Tag Archives: Snowplow

Through the storm, plows will be working to keep streets clear

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Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
WKTV Managing Editor
joanne@wktv.org

The City of Wyoming snowplow team works to make sure streets are cleared within a 24-hour period after a snow event. It is the same for the City of Kenwood. (City of Wyoming)

As the blizzard of 2022 makes it way across the midwest, both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood are making preparations and gearing up to plow the roads.

Both the cities have issued blizzard alerts on their respective Facebook pages. Residents are encouraged to prep their vehicles with emergency items in case they get stranded. 

In the case of a power outage, contact Consumers Energy at 800-477-5050 or visit ConsumersEnergy.com for outage updates. For emergencies, such as a downed power line or tree blocking a roadway, call 911.

Snowplow vehicles will be out over the weekend. During a storm in both cities, crews work around-the-clock with trucks on the road 24-hours a day. Crews from both cities try to make sure that all roads are cleared within 24 hours after the snow event has ended. Both the City of Kentwood and the City of Wyoming prioritize plowing from highest-volume streets to lowest-volume streets.

City of Kentwood

Major streets, such as 44th Street, 52nd Street, Kalamazoo Avenue and Eastern Avenue are plowed first.

Collector streets, which are many of the main streets of the subdivisions, are plowed next. Some examples of collector streets are Baileys Grove Drive, Stauffer Avenue and Gentian Avenue.

Once the collection streets are clear and safe, local streets, which are streets within subdivisions, are plowed next.

Cul-de-sacs/stub streets are plowed last with smaller trucks. For the cul-de-sacs, the snow is placed in areas that are suitable for snow storage, so it is recommended that all items in the a cul-de-sac, such as soccer goals and portable basketball hoops, be removed.

If a resident needs to report a snow removal issue, visit kentwood.us/psr. For more information on winter maintenance and resources, including snow removal efforts, street parking rules and tips for avoiding frozen water pipes and meters, visit kentwood.us/WinterMaintenance.

City of Wyoming

The City of Wyoming has about 250 miles or 600 lane-miles of streets.

The city’s first priority are the major streets, such as 28th Street, 44th Street, Burlingame Avenue, Byron Center Avenue and Clyde Park Avenue, which carry the most traffic and have the highest speed limits.

Second is the collector streets, which disperse throughout the residential neighbors. The goal is that residents are within a reasonable distance from either a first or secondary priority street that is plowed.

The last to be plowed is the culs-de-sac and the remaining residential streets. The streets are plowed when the snow depth reaches four inches, either from a storm event or snow accumulation.

For snow removal concerns and other related issues, visit the All About Snow section on the Public Works page at wyomingmi.gov. 

Clearing of Sidewalks

In the City of Kentwood, it is the property owners responsible for clearing two or more inches of snow, ice and other obstructions from sidewalks in front of their homes and businesses. The City of Kentwood does plow some of its sidewalks. For a map of those sidewalks, click here.

In the City of Wyoming, sidewalks are plowed by a third party contractor at night when there is two or more inches of new snow accumulation. Residents are asked to keep the sidewalks free of obstructions such as garbage cans and parked vehicles.

Fire Hydrant Maintenance

In both cities, it is the resident’s responsibility to keep the fire hydrant clear if it is located on your property. Residents should clear a path from the street to the fire hydrant and three feet around the hydrant.

Parking Rules

Both cities have winter parking rules.

In the City of Wyoming, it is odd-even parking. If the day is an even number, 2, 4, 6, 8, then residents may park on the side of the street with even number addresses. If it is an odd number day, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, then park on the side with odd number addresses.

Wyoming residents are encouraged to move their vehicles between 7 p.m. and midnight (12 a.m.) to assure that plows can get down and clean both sides of the street.

In the City of Kentwood, parking is not allowed on any public street between 1 and 8 a.m. and when street parking could make it difficult or prevent snow removal. 

Kentwood sweeps up awards at the annual Snowplow Roadeo

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  • Jeff Bremer
  • Zach Wolford
The winning City of Kentwood team at this year’s 2021 American Public Works Association Midwest Michigan Snowplow Roadeo and Equipment Show. (City of Kentwood)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org


For the second year in a row, the City of Kentwood’s Department of Public Work snowplow team has won the local Snowplow Roadeo.

