Eden Prairie proclaims Jan. 27–31, 2025 Winter Salt Awareness Week

The Eden Prairie City Council proclaimed Jan. 27–31, 2025 as Winter Salt Awareness Week, emphasizing both the role of deicing salt in public safety and its environmental risks.

In a presentation before the proclamation, Public Works Director Robert Ellis said salt is “probably the most effective tool we have at combating ice and keeping our roads, our driveways, parking lots, our sidewalks safe,” but warned that chloride contamination from deicing salt can accumulate in lakes, creeks and groundwater and cannot be removed once it enters fresh water.

The proclamation recommends that residents and businesses learn about smart-salting practices, hire contractors certified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) where appropriate, and take advantage of a city-offered site audit for large properties. City staff said guidance and tips will be available on the city website and through the engineering division.

Mayor Ron Case read the proclamation language adopted by the council and urged residents and businesses to take part in activities and initiatives that promote the responsible use of deicing salt. No separate roll-call vote was recorded for the proclamation beyond the council proceeding with the agenda after the reading.

City staff said the outreach will point toward MPCA smart salting resources, low-salt/no-salt programs, and available city assistance to reduce chloride runoff from private and commercial properties.