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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023 City Newsletter - Summer216 Fourth Street North Stillwater MN 55082 www.stillwatermn.gov 651-430-8800 Stillwater City News Summer 2023 Change in Pay Lot Parking Starting June 1, the City will again start charging for parking in existing Pay Lots (Lots 1 and 2) and the City Parking Ramp. The City has implemented new payment options to better meet your parking needs. The City now offers Passport Parking mobile payment option to stream- line your payment. The City still offers payment op- tions at credit card terminals. The City also now allows payments in smaller incre- ments and timeframes to better match your actual parking duration. The City approved an expansion of the Pay Zone for Downtown Parking, but it won’t take effect until Sep- tember 1, 2023 in recognition of impacts from the flood conditions this spring and ongoing construction on Chestnut Street Plaza this summer. The intent of these changes is to increase parking availability, boost funds for maintaining parking facilities, and improve the downtown visitor, employee, and resi- dent experience. More information will be available soon on the City’s website at www.stillwatermn.gov/parking or you may email City staff at parking@stillwatermn.gov. Chestnut Street Plaza Project — Main Street Detour Chestnut Street plaza improvements are moving fast! During construction local busi- nesses are open! Follow the dedicated walkways to access these businesses during construction. There is no pedestrian connection on Chestnut Street from Main Street to the St Croix River. Pedestrians should utilize Myrtle Street or Nelson Street to access the St Croix River and Lift Bridge loop trail. Water Street will be closed to through traffic until June 24th. Pedestrians can cross Main Street at Chestnut Street, but this will stay as an uncon- trolled crossing until after July 17th. On July 17th, Main Street at Chestnut Street will be closed for a 2-month period. Vehi- cles will be detoured. The closure will allow crews to finish the project including utili- ty installation, new traffic signal, lighting, and sidewalk. Fireworks Safety - Did you know? More than 30% of fireworks injuries are from sparklers. There is an average of 73 hospital visits each year in Minnesota due to fireworks injuries. Ap- proximately 40% of fireworks injuries each year happen to children. Fire- works that shoot into the air are illegal in Minnesota. Only use Minnesota-legal fireworks like sparklers, fountains, ground spinners and snappers. Point fireworks away from people and animals. Use fireworks in an open area away from trees and houses. Extinguish and dispose of spent fireworks in a bucket of water. Do not try to relight a dud. Always use caution around fireworks and make sure children are supervised. Heat Safety Awareness Always lock parked cars even if you don’t have a child of your own. A child in your neighborhood could get into your unlocked vehicle, with tragic conse- quences. Over 900 children have died inside hot vehicles since 1998. Some were due to children accessing a parked car without supervision. If you can’t find your child, you should always check the vehicle including the trunk. Every- one is at risk from the dangers of extreme heat. Here are some tips: • Protect yourself from heat and sun • Avoid overexertion and stay hydrated and avoid alcohol • Apply sunscreen every two hours • Wear lightweight, loose-fitting and light- colored clothing • Take regular breaks in the shade • Assist those who are at higher risk for heat-related illness including new- borns, children, pregnant people, older adults and people with chronic illness. Got a ticket? Washington County Court Hearing Office Can Handle It Please note this refers to the County issued tickets. If you receive a ticket from City of Stillwater it will be a yellow/gold envelope style parking ticket and these are taken care of directly though the City of Stillwater. However if the yellow ticket is not taken care of, the registered owner of the vehicle in violation will then be sent a county ticket via certified mail. People who receive traffic or parking tickets in Washington County have a third option for getting them resolved via the Court Hearing Office. Washington County court hearing officers have the authority to work with most traffic of- fenses and parking tickets. They can resolve disputes and suspensions, negoti- ate payment plans and extensions, reduce the severity of the punishment, and even offer options to keep the ticket off your driving record. Meetings with court hearing officers are done remotely, from a cell phone or computer. They’re also relatively