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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 MarchMinnesota FoodShare Month will be marked in Cottage Grove by a month -long food drive and a series of special events. "Friends in Need" food shelf is hoping for $10,000 and 10,000 pounds of food during the month of March. "The amount we collect will be matched by Minnesota FoodShare," according to Friends in Need director Sue Kainz. "We hope everyone will give generously!" Donations of non - perishable food items can be dropped off at all area schools and places of worship, plus Norwest Bank (the food shelf's local corporate sponsor) and Cub Foods. At this time, the Food Shelf is almost out of the following items: • peanut butter • plain soups • canned spaghetti sauce • canned fruits • pasta/noodles "We do NOT need more macaroni and cheese at this time," Kainz said. "The product has a relatively short shelf life, and we still have literally thousands of boxes in stock." In addition to the ongoing food collection, Friends in Need will be the beneficiary of these special events: • 3M Orchestra Concert (see article, page 3) • the second Annual Meeting and Fundraising Dinner, Saturday, March 16 at St. Rita's Church, 8694 80th St. S. The meal will be "a typical food shelf dinner," Kainz said, and the speaker will be Rev. Peg Chamberlin, director of Minnesota FoodShare. Cost will be $10 a person. Social hour will be at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30 p.m. • a new, house -to -house Boy Scout Food Drive, set for April 29. "We hope this drive will restock the food shelf before summer, when demand is up because children no longer have access to school breakfast and lunches," Kainz said. "Friends in Need" Food Shelf seeks space, sets summer hours When "Friends in Need" opened in 1992, it agreed to be affiliated with the South Communities Counseling Service on a temporary basis, until June 1995 at the latest. The transition to independent status was made in January 1995, and the food shelf is now run by a Board of Directors made up of community volunteers. The food shelf operation is looking for new space within its service area (Cottage Grove, Newport, St. Paul Park). the food shelf is located in the SCCS building at 7064 W. Pt. Dou- glas Rd., and is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Tuesday. After June 6, 1995, summer hours will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays. The food shelf's 24 -hour voice mail number for emergency need is 458 -0730. POSTAL PATRON Carrier Route Presort Bulk Rate U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 1 COTTAGE GROVE, MN 55016 aUaan citizens • e! to • • THANK YOU and congratulations to these Cottage Grove citizens who recently were named to city commis- sions: Public Safety, Health and Welfare: Dennis Ackerman, Joseph Gall, Dean Sorenson, William Spencer; Public Works: David Brown, Harlan Brown; Planning: Randy Wuorenma; Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources: Nancy Anderson, Franklin Star. Spring Cleanup Days2 Hshold. Haz Waste ... 2 Planting projects ...... 2 Garden plots ............ 2 Hist. Preservation Wk 2 Water flushing ........... 3 Street sweeping ....... 3 Concert ..................... 3 Retirement ................ 4 Tree trimming ............ 4 Human Services/ Human Rights ......... 5 Tree care ................... 6 Water system leaks.. 6 More info on spring clean -ups ................ 7 FoodShare Month .... 8 • '••n • • • • wo:•!' DATE EVENT FIND OUT MORE ON PAGE: March 1 -31 ... March 5......... March 16....... April 1 ............ After April 1 ... April 29, 30 .... April 29 ....,..... April 29 .......... May 6 ............ MN FoodShare Month ............ ............................... 8 3M Orchestra Concert ........... ............................... 3 Food Shelf Fundraising Dinner- ............................ 8 Deadline for repeat garden plots ....................... 2 Apply for new garden plots-, ........................ ..... 2 Annual Spring Clean -Up Days .......................... 2,7 Roadside Flower Planting ...... ............................... 2 Boy Scout Spring Food Drive.- ............................. 8 Household Hazardous Waste Day .................... 2,7 Comains a minimum of t0% posiconsurner waste. 