Hiring someone to plow your street just got easier for Washtenaw County residents, businesses
Twisting roads through the Pittsfield Village condominiums make snow removal a challenge.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Residents and business owners throughout Washtenaw County are starting to wonder whether they should make arrangements to have private contractors plow their streets this winter.
With the Washtenaw County Road Commission cutting back on snow removal services, agency leaders say they've received a number of inquiries from homeowners associations and business parks asking about their ability to hire contractors to plow their streets.
In response, the Road Commission has announced changes in regulations for snow plowing done by private contractors on public roads.
From now on, the agency will waive the permit application fee for contractors performing snow removal services in residential subdivisions and business parks. The new policy states contractors must show proof of insurance and pay a $500 security deposit per subdivision or business park - plus $100 per mile.
Agency officials said those security deposits will be fully refunded in the spring if no damage is found during inspection of the roadways.
"This has come about by various neighborhoods - mostly commercial business parks - that have contacted us in reaction to the new standard of 4 inches," said Steve Puuri, Road Commission managing director.
Puuri was referring to the Road Commission's new policy that the agency won't send crews out on overtime to plow subdivision streets unless 4 or more inches of snow falls. The change is an attempt to cut costs in light of shrinking revenues.
One of two new snow plow trucks purchased by the Washtenaw County Road Commission this year.
The Road Commission's governing board approved the agency's 2010 budget on Dec. 15. It shows a 5 percent reduction in projected Michigan Transportation Fund revenues. Total expenditures for 2010 are estimated to be $43.3 million, compared to $44.5 million for 2009.
While the projected expenditures show only a $1.2 million decrease, that number is less than it would have been due to $3.1 million worth of projects that are being deferred to 2010, officials said. The 2010 budget and 2009 projected final budget are now available on the agency's Web site.
Puuri said if enough neighborhoods and business parks hire private contractors to provide enhanced snow removal services, that could potentially save the Road Commission money this winter.
But right now, having a private contractor on standby is mostly an insurance policy for business parks and residential neighborhoods in case publicly provided snow removal services don't come fast enough.
That's been the case for several years at the Avis Farms South business park off South State Road in Pittsfield Township. CitiMortgage, one of the park's tenants, contracts with A&H Lawn Care of Saline for clearance of the public roadways through the park.
Dennis Butler, facilities manager for CitiMortgage, said it's nothing against the county - he realizes the Road Commission has to prioritize which roads to plow first. But just in case the county's crews don't come in time, the financial institution needs a backup plan, he said.
"Reliability is a big factor. We have to have redundancy on everything," Butler said.
Meanwhile, the city of Ann Arbor has been working with residents in the Pittsfield Village subdivision off Washtenaw Avenue on a plan to enhance snow removal services there.
City Council Member Christopher Taylor, D-3rd Ward, said city officials recently reached an agreement in which the city will reimburse the condominium association for the costs of hiring a private contractor to plow the streets when 4 or more inches of snow falls.
It's a deal that makes sense, Taylor said, particularly because of the subdivision's unique layout. With its narrow, winding streets with parked cars and lack of driveways and lawn extensions, city trucks have a hard time getting in to adequately clear the streets. In the past, the city's crews have had to dump snow onto sidewalks previously cleared by the condominium association's contractor.
"I know that snow removal has been a longstanding frustration for folks in the village," Taylor said. "I'm very excited that the city and the condominium association are working together on this. I think it shows flexibility on everyone's part because what we all really want is for the residents to receive the best service possible."
Anyone with questions on the Road Commission's policy on private contractor snow plowing is encouraged to contact Matt MacDonell, the agency's permits and subdivision supervisor, at (734) 327-6688 or macdonellm@wcroads.org.
Ryan J. Stanton covers government for AnnArbor.com. Reach him at ryanstanton@annarbor.com or 734-623-2529.
Comments
pseudo
Mon, Dec 28, 2009 : 9:13 a.m.
