CADILLAC — Cadillac’s Department of Public Works Director Owen Roberts said that crew consists of 8 members and one mechanic to cover 60 miles of roadway including state lines, main roads, and side streets. They also are responsible for parking lots, and alleys, and when they can they try to help with the several miles of sidewalks too.
“The last thing we want to do is have people walking in roadways because of the obvious safety concerns with that. So, as much as it depends on us and our crew, we’re doing everything we can. Again, there’s over 50 miles of sidewalks in the city. And really, it takes one guy about three full shifts to get through all of those sidewalks,” said Roberts.
There is an ordinance that homeowners are responsible but Roberts said being a walkable town is a priority and years ago, they decided to help pick up the slack.
“We have kids walking to school. We have people walking to work. We have people exercising and walking their pets. We have people who, you know, may not have transportation that need to get to grocery stores and restaurants,” said Roberts.
He says homeowners are used to the city shoveling the sidewalks but encourages abled bodied people to help if they can
“I think we’ve created a high expectation in the past because we’ve done a really, really good job of stepping in to help with that role that we aren’t required to,” said Roberts.
Roberts said they’re doing their best to keep the sidewalks clear, but the almost non stop snow has made it a challenge.
“We haven’t had a winter like this snow wise for a few years. And, and we have one crew here in the city.
The problem becomes when there’s snow event on top of snow event on top of snow event. Again, having one crew that does all the work, if it’s snowing and the roads need to be cleared, that’s the priority,” said Roberts.
Cadillac resident, Angela Buck said she clears her sidewalks but some neighbors around her do not, so she sees people walking in the road constantly and fears for their safety.
“Cars are stopping because the school kids get off, and then they have to walk in the road because they can’t get through here, and traffic stops because they’re trying to walk down through here. I’m afraid at some point somebody is going to get hurt. It hit the mailman. The school kids, people just going on to the courthouse,” said Buck.
Roberts said this winter has been an all hands on deck season. He said he is proud of the hard work his crew has accomplished in these back to back weather events. Even supervisors have lent a hand helping to clear the sidewalks. He said they are on track to incur more costs for sidewalk clean up this year than last.
Last year they covered close to 300 hours on sidewalk cleanup, with a cost of $30,000 while this year, so far, they’ve covered close to 200 hours, that’s enough to cover every sidewalk 6 or 7 times at a cost of $16,000.