With all of the recent snowfall, Cook County and the City of Grand Marais are encouraging residents to park vehicles off-street, if possible, to allow for efficient snow plowing and emergency vehicle access.
“When vehicles are parked on-street, especially on both sides of a street, it impedes snow clearing efforts and emergency response times,” said Valerie Marasco, director, Emergency Management & Public Information. “We need to be able to clear our roads after snow events and get fire trucks and ambulances down them as quickly as possible. Seconds often matter and, if we can’t get around vehicles that are blocked in under snow banks, that can make a significant difference.
“In addition, it also takes longer and is physically more difficult for individuals to dig out a vehicle parked on-street after plows have been by.”
The City of Grand Marais crews typically plow the downtown parking spots along Broadway and Wisconsin between the hours of 1 to 6 a.m. Please ensure vehicles are off these streets during these hours.
Cook County and the City of Grand Marais are exploring a calendar parking ordinance; in the meantime, it is more efficient and safer for everyone to park off-street wherever possible.
After a street or one side of the street is plowed to the curb, which might not be until Friday or Saturday, cars can be parked on street again. Local crews thank everyone for their cooperation.
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