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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995 Stillwater City Newslettert1*11water Scene Official City Newsletter CAR -RT SORT BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Stillwater, MN 55082 Permit No. 206 Postal Patron Vol 7; No. 4 Stillwater, MN. 55082 October 1995 Planners look at Pioneer Park The city of Stillwater is developing a master plan for Pioneer Park. The planning process will include review of all existing amenities of the park and park design. Other issues that will be ad- dressed in the planning study include: archaeological in- vestigation and historical context; lower park use; trail system; landscaping; main- tenance concerns; and utili- ties. The firm of Ste - fan/Larson Associates, archi- tects and landscape archi- tects, Stillwater, with Robert Williams, landscape archi- (See Pioneer, page 4) Comp plan hearing scheduled The Stillwater Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the city's proposed Comprehensive Plan at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, in the council chambers at City Hall, 216 N. Fourth St. The public hearing is the final phase of the plan update that began over two years ago. To get to this point, the Planning Commission studied existing conditions and trends, identified key issues, devel- oped community planning goals and ob- jectives, developed and studied future plan alternatives, and the impact of the plan al- ternatives on the community. Extensive community participation has been a part of each phase of the plan development. On April 25 of this year, the City Council held a public hearing on the rec- ommended plan. Due to concerns ex- pressed, additional information was de- veloped on the impact of the plan on city taxpayers. A detailed fiscal analysis was prepared to determine the cost of future development on the city. This information will be incorporated into plan phasing and implementation. The comprehensive plan that will be considered at the Nov. 15 meeting shows the city growing west to Manning Avenue, bounded on the south by Trunk Highway 36 and the north by Trunk Highway 96. The area would be annexed and growth phased in over the planning period. Re- cently, School District 834 identified an elementary school site within the area to accommodate existing and planned growth. The comprehensive plan is available for review at the Stillwater Public Library and the Planning Department at City Hall. The plan identifies 11 key areas and goals for each, along with an implementa- tion section. Details of the plan implemen- tation will be developed as the plan pro- ceeds. Key areas addressed in the plan are: community character; land use; transporta- tion; local economy; housing; natural re- sources and open space; parks, riverfront and trails; historic resources; public facili- ties and services; fiscal impact; and spe- cial area planning. Students from Oak Park Elementary got some hands -on math and mapping lessons as they helped identify and locate landmarks in Pioneer Park in preparation for development of a master plan for the park. In photo, planner Amy Stefan, center, explains the students' tasks. Page 2 October 1995 Newsletter City Briefs l Holiday garbage pickup schedule Thanksgiving Monday, Nov. 20 -- No change Tuesday, Nov. 21 -- No change Wednesday, Nov. 22 -- No change Thursday, Nov. 23 -- No service Friday, Nov. 24 -- All of Thursday's and Friday's routes Christmas Monday, Dec. 25 -- No service Tuesday, Dec. 26 -- All of Monday's and Tuesday's routes Wednesday, Dec. 27 -- No change Thursday, Dec. 28 -- No change Friday, Dec. 29 -- No change New Year's Same as the Christmas week schedule Movies, movies During the past two years the city of Stillwater has been the location for the filming or partial filming of over six movies and several commercials. Most recently, the sequel to "Grumpy Old Men' was filmed in Stillwater and the surrounding area. The Minnesota Film Board presented the city with an award last year for being one of the most cooperative cities in the state of Minnesota for production of movies. The city provides the cooperation (at no cost to the city) because of the economic impact movie productions have for the area. The city appreciates residents cooperation, too. Clean up leaves Those autumn leaves drifting by the window often drift onto city streets and into storm drains. Residents can help the city avoid water drainage problems by not raking leaves into the streets. Raking leaves into the streets can plug up storm drains and lead to water problems if heavy rains occur. Residents also can help out by taking a minute to clear off drains in their street that appear to be plugged. Kids enjoy bedtime stories at library The Stillwater Public Library has bedtime storytimes planned for children See Briefs, page 4 Prepared and Distributed by the Courier News Library looks to the future The Stillwater Public Library currently is engaged in a long -range planning ef- fort to focus library services and collection direction for the next three to five years. The American Library Association's Planning and Role Setting for Public Library: A Manual of Options and Procedures is the planning model being