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New Technology Underfoot in Sidewalk Inspections
Public Service Worker Matt Baade uses new software called DeepWalk, which the City is piloting to make sidewalk inspections more efficient. The app uses Baade’s iPad Pro LiDAR camera to automatically scan and measure sidewalk conditions. (Photos by Brittany Bader)
By Brittany Bader
The Public Works Department is out on
the street with new technology to improve
how sidewalks are inspected and repaired.
Launched in 2022, the City’s sidewalk inspection program aims to identify and fix hazards to keep sidewalks safe and accessible for everyone. The program has been moving toward a four-year inspection cycle, with a different quadrant planned each year.
Until recently, much of the work involved
taking measurements and photos by hand.
So when Public Works Director & City
Engineer Chad Millner learned about a
tool called DeepWalk at a City Engineers
Association of Minnesota conference in
early 2025, he saw an opportunity to bring
it to Edina. It offered a way to automate
a historically labor-intensive process and
provide more consistent data.
“Prior to DeepWalk, staff used tape
measures, levels, clipboards and other
tools to measure slopes, tripping hazards
and other defects. This was labor
intensive and slow. DeepWalk speeds
up the process by using device cameras
that can measure distances and identify
hazards,” said Millner.
One advantage was that the City didn’t need to purchase extra equipment. In fact, the main tool Public Service Worker Matt Baade uses is his iPad.
“We push ‘record,’ and all these green
dots are representing a point that it’s
shooting,” said Baade of the DeepWalk
inspection app. The app uses his iPad
Pro’s LiDAR camera---Light Detection and
Ranging---to analyze the slope, width and
surface condition of each sidewalk panel
and identify where repairs are needed.
Baade, who leads the sidewalk inspection program, says the technology has been a significant timesaver. Inspecting a quadrant of the City used to take about three and a half weeks; now it can be done in about three days.
(continued on Page 2)
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New Technology Underfoot in Sidewalk Inspections
Reports generated by the software show sidewalk segments color-coded by severity, helping staff prioritize repairs. (Photo from DeepWalk app)
(Continued from cover)
“Originally, I would walk the sidewalks, and I would have to stop at each defect and do all the measurements and take pictures, which would take about two to five minutes per stop. Now, I don’t have to stop and take pictures. The program is just automatically doing it, and it’s measuring as I walk down the sidewalk. The only thing I have to do is push a button when I come across a trip hazard,” said Baade. “It shows the cracks, it shows running slopes, it shows whether any truncated domes are missing. It shows everything that I would do. I can continuously walk at a normal pace, and it does everything.”
As sidewalks are scanned, the app creates
a 3D view of the area. DeepWalk uses that
information to measure accessibility, analyze
conditions and assign each section a score.
“The software color-codes the severity of
the defect on a green, yellow, red and black
scale. The software allows staff to quantify
the areas of each ranking by geographic
area in the city. This allows us to create
work orders based on various criteria such
as available budgets or locations near
vulnerable users,” said Millner.
It currently takes about one month to get the results back. With this in mind, Baade scanned the northwest quadrant before winter so crews can start repairs right away in the spring instead of spending that time inspecting.
“This software allows us to provide better
service by applying more staff time fixing
hazards,” said Millner.
Spending less time on inspections is only
part of the improvement. Public Works
also upgraded how repairs are handled. The City purchased a concrete grinder so crews can fix trip hazards themselves instead of waiting for a contractor. This shortens response times and ultimately reduces costs.
By late 2025, Baade said he had fixed 500
trip hazards himself over the course of
the year, work he estimates would have
cost the City about $30,000 if it had been
contracted out.
“Now I get a phone call or an Edina 311
report, and I can either be there the same
day or the next day and have the problem
taken care of, and residents see instant
results,” said Baade.
Looking ahead, Millner said he sees potential for technology like DeepWalk to expand into other areas of City operations.
“We continue to learn about new AI tools in our industry that may be able to create efficiencies in our operations. When a tool seems like a possibility, we reach out to the vendor for a demo. We want to understand how it works, what are the risks, who is currently using it, how we could use it and how much it costs before making the decision to purchase.”
The City pays for DeepWalk per mile. In
2025, Edina used the service to scan 10
miles of sidewalk for $5,000 and plans to
expand its use in 2026.
