Twin Cities Businesses Gear Up For First Big Snow

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Business owners who rely on snowfall totals have had a disappointing season, but they are gearing up to make up for lost time.

Uptown Lawn and Snow owners Deanna Fritz and Todd Johnson bought their first snow plow during the big winter storm of 1991.

"It was a big blizzard and from there business increased each year," Fritz said.

Now, Fritz serves some 450 commercial and residential clients using 15 trucks and 16 shoveling crews.

"We do service a lot of Minneapolis homes with tiny driveways so we do a lot of restacking snow," Fritz said. "Working to restack snow can take days."

This season, her plows have barely left the driveway.

"We have had a nice break and now we are getting ready to earn our money," Fritz said.

But just like with too little snow, too much snow can cause businesses to worry.

Jim Kurash of Columbia Heights-based DuAll Services says a big snow storm means his crews will have to hit the same 350 homes more than once in a day.

"When we get 6-12 inches it makes it tough on everyone," Kurash said.

But the family-owned business is grateful there is finally work to be done.

"We would like to get into the snow removal business starting mid-November," Kurash said.

Kurash said ideally, he would like to have one snow event per week to get the most business possible. But this season his plows have only been out twice.

"It does take a big bite out of business," Kurash said.

But those in the snow business say when it comes to weather in this state, there's no sense in worrying about snow.

"It is going to come," Fritz said. "This is Minnesota; it will be here."

The business owners say they just hope the snow doesn't hit hardest during rush hour. Their plows can only move as fast as traffic will allow.