As everyone prepares for potential snow accumulations this weekend and more snow to come as we speed toward winter, the city wants to offer some friendly reminders to citizens regarding snow plowing and other winter weather issues:
Please remove basketball hoops from the street. The city cannot be held responsible for damages to items left in the street.
The same is true for trash containers. As much as possible, please don’t set them in the street on your designated pickup day. Instead, place them on the curb lawn or on the end of your driveway.
Please note that Waste Management is closed on Christmas Day, with a one-day pickup delay the rest of the week.
If a plow truck damages your mail box, please call Field Services at 269-966-3507. The city replaces plow-damaged mail boxes, that were in previously good condition, on a case-by-case basis.
While it’s inevitable that plow trucks will place snow back into residential driveways as they plow, residents can lessen the impact by plowing a space at the street where the plow will pass just before reaching your driveway. Place the snow from your driveway at the opposite side. The city does not clear private driveways.
Plow trucks make multiple passes on each street to clear snow; it is recommended that, if residents see a truck pass, they wait about 30 minutes before shoveling or plowing to be sure the truck has finished. This will help avoid frustration if you start shoveling and the plow comes back around.
It is the responsibility of residents to ensure the snow is removed from around their mailboxes. The U.S. Postal Service may not deliver mail if they can’t reach your box.
When you see plow trucks out and about, please give them space on the road. When you see a convoy of trucks, please do not cut in between them. Please be attentive because plow trucks may have to back up on occasion.
It is a resident’s responsibility to clear sidewalks of snow and ice following accumulations. We now have available on our website a Priority Snow Removal Map. The city has designated areas where sidewalk snow removal enforcement will be a priority – particularly around our schools. Questions about this can be directed to our Code Compliance Division, 269-966-3387. To view this map, visit battlecreekmi.gov and navigate to Your Government, Geographic Information Systems, Maps and scroll to the bottom of the page.
We ask for your help to shovel the snow around fire hydrants that are present in your yards, so that they are easily accessible if the hydrant is needed.
We also ask for your help in keeping bus stops clear of snow so that those waiting for the bus can do so safely.
We appreciate everyone’s attention and care during the winter season. Working together, we hope to keep everyone safe and mobile!