short, alleviating the need for most people to take time off of work. The Court Hearing Office doesn’t only provide benefits to people with tickets, it also frees up the court calendar so judges can handle more serious cases. However, meeting with a hearing officer doesn’t prevent people from going to court if they so choose. Those who don’t like the outcome from the Court Hearing Office have the option to have their case heard by a judge. To schedule an appointment to have the Washington County Court Hear- ing Office resolve your ticket, call 651-281-3219 or 800-657-3611 and press 2 at the prompt or email: 10thWashingtonHearingOffice@courts.state.mn.us. Save a Pet’s Life in a Hot Car When temperatures outside are in the 90’s, the temperature in- side the car can quickly reach 125°, causing brain damage or death. Cracking the car window does not help, the inside still gets dangerously hot. When leaving your car ensure your pet is with you or better yet, keep your pets at home. Save the Date! Night to Unite is scheduled for Tuesday, August 1st. It’s time to start planning and register your block party. Contact Community Resource Officer Brad Junker at 651-351- 4930 or email him at bjunker@stillwatermn.gov The City also hosts a Night to Unite event at Washington Square. Watch for details coming soon to the City of Stillwater website and Facebook page. Burning Restrictions Before you light a fire, visit the MN DNR website at www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/ firerating_restrictions The fire danger and burning re- striction maps located on the DNR website provide information on the current conditions so you can know when its safe to enjoy having a rec- reational fire. Water Efficiency Rebate Available The City is offering rebates to Stillwater properties that are connected to the City Water Supply systems who replace their washing machines, replace toilets or by replacing their irrigation controller with a smart irrigation controller. Rebate categories and amounts are as follows: • Clothes Washers - Rebate $200 or 80% the cost of a new US DOE Energy Star labeled clothes wash- er, whichever is less, (excluding sales tax and labor/installation costs). • Toilets - Rebate up to $100 or 80% of the cost of a new EPA WaterSense labeled toilet, which ever is less, (excluding sales tax and labor/installation costs). • Smart Irrigation Controllers - Rebate up to $150 or 80% on the cost of a new US EPA WaterSense labeled smart controller, whichever is less, (excluding tax and labor/installation costs). Rebates are for replacement of existing devices only. New construction and new developments are not eligible. Program runs through June 30, 2024. Rebates are available on a first come first served basis. It is your responsibility to verify funds are still available. Copies of receipts for qualifying devices must be provided with rebate request form and all supplemental information must be submitted to the City of Stillwater by mail, or online. Rebate is for the cost of the device only, and excludes sales tax and any installation/labor costs. New construction and new devel- opment are ineligible. Rebates will show as a credit on your utility bill. Rebate application available on the City’s website at www.stillwatermn.gov/waterrebate. Questions contact Public Works Utility Department at 651-275-4100. Stillwater 2022 Drinking Water Report Making Safe Drinking Water Your drinking water comes from a groundwater source: eight wells ranging from 83 to 305 feet deep, that draw water from the Prairie Du Chien -Jordan and Jordan aquifers. Stillwater works hard to provide you with safe and reliable drinking water that meets federal and state water quality requirements. The report provides in- formation on your drinking water and how to protect our pre- cious water resources. Contact Robert Benson, Utilities Super- intendent, at 651-430-8740 or rbenson@stillwatermn.gov with questions about Stillwater’s drinking water. You can also inquire on how you can take part in decisions that may affect water quality. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets safe drinking water standards. These standards limit the amounts of specific contaminants allowed in drinking water. This ensures that tap water is safe to drink for most people. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates the amount of certain contaminants in bottled water. Bottled water must provide the same public health protection as public tap water. Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environ- mental Protection Agency’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791. Stillwater Monitoring Results This report contains our monitoring results from January 1 to December 31, 2022. We work with the MN Department of Health to test drinking water for more than 100 contaminants. It is not unusual to detect contaminants in small amounts. No water supply is ever completely free of contaminants. Drinking water standards protect Minnesotans from substances that may be harmful to their health. Learn more by visiting the MN Department of Health’s webpage on Basics of Monitoring and testing of Drinking Water in Minnesota at https://www.health.state.mn.us/ communities/environment/water/factsheet/sampling.html Utility Bill Payments The City of Stillwater has switched banks and closing it’s old bank account. If you use Bill Pay through your bank, the pay- ments will no longer come to the City directly via ACH. Instead Bill Pay will process your pay- ment and issue a paper check which is mailed to the City and takes additional days to receive. To avoid late fees, please plan to submit your Bill Pay payment earlier. Another option is to sign up for Auto Pay direct debit at www.stillwatermn.gov or fill out the back side of your utili- ty statement. Auto payment dates are February 10, May 10, August 10 and November 15. Statements will continue to be mailed to you or you can sign up for electronic billing. To pay online anytime with a credit card visit stillwa- ter.merchanttransact.com/ Login and setup an account. Water-Friendly Landscaping Tips Many studies indicate that you and your neighbors believe having a lawn that is safe for the environment is very important. Unfortunately, some lawn care practices can create water quality problems. Many chemicals (nitrogen and phosphorus) found in fertilizers run off our properties into local waterbodies and create algal blooms that make for cloudy water and remove oxygen. Some simple things you can do to maintain your lawn and be safe for the environment are:  Choose the right grass seed. Consider limiting lawn area and choose grass varieties that require less mainte- nance.  Test your soil. The U of M Extension will test your soil and provide you with recommendations on your fertilizer needs. Visit UMN Extension website for more information. www.extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/test -your-soil-spring  Don’t overwater. 1” of water per week is typically enough. Overwater- ing can lead to runoff and contami- nants making it into our groundwater.  Mow Smart. Mow grass 3” or higher. Cut no more than 1/3 of the blade to encourage longer, stronger turf grass roots. Leave the clippings after mow- ing to provide a source of slow-release nutrients. Remove grass clippings from streets, sidewalks, and drive- ways. NEVER dispose of clippings in drainage areas, storm drains, wet- lands or water bodies! Catalytic converters are an essen- tial part of your vehicle to help control harmful exhaust emis- sions getting into the atmos- phere. They do this by filtering your cars exhaust through a chamber that contains a number of valuable metals and minerals. These devices are fair- ly accessible on your vehicle and makes them prime targets for theft. You can do your part by marking them with a unique identifier making them easier to trace in the unfortunate circumstance that you do fall victim to theft. The Stillwater Police Department, along with the Minnesota Department of Commerce and Fraud is once again teaming up to offer a Catalytic Convert- er Marking event. Since 2021, we have been partnering with them to ad- minister this theft prevention program and are excited to offer this again to the community. Join us for this free crime prevention opportunity on: Saturday, July 22 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Stillwater Public Works Facility 3325 Boutwell Road, Stillwater, MN Special Assessment Payoff Did you know, if you are currently paying annually on your special as- sessment with your tax payment, you have the option to pay it off ? And you can even make a larger pay- ment towards your principal to pay it down to save yourself annual in- terest costs! Interest on special as- sessments currently range from 2.55% to 4.5% per year and terms range from 3 to 15 years depending on the assessment. For those looking to reduce or eliminate their as- sessment on their 2024 tax bill, con- tact 651-430-8813 for your payoff amount and submit your payment to the City of Stillwater no later than November 15th, 2023. Arbor Day 2023 - Big Tree Contest Results Over the winter, the City of Stillwater hosted a big tree contest in celebration of Arbor Day 2023. Residents were encouraged to measure and submit their biggest trees into one of four categories: Forest Giants, White Pines, Other Conifers, and Other Deciduous. The contest was a huge success with a total of 46 trees entered by 40 