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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973 NovemberPark Upgrading ' r Completed; Hamlet r To Begin Soon Plans and specifications for improve- ments at Hamlet Park have been completed by Village Engineer Otto Bonestroo. Bids on the project will be taken this month. After a contractor is chosen, work will begin on hockey and skating rinks and balifields. It is hoped that the ice rinks will be ready for use this year. Plans for upgrading Granada Park are prepared and ready for bids. Work on that project will begin in the spring of 1974. Village Administrator Carl Meissner and Attorney Darrel Morse are working on land acquistum for Oakwood Park, a 46 -acre site behind Village Hall near 80th and Harkness, and Woodridge Park, a 50 -acre area located east of Armstrong School. Funds for development of the newparks and improvements to existing parks were approved by Cottage Grove voters in June. Village officials hope to complete during 1974 all work authorized in the $850,000 bond issue election. Construction is underway on an addition that will double the size of Village Hall. Also under construction at the Village Hall site is a separate building to tem- porarily house the Park -Grove Branch of the Washington County Library. Both building projects will be completed by April 1, 1974, at a cost of about $200,- 000. The Village Council voted last spring to use federal revenue sharing funds to finance the projects. Cottage Grove re- ceives about $75,000 per year in revenue sharing funds, guaranteed for at least five years. The Village Hall addition is being built in two levels off the back of the present structure, which was constructed in 1969. The upper level will be used for a new council chamber and more office and storage space for the village. The Police Department will occupy the dower level, which will include three bays for parking police vehicles and the South Area Modu- lar Ambulance. The present library is located in the Applebaum Shopping Center. The library's lease runs out at the end of this year and will now be renewed. Coast to Coast in- tends to use the library space to expand its operation. If a permanent home for the library is found, the new building could be used for other purposes, such as a youth recreation center. In Emergencies: Police, r r Ambula NOVEMBER, 1973 COTTAGE GROVE, MINN. Village Budget Set* Tax Rate UA Cottage Grove Village Council has ap- proved a real estate tax levy of $774,864 for 1974. The levy is about $230,000 overthel973 levy and will require an increase of about four mills in the tax rate. The to4al budget is estimated at $1,178,499. The remaining $400,000 will come from state aid, state and federal grants and licenses, fees and other income collected by the village. Much of the increase in the budget can be attributed to added staff members and salary increases for present employes. A janitor for Village Hall, a police officer, a community service officer, a mechanic helper and a recreation director will be added to the village staff. All village employes, except the ad- ministrative staff, received pay increases averaging about 6.5 per cent. The ad- ministrative staff plans to negotiate its salary increase as a group this year. The elimination of federal funding for two park department salaries and the CRIME STOP program (police) will require an additional $46,000 in the budget. The first payment on the $850,000 park bond issue will be $61,200. A levy of 20.32 mills will be required to meet the 1974 budget, compared to 16.13 mills for 1973. The following table compares the 1973 and 1974 municipal taxes for individual homes: (Taxes to support schools and other governmental operations, such as Washington County's, are not included.) Village Postal Station To Be Built In 7974 The U. S. Postal Service has pur- chased land on 80th Street across from the Colonial office building for a Cottage Grove postal station to be constructed in 1974. An architectural engineering firm in Chicago presently is making final cor- rections on plans and specifications for the building. Final plans are expected to arrive shortly at the regional post office in Minneapolis. Post office officials expect to let bids for the project around the middle of November. The construction probably will be completed in late 1974 or early 1975. The building will be a brick structure containing about 6,000 to 7,000 square feet of space. The building will be similar to other postal stations, but with some innovations in design, according to postal officials. Officials expect the full - service office to improve mail service in Cottage Grove. Local mail is now handled by the East Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, Newport and Hastings post offices. 2 Offices, Mayor's Term Mayor Roger Peterson and Councilman Rodney Hale will run without ballot op- position in the municipal election Nov. 6. Peterson is completing his first two - year term and Hale is seeking his second three-year term. Voters also will decide if the mayor's term should be extended from two to four years, beginning with the mayor elected in 1976. Minnesota law states that mayors of villages are elected to two - yearterms, subject to change by local government. The Cottage Grove Village Council has passed an ordinance changing themayor's term to four years, subject to voters' approval. A 1973 state law provides that village elections shall be held biennally, instead of annually. The Cottage Grove Village Council has decided to hold elections in even - numbered years, beginning in 1974. Since the mayor's two -year term will be up in 1975, an odd - numbered year, it will be extended to three years. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m, on election day. Qualified voters may register at the polls. Polling places are: Pct. 1, East Cottage Fire Hall Pct. 2, Pine Hill School Pct. 3, Grove School Pct. 4, Hillside School Pct. 5, Armstrong School Pct. 6, Fire Hall No. 2 Pct. 7, Crestview School. Value 1973 1974 $20,000 $32.26 $40.64 $25,000 $40.32 $50.80 $30,000 $48.39 $60.96 $35,000 $56.45 $71.12 $40,000 $64.52 $81.28 The village receives about 20 per cent of the amount paid in real estate taxes. School District 833 receives 51 per cent, Washington County receives 28 per cent and one per cent goes to Special School District 916 for vocational - technical edu- cation. 1 *Voters Approve Arena *The Mayor's View *Snow Removal Vehicles Prepared For Winter *22 Women Apply For Police Reserve *Park Upgrading Plans Completed *Construction Begins On Village Hall Addition View The Cottage Grove Ice Center will become a reality. Our residents indicated overwhelming support for the family cen- ter by a two to one vote, and currently construction plans are progressing rapidly toward the targeted late fall 1974 opening. The passage of this and the June Park Bond referendum indicate clearly the at- titude of the Cottage Grove residents to give their support in building a well - rounded total community, a community in which we can provide many varied activities for all the people, a community in which we can all be proud to live. Progress in the parks planning area has been good. The construction specifications for Hamlet Park are - complete and the hockey rinks will be ready for use this season. The baseball diamonds are ex- pected to be complete this spring and the Ice skating rinks at Hearthside, Hamlet and Armstrong School Parks will open as soon as the weather permits a good base of ice to form. An attendant will be on duty in the warming houses from 3:30 to Il p.m. weekdays, from 9 a.m. toll p.m. Saturdays and during Christmas vacation and from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays. The warming houses will be closed from noon to 1 p.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. for meal breaks. remaining facilities by mid - summer. Granada Park tennis courts and grading will be done in the spring. Land is being acquired and construction plans prepared for Oakwood and Woodridge Parks, which are scheduled for completion by fall of 1974 or spring of 1975. One issue that continually arises in Cottage Grove is street lights. Anagree- ment has been reached with NSP to provide street lights on demand in any area of the village. A petition must be circulated in an area which would accommodate at least 50 lights. When 10 per cent or more of the residents within that area have signed, the petition should be presented to the Village Council requesting a public hearing. If sufficient support exists, the council will order lights installed for the area under consideration. Payment will be handled in the same manner that it is in the newer develop- ment subdivisions where streetlights are mandatory. A $1.45 charge per month is added to the quarterly water bill for homes contiguous to lights. This amount covers maintenance and power on a continuing basis and would be approximately the same for new installations. From an aesthetic and planning view- point, light for a large contiguous area rather than scattered neighborhoods would be much better, but a 1970 survey indicated approximately two- thirds of the residents responding were opposed. Therefore, this alternate plan was adopted for those neighborhoods infavor. Contact the village offices for proposed lighting layouts and further information if needed. Voters Approve Arena.* C om pl e ti on f or • r Cottage Grove voters approved by a two to one margin a bond issue of $1,015,000 for building and equipping a municipal ice arena. Final tallies on the Oct. 9 election showed 1,008 yes votes to 517 no votes. About one -fourth of the village's 6,000 registered voters turned out to vote. Village Council has authorized Village Engineer Otto Bonestroo to have plans and specifications for the arena prepared, Bonestroo will select a team consistingof an architect and mechanical, structural and electrical engineers todrawtheplans. Village Administrator Carl Meissner and Attorney Darrel Morse have been authorized to negotiate with the District 833 School Board for lease of the arena site. The arena will be built on school property located on 80th Street between Park Senior High School and Crestview School. The general obligation bonds will be sold sometime within the next three months, depending on the financial climate. It is possiblethat construction will begin during the winter months. Village offi- cials hope the arena will be ready for use in time for the start of the hockey season in November, 1974. Cottage Grove, presently a village, will automatically become a statutory city Jan. 1, 1974, under a new state law providing for more uniformity in municipal govern- ment statutes. The law also changes thetermof council members from the present three years to tour years. It also requires municipal elections biennially, instead of annually. The year of elections is decided by local governments. Cottage Grove will hold elections in even- numbered years. The Village Council has asked Wash- ington County District Court to appoint a charter commission for Cottage Grove. If the commission deems a charter advan- tageous to Cottage Grove, the question will be put on the ballot. � � M C Cottage Grove Police ask the coopera- tion