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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 September1 6" read l� Costume Judging 12:30 p.m. Site: District Service Ctr., 7362 E. Pt, Douglas Rd, (near Rainbow) Judging by age categories Parade 1:00 P.M. Everyone is welcome to march! Route: south on E. Pt. Douglas from District Service Ctr to District Program Ctr., 8400 E. Pt. Douglas Party for Paraders and Families Approx. 2 -2:45 p.m. Site: The Rodeo, W. Pt. Douglas Rd. Entertainment: The Teddy Bear Band Halloween Parade and activities sponsored by the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce POSTAL PATRON Carrier Route Presort Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1 COTTAGE GROVE, MN 55016 Fall Civic Events Oct. 1 1 ......... Fire Prevention Week activities (Page 1) Oct. 25 ......... Halloween Parade (Page 8) Nov. 15......... Annual Boy Scout Community Food Drive (Page 3) Check the 4 -page insert in this issue for information on new transit ser- vices in Cottage Grove. 'At -Risk' youth ........ 2 CityVision 21 ........... 2 McGruff Houses ..... 2 Share the Joy ......... 3 Crime Prevention ... 3 Ne!ghborhd Watch 3 Water Main ............. 4 Police News ............ 4 Safety Camp .......... 5 Local History ........... 5 Winterizing Trees__ 6 Leaf Disposal .......... 6 Public Works ........... 7 'Name the Park' .... 7 Halloween Parade 8 Thrift Store ............... 8 l 3 W Sept. 29 will be the first day on the job for Cottage Grove's new City Administrator, Ryan Schroeder. Schroeder, who was confirmed by the City Council on Aug. 23, has already started meeting with Council members, staff, and the public during a number of visits to the City. "This is a won- derful opportunity," he said in a recent phone interview. "I see lots of interesting challenges and possibilities." Schroeder, who has a master's degree in Urban Studies from Mankato State University, was the first City Administra- tor in the City of Rockford, Minnesota and the Assistant City Manager and Personnel Director in Robbinsdale. For the past six years, he has been the City Admin- "We've spent a lot of time striving through Cot- tage Grove. It seems like a wonderful community. " istrator in Ramsey, a city of 18,000 " that takes all the space between Anoka and Cont. on Page 5 Fire parade, Open House Oct, 11 Cottage Grove will mark National Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 5 -11) with a series of events on Saturday, Oct. 11, all at Fire Station 1, 8183 Grange Blvd. Activi- ties will include a parade, Open House, and a chance for City residents to receive safety checks on home fire prevention equipment. The Fire Preven- tion Parade will involve all 22 fire equipment units (barring an emer- gency), driving from Fire Station 1 to Hale Avenue, 90th Street, and Glenbrook Avenue, then east on Grange Blvd. back to the Station. An Open House will follow from 1 to 5 p.m, at Fire Station 1: it will include demonstrations of emergency proce- dures, truck rides and fire extinguisher tryouts for the chil- dren. Capt. Cal Beasley of Fire Station 4 is chairing the Fire Prevention activities. "Any resident may ask to have a fire extinguisher or smoke alarm checked and serviced at Fire Sta- tion 1 that after- noon," he said. Earlier in Octo- ber, the Fire Depart- ment will sponsor a fire safety poster contest which stu- dents may enter through their el- ementary schools. Top prize for each contest (Grades K -1, 2 -3, 4 -5) will be $15 and a ride to school in a fire truck for the winner and five friends. Second prize will be $10 for each competition. Contains a minimum of 10% postconsumer waste. 1 New program at Armory to target 'at -risk' youth Cottage Grove's National Guard Armory is one of 16 Minnesota sites selected for a new program that will provide recreational activities for "at risk" youth. The Department of Military Affairs will hire persons who will work directly with local community program providers to develop and maintain recreational activities for youth during after- school and early evening hours. The state -wide program will be funded by an $800,000 appropria- tion over a two -year period. One staff person will be hired (probably in Septem- ber) to manage both the Cottage Grove and Hastings sites under the new program. Cottage Grove residents with program ideas or an interest in doing volunteer work with community youth are asked to call the Recreation Depart- ment at 458 -2801 to discuss possibilities for this program. 