different resi- dents. The rankings are listed are listed below, along with winners pictured next to their giant trees. Thanks for joining the City in celebrating these magnificent old trees! Rankings Tree Species Circumference (inches) Category Owner 1st Silver Maple 289 Forest Giants Lorna Wille 2nd Silver Maple 225 Forest Giants James & Stacy Decaro 3rd Cottonwood 218 Forest Giants Mary Jo Bennett 1st Black Walnut 169 Deciduous Todd Englund 2nd Weeping Willow 163 Deciduous Tom Fischer 3rd Basswood 135 Deciduous Tara Kelly 1st White Pine 129 White Pines John Fresonke 2nd White Pine 109 White Pines Elizabeth Connor 3rd (Tie) White Pine 107 White Pines Greg Collins 3rd (Tie) White Pine 107 White Pines Lynn Patrick 1st Norway Spruce 141 Coniferous Brad Stevensen 2nd Norway Spruce 102 Coniferous Molly Krakowski 3rd European Larch 97 Coniferous Faith Herman Some more fun takeaways from the results: • Most Common Species: Silver Maple with 10 trees entered. • Since white pines have a larger potential mature size than other conifers found in Minnesota, a separate category was created for them. However, the largest conifer overall was a Norway spruce! • Similarly, oaks were included in the Forest Giants category due to their record sizes being much larger than other deciduous trees. It appears that Stillwater’s oaks, large as they are, are no match for the mighty cottonwoods and silver maples of the St. Croix valley. As such, we would like to highlight a few notable oak trees entered in our con- test. Northern Red Oak, 168 inches by Steve Zoller, White Oak, 160 inches by Mike Costello and Bur Oak, 152 inches by Doug Gusarson. 1st Place Winners White Pines: Eastern White Pine, 129” John Fresonke & family Forest Giants: Silver Maple, 289” Lorna Wille Other Conifers: Norway Spruce, 141” Brad Stevensen Other Deciduous: Black Walnut, 169” Todd Englund and family A PUBLICATION OF STILLWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY Volume 33 S HELF L IFE June 2023 224 N. Third St. * Stillwater, MN 55082 * 651.275.4338 * library.stillwatermn.gov LIBRARY HOURS Monday - Thursday 10 AM to 8 PM Friday & Saturday 10 AM to 5 PM Sunday Closed Sundays in summer. Sunday hours resume on September 10 from 1 to 5 PM. Summer reading isn't just for kids. Adults, read (or listen) to books and enter into a drawing to win weekly prizes from local businesses. Submit your books at the library or online at stillwaterbayportlibrary.beanstack.org. The more weeks you participate by reading at least one book or writing a review, the more chances you’ll have of winning! EXPLORE TECHNOLOGY Explore Virtual Reality Try virtual reality at the library! Sign up for an hour-long, individual session to get familiar with Meta Quest 2 and test out a game or video. Tech Help Work individually with a technology assistant at the the library on topics such as using a computer, getting on the internet, or accessing library eBooks and other resources with an electronic device. Genealogy Help Sign up for an hour-long session to work individually with a genealogy specialist volunteer. These one-on-one explore technology sessions are available at various dates and times. Register at library.stillwatermn.gov/calendar. EXPLORE BOOKS Romance Book Club (online, registration required) Tuesday, June 13, July 11, and August 8 at 6 PM Mystery Book Club Wednesday, June 21, July 19, August 16 at 6:30 PM EXPLORE COMMUNITY Stillwater Police Present Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design Thursday, June 8, 10:30 AM Serving Up Fresh Reads at the Stillwater Farmer's Market: Saturday, June 10 & July 15, 8 AM Balanced Wellness Series for 55+ Exercising for Brain Health: Wednesday, June 14, 1 PM Healthier Meal Hacks: Wednesday, July 12, 1 PM Healthy & Hydrated: Wednesday, August 9, 1 PM Demystifying Astrology Monday, June 26, 6 PM EXPLORE THE ARTS Painting with Karen Chan (registration required) Selected online and in-person sessions in June, July, and August. Register at library.stillwatermn.gov. Meet the Gallery Artist: Erik Sletten Thursday, July 13, 5-8 PM Concert on Terrace with Valley Concert Winds Thursday, July 20, 6:30 PM Sunflower Cross-Stitch Bookmark (registration re- quired): Wednesday, July 26, 6 PM Make Your Own Paper (registration required): Thursday, August 24, 6 PM CELEBRATE JULY 4TH AT THE LIBRARY! Stillwater Public Library Foundation’s annual Light a Spark event fuels funding for materials, programs, services, and historic preservation for the library. A community event held on the library’s Johnson Terrace, Light a Spark is a perfect spot to enjoy the City of Stillwater’s 4th of July fireworks display. Tickets go on sale to the public on June 7 for advance purchase only. Sponsorship packages