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Pesky Buckthorn – Be Gone!
FAQ on Water, Sewer Line Warranty Program See page 6
By Lauren Siebenaler
Edina has battled buckthorn for the last six
years, and soon you can join the effort to
remove buckthorn from your neighborhood.
The City will have a dump site open to the
public for buckthorn in October.
A non-native shrub originating in northern
Eurasia, buckthorn has been distributed
by nurseries in this country since at
least the 19th century. For many years,
buckthorn was used as a hedge plant,
most often in residential lots. However,
due to its extreme invasiveness, all species
of buckthorn have been banned from
sales and placed on the Minnesota State
Restricted Noxious Weed List. Although
sales are prohibited, removal is not
mandatory. In addition to displacing other
more desirable plants, buckthorn reduces
beneficial and healthy biodiversity of flora
(Continued on next page)
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and fauna, adds stress to trees through
over-competition for nutrients, light and
water, and grows in thorny thickets that
make passage difficult.
“People called me over the summer
wanting to know where to dump this
stuff, but the best time to remove it is in
the fall. That’s when all the energy is going
back into the roots of the plant. If you’re
going to be cutting and spraying, you want
the chemical to be soaked up by all of that
energy in the roots,” said City Forester
Luther Overholt.
137 cubic yards of buckthorn were
collected and destroyed during October
2016. That is over a football field’s length.
Places such as Strachauer Park, Garden
Park and residential neighborhoods
benefited from these collections last year.
For the last three years, River Valley
Church has coordinated its own buckthorn
removal event in Edina. They pulled
buckthorn from Edina parks the last two
years. Overholt supplies them with chain
saws and hand saws to help eradicate
buckthorn. Around 40-45 people showed
up to clear 150 cubic yards of buckthorn
from Pamela Park at the end of July.
Volunteers as young as 3 years old came
out to work hard and pull debris to the
designated piles. Overholt said this effort
saved the department a month’s worth of
work, and the next step is to plant trees
that are more suited for that area.
“This project is part of our Serve Your
City push to get people together,” said
Portia Allen, River Valley Church’s Local
Service Projects Director. “Our lead
pastor, Rob Katterling, and campus
pastor, Anthony Richards, share the
value that we don’t want to just exist in
the community, we want to give back.
The parks that we’ve served are used a
lot. I think there’s purpose when people
rise together. We love the community of
Edina and if this is looked at as a blessing,
then that’s what we’ll do. This is a way to
serve our fellow mankind.”
The City is calling for residents to come
together once again to help rid Edina
of this invasive species by removing it
in residential and public areas. There
will be four “dump days” during the last
two weekends in October, organized for
residents to drop off buckthorn across
from the Braemar Golf Dome, 7420
Braemar Blvd. Residents must show a
picture ID with a current Edina address.
Commercial haulers are not allowed to
leave buckthorn brush at the dump unless
they are accompanied by the residents for
whom they are working. Buckthorn brush
cannot be bagged,
boxed or bundled.
If it is, it must be
removed from the
container before
being left at the
dump.
“Buckthorn removal is an excellent
group volunteer opportunity that allows
neighbors and community members to
get to know each other through service,”
said Volunteer Coordinator MJ Lamon.
“Volunteers can socialize and improve our
environment at the same time!”
To volunteer with removal efforts,
contact Lamon at 952-826-0360 or
MLamon@EdinaMN.gov.
For questions on buckthorn, contact
Overholt at 952-826-0308.
The City is calling for residents to come together
to help evade Edina of this invasive species by
getting rid of it in residential and public areas.
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By Kaylin Eidsness
City Forester Luther Overholt says it’s not a matter of if, but
when the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) will begin to kill Ash trees
in Edina.
The borer has been found in St. Louis Park, Richfield,
Bloomington and most recently, Eden Prairie.
“It’s going to be any day that we find EAB in Edina,” Overholt
said. “Our Park Maintenance staff is out in the city every day
actively looking for it when they are
doing their jobs, to make sure any
infested trees we find are taken care
of first.”
“Since finding EAB in Minnesota, the
City of Edina has formulated an active
response plan for when it does start to affect our Ash trees,”
said Tom Horwath, the previous City Forester who still helps
during summers. “It’s important to note that every city’s
response is different though. There are different ways to
prevent the pest depending on the city’s preference, budget
and Ash tree population.”
