HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013Public Works PipelineBy Katie Lofrano
The City of Edina’s park maintenance
operations are now part of the Public Works
Department.
During a recent reorganization, City Manager
Scott Neal moved Park Maintenance under
Public Works in order to use personnel and
equipment to their fullest potential and
possibly save money while delivering quality
public service.
“Consolidating our public infrastructure and
property maintenance functions under one
department, Public Works, is a good idea
because it allows management a better
vantage point to coordinate work and
manage resources, while also creating a
more streamlined budget, equipment and
communications system for our maintenance
employees,” said Neal. “We’re still working out
the bugs, but I think it’s going to be better for
all of us as time goes on.”
Public Works Director Brian Olson echoed those
comments. “The same people who maintained
the parks in the past are the same people who
are maintaining the parks into the future,”
said Olson, whose past experience leading a
park maintenance team was a factor in Neal’s
decision.
“After all is said and done, our parks’ trails,
parking lots and buildings are built of concrete,
asphalt and metal. The Parks & Recreation
Department will still guide the development
and use of the parks; we simply maintain
them.”
Park Maintenance Supervisor Bob Prestrud
has been in Park Maintenance for 36 years.
He said he has seen many changes throughout
his career. With this latest change, he thinks
that the City is headed in the right direction.
Prestrud believes this change will improve
communication between the two departments,
enabling them to better work together.
The park maintenance staff is comprised of 17
full-time workers and 33 seasonal workers.
They manage more than 40 parks and open
areas and oversee park-related projects and
improvements.
For more information, contact the Public
Works Department, 952-826-0376 or
www.EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks.
– Michael McGivern contributed to this story.
Park Maintenance Joins Public Works Department
Public Works Employee Receives AwardSee Page 4 for details
Connect to Public WorksSee Page 9for details
PipelinePUBLIC WORKS
22
“Natural beauty” is one of the reasons people enjoy living
in Edina, according to the most recent Quality of Life
survey.
In the immediate vicinity of streets, the community claims
approximately 30,000 trees, adding to the natural beauty
residents appreciate.
A City Forester and two Forestry Technicians work year-
round to monitor and maintain the beauty of Edina’s
trees on public property. Property owners play a vital role
in maintaining the health of trees on private property by
ensuring that overhanging branches and other overgrowth
do not present any transit or safety concerns.
“Homeowners are responsible for maintaining all
vegetation bordering their properties – trees, shrubs and
other plants – to comply with City ordinances,” said City
Forester Tom Horwath.
Growth into boulevards – the portion of the City’s right-
of-way bordering the street itself where sidewalks, street
signage and fire hydrants may be placed – can cause a
number of obstructions.
By law, all streets must be clear of vegetation to a height
of 16 feet above the curb or street edge, and sidewalks to
a height of 8 feet, regardless of whether the plot is private
or public. In addition, overhanging deadwood and rotting
branches present a safety hazard and must be removed.
Edina residents have access to a number of valuable local
resources. Horwath is available for on-site consultations
“to determine what needs to be done – or even to offer
any advice on how to maintain these boulevard areas …
for aesthetic purposes.”
If you do not want or are unable to trim the growth
yourself, you can contact him for a referral to a trusted
tree removal company that has successfully completed
projects for the City in the past.
When the City discovers overgrowth in residential areas,
the property owner is given three weeks’ notice to trim
the trees back to an acceptable length. If after that
period the trees have not been taken care of, the City will
arrange for the work to be done at the expense of the
property owner.
If, however, in the judgment of any City official, “an
immediate public safety hazardous condition exists which
must be corrected immediately, the City will do the
removal at no expense to the property owner,” Horwath
said. In these cases, all debris will be left on site and
removal will be the responsibility of the property owner.
For more information, contact Horwath at
952-826-0308. His hours are 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday
through Thursday.
– Compiled by Katie Lofrano
The Upkeep Of Public Trees Depends On You
3
By Frank Petrovic
Congratulations to “Treatment Plant 6.”
Granted, the water treatment facility located in the lower
level of the municipal parking ramp adjacent to Jerry’s
Foods in the Grandview District doesn’t have the greatest
moniker ever. However, the facility itself is pretty great
and has garnered national accolades.
Constructed in 2011 and 2012, the space had been
previously used for storage by the Public Works and Police
departments.