are also available. • Individuals $25 • Couples $40 • Families $80 (up to 6) • Reserved parking $10 Doors open at 7:30 PM. Magic show at 8 PM. Fireworks at 10 PM. Visit stillwaterlibraryfounda- tion.org for more details. ShelfLife June 2023, Volume 33 Explore the universe with us this summer! Read, write, and discover with Commander Owliver and his owlie astronauts during our summer reading program for kids. Summer Star Explorers is a collaboration between Stillwater and Bayport public libraries and is made possible thanks to the generous donors of the Stillwater Public Library Foundation, the Foundation for Bayport Public Library, and the Friends of the Stillwater Public Library. Register online at stillwaterbayportlibrary.beanstack.org. You may also register at the library starting on June 10. Once you have registered, stop by beginning June 10 to pick up your mission guide and a free book to keep. SPECIAL EVENTS Brodini Comedy Magic Show Saturday, June 10, 10:30 AM Amazing Adaptations with Carpenter Nature Center Monday, June 12, 1 PM Bill the Juggler Saturday, July 8, 10:30 AM Beastly Bodies with Carpenter Nature Center Tuesday, July 11, 10:30 AM Puppet Show: The Poetry of Puppetry Wednesday, August 9, 10:30 AM Saturday, August 12, 10:30 AM Summer Wednesdays, 10:30 AM June 14: Circus Manduhai June 21: Bill the Juggler June 28: Dazzling Dave Yo-Yo Master July 5: Brodini Comedy Magic Show July 12: Hooperina July 19: Rap, Rock & Read with Miss Nina July 26: Wendy's Wiggle, Jiggle & Jam CLASSES REQUIRING REGISTRATION Felted Rainbow Pins for Teens Thursday, June 8, 6 PM, ages 12-17 Junkasaurus with Art Start Thursday, June 15, 10:30 AM, ages 8-12 Tiny Clay Creatures with Silly Millies Tuesday, June 20, 10:30 AM, ages 8-12 Dragonflies - Master Hunters Thursday, June 22, 10:30 AM, ages 6-12 Project Artemis with Space St. Croix Thursday, June 29, 2 PM, ages 8-12 Exploring Macroinvertebrates Thursday, July 13, 1 PM, ages 6-12 Clay Dragons with Silly Millies Tuesday, July 25, 10:30 AM, ages 6-12 Of Bees and Butterflies Thursday, July 27, 10:30 AM, ages 6-12 Tie Dye Tote Bag for Teens Thursday, July 27, 6 PM, ages 12-17 BLAST OFF WITH SUMMER READING FAMILY FUN IN THE DISCOVERY ROOM This summer, the Discovery Room will be transformed into a galactic mission station. Learn about outer space with activities such as exploring constellations, pretending to research plant growth in zero gravity, experimenting with the flight lab, and preparing pretend space food. Open during library hours, the Discovery Room is a place for kids and caregivers to play and imagine together. Themes periodically change throughout the year for ongoing learning and fun. TAKE A SELFIE AT THE LIBRARY For Star Wars fans, sci-fi lovers, and explorers young and old, stop into the library for a photo op in the cockpit of the Millenium Falcon. WASTE REDUCTION NEWS Don’t trash it, fix it! Washington County Fix-It Clinic volunteers demon- strate simple repairs and maintenance of everyday items. YouTube videos from mending and sewing to How to replace a lamp socket are available to view. Check it out at: www.co.washington.mn.us/3175/Reduce-and- Reuse. If you missed the Household Hazardous One-Day Collec- tion Event in May don’t fret another one-day collection event will occur on Septem- ber 23rd from 8 am to 2 pm at Lily Lake Park. Or for free and convenient disposal of hazardous waste, electronics, and recyclables all year round, bring your items to the Washington County Environmental Cen- ter located at 4039 Cottage Grove Drive in Woodbury. Garbage Collection Rates Increase July 1, 2023 Residents will see a 2.5% rate increase on July 1 for collection services. This increase will not af- fect the rates for recycling, yard waste, bulk pickup or the environmental fee, which increase each January. Besides garbage and recycling , the organized collection program offers curbside collection of two bulk items, four consumer electronics, three appliances, and unlimited yard waste. Additional service fees are incurred for additional bulk items, or garbage bags placed outside of a cart. Summer Entertainment Join in some fun this summer learning about the environment, recycling and how you can make a difference. This is a free family show. Tricia & The Toonies Teddy Bear Park Amphitheater 207 East Nelson Street Show starts at 10 am on Tuesday: June 13 July 11 August 8 June 27 July 24 August 22 Yard Waste For City of Stillwater Residents Yard Waste is part of the City of Stillwater residents garbage fees and is collected curbside by Waste Management from April 15th thru November 30th, weather permitting. Place your yard waste curbside on your regular collec- tion day. Please note: during peak season (spring or