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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2002 FallG`Iko 7= 11f(W1j1f.00"fTACsE GRl?VE ©136 U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO i COTTAGE GROVE, MN. T ERM Vandalism- . ................2 City Council Filings.. .........2 Cottage Grove Day ............2 Photo Contest ......................2 Meet Fire Chief Bob Byerly ..3 Police in Schools .............3 Vikings, Wild Cards... ........3 New Precinct Map .... .....4 Election News ... ....... .. 4 Golf Course Revenues ........5 Water Main Flushing ............5 Gerlach Service - 50 Yrs ......6 Company Store ...............6 Water Quality Report .........6 Winter Tips /Public Works ......6 Police Seek Volunteers ........7 Bicycle Registration .. .......7 Hunting Ordinances ............7 Halloween Parade ................8 Breakfast with McGruff ........8 T , 1� "GATEWAY NORTH' nears completion as workers put the facing on the mall near Walgreen's, above, and begin to raise the roof on the newTCF bank, right. Below left, footings are poured for the new Home Depot at the east end of Grove Plaza. Below right, a view of the elegant pool area in the new Country Inn & Suites at 90th and E. Pt. Douglas Rd. Sept. 11 - Remembrance Events Join the Cott age r Department at a ceremo remem of :' rSept. r. r o people . who 9: 30 Se pt. f r 2 - Fire S tati o Contains a minimum of 10% postconsumer waste s �> Saturday, Oct. 26, 2002 Float/Costume judging at 10 aal (Costume judging: age 12 & undll Parade begins at 11:30 a.m. Parade Route: District Service`Cti o- south on E. Pt. Douglas Rd. to District Program Ctr. Everybody invited to march! For Parade float entry forms or more information: Contact Cottage Grove Jaycees, P.O. Box 5, CG 55016; or tail Susan Larson at 651 -768 -8629. Wear your costume - Join the fun! Sunday, Oct. 27, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. VFW Red Barn Adults $4; Children 12 & under $2.50 Sausage, juice, coffee, milk, all the pancakes you can eat Free Halloween bags and stickers for the kids! Wear your costume if you want - Bring a camera - Take a picture with McGruff the Crime Dog - Sponsored by CG Crime Prevention Advisory Board - Fall, 2002 a El Council filings to close Sept, 10 Residents interested in running for the City Council must file an Affidavit of Candidacy by Tuesday, Sept. 10, in the office of the City Clerk at Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 80th St. S. The office will stay open until 5 p.m. that day for filings. The City Council seats currently held by Pat Rice and Rod Hale will be on the ballot at the Nov. 5, 2002, General Election. Affidavits of Candidacy must be filed during regu- lar office hours, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A candidate who will be absent during the filing period may file an Affidavit prior to departure. Warden's House, Stillwater, to host 'Cottage Grove Day' Sept, 15 Cottage Grove residents are invited to a special "Cottage Grove Day" sponsored by the Washington County Historical Society on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 1 -5 p.m. at the Warden's House Museum and Library, 602 N. Main St., Stillwater. There will be free admission for all Cottage Grove residents and their guests. Displays will include artifacts and documents related to Cottage Grove history. The event will also feature guided tours of the restored 1853 house. Light refreshments will be served on the verandah overlook- ing the St. Croix River. A MN STATE PATROL HELICOPTER hovers before making a perfect landing in the Woodridge Park hockey rink area during the city's celebration of National Night Out Aug. 6. The event, which drew more than 1,800 residents, was sponsored by the Cottage Grove Public Safety Department and Cottage Grove Crime Prevention Advisory Board. Photo Contest set; deadline Oct. 18 Area photographers are encouraged to get their shut- ters clicking for the Second Annual Photo Contest spon- sored by the City of Cottage Grove Company Store. The entry deadline will be 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2002. Entries will be judged in three categories: Cottage Grove People, Cottage Grove Landmarks, and Cottage Grove Nature. Winning pho- tos will be featured in the Cottage Grove Reports. Photographers may sub- mit a maximum of two 5x7" photos mounted on matte backings, with a completed entry form attached to each. All entries become the prop- erty of the City of Cottage Grove. Questions? Contact Scott Johnson, Cottage Grove Management Analyst, at 458- 2833. Police Reserve The Cottage Grove Police Department is accept- ing applications for the Police Reserve. The Reserve assists the Police Department in a variety of services. If you or some- one you know is interested in help- ing the community by joining the Police Reserve Program, please ' contact the Police Department at 458 -2811. Applications are available at City Hall or the i{ Police Dept., 7516 80th St. S. Qualifications include:', • U.S. citizenship; Iwo • age - at least 18 years; • valid driver's license; he