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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 JuneIMM MWA !" 103 Itall P.M 0 • On July 19, 20, and 21, the City of Cottage Grove will sponsor the second annual Cottage Grove Summer Safety Camp, located at Hamlet Park. The camp is open on a first - come, first - served basis to Cottage Grove children who will enter fourth grade in September, 1995. 110 participants will be allowed to register for this year's event. Each registrant is placed into one of four teams which rotate through a variety of safety component stations. Each safety component is presented by a safety professional who instructs and involves the children with some hands -on experience. For one basic fee of $30, Safety Camp participants receive a camp T -shirt, hat, and bicycle helmet, plus snacks and lunches for all three days. At the end of the final day of camp, children participate in a graduation ceremony which parents are invited to attend. Some of the safety components taught during the Camp are: + Personal safety + Proper use of 911 + Basic First Aid • Bicycle safety • Safety around electricity • Burn and fire safety • Poison safety • Police K -9 demonstration You may register for the Safety Camp at Cottage Grove City Hall, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by mail. Please use the registration form on Pages 11 and 12 of the Recreation section of this newsletter. POSTAL PATRON Carrier Route Presort U.S. Postage PAID PERMIT NO, 1 COTTAGE GROVE, MN 55016 LOCAL POSTAL PATRON m- h 1 .. W Vii v. , _ �� � e...a.. , -.. Em ii' Tuesday, Aug. 1, will be the date for this year's National Night Out celebration, to be hosted by the Cottage Grove Police Depart- ment from 5:30 p.m. to sunset in Woodridge Park. Highlights will include displays of Mayor's Column 2 McGruff House ... 3 Watch Block ....... 3 Preservationists of the Year ....... 4 Library Kids .......... 4 Park Projects ....... 4 Haz. Waste .......... 5 Pet Licenses ........ 5 Signs ..................... 5 Community - Oriented Gov't.. 6 Safety Camp ...... 8 Police and Fire Depart- ment emergency equipment, a Minnesota State Patrol helicopter and crew, a free petting zoo, and plenty of free games and activities for the kids. For $1, citizens will receive a hot dog, chips, and pop. Last year's National da nces, Street C The annual "Celebrate Cottage Grove" Festival will center on the Jaycees Carni- val at Grove Plaza, and street dances and other events at Human's HideAway and DeMori's. Rides and carnival attractions will be featured at the Jaycees Carnival: Thursday, June 1 4 -11 p.m. Friday, June 2 Noon - Midnight Saturday, June 3 Noon - Midnight Sunday, June 4 Noon -6 p.m. DeMori's will hold a Community Cook - Out on Friday, June 2, and a Street Dance on 1 Saturday, June 3, from 4 p.m. to Midnight. Night Out celebration in Hamlet Park won a Town Watch National Award for cities with popula- tions under 30,000. Make plans now for you and your family to attend this fun event, and help Cottage Grove say goodbye to crime and drugs! At Hirman's HideAway, a street dance will begin at 8 p.m. on Friday, June 2. The parade and other events that were part of the Festival in the past will not be held this year, but planning is underway to bring them back in 1996! G.;oMahs a minimum of 10% postconsumer waste. 2 by Jack Denzer Mayor of Cottage Grove I would like to say farewell and good luck to two very good friends and Council people, Bill Buth and Jeff Rageth, who completed their terms last December. They have done a very good job while serving on the City Council representing the citizens of Cottage Grove. Bill was on the council for five years and Jeff served the City for three years. They chose not to run for election in 1994. In the 1994 elections you elected two new council members, Rod Hale and Sandy Shiely. Both have been residents of our city a long time and we all are looking forward to working with them over the next couple of years and listening to their ideas. This year, 1995, is a year for building, rebuilding, and repairing for our city: O Two years ago, the City Council decided to evaluate the street conditions throughout our PAVEMENT City. The city engineering firm was contacted to perform the study. The result of the study MANAGEMENT cost given to the Council in February, 1994. It estimated that over a seven -year period the cost would be $19 million for road reconstruction /replacement. Five million would qualify for MSA Funds and the remaining $12 million would be assessments and /or general taxation. The Council and I were very concerned with the magnitude of the project and what the public policy should be for assessing for project costs. We also felt with the project size, we wanted all the input