Debate on whether to refund millions in annual snowplowing fees continues after Milwaukee Common Council meeting

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Whether or not some property owners in Milwaukee will receive refunds from annual city snowplowing fees is still up in the air.

On Wednesday, Jan. 8, multiple Milwaukee Common Council members and officials from the Department of Public Works gathered for a meeting to debate the decision.

"I just simply want to have a productive conversation of how we can make this better," said Ald. Lamont Westmoreland, who noted he had received numerous complaints from his constituents about DPW's snow removal service from a storm in late December. "I don't feel like there is quality control."

It took nearly three hours to explore the option of refunding $11.3 million dollars -- but Nik Kovac, the city's director of budget management, warned against.

“It is feasible in the sense that it could be done, but it creates a budget hole, so my strong recommendation to the council continues to be that if we want to discuss changes in the fee and changes in service expectations, that we do that on an annual basis," Kovac told CBS 58.

Ultimately, nothing was finalized.

"If we’re charging a reasonable fee for a reasonable service, I think that’s okay. But if residents aren’t getting the service level they’re expecting, that’s the problem that we’re trying to fix," said Ald. Peter Burgelis. 

Now they're working to continue these conversations throughout the year as they attempt to find a resolution.

“We as a department want to continually work with elected officials to try to make the system better," said DPW Commissioner Jerrel Kruschke. “We’re still going to go out there, we’re still going to plow people’s streets, and it really comes down to how much that costs to people.”