Benton Harbor meeting highlights snow-removal limits and possible towing policy

Benton Harbor — City staff and residents spent a large portion of the Feb. 18 meeting focused on winter operations, equipment limits and possible policy changes after an unusually heavy season.

Mister Little, a city official who gave the public-works update, said crews followed the established three-truck plan that prioritizes primary streets and that the department did as much as possible given staffing and equipment limits. “We can only do what we can do,” he said.

The discussion grew from residents’ complaints that some secondary streets and alleys were not cleared to the commission’s consideration of longer-term responses. A resident asked whether the city would assess needs at the end of the season; officials said they know what equipment would help but lack the cash flow to buy new trucks immediately. Mister Little said the city is considering towing vehicles that block plowing next winter if voluntary compliance is insufficient.

Commissioners suggested exploring memorandums of understanding with neighboring municipalities for mutual aid, similar to interlocal arrangements for fire services, but officials said cost is the main obstacle to buying or renting extra equipment. The city also reaffirmed that MDOT maintains Main Street because it is Business Route 94, a detail that affects which agency is responsible for clearing that corridor.

The meeting recorded no formal decision to change towing or mutual-aid policies; commissioners directed further discussion and encouraged citizen cooperation as a near-term measure.

Votes at a glance: The meeting approved the agenda and the previous meeting’s minutes by voice vote and adjourned by voice vote; there were no roll-call tallies recorded.