roa high school diploma or equivalent; • high standards and strong moral character. l You bring the make, model, color, & serial num- ber of each bike. You receive a reflective, non- peelable sticker for your bike. A deterrent to crime - a quick may for the police to return a recovered bike. from the Cottage Grove Police Department The use of firearms for hunting is prohibited in all areas within 500 feet of: any highway or roadway; any building occupied by any human or livestock; any corral containing livestock; or any build- ing occupied by any human being on any land without the oral permission of the owner or occupant of such premises. If you wish to bow hunt in Cottage Grove, you must first apply for a city hunting permit which will need to include written authorization from the land owner in the approved area you wish to hunt. Once it is approved by the Chief of Police, you must have the permit in your possession at all times while hunt- ing. If you wish to hunt with a firearm in Cottage Grove, the land owner must first apply for a given number of hunting permits. If approved by the Chief of Police, the landowner then may issue those hunt- ing permits to persons of his /her choosing. Whether you hunt with a bow or firearm, you must be in possession of a Minnesota hunting license at all times. Those who choose to hunt outside the scope of Minnesota law and city ordinance face serious conse- quences. Know your state laws and city ordinances before you hunt. And please be safe! Permits to hunt and hunting area maps are available at City Hall or the Police Dept., 7516 80th St. S., Cottage Grove. Neighborhood Watch The Cottage Grove Police Department is looking for volunteers to participate in the Neighborhood Watch crime prevention pro- gram as Block Captains, the communi- cation links between the Police Dept. and the 10 -18 homes in a Watch Block. Interested? Contact Officers Greg Reibel at 458 -6025 or Mary McGuire at 458 -6000, ext. 1047. Homeowners are needed to participate in the McGruff House program, the only safe haven pro - gram for children that is recognized by state law. McGruff House homeown- ers agree to provide their home as a tem- porary haven for children in emergency situa- tions which require immediate help. There are now 218 McGruff Houses in the city. Anyone interested in becoming a McGruff House homeowner should contact Officer Greg Reibel at 458 -6025. u , r , The Cottage Grove Crime Prevention Advisory Board is seeking new members who are interested in helping to reduce crime and promote crime prevention in Cottage Grove. Board meetings are held on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. at Fire Station #2. For details or to apply, contact Community Affairs Officer Greg Reibel at 458 -6025. Hunters! Know your state, local laws 6 Gerlach Service - 50 years in Old CG! CONGRATULATIONS to Randy Gerlach, left, and his dad Gerry as Gerlach Service, Inc., marks 50 years in business in Old Cottage Grove. Gerry's father, Ed, started the com- pany in 1952. It's still at the same location on Lamar Avenue. Before the snow flies .,.tips for homeowners from Public Works Getting ready for win- ter? Be sure to check your mailbox and post to see if any repairs are needed. You'll need to look for obvious faults like cracked boards and missing screws, then check below ground level to make sure the post is still in good condition. A rotted post will not stand up to a Minnesota winter for long, and repairs will be more diffi- cult and expensive after the ground has frozen. Please do not put trash cans or recycling bins in or near the street during the snow season. Snowplow drivers always try to plow as close as possible to the edge of the street, and trash receptacles can get in the way. Don't forget the on- street parking ban from Oct. 1, 2002, to April 30, 2003. No vehicle may be parked on any residential street between 2 and 6 a.m. Parking is permitted at other times as long as it does not obstruct the removal of snow and ice by city plows. The Public Works depart- ment tries to plow all city streets in a timely and effec- tive way. Please help them by complying with this ordi- nance. VZSZT THE COTTAGEE GROVE "C ST City Hall main entrance, 7516 Both St. S. Now also at LatteDah and DeMori's! Sweatshirts, tee - shirts mugs, caps, and a CG Moose! Check out the new navy sweatshirts & adult white tees. All fire stations to host open houses Oct. 10 All four Cottage Grove fire stations will mark National Fire Prevention Week with Open Houses from 6:30 -8:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10. Visitors will be treated to fire station tours and will have a chance to take a close look at emergency equipment. Refreshments will be avail- able. This year, National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6 -1.2. Water quality rates high The City of Cottage Grove mailed the 2001 Annual Water Quality Report to all residents this summer to inform them of testing results on city water, and to update them on the water distribution system. Tests were conducted on regulated