2 # * ,� - • • - A• • Cottage Grove's Annual Spring Cleanup is set this year for Saturday and Sunday, April 29 and 30: Saturday, April 29 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 30 10 a.m, to 4 p.m. This annual event is a great chance to clean out your basement, garage and yard, and bring unwanted items to the Cottage Grove Public Works building, 8635 W. Pt. Douglas Rd. S. If you have questions or want more information, please call the Public Works Department at 458 -2808. Information on acceptable items and costs is printed on Page 7. 1 st Household Hazardous Waste Day set for May b Household Hazardous Waste Days are back on the calendar for Cottage Grove. All residents are urged to bring household hazardous waste items for disposal on the first Saturday of each month from May through August. Dates are: Saturday, May 6 9 a.m, to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 3 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, July 1 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5 9 a.m, to 1 p.m. The collection site will be the Public Works facility at 8635 W. Pt. Douglas Rd. S. There will be no charge for this service, which is sponsored by Washington County. See Page 7 for a listing of items that will be accepted at this collection. During the past several years, the city has worked coopera- tively with the Master Gardeners of Cottage Grove to develop and maintain floral gardens at Hearthside, High- lands and Woodridge Parks, City Hall and E. Pt. Douglas Rd. v Additional volun- teers are needed so we can expand this program. If you would like to help, please contact the Parks Department at 458- 2847. 4 E, Pt. Douglas beautification A roadside en- hancement program will be underway in Cottage Grove this spring, and adult volunteers are needed for the planting of trees, shrubs and vines on Saturday, April 29. The project will be funded by the City of Cottage Grove, in 14 4 , 11 1 A i\ �i,' gN"er" v.L �Y/i/ vu "p' " ° °' �\ i � 4 City offers free garden plots Cottage Grove continues to offer free garden space to residents. The 30'x 60' plots are located by the Ashland Oil tank farm near 85th Street and Granada Avenue. Residents who planted garden plots last year have first choice in obtaining the same plot this year. To reserve your same garden plot, please call the Public Works Department at 458 -2808 before April 1. After April 1, plots will be assigned on a first -come, first - served basis. Some restrictions apply: • Steel stakes cannot be used, because they can puncture tractor tires when plots are plowed. • Wire cannot be used as it gets caught in the plow disc. • Do not dump leaves and grass clippings at the edge of your plot. You are encouraged to place them over your entire garden plot or take them to the compost site at 95th Street and Glendenning Ave. • Wooden stakes, hoses, etc., must be removed from the plot when the season ends. collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Plantings will be done along East Point Douglas Road from Jamaica Avenue to 80th Street. If you're interested in helping, please call the Parks Department at 458 -2847. May 14 -20, 1995 Sponsored by Cottage Grove Advisory Commission on His- toric Preservation and the Na- tional Trust for Historic Pres- ervation. Contact Robert Vogel, 698- 8224, for more information. 7 j Annual Spring Cleanup Days j Hazardous j I I Waste Days I I 9 p Sunda 10 a.m. t ®4 m. ' Y p. Saturdays: May 6, June 3, July 1 f and Aug. 5, all at 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. i ITEMS ACCEPTED FOR SPRING I ITEMS ACCEPTED AT THE HOUSEHOLD j I CLEANUP: I HAZARDOUS WASTE SITE: I I ' BY ITEM: I I BUILDING PRODUCTS Box spring or mattress (single) $ 5.00 I Paint, varnish, stain Rust remover Box spring or mattress (double) 10.00 I Paint thinner Wood preservatives I Hot water heater 7.00 I Paint remover Driveway sealer I Water softener 7.00 Solvents Washer or dryer 7.00 I I I Stove 7.00 I AUTOMOTIVE/PETROLEUM PRODUCTS Freezer 7.00 I Gasoline Kerosene I Refrigerator 7.00 ' Transmission Oil Charcoal lighter fluid j Dishwasher 7.00 { Brake fluid Power steering fluid Microwave 7.00 I Used oil, oil filters Motor vehicle batteries I Air conditioner 15.00 I Antifreeze ( Sofa 10.00 ' Look for products containing petroleum distillates/ Chair 5.00 i solvents. ADDITIONAL MATERIAL BY LOAD: ' PESTICIDES j Car trunk $ 5.00 ' Insect killers Moth crystals I Station wagon 10.00 I Weed killers Fertilizers with weed killer Pickup truck – level load 25.00 ' Flea products Other garden chemicals I I (Proportional rates may be applied to I I partial loads and overloaded trucks) I OTHER CHEMICALS/ MISCELLANEOUS Photographic chemicals Pool chemicals TIRES