The City of Crookston street sweeper has been busy around town for the last few weeks. And you’ve possibly noticed a truck following close behind. That’s because when it comes to spring clean-up there is literally tons of sweeping to be done.
This winter the City of Crookston put about 700 tons of sand on city streets to combat the slick road conditions. Public Works Director Pat Kelly said most of that sand must be picked up by the street sweeper while a small amount has likely made its way into yards or down storms drains. “We finally get done with the high-water event and then spring cleanup,” said Kelly. “For the last three weeks now, we’ve had the street sweeper out starting on the north end of town heading south. We’ve pretty much got everything done except for Carmen. Every spring is difficult, we send the street sweeper out with a truck to tender along with it so they dump and keep going. This last winter we put about 700 tons of sand on the streets in town so it does take awhile to get the streets swept up and in decent shape.”
The streets will be swept three to five times throughout the spring summer and fall. Kelly says if residents can help by blowing their grass clippings into the yard not only will it help keep the streets looking clean longer, it will provide nutrients for lawns. “If you are mowing your lawn and can keep it blowing onto your lawn not only does it help keep the street cleans but it’s been proven that those clippings have nutrients that are good for your lawn,” said Kelly. “Also, if you have a number of vehicles just be aware that when the street sweeper comes by it may not look like we’ve swept there from the fact we can’t get where the vehicles are parked so that presents a problem. We go through and sweep the town a minimum of three times a year, usually more like four or five. We just don’t have the personnel anymore to dedicate somebody full-time seven months a year to sweep streets so this is the compromise we have to live with.”
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