Politics & Government

St. Clair Shores Mayor Apologizes for City's Snowstorm Response

Mayor Kip Walby takes responsibility and apologizes for the city's response to the snow.

St. Clair Shores Mayor Kip Walby took responsibility Monday for the not calling a snow emergency following the Dec. 26 snowstorm which dropped about 7 inches of snow on the city.

Following the snowfall, the department of public works crews cleared main streets but did not address most residential streets until Jan. 2.

"I did not call a snow emergency. I should have called it, I made a mistake," Walby said during Monday's City Council meeting. "I do apologize for the inconvenience that it caused a lot of residents including myself."

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Walby stated there were a number of issues which went into his decision and stated that the next time he would declare a snow emergency. He added that crews worked over the weekend and will continue to clear snow in the coming days.

The issue was a hot topic on the city's Facebook page and the St. Clair Shores Patch Facebook page.

Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoreswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Lagretta Colo wrote Sunday, "Now would be a good time to plow our streets, so much ice and snow everywhere....hard driving on side streets."

On Friday, Cathy Ray wrote, "What happened to my street?!! I live on Playview in SCS & the city was supposed to plow the streets (a week later) but my street is a mess! Worse than after the snow storm! They threw salt down on top of the ice & now there are giant ruts of slushy mess!"

The city has two ordinances regarding snow according to the most recent city newsletter.

The city may declare a snow event which "is intended to provide for safe passage and to protect the general health, safety and welfare of the St. Clair Shores residents and those using the public walkways." The mayor or the city manager may declare a snow event after 2 inches of snow has fallen or accumulated.

St. Clair Shores resident Tony Caleca spoke at the meeting and stated that he lives on California near the expressway and said it seems that his street never gets plowed.

He added that his relatives in Harper Woods had their streets plowed following the snowstorm—and it isn't better since St. Clair Shores started plowing.

"California to this day is still just horrible," said Caleca, who was reassured by Walby that the street should be plowed.


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