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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 SeptemberPOSTAL PATRON Carrier Route Presort Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1 COTTAGE GROVE, MN 55016 National celebration More than 1,300 local residents attended the 15th anniversary celebration of "National Night Out" on Tues- day, Aug. 4, at Woodridge Park. The participants enjoyed great food, children's games, a petting zoo, informational booths, and displays and demonstrations of public safety equipment, Sponsored by the Cottage Grove Crime Prevention Advisory Board and the City's Department of Public Safety, the local National Night Out celebration was an opportunity for citizens to join with public safety person- nel in "Saying Goodbye to Crime, Drugs, and Violence" in our neighborhoods. "We would like to thank all those who helped to make this year's National Night Out celebration such a big success," said Community Affairs Officer Greg Reibel. In 1999, the 16th anniversary of National Night Out will be celebrated on Tuesday, Aug. 3. September, TUESDAY, Primary Sept. 1 Crime Prevention Board ..... 5 McGruff House .:: .......ii. 5 Neighborhood Watch.....:.: 5 Preservation Guidelines,..... b Local History Class Kits ........ b Main Flushing .... 7 g Ready for Snow:,.:, 7 a( Nighf Out .,..,,,.. 8 M COTTAGE GROVE POLICE OFFICERS AND RESERVES staffed the infor- mational tables at the City's very successful National Night Out celebra- tion in August. Free bicycle registration will be available to all Cottage Grove bike owners in a new program sponsored by the City's Police Department. "This program will act as a deterrent to the ever - increasing problem of bicycle theft, and will also assist the Police Department in returning recovered lost or stolen bicycles to their owners," according to Acting Director of Public Safety James Kinsey. Members of the Cottage bicycle registration booths in local shopping malls on several Saturdays in September and October. Registration times and locations will be advertised in the Washington County Bulletin. In an effort to register as many children's bikes as possible, Reserve Officers will also staff one -day bicycle registration booths at all five Cottage Grove elementary schools Registrants will receive a free, reflective, non- peelable number sticker which is placed on the frame of the bike. All bicycle registration records will be maintained by the Police 2 Open House, contest, visits set for Fire Prevention Week Oct. 4 -10 National Fire Prevention Week of 1998 will be celebrated Oct. 4- 10, and a number of activities have been scheduled by the City's Fire Department to mark the event. A highlight of the local observance will be the Open House from 10 a.ra to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Fire Station 2, 8641 80th St. S. The Open House will include: • "Smokehouse" - a small house designed to teach people how to get out of a burning building; • Pictures with Sparky the Fire Dog; • Training on using home fire extinguishers ; • Rides on fire trucks. "We want people to come and learn where their tax dollars are going, and to meet the people who are involved in firefighting and fire prevention in our City," said Kevin Zittel, Cottage Grove Firefighter and youth education coordinator. "We hope everyone can learn who we are and what we do, and can pick up some fire safety tips too." Fire Prevention Week activities will include a poster contest (deadline Oct. 8) for elementary students. More information will be available in the schools. Firefighters will also mark the week by visiting many area classrooms to discuss fire safety. AWARD - WINNING TEENS who participated in this summer's "U- Lead" and "U /R" programs gathered outside City Hall before receiv- ing an Award of Excellence from the Minnesota Recreational and Park Assn. U -Lead, begun in the summer of 1997 by the City's Rec- reation Dept., teaches teens leadership skills; U/R is a refresher for those who've been through U -Lead. The 28 teens in the two pro- grams volunteered at playgrounds or the municipal pool for a total of more than 1,200 hours this summer. Thanks, teens! Public Works plans Open House Saturday, Oct, 24 An Open House is planned for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m Saturday, Oct. 24, at the City's newly remodeled and expanded Public Works facility. "This will be a great oppor- tunity for residents to tour our facilities and participate in a number of planned activities," according to Public Works Director Les Burshten. "Please join us for a day of fun and Learn about the many services provided by your Public Works Department." The facility is located at 8635 West Point Douglas Road South, the frontage road on the west side of Highway 61 about a block