AND BATTERIES ' Acid & corrosive chemicals Fluorescent lamps Car tire $1.50 I Ni -Cad batteries (rechargeable) Truck tire 5,00 I Tractor tire 10.00 ITEMS NOTACCEPTED: I Batteries (car) No Charge I I ITEMS NOT ACCEPTED FOR SPRING ' EXPLOSIVES AND AMMUNITION – Cali 911 BUSINESS WASTE (including farm - related waste) CLEANUP: I I I – Call 430 -6655. I I CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS 0 PLEASE PLACE THESE ITEMS IN THE HAZARDOUS/ HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE ' TRASH: ( (See articles on Page 2 and to right.) I WASTE OIL I Waste oil may be deposited at the Public Works Empty paint cans I garage year -round at no charge. Used anti - freeze may I Batteries: alkaline, manganese, carbon zinc I be brought to the following businesses for disposal: I Dried out paint I Cottage Grove Tire & Auto, 8085 Grange Blvd. ' Fertilizer without weed killer j ( Gerlach Service, 7473 Lamar Ave. I Empty aerosol cans ( Jack's Phillips 66, 8101 Hadley Ave. Empty containers GRASS CLIPPINGS, LEAVES Please DO NOT bring leaves, grass and other yard If you have any questions, please call Washington I waste to the disposal area. These must be taken to the County at 430 -6655 or Cottage Grove Public Works L site at 95th and Jamaica. I– �– at 458 -2808. — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — – rel by John Klinkhammer City Forester is as deadly to oaks as Dutch Elm disease is to elms. Oaks are a natural and beautiful part of our landscape, and we should not be afraid to plant them. Oak Wilt can be avoided if we follow certain precautions: • Do not prune or otherwise injure an oak from April to mid -July; • If injury occurs or cannot be avoided, paint the wound immedi- ately with a non- toxic paint. It's that easy. Infec- tions require a wound to get into the tree. life- threatening, the trees lose a lot of their beauty at these times. Start inspecting leaves around May 15 for small, light green spots. This is evidence that the leaf miner larvae are feeding. Use Orthene or Cygon according to label directions at this time. Don't wait until the blotches are large and brown, since the damage is done by then. A bacteria that causes fire blight can affect apple, pear, mountain ash and other trees. Leaves will turn brown to black and be retained on wilted, crooked branches. When temperatures reach 65° Fahrenheit or higher, an applica- tion of 100 parts streptomycin spray applied two or three times during bloom will help. As with most problems in shade and ornamental trees, cultural practices can lessen or eliminate the problem. Pruning of suckers, removal of canker - infested branches and raking up of diseased leaves or fruit will help. Also, if you are about to purchase a new tree, ask about resistant varieties to limit problems that may occur. Do you have elm or oak trees in your yard? In our ongoing effort to limit the effects of Dutch Elm disease, please remember that elm logs to be used for firewood must be stored from April 1 to Oct. 1 with the bark removed. This will help limit the spread of disease by bark beetles that live under the bark of elm logs. The city forester will be looking for piles of elm wood for the next several weeks. If you are unsure if wood you have is a potential hazard, please call the forester at Public Works, and he will check it out for you. Elms will be inspected for disease throughout the sum- mer. Prompt action can help save trees. If you see a suspect tree, please call and we'll check it out. As people add oak trees to the landscape, we need to increase our awareness of Oak Wilt disease. Oak Wilt - `d e 11 Did your flowering crab tree drop its leaves early last season? Does your birch look sick in late spring? Does your mountain ash (or other fruit- bearing tree) look "scorched "? If so, now is the time to prepare to avoid these prob- lems this spring. Flowering crab trees often lose their leaves in July when infected with apple scab in the spring. Use of Benomyl or Caplan, carefully following the label directions, can save those leaves for a healthier, more attrac- tive tree. Paper birch and weeping birch are attacked by birch leaf miners twice each season. Though not A SMALL LEAK CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! In 1994, the city responded to approximately 150 house calls concerning higher- than - normal utility bills. We found that the majority of calls could be attributed to leaking toilets. Homeowners should check the black triangle on their water meter. If the