Information updated February 2020
The operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) in the city is allowed by operators who are at least 16 years of age and have a valid Minnesota driver’s license, as long as the driver takes the most non-stop, direct route in and out of town. The ATV ordinance is available at city hall, or the city’s website at www.winsted.mn.us.
The residents of Winsted take extreme pride in the maintenance of their properties. As a result, the city has developed a blight ordinance, which restricts the storage of junk cars, tires, old construction materials, and other debris and garbage. If you feel there is a case of blight in your neighborhood, contact the police department.
The city maintains a location for city residents to dispose of brush and compost materials. Contact city hall for hours and location.
Winsted has adopted the state building code. The city is provided building inspection service by Metro West Inspection Services.
Building permits are needed for a variety of projects, including installation of furnace and air conditioning units, re-roofing, re-siding, sheds, garages, and new construction. Should you have any questions regarding your need for a building permit, call city hall at 320-485-2366.
Recreational fires are allowed within the City of Winsted. Contact the city hall for guidelines.
Cable – Cable television is available to all residents from Mediacom Cable and TDS. If you would like to connect to cable television or have any problems with cable television, call Mediacom at 800-332-0245 or TDS at 877-665-9990. Digital channels 107.1 and 107.2 are the local public access channels in Winsted.
Electric – Xcel Energy, customer service: 800-895-4999, emergency or lights out: 800-895-1999; HomeSmart: 800-238-7378, business solution center: 800-481-4700; and McLeod Cooperative Power Association, customer service: (320) 864-3148, after hour outages: 800-927-5685.
Gas – CenterPoint Energy, customer service: 800-245-2377, gas leak emergency: 800-722-9326. Call Gopher State before you dig, 800-252-1166.
Telephone – TDS Telecom provides local telephone service in Winsted at 320-485-4111. TDS is located at 316 Pine Street, Monticello, MN 55362.
Garbage pickup is provided every Tuesday by Waste Management. Containers should be curbside by 7 a.m. The company provides 32-, 64-, or 96-gallon containers. Tags can be purchased from Waste Management for excess bags of refuse. Refuse charges are available from Waste Management. Contact Waste Management at 1-888-960-0008 or via e-mail at WVEservice@wm.com for customer
service needs.
Recyclable materials are picked up every other Tuesday by West Central Sanitation. Bins must be placed at the curb by 7 a.m. Recyclable materials include cardboard/boxboard, mixed paper, plastics, metals, and glass. For more information on recycling, contact McLeod County Solid Waste at 1-800-335-0575.
For a current listing of day care providers in the area, contact McLeod County Social Services. McLeod County’s local number for Winsted residents is 320-395-2568.
In order to prevent the spread of disease, all diseased trees should be removed as soon as possible.
If you have a tree or trees that you believe may be diseased, call 320-485-2201 for assistance. Boulevard trees are removed and replaced by the city.
A license is required for all dogs over 4 months of age. Licenses expire Dec. 31 of each year and must be renewed at city hall for $10. All applications for a license must be accompanied by a statement from a veterinarian indicating that the dog has current vaccinations; or a rabies vaccination certificate. City ordinance requires pet owners to clean up and dispose of any animal feces.
The city of Winsted requires a permit prior to installing a fence. Fence permit applications may be picked up at city hall.
The post office is located at 155 Main Ave. W. and can be reached at 320-485-2310. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., and 1:15 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 to 10 a.m. Saturdays.
In order to locate your home in an emergency, owners are required to display their house numbers so they can be seen easily from the street, with a minimum size of 4 inches in height.
The city of Winsted requires a permit prior to any sign being installed. Sign permit applications may be picked up at city hall.
The city allows snowmobilers to drive the most direct route from their house on city streets to outside city limits and return to their home on the same route. No snowmobiling is allowed between the hours of 1 a.m. and one-half hour before sunrise.
Water and sewer customers are billed by the city on a monthly basis. For more information on your utility bill, contact the utility billing clerk at 320-485-2366.
From Nov. 1 through March 31, there is no parking on city streets from 2 to 6 a.m. In the case of more than 2 inches of snow, parking is not allowed on any streets until the streets have been cleared of snow.