contaminants (nitrate, fluoride, arsenic, thallium, mercury, radium, and others), lead, and cop- per; and on unregulated con- taminants (nickel, sulfate, and sodium). In every case, Cottage Grove water was considerably purer than the levels allowed by state and federal regulations. If you did not receive a Water Quality Report and would like to see it, please call the Public Works Department at 458 -2808. Mission Statement CG Fire Department our essential mssion and number one priority is to deliver the best possible service to our customers. To minimize loss of life and property for the City of Cottage Grove from fire, natural disasters, and life - threatening situations. To provide emergency medical care, transportation and quality customer service. When performing these functions, to give ultimate consideration to employee safety. To treat everyone with respect, kindness, patience and consideration. Vision Statement CG Fire Department With allotted resources, to be a highly trained and professional Fire Dept. Police give Vikings, Wild cards to youth Cottage Grove Police Officers are handing out "Wild cards," featuring players from the Minnesota Wild, and MN Vikings football collectors' cards to area young people this fall. The popular give- away program will continue each week through Sept. 24. 91 Two months into his new job, Fire Services Chief Bob Byerly has great things to say about Cottage Grove and its fire service. "We have wonderful firefighters," he said recently. "This depart- ment is committed to serving the people of Cottage Grove. The cus- tomer care here is excellent. And my boss (Director of Public Safety John Mickelson, Jr.) is great!" Leading a department with the three full -time and 57 on -call (volunteer) firefighters, Byerly has already started to make his mark. A "Pre -Plan" is being drawn for every commercial building, Byerly is working to have one or two part -time firefighters at the station during daytime hours so the first vehicle out can leave as quickly as possible, and the department just published a new Mission Statement and Vision Statement (see box at left). "A Pre -Plan gives us a map to each building, showing where the hydrants and standpipes are," Byerly explained. "With the book of Pre -Plans in every fire vehicle, the firefighter teams will know exactly what to do if they're called to the building." Byerly said fire departments are asked to respond to a greater number and variety of calls than ever before. In addition to fire- fighting skills, members of his department are trained to deal with emergency medical situations, hazardous materials, train derail- ments, and other emergencies. "These are professionals with courage and commitment and extensive training," Byerly said. "Safety is a prime concern. Our goal is to go out with a full engine company and return with a full engine company, every time." Byerly was the Assistant Fire Chief for 10 years for the Mahtomedi Fire /EMS Department. He has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and is currently working on a Master's in Public Administration, In addition, he's participating in the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program. Police to serve at Park Sr., CG Jr.; continue 6th grade D.A.R.E, During the 2002 -2003 school year, the Cottage Grove Police Department will continue to serve District 833 students enrolled in all six elementary schools, Cottage Grove Junior High, and Park High School. Officers Greg Reibel and Mary McGuire will serve as School Resource Officers, assisting students at CG Jr. High and Park Sr. High respectively. They will also teach the new nine -week D.A.R.E. elementary program to all Cottage Grove sixth graders. (D.A.R.E. stands for Drug Abuse Resistance Education.) The D.A.R.E. kindergarten through fifth grade program, D.A.R.E. junior high program, and G.R.E.A.T. (gang resistance education) program will no longer be presented in Cottage Grove schools or at Oltman Junior High in St. Paul Park. NEW FIRE SERVICES CHIEF BOB BYERLY, front right, stands with the crew on hand on a recent Tuesday morning: Ron Reische, front left, Ron Wasilk, front center, and in the back row, left to right, Gabe Johnson, Brian Kellett, Scott Huppert, Tom Shields, Rob Purcell. Meet Bob Byerly, new Fire Chief THE CG COMPANY STORE dis- play at LatteDah Cottage Grove's newest water storage tank, holding one million gallons, in the West Draw area near 70th. n 2002 Precinct Map - City of Cottage Grove Primary Election Sept. 10, 2002 General Election Nov. 5, 2002 Check here - Your Precinct or Polling Place may have changed since the last election Your precinct may have changed! Please check the revised precinct map at right to see what precinct you are in and where your polling place is. Changes are a result of legislative redistricting related to population changes reflected in the 2000 census. All Cottage Grove residents are in the newly redrawn Congressional District 2, and in State Senate District 57. Legislative District 57A now includes Precincts 2 through 8, and District 57B covers Precinct 1 and Precincts 9 to 12. DISTRICT 57A 2. Pine Hill Elementary 3. National Guard Armory 4. Cottage Grove Elementary 5. Crestview Elementary 6. Park High School 7. 