Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublicWorksPipelineAutumn2018New App Helps City Staff Complete Work Quicker By Krystal Caron A new City of Edina mobile application called “Edina 311” launched in August. The app, available on both iPhone and Android, replaced “Edina To Go” and provides new reporting tools and improved communication. The Engineering, Police and Public Works departments all use Edina 311 to collect concerns and feedback from community members. Issues such as animal control, damaged mailbox or sod, fire hydrant maintenance, streets or parks issues, overgrown vegetation and standing water all can be reported through Edina 311. People who call in to the City will also be introduced to this new tool as calls are now being reported through the Edina 311 call- taker tool. Callers and online users alike will be able to track the progress of their concerns as updates are provided by staff. “Edina 311 increases our ability to communicate the status of a service request that is submitted to us from the residents of this community. This will allow us to deliver better quality public service, which is our primary objective,” said Public Works Director Brian Olson. Edina 311 was developed by SeeClickFix, a government mobile application developer that has also produced apps for Eden Prairie, Richfield and Minneapolis. Based on previous use of Edina To Go, City staff expect about 600 issues to be reported through Edina 311 a year. After just a month of use, Edina 311 has already helped residents with more than 100 problems throughout the city, including about 10 potholes, 20 incidents of overgrown vegetation and 10 park maintenance concerns. “This app allows residents and visitors to act more quickly on issues they see and receive improved communication through the resolution of their concern,” said Communications & Technology Services Director Jennifer Bennerotte. “This platform really gives users more control, but helps our staff act on issues more quickly. It’s a win-win for everyone.” The new app will be specifically for reporting non-emergency problems or concerns found throughout the city. Edina To Go previously provided additional information and links, but those tools were not used as frequently since the Edina website, EdinaMN.gov, is now mobile-friendly. If you still have Edina To Go installed on your phone, it’s important to delete it and install Edina 311. Edina To Go is no longer supported by the City. For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov/ReportProblem or contact Caron at kcaron@EdinaMN.gov or 952-826-0347. PipelinePUBLIC WORKS 1 Where you live Where you care Submit and track requests Follow request in your community Stay updated on local information and events The app is free to download. Download the new Edina 311 app on the App Store or Google Play. Don’t forget to delete the old Edina To Go app! 2 By Debbie Townsend Thousands of Edina residents have signed up for utility line insurance through the Service Line Warranty of America (SLWA) program. For some of them, the monthly investment of a few dollars has already paid off. As of July 2018, SLWA had covered 33 water line, sewer line and in-home plumbing claims in Edina. Those claims ranged from minor – snaking a line for about $150 – to replacing an entire line for about $4,000. In total, coverage from SLWA saved residents $37,907. “Many of the repairs covered by SLWA service plans can be quite expensive and an unexpected blow to a homeowner’s wallet,” said Samantha Willis from SLWA. “With the modest cost of one of our service plans, homeowners would still come out ahead even if their service line didn’t fail for a few decades.” SLWA is not a City of Edina program. The City Council endorsed the SLWA program in response to residents asking for options to avoid costly utility line repairs when they arose. SLWA is a private company that works with 450 cities and municipalities across the country, including many nearby communities. The City is responsible only for its portion of water and sewer lines. On water lines, the City’s responsibility ends at the curb stop, usually 5 to 15 feet from the street. For sewer, it ends at the main, a much longer distance from a home. Breaks on the other side of the lines are the responsibility of the property owner. Like any insurance, it’s optional to sign up for SLWA coverage. Many homeowner’s insurance policies already cover water and sewer lines, so people should check with their policy or call their agent before signing up with SWLA. More than 2,300 Edina residents had enrolled in the water line coverage and more than 1,500 in sewer line coverage as of July, according to Willis. Every few months, SLWA sends out a letter to residents who haven’t already enrolled. With each wave of letters, Public Works Coordinator Dave Goergen knows his phone will ring with questions from confused residents. Many of the inquiries are about the program’s legitimacy. Yes, it’s a real program, he tells them. “They ask me if they should enroll,” Goergen said. “I try to help the residents make an informed decision.” SLWA also fields questions, including why the City logo is on the letters from SLWA. That was part of the agreement the City Council approved in November 2016. SLWA uses the logo on its communications to let residents know the offer is legitimate and has the approval of the City, according to Willis. To learn more about coverage through SLWA, visit slwofa.com or call 1-866-922-9006. Utility Warranty Program Has Saved Residents Nearly $40,000 The City is responsible only for its portion of water and sewer lines. 