STEVENS POINT, WI (WSAU) — Some Stevens Point residents are unhappy with how the city handled snow removal after multiple weather events in late December. Mayor Mike Wiza says he knows the process didn’t play out perfectly, but it very rarely does.
“Each event is different, and even though you have a plan- those plans have to get modified on the fly because Mother Nature doesn’t follow our plan,” said Wiza. “Every kind of snow is different and we have to take that into consideration.”
Those plans can often include pre-treatment of roadways with a brine mixture, which recently proved ineffective after the snow was preceded by steady rain, washing away that treatment and creating an icy surface. When that happens, they must turn to salt, which comes with complications of its own. “It damages cars, shoes, and clothing- so we try to minimize that, reduce the amount of salt we use.”
Wiza says crews have analyzed the recent events and will make changes to their plans going forward, noting that there is always room for improvement in these situations. However, he wants everyone to remember to be patient and do their part to help others navigate.
“[It seems] some people want the roads completely clear down to asphalt by the time they have to go to work in the morning. That’s just not a realistic expectation.”
Other topics Wiza discussed with WSAU’s Mike Leischner include:
Start of video- Public works response to recent snowfall
6:10- Winter sports areas open
9:45- Biggest challenges for 2026
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