By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
As the first light dusting of snow stuck to the ground in the past month, it seemed only fitting that snow removal procedures for the City of Burlington be reviewed.
The snow removal policy was on the Committee of the Whole agenda Dec. 3 for the City Council, and Director of Public Works Craig Workman outlined the policy and general changes.
However, one thing Workman stressed was that, while it is called a snow removal policy, it is more of a guideline.
“When you get to the bottom of it, it’s a guideline,” Workman explained. “It’s something I can hand to a guy in a plow truck.”
There are no “stark changes” to the policy, he explained. The city used to be divided into four plowing zones, compared to the five it has now (the downtown area is now its own separate zone).
In total, the DPW maintains 53.8 miles of streets and 2.9 miles of alleys, and the primary goal during the winter months is to “reduce the risk to the traveling public on city-maintained roads, support necessary emergency operations by police, fire and ambulance services, and provide safe bus routes, hospital and school zones, and pedestrian street crossing,” the policy reads.
The DPW has 17 different vehicles to assist in those operations, but the priority remains the marked highways, arterial streets, collectors, the business district, the hospital and school zones, the fire and police departments and hilly areas of the city.
As a result, there will likely always be complaints. Alderman Tom Preusker said the subject is one most often broached with him by residents in his district, and he wanted to know why the city used wheel loaders to plow streets, as they are slow.
Workman said those trucks allow for the most accurate plowing, as well as the most effective.
Preusker also said he received complaints about plows only making one pass immediately, not plowing from curb to curb.
One of the main concerns raised at the meeting, though, was the subject of sidewalk clearance – and the 18-hour deadline placed on residents to clean those sidewalks once snowfall ended.
Preusker said simply that if residents are expected to have their sidewalks cleared in that period of time, then the city should have to match it.
Alderman Peter Hintz countered with the fact that sidewalks need to be cleared quickly for the safety of those who use them for walking. From there, a discussion about the city-ordered clearing – which can cost upward of $500 for a resident if done by city crews – and whether the 18-hour window was enough time.
City Administrator Kevin Lahner said that particular sword “cuts both ways,” as the city has to balance the needs of those who use the sidewalks against those who have to clean them – as evidenced by the discussion at the meeting.
“There’s not a perfect solution,” Lahner said.
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I find interesting that, during the most recent snow emergency, the city had between 10 pm and 6 am in which no parking was allowed on any street yet the plow didn’t come through my subdivision until after 7:00 in the morning. Eight hours certainly should have been enough time for 17 vehicles to clear less than 3″ of snow off roughly 57 miles of streets, especially since the snow had ended by 11 o’clock at night.
Their can be a better way. The only areas that have heavy foot traffic, are the ones around schools.
And around the Hospital. Cleanout the main routes around town ,then come back and get the secondary side streets.
The snow removal in Burlington is terrible! They always leave an inch or two to turn into ice making the streets hazardous long after the storm has left. Also, the city might want to look into the rumors that salt can make snow and ice melt faster.
I could never complain one bit about the snow removal in this city. I haved lived here many years and travel frequently. If a city resident were to travel the surrounding communities and cities, they would be hard pressed to find it performened any more efficient/better. The city employees always seem to have a target on their back from citizens when it comes to plowing. Perhaps these residents should take matters into their own hands and step inside one of the plows and operate them during the wee hours of the morning after a working a full day.
The city performs the minimum required to save money. I disagree with ThzEngh, drive out Highway 83 and see how the roads go from bad (City) to Better (Racine County) to excellent (Kenosha County). I drove that route for over 20 years and trust me, there is a huge difference. For once, I agree with Mr. Lahner, there must be balance in expectations between city plowing & residential requirements…people work and cannot always get to it right away. maybe if our streets are not plowed, we can do it ourselves and send a request to the city to have that $500 credited to our taxes…just a thought. LOL. I suppose, the bottom line is why are our leaders just discussing this now? Maybe serious issues like overnight parking & train horns took up far too much time.