Cul-de-sacs to be plowed like other streets
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
With winter looming, the City of Elkhorn Municipal Services and Utilities Committee took time Monday to discuss changes to the city’s residential plowing process, which will affect residents living on cul-de-sacs.
Under the current program, cul-de-sacs are left until the end of the plowing process, something Public Works Manager Martin Nuss wants to change.
Nuss said Monday night he thinks cul-de-sacs should be plowed as part of the normal route, creating access police, fire and EMS services in times of need.
Nuss said if approved, under the new program cul-de-sacs would be plowed like any other road, with snow plowed to the curb. While this will generally leave a snow circle in the middle of the cul-de-sac, crews would return for and remove this snow once all plowing has been completed.
However, where this might be a concern to some city residents is it will leave snow at the end of the driveways of those living on cul-de-sacs, something that was previously cleared for them as cul-de-sacs were cleared last. Like other streets, snow from driveways is not to be put into the cul-de-sac.
The city attempted this style of snow removal on cul-de-sacs last winter as sort of a trial run, though stopped after pushback was received from city residents.
While Nuss said this would help the city save on man hours during snow removal, the biggest win would be the increased safety. Additionally roads will be plowed allowing for residents to get out for work, rather than before when cul-de-sacs were saved for last.
“We’re providing them access until we come back and clear the whole thing,” Nuss said.
A motion was made by Alderman Greg Huss to send the changes to council, seconded by Alderman Michael Kluck. The motion was approved unanimously.
Nuss said flyers and information regarding the change will be sent to residents and posted on the city website providing the council approves the changes.
