IN A CONSTITUENT communication sent by Council member Sabra Briere (D-Ward 1), she discusses snow removal. She writes:

“After the snow cleared, it took us all several days to dig out. Once again I learned things about the snow and snow removal. Some of the things I’ve heard:

The City should plow the streets faster.

The City should be responsible for plowing all the sidewalks.

The City should not let plow drivers drive so fast that they cover the sidewalks with snow/fill in driveways/fill in corners.

The City should clear all the paths in parks.”

Briere, whose term expires in Nov. 2015, goes on to claim that Ann Arbor has no money or resources “to plow all the sidewalks and clear all the corners.” Her constituent email goes on to say, “I’ve heard that Rochester, NY residents pay more – and get their sidewalks plowed.”

A survey linked to the email poses questions concerning services which Council member Briere voted to eliminate and the asks if constituents would like the services (leaf and Christmas tree collection) reinstated.

The survey asks if residents would be willing to pay additional property taxes to have the services reinstated, as well as higher property taxes to have city sidewalks plowed, as well.

Ward 1 neighbors in the Water Hill and Northside Elementary School areas this winter pooled funds to implement a SnowBuddy system to clear 12 miles of sidealks. Paul Tinkerhess, who lives in Miner Street,  organized volunteers who are trained to use a tractor to clear sidewalks in the Water Hill neighborhood.

“This project has been so fun. When I let people know about this idea, instantly the community embraced it,” Tinkerhess said.

About 200 people have contributed more than $20,000 in amounts ranging from as low as $5 to as high as $1,000.

Tinkerhess said there’s no suggested donation and that some people don’t pay. At the rate raised by the Water Hill neighbors, it would, with volunteer labor, cost about $833,000 to do all of Ann Arbor’s nearly 500 miles of sidewalks.

Briere writes in her update, “I estimate that clearing Ann Arbor’s nearly 500 miles of sidewalk after a 4-inch snow would add about $900,000 to the budget – because even if there are fewer miles, the City will still need to either hire more staff and buy/maintain more equipment or contract this service privately. To cover this cost, the voters would have agree to increase taxes by about $22 per year.”

Ward 1 resident Jeff Hayner ran for City Council in 2013 as an Independent candidate. Of Briere’s idea that residents tax themselves to pay for sidewalk plowing, he said, “No thanks. I have a shovel. Plus, I don’t think Sabra’s math works out. I just don’t think if we passed a new tax, the city would get it done.”

Mayor Taylor was quoted as saying about the Water Hill sidewalk snowplowing collective: “When people organize and volunteer, they can often succeed in areas where local government can’t. The SnowBuddy grassroots approach is innovative and practical and I hope serves as a model for other neighborhoods.” SnowBuddy, is overseen by a six-member board staffed by volunteers and can be contacted at info@snowbuddy.org.