2 3 By Jake Omodt The City of Edina’s Public Works employees take great pride in keeping local roads clear of ice and snow during the winter months. In a pinch, the City can clear all the roads in about seven hours. However, the streets cannot be completely cleared when parked vehicles obstruct the roadway. To help ensure there are no cars blocking parts of the road, the City has winter parking laws. From Nov. 1 through March 31, all vehicles must be off the streets between 1 and 6 a.m. “We benefit greatly from the winter parking hours,” said Public Works Director Brian Olson. “They allow our Public Works crews to start plowing immediately when overnight snowfall occurs.” In addition, no vehicle may be parked on any street after a snowfall of at least 1.5 inches until the street has been plowed to its full width. However, long before the plows are on the road, Edina Police Officers patrol the 26 plow routes to keep plowing schedules on track. “I want to compliment our Police Department for its hard work and getting out there even before us,” said Streets Supervisor John Scheerer. “They really do great work.” Plow drivers do their best to plow around vehicles left on the street, but depending on the amount and nature of snowfall, complications with visibility often occur. “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 delays plowing schedules.” Additionally, vehicles left on the street may be blocked due to the way the plows push the snow. Because of these aspects, residents should follow the ordinances to ensure their streets are plowed well and to protect their vehicles. For more information on winter parking ordinances, contact the Edina Police Department at 952-826-1610. Winter Parking Rules Keep Streets Clear of Snow 3 ‘We benefit greatly from the winter parking hours. They allow our Public Works crews to start plowing immediately when overnight snowfall occurs.’ 4 City’s Water Mains Require Periodic Repairs – And Your Keen Eye 4 By David Katz 5 Under our feet, a vast network of water mains crisscrosses and connects Edina. If laid out end to end, this underground infrastructure would stretch more than 200 miles. (For context, the Public Works Department maintains about 230 miles of surface roadways.) “Water mains are crucial,” explained Utilities Supervisor Nathan Kaderlik. “It’s what allows us to deliver potable water to plumbing fixtures across the city – in sufficient quantities, and at an adequate pressure.” Moreover, the Fire Department relies on the ever- ready water main network to fuel its firefighting equipment. With so many miles of pipe in active use, repair needs are inevitable. In many cases, the maintenance is planned for and covers a large service area at one time. Neighborhood reconstruction projects, such as those recently completed in the Bredesen Park and Concord neighborhoods, routinely include water main improvements. Every year, water main pipes require more immediate and unplanned attention, as well. Localized breaks are fairly common. Even in a good year, the City will see upwards of a dozen of them. Subtle shifts in the earth occur regularly, and extreme weather conditions exacerbate this natural swelling and contracting. Underground pressure, coupled with aging pipes, can cause water mains to break. “Unfortunately, there really isn’t anything residents can do proactively to prevent water main issues,” explained Engineering Technician Andrew Scipioni. However, residents do have a role to play. Water main breaks usually manifest themselves as pooling water in city streets. Unsurprisingly, residents are oftentimes the first to spot them. “If you see or suspect a water main issue, and it’s during the Public Works Department’s normal business hours (7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday), call our main line at 952-826-0376,” said Kaderlik. Outside of those hours, and on the weekends, “call the police dispatch non-emergency number (952-826-1610). Dispatch will contact the on-call utility operator for you.” Once a breakage has been reported and is being acted upon, residents can expect a short outage in regular water service. Fortunately, it is rare for water main breaks to pool in private residences. Moreover, the City’s repair crews are practiced and well equipped. “These issues take roughly four to six hours to fix, depending on the location of the break and some other factors,” Kaderlik explained. Given that accessing water mains in the first place can require digging holes 10 feet wide and 8 feet deep, that is a lightning-fast response time. For more information on the City’s response to water main breaks, contact the Public Works Department, 952-826-0376. Water main breaks usually manifest themselves as pooling water in city streets. Residents are oftentimes the first to spot them. By Lauren Siebenaler Allowing imaginations to whirl in snowbanks can be fun until it turns dangerous. “People think of snow as light and fluffy like