The Romeo Observer - Romeo, Michigan: Northern Macomb County's weekly newspaper since 1866

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CURTIS OSTRANDER	DUAINE HARDING
ELEANOR TODD	ELMER "BUD" HAHN
GERVASE KILEY	MARGARET ZIEMAN
MARIAN SUTTON	ORLO KIRKUM
SLAVA KOKOTOVICH
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PILES OF PROBLEMS. Above, people have to maneuver through snow before walking along Main Street. The mounds of plowed snow were about two to three feet taller weeks ago, causing problems for drivers and their passengers who try to exit their vehicles after parallel parking. The village and Romeo Downtown Development Authority are discussing which governmental entity is responsible for removing the snow.

(Observer photo by Chris Gray)

DDA, village to determine
who removes snow

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Village officials say they are planning meetings to sort out issues regarding snow removal so shoppers don't need hiking boots to visit downtown.
       Some confusion has sprung up as to whether the Romeo Downtown Development Authority (DDA) or the village itself is responsible for clearing the piles of snow that stand in the way of patrons on Main Street.
       DDA Vice-chairperson Christine Malzahn, who co-owns Romeo Printing on Main Street, said businesses are hurt by the snow since the piles that are formed on the sidewalk due to plowing the parking lanes prevents drivers from safely exiting their vehicles.
       "Parking is limited as it is, and if there is no way to get up to the sidewalk it affects us," she said. "In the past two years it has not been done in a timely manner, so residents can't get from the parallel parking to the primary sidewalk."
       In February 2009, the DDA approved a contract with KLM Landscape to remove snow in the central business district on an as-needed basis from the backs of the benches to the curb.
       Typically, the DDA utilizes this service when there is a downtown event like the Romeo Romantic Days. The DDA pays $1,200 per removal.
       Malzahn believes, however, that it is up to the village to remove the snow on a regular basis, not the DDA.
       "As a taxpayer, I thought those services were already included in the dollars I've already paid once to the village," she said. "KLM is doing a terrific job, we just need to figure out who is ultimately responsible."
       Village Clerk Marian McLaughlin said it is the village's responsibility for clearing the parking lots and removing the big piles of plowed snow, but is unclear on the parameters of the DDA's contract with KLM.
       "It says it's only on an as-needed basis, so what do you consider as-need?" she said. "There is some miscommunication between the Department of Public Works and the DDA on what `as-needed basis' is defined as."
       She said the cost of the DDA removing the piles of snow is cheaper than having the DPW remove it, but since it is all taxpayer's money it should be straightened out.
       "We've done it in years past, but not on a regualr basis," she said. "We need to find the least-expensive and best solution."
       DDA Chairperson Bob Hart said the issue is a misunderstanding, as the DDA only removes snow in more of an emergency situation than on a regular basis. He said the service is affordable, but only if it's used sparingly.
       "When the agreement was put into place it was with the thought that there would be only two or three occasions that we would need to help out and get the snow removed," he said. "The DDA doesn't have the funds to pick up all the snow removal."
       Given Michigan's habit of snow storms brewing as late as April, both entities said it is important to rectify the issues as soon as possible.
       "Usually with mild winters, April brings some of our biggest blizzards," said Malzahn.
       The DDA has also requested that the village look at its plowing priority list, which determines what areas are plowed and when. Hart said the DDA would like to have the village clear out the parallel parking lanes on Main Street the night before it would have the snow removed.
       "If we did it that way, we would have the contractors take care of it at one time," he said.
       McLaughlin said clearing out the streets is a top priority for fire and emergency situations.
       "We can't do downtown first, we have to do that in the middle of the night when cars aren't out there," she said.