of local citizens in learning the identity of persons who dump rubbish in ditches in the rural areas of the commu- nity. A description of persons unlawfully dumping or the license number of their vehicle is helpful to the police. Dumping can result in a fine of from $10 to $300. Police Chief Robert Oszman said dump- ing mainly is a problem with persons leaving town. He pointed out that area garbage services will dispose of any kind of appliances, tires and other unwanted items. to inform the public. Mayor: Roger Peterson Council: William Admundson, Rodney Hale, Richard Hammero and Ralph McHattie Administrator: Carl Meissner Police Chief: Robert Oszman Public Works: Carl Carlson Planner: Richard Lewis Deputy Treasurer: Vernette Hanson Editor: Mary Elrod Village Council meets at 7:30 p.m. the first and third Wednesday of the month. • Rem Vehicl ' P It! ` Public Works Department employes have been working during the summer and fall months to prepare snow removal equip- ment for this winter season. The snow removal operation goes into full force whenever two or more inches of snow falls. Four dump trucks with one - way plows., two motor graders and a loader clear the snow and another dump truck spreads salt and sand on the plowed roads. Salt and sand also are spread on snowfalls of less than two inches. The department is responsible for plow- ing 100 miles of streets, 40 cul de sacs, ice skating rinks and parking lots at Vil- 1 Twenty -two women have lied for positions in the Cottage Gr Police Reserve, which was opened to females only three months ago. Thirteen of the applicants have passed the written examination and now will under- go oral, physical and psychological ex- minations. Women who pass all tests will meet Nov. 6 to begin six to nine months of ex- tensive training. They will be trained in use of firearms, self protection, first aid, criminal law and community relations by state law enforcement officials, repre- sentatives of the Washington County Men- tal Health Center and local officials. Fol- lowing training, the reservists will be uniformed and prepared to assist the re- gular police staff. Police Chief Robert Oszman eventually hopes to have 20 women in the reserve. Presently 20 men make up the reserve. Men and women interested in joining the reserve may obtain further informa- tion and applications at police headquarters. lage Hail, the recreation center and the two fire stations. It takes about eight hours to open all roads and another six hours to completely clean up after a snow- fall. No on- street parking is permitted in Cottage Grove from Oct. 1 to April 30 be- tween 2 and 6 a.m. or at any other hour when parking interferes with snow re- moval. Public Works Director Carl Carlson has appealed to parents to keep their children from playing near the curb when plowing is in progress. He said children sometimes lie down in the driveway near the curb so snow from the plow will bury them. This "game" could have a tragic ending, Carlson said. Residents also are asked to help keep fire hydrants exposed in case the Fire Department needs to use them. r C. G. Rein Co. has received a building permit to construct a 218 -unit apartment complex in Cottage Grove. Construction is scheduled to begin early in 1974. The building site is located directly behind Village Hall. Average rents for the garden apartments will range from $180 to $210 for one -bed- room units and from $220 to $235 for two- bedroom units. Pointing areas connected by a stream will run through the center of thedevelop- ment. The ponding network will aid drainage as well as add visual appeal to the open area. A 9,000- square -foot recreation building is planned to house a meeting room, an indoor swimming pool and sauna. An out- door pool and tennis courts also areplan- ned. • s Licenses Ex The Police Department has issued a reminder that all dog licenses expire on Dec. 31 of each year and must be renewed. New residents are expected to obtain a dog license within two weeks after moving into the village. Licenses for 1974 are available at Vil- lage Hall after Nov. 1. Fees are $2 for neutered males and females, $5 for non- neutered males and $10 for non - neutered females. A statement from the veteri- narian is necessary for proof of neutering. A current rabies certificate is required for all licenses. Nmg Village officials are constantly seeking applications from citizens who wish to serve on the five advisory commissions that assist the Village Council. The Planning Commission is responsi- ble for all planning and zoning regulations in the village. The Economic Development Commission studies means of attracting industrial and commercial developers to the village. The Public Works Commission reviews all proposed road and utility construction and makes recommendations on equip- ment needed to maintain village roads, parks and utility systems. The Public Safety Commission studies needs to maintain efficient police and fire protection and reviews personnel policy for the departments. The Parks and Natural Resources Com- mission works to protect natural resources and studies park site planning. Persons interested in volunteering fora commission position may contact the office of Village Administrator Carl Meissner at 459 -5535. Getting snow removal equipment ready for winter are employees of the Public Works Department. They are, from left, Robert Pommerening, Norman Hoff, Jerry Fees), Roger House, Mark Schmidt, Floyd Johnson, Dan Kemp, Roger Adams, Eugene Regnier, Ken Buettner, Boniface Schroeder, and Wilmer Holz. Not present for the picture were Gene Lowo, George Anderson and Fred 1hrig.