The problem is you can't clear a stand of snow and ice when there are aircraft on them. It is apparent when flying to European airports that the moment an aircraft moves off stand when it is snowing the snowploughs come on to clean it. Have an airport that works to maximum capacity with aircraft on every stand and the whole airport comes to a grinding halt when it starts snowing.
I wonder if half the problem is that so many managers who experienced snow and ice in the 80's have retired and left young inexperienced people in their place. We've had too many mild winters in the recent past.