used. Planning committee members include David Ruch, chairman, Lisa Freeman and Sheila Maybanks of the library board, Lynne Bertalmio, library director, Jan Brewer, library staff member, and Jerry Larson, community member. The committee intends to complete its work by December. Questions or comments are welcome; contact Dave Ruch, 439 -8983. The Stillwater Public Library recently became a site for providing public access to selected Internet resources as part of a test program being carried out in coopera- tion with the Washington County Library system. Members of the Stillwater Library Board and staff also are participating in the newly - formed city of Stillwater Internet study committee established by Mayor Jay Kimble. A number of new online databasesc have been added to the public access termi- nals at the library. These include Magazine ASAP and Business ASAP, both periodi- cal subject indexing sources that also provide some full -text articles. These databases continue the list of online resources being added to the library computers. This sum- mer the option to search all the Twin Cities area public library catalogs online was added. A module for local community information in currently being studied. Friends plan park projects Friends of Stillwater Parks is a non - profit organization composed of citizens volunteering in a variety of ways to support and enhance the work of the city in pro- viding parks and recreation. The mission of the organization is: to assist the city of Stillwater, organizations and citizen efforts in beautification of Stillwater's neighbor- hoods, parks and open spaces; to increase park use by residents and improve acces- sibility for people with disabilities; and to preserve and promote the enjoyment of Stillwater's natural setting. Friends of Stillwater Parks is working to develop positive working relationships and partnerships with various organizations, agencies, businesses and civic and community groups to fulfill its mission. There are lots of ways for residents to get involved. People who are too busy to volunteer their help may want to consider making a donation. Tax - deductible donations can be sent to: Friends of Stillwater Parks, c/o Dale Anderson, Executive Vice President, Central Bank, P.O. Box 225, Stillwater. For more information or to get involved with Friends of Stillwater Parks, call Ned Souder, 439 -2266, Mary Peroceschi, 439 -4470, or Judy Gulden, 439 -8368, or write to Friends of Stillwater Parks, c/o 218 N. Martha St., Stillwater. Winter parking rules in effect Not to be the Grinch ... But the city of Stillwater's winter parking ordinance is in effect from now until midnight April 1. Every winter, the city receives complaints from citizens who have had their ve- hicle tagged or towed because the vehicle was parked on the "wrong" side of the street. In almost every instance, the resident believes the city's odd /even winter park- ing ordinance is only enforced when snow is falling. Wrong! City parking regula- tions are enforced at all times. So, residents are urged to be aware of the winter park- ing regulations. The odd -even regulation simply means that on odd- numbered calendar days, cars should be parked on the side of the street (improved or unimproved) with odd - numbered street addresses. On even - numbered calendar days, cars should be parked on the side of the street with even - numbered addresses. Each day, between 7 p.m. and midnight, there is a change -over period when the regulations are not in force to allow residents to move their cars to the side of the street where parking is permitted the following day. Compliance with the winter parking ordinance helps the city snow removal crews get the job done quicker; it also could save you some money by avoiding a tag- and -tow situation. Newsletter October 1995 Page 3 Know your city services Fire Department answered 591 calls in 1994 Tile city of Stillwater has had a fire department since 1872. Currently, the de- partment consists of seven full -time fire- fighters and 30 part - timers. Fire - fighting equipment includes three pumpers capable of pumping 1250 gallons of water per minute, a 100 foot ladder truck, a heavy rescue vehicle, a 1500 - gallon tanker for rural fire, two grass fire rigs, a Suburban and a boat for water rescues. Stillwater provides fire protection to Stillwater Township, May Township and portions of Grant Township on a contract basis. Stillwater also has mutual aid agreements with all surrounding fire de- partments -- Bayport, Lower St. Croix Valley, Mahtomedi, Marine, Hugo and St. Joseph, Wis. The Stillwater Fire Department re- sponded to 591 calls in 1994. Twenty -two of those were residential fires -- 19 in pri- vate dwellings, two in apartments and one hotel/motel. There was 1 death in 1994. Total property damage was estimated at $228,950 ($218,400 to the private dwellings). Three additional structure fires (two storage buildings and one public as- sembly building) resulted in an additional property loss estimated at $25,200. There were 33 grass/brush fires last year, 19 vehicle fires, four rub- bish /dumpster fires and one non- struc- ture /non - vehicle fire. Property damage from the vehicle fires was estimated at $36,001. Altogether, there were a total of 82 fires in 1994, with a total property loss of $290,201. Most of the calls (314) the department responded to were rescue /emergency medical calls. There were 52 false alarms -- 34 due to system malfunctions, 17 unintentional. Stillwater responded to six mutual aid calls and 15 other hazardous responses. Only one fire fighter was injured in 1994 and did not require hospitalization for the injury. Assistant chief moved up through the ranks Bob Barthol, assistant fire chief, is a Stillwater area native. He grew up in St. Croix Beach; his family moved to Stillwa- ter in the mid -60s, and he graduated from Stillwater High School in 1965. Bob joined the fire department as a part-timer in September 1971 and became a full -time fire fighter in April 1973. He moved up through the ranks and was pro- moted to captain before being named as- sistant chief. Bob has seen a lot of changes since he joined the force. One of the most notice- able is the fact that the department is a lot busier. When he started, the department responded to about 150 calls a year, now it responds to nearly 600. Also, the equip- ment is safer, and the education more stringent, with more certified education required. Barthol, in fact, is a certified in- structor in both Minnesota and Wisconsin. Like most fire fighters, Barthol enjoys the excitement of the job -- being in a po- sition of going "full- tilt." He also enjoys teaching the younger fire fighters, provid- ing them with training and education that might help protect them. Firefighting, he says, is a team effort. "If you're not a member of the team, you're not too successful." The Stillwater Fire Department, he says, is a real team effort. Bob and his wife, Sue, reside in Stillwater. They have six children, her daughters, Tracy and Angie, Bob's chil- dren, Wendy, Brian and Andrew, and their daughter, Ashley, who is almost 10 and attends Oak Park Elementary School. BOB BARTHOL Where there's smoke there could be fire Where there's smoke there may be trouble. Did you know: • Most fatal fires occur at night while people are asleep? • According to state law, every dwelling that has sleeping rooms must have a working smoke detector? • On average at least 50 Minnesotans die each year in residential fires? • The home, where people feel safest, is the most dangerous place for fires? If this is alarming news, then you should also know that: • A smoke detector will provide warn- ing if there is a fire. • At a minimum, smoke detectors should be placed on the ceiling outside of sleeping areas and at the top of the base- ment stairs. • Batteries should be tested monthly (put a reminder on the calendar) and re- placed yearly. • Smoke detectors should be vacu- umed once a year to remove dust or other particles (do this when replacing the bat- teries). • Smoke detectors have an estimated life of 10 years for a battery- operated unit and 15 -20 years for an electrically wired unit. If your detector sounds often, you may need to replace the smoke detector. • Smoke detectors are relatively inex- pensive and well worth the price. Page 4 October 1995 Newsletter Briefs Continued from page 2 age three and older. Children are invited to wear their pajamas and bring stuffed animals for stories, songs, poetry and puppets. Upcoming bedtime storytimes are Tuesdays, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. Programs begin at 7 p.m. and last for 30- 40 minutes. Street, sidewalk management work continues During 1995, the city undertook sev- eral street reconstruction or resurfacing projects as provided for in the city's pavement management plan. Several streets in the Croixwood area were resur- faced this year; Myrtle Street, a heavily - traveled concrete surface street, also was rehabilitated. In addition to the street projects, the city reconstructed about 50,000 square feet of sidewalks. With the adoption of the pavement management plan several years ago, the city has taken a major step toward the goal of having all streets and sidewalks safe and well - maintained. The city will continue that effort in 1996 with the re- construction of several more streets, in- cluding Pine Street from Greeley to See- ley Street. Pioneer Park (Continued from page 1) test, and the Institute for Minnesota Ar- chaeology have been selected to develop the master plan. The planning team welcomes public input and participation. The team will de- velop several planning concepts, with pub- lic meetings scheduled throughout the project for input and review. Questionnaires are available for resi- dents to submit their ideas and concerns to the team. Questionnaires are available at City Hall, 216 N. Fourth St. Reduce, reuse and recycle '95 saw lots of building 1995, like the past few years, has been a busy year for building activity. This year has seen the construction of a new furniture store, lumber materials store, liquor store, and mail sur- vey /research facility, along with the re -use of the old CUB store by Andersen Corp., all in the industrial/office park. A new 60- unit hotel project in the industrial /office park also has received final approval. The new Lumber Baron's Hotel downtown is scheduled to open Nov. 1. The Highlands development that