possible from the citizens affected. In June, 1994, the Council appointed a 12- member citizen -based Task Force, six from standing advisory commissions and six at large. Abigail Grenfell served as chair. Technical information and input was supplied by various staff members. The Task Force held seven meetings from June to November, 1994, discussing issues in depth. They recommended construction of bitumi- nous roadways with concrete barrier style curb and gutters, and with no curb and gutters in rural areas. Most importantly, methods of paying for the improvements were studied. The Task Force finally recom- mended that properties abutting on the improved street would be assessed an amount equal to 2% of their estimated market value as established by the County Assessor. The remaining costs would be included as part of the City's general tax levy. City -wide, the overall cost split will be about 40% assessments, and 60% City tax levy. The first demonstration project, between Hillside and Armstrong Schools, will be contracted this summer. 0 For the safety of our citizens and City employees, the Council decided it must move forward FIRE with the fire stations. We researched all possible ways, with the least amount of impact to STATIONS fire taxpayers. The City's Economic Development Authority will float the bond and build the fire stations and sell them to the City under a lease purchase contract. The lease payments will be paid mostly from insurance rebates, greatly reducing the tax impact. Fire Station One has been on 80th and Grange since the 1960's and the equipment has outgrown the space. The station does not meet current employee safety standards. Old Cottage Grove fire station will be built in the area of 75th and Lamar to replace the outdated station presently being used. Hopefully, that building will be sold. The fourth Fire Station is being built down in the Industrial Park to cover the southern area of our city. Fire stations 1 and 4 are currently under construction. The original plan was to build a new City Hall and convert the present one to a Public Safety building, which would have accommodated our space needs for the next 20+ years. With the CITY of the bond referendum in 1993, these plans were dropped and new plans made to HALL remodel the existing facilities to meet our needs for the next five to ten years. The scope of work includes minor structural changes, such as bathrooms remodeled and enlarged to meet all ADA requirements, new phone systems, repair and replacement of the heating and airconditioning units, replacement of worn -out carpet and wallpaper, and redesign of work areas and work stations. The benefits are a City Hall that we all can FA Traditional models of government are based on a top -down model. Citizens elect representatives, who direct the managers, who supervise the employees, who hopefully end up delivering the services the citizens wanted in the first place. In exchange for our tax dollars, government is supposed to do something for us. It worked for a long time, but by the late 20th century, things have gotten so complicated that we often end up feeling like government is doing something LQ us. Then the natural temptation is to start looking around to see who is to blame and throw the rascals out! There is a new movement afoot across the country that seeks to encourage a renewed sense of citizenship and participation. One center for such thought is Project Public Life at the University of Minnesota. Harry Boyle, Co- Director of the program, says that we need government that is revitalized and reinvigorated by citizen partici- pation and that is "open, accountable, responsive, and led by public servants who see themselves as a part of the citizenry, not outside or distant from us." Others have suggested that elected officials and public employees should see themselves not just as service providers, but as "professional citizens." I think those are great ideas! Resolving the major issues that will face us as a community over the next few years will not be easy. Like every town, we are full of conflicts and contradictions. For example, when surveys have asked people what they like best about living in Cottage Grove, the most frequent response has been the quiet, rural, small town ambi- ence. When asked what they like least, however, the answer is nothing to do, with a lack of shopping and restau- rants. Those differences reflect not just different people talking, but the internal inconsistencies within each of us. Resolving them in a manner we like can't just be the work of the City Council. It requires broad citizen participa- tion and engagement with the issues. We need to rediscover the art of the public meeting as a place to talk, listen, debate, and make