Mr. Taylor is correct about the frustration in The Village about the poor quality of this city service and others. We have been over-taxed for years and reached an agreement with the city for a refund this year. The snow plowing issue is another sore point because, the city's work combined with its stupid level of regulation made it impossible for us to comply: 1) City requires cumbersome trash containers to be stored out of site and carted to designated spots on the street - this is impossible when the city plows literally put tons of ice in your way. 2) city requires the sidewalks to be clear of snow and ice: again, impossible to accomplish when city snow plows REPEATEDLY push ice blockades up on our sidewalks. 3) City requires that cars parked on city streets be moved at least every 48 hours - and again, because of the way they plow this has required a jack hammer to get access to the car. In short, this city service for this large complex did more damage than good. I WOULD RATHER THEY FIX THE SERVICE instead of abdicate their responsibility. I do not have faith in the management and leadership of this association to do any better than the city given its current results with clearing just our sidewalks. And, the contractor will not have the public scrutiny and accountability that other direct-to-the-city contracts have.
Really?
Mon, Dec 28, 2009 : 12:55 a.m.
@Inside The Hall... under your plan, when would you like the emergency workers to perform these duties? When they are supposed to be on duty at the fire station? I don't know many plow trucks capable of putting out house fires or equiped with EMS gear. And before you suggest strapping a plow to the front of an Engine, forget about it. Those trucks aren't designed for that. Just curious as to the detail behind your plan...
Thick Candy Shell
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 11:41 p.m.
I think that there is a misunderstanding here. There is not one penny of property taxes used for plowing. The entire budget comes from gas taxes that have not been changed for ~10 years. In addition, the tax is per gallon not a percentage tax. With more fuel efficient cars we have less consumption, which results in less taxes. Personally, I could care less as I refuse to drive a death-mobile, and instead drive a full sized 4WD SUV and have no issue getting through the worst of roads. To each their own.
Cash
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 4:08 p.m.
So in reality....WCRC is getting paid MORE to do less, is that correct? They will maintain less roads...but they will charge anyone else who DOES maintain those same roads. Wow. I think I'll try that at work. I think I'll not work next week, but I will charge the person who does my work for the pleasure of doing it. What a deal.
John Galt
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 2:20 p.m.
Notice how they are (even now) requiring $100 per mile to add to the government take. For "services" that they no longer perform. I can understand the need to require insurance. But the fees are a ridiculous extortion for work that the government does not provide. Stop making the costs higher with the fees, or shut down the entire county operation and let us (for less money) have the private sector plough ALL the roads.
zollar
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 2:14 p.m.
In the mid 70's all garbage trucks were set up to carry snow plows here in Ann Arbor.They were never used because they had a large street dept staff and all certified truck drivers in other dept's were trained to operate snow plows.( this was reserved for major snow falls) Also after main roads were plowed they then concentrated on roads where garbage pick-up was scheduled so that the garbage trucks would not get stuck.
spm
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 1:43 p.m.
It's obvious from other's comments that A2 can do a much better job of snow removal then we currently doing. City Hall needs to get a task force and start talking to officals in Buffalo, Rochester, etc. and find out the details of their city's snow removal service and then put the same in place here. Why are we trying to reinvent the wheel when others do it so much better?
scooter dog
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 1:17 p.m.
Wow amazing,the county wants you to pay a secutity deposit for damage to their road.How about the county pay for all the mail boxes they knock down from plowing wet snow at 45-55mph.(I know I own a radar gun and clocked one on my country rd marked 35mph doing 52 mph last year).Tax revenue declining,my taxable value on my house went down the last 3 yrs yet my tax bill went up,so don't cry foul that you have less income.What all these subdivisions and business parks need to do is EVERYBODY that lives in these subs and business owners Deduct the cost of hiring out snow removal that was always provided and paid for out of your taxes from EVERYBODYS tax bill,What are they going to do when EVERYBODY refuses to pay,,zero,ziltch,nada.
Bones
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 1:13 p.m.
Is it just me, or does this sound like the biggest rip off yet? My taxes have not declined but my services sure are. Now the way this reads, instead of a application fee and proof of insurance. THey get a 100 bucks a mile of roadway cleared and a security deposit, which I might add will never be returned by these crooks. Michigan roads are the worst. Ohio pays less in taxes and has better secondary roads than our primary ones. So you know there will be some "damage" found and security deposits will go into the coffers. And I wonder. Are they paying for the roads where they live to be taken care of while letting the rest of us go fend for ourselves?
johnnya2
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 12:23 p.m.