To report a potential sidewalk issue, use Edina 311, which is available as a mobile app or at EdinaMN.gov/Edina311. For more information on the Public Works Department, visit EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks or 952-826-0376.
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Runner Safety Gear
To ensure car and snowplow
drivers can see you in the
dark or poor conditions, wear
plenty of reflective gear.
Headlamp
Reflective Bracelets
or Ankle Bands Clip-On Light
Reflective Vest
or Jacket
Traction Cleats for
Icy Conditions
(Photo by Jason Heuer)
4
Pesky Potholes: A Battle Against
Cold Weather Road Woes
During any given year, the Edina Public Works Department’s Streets Division fills around 1,500 potholes. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all
solution for repairing them. Depending on the time of year, the team has to use different materials and methods, which leads to
differing results in the strength and longevity of the patches.
“In the winter, we can’t do a permanent patch,” said Nick Hoffman, part of the Streets Division. When the temperature drops, the team uses cold mix, which isn’t as strong. “If we fill it in with cold patch and there’s a lot of traffic on that, it could be a pothole again in a week. People get frustrated, thinking, ‘Why can’t you just fix it?’ Well, once we hit the winter season in Minnesota, there’s no good fix.”
Despite the difficulties, the cold weather doesn’t stop the Public Works team from doing the best they can. Learn more about the
types of materials used to patch potholes and how the team works to keep Edina streets safer.
Types of Repair Materials
Hot Mix
• Available in the summer months
• Blacktop asphalt picked up from
asphalt plant
• Makes strong, durable patches
• Takes time to cool and set
Cold Mix
• Used during winter months
• Shelf-stable, temporary filler
made of bitumen and crushed
rocks
• Susceptible to traffic and weather
• Sets instantly after compacting
Spray Patch
• Used during warmer weather
• Shelf-stable mixture of oil and
rocks sprayed into holes
• Semi-permanent (better than cold patches, not as good as hot patches)
• Sets instantly upon evaporation
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The New Truck
The newest piece of equipment used by the Streets Division is a more effective patching trailer. It keeps hot mix fresh for longer than the old trailer, allowing the team to fill more potholes before they have to return to the plant to pick up more hot mix.
Report a Pothole Near You
Have you spotted a pothole? The Public Works Department can’t help with potholes they
don’t know about, so give them a hand and use the Edina 311 app or the City website to
report a pothole!
To report a pothole using the website, visit EdinaMN.gov/Edina311. You can report your
problem on this page or through the Edina 311 app, available for Apple and Android.
“311 is a very helpful tool,” said Hoffman. “It tells us right away that we have to get in there and take care of that.”
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The Team in Action: Pothole Patching Step by Step
Follow along with the pothole team as they repair Edina’s roads one pothole at a time.
1 Review Edina 311 Service
Requests and Plan Routes
• Using reports from the Edina 311
app and website, create a list of
potholes to be filled that day
• Plan route for greatest efficiency
2 Travel to Pick Up Daily Asphalt
• Collect hot mix from the plant in
warmer months
• Stock the trailer with cold mix in the winter
3 Clean and Prepare Potholes
at Starting Location
• Using a blower, clean out all debris
• Add tack coat in warmer months to prevent moisture from getting trapped in the layers of hot mix and to help the repair adhere to the roadway
4 Fill the Potholes
• Pour mix into the cleaned pothole
• Rake the asphalt into place
5 Compact the Asphalt
• Using a tamper for smaller potholes and a roller for larger potholes, press the mix into place
• Allow to cool and harden
• Large potholes take roughly an hour to dry, while smaller ones can harden within minutes
6 Close Service Request
and Start Next One
• Mark the repair as finished
• Edina 311 submitter receives an
email saying the pothole is filled
• Continue repairs until the day’s
pothole fixes are complete
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Freezing Pipes: ‘Thaw-some’ Ways to Avoid a Flood
You’re making a cup of coffee. Snow drifts slowly outside your window. You turn on the faucet, but nothing comes out. Uh oh. Are the pipes frozen? It’s time to panic … or is it?
Pipes can freeze without bursting, and preventing a pipe break
is far easier than repairing one. However, if a pipe has burst
and there’s water gushing into your basement, you should
call Public Works to turn off your water as soon as possible.