south of Jamaica. Elizabeth Johnson named City Finance Director Elizabeth A. Johnson has been appointed Finance Director for the City of Cottage Grove. She has worked in the Department since 1995 and had served as Acting Director since December. She replaces Diane Archer, who left the City to take a position in another state. Johnson graduated from St. Thomas University with a B.A. in Accounting, and is a licensed C.P.A. She worked for the Office of the MN State Auditor from 1991 to 1995. Her responsibilities included overseeing the final stages of conversion to a new finan- cial system for the City. The Finance Director also monitors the City's cash flow, adminis- ters investment programs, acts as a financial advisor to City staff and boards, monitors and develops internal control procedures, directs the development of computer services, and assists in preparing the Annual Budget. "The City is blessed with the caliber of each individual in the Finance Department," Johnson said. "This job is very rewarding —I get great satisfaction from public service and from the teamwork in the Department. I really enjoy living and working in Cottage Grove." a Water main flushing to begin Sept. 7 To protect the City's water supply, water main flushing will begin the week of Sept. 7 and continue through the week of Sept. 28. Please check the map at left to see which zone you are in and when flushing will take place in your area. Flushing the water mains is done to protect the City's water supply. Public Works employees open fire hydrants so the sudden rush of water will loosen and remove accumulated mineral deposits. This process often causes discoloration of the water. While the water is safe to drink, it could stain clothing, and homeowners should check for signs of discoloration before using the water to wash clothes. City residents should also flush out the taps of their homes, as iron deposits tend to build up in the lines. When weather permits and hydrants in your area have been flushed, open outside faucets and run all the cold water taps in your home at full capacity. The water will start out clear, then become discolored. Leave the water on until it looks clear again, usually 10 to 30 minutes. If you have any questions about the flushing pro- cess, please call the Public Works Dept. at 458 -2808. Public Works Memo Board; Get ready for t5hug Cottage Grove's winter parking ban begins Oct. 1 and runs through April 30. Parking on City streets is prohibited between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m., or until [he streets are plowed full width. Parking at all other times is allowed only if it does not interfere with snow removal. If unusual circumstances create a temporary need for vehicles to be parked on the street, residents should contact the Police Dept. at 458 -2811 and permission may be granted. 2 Remember to keep the approach to your mailbox clear of snow, vehicles, and other obstructions. The letter carrier must be able to deliver your mail without leaving the vehicle or having to back up. Obstructions should be cleared ten feet on either side of your mailbox and back to the curbline. Cottage Grove City Code reads, "No parking within 15 feet of any mailboxes between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday through Saturday." Your cooperation is sincerely appreciated by the Postal Service and Public Works Department. 3 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 has not rotted. A rotted post will not stand up to a Minnesota winter for very long, and repairs are more difficult after the ground has frozen. 4 By State law, it is unlawful to deposit snow on public streets. Shoveling snow into the street could result in damage to snowplowing equip- ment, injuries to maintenance personnel, and needless delays in snow removal. The Public Works Department expects and appreciates the coopera- tion of all residents in this matter. 6 Refuse and recycling containers should always be placed 3 -4 feet behind the curbline in residents' drive- ways on trash pickup days. Placing the containers on the street is a violation of City ordinance. Street obstructions are dangerous for street mainte- nance workers, and cause needless delays in snow re- moval or street cleanup. City publishes booklet on historic preservation guidelines The Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation has recently published a 30 -page booklet, His- toric Property Guidelines for Cottage Grove, written by City Historic Preservation Officer Robert Vogel. The guidelines are designed to be voluntary and present practical information on general preserva- tion techniques for homeowners, farmers, developers, and others. Based on nationally accepted principles and more than 15 years of actual preservation practice in Cottage