WKOW 27: Madison, WI Breaking News, Weather and SportsSen. Grothman to introduce Madison snow removal bill

Sen. Grothman to introduce Madison snow removal bill

MADISON (WKOW) -- An apology from Madison's Mayor for snow removal problems a few weeks ago, isn't enough for one state Senator.

He wants Wisconsin's Department of Transportation to set standards for the city of Madison. As 27 News has found, that's created a flurry of debate.

Glenn Grothman, a Republican Senator from West Bend, says, "The city of Madison really isn't up to the job."

For more than 24 hours, Madison City Streets were tough to get through. Grothman says, "It's time for state legislators to step forward, and say 'Look, Madison. If you want to have snow drifts on Mifflin Street until April we don't care. But when it comes to major arterial streets, get in the 21st century and use some salt.'"

Grothman is now looking to give the state authority to set standards for snow removal and salting on major roads in Madison.

WI Senate President Fred Risser says, "We don't need a senator from West Bend telling us how to handle our city streets. The city of Madison is perfectly capable of handling itself."

Two weeks after the major snowstorm, the mayor's office released a report indicating what they did wrong.. and what they would do.. to fix it.

Mario Mendoza, the Madison Mayor's assistant says they prepared this snow report so that the next time would be better. He says, "We're taking action now.. to have a better outcome."

Since the 1970's, Madison has limited salt use in an attempt to protect groundwater and lakes. Grothman says.. giving authority to the DOT for city snow removal policies has never been done before. The Senate president says he doesn't expect the bill to move very far.

Online Reporter: Teresa Mackin

email Teresa at tmackin@wkowtv.com

Follow Teresa on Twitter @ TMackin_WKOW

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MADISON (WKOW) -- West Bend Republican Senator Glenn Grothman says he plans to introduce legislation that would give the Wisconsin Department of Transportation the authority to set salting and snow removal standards for the City of Madison's main arterials. Under the proposed bill, all other cities, villages, and towns around the state will continue to set their own standards.

Grothman says that while the snowstorm that walloped Madison on December 9 and 10 was unique, the road conditions in Madison were not. In his experience, when roads within Madison city limits are impassible, roads outside of Madison and in other communities are not. He says that since only a small percentage of Madison streets are main arterials, the extreme aversion to using salt should stop.

"The State of Wisconsin has chosen Madison as its State Capitol and home to its largest university.  It is the responsibility of the City to maintain its roads in winter -- something they've shown they cannot do," said Grothman.  "During the first big snowstorm of the year, it took more than one and one-half hours to travel the six miles on Highway 151 (East Washington Avenue) from the city limits to the Capitol.  In all my years as a legislator, I've repeatedly noticed the roads are a mess on Highway 151 south of the Interstate and are clear as soon as Dane County takes over north of the ‘I.'"

"This is what happens when you have a city with politicians whose base is people who walk to their job at the co-op," said Grothman.  "They become incapable of handling their responsibilities to the State as a whole.  I want to emphasize this bill will not force the City to put salt on places like Mifflin or Spaight Streets, just the main arterials." 

Grothman adds that a quick review of other cities snow removal policies around the state shows an average of 300 pounds of salt used for one lane of one mile of highway. Madison uses about 150 pounds of salt for the same distance. Grothman says that since the State pays Madison approximately $9 million every year in lieu of property taxes, the city should make streets to and from state buildings passable for taxpayers.

Online reporting by Lisa Adams.
Email me at ladams@wkowtv.com
Follow me on Twitter: @ladams_wkow