fall), collection may get delayed due to high volumes. Use a compostable bag for grass clippings, small stems, and leaves. No dirt, sod, rocks, gravel, trash, flower pots or lawn ornaments. Purchase paper or clear compostable bags, that are compliant with Minnesota state law from re- tailers. When bundling branches, bundle them no larger than 4’ x 2’ and the branches must be less than 3" in diameter and 4' in length. The total bundle must be under 40 pounds. Or you can obtain a Yard Waste cart from Waste Management as an alterna- tive to bundling or compostable bags. The cart is a 96 gallon cart and there is a one time charge of $48 or $2/month fee for the cart. Garbage, Recycling, or Yard Waste Questions?? Please contact Waste Management with questions directly regarding garbage, recycling, or yard waste. If your ser- vice was missed, report it directly to Waste Management as a missed pick up. There is also an option on online, vis- it: www.wm.com/us/en/location/mn/stillwater/trash-pickup-stillwater-mn?cmp=ag_home_2018-11- 15_usa_mn_stillwater. Scroll down to My WM Quick Access and there are options to make a payment, report missed pickup, repair or replace container, request a bulk pickup. Or scroll further down to WM Support with more op- tions. The City doesn’t have a special phone number to help, you need to work directly with Waste Management. They are a large company with large call volumes so please be patient. “Know Before You Throw” Coloring Contest to Help Celebrate Earth Day Residents of all ages were invited to showcase their artistic talent and their commitment to reduce, reuse and recycle by participating in the City of Stillwater “Know Before You Throw” coloring contest this past April. 20 artists participated and 1st and 2nd place winners for each participating age group won a prize. Artist Liam Schnobrich Artist Lily Fahey Congratulations to these winners 7 years old and younger 1st Place – Liam Schnobrich 2nd Place – Zoey Johnson 8 to 12 years old 1st Place – Lily Fahey 2nd Place – Norah Letcher & Stella Rutten 18+ years old 1st Place – Japs Lee 2nd Place – Michele Berthiaume County Highway 5 (Owens Street) Improvement Project Phase 2 Beginning June 12, southbound County Highway 5 (Owens Street) will be closed from Sycamore Street to Myrtle Street. This extends the current one-way section of Owens Street to allow work to progress to the north. Northbound traffic will continue to be maintained through the project site. The sidewalk will remain closed between Olive & Myrtle to allow utility relocation work to be completed before pouring the new concrete sidewalk. Work began on May 15 be- tween Myrtle Street and Laurel Street/McKusick Street on the west side of County Highway 5. On-street parking will be prohibited. Only northbound traffic will be allowed in this section of roadway. Natural gas work will continue to the north of Laurel Street/McKusick Street. For more infor- mation visit Washington County website at www.co.washington.mn.us/countyroad5. More Improvement Projects 72nd Street Project Paving work started the 1st week of June. The paving is planned to be constructed into two phases: work east of Mid Oaks and work west of Mid Oaks. A pedestrian trail will be installed on the north side of the road as well. 2023 Street Reconstruction Project The 2023 street improvement project proposed construction schedule is as follows:  In May the contractor started working on adding the parking lane around Bergmann Park.  On June 8th the contractor started the milling and paving of the Legend and Stillwater Crossing areas.  Reconstruction of Abbott Street and Anderson Street started May 22nd and will continue to August 1st.  Mill and overlay at the 5th, 6th, and 7th Street area will start the week of July 3rd and continue to July 31st.  Partial reconstruction in the Orleans Street West area will start the week of July 17th, and continue to the week of September 4th. If you have any questions or would like to be added to the email list for updates, call 651-430-8830. Partners in Energy - Creating a Greener, Economically Resilient Stillwater Exciting times are ahead for the City of Stillwater, as we introduce the Energy Action Team. This pioneering initiative is a critical part of our preliminary Climate Action strategy - a proactive plan to address climate change, which our City Council wholeheartedly supports. The Energy Action Team, composed of residents like you, will engage in five workshops over the next 18 months. These sessions are designed to generate insights that can lead to sustainable solutions. Participants will also invest some time in surveys and brainstorming exercises to deepen their understanding of local needs and opportunities. The