Show All Answers

1. Is there a parking ban in effect when it snows?

Yes, when snow is predicted a parking ban is put into effect through the Code RED notification system. NO PARKING on city streets between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. during a snow event. Sign up for Code RED notifications at https://www.co.sherburne.mn.us/

2. What kind of equipment does the city use for snowplowing?

Currently, the City of Elk River uses snowplows with wings to clean approximately 150 miles of city streets. In addition, front-end loaders, one-ton trucks, tractors & pickup trucks are used to clean snow off of over 200 cul-de-sacs and 20 parking lots.

3. Why doesn’t the large plow truck clear my cul-de-sac?

The large plow equipment is not designed to work in smaller areas. A large truck can clear 5 to 6 blocks of main roadway in about the same time it would take the driver to clear one cul-de-sac. Safety is also a concern because of the poor visibility in a large truck.

4. The snowplow tore up the grass in front of my house. Who’s responsible for repairing the damage in the spring?

Sod damaged by city plowing equipment will be repaired the following spring either by street crews using black dirt and seed; or by the property owner if they elect to do the repair using commercial sod. The city will reimburse the property owner for the sod purchased but not for labor costs. Reimbursement must be approved by the Street Superintendent or his/her designee prior to the corrective work or sod purchase.

5. What if my lawn sprinklers or invisible pet fences are damaged by plow operators

The City is not responsible for damage to underground lawn sprinklers or invisible pet fences located within the public right-of-way (ROW). Homeowners are responsible to protect such systems from damage or to relocate sprinkler heads and fences within their property boundary.

The ROW for roads varies from road to road but a typical city street has a 60 foot ROW, meaning your property line is 30 feet from the center of the road. This is just a guideline, to know exactly where your property line is located, you will need to contact a land surveyor. 

6. My mailbox was damaged by a snowplow, how do I get it fixed?

If you believe your mailbox was damaged during snow removal operations, please call 763.635.1120, or submit an incident report online here within 24 hours of the incident taking place. Please note, damage must be reported within 24 hours of the incident as city policy requires a Public Works employee to visit the site of the complaint in order to adequately survey the scene. Following the on-site survey of the scene, the plow operator responsible for the route that day is interviewed, and if the City of Elk River is determined to be at fault, staff will make contact with the homeowner and install a temporary mailbox. All temporary mailbox installations are documented throughout the winter, then when the ground has thawed in the spring, Public Works employees replace those temporary boxes with permanent, swing-away style mailboxes free of charge. If a resident prefers a different style of mailbox, they’ll be reimbursed $75 with proof of receipt of the alternate mailbox they purchased. In this case the resident will be responsible to install the mailbox themselves.

A few things to note - every year the city encounters its fair share of mailbox damage complaints that are the result of private plow companies hired to clear driveways and parking lots, as well as motorists who slide into residential boxes. When a plow makes contact with a mailbox, there are very obvious signs left including windrows from the plow blade, markings on the box or post itself, sod damage both near the damaged mailbox and upstream from it, among other things. The city does not take responsibility for mailboxes damaged by private snow removal contractors, motorists, or those damaged due to poor maintenance. It is up to the homeowner to ensure the integrity of the mailbox post. A strong, secure mailbox post will be able to withstand the snow being pushed off a plow’s wing during snow removal operations, however if the post is rotted at the ground (which is evident upon inspection as well), a gusty wind - not to mention a single pass of a snowplow - can easily result in a downed mailbox. 

7. What should I do with my trash/recycling container(s) if the streets are being plowed on a collection day?

Since trash is collected five days a week, one or more routes encounter trash containers while plowing. Plow operators will not plow around items illegally placed in the street. Residents are asked to place their trash containers in their driveway or behind the curb line on trash pickup day. Do not place them in the street. Plow operators will not stop to move containers or set containers upright that have overturned.

8. Can I shovel or blow snow into or across the street?

No. It is unlawful to deposit snow on public roadways per Minnesota Highway Traffic Regulations. Residents observed doing such activities are subject to a citation and fine.

State Statute 160.2715 Subd (5):  Misdemeanors: It shall be unlawful to obstruct any public street or highway or to deposit any snow or ice thereon; and, 169.42 Subd (1): Littering:  No person shall throw, deposit, place, or dump upon any street or highway any snow, ice, etc.

9. Who do I call if I have a complaint or comment about snowplowing?

Call the City of Elk River Street Division at 763-635-1120 or submit an online form.

10. Why is snow plowed into my driveway?

This is an unfortunate side effect of plowing all streets in the City. All snow must be plowed from the center of the street to the curb, and as a result driveways get blocked with the snow from the plow. Though it is an acknowledged inconvenience, curbside discharge of snow is a necessary trade-off for initiating a rapid response for snow removal service for our residents. It is the property owner’s responsibility to clear the snow from the bottom of their driveway.

11. When will my street be plowed?

When it snows the operators plow priority routes first to provide access for emergency vehicles. Secondary routes are plowed next and then tertiary (cul de sacs). When the snow ends, crews complete cleanup of the priority routes and then begin to plow public parking lots. Please be patient. We realize everyone would like to be plowed out first but this is impossible. Once a storm ends it can take up to 12 hours to completely plow all the routes.

12. Why does the snowplow go down my road so many times?

To properly clear the streets a plow may make 3 to 4 passes on each side of the street. The deeper the snow, the more passes necessary to clear the streets curb to curb. Many times the snow is still falling when the plows begin clearing streets. The freshly fallen snow will then need to be replowed.

13. Who removes the snow from sidewalks?

The Parks Division is responsible for snow and ice control on city sidewalks and trails.

Business owners/tenants are responsible to completely clear all ice and snow, down to the concrete, from sidewalks adjacent to their property within 24 hours of a snowfall. If the City receives a complaint about a sidewalk that has not been cleared, the property or business owner is notified of the violation. If the sidewalk is not cleared within 48 hours following the notice, the City will have the work completed and assess the expense back to the owner.