In 2016, the Edina Parks & Recreation Department began an
Ash tree inventory along boulevards where 1,549 Ash trees
were counted. The Department also previously counted
250 Ash trees in City parks. Fortunately, for a city the size
of Edina, Horwath said that’s a small number of Ash trees
to have, which is a good thing. Minneapolis and St. Paul are
in the process of cutting down roughly 60,000 Ash trees
between the two cities.
“Tree diversity is important,” said Horwath. “Not only for
times like this, when a certain species of tree is under attack
so to speak, but also for disease management.”
The Parks & Recreation Department’s plan to remedy EAB
in City parks and along boulevards is threefold: Remove any
Ash trees that aren’t extremely healthy, treat the healthy Ash
trees to prevent EAB in the few places
where there’s a significant amount of
Ash trees and plant a greater variety
of trees in places where Ash trees
may be removed.
To treat the trees, a private company
will inject a treatment that’s proven to be very successful in
preventing EAB. The City encourages residents to treat Ash
trees on private property if homeowners would like their Ash
trees to survive.
Horwath says once an Ash tree becomes infested and has
died, it becomes a public safety hazard and must be removed
per City Code. Once infested, the tree will begin dying from
the top of the crown down. Some other signs a tree is
infested with EAB are very active woodpeckers toward the
top of the tree and live shoots on the lower part or base of
the tree.
For more information, contact Overholt at 952-826-0308.
City On Lookout For Emerald Ash Borer
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The City encourages residents to
treat Ash trees on private property
if homeowners would like their
Ash trees to survive.
Leaves in Streets are a
Nuisance and Hazard
‘In an urban setting like Edina,
leaves breaking down in water
is one the biggest sources of
phosphorous to our local lakes,
ponds and streams. Excess
nutrients can contribute to
algae growth.’
– JESSICA WILSON
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5
Storm Drain Stencil Program
What is storm drain stenciling? Storm drain
stenciling involves volunteers marking Edina storm
drains with a clean water message with spray paint
and stencils. Volunteers also distribute educational
door hangers and brochures to neighborhood
homes and businesses.
How do I get involved? Contact Water Resources
Coordinator Jessica Wilson at 952-826-0445 or
jwilson@EdinaMN.gov. Participate as an individual
or with a group!
Anything else?
• Everyone in your group needs to submit a
signed waiver before your outing.
• Wear clothes that you can get dirty.
• The stencil kit contains safety equipment that
should be used.
• You will be provided with a map that shows
the storm sewer system in your area. Keep
track of where you have marked.
• Stay off busy streets!
• Be friendly and prepared to talk to neighbors
about what you are doing and how it protects
our lakes, ponds and streams.
While it is natural for leaves to fall, Wilson notes in an urban
area like Edina, they can be more harmful than in a more
natural setting.
“In an urban setting, a lot more of those leaves make their way
into our waterbodies as opposed to a natural landscape,” said
Wilson. “Although leaves themselves are natural, the amount
of leaves getting into the water is not.”
The City has over 460 lane miles of streets to clear of leaves
every fall. Without the help of residents and City sweepers, this
could not be done.
For more information on leaves in streets, contact Wilson at
952-826-0445 or jwilson@EdinaMN.gov.
By Grace Kramer
While fall leaves are a highlight of the season, they can
be harmful to the community – both aesthetically and
in terms of health and safety – when they end up in
the street.
In order to keep leaves in the street at a minimum, the
City asks residents to clear their yards of leaves without
pushing them into the street.
“Unfortunately, street sweeping cannot take the place
of prudent residential leaf removal,” said Public Works
Director Brian Olson. “It is important that all property
owners clear their own boulevards and yards of leaves.”
The City has three street sweepers in operation. One
sweeper runs throughout the year, but all three are in
use during the fall. With the help of residents, these
three sweepers can keep the city streets clean during
the fall.
“The sweepers cannot get through the areas where
homeowners push leaves into the street,” said Streets
Supervisor Shawn Anderson. “Keeping the leaves out of
the streets helps us get through the city faster.”
It is important to clear the streets of leaves because they
can create a hazard.
“Leaves can plug catch basins that drain storm water,”
said Water Resources Coordinator Jessica Wilson. “If
they get plugged, then we have flooding issues.”
