Did a Snowplow Cream Your Mailbox? What to Do Next

Most of our readers gave the street clearing operations in Brookfield a thumbs up in the wake of Tuesday-Wednesday's storm. Unless of course their mailbox was a casualty of the cleanup.

So as you pick up the pieces of your broken box, what recourse do you have with the city?

First of all, don't expect an even trade. The city will repair or replace any mailbox that has been struck by a city snowplow, but paper boxes are not part of the deal. (Contact your newspaper provider for replacement paper boxes.) However, mailboxes that cannot be repaired are replaced with a standard black #1 mailbox on a 4x4 wooden post. If the ground is frozen and repairs cannot be made, a temporary mailbox will be installed and crews will return in spring to make permanent repairs.

If you've noticed significant damage to your lawn as a result of the plow blade, the Brookfield highway department will repair the damage in spring. The restoration includes topsoil, raking, grass seed (no sod) and ground cover. However, homeowners are responsible for watering the repair.

Homeowners should contact the city to report any damage at 262-782-5029 or email them at highway@ci.brookfield.wi.us.