feathers, but it’s pretty heavy after it’s been travelled on,” said John Scheerer, Edina’s Streets Supervisor. “The snow that we throw off plows could very easily knock a child over who’s within 7 to 8 feet of the road.” “Even if it’s not snowing, we could be out cleaning cul de sacs and back streets. We do those a lot later, maybe even the next day,” said Shawn Anderson, another of Edina’s Streets Supervisors. “The kids see that it’s sunny and beautiful and they’re out digging holes, but we could still be out plowing snow. You just never know.” Sometimes, a big snowfall creates drifts at the end of driveways. Although the snow piles look like fun to kids, they should be regarded with caution, too. “Later in the season when the snow banks are high, we actually wing them back and push them farther up in the yard to make room for additional snow stores along the curb,” said Scheerer. “The typical openings for these forts are usually on the driveway side where our plow drivers do not have a view of them. That’s what we truly worry about; we don’t want to bury anyone inside a fort. “We caution our drivers to report any forts to us so we can talk to those homeowners and/or go out and destroy the forts. Part of being the bad guy is about safety and it’s what we have to do.” Families that have snow blowers, small plows or shovels could pile up snow in the middle of the yard to keep kids away from the street. Kids should always be supervised when playing in large snow piles. Divert kids’ attention to other fun, winter activities like sledding, tubing or skiing. “Some homeowners that hire the plow jockeys will have them push all the snow in a certain spot kind of up a ways so it’s safer,” said Anderson. “If I see a bunch of kids playing on a snow day, and they’re burrowing right next to the street, I’ll let them know that the plow trucks are still plowing and ask them to be very careful.” Scheerer recommends a Minnesota Department of Transportation video to parents and kids on winter safety. Susan Waack, Public Works Administrative Assistant, and Scheerer show the video to kindergarten classes through the winter. Find the video at EdinaMN.gov/ PublicWorks. “It’s an excellent video for kids from 5 to 50,” said Scheerer. “It’s a great video even just for parents to watch and share with their kids. The minute we start this video in the kindergarten classes, the kids’ eyes are just glued to the screen. I could be doing jumping jacks in their peripheral and they won’t even look over.” For more information about snow forts and winter safety, visit EdinaMN.gov. Snow Can Be A Fluffy Threat 6 ‘The kids see that it’s sunny and beautiful and they’re out digging holes, but we could still be out plowing snow.’ By Jake Omodt The City of Edina has roughly 77 miles of sidewalk. Keeping these paths clear during the winter months is a task shared by City staff and residents. The City clears around 55 miles of sidewalk with the remaining 22 miles cleared by residents. According to Edina City Code, “All snow and ice shall be removed from a sidewalk by the owner of the property adjoining the sidewalk within 48 hours of the cessation of the precipitation.” Blocked paths can create problems for those navigating sidewalks. Streets Supervisor Shawn Anderson emphasizes the importance of avoiding the danger that kids, emergency personnel, postal workers and others face walking in the street because sidewalks are not clear. The City may send a letter prompting snow removal if the property owner doesn’t clear a sidewalk within 48 hours of the snowfall. Eventually, the City will clear the sidewalk and assess the cost to the property owner. State-funded sidewalks, designated so because of higher amounts of foot traffic, are cleared by the City. Examples of State-funded sidewalks are the ones bordering France Avenue and 50th Street; they are wider and more accessible for Public Works employees to maintain. “The City has five sidewalk-clearing routes,” said Streets Supervisor John Scheerer. “We have at least one snow- clearing machine in each quadrant of the city. This allows us to clear the paths quickly after a snowfall.” Scheerer also noted the importance of putting garbage cans in a safe place on pick-up days in the winter. “Residents should be mindful of where they place their garbage cans on pick-up days,” said Scheerer. “We ask residents not to put their garbage and recycling cans in the street, on sidewalks or in the gutter line.” As well as clearing sidewalks, residents are obligated to follow City ordinances when hiring private contractors to handle snow removal needs. Private plows must not deposit snow onto or across a roadway. Any snow removed from a sidewalk or driveway, personally or by a contractor, must remain on that property or be hauled away at the property owner’s expense. In addition, property owners should clear snow from around fire hydrants on their lots. Fire hydrants must be visible and accessible to emergency workers at all times. If residents plan to leave on vacation or are unable to clear their sidewalks or driveways, there are a number of options available. “Neighbors helping neighbors is something we always encourage,” Anderson said. Anderson also noted the City has a list of groups and companies that can provide snow