This might be the legislative equivalent of putting a snowball in the freezer, and then waiting until the spring thaw to take it out and pelt somebody with it.

City councilor Natalia Rudiak has been trying to look into the city's response -- or lack it -- to the February blizzard that left residents paralyzed for more than a week. But Michael Huss, director of the city's Public Safety division, has blown off repeated requests to meet with council and discuss the issue. 

So today, Rudiak issued a subpoeana to compel his presence at council, for a May 10 meeting. She also thoughtfully enclosed a letter to him, explaining the move.

"One of the biggest problems during the snow storm was a lack of communication and coordination between government offices," Rudiak observes archly in a statement. "If we can't communicate about an emergency, how can we be expected to communicate during an emergency?" 

If only somebody had subpoenaed administration officials when the snow was actually falling ... 

As for the questions council plans to ask? Rudiak's office supplied Huss -- and CP -- with a preliminary list.