Muskego Plows and Garbage Trucks Need Your Help

While there was a recent downgrade in snow totals, city services like garbage pick up and snow removal pose extra cautions for residents.

Veolia Plans On Pick Up

Muskego residents who have a scheduled day for garbage pick up either Thursday or Friday may notice a change in service due to the predicted snow.

"If we get significant snow and the roads are not plowed, we generally will not go down them," explained Jason Quast, operations manager at Veolia Environmental Services. However, with the forecast putting the bulk of the snow into the later morning, early afternoon hours and overnight on Thursday, it's likely you won't notice a difference at all.

Trucks are generally out and in service by 7am, Quast said, and they monitor road conditions with driver safety in mind. "If the roads get bad, we will pull drivers off, and if there are any concerns by residents, we urge them to call Veolia and not their city hall."

He said any homes that haven't received pick up should expect it the next day, and that placement of the garbage bins should be the same "as if it were a day in July."

Questions about service can be directed to Veolia at 262-679-0860.

Snow Plow Know-How

In addition, plow drivers for the city will be out in force for the first big snow of the season. Given the duration of the expected 3-6" on Thursday, city streets should be plowed within three hours of the start of the snow plowing operation. With the heaviest snow not beginning until after 9am, residents are encouraged to be patient, as city workers will do their best to plow roads as quickly and efficiently as possible.

In cases where residents feel their mailbox has been damaged due to the snow plowing operation, they may contact the City of Muskego Public Works Department at 679-4128. Only mailboxes and posts damaged by direct contact with the plow will be repaired or replaced. Damage caused by snow coming off plows will not be repaired. If there is evidence of damage by a plow, the City will
repair or replace the mailbox with a standard mailbox. Custom mailboxes and posts will also be replaced with standard mailboxes and posts.

Firing up the snow blower? City ordinance places a few limits on where you can send those flakes. The ordinance states, "no person shall plow snow on his driveway or sidewalk or road in such a way as to interfere with his neighbor’s customary use and enjoyment of his property. In addition, no person shall put snow by any means onto any public street, roadway, or thoroughfare."

Residents having decorative stone located on the road right-of-ways in front of their properties are also requested to move the stone off of the right-of-way onto their properties. This will help to insure a safe and efficient snow plowing operation this winter season.

Cars v. Snowplows

While there are no state laws that prohibit you from passing a snowplow, it is illegal to follow a snowplow closer than 200 feet upon any highway having the posted speed limit of more than 35 mph if the snowplow is 'in service.'

According to WisDOT, the majority of crashes involving snowplows and vehicles happen when a snowplow is rear ended or hit while being passed. Snowplows have wing plow blades that can extend anywhere between 2 and 10 feet beyond the width of the truck. This wing plow blade is often not seen because of the snow cloud being kicked up by the snowplow. These wing plows can often weigh as much as a compact car.