The City of Crookston again reminds business owners and homeowners to avoid placing snow in roadways. Downtown snow piling has been increasing and is becoming troublesome for the Public Works Department to clean up.
With the amount of potential snow in the upcoming forecast, Public Works Director Brandon Carlson emphasizes the importance of making sure the streets are cleared of snow. “The biggest thing with downtown is more about the relocating of snow from one place of the right of way to another,” said Carlson. “It started fairly small, and now we’ve started to see big piles throughout the downtown area. It creates issues for traffic and sightlines, as well as for crews that have to haul it out.”
Carlson says you still can move snow from the sidewalk to the curb line on the street edge, but it needs to be dispersed evenly and not in a right of way. Minnesota Statute, along with the City of Crookston, prohibits the placement of snow in any right of way. The city can typically plow the entire city within two days after a snowfall. The city is asking the businesses to allow the city to do its job and not move large chunks of snow into areas where they can become hazardous.
Carlson noted if you have a property where you can place the snow, you can move as much snow as you want. “If you have your own private property where you want to place the snow, that’s fine with us,” said Carlson. “You will also be responsible then for removing it and hauling it out of the downtown area then. We’re just trying to get these large piles that are piled on the streets to stop. The downtown area received letters from the city because that’s where we see the issue the most, but it’s a reminder for everyone and will enforce this all over town.”
Carlson talked about how the rule will start being enforced moving forward. “Will start by educating the business or person that is still not following the rule,” said Carlson. “We don’t necessarily want to be writing citations right away and going crazy with it. It will be up to the police department to enforce it, and every misdemeanor has up to a $1,000 fine.”
If you have any questions about snow removal and what is acceptable, you can contact the City of Crookston at 218-281-1232.