On Oct. 6, the City of Wyoming Department of Public Works hosted the 2021 American Public Works Association Midwest Michigan Snowplow Roadeo and Equipment Show. The event featured a timed obstacle course where drivers from across Michigan competed to test their skills.

The event featured a timed obstacle course where drivers from across Michigan competed to test their skills. (City of Wyoming)

The roadeo provides an opportunity for public agencies to prepare for winter snow removal operations by training drivers, networking with each other and viewing a variety of useful products and services. More than 28 public agencies competed in this year’s Roadeo. Public administrators and elected officials, as well as other local celebrities were invited to operate snow removal equipment in a non-working/non-emergency atmosphere.

This year the Kentwood team of Jeff Bremer and Zach Wolford won the roadeo with Wolford also being named the top driver. The city also took home first place in the “Pride of the Fleet” competition.

“It is wonderful to celebrate Jeff Bremer and Zach Wolford as the winning driving team of this year’s Snowplow Roadeo,” said Kentwood Public Works Department Director Chad Griffin. “We look forward to the Snowplow Roadeo and Equipment Show each year as part of our training for winter snow removal operations. Placing well in the competition demonstrates the quality of our training and our commitment to excellence in the public works profession.”

Griffin along with Mike Kaminski won the 2020 Snowplow Roadeo and went on to compete in the national competition held annually in Loveland, Colorado. Bremer and Wolford will represent the APWA Midwest Michigan area at the national competition in October 2022. 

The City of Kentwood’s Pride of the Fleet winner. (City of Kentwood)

Traffic Tuesday: Some snow plow trivia

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With winter weather, snowplow trucks are very visible this time of year. (WKTV)

By Officer Jenni Eby
Wyoming Department of Public Safety

After a holiday break, the Traffic Tuesday is back and this week, in honor of the winter weather, it features a piece of snowplow trivia. Many of us have come to depend on our snowplow trucks to clear on streets. These trucks are operated by the city’s Department of Public Works.

For this week’s Traffic Tuesday question, do you know what year the first snowplow designed to be used with motor equipment built?

A. 1898

B. 1905

C. 1913

D. 1920

Check back on Thursday for the answer!

Wondering when your street will be plowed?

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Our Cities, ,

By Victoria Mullen
WKTV

 

It’s the $64,000 question after a huge snow dump: When will my street get plowed? Watch the video above to learn about the City of Wyoming’s snow removal policy. In a nutshell, there are priorities: first, the busiest streets get plowed; next, the collector streets; and last of all, the quiet cul-de-sacs. More info is available here. The goal of the City of Wyoming’s snowplowing operation is to have all streets plowed within 24 hours after the end of a storm.

As with the City of Wyoming, the City of Kentwood’s Department of Public Works prioritizes plowing and salting from highest volume streets to lowest volume streets. Nothing personal, but it goes like this:

  1. Major Streets in the City of Kentwood with the most traffic — such as  44th, 52nd, Kalamazoo and Eastern — get plowed and salted first during a snow “event”.
  2. Collector Streets — next in line are the “main” streets throughout many of the subdivisions where you live. The streets you use to enter or exit an area adjacent to the major streets are plowed and salted after the major streets have been cleared and are as safe as possible to travel on. Some examples of collector streets are: Baileys Grove Dr., Stauffer Ave and Gentian Ave.
  3. Local Streets are the streets within the subdivisions themselves. These are plowed after the collectors are cleared and safe for travel. Salt is typically not spread on the local streets.
  4. Cul-De-Sacs/stub streets are the last to get attention. Smaller pick-up trucks direct the snow to areas in the cul-de-sac that are suitable for snow storage. It’s important that items are removed from the cul-de-sacs — soccer goals, portable basketball hoops and any other miscellaneous items.

Sometimes things don’t go as planned — maybe a busy street has been plowed and the City has moved onto another when Mother Nature disrupts the routine. When this happens — say, the major roads deteriorate — attention is shifted back to them and the cycle starts over.

Both cities make every effort to have all the roads cleared within 24 hours after the snow event has ended. During most snow events crews are working around the clock with trucks on the road 24 hours a day, sometimes for several days in a row.

Don’t worry, they’ll get to you!