City of Minnetonka

Always ready to plow snow—that’s the motto of the Minnetonka Public Works snow removal crew! By November 1, snow removal crews have been assigned and all equipment is prepped and ready to roll in event of a snowfall (see “V”).

Backing up is something snowplows do many times during snow removal operations. Please give them space to do their jobs.

Clear snow from your driveway, but don’t push it into or across the street. City ordinances require that snow be placed on the right-of-way adjacent to your property.

Discourage kids from playing in or tunneling through the large piles of snow left behind by plows. Snow piles can collapse and trap children, while passing snowplows could hit the pile and injure children hiding inside.

Every snow operation requires city crews to clear 1,100 miles of roadway—the equivalent of driving to Nashville, Tennessee!

Frost patrol starts in December and continues through February. Public Works employees are on the roads at 5 a.m. five days a week to check for frost and light snow. Should they find these conditions, chemical controls are applied to increase traction and promote melting.

Garbage cans and recycling containers should be set out behind the curb line so they won’t be knocked over by snowplows or snow coming off the plow.

Heavy or even average snowfall requires a three-day operation to clear (in this order) streets, parking lots, sidewalks, trails and ice rinks. Removal of snow from city streets (see “I”) is the first priority, and since the amount of personnel and equipment working on the parking lots, sidewalks, trails and ice rinks is smaller, it takes more time to clear these areas.

In an average snowfall, the goal is to clear streets and cul-de-sacs within 10 hours.

Just about every day—that’s how often chemical control trucks work during a normal winter, with major efforts occurring about 25 times per year.

Keep parked vehicles off city streets between 2 and 6 a.m., in accordance with city ordinance. Illegally parked vehicles may hinder snowplows from fully clearing streets.

Lack of snow and less moisture in combination with the salt used on roads helped contribute to the white residue seen on Minnetonka roads during last year’s winter season. The city, as well as the county and the state, is using only salt on the roads in Minnetonka, instead of sand. However, Minnetonka Public Works last year used the least amount of salt it ever has, and less than half of what was used 10 years ago. Sand has been mostly eliminated because of its negative effect on water resources.

Mailboxes that are physically hit and damaged by city snowplows will be repaired. However, mailboxes that break from the force of snow coming off the plow will not be repaired.

No county or state highways or private roads are plowed by city personnel—only city roadways.

Over the new Hopkins Crossroad bridge to grandmother’s house you go—but go carefully! Bridges can be notoriously slick in the winter, even when surrounding roadways are not.

Put in curb markers to show the edge of your lawn or driveway. The city provides free markers to residents—stop by Minnetonka City Hall, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd., or Minnetonka Public Works, 11522 Minnetonka Blvd., to pick up your markers. Remember, installation is easier when the ground isn’t frozen!

Questions about snow removal? Call Minnetonka Public Works at952.988.8400. Or, if your concern doesn’t require an immediate response, contact Minnetonka Mike.

Respect snowplows, both as a pedestrian and as a motorist. Snowplows travel much slower than the posted speed and the driver’s field of vision is severely limited. Never pass on the right, since plows are pushing snow to the right. Stay 70 feet (four car lengths) from the snowplow so the driver can see you.

Sod damage resulting from city snowplows will be repaired by the city. The city does not repair sprinklers, fences, or rock gardens that are placed in the city right-of-way. Report sod damage through Minnetonka Public Works at 952.988.8400 or through Minnetonka Mike. Repairs usually are made in May and June.

The exact time snow removal begins depends on when the snowfall ends. In most cases, plowing operations begin between midnight and 4 a.m., but the exact time depends on the predicted start and end of the snowfall and its intensity. Usually two inches or more of snow accumulation triggers the start of city-wide snow removal.

Using cruise control in your vehicle can be dangerous when driving on snow- or ice-covered roads.

Vehicles—more than 29, ranging from dump trucks to motorgraders to pickups—have been prepped by Minnetonka Public Works and are ready for snow removal service this winter (see “A”).

Weather forecasts are useful in preparing for the conditions. Keep up on forecasts. Drive carefully, even if the streets have been plowed.

X&*$@#!—or something similar— might escape the lips of a Minnetonka resident watching a snowplow fill in a newly shoveled driveway. Remember, during heavy snowfalls, citywide snowplowing is accomplished in three separate steps:

• The first pass provides an initial access path down the streets.
• Full-width plowing can occur a couple of hours later after all streets have received a first pass.
• Final cleanup occurs the next day and includes intersection cleanup, snow and ice control and plowing where vehicles were parked.

You’ll save precious minutes in event of a fire by adopting a hydrant and keeping it clear of snow throughout the winter.

Zones are assigned to each snowplow driver. Most drivers stay in that area for the entire winter, allowing him or her to become very familiar with the roadway features in a specific area. Mainline, or collector, streets are plowed first with residential streets and cul-de-sacs plowed last.