'CityVision 21' to study river The information - gathering phase is drawing to a close for Cottage Grove's "CityVision 21" Task Force, which was charged with devel- oping a long -range strategic plan for the City. So far, according to Community Development Direc- tor Kim Lindquist, the Task Force has researched issues involving Land Use and Housing, Eco- nomic Development, Youth, a Community Center, and Trans- portation. In October, the group will study and discuss the City's Future on the River, including develop- ment and recre- ational issues. Beginning in November, the Task Force will develop goal statements for each of the major areas it has studied, then will work on a draft report to the City Council. The 21- member "CityVision 21" Task Force was appointed last year by the City Council. A final report is expected early in 1998. Residents of Cottage Grove are always welcome at the Task Force meetings, which are held the first Thurs- day of every month at 7 p.m. Please call City Hall for meeting locations. Residents may also call the CityVision 21 Hotline at 458 -6067; TDD 458 -2880; FAX 458- 2897 with their ideas or questions, or write to CityVision 21 Task Force, City Hall, 7516 80th St. S., Cottage Grove, MN 55016. *A homeowners Help a child "McGruff House" - a safe haven program for children recognized by MN state law. School D.A.R.E. officers teach children that if they are frightened or in an emergency situation, they may go to a "McGruff House" for help. For more information, contact Community Af- fairs Officer Greg Reibel, 458 -6025. Public Works employees are now preparing for the upcoming plowing season. This would be a good time for residents to look at their mailboxes and posts. Check for the obvious (cracked boards, missing screws, etc.), but also check below ground level to make sure your post is still in good condition A rotted post will not stand up to a Minne- sota winter for very long, and repairs are more difficult after the ground has frozen. In addition, the Public Works De- partment asks residents to refrain from putting trash cans in or right next to the street during the snow season. Snow plow drivers always try to plow as close as possible, and trash recep- tacles just make it more difficult. N Remember: the On -Street Parking Ordinance is in effect from Oct. 1 through April 30. No vehicle may be parked on any residential street from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. Parking is per- mitted at other times as long as it does not obstruct the removal of snow and ice by city plows. Please help our Public Works De- partment in their efforts to clear snow this winter by com- plying with this ordinance. The City of Cottage Grove Adopt -A -Road Pro- gram currently has several openings. If you are an indi- vidual, group, or organization looking for a way to show your civic pride, this may be for you. Adopters agree to pick litter and debris from a specified roadway (typically 1- 2 miles) three times a year. Bags and safety vests are provided by the Public Works De- partment. Bags of litter and heavy items are left on the roadside to be picked up by city trucks. In exchange for a two - year commitment, the City erects a sign acknowledging the group or individual who has adopted that section of roadway. This program benefits Public Works and the community by beautifying our roadsides and freeing up city personnel for other jobs. For more infor- mation, or to Adopt - A -Road, call 458- 2869. Enter this 'Name the Park' contest before Oct, 8 Name Cottage Grove's newest park, and you may win a round at River Oaks Golf Courses The Parks De- partment is soliciting names from commu- nity residents for the new neighborhood park now being developed next to the Pine Meadows and Sandy Hills 7th Subdivisions. The 10 -acre park will include playground equipment, parking lot, ball fields, and a volleyball court. It is located in the vicinity of Johansen Avenue and 85th Street South. Deadline for the contest is Oct. 7. All entries will be reviewed by the Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources Commission at their Oct. 13 meeting. The person submitting the winning entry will receive a foursome pass at the River Oaks Golf Course. Entries must be submitted to Cottage Grove City Hail, 7516 80th St. S., Cottage Grove, MN 55016. in your neighborhoo, No -hands pudding - eating was a favorite activity during Cottage Grove's playground program this summer. 6 By John Klinkhammer City Forester How to winterize your landscape So you've pulled the window air conditioner, put plastic on those cold north windows, tuned the car, and checked the anti - freeze. Are you ready for winter? Maybe not - at least until you've checked your landscape. Do you have newly - planted shade or ornamental trees? Wrapping those trees in the fall with inexpensive tree wrap can save the heartbreak of watch- ing the southwest side of the tree die due to sunscald. How about that new evergreen? Wrap it with burlap, or create a wind barrier - especially for trees planted near the "wind tunnels" between homes. Were you too busy enjoying the summer to get that pruning done? No problem. Fail is the best time to prune. The leaves are down and the tree's structure is clearly visible. Re- move the broken branches, stubs, and other dead wood. Look for weak branches that have "included bark," where the bark from the trunk and the branch disappear smoothly down into the crotch of the tree. More trees split at these weak junc- tions than at any other place. Do any of the branches rub or run close parallels to each other? Keep the best and remove the others. Now you're almost done. How