removal. “It makes for a better winter for everyone if we all pitch in and maintain the walkways, driveways and roadways.” For more information on snow removal, contact Anderson at sanderson@EdinaMN.gov, Scheerer at jscheerer@EdinaMN.gov or the Public Works Streets Division at 952-826-0374. Please don’t crowd the plow! Visit EdinaMN.gov/346/Snow-Plowing to view safety tips around snowplows. If you are interested in adopting a hydrant, visit EdinaMN.gov/AdoptAHydrant to learn more. Keep Sidewalks Clear During Winter Months 7 The Winter Balancing Act: Salt vs. Safety By Jake Omodt 8 Those living in Minnesota during the winter months know the balancing act that happens when someone walks on an ice patch: an almost trapeze-like performance to stay upright and save oneself from falling on their elbows, knees or back. To try to eliminate this balancing act, employees at the City of Edina Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility, 7450 Metro Blvd., manage a balancing act of their own: providing safe and clear roads while limiting the amount of salt laid on sidewalks and roadways. “It’s a permanent pollutant,” said City of Edina Water Resources Coordinator Jessica Wilson. “It never breaks down. It just gets moved into our water resources and is stuck there.” Maintaining the high quality of life Edina residents expect while reducing salt usage is a topic often discussed by Wilson. “We apply it because we want to make the community safer. We want people to travel to work and school safely,” she said. “However, there’s a tradeoff because chloride can be detrimental to the environment.” Improvements in technology are making it easier to balance quality of life and salt use on roads. “Nationwide, people are looking for alternatives and are getting very creative with it,” she said. “Some people have suggested solar-powered and heated roads. Others have suggested using different chemicals or permeable pavement that would allow the water to seep into the ground instead of freezing and turning into ice on the surface.” ‘Salt is a permanent pollutant. It never breaks down. It just gets moved into our water resources and is stuck there.’ 9 Staff encourages Edina residents to help manage the balancing act and recommends these steps for reducing salt use: • Shovel snow before it turns to ice. • Read the label and follow the instructions. Using more salt doesn’t melt ice faster or better. • Avoid applying salt below 20 degrees. • Consider using sand for improved traction. • Once ice has melted, sweep up remaining salt and throw it in the trash. • If a business you frequent is using too much salt, talk to them about your concerns. The City has doubled-down on the technology route by improving equipment and practices based on years of studies and data. In 2014, the City acquired a salt brining system. The salt brine is used as an anti-ice agent and is sprayed on roadways days before a predicted snowstorm. After the solution seeps into the pavement, it prevents the snow and ice from forming a bond, making it much easier to plow and clear. The brining system is also used on plow trucks to dampen the rock salt, helping it stick to the road, meaning less salt needs to be used. In addition to the improvements in technology, the City has also invested in its plow operators and streets staff by sending them to a training hosted by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. “They’ve all been through the salt training and have five-year certifications,” said Wilson. “Our operators are some of the best and most trained around.” For more information on the City of Edina’s salt use, contact the Public Works Department at 952-826-0376 or Wilson at 952-826-0445. 10 By Krystal Caron The Public Works Department welcomed several new staff to its roster in June and July as summer projects ramped up for the season. Asphalt Worker Alex Hearn, Facilities Worker Nate Johnson, Utilities Worker Billy Krowe, Mechanic Richard Poppitz and Electrician Jaren Schmieg are among the new staff. “I am excited to be working with these five individuals. They were selected from large groups of applicants, but they rose to the top because of their commitment and attitude toward serving Edina and its residents,” said Public Works Director Brian Olson. Both Krowe and Johnson have been working for the City of Edina for several years and transferred into new positions. Johnson was previously working in the Park Maintenance Division. “I’ve been with the City for over 15 years. My role is a unique new position. It’s still parks related, but now I work on the facilities within the parks,” Johnson said. “I’ve been a seasonal for three years and was hired back again to take care of hydrant maintenance. I decided to go for the Utilities job,” said Krowe, who worked on repairing catch basins and manhole covers before mill-and-overlay projects this summer. “I’ve enjoyed working with these guys when I was doing the seasonal work; I enjoy the camaraderie in Public Works.” Hearn, Poppitz, and Schmieg are all new to the City, but found their footing quickly. “I’m moving from concrete to asphalt work, so it’s kind of nice to be able to learn something new and operate different types City Welcomes New Faces in Public Works 11 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 