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Street superintendent outlines 2025 accomplishments, snow strategy and fleet upgrades
Summary
Street Superintendent Ryan Rasmussen told the board the department paved 11 CIP projects in 2025, adopted new pothole material (UPM), and is expanding multiuse trucks and brine capability to improve efficiency and reduce recurring repairs.
Ryan Rasmussen, the city’s street superintendent, briefed the Board of Public Works Feb. 2 on 2025 accomplishments and 2026 priorities for the Street Department.
Rasmussen said the department (about 43–44 employees across street, fleet maintenance and recycling/refuse) handled 11 CIP paving projects in 2025, used in-house crews to remove concrete curb lines and sidewalks (saving roughly $75,000 versus contracting), and microsealed about 4.5 miles of road. He described a shift to multiuse equipment to reduce idle vehicles and highlighted procurement of trucks that can plow in winter, perform crack sealing in spring/fall and support paving crews in summer.
Nut graf: The presentation focused on operational efficiency (multiuse trucks and new equipment), material choices to reduce repeat pothole repairs (adopting UPM), and improving service consistency through standard operating procedures (SOPs) and expanded in-house work.
On winter operations, Rasmussen gave specific figures: the city deploys up to 28 dump trucks and 41 pieces of equipment; a single large snow event can use 160–200 tons of salt at a cost of roughly $16,000–$19,000; and the season-to-date salt spend is about $270,000. He explained sidewalk-priority routing (catwalks, viaducts and school crossings) and that residents should use 311 or call the street department to report potholes; documented requests are dispatched immediately.
Rasmussen noted the department’s adoption of UPM for potholes, which includes an emulsion allowing application at lower temperatures and longer-lived repairs, and described a new conveyor-equipped pothole truck that reduces manual shoveling and worker injury risk.
Board members thanked Rasmussen and asked about priorities for specific routes, Pammel Creek cleanup (environmental runoff reasons), and leaf-pickup scheduling (weather dependent; target window April–May). Rasmussen said Pammel Creek cleanup prevents sediment from flowing to the Mississippi River and leaf collection will be announced when thaw conditions permit.
Ending: The board moved to the next agenda items after questioning; no formal action was required on the Street Department update.