Grove, the guidelines apply to homes and other buildings that are more than 50 years old, as well as archaeological sites on private property. Historic Property Guidelines for Cottage Grove is orga- nized into five parts: • guidelines for houses • guidelines for farms • guidelines for development projects • guidelines for buying and selling historic properties • guidelines for cemeteries Recommendations focus on a wide range of issues common to work on older buildings, such as maintenance and remodeling, and provide guidance on critical issues like the protection of archaeological features on farm land and the care of historic tombstones. A comprehensive directory of assistance is included for readers seeking information on more sophisticated methodologies for preserving and restoring historic properties. Copies of Historic Property Guidelines for Cottage Grove will be distributed free of charge to historic property owners. A limited number of additional copies are available and may be obtained by contact- ing Robert Vogel at 651- 604 -0175. Local history classroom kits ready The Heritage Education Partnership of the cities of Cottage Grove and Newport is an innovative learning program designed to promote interest in community history and aware- ness of local preservation efforts. The Partnership has devel- oped a series of classroom resource kits which provide teachers and students in grades 6 through 12 with ready -to -use texts, handouts, maps, and research aids for studying Cottage Grove and Newport history. The materials are also widely used in adult education and college level courses, and in Scouting, 4 -H, and other youth organization projects. For a sample classroom resource kit on Cottage Grove history, please contact Robert Vogel, City Historic Preserva- tion Officer, 7516 80th St. S. Cottage Grove, MN 55016; 651 604 -0175, e -mail <voge1014 @tc. umn. edu >. . -r r Help insure our children's future: Use water wisely! Cottage Grove Water Dept. Don't leave leaves on street The Public Works Dept. asks residents, "Please don't e leaves or grass clippings into the street." After a at wet leaves may seem remarkably like ice under car s, contributing to automobile accidents. They may plug rm water grates, leading to localized flooding now and holes in the spring. Street sweepers are not designed to ,ck up leaves, and storm sewer cleaning is a very labor- intensive and costly job. Please assist our efforts by bagging leaves that collect in your yard. Thank you! 3 City to open Disc Golf facility in Oakwood Park; free frisbees will fly in course 'orientation' Oct. I The City of Cottage Grove is nearing completion of a new 18 -hole disc golf facility at Oakwood Park, and all resi- dents are invited to a special orientation to the course from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. The course was designed by Chuck Kennedy, a national design team member and past State Master Champion, with help from Dr. Douglas Ertman, local physician and 1994 State Open Division Champion. Actual construction of the course was done by the Twin Cities Tree Trust (youth em- ployment organization) and members of the City's Park Maintenance Department. At the course orientation on Oct. 11, Chuck Kennedy and Dr. Ertman will demonstrate and explain the game. Frisbees will be given to the first 100 people attending the event. Funding for the construc- tion of the course was made possible by a $5,000 grant from the Minnesota Recreational and Park Association. Local police give away football cards For the 16th consecutive year, Cottage Grove Police Officers are distributing Minne- sota Viking football cards to youngsters of all ages. Officers are giving away collectors' cards of eight Minnesota Viking players on the 1998 roster. The program, sponsored by General Security Services Corporation in cooperation with the Minnesota Crime Preven- tion Association, is designed to develop positive relationships between young people and law enforcement officers across the State of Minnesota. The program began Aug. 28 and runs for eight weeks. A new Viking card becomes available every Friday. This year's collector cards (in the order they are distrib- uted, starting the week of Aug. 28) include Brad Johnson, Todd Steussie, Dwayne Rudd, Cris Carter, Randall Cunningham, Stalin Colinet, Robert Smith, and John Randle. 