Otter Tail County names snowplow OTTERLY COLD, posts Board meetings to YouTube

Otter Tail County officials announced Feb. 27 that the county’s 2026 snowplow will be named OTTERLY COLD and that Board of Commissioners meetings are now being posted to YouTube, a step county leaders say expands online access to local government. The county’s meeting calendar lists Board of Commissioners meetings on February 10 and 24 at 8:30 a.m., a Planning Commission meeting on February 11 at 6:00 p.m., and a Board of Adjustment meeting on February 12 at 6:00 p.m.

The county’s February update paired the OTTERLY COLD announcement with a human-interest feature on a highway employee known as Denny, nicknamed “Plow Bunyan.” The post includes a photo captioned “A man in a buffalo print shirt and black stocking cap standing next to a snowplow named Plow Bunyan” and says, “Meet Denny, one of our county highway heroes (you might know him as ‘Plow Bunyan’!). Denny proved that heroes show up when it matters most.” The county reported that “while plowing his route, Denny came across an Ashby School bus full of children that had slid partially off the road between a set of curves. With poor visibility and dangerous road conditions, Denny didn’t hesitate.” The post adds that Denny assisted “for over an hour,” and calls the episode “the kind of dedication our snowplow drivers bring to work every single day, keeping our roads safe and our neighbors protected,” followed by the reminder: “Stay safe out there, everyone, and remember to give our plow drivers plenty of room to work!”

County officials also highlighted tools and services riders and drivers can use during winter. The county’s website points residents to a snow plow route map so property owners can confirm which roads Otter Tail County maintains, and the update reiterates the county’s public-safety message to give plow drivers space while clearing roads.

Operational notices in the county update include the Ottertail Polar Plunge scheduled for February 7 at noon at Sportsman’s Public Access off Highway 78, with registration or donations handled online, and a reminder that county offices will be closed February 16 in observance of President’s Day. Solid Waste information in the update instructs residents who received recycling bins but do not wish to participate to contact the Solid Waste Department at 218-998-8950 to arrange bin pickup, and notes that residents outside grant-funded service areas can arrange fee-based recycling pickup through their waste hauler; the county also directs residents to its single-sort recycling pilot page on the county website for more details.

For statewide context, MnDOT’s Name a Snowplow contest is in its sixth year; MnDOT narrowed more than 6,750 submissions to 30 finalists for a three-week public vote and, after tallying more than 19,000 votes, announced district winners including Oh, For Sleet’s Sake (District 3), Sled Zeppelin (District 2), and The Life of a Snowgirl (Metro). Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger noted in a statement accompanying the announcement, “We’re so thankful to the Minnesotans who have helped submit and select new and creative snowplow names for our agency. Let’s remember it’s not just the plows, it’s also about the more than 1,600 Minnesota snowplow operators who keep us safe, and our roads cleared all winter long. Please slow down and give the operators of Sled Zepplin, The Life of a Snowgirl and all of Minnesota’s other snowplows plenty of space to clear roads safely every time it snows.”

For county business or questions about meetings and services, Otter Tail County lists its main phone as 218-998-8000 and its address as 500 W Fir Ave, Fergus Falls, MN 56537.