DPW briefs council on heavy snow response, salt and plow staffing challenges

Department of Public Works Commissioner Mark Sokolowski briefed the council on storm response, salt supply and equipment replacement.

Sokolowski said crews worked multiple nights and long shifts during an unusually heavy February storm and that the department had to clear streets where parked cars impeded plows. He described a shipment schedule that left the city short of salt during the storm but said statesupported deliveries and current stocks now provide a quarter-barn of salt to carry forward.

The commissioner described snow-removal operations including curb-cut snow removal (loading and hauling to city snow farms) and said the spring cleanup program will follow. He said the city has 43 DPW workers with about 30 plow drivers and 13 routes and that several plows are old and needed significant repairs after extended use; new seal/plows were ordered with expected delivery in May.

Council members praised crews for rapid street clearing and urged residents to heed parking rules during snow events. Members also asked about the status of demolition requests that flow through engineering and codes enforcement; Sokolowski said unsafe-structure findings would flow to codes and corporation counsel for enforcement and potential demolition when property owners do not act.

Why it matters: Winter-storm logistics affect public safety and business access; equipment age and staffing constraints shape the department's ability to respond to future storms.

Ending: Council members thanked DPW staff for work during the storm and encouraged residents to comply with parking restrictions to improve response times.