During the City Council meeting on Monday night, Crookston residents expressed their frustrations with the city’s snow removal over last weekend’s snowstorm.
Public Works director Chuck Getsman explained the process leading up to the winter storm and explained that when the weather finally cleared up, the public works department decided to clear the emergency route first. As the emergency route was being removed, snow kept coming and continued to fill the streets with heavy snow while cars remained on the roads. “There were cars in the streets that were getting stuck, and this was creating more of a hazard for our team,” said Getsman. “We then made a couple more passes to open up the emergency routes, and we pulled the team.”
After the last pass-through on the emergency routes, Getsman appointed the snow removal team to stay on call throughout the storm so staff could assist residents and allow their vehicles to get through.
The Public Works snow removal team reported a minimum of six stuck cars. Getsman has a plan in place to inform the residents of Crookston in advance when snowfall like this will occur next. “I’ll be putting a post up informing the residents about the weather and conditions in the streets,” said Getsman. “And I’ll mention when it’s safer to stay home and not travel unless necessary.”
Those who have driven on Fisher Avenue are most likely aware that it is one of the areas in Crookston that is in the worst condition after the snowfall, specifically in front of Drafts Sports Bar and Grill on the frontage road. The open field north of the road tends to fill with snow, and the wind pushes the snow toward the street.
Getsman explained that since this area leads to the highway, it is not the city’s responsibility to maintain it but instead it is Polk County’s duty. The city will still clear the crossroads near and on Fisher Avenue. Getsman said the department isn’t staffed enough or has the “manpower” to maintain and hold responsibility for maintaining that entire road.
Moving forward this winter, Getsman aims to be more transparent and clear to residents of Crookston when looking ahead to future snow storms. “I’m going to try to be more vocal to the community,” said Getsman. “I’m going to try and give as many updates as possible and communicate with my guys as much as possible. Right now, our main sources of getting out to the community is you guys (KROX) and on Facebook.”
Earlier this week, the Public Works Department began putting up snow fencing around the frontage road in front of Drafts Sports Bar and Grill to help alleviate the amount of snow that goes to the area.
