Central Minnesota Residents Seem Upset Over Alley Snow Removal

At least one person was upset at the 'lack' of urgency to remove snow from St. Cloud alleys. A social media post to a local 'happenings' page pointed the finger at the City of St. Cloud for 'trapping residents' in their alleyways for days after a large snow event. We've only just started the month of December, and people are becoming frustrated at the amount of snow we've had.

Residents On Alleys Not Asking For Special Treatment

The social media post, which is below, accuses the City of St. Cloud of ignoring alleyways for the past 8 years in terms of timely snow removal from alleyways, leading to cars needing to be towed out from getting stuck navigating the snow-filled alleys, and residents missing work because they can't get out.

In speaking with other St. Cloud residents who live off alleyways, the frustration that was shared in this online post was relatable.

I did reach out to St. Cloud's Public Works Department, asking if they had seen an increase in complaints over snow removal and what the standard procedure is for removal after a snow event.

I'll update this article when I get their response to my questions.

Minnesotans Have Had A Love/Hate With Snow Removal Tactics For Awhile

Pointing the finger at municipal government over snow removal after a large event isn't new. No matter the size of the city or town that Minnesotans live in, chances are we've all been frustrated at times by which the speed of snow removal takes place.

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Last month, the City of Little Falls saw the same type of frustration from business owners and residents after a snowstorm hit the area, and roads were left partially cleared for several days, leading to downtown parking issues and City Councilmembers asking questions of city staff.

Oftentimes, when snow removal issues come up, it has to do with either contracted services being unable to assist immediately due to a weather issue or contract verbiage for contacting them for removal, or the safety of the snowplow operators driving during the snow event.

City of St. Cloud Communicates Online Regarding Snow Removal For Snow Events

The City of St. Cloud website has a page dedicated to snow events, and they invite residents to subscribe for updates. The page often lets residents know what is happening in terms of snow removal in the city, while the website page doesn't go into real depth of the snow removal process, it does allow residents to know when the plows will be on the road.

With All The Snow That Fell, Residents Shouldn't Push It Or Place It In The Street

One thing that frustrated residents shouldn't be doing with all the snow is putting it on the road, which can create road hazards for everyone. Many times, you'll see after a snow event piles pushed out into the road, causing traffic to change lanes suddenly to avoid the piles, and that can cause crashes or impede the flow of traffic.

Many other municipalities in Minnesota also require residents to clear sidewalks in front of their homes from snow within 24 hours, and if that isn't done promptly, you could be assessed removal fees on your property taxes. 

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