4 Volunteer Police Reserve Officers Applications are now being accepted for the Cottage Grove Police Reserve Program. The Police Reserve assists the Police Dept. with a variety of programs, activities, and summer events. These include: Summer Safety Camp National Night Out Celebration Great Grove Get - Together Local Parade Details Neighborhood Watch. Program Crime Scene Security Surveillance Details If you or someone you know is interested in joining the Police Reserve Program and helping the community, please contact Officer Greg Reibel at 458 -6025. Applications are available at the City Hall or Police Department. Qualifications include: At least 18 years of age U.S. citizen Valid Driver's License High School Diploma or Equivalent High Standards and Exhibit Strong Moral Character Applications will be accepted until 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, 1998. Police Dept. mourns loss of Mel Wallace The Cottage Grove Police Department is mourning the unexpected death of Volunteer Part -Time Officer Mel Wallace. Officer Wallace died of an apparent heart attack while vacationing with his family in Colorado this summer. Officer Wallace has been a volunteer member of the Cottage Grove Police Reserve for more than 12 years. In 1997 alone, he volunteered more than 385 hours to the Police Reserve. At the Cottage Grove Volunteer Recognition Dinner in May, Officer Wallace was one of three City volunteers to be especially honored with a plaque and tribute. We would like to express our condolences to his family. 5 Captains needed The Cottage Grove Police Department is looking for volunteers who are interested in being Block Captains in the Neighborhood Watch program. Block Captains are the communication link between the 10 -18 homes in their designated Watch Block and the Police Department. The Neighborhood Watch program is designed to heighten awareness among Watch Block members in an effort to reduce crime. Police personnel instruct Watch Block members on how to better recognize suspicious activity in their neighborhoods and, more importantly, report that activity to the Police. If you are interested in becoming a Block Captain or joining Neighborhood Watch, please contact Community Watch Coordinator Cell Peterson at 769 -0025 or 458- 6000, voice mailbox # 1081. It's back -to- school time for City's 'D.A.R.E.,' 'G.R,E.A.T.,' and School Resource Officers An expanded presence and programs in City schools - including a Kindergarten through 12th grade D.A.R.E. program - will mark the 1998- 99 academic year for members of the Cottage Grove Police Department. The Department will serve District 833 students enrolled in all five Cottage Grove elementary schools, Cottage Grove and Oilman Junior High Schools, and Park Senior High School. Officers Mary McGuire and Peter Koerner will again serve as School Resource Officers assisting students at Cottage Grove Junior and Park High schools. Officer Greg Reibel and new D.A.R.E. Officer Paul Torguson will join McGuire and Koerner in teaching the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program in the City's elementary schools. Officers Reibel, McGuire, and Koerner will also continue to teach the D.A.R.E. and Gang Resistance Education And Training (G.R.E.A.T.) programs in the City's junior high schools. The Department has re- ceived a $4,000 grant from Minnesota D.A.R.E. to train officers and implement the D.A.R.E. Senior High program at Park High School. Once this is implemented, Cottage Grove will become one of the few cities in the State of Minnesota which will provide the D.A.R.E. program from Kindergarten through 12th grade, in addition to providing the G.R.E.A.T.program and School Resource Officers in the junior and senior high schools. HELP PREVENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY - SUPPORT The Board helps support community events and programs that strengthen the community and discourage and reduce criminal activity: • Criminal Apprehension Fund • National Night Out • Neighborhood Watch • Safety Camp for Kids • McGruff House We need your help to continue to support these programs in our community. Invest in your community now! — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — Here's my contribution for a safe community: $ Name /Address (optional) Mail to: Cottage Grove Crime Prevention Advisory Board P.O. Box 2047, Cottage Grove, MN 55016 (The Board is a 501(c)3 non -profit organization. All contributions are tax- deductible.) Police ask for more McGruff House participants "McGruff Houses" are homes designated as temporary safe havens for children who find themselves in emergency or otherwise frightening situations which require immediate help. More McGruff Houses are needed now in Cottage Grove, As a participant, you would receive a McGruff House sign to display at the front of your home, and would call the Police Department if your home is used as a McGruff House by a child. Children are taught about McGruff Houses in elementary school by their D.A.R.E. officers. McGruff House is a nationally recognized program, and the only safe haven program recognized by state law in Minnesota. If you are inter- ested in participating, please contact Community Affairs Officer Greg Reibel at 458- 6025.