County Highway Maintenance Supervisor Russell Klegstad visited the Schroeder town board meeting Tuesday, January 12, 2010 and invited feedback from the community.
“It’s nice to have calls,” he said. “We’re there for the people.”
Klegstad said he is interested in developing a group of contacts from around the county who would call him to report inclement weather, since it can differ from one area of the county to another. He is hoping for one contact from the Tofte/ Schroeder area, one from Hovland, one from Grand Marais, one from Maple Hill, and one from the Gunflint Trail. Klegstad said he could explain to people who are interested in doing this the kind of information he is looking for. He is hoping they will be people who like to get up as early as 4 a.m.!
“Theweather varies so much in this area that I may not know about problems until later, when we could respond earlier, if I knew,” Russell wrote in a later email to the Cook County News-Herald.
County Commissioner Bruce Martinson asked Klegstad at what point people should contact him. Klegstad said if roads have four inches of snow before 7 a.m., he would appreciate a call. County crews start as early as 4 a.m. to get roads cleared for the school buses. Klegstad advised people to remember to drive according to the road conditions.
Everybody thinks his or her area should be done before everybody else’s, Town Supervisor Roger “Bill” McKeever commented.
McKeever commented on the culverts that are full of ice. It’s the worst winter for frozen culverts that he’s ever seen, he said. Klegstad replied, “It’s going to be one of those winters, that’s all there is to it.” The county crew has two steamers they are using to free up culverts throughout the county.
Klegstad said he is enjoying his job so far and has a good crew to work with. His crew is ready to go, he said, eager to clean the roads.
Klegstad’s office number is (218)387- 3698. He checks it early each day.
Leave a Reply