Some residents in the Wayland city limits aren’t pleased with the new local policy mandating citizens clear the sidewalk in front of their homes.
Daniel Jeffrey, who lives on North Main Street, told City Council members Monday night, “You’ve done this (clear sidewalks) for decades and now you’ve taken it (the service) away… It’s cheap and you have the money.”
Fellow North Main Street resident Shelly Salisbury Whitley suggested the city budget now shows a 32 percent fund balance, so the city could provide the service it has offered for many years.
“So we have the money… Are you going to take away more services?” she asked. She further insisted that some residents are physically unable to do the work of shoveling.
Jeffrey said children use the sidewalks to walk to and from school and noted it would be a shame to have them walk instead on the roads.
Mayor Jennifer Antel pointed out that the downtown streets of Superior and Main are shoveled by city employees with that in mind.
She said the council last year was faced with replacing the city’s snow throwing machine, which was expected to cost $175,000. So as of last November, a new ordinance mandating citizens to remove snow from residential sidewalks was adopted.
No action was taken on the issue.
In other business at the its meeting Monday evening, the council:
- Agreed to hire a firm to help withe the search for a new treasurer in the wake of the firing of Cheri Parrish. Council also to hire Sigfried & Crandall accountants to work on an exit audit to give the new treasurer a clean slate to work with.
- Adopted resolutions to allow Mi Guadalajara and McDuff’s restaurants to move their dumpsters to areas on city parking lots.
- Heard from Hopkins Township resident Peter Blok again on the status of the Wayland Fire Department spilling gasoline in 2022 near his home, creating what he said is an environmental hazard.
- Had the first reading of a proposed ordinance establishing a tax increment financing plan for the Downtown Development Authority.
- Received a report from Main Street Director Holli McPherson that the “Between the Buns” competition that ended Jan. 31 Brough increased business traffic for local restaurants and more than 700 voted.
- Heard from City Tree Board Chair Gail Hollinger that the board has been languishing and needs more care.
- Received a report from the Wayland Fire Department that indicated that the volume of calls handled in January was 48, as opposed to 34 calls for service in January of 2023.
There is no reason a sidewalk snow removal machine should cost $175,000. You should be able to buy 3 machines for that price.
What does the DPW do all winter long if not plow, remove snow and salt the roads?
It’s time the city provides some services for the high taxes we are saddled with. This city is a joke with the money it receives in taxes and no services provided.
I’m glad to hear others have expressed concern about snow clearing on public sidewalks, just because the DPW wants another new toy when there is no excuse why they can’t use the gators they already own and purchase snow blower attachment for it , also I’m sure the old one still is capable of doing this duty along with the equipment they using now to clear main and superior sidewalks. They already had a policy in place that they would only be cleared when there was over four inches of snowfall, and as of the last couple of years that might be maybe a half of a dozen times in the winter. Also I would also like to see more money for tree trimming and removal now is the best time to go out and see all the dead branches (widow makers) that should be taken care of, another issue is the city park what a mess this has been for several years sidewalks over grown leafs piled up against the curbs along with trash and cigarette butts. I’ve said this many times before it’s time for New leadership at the DPW! By the way what are they doing this time of year?