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Milwaukee snowplow fee refund considered
Milwaukee DPW was in the hot seat as Common Council members said the Department failed residents during last month's snow storm.
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee's Department of Public Works was in the hot seat Wednesday as Common Council members said the DPW failed residents during last month's snow storm. And there's a push to refund property owners.
The backstory
Milwaukee's first significant snowfall, from Dec. 19 into Dec. 20, prompted dozens of complaints to the Milwaukee Common Council.
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Ald. Peter Burgelis said he received more than 40 complaints from residents in his south side district alone. They reported unsafe road conditions and lingering snow on neighborhood streets.
"But what's the cost to a homeowner?" said Ald. Peter Burgelis.
Image of unplowed street during December 2024 snow storm shown during committee meeting (Jan. 8)
What they're saying
Ald. Lamont Westmoreland is vice-chair of the council's Public Works Committee. He said he sent emails to DPW brass after the snowfall and did not hear back for more than two weeks.
"All I said was I wanted to understand why, and I didn't hear a peep," he said.
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For more than two weeks, the Public Works Committee turned into an airing of grievances about things like uncollected leaf piles, since-fixed issues with the city's complaint app, lack of street parking enforcement and towing during the snow storm, and unclear information about garbage collection.
"It’s about the orderly conduct of our civil business in our neighborhoods," said Ald. Bob Bauman, who chairs the Public Works Committee.
The other side
Milwaukee DPW operations director Danielle Rodriguez was out for medical reasons during the snow storm. She acknowledged she did not respond to Westmoreland's emails, but said she did forward them on to the appropriate people.
"We take every single email, phone call, concern, resident feedback extremely, extremely seriously," she said.
"So your answer to emails not being responded to is you didn't want to respond?" said Westmoreland.
Jerrel Kruschke, the DPW commissioner, said he wished crews had gotten to residential streets sooner.
"Action was taken, and I should have responded that that has been put into the system," he said.
What's next
Common Council members want answers to whether the city can – and legally – refund a portion of snow and ice removal charges billed to property owners.
"We don't recommend it. If you tell us twice, you better do it, we'll look into it more. We don't want to look into it," said Nik Kovac, the city's budget and management director.
It could blow a multi-million-dollar hole in the DPW's approved budget.
Milwaukee snowplow fee refund pondered after complaints to city leaders
Milwaukee's first significant snowfall this season has prompted dozens of complaints to the Milwaukee Common Council.
"Our recommendation would be: Let's make that adjustment in (the 2026 budget process), and let's adjust our expenses, if we can, so the budget comes out balanced," Kovac said.
The city's budget director and comptroller said they will talk with the city attorney's office to see whether issuing refunds are legal.
Moving forward, the DPW said it will share plowing and ice control reports with the Common Council – as well as respond to alders' emails acknowledging receipt and issues are being addressed.