Every winter brings unique weather and weather-related challenges and this winter has been no exception. To-date, this winter has brought us:
- 1.5 inches of rain during the last week of December
- Little/no snow through most of January
- 3+ days of continuous below zero temperatures in late January, with a low of -31 degrees
- Near record snow totals for the month of February during just the first two weeks
Employees at Hopkins Public Works respond to whatever the winter weather brings and have a wide range of duties. These duties include:
- Plowing Hopkins streets and alleys
- Plowing eight downtown parking lots
- Removing/hauling snow from the Central Business District, including parking lots
- Plowing five regional trails, and many other trails and sidewalks along all major roadways
- Clearing City facility parking lots and walkways
- Clearing City park skating rinks.
When all employees are available, 22 are assigned directly to snowstorm response duties. The City owns four large plow trucks and three front-end loaders to plow city streets and alleys, plus an assortment of other trucks, plows and blowers for snow removal on parking lots and walkways/trails.
The primary goal of the Public Works Department when responding to snow events is to meet the expectations of residents and business owners. In addition to meeting these expectations, Public Works staff also strive to complete all their snow response duties/responsibilities in a timely manner.
Street and alley plowing is a high-priority service for both Public Works employees and Hopkins community members in every snow event.
While plowing streets that are free of parked cars is more efficient and much preferred by plow drivers, declaring a snow emergency takes advance notification, and on-street vehicle tagging and towing takes time. Doing this is not always possible within the time frame that residents reasonably expect to see their streets and alleys plowed. In any event, Public Works staff work hard, whatever the conditions, to keep streets and alleys clear for drivers, and to efficiently complete all their snow removal work.
When a major snow event occurs, proper timing of the initial response is important, but the department also works hard to deliver quick responses to individual requests for service following a snowstorm. Residents or community members who need additional service should call Public Works at 952-939-1382, or visit the City’s website at www.hopkinsmn.com to send a customer service request or an “Ask the City” program request.
Public Works’ mission statement is “Serving the community by being great stewards and delivering outstanding services.” Staff strive to fulfill that mission each winter season, knowing that they are here to respond to every unique weather challenge to keep Hopkins safe.