Leaves and debris get carried into waterbodies through
storm sewers. Once there, they can begin to decompose
and release nutrients, like phosphorus, into the water.
Algae can quickly take up this available phosphorus and
use it to grow in size and number.
“In an urban setting like Edina, leaves breaking down in
water is one the biggest sources of phosphorous to our
local lakes, ponds and streams,” said Wilson. “Excess
nutrients can contribute to algae growth.”
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Edina residents have been receiving letters from Service
Line Warranties of America, a private company that offers
insurance for water and sewer lines and in-home plumbing.
After hearing from many residents surprised to learn their
homeowners’ insurance didn’t cover all pipe failures, the
City signed an agreement with the company to give residents
another insurance option.
Here are some frequently asked questions about the
program. Find more at EdinaMN.gov/FAQ.
Is this a City program?
No. This program is run by Service Line Warranties of
America (SLWA), a private company that is also known
as Utility Service Partners, Inc. The warranty program is
endorsed by the National League of Cities and works with
more than 240 cities across the country.
Is this a scam?
No. The business is legitimate and already is working with
nearby cities, including St. Louis Park and Richfield.
Why would I need this? Isn’t the City responsible if
water or sewer lines break or fail?
The City is responsible only for its portion of the lines. For
water lines, the City’s responsibility ends at the curb stop,
which is located between 5 and 15 feet from the street. For
sewer lines, it ends at the main, a much longer distance from
a home and could require excavation into the street, which
can be more costly to repair.
What could go wrong with my water and sewer lines?
Age, ground shifts, fluctuating temperature and tree root
penetration are among the most common factors that can
damage or break lines. Household sewer lines also may
become clogged by flushing inappropriate items down toilets
or drains.
I have copper pipes. Don’t those last forever?
Not quite. The industry life expectancy of a copper service
line is 50 years.
Doesn’t my homeowner’s insurance already cover this?
You should check your policy or ask your agent. While some
homeowner’s policies cover water and sewer lines, others
don’t.
How often do these problems happen in Edina?
The City averages about 180 calls a year for water and
sewer line problems. More than half end up being the
homeowner’s responsibility. This number does not include
every incident because some sewer problems, such as tree
root intrusion or line repairs, are done on the private side of
lines without City knowledge. We encourage people to call
Edina Public Works first, but it doesn’t always happen.
What’s the average cost when there is a problem?
Costs can vary greatly, but the average cost for a water
service line repair is about $1,200 to $1,500. If lines need
replacing, the average cost is $2,000 to $3,000, according
to the Public Works Department. Sewer line repairs can
be much more expensive because a street repair may be
involved.
How much is the monthly fee?
SLWA is charging Edina residents $5.75 per month for the
water service line warranty, $7.75 per month for the sewer
line warranty and $6.99 a month for the in-home plumbing
warranty. These are separate warranties, so people can
choose which, if any, they want to purchase.
If I sign up, will the cost be added to my utility bill?
No. All payments go to SLWA. Where to send the payments
is included in the information from SLWA.
What if I have more questions about the City’s water
and sewer lines?
Please contact the Public Works Department at 952-826-0376.
FAQ on Water, Sewer Line Warranty Program
Find more at
EdinaMN.gov/FAQ.
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77
By Dawn Wills
The season for clearing sidewalks and
driveways will soon be upon us. The City
plows roughly 55 of 77 miles of sidewalk
within Edina, clearing snow for safe
and efficient travel during the winter
months. Property owners are tasked
with removing the remaining snow from
sidewalks that border their land.
Edina City Code states, “All snow and
ice shall be removed from a sidewalk by
Clear Sidewalks of All Snow and Ice
the owner of the property adjoining the
sidewalk within 48 hours of the cessation
of the precipitation.”
“It is critical snow is removed from
sidewalks in a timely manner to ensure
the sidewalks are safe,” said Public Works
Director Brian Olson. “Walkability and
safety in this community have consistently
shown up in our residential Quality of Life
Survey as a goal to achieve.”
Blocked paths can create problems for
those navigating sidewalks.
“Forcing kids and other pedestrians into
the street, especially in a heavy snow, is
very dangerous,” said Streets Supervisor
Shawn Anderson. “We are making
our streets narrower with designated
pedestrian walkways. It’s a problem if
sidewalks become hindered in any way.”
