CLEVELAND — Three days after a major winter storm struck the Cleveland area, new Mayor Justin Bibb admitted Thursday that the city needed to do a better job at plowing city roadways.
The Sunday-Monday storm left some Cleveland neighborhoods with up to 15 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. With a number of roads still snow covered, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District was forced to close on Tuesday and Wednesday. Other services, such as the Cleveland Public Library, also remained closed on Tuesday.
“We used every truck, snow plow and driver available but it wasn’t good enough,” Bibb said in a video statement. “I inherited a broken system that needs significant overhaul and investment. I heard you. We need a new snow removal plan to ensure we are better prepared for the next storm.”
Bibb said that he is ordering the director of Public Safety and his chief of operations to review this week’s response and form a new plan for future storms.
According to the city, 90% of city roads were plowed by Wednesday morning. The city spent Wednesday going over roads with plows and salt for a second pass.
The city is responsible for all roads within the city except for interstates, which are under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Department of Transportation.
