Kettering changes storm clean-up policy

KETTERING, Ohio (WDTN) - After a flurry of citizen complaints, Kettering city officials have revamped their snow removal policy.

"Folks aren't used to seeing the remnants of a snow storm a week later and the ice was thick," said Kettering City Manager Mark Schwieterman.

Schwieterman admits there was a problem. Under the policy that's been in place for decades, street crews don't salt residential streets just thoroughfares and collectors. "The collector streets are the ones that connect our neighborhoods to those thoroughfares," he added.

In the case of the last month's two storms, the plows packed the snow onto the pavement in residential areas. The snow then thawed and re-froze, creating layers of dangerous ice.

"I can certainly understand why residents were concerned because the ice was thick," said Schwieterman. He says the city received several phone calls from residents, prompting the policy to be revamped.  

In the future, if it's determined a storm will bring wet snow and lingering cold temperatures, salt will be spread on all of the city's 900 lane miles. The increased use of salt will cost the city an addition $10,000 to $15,000 each storm.