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Ashwaubenon board weighs plowing policy, asks staff for cost and hours estimates for winter trail maintenance
Summary
Trustees debated whether to expand winter plowing of village trails and sidewalks and directed staff to return with separate cost and hours estimates for sidewalk vs. trail winter maintenance before adopting a formal policy.
Trustees at the Sept. 23 Village Board meeting debated whether the village should expand winter maintenance to cover more trails and sidewalk segments. The board did not adopt a new policy but asked staff to report back with separate time and cost estimates for plowing existing trails and sidewalks.
Public works staff presented a map of existing winter maintenance areas and said sidewalks that serve as school routes remain a high priority; recreational trails historically have been a secondary priority. Staff warned that expanding the program would add operational burden and flagged statutory questions about sidewalks adjacent to roadways.
Trustee Kelly and other board members urged caution and suggested collecting usage data from residents before committing to more maintenance. Trustee Mary and residents including Jennifer Wellhouse said some neighborhoods value plowed trails and asked that the village consider resident input. Several trustees recommended a usage study or temporary data collection to measure trail use and resident demand. A resident suggested volunteer efforts but staff and the village attorney cautioned about potential liability for volunteer-operated plowing.
The board asked staff to provide: an estimate of hours required to maintain the existing trails and sidewalks in winter, separate line-item cost estimates for trails and sidewalks (labor and fuel; excluding fleet depreciation unless requested), and a clear inventory of facilities currently plowed versus those not plowed so the board can compare operating impact and budget implications. Staff said they will calculate hours per event and provide cost figures, and noted contractors’ costs (for comparison) and past nearby examples could be used as benchmarks.
No ordinance or resolution was adopted; trustees agreed to continue the discussion after staff provides the requested cost, hours and usage data.
Board members and residents also discussed operational details such as whether certain trails are technically sidewalks (which can carry statutory maintenance obligations) and whether adding maintenance obligations would increase the village’s long-term maintenance liabilities.