833 Dist. Service Ctr. Board Rm. 8. 833 Dist. Program Ctr. Lunch Rm. More on elections: absentee ballot, registration, lawn signs Absentee ballots: Absentee ballots will be available through Monday, Sept. 9, for persons unable to vote in person at the Statewide Primary Election on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Ballots will be available at City Hall for those who will be absent from their precinct; ill or disabled; an election judge serving anoth- er precinct; or unable to go to the polling place due to a religious holiday or beliefs. Ballots will be available for voting in person during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by mail. The City Clerk's office will be open on Saturday, Sept. 7, from to a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Monday, Sept. 9, until 5 p.m. for voting by those who meet the criteria for absentee ballots. Registration: Eligible voters may register to vote at their precinct polling place on Sept. 10. Anyone who regis- ters on Election Day must provide proof of identity and proof of an address in the precinct. Only certain forms of proof will be accepted. Campaign Signs: Local and state ordinances regu- late the size, number, and placement of lawn signs for candidates running for office. Signs may be posted only until Nov. 15. Signs may not be placed at a variety ofloca- tions including public prop- erty, road right -of -ways, trees or utility poles, or in any way that would consti- tute a traffice hazard. Check with the City Clerk, 458- 2814, for complete rules. Ed Overall revenues up for River Oaks golf course in 2002 By Ron Hedberg, Cottage Grove Finance Director According to golf industry reports, the current golf market has seen a reduction of business of between 5 percent and 20 percent. Although River Oaks municipal golf course is not immune to this decline, the veer W D.W R3 ve.0 (n.o gh 3,1y) impact to River Oaks has been mitigated. 2002 2001 i GWC.. 706,768 749,756 -5.7% According to Bruce Anderson, River Oaks golf course Faod & Be . gam 327,741 247,723 32.1% manager, golf course revenues through July 31, 2002, are T.lai 1,033,909 997,479 3.7% down approximately 5.7 %, while at the same time A Clubhouse revenues are up 32.1%, resulting in overall revenues being up 3.7% (see Graph A). The River Oaks Clubhouse opened for business in 2000, and as Graph B shows, revenues have been on an upward trend since opening. The Clubhouse offers a restaurant, bar, and banquet facilities open to the public. As with all new businesses, it takes time to develop business and a customer base. Graph C shows the banquet facility side of the business. The number of banquet bookings has increased steadily compared to the same period in 2001. For example, July of 2002 shows 26 events booked, compared to 12 in July, 2001. River Oaks is also developing as a popular destination for golf tour- naments. Through July, 2002, the number of tournaments is up 12 events compared to 2001. The factors impacting the River Oaks Golf Course operations include weather, the impact of 9/11, the economic environment, increased com- petition from other courses, and the Highway 61 reconstruction. The - 2002 golf season included the wettest April and second wettest May on record. River Oaks offers specials for city residents, including a resident patron card providing preferential tee -time reservations, and a discount on greens fees, and will also offer a season pass for the 2003 season. 40 ON al a For next season, the golf course is also planning weekly special golf programs and special pricing via email. To be placed on the River Oaks email distribution list, please send your name and email address to riveroaksgolf@earthlink.net Water mains flushed this month To protect the City's water supply, all Cottage Grove water mains are being flushed, using the following schedule: Zone 1 Week of Sept. 2 Zone 2 Week of Sept. 9 Zone 3 Week of Sept. 16 Zone 4 Week of Sept. 23 Public Works Dept. employees flush the water mains twice a year by opening each of the approximately 1,000 fire hydrants in Cottage Grove. The sudden rush of water loosens and removes accumulated mineral deposits from the lines. This process often causes discoloration of water in the home. The water is safe to drink, but it could stain fabrics if you are washing clothes at the time the water mains are being flushed. Be sure to check for signs of discoloration in your water before starting a load of clothes FALL WATER The Public Works Department also suggests that you flush out the taps in your home, since iron deposits tend to build up in residential lines. When weather permits and all the hydrants have been flushed in your neighborhood, open the outside faucets and run all the cold water taps in your home at full force. The water will start out clear, then become discolored. Leave the taps open until the water runs clear again, usually in 10 to 30 minutes. If you