high do you want the crown to start? There is no one answer. On the street we need to be concerned with mail carriers, school buses, maintenance equipment, and everyday traffic, so we lift to 14 feet above the curb line. At home I lift to head high where I push my lawnmower. There is nothing wrong with leaving the crown lower and mowing around it. The choice is yours - but do think about safety where drive- ways and roadways come together. Now you're ready to enjoy the winter. Let the snows begin - I'll see you in the spring! Raking wet leaves into street creates car, sewer problems At this time of year, city crews are busy with last- minute cleanup before the winter season is upon us. A major concern of the Public Works Department is the amount of leaves clogging our roadways. Leaves pose several hazards: • Wet leaves can seem remarkably like ice under car tires, contrib- uting to automobile accidents. • Accumulated leaves may plug storm water grates. • Street sweepers are not designed to pick up leaves, so storm sewer cleaning is a very costly and labor- intensive job. • In the fall, localized flooding may occur if the storm drains do not operate properly. • A more dangerous situation occurs in the spring, when leaves are frozen over storm water grates. Daytime temperatures and de- icing agents cause runoff that collects in low areas. This standing water freezes nightly, requiring city crews to apply more de -icing agents each morning and creating a larger "pond" the next night. In addition, this freeze/thaw cycle of standing water contributes to the creation of potholes. For all these reasons, the Public Works Depart- ment urges residents not to rake leaves and grass clippings into the street. Please help your City by bagging leaves that collect in your yard. a �� Thank you for your assistance!" 3 •• early for Christmas? Not for 'Share the Joy planners A dedicated group of local church and community representatives gathered on a hot evening in early August to start planning for the Friends in Need Food Shelf 'Share the Joy" program for the 1997 holiday season. The program provides food and gifts to any resident of Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, or Newport who seeks help. According to food shelf coordinator Sue Kainz, "The use of the food shelf is down for 1997, as it was in 1996. However, more than 900 chil- dren were helped through 'Share the Joy' last Christmas." "We have no idea how many we will help this Christmas," she added. "Phis community is so very generous that I know we will help anyone who comes through the door." Holiday dates to remember include: DATE EVENT WHAT YOU CAN DO Nov. 15 Annual Boy Scout Please place non - perishable foods on Community Food Drive your doorstep by 9 a.m. for pickup. Nov. 23 Thanksgiving Basket You may give a food basket or cash Distribution donation. Dec. 20 Distribution of Christ- You are invited to donate gifts, adopt mas Food and Gifts a family, or make a cash donation to help defray costs. Many, many volunteers are needed for all of the above activities. You may volunteer by calling 458 -0730. For complete information about "Share the Joy," watch the Washington County Bulletin or your church bulletin, or call Friends in Need at 458- 0730. If you /your family need help for the holidays, the signup for "Share the Joy" will take place on two days in October. Watch the Washington County Bulletin for dates and locations. (No signups will take place at the food shelf this year.) Picture ID and proof of address will be necessary. • •r • • r • • • e c1 Dili•• G• The Cottage Grove Crime Preven- tion Advisory Board is seeking new members who are willing to volunteer at least one hour of their time per month. The Board is made up of local citizens concerned with the reduction of crime and the promotion of crime prevention in Cot- tage Grove. Although it is independent of city government, the Crime Prevention Advisory Board works in coopera- tion with the Police Department. Board meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Fire Station #2. Persons inter- ested in obtaining additional informa- tion or who wish to apply to be on the Board should contact Community Affairs Officer Greg Reibel at 458 -6025. Work with neighbors on your block to recognize and report suspicious activity. Training provided by the Cottage Grove Police Dept. 1 For more information, call: Cell Peterson: 458 -1081; or Officer Greg Reibel: 458 -6025 N?FJVE WS'Ne 4 Water • •' begins Sept Flushing of Cottage Grove's water mains will begin Sept. 8 and continue through the end of September. Please check the map at right to find your zone and see when flushing will take place in your area. The City flushes the water mains twice a year as a way of protecting its water supply. When City workers open fire hydrants, the sudden rush of water loosens accumulated mineral deposits and suspends them in the water so they will pour off. This process often causes discoloration in the water. While the water is safe to drink, it could stain clothing, and you should check for signs of "rusty