HomeMy WebLinkAboutPublicWorksPipelineEarly2022Winter Parking Rules Keep
Streets Clear of Snow
By Ricardo Acosta
When residents follow Edina’s winter
parking regulations, the Public
Works Department can cleanly and
efficiently remove snow and ice
from the roads to keep them safe
and drivable. Meanwhile, residents
are saved the expense and hassle of
recovering a towed vehicle or getting
a parking ticket.
City Reduces Salt Use 30 Percent Since 2016
Technology and Training Help Ensure Safe Travel While Protecting the Environment
By Debbie Townsend
(continued on Page 2)
When winter storms hit, Edina residents know
their streets will be cleared quickly and made
safe to travel. What they don’t know is Public
Works pulls this off every winter using less and
less salt.
Annual average salt use by the City has
plummeted 30.1 percent since 2016. The City
now uses fewer than 2,300 tons each year
to make streets, City parking lots and ramps
and other areas safe for drivers, bicyclists and
pedestrians. Yet residents continue to rank
snow removal among the top City services in
the biennial Quality of Life Survey.
“It is not easy to reduce salt and maintain our
excellent level of service,” said Public Works Director Brian Olson.
It takes a lot of dedication and effort most residents never see, from seeking
out the newest technologies to ensuring every plow driver is trained in what’s
known as “Smart Salting.”
PipelinePUBLIC WORKS
EARLY 2022
(continued on Page 6)
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This salt brine truck is designed
to efficiently spray streets with
more effective brines. (File Photo)
2
Equipment Improvements
Aging salt tanks have been replaced by
modern mixing systems that use less
chloride yet create more effective brines
that work in lower temperatures. A new
salt brine truck designed to efficiently
spray streets greatly expanded Public
Works’ ability to do pretreatment
starting in 2020.
“The most critical time to do any anti-
icing is directly before the plow trucks
go out,” Olson said. “Having a dedicated
vehicle for anti-icing allows us to be
much more effective for our brine use.”
Residents often mistake the white streaks
from the brine as excess salt when
the opposite is true, explained Water
Resources Coordinator Jessica Wilson.
“If we have little, thin white lines on
streets just before a storm, that’s
awesome. That means it will keep the ice
from binding to the pavement,” she said.
No binding ice means a quick plow pass
will clear the snow, with no extra salt
necessary.
A new salt shed for Public Works trucks
to pull in and load under a cover has
drastically reduced saltwater runoff
there, Olson said.
Trucks are calibrated annually to ensure
salt delivery remains accurate. The
trucks are now equipped with wireless
technology that tracks the amount,
type and location of salt products
deployed and lots of other granular data.
Crunching the numbers, Public Works can
determine minimum effective salt levels
by location and work with every driver to
ensure those are followed, Olson said.
2
Salt reduction takes a lot of dedication and effort
most residents never see, from seeking out the
newest technologies to ensuring every plow driver
is trained in what’s known as “Smart Salting.”
City Reduces Salt Use 30 Percent Since 2016 (Continued from cover)
3
Training
The City deploys 25 plow trucks in a typical snowstorm, including four loaders,
five sidewalk plows and several pickup trucks, to clear streets, parking ramps,
and sidewalks. Park Maintenance also deploys crews to clear trails and winter
park areas. Every one of those employees gets training and certification from the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that emphasizes reducing salt use to protect
Edina’s water bodies and environment.
“I think we have a really good balance with our Public Works and Park
Maintenance employees,” Olson said. “They really care about reducing salt use.”
In fact, it is plow drivers who have been supporters of newer articulated plow
blades that flex to better match the road surface. Grants helped the City buy a few,
and Olson hopes to add more to the fleet.
Citywide Cooperation
The effort to reduce salt use goes beyond Public Works and Park Maintenance.
Wilson, who is part of the Engineering Department and whose job is helping
protect water, is working with managers of other City properties like Centennial
Lakes Park and Braemar Field on tracking and reducing their salt use. Everyone
involved from the City is on board with reduction steps.