decisions in a way that respects the process and each individual who participates in it. It's probably been said too often, but the world is changing rapidly. Just as business has to respond to the new era of global competition, government has to change the way it interacts with its citizens if it is to continue to provide needed and wanted services in an age of resource scarcity. In your busy schedule, we hope that you will take time to let us know what you think about city issues. Equally important, we hope that you can find some time to serve your community. We're depending on you! Cont. on Page 3 6 Community- Oriented Government: Please join us! by Kevin Frazell City Administrator Regardless of personal opinion or political persuasion, most seem to agree that we are in an era of stiff resistance to any significant tax increases. Rejection of bonding and operating levy questions for both the City and School District 833 over the past couple of years show that the voters of Cottage Grove are no exception. At the same time, increasing pressure on the federal and state budgets to meet obligations like national defense, interest on the debt, social and medical services for senior citizens, increasing K -12 enrollments, and criminal justice mean that fewer and fewer of the dollars you pay in income and sales taxes will find their way down to the local level to help support city services. Our response could be to struggle along, continuing to do business as usual. The result would be slowly but steadily deteriorating city services, coupled with continued pressure for increases in property taxes. Everyone would end up unhappy! Even though some tough decisions about city services will undoubtedly have to be made in the next few years, we believe there might be at least one way that leads to more satisfying results for citizens and city officials alike. Mayor, City Council, staff want 'community - oriented government' During a March goal- setting retreat, the Mayor, City Council, and department heads agreed that one of the things we want to work on is becoming more of a "community- oriented" government. So what's that, you ask? Well, mostly it means breaking down old barriers that keep citizens and city officials feeling apart. Instead, we move to new ways of doing business that see citizens, elected officials, and city staff working together in a dynamic partnership, both to decide what we want for our community, and to deliver community services. Theme - the Golden Rule From our end, we came up with several ways that the City might begin connecting better — allowing our front- line service employees more freedom to work directly with citizens, hosting neighborhood -based meetings with representatives of city departments and even other agencies, extending office hours for City Hail, initiating routine phone calling by elected officials and staff to get your opinion on City issues, and sponsoring a City government day! Our overall theme was the golden rule — treating you like we'd want to be treated! Communication We're also thinking about ways to do a better job of communicating with you about city issues. • You'll begin to notice changes in this newsletter to make it more of a vehicle of community involvement and participation, including the "Ask City Hall" column which begins with this issue. • Our remodeled Council Chamber, with upgraded video and audio equipment, should make Council meetings a more pleasant and inviting place, both for those who come in person and those who watch on Channel 12 at home. • Our voice mail system means you can now reach any city department 24 hours per day, 365 days per year. By calling 458 -6085 you can register your opinion on any issue with the City Council. And if you're one of those people who really doesn't like voice mail, feel free to hit "0" anytime during regular office hours, and a real person will be happy to talk to you. Community- oriented government depends on citizen involvement But this community - oriented government business isn't all just a one -way street. Its effectiveness depends on Cont. on Page 7 ASK CITY HALL With this issue of the Cottage Grove Re- ports, we begin something new, the "Ask City Hall" question and answer column. This is part of our effort to reach out to the community, encour- aging more two -way communications. Send or phone in your question on any city - related topic. A question will be answered in the next edition of the Reports. Mailed questions should be sent to: Kevin Frazell, City Administra- tor, City of Cottage Grove, 7516 80th St. S., Cottage Grove, MN 55016. Phoned questions (in person or by voice mail) will be received 24 hours a day at 458 -2833. Mayor's Column ... Cont. from Page 2 be proud of, and improvement of