Unlucky Turn: City Services Cause More Problems for Residents than Weather

Updated: 12/16/13 5:03 pm -- adds comment 

As news broke on inclement weather over the weekend, several snow emergencies were issued across southeast Michigan. 

In Wyandotte and surrounding cities, a snow emergency is typically declared when 4 inches of snow or greater is forecasted. 

In the case of an emergency, Wyandotte Department of Public Services asks residents to remove their vehicles from city roads in order to provide sufficient plowing services.

“Per City Ordinance Section 2.5a ‘Abandoned Vehicles’: All vehicles must be moved every 48 hours. Failure to remove vehicles will result in towing, at the owner’s expense,” the city said.

However, in compliance with the law, many residents expressed concern this weekend over the city’s snow removal policy, and one plans to file a grievance with the department.  

“What disappoints and angers me is the fact that after I worked very hard to clear my sidewalks and street from cars, the snow plows come flying down...at top speed, throwing all of the snow from the street back onto our sidewalk,” said longtime resident Alexis Kur, who lives on the corner of Electric and Davis Street. 

Kur, a construction worker and freelance photographer, understands the city has a job to do, but says that it could be a little more conscientious in regards to the people they’re doing it for.

“They aren’t breaking the law, but they’re not being careful enough. It has been a problem over the years, and it’s progressively getting worse…The snowplow has gotten so close to the curb that it has broken branches off trees in my neighbors front yard.”

Kur said the trucks travel about 25 to 35 mph when plowing roads. "The plows are going too fast and it is dangerous."

“I know some snow will come back onto the driveways and sidewalks, (but) that is not what I am referring to. It's the snow that gets thrown 4 to 5 feet back onto the sidewalk," Kur said. 

Dave Rothermal, the city's sanitation supervisor, said today that "whenever you’re plowing a residential road, it’s going to push (snow) a little further into the driveway." 

In terms of plowing speed, trucks travel anywhere between 15 and 20 mph, Rothermal said. "You can’t go too fast because you’ll throw (snow) far and bury sidewalks, and that’s one thing we try not to do.”

Not to mention, Rothermal said, "it's going to look worse if the driveway has already been shoveled." 

On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate the city’s emergency responders?