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Milwaukee snowplow fee refund pondered
Some Milwaukee alders are considering a possible refund of the city's snowplow fee.
MILWAUKEE - Milwaukee's first significant snowfall this season has prompted dozens of complaints to the Milwaukee Common Council. Now, four council members say they are exploring a possible refund for the city's snowplow fee.
Alderman 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 after a four-inch snowfall on Friday, Dec. 20.
"Great job on the main roads, but the neighborhoods were barely touched. And when they finally got there, they were already snowpacked and ice formed. Salt got there too late for people to do anything," Burgelis said. "We have to be able to provide better services to our residents - if we can’t handle 4 inches of snow now, what’s going to happen later this winter? We’re (expletive)!"
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Three other council members joined Burgelis in calling for a possible refund of snowplow fees for some residents. Burgelis said the fee produces more than $11 million in revenue for the city – so it is unlikely a refund will actually happen.
The council members have scheduled a hearing on the issue for Wednesday, Jan. 8 – during the next meeting of the public works committee.
Alderman Westmoreland weighs in
Milwaukee Alderman Lamont Westmoreland issued his own release related to snow removal on Tuesday, Dec. 24. It is as follows:
"It's déjà vu all over again - just like last winter. Snow removal services in Milwaukee are once again falling short. While this may not apply to every street, the majority of residential side streets throughout the city are lacking quality snow removal, or in many cases, are completely missed. Last January, after a major snowstorm, snow removal was either nonexistent or done so poorly that snow was left piled far from the curb, creating unsafe and unmanageable conditions. Residents who pay their hard-earned tax dollars deserved better then - and they deserve better now.
"On January 24, 2024, after repeated complaints, I initiated a communication file that brought the Commissioner of the Department of Public Works and the Public Works Director of Operations before the Public Works Committee to answer for these failures. They made promises, gave excuses, and said that lessons had been learned. However, nearly a year later, with far less snow to deal with, we’re back to square one. Same inadequate services. The snowfall ended days ago, yet many residential side streets throughout the city are still a mess. My constituents are livid, and I don’t blame them - I’m fed up too.
"I love DPW, and as someone who holds this city and its departments to the highest standards, I’m not afraid to call out those I love because I know they can do better. Accountability brings out the best in all of us. This isn’t a knock on the dedicated individuals working hard on the streets - many of whom do amazing work - but it is a serious knock on the process and the execution (or lack thereof). Driving down many of these streets right now feels like I’m on an airplane hitting severe turbulence - bouncing up and down, jostling from side to side, and waiting for the fasten seatbelt sign to go off. The roads are poorly plowed, dangerous, and nothing short of frustrating. And, to make matters worse, we’ve got ankle-high slush from snow that froze, turned to ice, then melted - creating an even worse hazard for residents to navigate. It’s hard to accept that this is what residents are dealing with after a snowfall that ended days ago.
"Where’s the quality control? After last year’s lack of quality and execution, you'd think someone from DPW would be out driving the streets, checking on the quality of services. Instead, we continue to see the same issues - roads poorly plowed or, worse, left unplowed entirely. How can we expect improvements when there’s no real oversight on the ground?
"Let’s not forget - last year, residents faced a sales tax hike. This year, many are seeing property tax increases, ranging from hundreds to thousands of dollars. While much of that increase stems from the Milwaukee Public Schools referendum, the bottom line is this: Milwaukee residents are paying more and getting less. Basic city services like snow removal should not feel like a luxury.
"One constituent recently told me, ‘My taxes keep going up, but I can’t even get my street plowed 4-5 days after a light snowfall. If I can’t get the basic services suburban residents receive without all these tax hikes, why should I stay in Milwaukee?’ Every leader in this city should take that question seriously.
"One of my roles as an Alderman is to fight to make this city run more efficiently and hold people accountable for failures. However, the responsibility doesn’t fall solely on me and my colleagues. Others need to step up as well, and they know who they are. Delivering basic city services is a shared responsibility, and it’s past time for everyone involved to take that a bit more seriously.
"I would have liked to hear from DPW leadership about why things are the way they are, but for the life of me, I can’t think of any valid reasons. Communication from DPW in relation to snow removal could go a long way, but I haven’t heard a single word. If you're dealing with streets that haven’t been plowed, unplowed property driveways, or standing slush from melted snow, please reach out to your Council Member. If you are not sure who that is, please visit https://city.milwaukee.gov/CommonCouncil.
"I've had enough of the excuses. We all deserve better, and I will not rest until we get it."