While Public Works doesn’t fix plumbing damage in homes, turning off the water can prevent the problem from getting worse; the price tag on fixing plumbing and cleaning up after a broken pipe can be anywhere from a couple hundred dollars to thousands of dollars for a resident.
Below are a few things you can do to reduce your chance of
a frozen pipe fiasco.
1. Keep it toasty
“One cause of frozen pipes is homeowners trying
to save on heating costs while away,” explained
Nathan Kaderlik, Assistant Director of Public
Works – Utilities. “Houses don’t have a lot of
temperature sensors, so if the temperature sensor
is on the main level, and you set that to 55 degrees, other
parts of the home could be at a lower temp.”
Avoid frozen pipes by making sure all parts of your house
stay above freezing temperatures, especially when you
leave for vacation.
2. Search your house for the culprit
If you suspect a frozen pipe, save yourself
and the Public Works team some time by
trying to find the problem spot.
“If you have no water in a certain part
of your home, I would check all your
faucets to make sure it’s not isolated to one area,” said
Kaderlik. “If it’s off in your bathroom, but you have water in
the kitchen, obviously it’s isolated between one section and
the other. It doesn’t mean that you have to turn your whole
water system off.”
A common misconception is that pipes only freeze outside
the house; Kaderlik explains that pipes inside can freeze, too.
If there’s no running water in a sink, the pipe underneath the
counter could be the problem. In that case, the fix can be
easily done, explained Kaderlik. “We’ve taken hair dryers or
heat guns to thaw out [frozen pipes in cabinets],” he said.
3. Go with the flow
Letting water sit in pipes gives it time to get cold
and freeze. This is another issue that comes up
when people leave their house for a period of
time in the winter. Consider having someone keep
an eye on your house during the winter months.
4. Become a water system expert
Knowing a few things about your house’s water system
can save valuable time if there’s a burst. Above all, find
out where the water shutoff valve is in your house. If
water is pouring into your basement, you don’t want
to spend time looking for it.
If you’re not sure where to start, check your maintenance room near
a water softener, water heater or furnace. They can also be behind a
wall near the water meter.
Oh No! The Worst Has Happened!
For major frozen pipe issues, call Public
Works at 952-826-0375 from 7 a.m. to
3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to have
your water shut off. Outside of those hours,
call 952-826-1600 for water emergencies.
If there is plumbing damage in your house that needs to be
fixed, call a plumber for help.
– Compiled by Edie Weinstein 7
8
City Seeks Community Partners
for Safe and Sustainable Winters
By Lauren Siebenaler
Salting is essential in the winter months to
keep everyone safe. Overusing salt can be
harmful to our environment, though, which
is why it’s important to find the right balance.
“Low Salt, No Salt Minnesota” is a fairly
new, free program started by the Hennepin
County Chloride Initiative (HCCI) with the
goal of helping private property owners
reduce their salt use in the winter. Local
cities and watersheds can sign up for the
program and then work with residents. Edina
has been part of the program since 2023.
Water Resources Manager Jessica Wilson
is helping residents and private properties,
including churches, apartment buildings
and condos, create specialized plans to help
reduce their salt use. These plans provide
property owners with best practices they
can use to help the environment and save
money, all while continuing to keep their
residents safe.
“This program is free and the commitment
is low,” Wilson said. “There is also a
technical assistance component, where
we’re helping participants actually do what
they’re ready to do.”
Wilson has learned a lot about salt use
through the City’s efforts to train on Smart
Salting over the last 10 years. She’s a local
expert on salting and through the “Low
Salt, No Salt” program offers consulting-
type services to residents. After meeting
with her for an hour, a property owner
can have a plan and extra resources to
reach their salting goals.
“It’s about building relationships with property owners, residents and volunteer landscape committees, and then finding out what they need and helping them do that,” said Wilson.
What are some examples of salting
technical assistance?
• Checking to see if snow removal
contractors are certified in smart
salting, and if not, sending them State-
sponsored training information.
• Assisting with grant writing for
projects, such as heated pavement
to improve driveway safety.
• Creating drainage maps for
participants to help with planning
or for grant applications.
• Helping design and select signage to warn residents about hazardous conditions under snow or typically icy paths.
• Educating about best practices, such
as explaining why mixing sand and salt
for traction can be counterproductive.
• Being available as an ongoing resource
for landscape committees, residents and
board volunteers to address a variety of
water resource and salt use challenges.