For example, Braemar Golf Course Superintendent Jeff Mold came across a product
that doesn’t even have chloride and wondered if it might be a good solution for
that property.
“That was cool that they had someone who asked, ‘Should I try this different
product?’” Wilson said. The answer turned out to be yes.
Wilson sees the partnerships among different departments and facilities like
peeling an onion, revealing more and more places to make changes that help
reduce salt use. “We are always looking to shave off that next little bit,” she said.
“This is an evolutionary process,” Olson noted. “I am hopeful we will find
technological advances that help us. Salt is a very valuable tool for us, but it needs
to be used responsibly.”
For more information, contact Public Works at 952-826-0376.
“I think we have a really good balance with our
Public Works and Park Maintenance employees.
They really care about reducing salt use.”
– Public Works Director Brian Olson
Reporting Excess Salt Use
Overuse happens, from equipment
malfunctions to bad timing or
unexpected weather changes. If you see
piles of excess salt after the ice is gone,
please report it so it can be cleaned up
or addressed.
• For excess salt on City streets or City
property: Use the Edina 311 app or
visit EdinaMN.gov/ReportProblem.
• For large private properties such as
retail or commercial, contact Wilson
at jwilson@EdinaMN.gov.
4
By Dan Reisig
“Everything in moderation” is a classic
guideline for watching what you eat or
drink. When it comes to taking care of
your property in the winter, the saying
also applies.
Just like your dinner plate, it is crucial
to monitor the amount of salt you apply
to your sidewalks, driveways and other
surfaces when trying to combat the
hazards presented by snow and ice on the
ground.
Rock salt works by lowering the freezing
point of water to about 15 degrees
Fahrenheit. Generally speaking, the
heat from the sun mixed with ambient
temperatures above zero takes care of
the ice and snow. When particularly
chilly Minnesota winter days hit and the
mercury drops into the negatives, there
isn’t much benefit to using salt.
The salt is primarily made of chloride
in its elemental form, which does not
break down any further and instead finds
its way into ground and surface water
sources. Just one teaspoon of road salt
can permanently pollute five gallons of
water.
“As water gets really salty, it becomes
toxic for aquatic plants and animals that
have evolved to live there and makes it
hard for them to continue to do so,” said
Water Resources Coordinator Jessica
Wilson. “The other problem is that it’s
really expensive to remove. We don’t
really have very many strategies for
dealing with that pollution.”
Instead, the best defense against slippery
pavement is the trusty shovel or snow
blower.
“Physical removal of snow is the best
thing you can do, because you’re going to
try and prevent ice from forming in the
first place,” Wilson said. She cautioned
against salting before snow falls, as it will
get shoveled up later and spread into the
grass or watershed.
Wilson’s second piece of advice is to be
smart about how much salt you’re using.
“More salt does not mean more melting,”
Wilson said. “If everyone used the right
amount, it would make a big difference.”
She noted that while on a house-by-house
basis, the impact of salt usage is small, a
widespread change in behavior by Edina
homeowners and property managers can
have a great effect.
Most recommend using no more than
two coffee cups’ worth of salt to cover
a standard-sized driveway or sidewalk.
And once the ice and snow has melted,
sweep up any excess salt that’s left over
rather than letting it continue to melt into
the ground. Sand or kitty litter is a good
solution when traction is needed, but
it’s important to sweep up and properly
dispose of those materials just like
excess salt.
A Little Bit Goes a Long Way: Tips on Proper Salting
Paying Attention to How Much and How You Use Rock Salt Helps Edina’s Ecosystem
4
“I often encourage people
to speak up – at the places
you visit like work, school or
shopping – if you notice a lot
of salt, talk to the managers
and ask them about it.”
– Water Resources Coordinator
Jessica Wilson
5
‘As water gets really salty, it
becomes toxic for aquatic
plants and animals
that have evolved to live
there and makes it hard for
them to continue to do. The
other problem is that it’s
really expensive to remove.
We don’t really have very
many strategies for dealing
with that pollution.’
