Utilities, local officials tally cost of ice storm damage

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn.

Electricity has been restored for nearly all of the thousands of Minnesota residents who lost power after a late winter storm that pummeled power lines with ice, snow and 50-mph winds.

But state officials are bracing for the recovery costs as utilities and local governments tally up their expenses from the blizzard last week.

Minnesota Public Radio News reports that roughly 2,000 utility poles were damaged across southern Minnesota, leaving more than 15,000 homes and businesses without power.

Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services spokeswoman Mary Nelson counted about 750 broken or downed poles, requiring the company to bring in additional workers who worked overtime to repair the damage. She estimates the storm’s damage will cost millions of dollars.

Gov. Tim Walz has announced that he plans to seek federal disaster relief assistance.