Wilson hopes to get more participation
with the program this year and welcomes
businesses to sign up as well. But as always,
Edina’s main focus is maintaining safe
sidewalks, streets and driveways.
“We have all these different free tools to try
to help reduce their chloride use while not
compromising safety,” said Wilson.
To sign up for “Low Salt, No Salt Minnesota,” contact Wilson at jwilson@EdinaMN.gov.
Water Resources Manager Jessica Wilson
teams up often with Edina resident Sue
Nissen to educate the public on winter
salt use at events like Paws & Pavement
during Winter Salt Week. (File Photo)
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What to Know When It Snows
Wondering how snow and ice removal works in Edina? Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about
snowplowing, sidewalks and parking. Find more information, snow removal maps and additional FAQs at EdinaMN.gov/SnowPlowing.
Dis patch C riteria
When do plows head out?
Plowing begins when snow reaches 1.5 inches or more, drifting
snow causes travel problems or icy conditions affect safety.
SnowplowPriority
Which streets come first?
High-traffic streets that connect major parts of the city and provide access for emergency vehicles are cleared first. Next are neighborhood collector routes, which often lead to schools and businesses. Once main routes are clear, crews move to residential streets and alleys.
Sidewalk Clearing
Which sidewalks does the City clear?
The City clears sidewalks along State Aid roads, Active Routes to
School and within City parks or recreation facilities. These are plowed
after streets are finished. Property owners are responsible for all other
sidewalks and should clear them within 48 hours of a storm. The map
on Page 11 shows which sidewalks are maintained by the City and
which are the property owners’ responsibility.
WinterParking
What are the winter parking restrictions in Edina?
From Nov. 1 through March 31, no street parking is allowed overnight
between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Anytime at least 1.5 inches of snow has
fallen, don’t park on the street until it’s been fully plowed to the
curb. Limiting street parking helps Public Works clear snow quickly
and safely. Violators may be ticketed or towed.
Reporng Damage
What if a plow damages my mailbox or lawn?
Public Works takes pride in providing top-rated snow removal services,
but sometimes mailboxes or lawns are damaged during difficult weather
conditions. If this happens, report it through Edina 311, which is available
as a mobile app or at EdinaMN.gov/Edina311, or call Public Works at
952-826-0376. You can also submit a mailbox repair or reimbursement
request on the City’s website at EdinaMN.gov/mailboxrepair. Staff will
follow up with you to make things right.
More to Know
Contractor Rules
If you hire a contractor for snow
removal, make sure they know
Edina’s snow removal ordinances.
Snow must be stored on your
property or hauled away to a
private site. See Page 16 for
snow storage information.
Garbage & Recycling Reminder
Keep carts out of the street so
plows can clear safely. See Page
16 for winter garbage placement.
Snowplow Safety
Give plows space to work and stay alert around them.
• Don’t crowd or pass a
working plow.
• Never drive into a
snow cloud.
• Keep sleds and toys away
from the street.
• Don’t build snow forts in the
snow piles on the boulevard.
- Compiled by Brittany Bader
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Snow Removal Route Priorities
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November 2024
± Snow Plow Route Types
Routes Plowed by Edina Crews
Primary
Secondary
Alleys
Routes Plowed by Other Crews
County
State
Private 0 7,000
Feet
Scan for map
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Sidewalk Snow Removal Responsibilities
Scan for map
12
Behind the Scenes of Edina’s Outdoor Rinks
By Debbie Townsend
One late fall morning each year comes the surest sign in Edina that winter is around the corner. Park Maintenance workers arrive long before dawn at 12 parks, hook large hoses to hydrants and begin to build the ice that will greet skaters each winter day.
The dozen workers who create and
maintain the rinks take great pride in
their work. Who has the best ice is
always a healthy debate among them,
says Justin Simonson. He and Marshall
Syvertsen, both Public Service Workers
in the Park Maintenance Division, shared
some insights into Edina’s outdoor rinks.
When does Park Maintenance staff start
the ice-building process?
The Monday after Thanksgiving or
whenever it’s steadily cold enough day and
night to start forming an ice base. There
is no point attempting to build ice when
temperatures are warm enough that any
ice would soon melt.
“We’ll look at the two-week forecast,” Simonson said. “As soon as that looks good, they’ll usually send us out. Early in the season when we are doing base building, if it’s going to freeze overnight, we just get out there and put water down.