employee productivity and morale. The above improvements were paid out of an existing building fund set up in the past for this pur- pose. When construc- tion is done we will be having an open house for all to see the improvements. i would like to thank all the people who served on our task forces and advisory commis- 3 sons, and gave of their time and com- mitment for these big projects that we are undertaking, Also, 1 want to thank everyone who helped plant trees along Highway 61 on Saturday, April 29! Wanted: McGruff Houses The Cottage Grove Police Department is looking for homeowners to participate in the McGruff House program. The McGruff House program is nationally recognized and is the only safe haven program for children recognized by Minnesota state law. By becoming a McGruff House, a homeowner simply agrees to provide his or her home as a temporary safe haven for children who find them- selves in emergency or otherwise frightening situations which require immediate help. As a McGruff House participant, you receive a McGruff House placard which you would be re- quired to display at the front of your home at all times. You would also be required to contact the Police Department if your home is used as a McGruff House by a child. Children are taught about the McGruff House Program in elementary school by their D.A.R.E. officers. If you are interested in becoming a McGruff House participant, please contact Community Affairs Officer Greg Reibel at 458 -6025. Watch Block Captains The Cottage Grove Police Department is still looking for volun- teers who wish to participate in the Neighborhood Watch program as Block Captains. Block Cap- tains are the communi- cation link between the Police Department and the 10 -18 homes in a designated Watch _ Block. Help the fireworks fund! The Cottage Grove Jaycees need about $4,000 more to fund the 4th of July Fireworks Display this year. Please send any contribution to Jaycees, P.O. Box 5, Cottage Grove, MN 55016. Since both the City and the Jaycees have low coffers this year, please help keep this community event going! n s a' oN ��RNto NfW�' The Neighborhood Watch program is designed to heighten awareness among Watch Block members in an effort to reduce crime. Members are provided instruction by the Police Department on how to better recognize suspicious activity in their neigh- borhoods, and more importantly to report that activity to the police. If you are inter- ested in becoming a Block Captain or joining Neighborhood Watch, please contact Officer Greg Reibel at 458 -6025. Cottage Grove volunteers, City staff and elected officials, and Rodeo's "Renegades" gave line dancing a whirl at the recent Volunteer Appreciation Dinner (see also pages 1 and 2). 4 The "Preservationists of the Year" award was presented to the Wolf family at the May 17 City Council meeting. Shown from left are Kip Sundgaard of the Cottage Grove Historic Preser- vation Commission, Heidi Wolf, and City Historic Preserva- tion Officer Robert Vogel. The Wolf family of Cottage Grove has been selected as recipients of the city's seventh annual "Preservationist of the Year" Award. The announcement was made last month by the City's Advisory Committee on Historic Preservation. The family was honored for its efforts to save the historic St. Matthew's Evangelical and Reformed Church building. In 1994, the church building, a designated historic landmark in Old Cottage Grove, was threatened with demolition to make room for a new fire station. At Wolf came forward to offer his family's farm as the new home for the historic building, which was moved in December, 1994, from the old Community Club site to the Wolf property on Lamar Avenue. Daughter Heidi Wolf has begun to rehabilitate the 1887 Gothic Revival Style building as a residence. "We see this as an excellent example of adaptive reuse of an historic building as a functional part of the modern world," according to City Historic Preserva- tion Officer Robert Vogel. 11 0 1 =0 •F I AN 014 101110 1 IM 409 "Amazing Library Kids" will have a chance to participate in a fun reading program at Park Grove Library this summer. The young people will earn a button by reading five titles, and have their names on the Wall of Fame after reading 40 titles! Free library programs during the summer will include: • Parent and Child Storytime 10:30 a.m. each Tuesday in June • Kids -n -Plays (Call Parks & Recreation, 458 -2801) Performances at the library: 1:30 p.m. July 27 and 10:30 a.m. Aug. 1 • Stamp Collecting & Mailing a Letter 7 p.m., June 15 • Folk Tales around the World 7 p.m., July 13 • Kit & Kaboodle (hilarious musical com- edy) 7 p.m., Aug. 17 For the final three programs, free tickets (available a week in advance at the library) will be necessary to avoid