The site was chosen because there was no additional
cost to procure property, and for its central location to
northern water wells. The City of Edina operates four
water treatment plants that filter a total of 10,400 gallons
of water per minute. Treatment Plant 6 filters about
4,400 gallons per minute, and has pressure filters filled
with sand, gravel and anthracite to remove iron and
manganese. The plant also has air strippers that filter out
volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The cost of the new
water treatment plant was $5.9 million.
“This project was very challenging,” said Dave Goergen,
Public Works Coordinator. “Designing and constructing
a building inside a building is a huge undertaking. It’s
definitely an atypical project and the recognition for
everyone’s time, expertise and effort is appreciated.”
Enclosed inside another structure, Treatment Plant 6
presented plenty of construction challenges. Massive
pieces of equipment were brought into the building
without using cranes. This equipment, along with plenty
of pipes, electronics and concrete had to be incorporated
into the existing structure using extreme attention to
detail with a very small margin for error. These issues,
along with Plant 6’s VOC filtering capabilities, make it
unique.
The treatment facility’s architect, AECOM, won the
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) of
Minnesota’s Grand Award in January for outstanding
engineering projects. The facility was one of five projects
from Minnesota entered for ACEC’s National Engineering
Excellence award. While it didn’t win the top prize, the
project received Honorable Recognition from ACEC at its
awards ceremony on April 23 in Washington D.C.
AECOM and the City presented the project at an American
Water Works Association conference this summer.
The contractor of the facility, Municipal Builders, Inc.
(MBI), was given an Excellence in Construction award in
January from Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc.
(ABC) Minnesota/North Dakota Chapter. The project also
received a national ABC Eagle Award for construction.
Gary Wells, Public Works Utility Supervisor, agrees that
Treatment Plant 6’s accolades are well-deserved.
“What they did with the new equipment really was an
engineering feat.”
Water Treatment Plant 6 is located at 5120 Brookside
Ave. Edina operates three other plants at 5849 Ruth Drive,
4500 W. 76th St. and 6721 2nd St.
Water Treatment Plant Gets National Recognition
4
Minnesota Wastewater Operators Association Names
Behlen ‘Operator of the Year’
By Frank Petrovic
Nate Behlen, a Public Service Worker for the City of
Edina’s Utilities Division of Public Works for the past
two years, was recently awarded “Operator of the Year”
by the Minnesota Wastewater Operators Association
(MWOA).
The MWOA recognized Behlen at its annual meeting in
Grand Rapids. He is the 2013 Collection System Operator
of the Year for Class SB, which is comprised of cities with
a population of 15,000 to 50,000.
Dave Goergen, Edina’s Public Works Coordinator, said
the award is an honor, explaining, “There are over 50
municipalities and agencies that fall into the Class SB, and
thousands of operators, so to be singled out by his peers
is a great honor. We are very proud of Nate’s efforts and
he is clearly deserving of this award.”
Behlen is the first Edina employee to win this award.
Behlen excels in his job duties, which include preventive
maintenance tasks and troubleshooting and repairing
water, sewer and storm water systems. However, it
takes much more to win MWOA’s Operator of the Year.
Winners meet criteria of excellence in job performance;
accomplishments, awards, education and training
undertaken to further their performance; professional,
community and civic activities; and involvement in the
advancement of the MWOA.
“Not only has Nate delivered excellent performance on
his work assignments, but he has also shown that same
dedication to high quality in his continuing education and
professional licensure pursuits,” said Goergen.
Behlen was nominated for this award by co-worker Travis
Iverson. He feels honored to have received this award but
insists, “Everyone in our department is equally deserving
of this award. I was fortunate to be nominated and feel
lucky that I was chosen.”
For more information about the Public Works Department,
visit www.EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks or call 952-826-
0376. For more information about MWOA, visit
www.mwoa.net.
Award winner Nate Behlen is all smiles at work during a
beautiful day in Edina.
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5
For Minnesotans, “being neighborly” goes well beyond
the occasional block party and a willingness to lend a
cup of sugar. In the wake of blizzards and other severe
weather, Edina residents have important responsibilities
to one another. In addition to clearing their own
driveways and walkways, property owners must remove
snow from the public sidewalks on their plots.
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.” Clearing sidewalks of all accumulation
within two days is imperative because not doing so can
cause many safety hazards.
There are only a few commercial and heavily trafficked
stretches of sidewalk where the City will remove snow.
These include those along France and York avenues,
Gleason Road and 70th Street.
The City will issue a written notice to property owners
with sidewalks that are not shoveled. If snow and ice are
not removed within seven days after a warning is issued,
residents may be charged for the cost of removal by the
City, which could exceed $300.