“There’s no such thing as bad ice the first
couple weeks. We are just trying to make
as much ice as possible.”
How is the work divided?
Each person is assigned a rink for base-
building. Once the rinks open, staff work
multiple rinks as sweepers or flooders.
Sweepers clear the ice of snow and debris.
Flooders then flood the ice to create a
fresh surface for skaters.
For example, Simonson builds the ice base
at Walnut Ridge Park. Once the ice opens
for skating, he is responsible for sweeping
at Creek Valley, Highlands, Todd and
Walnut Ridge parks.
Syvertsen builds the base at Pamela Park
and then does the flooding of Arden and
Pamela parks.
Park Maintenance workers use a 1.5-inch diameter
fire hose hooked up to a hydrant to flood rinks and
make ice. (Photo by Tom Swenson)
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How long does it take from that start to
when rinks open?
Usually around two weeks. Sometimes, if
the weather is favorably cold, good quality,
skateable ice can be built in a week.
Once the ice opens for the season, how
often are rinks groomed? And when?
Between 3 a.m. and noon. During the
skating season, flooders and sweepers
work seven days a week, with Christmas
the only scheduled day off. They
sometimes end up working the holiday
when heavy snow covers the rinks.
Why can’t you just rebuild the ice after
unseasonably warm weather?
It depends largely on the timing and
weather. Outdoor rinks were open in
Edina for just a few weeks in the winter of
2023-2024 due to record warm weather.
Because there is a strong tradition of
outdoor skating in Edina, staff work hard
to get the rinks open as quickly as possible
and for as long as possible for residents.
Some years have longer seasons than
others. The rinks are heavily utilized by
the Edina Hockey Association and adult
four-person leagues and for pick-up
games and pleasure skating by residents.
When do rinks close for the season?
The last scheduled day for warming houses this season is Feb. 16, though weather can force an earlier closure or allow the season to be extended.
“If we can get to Presidents’ Day weekend
in February, it’s been a successful year,”
Simonson said. “Anytime beyond that is
a bonus.”
“We’ve been into the first week of March because it’s been favorable conditions,” Syvertsen added.
When Park Maintenance is able to extend
the season, sometimes only certain rinks
will remain open due to conditions and
the availability of ice rink attendants.
Is there anything residents can
do to keep the ice in top shape?
• Do not leave snow shovels on the ice or around the rinks. They get buried or obscured by snow and damage sweeping equipment.
• Remove nets at night so they
don’t freeze in place.
• Before you leave a rink area, grab your water bottles, plastic bottles and any trash. People leaving trash upsets those who work so hard to maintain the ice.
“Take some pride in the outdoor rinks,” Simonson said.
What question do residents ask you
the most?
“Is the ice ready?” Syvertsen said with a laugh. “You’ll see a car come in the parking lot and do a slow circle turn. They’re looking for quality ice.”
For more information, visit EdinaMN.gov/OutdoorRinks.
Outdoor Ice Rinks
Twelve neighborhood parks have
leisure and hockey rinks, lighting
and a warming house:
• Arden Park, 5230 Minnehaha Blvd.
• Cornelia School Park,
7142 Cornelia Drive
• Countryside Park, 6240 Tracy Ave. S.
• Creek Valley Park, 6301 Gleason Road
• Highlands Park, 5200 Doncaster Way
• Lewis Park, 7300 Cahill Road
• Normandale Park, 6501 Warren Ave.
• Pamela Park, 4303 W. 58th St.
• Strachauer Park, 6200 Beard Ave.
• Todd Park, 4249 Vandervork Ave.
• Walnut Ridge Park, 5801 Londonderry Road
• Weber Park, 4115 Grimes Ave. S.
Rink Hours
Hours have changed slightly for the
current season and are all dependent on
the weather. Hockey rinks have different
schedules Monday through Thursdays
for Edina Hockey Association practices
and Saturday mornings for adult leagues.
General Hours
• 4:30 to 9 p.m. weekdays
• 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Saturdays
• 1 to 8 p.m. Sundays
Special Hours
• Jan 1, 2, 16, 19 and Feb. 16:
noon to 9:30 p.m.
Visit EdinaMN.gov/OutdoorRinks
to learn more.