overcrowding. Park Grove Branch Library offers books, magazines, videos, music CDs, books on tape, and vacation ideas, plus computers and CD -ROM. A schedule of summer events sponsored by the Metropolitan Library Service Agency and Washing- ton County Library is available at each branch library. Check it out! • ••! • ^ ••i Zfe The Cottage Grove City Council has authorized numerous park and open space improvements throughout Cottage Grove, using funds currently available in a Park Trust Fund Account. These funds are collected from developers who build in Cottage Grove, and are set aside to assist the City in meeting the recreation needs of our residents. Planned improvements include: • Paving of the Lamar Fields parking lot • Installation of security lights and water at Oakwood Park • Installation of play equipment and a hockey rink at Old Cottage Grove • Installation of a sand volleyball court at Woodridge Park • Installation of player bench protective fencing at all ballfields in Cottage Grove • Purchase and installation of six sets of soccer goals • Installation of outfield fencing and irrigation at the Highlands Park balltield • Development of Pine Glenn Park near 100th and Hadley Avenue • Ballfield upgrades at Pine Coulee Park, Belden Park, and Hearthside Park • Installation of 8 -foot bituminous pathways along 90th Street, along Jamaica Ave. from E. Pt. Douglas to 95th St., and along Hadley Ave. from 92nd to 94th Sts. Residents wishing more information about any of these projects are asked to contact John Fredrickson, Parks & Recreation Director, at 458 -2847. 5 • - •'• • • •s - • - •l Unwanted or unus- Items may be brought to the Cottage Grove Public Works Garage, 8635 W. Pt. Douglas Rd. Proof of Washing- ton County residence (such as a driver's license) is required. Also part of the Hazardous Waste Collection is the "Reuse Table" where products that have been brought in good condition and that are currently sold over -the- counter are available FREE to residents. The Household Hazardous Waste collections are a program of the Wash- ington County Health, Environment and Land Management Depart- ment. For more infor- mation or to receive assistance because of a disability or language barrier, please call the Department at 430- 6770 or 430 -6655 (TDD 439 - 3220). able home, garage and garden chemicals may be dropped off at the Household Hazardous Waste Collection, held monthly this summer in Cottage Grove. There is no fee for this service. Collections will be held at the following times: June 3.... 9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 1 ..... 9 a.m.-1 P.M. Aug. 5 .... 9 a.m.-1 p.m. /� \fllf� �i�Il�� y • : • Animal licenses are being sold at the Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 80th St. S., during regular office hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). To license your dog, cat or exotic pet, a current Certificate of Rabies must be presented with your application. License fees are: r Spayed /Neutered Animal ........ $15.00 Non- Spayed /Non- Neutered .... $20.00 Senior Citizen Rate (65 or older) $10.00 Fees for new pets or residents are prorated quarterly. Renewal licenses not purchased by March 1, 1995, are charged an additional $1.00 per month late fee. The only Cottage Grove residents exempt from the cat licensing requirements are those owning properties of 10 acres or more in zones R1, R2, AG1 or AG2. Any questions about rural zones can be an- swered by Planning Department staff at 458 -2827. The Department of Public Safety is now following upon delinquent 1995 animal licenses. If you have not yet purchased your 1995 license, please do so immediately. Failure may result in a citation which could bring a court fee. Acceptable items for Household Hazardous Waste Collections: Please bring to Cottage Grove Public Works Garage, 8635 West Pt. Douglas Rd. Used oil, oil filters, anti - freeze, other auto fluids Pesticides, insecticides, garden chemicals Paint thinner, solvents, gasoline Photographic chemicals Ni -CAD batteries (rechargeable) Drain cleaner, other cleaners Pool chemicals Paints, stains, varnishes Full or partially -full aerosol containers Driveway sealer, roof coatings Acids, bases Fluorescent lamps Motor vehicle batteries Any other poisonous, flammable, or corrosive household products Posting signs REMINDER: It is unlawful to attach any type of sign to a regulatory sign or post, or street light pole. Garage sale and similar signs should be placed on wooden stakes or an "A" frame type of placard. Residents should use caution not to block drivers' vision in the placement of their signs. After the sale, it would be appreciated if residents would remove their signs as soon as possible. Thank you for your cooperation! Cottage Grove Public Works