UPDATE: Residents of Germantown will soon face changes in sidewalk snow removal responsibilities, following a village board decision on December 1, 2023. The board voted against a proposed map that would have shifted snow clearing duties to property owners for several sidewalks, leaving many community members concerned about accessibility this winter.
This urgent development means that some sidewalks, historically cleared by the village, will now be the responsibility of individual homeowners. The Germantown Department of Public Works (DPW) will reassess the plan and present an updated map at their next meeting on January 7, 2024. However, significant changes will not take effect until the winter of 2026.
DPW Director Matt Mortwedt emphasized the need for the village to adapt as it continues to grow. “This is a first attempt at the map at the village board level,” Mortwedt stated. “At the end of the day, we’ll get a map adopted, and that’ll be the plan going forward. We’d be in a place where we’re stretched pretty thin with our time and equipment.”
The original proposal would have transferred snow removal duties for sidewalks adjacent to homes, sparking concerns among residents about accessibility. Many rely on cleared sidewalks to navigate between neighborhoods, especially during harsh winter months.
Steve Thompson, a local resident and regular sidewalk user with his dog Buddy, expressed his mixed feelings about the potential changes. “Where I live, I don’t have any access to other neighborhoods except through plowed sidewalks,” he remarked. He fears that discontinuing snow removal on critical routes like Pilgrim Road and Donges Bay Road would limit mobility for many.
Thompson understands the village’s need to manage resources and keep taxes in check. However, he hopes essential sidewalks remain under village responsibility. “If they can keep taxes down, that’s a good thing,” he noted. “But if they’re planning to backtrack on commitments they’ve made over the years, that would concern me as well.”
The DPW aims to finalize a new snow removal plan by June 2024, ensuring that residents remain informed about their responsibilities ahead of the upcoming winter seasons. Watch for updates as this story develops, and consider how these changes might impact your daily routines in Germantown.
Stay tuned for further developments as the Germantown community prepares for these significant changes in snow removal policies.
