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How Well Does Your City Plow Roads?

After a good snowfall, citizens always have something to say—good or bad—about the job the city and county does with plowing. So what do you think?

In the little town of Richfield, when two or more inches of snow falls the city's plows hit the roads.

Or do they?

While I was perusing the City of Richfield's Facebook page last week, I stumbled upon a lively comment accusing the city of a sub-par plowing performance.

"Seriously if this is what the City calls cleaning up our streets they ought to be ashamed of themselves," the citizen wrote.

See the full comment in the photo box above.

This reminded me of a post I received on Richfield Patch's Facebook page Jan. 28.

"Plows? No plows in site in our neighborhood," Derek Brown wrote. "I hope they come and cleanup the slush before tomorrow night or we will have several inches of ice!"

I've personally never given much thought to this until now. (As Sunday dumped a few heavy inches on us all in the Twin Cities metro area.)

So, Patch has to ask: How would you rate your city in the plowing department? Good? Bad? Ugly? Tell us in the comments section below.

Juniper February 11, 2013 at 04:40 pm
Richfield are very good in our area off 70th and Garfield by the High School. The alley and roads are normally done very swiftly indeed. 70th street up to Portland is awesome and after that it seems to get very dicey, must be a different snow plow team. But we rarely have any complaints to make. Richfield must be one of the most efficient in the metro as once you enter Bloomington you notice the difference as well as when you enter Minneapolis too.
reann d February 11, 2013 at 05:13 pm
I agree - I always found Richfield great - even compared to EDINA! The residential areas just over the border in Minneapolis are impossible to maneuver through, despite snow emergency rules. My only concern for RIchfield is that intersections also get ICY (my personal worst is 68th & Lyndale where those travel back roads to Holy Angels), and nothing seems to be done about the black ice - just snow removal. I've just learned to be careful. BTW- I've called Public Works in the past about issues like untimed stoplights, and they've been super responsive. Not sure if the same team deals with snow removal but it never hurts to ask.
Larry Stockwell February 11, 2013 at 08:11 pm
I live on a dead end. In the past they have come in with too big of equipment. This year smaller equipment and nicer job. Only problem is the storm drain is covered, and I dig it out or melt water forms a lake at our driveway. Overall satisfied with this year much more than past years.
Robin February 12, 2013 at 02:33 am
I think Fridley has been doing a very poor job this year! Being a bus driver here in Fridley for 10 years I would have to say this year had been the worst I've seen. Biggest problem is not getting the snow plowed at the curb! Roads are getting more narrow every snow fall. Plus they are leaving way to much on the roads. Makes for a slushy then frozen ruts that are not fun to drive over.
Mike B. February 12, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Edina does a good job with the plowing. One really notices the difference riving over the city line to Minneapolis. A year or two the Star Tribune ran an article that Minneapolis business owners, such as restaurants, complained they were losing business because people from surrounding suburbs did not want to come into Mpls and maneuver around their unplowed streets.
Sean Hayford Oleary February 12, 2013 at 02:24 pm
I've been very impressed with Richfield's plowing jobs. The streets are much clearer than adjacent areas of South Minneapolis. (Then again, they also prohibit all street parking during snow emergencies, which makes things easier.)
My only complaint is the sidewalk. It's convenient for homeowners for the city to clear the sidewalk, but homeowners can do a much finer job with a shovel than the city does with a small plow. I am very grateful to a few neighbors who go above and beyond and shovel their walk anyway, like the house at the corner of 4th Ave and E 73rd St.
Annie S. February 12, 2013 at 08:15 pm
I don't know if it's gotten any better, but we hated the plowing in Richfield in the house I grew up in. Our driveway was plowed shut, twice, every time - once by the street plow and then again by the sidewalk plow. If you had to leave after one came through and before the other, you better have a shovel in the car, or you're not getting back in the driveway. As far as Minneapolis, there is no consistancy. 1/2 the city gets towed away, the other 1/2 not - so depending on the street, it's either somewhat decently curb to curb or it's horrible drifts where the cars they didn't tow were. It looks awful and makes it so no one can park easily. Street parking is already at a premium - either tow everyone who violates the snow emergency or don't bother declaring one.
Mike B. February 12, 2013 at 08:34 pm
If the Minneapolis City Council would stop paying out millions of dollars to criminals who sue the police department to "cash in" for alleged injuries during their arrests, Minneapolis would have more than enough money to properly plow their streets.
Imer February 13, 2013 at 07:56 pm
I agree with Robin the bus driver. Snow plowing in Mpls is clearly focused on cost reduction by not plowing down to the pavement to save money on plow blade maintenance, pavement maintenance, and removal of roadside snow ridges in snowier winters. Running the plow blade above the pavement also allows the plow drivers to plow at a higher speed, reducing labor and truck operating costs. But then shouldn't taxpayers be able to expect and demand that the job be done right?
royals mom February 14, 2013 at 01:18 am
I drive through Hopkins to get to my house in Edina. You can sure tell you have crossed a border. Hopkins is slushy and not to the street. Hopkins streets in the past have been very narrow because they don't do a very good job of plowing to the curb. For a much bigger city, Edina does an awesome job at plowing. Now if they could figure out how to keep from putting snow in my driveway when they plow, it would be perfect!
Leah February 14, 2013 at 01:17 pm
Minneapolis does a horrible job plowing and tha alleys are the worst!!
Mike B. February 20, 2013 at 12:38 am
I thought Minneapolis was bad... St. Paul seems even worse re: snowplowing. Some of the side streets in St. Paul are still, on 2/19, almost impassable from the ruts, particularly in the Macalester College area. Add that to the atrocious pavement itself on many streets,and it's a wonder cars aren't stranded because their suspensions collapsed driving St. Paul's streets.
Chris Coleman says "Come to St. Paul." Hah! I don't want another alignment on my car!

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Chris Steller (Editor) June 8, 2013 at 09:21 pm
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This program was initially offered as a free trial, however the free trial time expired this week.Read More There is now a $24.99 charge to use the program. I am sorry for any inconvenience.
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Liberaltarian April 19, 2013 at 02:51 am
That's good advice. Also keep in mind that your reactions to the event probably won't be imitatedRead More while your children are young. But as they grow older, they'll subconsciously remember your reactions and that will greatly influence how they respond to these situations in adulthood. So if you're someone who started swearing at the TV about Muslim terrorists, or you wept for the victims, or you prayed for the souls of the perpetrators, you should expect your reaction to ultimately have far more influence on your child than the discussions mentioned in this article.
Diane Baum April 19, 2013 at 05:08 pm
Exactly, Chris Mau!!! Kids live what they learn at home. If we treat kids with respect, as well asRead More how we present the facts of life, kids will grow to become empathetic, meaning, they will care and have compassion for the world around them. If they see us cussing out different races, creeds and colors or origins, they will grow up mean, spiteful and cynical. It's all up to US adults people...who's willing to step to the plate and be that example? These children, they are our future....how they grow depends on us.