13
Beat the Chill: Resources to Keep Your Home
Cozy and Efficient
By Lauren Siebenaler
Protect your home from winter’s chill. Get the most out of resources and tips to help keep your home warm during Minnesota’s coldest months.
The Community Action Partnership of
Hennepin County (CAP-HC) offers an
Energy Assistance Program to help pay
utility bills through May 31. CAP-HC also
provides crisis assistance for renters and
homeowners facing disconnection, low fuel
supplies (under 20%), or who are age 60 or
older with a current or past-due bill.
CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy offer
programs to make winter heating bills more
affordable. Through Xcel, Edina homeowners
and renters with electric heat, including
systems such as electric baseboards, boilers
and heat pumps, can qualify for a reduced
rate on their energy bills. Both companies
also offer rebates for energy-efficient
upgrades like air source heat pumps, smart
thermostats, water heaters and insulation.
“Anyone can request free window insulation kits, weatherstripping, pipe insulation and more from CenterPoint Energy,” said Sustainability Manager Marisa Bayer.
Edina residents can also schedule a
Home Energy Squad visit at a 50%
discount. Free visits are available
for income-eligible households.
“Home Energy Squad checks your
insulation, checks your equipment, and
they do direct installs,” said Bayer. “So,
if they’re in a home that has a bunch of
old bulbs in fixtures, they will replace all
non-LED light bulbs with LEDs. They put
weatherstripping on exterior doors, too,
which is really helpful.”
Resources to Learn More
Community Action Partnership of Hennepin
County (CAP-HC): caphennepin.org
Home Energy Squad: mncee.org/HES
Xcel Energy programs:
XcelEnergy.com/Residential
CenterPoint Energy programs:
CenterPointEnergy.com/SaveEnergy
CenterPoint Energy discounted store:
CenterPointEnergyMNShop.com
Edina Sustainabilty:
EdinaMN.gov/Sustainability
Energy Saving Tips
Whether you rent or own, small changes can
make a big difference in keeping your home
comfortable this winter. Save energy and
stay comfortable with these simple tips:
Program or Adjust Your Thermostat – Keep your home around 68 degrees during the day and lower it at night or when you’re away. Use a programmable thermostat to automate temperature changes to avoid heating an empty house.
Cover and Repair Windows/Doors –
Use weatherstripping or caulk around
windows, doors and baseboards to keep
warm air in. Use window insulation kits
to cover drafty windows.
Check and Replace Central Heating Filters Regularly – Dirty filters trap lint, pollen, dust and more that can reduce airflow. This makes your system work harder, taking longer to heat your home, and driving up costs.
Layer up and use area rugs – Wear warm
clothes indoors to stay comfortable at
lower thermostat settings. Rugs help
insulate floors and keep your feet warm.
Reverse ceiling fans – Set them to spin clockwise at a low speed to push warm air down. The ceiling fan won’t change the temperature in the room, but it will help you keep warm.
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16
Winter Garbage
Placement &
Snow Storage
Winter Trash Placement Rules
PROHIBITEDPROHIBITED
Manual Trash Collection
If your waste hauler manually collects cans, notch a
“parking spot” in your yard to place cans for collection.
Automated Trash Collection
Place cans on apron or driveway edge for automated
haulers (The mechanical arm can reach 3 to 5 feet.)
Snow Storage (on property)
Snow removed from a property’s driveway must be stored
outside of trash collection path, within property lines.
Snow Storage (off property)
Snow cannot be stored across the street on private or
public (City-owned) land. Snow can be hauled to a private
location owned or authorized for use by contractor.16
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Winter Emergency
Kit Checklist
Consider packing these items in your vehicle
in case you get stranded in winter weather
For Passengers□ Blankets/Sleeping Bag□ Extra Warm Clothing (Coat, hat, mittens, boots, etc.)□ Non-Perishable Food (Protein bars, nuts, ready-to-eat meals)□ Bottled Water□ Medications□ First Aid Kit□ Cellphone and Portable Charger□ Flashlight and Extra Batteries
For the Vehicle□ Flares/Triangles (Or other bright items)□ Booster Cables□ Ice Scraper□ Sand/Cat Litter (Used for traction)□ Snow Shovel
18
People of Public Works
Public Works Team Gains Three New Employees
By Edie Weinstein
Cole Nonweiler applied to work for the Edina Public Works Department because he was looking for a change of pace. Since joining the Department as a Utilities Operator in October 2025, the new pace isn’t the only thing he’s enjoying. He also really likes his teammates.
