St. Louis County officials say they have supervisors and experienced workers ready to go if unionized snowplow workers go through with their threat to strike.
The snowplow operators are represented by Teamsters Union local 320, which posted over the weekend that if there is a strike, it won't start until Tuesday at the earliest.
The two sides had a 12-hour negotiating session late last week, and the contract offered by St. Louis County was overwhelmingly rejected by the rank-and-file during a meeting on Saturday in Eveleth.
Governor Walz revealed Sunday on WCCO television that state meditators have kick-started talks and he said he's confident a strike can be averted.
Wages and health care are at issue.
More than 100 union workers are responsible for plowing more than 3,000 miles of roads in St. Louis County.