It’s not only pedestrians who benefit
from cleared sidewalks: Emergency
personnel, postal workers and delivery
people count on sidewalks being clear
and ice-free to do their jobs in a safe and
effective manner.
The City may send a letter prompting
snow removal if a sidewalk isn’t cleared
by a property owner within 48 hours of
a snowfall. The City will eventually clear
the sidewalk and assess the cost of up to
$700 to the property owner if snow is not
removed in a timely matter.
Residents are encouraged to reach out to
and assist fellow neighbors, friends and
family if they are unable to clear their
own sidewalks.
Be careful when hiring private contractors
to handle snow removal. Private plows
must not deposit snow onto or across
a roadway. Any snow removed from a
sidewalk or driveway must remain on
that property or be hauled away at the
property owner’s expense.
Senior Community Services offers a
program that provides snow removal
assistance to seniors, H.O.M.E (Household
& Outside Maintenance for Elderly).
For more information on the H.O.M.E.
program, visit seniorcommunity.org or call
952-541-1019.
For more information on snow removal,
contact Anderson at 952-826-0313.
By Debbie Townsend
Salt is great for helping melt ice on
winter days, but it’s no friend of the
environment. Salt runs off into streams
and lakes, increasing the salinity of
water.
“It’s a permanent pollutant,” said Edina
Water Resources Coordinator Jessica
Wilson. “It never breaks down and goes
away. It just gets moved into our water
resources.”
Technology hasn’t given us a better,
cost-effective way to treat roads yet, so
Edina and other communities rely on salt
to keep people safe in the winter.
“We apply it because we want to make
the community safer. We want people
to be able to travel to work and school
safely,” Wilson said. “However, there’s
a trade-off because chloride can be
detrimental to the environment.”
Edina Public Works has been sensitive to
the salt issue for years.
“We’re trying to keep that balance on
the side of less salt as much as we can,”
said Street Supervisor Shawn Anderson.
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It can be a delicate balancing act. Not
only are there environmental and safety
concerns, but also financial concerns.
Using too much salt or putting it down
when it’s less effective is a waste of
product, plus the time of road crews
doing the work.
The Public Works
Department’s
Streets Division uses
a combination of
science, technology
and know-how to
treat Edina’s streets.
When temperatures
dip below 20 degrees, salt is less
effective, so it’s mixed with a chloride
solution that doesn’t freeze and stays on
the streets.
The City also is taking part in a pilot
study starting this fall to track all the
information, analyze it after each storm
and determine if there are ways to
reduce use and improve best practices
across the state.
The efforts to lower salt use haven’t
affected road safety: 92 percent of
residents rated snow removal in Edina as
“excellent” or “good” in the 2017 Quality
of Life Survey, up slightly from the last
survey in 2015.
Wilson sees lots of salt waste on private
parking lots and walkways. When the ice
melts, the excess salt creates a crunchy,
hazardous path, not to mention a mess
on business floors and on car floor mats.
Some businesses scatter salt when it’s
well below 20 degrees, so it’s ineffective.
People at home often make a similar
mistake.
“Most people apply way, way too much
salt,” Wilson said.
She recommended these steps to reduce
salt use:
• Shovel snow before it turns to ice.
LIMIT SALT
ON ICY ROADS
EDINA STRIVES TO
‘Salt is a permanent pollutant. It never
breaks down and goes away. It just gets
moved into our water resources.’
– JESSICA WILSON
• Read the label and follow the
instructions. Using more than
necessary doesn’t melt ice faster or
better.
• Avoid applying salt below 20 degrees.
• Consider using sand for improved
traction.
• Once the ice has melted, sweep up
any remaining salt and throw it in the
trash.
• If you see a business you frequent
using too much salt, talk to them
about your concerns.
For more information, contact the Public
Works Department at 952-826-0376.
Water Resources Coordinator
Jessica Wilson and Streets
Supervisor Shawn Anderson are
working on reducing salt usage for
de-icing while keeping roads safe
and clear.
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10
Hydrants Covered
To Prevent Salt
Corrosion
10
11
By Kaylin Eidsness
To prevent salt corrosion and damage to fire hydrants, the Edina Public Works Department will cover fire hydrants with plastic bags on County and State-aid roads again this winter.