beauty of sustainability is that it’s not just about the environment – it’s about economics too. For instance, energy -efficient upgrades to our Public Works building can reduce costs and enhance longevity. Likewise, businesses can leverage tax credits for energy-efficient improvements to older buildings. Our Climate Action strategy is about nur- turing a healthier environment and fostering economic resilience in our community. We're fortunate to have Partners in Energy collaborating with us, offering invalua- ble expertise while minimizing the impact on our city resources. We also look to learn from neighboring communities engaged in similar efforts. However, we need your help. We need a range of voices to make our Energy Action Team truly representative of our community. Your involvement is an opportunity to influence Stillwater's green transformation and ensure we remain a thriving, envi- ronmentally friendly city for future generations. Let's work together to make Stillwater a model of sustainability for today and the future. Contact Councilmember Larry Odebrecht at lodebrecht@stillwatermn.gov to join us on this journey toward creating a more sustainable future. Visit www.stillwatermn.gov for more details June 10 - October 28 Stillwater Farmers Market Each Saturday at Veterans Memorial Parking Lot June 14 - September 20 Cruisin' the Croix Car Show Every Other Wednesday in Downtown Stillwater June 24 Lift Bridge Road Race Ends at Lift Bridge Brewery June 29 Shepherd in the Park in Lowell Park Downtown Stillwater July 11 - August 15 Summer Tuesdays in Lowell Park Downtown Stillwater July 14-16 Lumberjack Days in Lowell Park Downtown Stillwater July 29 Opera on the River in Lowell Park Downtown Stillwater July 29 St Croix Crossing Half Marathon Ends in Lowell Park August 5 Relay for Life in Lowell Park Downtown Stillwater August 13 Bridge the Valley Bike Rally Ends in Lowell Park Downtown Stillwater Free Outdoor Concerts Valley Concert Winds will be playing on: Thursday, July 20, 6:30 pm at Stillwater Public Library Thursday, August 17, 6:30 pm at Heritage Square Park Happy Retirement Nick! Congratulations to Nick Chaves on his retirement. Nick was with the City for 29 years in the Public Works Department. The last couple of years as the Pub- lic Works Superintendent. May the roads he travels in his 1949 Studebaker truck bring him much relaxation, enjoyment and avoid any potholes. Interested in Joining Our Team? The City of Stillwater offers a “notify me” feature when a job opening is posted. To sign up for vacancy announcements or to view the City’s employment opportunities visit www.stillwatermn.gov/city-government/employment- opportunities. Brian Mueller, Tom Ballis, Joe Kohlmann, Chad Rogness. The Leadership in the Valley (LITV) Four City of Stillwater employees participated in this years LITV program. They are Police Chief Mueller, Duty Fire Chief Ballis, City Administrator Kohlmann and Streets Pub- lic Works Superintendent Rogness. The LITV program is designed to bring emerging and exist- ing leaders, and consequently their organizations, together who welcome the opportunity to expand their involvement in community affairs and are willing to explore new lead- ership responsibilities in the community, enhance and grow their personal leadership skills, form beneficial pro- fessional relationships, stimulate an understanding of the forces and trends affecting the area, and become involved with a community project. LITV is a program of the Great- er Stillwater Chamber of Commerce's Foundation. Happy Retirement Sandra! Sandra Vetsch has been a police officer with the Stillwater Police Department for 23 years. Prior to Stillwater, Sandra worked at Caledonia Police Department since 1994. Over the years, Sandra spent roughly 6 years serv- ing as a general de- tective, a juvenile detective and/or the School Resource Of- ficer (SRO) and the remaining years were on general pa- trol responding to calls for service. Sandra is the most senior patrol officer on the force and will leave big shoes to fill. Sandra leaves the department as the SRO at the Stillwater Middle School where she has undoubtedly left her imprint. We thank her for serving the community with professionalism and hard work. We wish her well on this new chapter of retirement and hope she enjoys her time at the cab- in with her family. History Has Been Preserved The City of Stillwater has recently pre- served their very first books of City Council meeting minutes, City ordi- nances and City Charter that were written in 1854 through 1918. The books are now safe from deteriorating and have a new life. Residents are wel- comed to view the books. Call 651-430- 8800 to schedule a time to stop by and see them.