dial is turning and you aren't running any water, you could have a leak somewhere in the home. To determine if you have a leak in your toilet, we suggest you put some food coloring in the toilet tank; 6 -8 drops is sufficient. Check the toilet bowl in a half hour; if the coloring is present, you have a leak that needs to be repaired. If you have any questions, please call the Cottage Grove Water/ Wastewater Dept. at 458 -2808. DID YOU KNOW: • 1/4" leak amounts to 1,181,500 gallons of water in 13 weeks (one billing quarter) • 1/8" leak amounts to 296,000 gallons of water in 13 weeks • 1/16" leak amounts to 74,000 gallons of water in 13 weeks. Fire hydrants will be flushed throughout the city by the Cottage Grove Water Depart- ment beginning the week of April 10 and running through the week of May 1, 1995. Please refer to the map for the time we will be flushing the hydrants in your area. The semi - annual flushing procedure is done to help protect the quality of water throughout the city's system. Mineral deposits can build up within the water lines, particularly during the winter months, and need to be cleared or flushed out from time to time. When the fire hydrants are fully opened, the sudden rush of water removes most mineral deposits from the water lines. Discoloration of water may occur in your home while the hydrants are being flushed in your part of the city. The water is safe to drink but could stain clothes during the wash cycle. If you notice that the water in your home is discol- ored, just open some Street sweeping schedule Before long snow will be melting and street sweeping will begin. Sweeping requires above - freezing temps, but should begin the end of March or first part of April. The Public Works Department will be going to two shifts a day when the process starts. The first streets to be swept will be 80th, Jamaica, Hinton, Hadley, East and West Point Douglas, and Grange. The sweepers will then move to 65th Street and Ideal Avenue, and will work street by street throughout the city. It would be appreciated if all residents would clean their boule- vards prior to the street being swept. The most effec- tive way to remove sand from boule- vards is with a stiff broom or garden hose when the ground is still frozen and the sun has been shining brightly for several hours. 3M Orchestra to play March 5 The 3M Orchestra will play a free concert at 3 p.m, this Sunday, March 5, at Park Senior High School. Concert-goers are asked to bring a non- perish- able food item for the Friends in Need food shelf. cold water taps and let them run for a while. The basement tap is usually the one used for this purpose, but it's a good idea to open all cold water taps to thoroughly clean your home system. Your system will usually clear in about 10 minutes, but it could take longer. Remem- ber, COLD water only. If you have any questions or need more information, you may call the Public Works Department at 458 -2808 and some- one will be more than happy to assist you. K, E City sets summer tree - trimming schedule by John Klinkhammer Cottage Grove For- ester Cottage Grove's healthy street trees benefit the community as a whole. The trees provide shade that not only cools people under them, but helps lessen the effects of the urban heat island created by all that asphalt we drive on. Trees also aid in cleaning the air of dust and pollen while helping to lock up carbon atoms from CO2, one of the gases contributing to the greenhouse effect. To keep these trees healthy, the city main- tains a regular pruning schedule. The area to be pruned this year is bordered by Hinton on the west, Pine Tree Valley Park on the east, 65th Street on the north, and 80th Street on the South. Pruning of the larger trees (8" diam- eter and up) will be contracted to a com- mercial arborist (S &S Tree Service). Any tree smaller than 8" will be trimmed by city crews during the summer. Whether the tree is trimmed by city person- nel or the commercial arborist, the work will be done by trained professionals familiar with the latest in tree care technology. Street trees are pruned for several reasons. The most obvious is the need for clearance over streets and sidewalks. We also trim to help strength, form and health in individual trees. Trimming for clearance not only protects the vehicle's paint from the trees, but keeps the trees from being damaged by vehicles. Many branches are scarred by trucks and buses rubbing against them; others are broken or torn off. These branches should be