New Snow Management System Will Be Tested This Winter

Eden Prairie Public Works employees have a new system that will help them clear snow from roads quicker.

A story on KSTP.com said the snow management system cost $65,000. In a Nov. 1 blog post, City Manager Rick Getschow wrote that the city began preparing for this winter in June.

The new system includes:

• A system that tracks the location of every piece of snow removal equipment on the road, so each can be sent where it's needed.
• Equipment on Viking Drive that will measure the conditions and warn employees if the snow and/or ice are accumulating.
• A command center where the data will be processed.

Public Works Director Robert Ellis told KSTP, "Every hour the roads are closed, it's an hour somebody is not working and earning a paycheck. It's an hour a store isn't open and making sales so there's an economic downside not having roads open. So, if we can employ newer technologies doing our jobs quicker and better, we think that's money well spent."

On his blog Getschow wrote, "I hope you notice the difference this snow season.  We take safe streets seriously in Eden Prairie, and as always, I invite you to let me know how we’re doing."