Milwaukee Explores Snowplow Fee Refund: ‘We’re F*cked,’ Says Alderman

The move to refund the Milwaukee snowplow fee comes after the city failed to “properly clear four inches of snow” on December 20.

A Milwaukee alderman says the city will explore a snowplow fee refund because “We have to be able to provide better services to our residents – if we can’t handle 4 inches of snow now, what’s going to happen later this winter? We’re f*cked!”

“Milwaukee residents deserve reliable public services, especially during critical
winter months,” added Alderman Peter Burgelis, who also made the above comment.

The rare “we’re f*cked” candor sentence was later removed from a revised press release shared by the City of X. However, the earlier version was preserved and shared on X by dogged Milwaukee journalist AJ Bayatpour.

Bayatpour noted in the comment thread, “Just talked to Ald. Burgelis on the phone. He says he meant to redact the ‘we’re f*cked’ part of his quote from an earlier draft. However, he says the larger point stands as the group of aldermen will pursue whether a refund of plowing fees is feasible.”

A reader responded to Bayatpour, “My street wasn’t plowed and we got at least 6 inches of snow on Northwest Side. Really upsetting since property tax bill is all-time high.”

The city’s revised press release says that Alderman Peter Burgelis, Alderwoman Sharlen Moore, Public Works Committee chair Alderman Robert J. Bauman, and Alderwoman Andrea M. Pratt “have introduced a communication file for the Budget and Management Division, in collaboration with the City Comptroller and the Department of Public Works, that will explore the feasibility of refunding snowplow fees for residents who experienced poor or inadequate snow removal services.”

This communication file will be heard at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, at City Hall during the next Public Works Committee meeting, the release states.

“The proposed discussion comes in response to widespread concerns from residents following the city’s inability to properly clear four inches of snow on December 20, 2024. Many residents reported unsafe road conditions, and in some areas, lingering snow significantly impeded daily activities. Compounding frustrations, uncollected autumn leaves in several districts were scattered back onto residents’ lawns during snowplowing efforts.”

Alderwoman Moore added, “Major roads were great, but many neighborhood streets weren’t salted or plowed, and cold weather over the weekend made these neighborhoods slick and dangerous.”

“The January 8 hearing will focus on evaluating mechanisms to provide a snowplow fee refund to some or all city residents. It will also address potential improvements to ensure timely and effective leaf collection and snow removal in the future,” the release says.