removed by a trained arborist. We also trim for sight clearance, especially at intersec- tions, to keep pedestri- ans and motorists safe. When trimming for strength, the arborist looks for cracked or poorly attached branching. Branches that have bark between the trunk and base are said to have "included bark." This makes for weak attachment and will fail when the branch becomes heavy or winds add stress. These branches should be removed to protect the tree. Form can lose its symmetry when a branch is lost or takes off faster in growth than the others. Pruning can bring balance back to the tree. Trimming for health would include the removal of dead, diseased or rubbing branches that can lead to greater problems if left unattended. We usually main- tain trees on a five - year rotation. During the past few years we have fallen behind on the smaller trees. More people than usual will see the city trees in front of their homes pruned this season. Street trees are any trees growing on street right -of -ways. Our aim is to keep these street trees a healthy, viable and safe part of the city's environment. by Douglas White, Chair Seven advisory Commissions assist the Cottage Grove City Council in reviewing issues which affect the community. These Commissions review and provide recommendations to the Council on matters ranging from zoning changes to placement of stop signs. The Human Services /Human Rights Commission is one of these advisory boards. The goal of the Commission is: "To encourage citizens to become knowledge- able about human rights issues; and attempt to provide information and assistance to residents of Cottage Grove about the services available to them at the federal, state and local levels of government, which include nonprofit organizations and private sources." In accomplishing this mission, the Commission has reviewed the following issues and provided recommendations to the City Council: ♦ Structure Maintenance Code This code was developed in January 1993 for use by residents, builders, contractors and home owners of rental properties in the development of structure maintenance standards in the City of Cottage Grove. If you have specific concerns or questions, please contact Bob LaBrosse in the Housing Inspec- tion Department, 458 -2828. ♦ Adult Entertainment Ordinance Recently, the City Council adopted an ordinance to regulate and define businesses that operate under "Adult Use." There is a limited area of land made available for businesses operating as "adult use." The comprehensive ordinance is 11 pages long and insures a well- thought -out approach to regulating this type of business activity. ♦ Alternate Dispute Resolution The city has adopted an Alternate Dispute Policy in city government. Alternate Dispute Resolution can be used to ® Resolve constituent disputes occurring between neighbors, between landlord and tenant, or between business and consumer. i 0 Resolve disputes involving the city, such as zoning issues, street design and location, facility siting, acquisitions and delivery of public services. Bring people with diverse interests together to develop policies that receive broad -based support. ♦ ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Review This federal law, passed in 1993, influences our lives because of its requirements for accessibility for disabled persons. If you have any questions about this law, contact Kelly Frawley, assistant city administrator, at 458 -2882. ♦ Publication of Social Service Telephone Numbers This has been done through inserts in the Cottage Grove Reports. ♦ Carrier Alert In this program, you sign up for First -Alert, and the Post Office notifies your contacts if you don't pick up your mail for four consecu- tive days. The program is designed for those citizens who have limited mobility or are in ill health. ♦ South Washington County Transportation Task Force The Commission saw a need for additional local transportation, and set up the South Washington County Transportation Task Force to look at regional and local transpor- tation issues for the city and its residents. We encourage you to come forward with your questions and concerns so we may discuss the issues and forward them to the City Council or other appropriate group for a response. It is important to all of us on the Commission to plan for the future, yet be responsive to citizens' daily concerns. If you have any questions or issues for the Human Services/ Human Rights Commission, please call Diane Archer at 458 -2821. Ri