Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works Snow topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents and council debate snow response; city staff praised, concerns raised about parked vehicles on snow routes
Summary
A public commenter criticized snowplow response in the Bridgerton neighborhood; multiple council members, police and public works staff praised the street department’s efforts while noting challenges such as parked cars on snow routes and two emergency death responses during the event.
A resident told the council he was embarrassed by snow-removal performance in his neighborhood, saying he did not see a plow until about 7 a.m. the day after the storm and urging the city to address staff performance. Michael Pinson identified himself with an Old Saint Charles Road address and said he has lived in Bridgeton since 1967. “The last snow was an embarrassment and I didn't see a snow plow till 07:00 the next morning,” Pinson said during public comment.
Council members and staff responded with a mixture of gratitude for the street department and concern about obstruction from parked vehicles. Several council members — including Weshi, Suttell, Luke, Luther, Norris and Hood — publicly thanked the street and police departments for their work during the storm and described residents helping neighbors clear driveways. Council member Suttell and others urged more enforcement of parking on designated snow routes to allow plows to clear streets.
Police Chief Mark Massati told the council officers distributed informational cards before the storm and that the department documented numerous motor-assist calls and traffic crashes during the event. Massati said he arrived at Natural Bridge about 8:50 a.m. on Monday and observed the roadway clear at that time; he praised the street department for getting side streets cleared so emergency responders could reach two residences where sudden deaths occurred during the 36-hour period. “Kudos to the street department. Outstanding job,” Massati said.
Council and staff noted practical limits: Mayor Hine and others cautioned that stopping at every driveway to clear aprons would be time- and cost-prohibitive. Multiple council members described informal neighbor assistance, especially for elderly residents, and called for clearer enforcement or towing on snow routes when vehicles block plow access.
