2002 October Newsletter - Laserfiche WebLink

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PUBLIC WORKS NEWS NEW PUBLIC HUGO PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT TO WORKS BEGIN SNOW PLOWING EMPLOYEES All snow plowing in Hugo was formerly done by the Washington County Highway HIRED Department. However, beginning this year, the City of Hugo's Public Works Department will take over two of the three major truck routes for snow plowing in Two new Public Works workers the City. "We will also be adding a route that will use a motor grader and anoth- have recently been hired by the er route that will be plowed using a smaller, one-ton pick-up truck," notes Public City of Hugo. Mike Loeffler and Works Director Chris Petree. Rob Weldon started on August 5 and will be performing a variety Petree is confident that the City will be able to meet or exceed the snow plowing of duties for the Public Works service level residents have enjoyed in the past. "We want to provide the residents Department, including mainte- of Hugo with the same level of service they've grown to expect from Washington nance of streets, water and sewer County," he states, "but we ask that residents understand that it may take some systems, parks, buildings, and time to phase into our new system." grounds. Both are experienced workers: Loeffler formerly DON'T PLACE SNOW ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS worked for a private excavating company, and Weldon was With winter quickly approaching, the City of Hugo would like to remind every- employed by the Public Works one that it is against the law to deposit snow, in any fashion, on or next to a pub- Department of another city in lic highway or street. Minnesota State Statute 160.27 prohibits plowing, shovel- the Twin Cities area. ing, blowing or otherwise placing snow onto any public road right-of-way, and doing so is punishable as a misdemeanor. Snow which is moved to the public The Hugo Public Works right-of-way can create hazardous situations,'' including slippery areas, frozen ruts Department now has four full- and ridges, bumps,sight obstructions and drainage problems. Property owners are time employees, and there are responsible for informing any person who performs snow removal on their premis- plans for more hiring in the es of this law. It is also important to remember that both the property owner and future. Reasons cited by Public the person who moved the snow onto the roadway may be liable should an acci- Works Director Chris Petree for dent occur as a result of improper snow placement. Ifyou have questions about snow the growth of the Department removal or would like a copy of the City's Snow and Ice Control Policy, call the Public include an increased need to Works Department at 651-762-6300. maintain infrastructure as a result of building and develop- ment within the City, the addi- tion of park land, and the fact " CHANGE YOUR that Washington County will no longer be providing street ser- SMO DETECTOR Cvices such as snow plowing and BATTERIES road grading. "We essentially started from nothing and are building a Public Works Hugo Fire Chief Jim Compton reminds all residents to change the batteries in Department from the ground their smoke detectors when they set their clocks back this fall. up," explains Petree. 3