You can clear the accumulation however you would like,
but you must obey several rules when moving snow.
Snow may never be pushed out onto or across City
streets, and should never be piled onto adjoining
properties. Note how tall your snow piles are becoming
during this process. If it looks like they might present a
sight obstruction to passing vehicles, redistribute some of
the bulk.
In addition, residents should clear snow from around fire
hydrants located on private property. Fire hydrants must
be visible and accessible to emergency workers at all
times.
Maintaining sidewalks is not only a winter responsibility,
though. After the ground thaws in the spring, some
sidewalk panels may move or shift. Uneven pavement is
a trip hazard that should be reported to the Public Works
Department.
Residents can report trip hazards and other problems
using the online service request form at
www.EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks.
– Compiled by Katie Lofrano
Clear Sidewalks Of
All Snow And Ice
6
Fire hydrants are sprinkled throughout the community,
but are often overlooked. In the event of a fire, though,
they are the center of attention.
Locating the nearest fire hydrant is one of the firefighters’
first priorities.
The ability to tap into the municipal water supply via a
hydrant can mean the difference between life and death
for those trapped inside a burning building. Fire hydrants
need to be visible at all times.
“They are not meant to be hidden. That’s why they’re
painted red,” said former Fire Chief Marty Scheerer.
According to Minnesota State Fire Code, there must be
a three-foot cleared radius around all fire hydrants. This
clear zone includes flower beds and other landscaping
improvements.
When you add bushes or plant trees in your yard, make
sure the plants are away from any fire hydrants, and
account for future growth.
Fire hydrants are even easier to overlook during the
winter months. Clear all snow away from the hydrant and
be sure when moving it not to obstruct the view of the
unit from the street. If you see that a neighbor is out of
town, clear snow away from the hydrant on that property.
The City appreciates your helping hand. Approximately
2,000 fire hydrants are in Edina, and the City does not
have the personnel to look after each one.
For more information regarding fire hydrants, contact the
Edina Fire Department at 952-826-0330.
– Compiled by Katie Lofrano
Fire Hydrants Need To Be Seen
7
A snow-covered Edina is a beautiful thing, but for
snowplow drivers, it can be challenging to know exactly
where streets end and lawns begin. Their second-to-
second judgment calls become even more challenging
during heavy snowfalls and winter storms.
While snowplow drivers do a commendable job on the
whole, it is inevitable that there will be places each year
where the plows do slight damage to the grass at the edge
of plots. If this happens to your lawn, the City of Edina will
cover the cost of new sod or grass seed and send out a
Public Works crew to repair the turf the following spring.
After installation, it is the property owner’s responsibility
to tend to the new grass.
Streets Supervisor John Scheerer cautions that boulevards
– the length of lawn immediately abutting the street
pavement – are intended for utility uses and for snow
deposits, not for gardening or other landscaping
improvements. As a result, the City is not accountable for
plow damage done to vegetation other than grass or to
personal items other than mailboxes.
If a boulevard on your property is damaged by a
snowplow, contact Public Works through the “Report a
Problem” form at www.EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks.
– Compiled by Frank Petrovic
City Will Reimburse
Residents For Plow Damage
To Lawns
Avoid parking tickets and having to recover a towed vehicle
by familiarizing yourself with the City of Edina’s winter
parking restrictions.
According to City regulations, 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 wintery conditions.
• When 1.5 inches or more of snow has fallen. Once
streets and roadways have been plowed to the curb
line, residents can then park vehicles on designated
roadways.
• For six hours after a snowfall has ended, unless City
traffic signs specifically allow vehicles to park on
roadways.
In order to clear Edina’s streets, snowplows must have easy
access. Cars parked in the street prevent them from doing a
thorough job. These rules are strictly enforced.
The Edina Police Department records and tracks those
vehicles that are 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
locate the owner. If an owner cannot be found, the City
will have Kustom Karriers tow the vehicle to its Minnetonka
location.
For more information, contact the EPD at 952-826-1610.
– Compiled by Katie Lofrano
Motorists Must Follow
Winter Parking Rules
By Katie Lofrano
Solving problems and
supporting all types of
City operations is what
new Facility Manager
Tim Barnes enjoys
most in his job.
As Facility Manager,
Barnes is responsible for planning, organizing and
managing the operations and staff of the Public Works
Department’s City Facilities Division, which includes three
other employees. His team works closely with the Public
Works Department’s other divisions to coordinate projects
at all City facilities and plan for future needs.
