Another picture showing upclose extent of damage. Click on the pictures to enlarge them for upclose shots

I agree; document; document; document.

I'm not trying to be snotty or anything, but if this has been happening for some time, may I ask if you've ever tried putting those little metal poles with the reflectors on top at the edge of the property line? If the plow drivers don't live in the neighborhood, how are they supposed to know exeactly where everyone's yard ends? Again, no offense intended.

Dear Just Asking,
I have for the last 4 years put up reflectors so plow drivers can judge where to plow. I put them right near the roadway, maybe 6 inches from, still land got tore up on occassions. I tried right at the roadway, they got snapped due to snow being plowed (drivers race through the job) and again about a foot from roadway which resulted in more land plowed. sadly to say, because I was getting everything ready around yard to ensure minimum water seepage into basement (pipes at bottom of gutter downspouts, etc) I forgot to put the reflectors out so the plow drivers hopefully would not tear up my lawn. It happens with and without the reflectors up. At the start of where the plow started tearing up lawn, the blade goes totally up on the curb installed at storm drain. Would it be too much or too easy that when they see the blade jump up on to a curb that they immediately slow down to figure out that the storm drain in installed further back from the road

Unfortunately, due to all the broken curbing around this City being busted up due to plow drivers, installing curbs along the property/road area would seem useless. Tax dollars paid, City employees paid by those tax dollows yet snow plow service only seems to cost us more money either out of pocket and/or by tax dollars, repairing what they distroy.

It is widely recognized that driving certain commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) requires special skills and knowledge. With regard to the CDL license

The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986 was signed into law on October 27, 1986. The goal of the Act is to improve highway safety by ensuring that drivers of large trucks and buses are qualified to operate those vehicles and to remove unsafe and unqualified drivers from the highways.

Serious Violations while operating a motor vehicle
2. Driving recklessly, as defined by State or local law or regulation, including but, not limited to, offenses of driving a motor vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property.

I believe drivers of the massive snow plow trucks would fall into this category.

Well I put in a Citizen's Service Request Form (via City of Meriden online site) and recieved a response. Disturbing that in the response it states: "Plow drivers drive at the speed that they do in order to be able to move the snow and in order to get their routes done in a timely manner. " Wonder what would happen if employees weren't speeding speed and/or operating the trucks recklessly damaging property and destroy ing the curbs around the City......oh yeah....City would have to pay overtime or another RESTED driver would continue the route. Plow drivers allowed to drive a great speed in order to be able to move the snow?
My Opinion: Its not like they plow at the end of snowstorms when there is total accumlation; those big plow trucks are massive and heavy, so they HAVE traction to plow 1 - 6 inches of snow at a time wihout excessively excelerating.

Dear Officials......have the employee's who operated the massive plow trucks been told its ok to go faster than needed just so there's a chance they finish their routes in a timely manner?

Cant wait to see how long it takes the City to fix the damage, as stated in the email to me, "We will repair the damage but that will not happen quickly because we are still working recovering from the storm and the damage caused by that"

Exerpt from the CT DOT site: http://www.ct.gov/dot/cwp/view.asp?a=1390&q=259418

Drivers should give winter maintenance vehicles, such as plows and sanders, a wide berth. They do not travel at high speeds, so other vehicles overtake them quickly. Both plows and sanders will pull over periodically to let traffic pass. The best advice is to stay three car lengths behind plows and sanders.

NOTE: "They do not travel at high speeds" but it seems they are allowed to do so here in Meriden to "finish their routes in a timely manner"

Scan that letter you recieved and post it.

Keep documenting! Squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Dear Jason, I did not recieve a response in "letter" form. I recieved an email response with regard to my Citizens Request Form that I submitted online on the City of Meriden website. Since I already have the email saved and see no need to print it out to scan it I simply cut and paste it here to see. I have taken out some contact information to provide privacy of all involved. I actually do fear retaliation..never know what those who are paid by taxpayer dollars will do.......case and point .. police union stewart sent out an email requesting that other offers follow suit by submitting complaints against Houston & Sullivan...if police personnel would go to that extreme, one can't say what might happen against a citizen and taxpayer. Since the email states that the City will repair the damage I see no reason to submit a Notice of Claim but will do so if needed within I beieve its 90 days. So heres what officials had to say:

Re: Citizens Service Request Form Monday, November 7, 2011 4:11 PM
From: "LKendzior@ci.meriden......"
To: kdt..........@yahoo.com
Cc: Bob_Bass/Meriden@ci.meriden.......
Plow drivers drive at the speed that they do in order to be able to move the snow and in order to get their routes done in a timely manner. We will repair the damage but that will not happen quickly because we are still working recovering from the storm and the damage caused by that. You are entitled to file a claim against the City if you want which you can do by sending a notice of claim to the City Clerk detailing when and where the damage occurred, the amount of your claim and documentation of your damage.

[attachment "Attach0.html" removed by Larry Kendzior/Meriden]

thank you Mary. since this is a yearly issue perhaps the City should budget in repairs to my property each year.

Happy New Year! Still nothing resolved on this issue

January 13, 2012 (ugghhhhh). Woke to the sound of trucks, peeked out the window and saw the lawn damage being fixed. Very nice job replacing plowed away soil. Nothing done in the area where the curbing was pushed back. The gap between roadway and curbing pushed back still remains.

So far I"m thankful for the nice job done replacing the lawn dirt. Unfortunately I feel safe in saying "See you soon" since I am not confident that that this yearly issue will not end.

Hint to our plow drivers...........see that mailbox on the post near the road.......doesn't that give you an idea of where the roadway is? I don't mind using my snow blower to keep the road width correct in front of my home, I do it every year for postal delivery persons are able to be safe when walking and so the water from melting snow runs freely in front of my home into the storm drain adjacent to my property. Yes, I do keep the storm drain clear (2 minute job if that!) never any clogging materials (have you seen all the clogged storm drains due to people, homeowners and renters alike, who think its not their job) or snow on grate.