is a snowfall, the city spends a significant amount of money paying for snow removal.

According to the city of Shawnee’s website, a crew of 70 workers with 21 snow removal vehicles work 12 hour shifts to clear 782 miles of road. Not only that, but the city tries to clear every road at least once in the event of a storm. All of the information can be found on the city’s website.

Now instead of picturing warm hot chocolate and sledding on a snow day, I picture one of the many people I have met at the city frantically directing snow plow routes to one of many priority streets to be cleared. Specifically I picture public works director Ron Freyermuth, a man who I interviewed last year about interactive snow removal maps, in a hard hat and down coat directing snow plow traffic on-site at the corner of Shawnee Mission Parkway and Monticello Road by my house. I’m sure this mental image in no way reflects the actual process of snow removal, but nevertheless, I have a deeper sympathy for those who must deal with snow every year.

Thanks to the city, I can never enjoy a snow day again.