This is the scene at the Elk River Maintenance Facility, plows are prepped, new cutting edges are installed, trucks and equipment are fueled up, and we’re just awaiting the first flakes of the season!
Unlike many cities, Elk River allows residential street parking year-round except during a Snow Event. A Snow Event is declared with a forecast of falling/blowing snow accumulation of 1.5+ inches, and/or freezing rain, sleet, or other winter weather patterns resulting in hazardous roadway conditions. The Snow Event terminates once weather conditions have improved.
During a declared Snow Event, overnight street and city-owned lot parking is prohibited from 2:00 to 6:00 a.m. Plow operators will dispatch police to ticket and tow, per city ordinance, all illegally parked vehicles.
Dedicated overnight Snow Event parking includes 26 spaces along the north side of the King Avenue lot, as well as 23 lower lot spaces closest to the Mississippi River adjacent to the pavilion at Rivers Edge Commons Park. Click here for map, and be sure to visit ElkRiverMN.gov/SnowEvent for additional information.
The City of Elk River has several ways to get the word out to residents about a Snow Event declaration. Staff aims to declare a Snow Event the afternoon/early evening before a forecast of inclement weather, to allow residents time to plan accordingly for the next day when parking is restricted from 2:00-6:00 a.m. The info is then pushed out via social media, Elk River City Government on Facebook, @elkriver_mn on Twitter, Nextdoor, ElkRiverMN.gov, and the city’s NotifyMe alert system.
Sherburne County uses CodeRED, an automated emergency alert notification system that automatically subscribes every landline phone number in the city to this notification. Residents have the option to opt out annually, or sign up to receive alerts on cellphones/via email by completing the form found here: tinyurl.com/SherburneCoCodeRED.