have any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 458 -2808. DISTRICT 57B 1. Fire Station #3 9. Light the Way Church 10. Grey Cloud Elem. School 11. Crossroads Church 12. Christ the Lord Lutheran Church More on elections: absentee ballot, registration, lawn signs Absentee ballots: Absentee ballots will be available through Monday, Sept. 9, for persons unable to vote in person at the Statewide Primary Election on Tuesday, Sept. 10. Ballots will be available at City Hall for those who will be absent from their precinct; ill or disabled; an election judge serving anoth- er precinct; or unable to go to the polling place due to a religious holiday or beliefs. Ballots will be available for voting in person during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or by mail. The City Clerk's office will be open on Saturday, Sept. 7, from to a.m. to 3 p.m. and on Monday, Sept. 9, until 5 p.m. for voting by those who meet the criteria for absentee ballots. Registration: Eligible voters may register to vote at their precinct polling place on Sept. 10. Anyone who regis- ters on Election Day must provide proof of identity and proof of an address in the precinct. Only certain forms of proof will be accepted. Campaign Signs: Local and state ordinances regu- late the size, number, and placement of lawn signs for candidates running for office. Signs may be posted only until Nov. 15. Signs may not be placed at a variety ofloca- tions including public prop- erty, road right -of -ways, trees or utility poles, or in any way that would consti- tute a traffice hazard. Check with the City Clerk, 458- 2814, for complete rules. Ed Overall revenues up for River Oaks golf course in 2002 By Ron Hedberg, Cottage Grove Finance Director According to golf industry reports, the current golf market has seen a reduction of business of between 5 percent and 20 percent. Although River Oaks municipal golf course is not immune to this decline, the veer W D.W R3 ve.0 (n.o gh 3,1y) impact to River Oaks has been mitigated. 2002 2001 i GWC.. 706,768 749,756 -5.7% According to Bruce Anderson, River Oaks golf course Faod & Be . gam 327,741 247,723 32.1% manager, golf course revenues through July 31, 2002, are T.lai 1,033,909 997,479 3.7% down approximately 5.7 %, while at the same time A Clubhouse revenues are up 32.1%, resulting in overall revenues being up 3.7% (see Graph A). The River Oaks Clubhouse opened for business in 2000, and as Graph B shows, revenues have been on an upward trend since opening. The Clubhouse offers a restaurant, bar, and banquet facilities open to the public. As with all new businesses, it takes time to develop business and a customer base. Graph C shows the banquet facility side of the business. The number of banquet bookings has increased steadily compared to the same period in 2001. For example, July of 2002 shows 26 events booked, compared to 12 in July, 2001. River Oaks is also developing as a popular destination for golf tour- naments. Through July, 2002, the number of tournaments is up 12 events compared to 2001. The factors impacting the River Oaks Golf Course operations include weather, the impact of 9/11, the economic environment, increased com- petition from other courses, and the Highway 61 reconstruction. The - 2002 golf season included the wettest April and second wettest May on record. River Oaks offers specials for city residents, including a resident patron card providing preferential tee -time reservations, and a discount on greens fees, and will also offer a season pass for the 2003 season. 40 ON al a For next season, the golf course is also planning weekly special golf programs and special pricing via email. To be placed on the River Oaks email distribution list, please send your name and email address to riveroaksgolf@earthlink.net Water mains flushed this month To protect the City's water supply, all Cottage Grove water mains are being flushed, using the following schedule: Zone 1 Week of Sept. 2 Zone 2 Week of Sept. 9 Zone 3 Week of Sept. 16 Zone 4 Week of Sept. 23 Public Works Dept. employees flush the water mains twice a year by opening each of the approximately 1,000 fire hydrants in Cottage Grove. The sudden rush of water loosens and removes accumulated mineral deposits from the lines. This process often causes discoloration of water in the home. The water is safe to drink, but it could stain fabrics if you are washing clothes at the time the water mains are being flushed. Be sure to check for signs of discoloration in your water before starting a load of clothes FALL WATER The Public Works Department also suggests that you flush out the taps in your home, since iron deposits tend to build up in residential lines. When weather permits and all the hydrants have been flushed in your neighborhood, open the outside faucets and run all the cold water taps in your home at full force. The water will start out clear, then become discolored. Leave the taps open until the water runs clear again, usually in 10 to 30 minutes. If you have any questions, please call the Public Works Department at 458 -2808.