– Water Resources Coordinator
Jessica Wilson
Finally, Wilson encourages residents to
ask questions. If you’re hiring a contractor
for your snow removal, find out if they’re
trained in smart salting techniques – like
the methods used by the City’s Public
Works staff, the Minnesota Department
of Transportation and other large-scale
users. Even outside their property,
residents should keep an eye on the
ground.
“I often encourage people to speak up –
at the places you visit like work, school or
shopping – if you notice a lot of salt, talk
to the managers and ask them about it,”
she explained.
Salting your driveways and sidewalks is an
important part of the winter routine, as
slippery pavement can be dangerous. So,
while it’s a necessary step to staying safe,
being conscious of your usage can make a
big difference in the City’s environmental
health.
For more information on keeping pollutants out of water, visit bit.ly/EdinaStormwater. Reach Wilson at jwilson@EdinaMN.gov.
6
In Edina, no vehicle may be
parked on a street, highway or
alley under these conditions:
• From 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. Nov. 1
through March 31, regardless
of weather.
• 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.
According to the Minnesota Department
of National Resources, the Twin Cities
receives an average of about 54 inches of
snow annually.
Of cities that ask residents to rate
snow removal in Quality of Life surveys
administered by Polco, no other city in
the U.S. gets better marks than Edina.
Street Supervisor John Scheerer credits
the local ordinance and the number of
plows Edina puts on the road as key
factors in the Public Works Department’s
effective and efficient snow removal.
The City of Edina has more than 30 plow
routes.
Residents should not only follow this
ordinance to ensure that the streets
are clean, but also to protect their
own vehicles. For plows to efficiently
clean Edina’s streets, they must have
unimpeded access to them. While the
plows do their best to work around
any vehicles left out on the street,
complications can occur depending on the
amount of snowfall.
The local laws are strictly enforced. The
Edina Police Department records and
tracks vehicles not in compliance with
parking regulations. When a vehicle is in
violation, an officer will issue a warning
by means of an explanation card to
the owner of the vehicle. If the Police
Department encounters the vehicle
violating regulations a second time, the
owner will be issued a citation.
During significant weather events, if a
vehicle is obstructing the path of a plow,
the Police Department will attempt to
contact the owner. If the owner cannot
be reached, the vehicle will be towed.
Besides keeping vehicles off the streets,
Scheerer says there is something more
people can do to help the plows clean the
streets. If there is a snowfall on a garbage
collection day, he asks residents to leave
their trash containers away from the curb.
“Nowadays, these trash and recycling
trucks have automated arms that can
reach behind the curb 6 or 7 feet. People
don’t recognize that and put their garbage
containers at the curb line, so our plows
can’t reach curb to curb as we would
like,” he said. “It would be really helpful if
residents kept the carts back a bit.”
Depending on the time between snowfalls,
ice can start to form around the gutter
line. By moving the cans back a bit, plows
will be able to get up closer to the curb,
reducing this chance.
For more information about winter parking ordinances, contact the Police Department at 952-826-1610.
Winter Parking Rules Keep Streets Clear of Snow (Continued from cover)
7
People of Public Works
Public Works Welcomes Back a Familiar Face
By Ricardo Acosta
A former employee is back as part of the
Public Works Department, continuing to
grow his skill set and contribute to the City.
After two years with the City of
Bloomington, Ben Schiro has chosen to
come to Edina as a member of the Utilities
Division of the Public Works Department,
and he’s more than happy to return as
Utility Operator.
“I’m excited to be back. I had a lot of
strong relationships here that I would like
to keep. It’s not many times you get to
like both the work you’re doing and the
guys who you are with,” said Schiro.
Schiro previously spent part of four years
as a seasonal Public Works employee.
During that time, he began to think about
his longer-term career. Utilities Supervisor
Nathan Kaderlik took notice.
“His first three years here, he started
to figure out where his career path
was sort of going and he realized this
was something he wanted to do. He
took it upon himself to get the right
requirements: a Class C water license, a
commercial driver’s license and his sewer
license,” explained Kaderlik.