of machinery. Even though I don’t have asphalt experience, the transition feels seamless and comfortable. Everyone is willing to help,” said Hearn. “I’m receiving on-the-job training, but the City offers a step program to work toward different milestones. The training has been very organized and clear.” Hearn was previously working at Manor Concrete and his work took him far from his home in New Hope. This new position will keep commute times down. Schmieg also appreciates his quick commute from Cologne, Minnesota. His previous role, with EPS, took him all over the state on a daily basis. “I was looking for a role with less travel. EPS did work throughout Minnesota, so I was never home,” said Schmieg. “I needed a change and everyone here has been really awesome to work with.” Poppitz previously worked for Scott County, but jumped at the City of Edina mechanic position because of the variety of work it offers. “It’s a different application and variety of work here in Edina. There are more vehicles, whereas the county has mostly snow plows,” he said. Krowe also enjoys the variety of work and challenge of his new role. He has some perspective on the matter after having worked behind a desk in New York City for several years. After taking some time to tour the country, he found himself settling down here, nearer to his sister and her family. “There is nothing like working for the City of Edina. All these guys have so much skill and it’s such a team effort. You get something done and you feel like you’re helping out in the community,” said Krowe. “I feel like I’ve won the lottery being here.” All of the new staffers share one thing in common. They’ve appreciated being able to improve the city. “My wife works for the City of New Hope in the Police Department and my father- in-law works for the City of Crystal, so I understand being a public worker and being part of the community,” said Hearn. “I appreciate the fact that I’m an integral part of the community and I’m involved in what people see and what they do in the parks,” said Johnson. “When you come to a facility, you come to a nice place or rent a building, it’s my hard work put into keeping the facility presentable to the community.” To learn more about the Public Works Department visit EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks. ‘There is nothing like working for the City of Edina. You get something done and you feel like you’re helping out in the community.’ 12 “You can see where it’s worn from the weed whips or if somebody put the wrong material in that isn’t weather resistant,” said John Scheerer, Edina’s Streets Supervisor. “A good cedar or treated post may have to be put in.” When a direct impact from the plow makes a mailbox come down, the City will reimburse the homeowner up to $50. Each report of a downed mailbox is looked at individually and right away. The best way to report a mailbox down is through the City’s app, Edina 311. Select the “Damaged Mailbox” category and enter all the details of the incident, including the address at which it occurred. The request will then be sent to Public Works where either Sheerer or Anderson will make contact with the homeowner. “We get the damaged mailbox requests while we’re in the field,” said Anderson. “So we can actually keep right up without coming all the way back to our office, checking the next voicemail and running out again. It documents when the request came in and when we called them. It creates a nice avenue to keep things rolling.” Plow truck drivers slow down when they come to a mailbox to make sure the snow doesn’t By Lauren Siebenaler Summer is coming to an end, so it’s time to put mailboxes on the mend. Although plow truck drivers slow down when they get to a mailbox, the force of the snow wake is still strong enough to take out a weak post. The Edina Public Works Department estimates the majority of downed mailboxes in the winter are due to mailboxes not being strong enough against the snow. It’s rare that a truck will take out a mailbox, but the accident can happen when different factors come into play. “This is the time of the year to check the strength of your mailbox and make sure it’s good and sturdy before it gets cold,” said Shawn Anderson, Edina’s Streets Supervisor. Check the post and see if any rotting is occurring at the bottom of the post by the ground. This area is most susceptible of breaking off in the winter because it comes into contact with a lot of dew and possibly irrigation. Then, check the stability of the box. All four corners should be secured and be able to handle a small impact. cast up over the mailbox and knock it down. However, since their speed decreases, a little snow is left out in front of the mailbox. This small pile is the homeowner’s responsibility to clear for the mail carriers. “We need cooperation from our homeowners as far as shoveling out in front of mailboxes after we plow,” said Scheerer. “Along with that, if residents have a fire hydrant in their neighborhood, it would helpful for them to clear that at the same time.” For more information about mailbox maintenance recommendations, email Sheerer at jscheerer@EdinaMN.gov. Mend your Mailbox Check your mailbox post to see if any rotting is occuring at the bottom of the post by the ground.