“Traffic moves faster and the plows push the snow and salt
further into yards on County roads and State-aid roads, which
causes more damage to hydrants on the higher-volume, higher-
speed roads,” said Public Works Director Brian Olson.
Of the 2,000 hydrants in Edina, Public Works will cover roughly 200 of them. Public Works employees place the bags on the hydrants in December and will remove them in early April. If the Fire-Rescue & Inspections Department would ever need to use a hydrant, they just rip off the bag and let Public Works know the hydrant was used, so they can replace the bag.
For roughly $100 in total each year, Olson says it’s a small cost to pay to increase the lifespan of the hydrants.
“A new hydrant costs about $3,500, so if we can add even five
more years of use for each hydrant, it will pay off,” said Olson.
The average hydrant is replaced every 50 years.
Salt causes the hydrants to rust more quickly, which causes
leaks and makes it difficult to remove the nozzles in case of a
fire. Once the corrosion is bad enough, the hydrants must be
replaced.
For more information, contact Olson at 952-826-0311.
Salt causes the hydrants to rust
more quickly, which could cause
leaks or make it difficult to remove
the nozzles in case of a fire. Once
the corrosion is bad enough, the
hydrants must be replaced.
Adopt-A-Hydrant
In the midst of winter snowstorms, buried
hydrants cause dangerous delays for firefighters.
Adopt-a-hydrant allows residents to claim
responsibility for shoveling out fire hydrants after
heavy snowfall and making sure the hydrants are
clear of brush.
It takes 20 turns with a two- or three-foot wrench to open a fire hydrant. Because of this, City Code requires a clear three-foot radius around a fire hydrant.
In addition to keeping the area around fire
hydrants clear, Edina residents can help
firefighters and the Public Works Department
by volunteering to paint a hydrant with paint
provided by the City. Public Works crews try to
paint one-third of them each year.
If you or your organization/group would like to volunteer to paint a hydrant or dig out hydrants in the winter, call the Edina Public Works Department at 952-826-0376 or the Edina Fire-Rescue & Inspections Department at 952-826-0378.
If you’d like to receive an email reminder to dig out the hydrant on your property after a large snowstorm, visit EdinaMN.gov/Fire.
Edina Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility ∙ 7450 Metro Blvd. ∙ Edina, MN 55439 ∙ 952-826-0376 ∙ Open 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday
By Grace Kramer
The Twin Cities see an average of 54 inches of snow each winter, according to the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration National Climatic Data Center. Because of this, it is crucial residents follow winter parking regulations to help the Public Works Department keep roads safe and clear of snow.
“Complying with the parking restrictions
allows us to effectively and efficiently
provide a quality finished roadway clear
of snow and ice,” said Public Works
Director Brian Olson.
Public Works employees make it a priority to clear Edina’s streets of snow and ice. When cars do not follow winter parking regulations and obstruct the roadway, it takes more time to clear the road, and it cannot be cleared completely without towing.
Before snowplows take to the streets, Edina police officers scan the roads to make sure plowing can be done effectively. Officers work to ensure
vehicles are removed from streets before plows come through.
“Towing vehicles is the last thing we want to do, but we need to get the cars off the street after a snowfall of 1.5 inches or more,” said Police Chief Dave Nelson. “We do our best to get hold of the vehicle owner before towing, but it does delay plowing schedules.”
Plow drivers work to plow around
vehicles left on the street, but visibility
can be difficult depending on the amount
and nature of the snowfall. Vehicles on
the street may also get blocked due to
the way the plow driver pushes the snow.
“Edina snowplow drivers take a great deal of pride in the service that they provide to the residents of Edina,” said Nelson.
In order to provide the best service, though, residents must do their part.
According to local law, no vehicle may be
parked on a street, highway or alley under
these conditions:
• From 1 to 6 a.m. Nov. 1 through March
31, regardless of wintry conditions.
• When 1.5 inches or more of snow has fallen. Once streets and roadways have been plowed to the curb line, residents can park vehicles on designated roadways.
• For six hours after a snowfall has ended, unless City traffic signs specifically allow vehicles to park on roadways.
For more information about winter parking ordinances, contact the Police Department at 952-826-1610.
Follow Winter Parking Rules
to Keep Streets Safe and Clear