Unfortunately, the City didn’t have
any openings at the time Schiro got his
requirements. So, Schiro instead went to
work in Bloomington for two years where
he gained additional experience to do his
job more smoothly and efficiently.
Now that he is back with the City of Edina,
Schiro will continue to gain knowledge
on maintaining the water, wastewater,
sewage and infrastructure of the City. He
joins 12 others in the Utilities Division,
who together ensure these areas run
smoothly.
“We do a lot of different things here. A
lot of guys get their hands dirty in a lot
of different areas – water, wastewater,
underground work – and there’s a lot to
teach here,” said Kaderlik. “I hope to give
him more experience. This place is a great
place to work, with great opportunities to
build your career up.”
To learn more about the Utilities Division, visit bit.ly/pwutilities.
Ben Schiro began work as a Utility Operator late last year, joining 12 others in the
Utilities Division. (Photo by Dan Reisig)
88
“The problem is the typical
snow fort openings are on
the driveway side, which is
the blind side as far as the
plow driver seeing it.”
–Streets Supervisor John Scheerer
99
Say No to Snow Forts
By Dan Reisig
School has been canceled due to snow.
Breakfast has long been devoured and
you’re all geared up to head outside and
play in the winter wonderland.
It doesn’t get any better than this.
However, it’s essential that Edinans
young and old avoid building outdoor
structures – commonly known as snow
forts – next to plowed streets.
“Most of the forts we see are ones built
by the snowbank at the corner of the
driveway,” said Streets Supervisor John
Scheerer. “The problem with that is the
typical openings are on the driveway side,
which is the blind side as far as the plow
driver seeing it.”
While it’s tempting to draw a comparison
to an igloo, snow forts lack any sort of
structure and are usually made from
heavy, wet snow that can collapse and
trap or injure a child. Even worse are snow
forts with roofs and tunnels, which further
weaken the structure and add to the
chances for collapse.
And once the storm is done, it’s still smart
to stay away from snow forts and big piles
of accumulation. After all, Edina’s plow
crews are often back out on the street
to clean up and move snow around to
prepare for the next storm.
“There are two main reasons why there
is danger – one is collapse from really
heavy snow, and two, later in the season,
we’ll occasionally wing it back, meaning
we’ll push the bank further into the lawn
to make room for future snow,” Scheerer
explained. “You can only imagine the
danger if there was someone in a snow
fort and a driver didn’t recognize it.”
Added to their other duties and safety
checks while out on the roads, Edina’s
plow crews also keep an eye out for snow
forts during their routes. When one is
spotted, the driver reports to Scheerer
and the Public Works staff while trying
to talk to the homeowner to explain the
dangers.
“It’s all about safety – that’s the only
reason we destroy the forts,” Scheerer
said. “In years where there is heavy snow,
we’re out looking for them and tell the
drivers to keep an eye out and use caution
when they see an opening on the side of
the bank. We’ve had a few mild winters
lately, so we haven’t seen them, but in
heavier years, we see close to 80 of them
in town.”
Parents and children interested in learning
more about playing safe in the snow
can watch a Minnesota Department
of Transportation video, available at
EdinaMN.gov/SnowPlowing. Scheerer
hopes that with a return to in-person
education in Edina’s schools, he and other
Public Works staff can visit with kids to
share these tips in person as well.
“We want kids to have fun and play
safely,” he said. “We tell them to build
a fort without a top and back a safe
distance from the road, at least 25-30 feet
back from the road.”
For both kids and adults alike, it’s
important to maintain the edges of your
property when winter weather hits.
“Whether it is snow forts, garbage cans,
vehicles, or anything else at the end of the
driveway, it’s important that homeowners
keep that area clear so our crews can
properly plow and maintain the best level
of service, which is what they look to do,”
Scheerer said.
For more information about the City’s plowing or winter safety, visit EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks.
