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Minneapolis takes different approach to copper wire thefts
The city of Minneapolis said 2023 was one of the worst years for copper wire thefts from the city’s streetlights.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minnesota — Along Theodore Wirth Parkway, you can find multiple streetlights with bases exposed to reveal cut wires. It’s the same story along Bde Maka Ska Parkway.
According to the Minneapolis Police Department, on Jan. 10 just before 3 a.m., officers were patrolling the 3600 block of East Bde Maka Ska Parkway when they noticed a minivan and a large amount of copper wire in the roadway. When officers followed the van, it ran into a dumpster and three individuals emerged. Officers arrested the driver and found large amounts of copper wire and tools that can be used to cut wire. MPD estimates it will cost $8,750 to repair the streetlights along Bde Maka Ska Parkway.
“2023 was probably one of the worst years we’ve had for wire theft of the streetlight… both on city streets and the parkway roadways,” said Joe Laurin, project manager for the City of Minneapolis’ Public Works Traffic Division. “We’re not exactly sure why the the wire theft has increased so much. We suspect it could be related to the current copper prices being as high as they are.”
The city of Minneapolis is now taking a different approach in hopes of deterring copper thieves.
“We did purchase 25,000 feet, so approximately five miles of aluminum wire, to put into the conduit system and make repairs for approximately five miles of wire that was stolen during 2023,” Laurin said.
Laurin said West River Parkway remains one of the largest sections for continual wire theft.
Prior to the ground freezing, they repaired about 125 lights. It took about three-and-a-half weeks to complete the work and cost about $250,000.
The value of copper is about four times as much as aluminum. They’re hoping thieves will now have less of an incentive to steal the wire.
“Now that it’s been installed, it’s a little bit of a wait and see if theft reoccurs at the same location. We had seen in the past copper wire being stolen. We responded quickly to repair and replace the copper wire. Then often, within a few days later, the wire was stolen in the same location which was frustrating for the residents and people that use that roadway,” Laurin said.
The city of St. Paul is experiencing the same challenges. According to the city’s website, they have seen an increase in wire theft since early 2021. They are not making the switch to aluminum for several reasons.
The website states, “First, there would be an increase to overall costs to maintain the system. Second, aluminum would reduce the reliability of existing circuits and components for most of the City’s street lights. They would likely need to be retooled or possibly replaced in their entirety to make a switch to using aluminum wire. Finally, changing the wire type would also likely require the use of a heavier aluminum wire, compared to the thinner gauge copper wire being used now. Aluminum wire still has resale value, and is not likely to decrease the current rate of wire theft.”
Laurin said repairing with aluminum required some adjustments, including upgrading the wire size. There are also some questions about how durable and reliable the wiring will be in the years ahead.
Laurin said the city of Minneapolis tries to be proactive in reaching out to local recycling centers with information on their materials.
It’s not just streetlights impacted. The city is also seeing copper wire thefts at curbside EV Spot Network chargers.
A city of Minneapolis spokesperson said, “Unfortunately, there have been extended periods where certain chargers are down due to long lead times on obtaining replacement parts and arranging crews to perform the repairs. The project staff are actively exploring ways to mitigate the issue to ensure a more consistent experience for people looking to charge their vehicles.”
Laurin said Minneapolis maintenance crews do not work evenings and when they’re out during the day, a vehicle will be nearby with the city of Minneapolis logo on it. Those who witness a potential theft of copper should call 911.
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The council argues that the HERC must be closed to comply with the city’s zero waste policy, which was passed back in 2017.
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council unanimously approved a plan to shut down the Hennepin Energy Recovery Center (HERC) on Thursday.
The resolution comes after decades of protests against the massive North Loop trash incinerator that burns roughly 365,000 tons of garbage a year.
“Today is a big step towards protecting the health of our communities and addressing longstanding environmental injustices that disproportionately impact communities of color,” said councilmember Robin Wonsley, in a statement.
The resolution calls for the incinerator to be permanently closed by Dec 31, 2027 and for the entire facility to be shut down by Dec 31, 2033.
The council argues that the HERC must be closed to comply with the city’s zero waste policy, which was passed back in 2017.
In October 2023, the Hennepin County Board signed off on a plan to close the HERC between 2028 and 2040, depending on how quickly the county can transition into a zero-waste system.
Of the garbage burned at the HERC, 75% comes from the city of Minneapolis. The other 25% comes from a dozen other cities in the area. The HERC produces enough energy to power more than 25,000 homes and half the buildings in downtown Minneapolis.
At a City Council Meeting on Oct. 10, Jenni Lansing with the City of Minneapolis Health Department provided analysis on the air pollution impacts of HERC. She said the health department supports working towards a zero-waste future and the ultimate closure of HERC, but said closing it now is not the solution.
“Overall emissions in Hennepin County are dominated by on-road and non-road, mobile and nonpoint sources, and these sources drive the cancer and non-cancer risks to health in Minneapolis,” Lansing said.
Hennepin County defines zero waste as preventing 90% or more of all discarded materials from being landfilled or incinerated.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
The snow is really coming down in some places with Maple Lake getting 3.5″ so far.
GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — The wettest Halloween storm ever — is making mischief before little trick-or-treaters hit their neighborhood’s slushy streets.
Officials are reporting several power outages and car spin-outs.
There have been over 14,000 power outages, according to Xcel Energy.
The Minnesota State Patrol has responded to 169 crashes and 94 vehicles off the road, as of 2. pm. Thursday.
Meteorologist Beny Dery said an additional 1 to 2″ of snow is possible before things taper off this evening.
So far some of the totals around town are: 3.5″ Maple Lake, 3.0″ Buffalo, 2.5″ Dassel, 2.4″ Windom, 2.0″ St. Bonifacious, 1.5″ Maple Plain and 1.5″ in Bethel.
The snow is expected to let up from west to east and should wrap up for the metro between 5 to 6 p.m.
Last week, prosecutors charged John Sawchak with attempted 2nd-degree murder and other felony charges after he allegedly shot his neighbor Davis Moturi.
MINNEAPOLIS — Following the shooting between two neighbors, the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously to request that the city’s auditor conduct an independent investigation into the incidents and cases between Davis Moturi and John Sawchak.
Moturi was allegedly shot by his neighbor, Sawchak, on Wednesday, Oct. 23 but Minneapolis police did not arrest Sawchak until days later.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara defended not arresting Sawchak sooner, calling it a “high-risk” situation. O’Hara later said the victim, who had complained about harassment from Sawchak for months, was failed by police. Sawchak was arrested this past weekend after an hours-long standoff.
Moturi suffered a fractured spine, two broken ribs, and a concussion in the shooting. “Mr. Moturi’s life matters and I’m sorry that for nearly a year, MPD did not treat it like it did,” said Council Member Robin Wonsley in a news release, “Today’s vote affirms that the City Council is committed to taking meaningful actions towards accountability and restoration, starting with this independent review.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey released this statement:
“Mayor Frey fully supports an independent review of this incident. The mayor and City are committed to always doing better, and this means closely examining past actions and finding where there may be ways to improve and grow. The mayor extends his condolences to Davis Moturi, his wife, Caroline, and their family and friends. The safety of our residents is a top priority and any form of violence or hate speech is completely unacceptable and does not align with who we are as a community. Brian O’Hara will continue to be the Minneapolis Police Chief.”
