snow removal

With a couple of 50-plus degree, rainy days forecasted for Wednesday and Thursday, most of the snow that has accumulated as a result of a couple of nasty winter storms earlier this month likely will be washed away.

While it may serve as a welcome break from plowing and shoveling, there’s bound to be more snowfall (and the dilemma it creates) in the coming weeks.

Coming into last night’s City Council meeting, Council member Robert Bialkowski said he had received complaints about piles of snow and ice on city streets and he requested that “snow removal and sidewalk plowing” be put on the agenda.

Bialkowski’s key points -- no plowing of snow onto the street or sidewalks and no parking of cars on sidewalks – triggered a 20-minute discussion that focused upon the responsibilities of residents, independent plowing services and business owners to clear snow in a legal and proper manner.

Armed with a few photographs of problem areas, Bialkowski said he wasn’t blaming city workers for not doing their jobs, but mentioned that it was time “to re-educate some people in the community (as) they don’t seem to get it.”

PICTURES TELL THE STORY

He said the pictures showed snow from a driveway on Union Street plowed about seven feet into the street and about four feet high, causing motorists to have to swerve to avoid hitting it.

Another photo showed snow from a West Main Street business plowed onto the sidewalk “and now that’s a big block of ice about six foot high,” Bialkowski said, adding that this and similar situations led to complaints from mail carriers.

Bialkowski also mentioned buildup of ice on sidewalks, some of it resulting from city sidewalk plows.

Council President Eugene Jankowski Jr. asked Maintenance Supervisor Ray Tourt about the condition of the sidewalk plows, with Tourt responding that they are 19, 39 and 43 years old and are susceptible to breaking down.

When Bialkowski suggested forming a citizen committee to look at the issue, Jankowski quickly said, “I was following you until you said committee and then I was, like, do we really need to make it that complicated?”

Then Bialkowski mentioned distributing a pre-printed handout for residents, informing them of their responsibilities when it comes to snow removal.

CITY MANAGER WEIGHS IN

City Manager Rachael Tabelski said a police officer sent to the scene where the snow was piled in the road determined that it wasn’t a hazard … “so I have to go with their judgment that it was not a hazard.”

“I think there’s a lot of snow this year compared to the last few years, and there’s a lot of clearing of sidewalks and roads and driveways that needs to be done,” she said. “And a lot of times neighbors have figured out where they’re going to place their snow and other times, people just move in and don’t really know where to place the snow and how to do it.”

She then thanked the Department of Works crew “for the tremendous job they’ve done,” adding that they haven’t stopped working since the beginning of January when “all of this snow came down.”

DPW workers are continuing the snow removal process this week, concentrating on some of the narrower streets, Tourt said.

Tabelski said residents are responsible for clearing in front of their house and, in many cases, the sidewalk plow operator will come through afterwards, leaving tracks from the machine in the snow.

“We do have an ordinance and we do ask residents to take care of their snow removal,” she said. “I know some residents can’t get to it – they may be elderly or disabled – but you plan for it, just like you plan your garbage service or your cable. You plan to get Johnny down the street to come for 20 dollars when it snows over a few inches, and do that for you.”

MESSAGE TO INDEPENDENT PLOWS

Jankowski said it is up to independent and commercial plow services to make sure the snow is moved so that it doesn’t cause further problems.

“We shouldn’t have to be in the awkward position of having to chase them down and make them come back and move it,” he said.

Bialkowski said he thinks many people “just expect the city to do everything and they don’t even shovel a path to their house for the mailman.”

“They have to get away from the computer for a while, go outside and get some fresh air.”

Council member Patti Pacino asked if residents could be informed of what snow services the city provides.

Tourt said the priority route is the main arterials – Main and Oak Streets – and priority school (walking) routes, which have been designated by the school district.

“We hit those first,” he said. “If we still need to go ahead and do sidewalks, we have two distinct routes – one for the northside and one for the southside. And we start working our way through the city.”

Photo: City of Batavia worker plowing the sidewalk along East Main Street. Photo by Howard Owens.