10
Make Sure Your Snow
Removal Service
Follows City Rules
11
By Debbie Townsend
It happens every year: Some snow
removal contractor doesn’t know
the rules or cuts corners to please
a homeowner, only to leave the
homeowner on the hook for the
violations.
Most often, it’s driveway snow pushed
across the street to the opposite gutter
line. Not only does this upset your
neighbors, it’s illegal.
“The biggest thing for residents to let
their snow removal contractors know
is whatever snow is moved on their
driveway or sidewalk has to remain on
that property they are removing the
snow from,” said Streets Supervisor John
Scheerer.
Another cheat is to push some of the
snow into the street before the plows
come to clear roads. That’s also illegal.
Residents will get warnings, but they are
the ones subject to fines and cleanup
costs if their contractor continues to
violate the rules. Fortunately, probably
80 percent of snow removal contractors
working in Edina know the rules and the
City’s plow schedule, so they do a good
job, Scheerer said.
Some other important rules and tips for
snow clearing:
Clear the area around fire hydrants and
mailboxes
Both fire hydrants and mailboxes must be
accessible from the street. As snow piles
up through winter, it can end up rolling
down into these or blocking them with
ice. So clear them regularly by shoveling
or using a snow blower.
Create a spot for trash and recycling
Keep a small area on your property
clear at the curb line for your trash and
recycling containers on pickup day. Do
not put the cans in the street because
the plow will either have to go around,
leaving a section of the road unplowed, or
might inadvertently knock them over.
People also should try to retrieve their
trash and recycling containers as soon
after pickup as possible. “Once the
garbage company has come through
and emptied the containers, they are
like bowling pins,” Scheerer said. “Heavy
snow knocks them over and now they’re a
hazard in the street.”
While Public Works can’t tell residents
which contractors to hire, they offer some
advice in choosing:
• Shop early in the season to get better prices and more options.
• You often can save money if you’re willing to have your driveway plowed later after a storm, sometimes known as a “retiree discount.”
• Be wary of callback charges. Some unscrupulous contractors have intentionally pushed driveway snow into the road before the street plow goes through so they can charge a second trip for coming back out to clear it again.
Learn more about snow plowing, winter parking and plow safety in the “Streets” section of EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks.
‘Residents will get warnings,
but they are the ones subject
to fines and cleanup costs if
their contractor continues to
violate the rules.‘
12
PipelinePUBLIC WORKS
By Debbie Townsend
It’s simple: If you suspect a water main
break, call right away to report it.
It doesn’t matter if you’re not sure if it’s
on your property or not. The faster a
possible leak is reported to Public Works,
the more damage and wasted water can
be averted.
Utilities Supervisor Nathan Kaderlik
remembers the days before modern
technology when a big leak in a main line, if
not spotted by a resident, could drain part
of a water tower before anyone realized
what was happening.
“Now we have monitors that show a
pressure drop,” Kaderlik said.
Still, residents or a passing Police Officer
often are often first to report a leak,
especially if it’s a smaller one that wouldn’t
show a drastic pressure drop. With more
than 200 miles of water main under streets,
resident reporting is critical to quickly
finding leaks and halting them.
A dozen or so water main breaks happen
every year from a variety of factors,
including pipe age, ground shifting and
extreme weather. Kaderlik said that even
the best maintenance and replacement
schedule can’t prevent them all.
Once a leak is reported, Public Works
responds, no matter what time of day.
Leaks on a service line from the main up
to the shutoff valve (normally 10-15 feet
from the curb) are the City’s responsibility.
Leaks on a service line from the shutoff
valve to the house are the property
owner’s responsibility. Public Works will
help determine responsibility, but more
importantly help limit the leak.
Fast Reporting Limits Damage from Water Main Breaks
Public Works crews respond day or
night to water main breaks. (File Photo)
How to Report a Main Break
7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday through
Friday: Call 952-826-0376
All other times: Call 952-826-1610
(police dispatch non-emergency)
If you suspect a water main
break, call right away to
report it.
City of Edina
4801 West 50th Street
Edina, MN 55424
EdinaMN.gov
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