water" before using the water to wash clothes. You can help clear the water by flushing out the taps in your homes, since iron deposits tend to build up in the lines. When weather permits and hydrants in your area have been flushed, just open the outside faucets and run all the cold water taps inside your home at full capac- ity. The water will start out clear, then become discolored. Leave the taps on until the water looks clear again, usually in 10 to 30 minutes. If you have any questions about the flushing procedure, please contact the Public Works Department at 458 -2808. Community- Oriented Po- licing offers citizen access As part of the implementation of Commu- nity- Oriented Policing, the Cottage Grove Police Department has divided the City into the four districts shown at right. You may access the Community Oriented Policing line to leave a message for an officer assigned to your area, or to gather up -to -date informa- tion on activity in your district. The 24 -hour number is 458 -6054. More than 1,200 celebrate 'National Night Out' More than 1,200 Cottage Grove residents celebrated "National Night Out" at Woodridge Park Aug. 5. The City joined communities across the country in hosting events as a reminder to take a stand against crime, drugs, and violence. Special activities included a concert by the South Washington County Band directed by Paul Storti; carnival games, a moonwalk, face paint- ers, and a free petting zoo; demonstrations by the Cottage Grove Police Bicycle Patrol; displays of emergency equipment, and booths for the Neighborhood Watch and McGruff House pro- grams - plus lots of delicious food. A highlight of the evening was a visit by Lt. Governor Joanne Benson and Don Davis, the MN Commissioner of Public Safety, who arrived by helicopter to greet the crowd. The event was sponsored by the Cottage Grove Department of Public Safety, the Crime Prevention Advisory Board, SuperMoms Bakery, Target, Cub Foods, Demori s Restaurant, and Jamaica Food Mart. Volunteers from Target and the Cottage Grove Police Reserve and Fire Dept. helped make the event a success. Next year's National Night Out will be Tuesday, Aug. 4. 118 attend Safety Camp Some 118 chil- dren in third, fourth, and fifth grades participated in the 4th annual Cottage Grove Summer Safety Camp held at Hamlet Park July 22 -24. The participants were placed into four separate teams which rotated through a variety of safety training modules. The children learned about elec- tricity, the proper use of 911, how to safely escape from a burning building, bicycle safety, and many other safety topics. Members of the Cottage Grove Police, Fire, and Parks and Recreation Depart- ments were assigned as counselors to each team and worked directly with the children during the three -day event. Each participant received a T -shirt, hat, bicycle helmet, lunches and snacks. At the end of the Safety Camp, a graduation ceremony was held for all participants and their families. Acting City Administrator Michelle Wolfe and Public Safety Director Dennis Cusick ad- dressed the Safety Camp graduates. Graduates feasted on cakes donated by SuperMom's Bakery, and watched a 1997 Safety Camp video produced by South Washington County Cable. Next year's Safety Camp will again be held in July. R Ryan Schroeder , , , Cont. from Page I Elk River," Schroeder said. The new City Administrator be- lieves his role is to carry out the policies of the City Council and recommend policy to them. He expects to "provide direction to the council on operating matters and to receive their direction back on what effi- ciencies could be gained in City gov- ernment." He said his first days on the job will be spent meeting with the City Council "to define specific expectations of me" and with as many members of the staff and community as possible to see what the needs and priori- ties of the community are. This investigative phase is already underway. "I've been meeting with about two department heads per week," Schroeder said. "And the hiring process itself in- cluded a chance to talk with interested City staff and com- munity people during the after- noon." Schroeder plans to move to Cottage Grove with his wife and two children, ages di. and 9. He said they` -re already spent "a lot of time" driving through Cottage Grove to get to know it better. "I'm really look- ing forward to the opportunity and challenge of this job," Schroeder said. "Cottage Grove seems like a wonder- ful community." Local history series`' ready for area teachers Twenty -four handouts, booklets, and classroom displays on the history of Cottage Grove and Newport have been prepared for area teachers by Cottage Grove Historic Preservation Officer Robert Vogel. Published materials include a brief history of Cottage Grove, a wall chart of Cottage Grove historical dates, memoirs of pioneer Robert Watson, and a series of illustrated "Heritage Site Files" and "Heritage Essays" spotlighting places and topics important to local history. The project was funded in part by the National Park Service and MN Historical Society.