“The Facility Manager position was created because
residents of the community have made a massive
investment in the community – exceeding over $150
million,” said Edina City Manager Scott Neal. “Yet, we
had no essential management of this function. I have
experience with facilities management … and [Tim] brings
a drive for a better stewardship to give our residents
better management.”
Public Works Director Brian Olson agrees that Barnes was
the best fit for the newly created position.
“Tim’s background and experience in the facilities
management field will be instrumental in providing
positive leadership and direction for Edina’s buildings. He
will be proactive rather than reactive in his methodology
as we move forward,” he said.
Barnes has 20 years of experience in facility maintenance.
He received his training through Lee University and the
University of Florida. He has been a State Certified Trade
School Instructor for several years in various building-
related trades. Managing facilities has been in the Barnes
family for three generations, so Barnes says it’s “in his
genes.”
Barnes relocated from New York five years ago after he
fell in love with the Midwest. When he heard about the
Facility Manager position with the City of Edina, he “knew
this was a place that shared the same values and guiding
principles as I did,” said Barnes.
The City operates more than 88 buildings with a value of
roughly $151 million. Barnes appreciates that each City
building is unique. Employees work at some, but not all,
buildings. Some are climate controlled, others are open
seasonally.
To keep things running smoothly, City Hall and other
buildings need to be strategically managed and
comprehensively monitored and looked after, said Barnes,
explaining his position.
Systems Barnes oversees are HVAC, electrical, plumbing,
building infrastructure, roofing and custodial work.
With a full workload and a lot of buildings, Barnes enjoys
coming to work every day because he gets the chance to
help people and solve problems. He said he likes all of the
diversity that presents itself in Edina.
For more information, contact the Public Works
Department, 952-826-0376 or
www.EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks.
– Michael McGivern contributed to this story.
Barnes Begins Work As Facility
Manager
8
Tim Barnes, Facility Manager
for Public Works, enjoys solving
problems and supporting City
operations each and every day.
9
By Katie Lofrano
The Edina Public Works Department offers
a number of ways for residents to stay
connected and informed of its projects
and activities.
Residents can request service through the City of Edina’s
website, find behind-the-scenes information about Public
Works on its blog, keep up with updates via social media,
receive notifications through City Extra and offer ideas for
improvements on the “Speak Up, Edina!” website.
Report a Problem: The City of Edina’s website includes
an interactive form for residents to request a service
or report a problem. This form makes it very easy for
residents to tell the City about something that needs to
be fixed, such as a pot hole or malfunctioning street light.
Fill out the form at
www.EdinaMN.gov/publicworks_reportproblem.
Public Works Blog: Public Works employees write a blog.
Public Works Coordinator Dave Goergen is the primary
blogger. Residents can follow the blog to get a glimpse
of the behind-the-scenes operations of Public Works and
comment on them. Visit the blog at
www.EdinaMN.gov/wordpress/category/public-works/.
Social Media: Information regarding Public Works is
included on the City of Edina’s main Facebook page, as
well as on the City of Edina’s Twitter account. On the
Facebook and Twitter pages, Public Works notices such
as road closures are posted. Become a fan of the City at
www.facebook.com/EdinaMN. Follow the City on Twitter
at www.twitter.com/EdinaMN.
City Extra: City Extra is a free email subscription service.
People can sign up for any of several dozen lists, including
those for street closures and emergency water shut-offs
and street reconstruction projects by neighborhood. Sign
up for City Extra at www.EdinaMN.gov/CityExtra.
Speak Up, Edina!: “Speak Up, Edina!” is an engagement
website where people can share their own ideas for
improvements and where the City facilitates discussions.
Speak Up, Edina! is the newest tool the City of Edina has
to connect with its residents. It was launched in June
2012. Visit Speak Up, Edina! at www.speakupedina.org.
“Individuals have their own preferences for staying
informed and connecting with the City. Most people
choose to connect in a way that is the most convenient,”
said Communications & Technology Services Director
Jennifer Bennerotte. “We want to give residents a lot of
different options and opportunities for staying informed.
There isn’t one way that is better than another – they are
all equally important.”
Goergen said the website and blogs have traditionally
been the most utilized electronic means of gathering
information about Public Works.
“I personally like the blog, and am working on improving
how often posts go up for people to see,” he said.
Goergen thinks social media is a great and easy way for
Public Works to get vital information out to the public,
especially when the information is time sensitive.
Connect To Public Works
10
Clearing Edina’s streets of snow during the winter
months can be difficult.
