The Ultimate Pre-Winter Prep Guide for West Metro Property Managers: What To Do Before The First Storm

When a winter storm wraps up in the Twin Cities, the liability clock starts ticking immediately. In many local municipalities, commercial property managers have a brief window (sometimes as little as four daytime hours!) to clear walkways down to bare pavement. The National Safety Council reports that slips and falls make up 20% of all workplace injuries, and dropping temperatures multiply this risk.

Getting your Twin Cities West Metro property ready for Minnesota winter requires more than a signature on a vendor agreement.

“The biggest mistake property managers make is treating winter prep as a one-off event,” says Scott Hartmann, founder of Scott’s Lawn Care. “You or your snow removal contractor need to map out your property’s drainage issues and hardscape vulnerabilities as early as possible, or else a minor daytime snowmelt is going to turn your walkways into a sheet of black ice overnight.”

To protect your commercial property, office building, or apartment complex, complete this five-step checklist before winter hits the West Metro with full force.

The Pre-Winter Property Checklist for West Metro Buildings 

Step 1: Conduct a Hardscape Audit and Document Pre-Existing Damage

Walk the grounds before it’s covered in snow with a camera. Take date-stamped photos of curbs, retaining walls, asphalt cracks, and concrete heaving.

Water seeps into existing cracks during heavy rainfalls, freezing and expanding to break apart the concrete. Having a clear record of these weak points helps you verify what needs repairs right now. Furthermore, maintaining a photo log prevents springtime arguments over whether a snow plow chipped a concrete curb or if the damage already existed last summer.

Step 2: Map Freeze-Thaw Vulnerabilities and Drainage Pathways

Sunny Minnesota afternoons routinely melt the outer layers of snow piles. Where does that water go? If natural grading or downspouts direct runoff across pedestrian walkways or parking lot entrances, that water will freeze into invisible black ice when the sun goes down.

Clear autumn leaves from storm drains so water can exit the property efficiently. Pick specific “Snow Storage Zones” for your contractor to pile the snow, keeping runoff directed into empty grass or designated retention ponds, far away from foot traffic.

Step 3: Audit Your Winter Liability and Contract “Triggers”

Read the fine print of your snow removal agreement. At what depth does the contractor dispatch trucks? One inch? Two inches? Do they guarantee a response time?

Courts looking at premises liability claims want to see that property owners acted within a reasonable timeframe to mitigate hazards. Verify that your contract explicitly details ice management and proactive salting protocols, not just bulk snow plowing after a major blizzard.

Step 4: Implement an MPCA-Aligned “Smart Salting” Strategy

More salt does not equal more safety. Standard rock salt stops melting ice efficiently when pavement temperatures drop below 15°F. Dumping extra bags on a frozen sidewalk wastes money and damages the local environment. 

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) notes that a teaspoon of road salt creates long-term water pollution for roughly five gallons of fresh water. 

For commercial buildings situated near western metro wetlands or Lake Minnetonka, careless salt application creates a massive environmental footprint. Over-salting also burns expensive landscaping and causes premature concrete deterioration. 

Hire contractors who understand proper material application rates based on pavement temperature rather than just dropping salt indiscriminately.

Step 5: Establish Internal Communication Protocols and Consolidate Services

Set up your employee and tenant communication plans as early as possible. Where should office employees or apartment residents park during a heavy snow event so plows can clear the lot? Send these memos out early (and consider using multiple notification methods) to prevent morning-after chaos.

Look into consolidating your seasonal property maintenance. Using the same vendor for fall leaf cleanup, winter snow removal, and spring turf recovery limits communication gaps. A single contractor who manages your grounds year-round already understands the layout of your property, recognizing where the storm drains sit and which sidewalks flood first.

Stay Frosty with Scott’s Lawn Care this Winter

Scott’s Lawn Care has provided commercial snow removal services across the western Twin Cities metro – including Plymouth, Orono, Mound, Minnetonka, and Maple Plain – since 1998. As members of the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) carrying the Certified Snow Professional (CSP) designation, we bring rigorous safety standards, trained operators, and backup equipment to protect your property from downtime.

Prepare your property before the seasonal rush hits. Request a property assessment and secure your commercial snow removal contract today.