For the idiots who always bring up GLOBAL WARMING, when ice and snow storms are discussed, please get a clue. I know in your mind the world revolves around what happens in your world, but the term is GLOBAL, not Ann Arbor warming. It is also part of the reason we have larger snowfalls. More precipitation from melting glaciers equals coming back to areas further south in the form of rain and snow. So please do us a favor and shut up unless you have something to say about the issue at hand. As for having police and fire cross trained, you can no be serious. People who do a job as their primary job are more efficient in anything they do.
Ignatz
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 11:57 a.m.
Mr. Vielmetti, Thanks for the info. The truck is what I imagined it to be. I do like the idea of emergency workers.
rrt911
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 11:56 a.m.
Wow--I lived in A2 for 31 years and moved 2 yrs alo to NY-western NY that is. It's only Dec and they're already talking about cutting snow removal there? After the taxes you are asked to pay to live there? Please. And don't even go getting NY into all this. Our taxes here aren't any better. The difference is that these people KNOW HOW TO REMOVE snow like you wouldn't believe. The trucks are 50% bigger, they work in teams. Michigan doesn't have a clue how to get rid of snow--and now you'll be paying extra. Do you think these contractors want to put up all that money to have the city come back and say there is damage, but cannot prove who did that damage. Ridiculous-are you really going to put up with this?
Ignatz
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 11:32 a.m.
I'm curious about the details concerning the trash truck/plow deal in New York. Do they plow while piking up trash or do they plow while not picking up trash? It seems to me that both can't be done a the same time efficiently, so they must be done exclusive to each other. Given that, wouldn't it be the same cost in man-hours? I can see savings in not having two types of vehicles. That however, must be offset in added wear and tear. Do the trash trucks also have the ability to haul/spread salt and sand? Please forgive my ignorance.
cibachrome
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 10:40 a.m.
Its common in NY STATE to have garbage trucks equipped with snow plows. Maybe AA could just plow the trash instead of picking it up. If its over 4" or more of course... Extra parking spaces when there are dumpsters around!!
a2guy1974
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 10:04 a.m.
hasn't anybody been to nyc in the winter? there, they just bolt a plow onto the front of garbage trucks on snowy days and let them double-duty, unless, of course, here in ann arbor... "we're not going to pick up trash unless it's piled over four feet high."
InsideTheHall
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 9:21 a.m.
We need a paradigm shift on government services. Why can't police and fire personell be cross trained to operate snow plows? Why can't road maintenance be outsourced to a private sector company....we do it with trash, cable TV, etc. Picker...you are correct about tax dollars for shuffling paper. However, at local levels you better have a hard hat on, gun in a holster, or hose in hand OR you are dead weight.
kman8479
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 9:01 a.m.
I wonder how much consideration was given to purchasing slightly used snow plows instead of new ones.
Ignatz
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 8:49 a.m.
I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who notices the slippery slope in allowing our governments to ignore services by hiring our own. The gap between the rich and poor will widen. I realize that many are not willing or able to have their taxes increased, but this is the downside. It started with public education and now it's snow removal. Some have already mentioned police protection. That's not far behind, especially in Ypsilanti Township, where deputies have been cut. Firefighters will be next followed by water and waste services. Let's just understand what we're doing when we vote down millages.
The Picker
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 8:35 a.m.
Soon our tax dollars will just be used to shuffle paperwork round and round and round.
xmo
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 8:23 a.m.
When is Al Gore and the Global warming gang going to solve this problem for us? I like the warmer temps!
Mike D.
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 8:11 a.m.
Revenue from property taxes has gone down due to reduced assessed home values and the loss of major property tax payers like Pfizer. At the same time, operating costs have gone up, particularly for employee health care. Less money in and more money out means a reduction in services. A further reduction in the tax rolls might very well mean bring-your-own police and fire departments. People cloud the issue with a lot of complaints about the new city hall building, but very little of that comes out of the operating budget. It's just simple math.
walker101
Sun, Dec 27, 2009 : 7:53 a.m.
How about lowering your property tax for a service you can no longer provide that you have in the past? This is just a start, next will be having to hiring private police to monitor you streets and contract someone to respond to emergency calls. All this for an increase in your property tax. Of course it's going to save money, they may even make money and spend it on some self deserving art project.