Fortunately, the Public Works Department has
developed detailed guidelines to handle snow and
ice with an emphasis on public safety and minimal
inconvenience to drivers.
For severe weather purposes, the City classifies each
street based on primary function, traffic volume and
community welfare concerns. High-volume routes that
act as access roads for emergency vehicles are labeled
“Red Routes.” These receive first priority for both
plowing and salting. Routes providing access to schools
and commercial areas are second priority.
Only when these street tiers are clean will plows turn
to low-volume residential roadways, alleys and City-
owned parking lots. Except in select cases, the clearing
of sidewalks is the responsibility of property owners.
Ordinarily, the plows clear the center of each roadway
first so as to accommodate through-traffic while the
rest of the buildup is cleared. When appropriate, Public
Works will also deploy trucks to spread sand, salt and
other chemicals to remove ice from the streets.
As a general rule, snowplows will not be dispatched for
a snowfall of less than 1.5 inches. Streets Supervisor
Shawn Anderson monitors snow accumulation,
snowdrift and ice conditions, and it falls on him to
determine when plowing is necessary.
“Each storm is different,” Anderson said. “Sometimes
we have to wait it out and sometimes we have to fight
it during the storm.”
Be advised that severe cold, significant wind and
limited visibility may inhibit City plows from reaching
your street in a timely manner. In the event of
extremely poor weather conditions, snowplows are put
on temporary hiatus at the discretion of the Streets
Division.
How To Help Plow Drivers Help You
Even when wind and dangerous temperatures are not
a factor, plow drivers have a tough job dealing with
winter storms. Public Works Director Brian Olson notes
that there are several simple things you can do to
minimize obstacles.
“Don’t pass snowplows when they’re plowing, and wait
until after the plow goes by to park your vehicle in the
street,” he said. In addition, Olson strongly advises
residents to keep sleds and toys away from the street
when they are not being used, and not to shovel near
the end of their driveways as the plow comes through.
Winter Teamwork Keeps Edina’s Streets
Clear And Safe
11
Many Edina residents hire private contractors to handle
their snow removal needs. While it’s nice to have
someone else take care of this for you, please remember
that it is still your responsibility to make sure the people
you hire follow Edina’s regulations.
Private plows must not deposit snow onto or across a
roadway. Any snow that is removed from a sidewalk or
driveway must remain on that property or be hauled away
at the property owner’s expense.
The City of Edina’s Public Works Department will monitor
private snow plowing contractors on a regular basis,
though the property owner is ultimately responsible.
Property owners will receive a warning letter for violations
on the first offense. If a second offense is reported, the
City may issue the property owner a fine of up to $700.
– Compiled by Frank Petrovic
Be Sure To Inform Your Snow-Clearing
Contractors Of Edina’s Regulations
Respecting snowplows is not merely a matter of courtesy,
but also a safety concern, Olson noted, saying, “Frequent
backing is necessary during plowing, and visibility to the
rear is very limited.”
One particularly troubling practice is the building of snow
forts and snow bank tunnels on or near street curbs.
“Snow forts can easily conceal children and are very
difficult to see when driving large snowplows,” Olson said.
Moreover, “Forts are usually only built when the snow is
heavy and wet – not when it is light and fluffy – and the
most dangerous in terms of a collapse.”
– Compiled by Frank Petrovic
12
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
Snowmen, snowballs, snow angels – a simple snowfall
can provide kids with hours of fun. Snow forts and
tunnels are also popular with children come wintertime.
Unfortunately, children can easily become trapped and
severely injured in these structures.
It is important that children remain safe and do not
make snow forts or tunnels or play on snow piles near
roadways. Plow drivers cannot tell where tunnels or forts
may be or if children are in them.
“Snowplow drivers are watching the road,” said John
Scheerer, City of Edina Streets Supervisor. “Drivers can’t
always see if kids are in forts.”
In addition, plowed snow can be very heavy. It can weigh
enough to collapse a tunnel or fort and injure children
inside them. Hidden forts are even more dangerous when
plow drivers go “winging,” pushing the snow further off
the street to make room for more plowed snow.
If children want to build a fort, Scheerer recommends
they build it near the house – never near a roadway or
driveway. Also, forts should be built without tops that
could collapse. Supervision and common sense is key.
Forts and tunnels should be reported to City of Edina
Public Works using the “Report a Problem” form at
www.EdinaMN.gov/PublicWorks, or by calling
952-826-0376. Public Works personnel will work with the
property owner to remove the fort or tunnel.
– Compiled by Frank Petrovic
Snow Forts Can Be Dangerous!