“Everyone – starting with the interview
process – has just been amazing since
coming here,” explained Nonweiler. “All
the guys I’ve met – especially the guys on
the crew – are phenomenal, very helpful
and willing to answer any questions with
no problems. It’s really great.”
Nonweiler isn’t the only new addition
to the Department. Nick Hoffman and
Tony Driste also joined the Public Works
Department in 2025. They each bring
experience and skills to the department
and their respective divisions.
Hoffman started with Edina Public Works in June. As part of the Streets Division, he helps with snow plowing, street sweeping, paving and repairing potholes. Hoffman likes the bigger projects the best because of the sense of accomplishment they provide.
“It’s great to be making a difference,”
said Hoffman. “Whether it’s little
potholes or working on a bigger project,
we’re doing a good service for the
community. It’s rewarding.”
Hoffman gained experience in public safety and delivery management roles before he began working for the City of Edina.
Like Hoffman, Tony Driste also focuses
on Edina streets while working on the
concrete crew since joining the City
in September. His coworkers value his
expertise from previous experience in
asphalt and concrete while working for
private companies around Minnesota.
“Tony brings a variety of knowledge
and experience to the City,” said Public
Works Assistant Director Dave Goergen.
“He is fitting in well with the crew and
we look forward to utilizing his skill set
moving forward.”
Nonweiler also joins Edina from the private sector after a decade of residential and commercial landscaping, operating large machinery, digging basements and fixing sewer systems. As a member of the Utilities Division, Nonweiler looks forward to maintaining stormwater runoff systems and other underground infrastructure.
“I like how hands-on it is,” Nonweiler said
of his position. “Being down in a 12-foot-
deep trench working on sewer and water
hookups for new houses is, so far, the
most fun thing I’ve done on the job.”
“We are excited for our new team members and look forward to adding their skills and ideas to our operations,” said Chad Millner, Public Works Director & City Engineer. “Each person brings a unique skillset that will help us continue to provide the services our residents expect.”
For more information on the Public Works Department, visit EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks. For more information on jobs with the City, visit EdinaMN.gov/Jobs.
For more information about careers with the City, visit:
EdinaMN.gov/Jobs.
On the right are Cole Nonweiler and Nick
Hoffman, two of three new Public Works
employees. Not pictured is new employee
Tony Driste. (Photos by Jason Heuer)18
19
Frequently Asked Questions of Public Works in the Spring
What is the hardness of Edina water?
What is the recommended setting for my
water softener?
Edina water has approximately 17 to
20 grains of hardness. The Utilities
Division of the Public Works Department
recommends setting your softener to
obtain 3 to 4 grains of hardness. For a
very small percentage of our community,
the Morningside water comes from the
City of Minneapolis and does not need to
be softened.
When will my fire hydrant be flushed?
The Utilities Division will flush hydrants
for four weeks in May from 5 a.m. to 4
p.m. Other hydrants will also be flushed
throughout the year as weather and water
demand allows.
My water has a yellow tint after the
hydrant flushing. What do I do?
Best practice is to run the cold water tap in
your lowest level sink (either the laundry
tub or lowest level bathroom) for 5 to
10 minutes, depending on how dark the
yellow color is. This should purge the iron
sediment in the line and make your water
run clear again.
Can’t I just blow my leaves in the street?
Won’t the sweeper pick them up?
Blowing leaves into the street is against
City Code, as stated in Chapters 20 and
22. If you have yard waste pickup through
your garbage hauler, leaves can go in that
bin. Please work with your garbage hauler
to get leaves disposed of properly. Do not
put leaves or any other yard waste in your
organics recycling.
Does the City of Edina have watering
restrictions?
Yes, watering is based on an odd-even
schedule depending on your address.
Homes or businesses with even-numbered
addresses may water their lawns on even-
numbered dates. Homes or businesses
with odd-numbered addresses may water
on odd-numbered dates. Exceptions to
this rule are those who live in Morningside
and get their water from Minneapolis,
properties with a private well, and
individuals who have picked up a New
Sod/Seed permit.
You may only water before 11 a.m. or after
5 p.m. on your scheduled days.
– Compiled by Holly Conwell
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