be- gan five years ago is almost completely developed, with over 200 single - family homes. In addition, several smaller devel- opments, such as Autumnwood, Myrtle - wood, Calibre Ridge and Wildpines addi- tions, have progressed. What will 1996 bring? Here are some definite possibilities: the reuse of the his- toric Territory Prison site on North Main Street as a 100 -unit hotel and confer- ence /dining facility; construction of a major manufacturing business, new ice arena/community center and new National Guard facility -- all in the industrial/office park. The remodeling and expansion of City Hall and reconstruction of the levee wall are two projects that already are un- der way, with construction beginning by the first of the year. Grant received for survey The Stillwater Area Citizens Open Space Committee has received a grant from the Margaret Rivers Fund to help fi- nance an open space inventory and citizen attitude survey. The city of Stillwater and Stillwater Township provided matching funds. In the past few years, several metro area cities, including Eden Prairie, Maplewood and Plymouth, have taken steps to preserve open space as part of their overall park plans. The local committee was formed two years ago by city and township residents in a similar response to a growing interest in the preservation of the community's natural areas. With the cooperation of local landowners, a biological survey was com- pleted in August of this year. The commit- tee currently is conducting a citizen survey to determine local attitudes regarding preservation of parks and open space ar- eas, including types, uses and location of the areas. A final presentation of the results of the committee's work will be made to the city in the near future. Residents interested in more information or who would like to volunteer their services should call Corey Mohan, 430 -3086. St. Croix Room adds new volumes The St. Croix Room of the Stillwater Public Library has made several additions to its collection, including a microfilmed set of the naturalization records for Washington County from 1847 -1944. The papers, which are indexed, enable re- searchers and genealogists to find out a great deal about people who moved to Washington County from a foreign coun- try and later became American citizens. The "Declaration of Intent" to become a citizen records the person's name, coun- try of origin and date of arrival in the U.S. Some of the records also give age, occupa- tion, a physical description, and place and date of birth. Some might include the ship of passage, port of origin and final desti- nation. The microfilm was purchased using grant money from the Minnesota Histori- cal Society. Also purchased with Minnesota His- torical Society grant money was a micro- film edition of two diaries of William Reynolds Brown, pioneer farmer in the St. Croix Valley. One diary covers the years when Brown was a settler in what then was St. Croix County, Wis., now the Red Rock, Newport, St. Paul and areas in the St. Croix Valley. In the diary, Brown details making soap, threshing wheat by hand, storing vegetables and other routines of pioneer life. He also tells of a case of forcible entry brought against Jacob Fal- strom, the first Swede in Minnesota. The second diary covers Brown's ser- vice in the Sixth Minnesota Regiment dur- ing the Civil War. The diary covers the period from when Brown was mustered in at Fort Snelling to the regiment's arrival at Helena, Ark., in 1864. The St. Croix Collection is located in the lower level of the Stillwater Public Library. S tillwater Scene Official City Newsletter CAR -RT SORT BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Stillwater, MN 55082 Permit No. 206 Postal Patron Vol. 7; No. 3 Stillwater, MN. 55082 July 1995 This is one of the preliminary sketches of a renovated and expanded City Hall. City Hall is getting a new look The 30- year -old Stillwater City Hall will be getting a new look and a new third floor. The City Council approved the ren- ovation/expansion project earlier this year. Preliminary plans call for the renova- tion of existing office space and expansion of about 4,700 square feet at a "very pre- liminary cost" of $2.05 million. Dennis Vonasek of BWBR Architects said the project will include adding a third floor to the existing building, constructing an elevator and new stairway, bringing the building in compliance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), and creating a new entry to the building. The design goal, Vonasek said, is to create an image so City Hall blends in more with the city's historic character and an image that generates the respect a city hall deserves. The police department will be ex- panded with improved office space, the addition of an interview room, storage space, locker room, and a work -out room to be shared with the fire department. Heating and ventilation systems will be improved, as will the lighting. Vonasek said the design study will also be re- evaluating the growth needs of the fire department. The department needs a new equipment garage. However, he said constraints on the site, such as the lo- cation of water mains and natural springs, does not allow a lot of expansion room to meet that need. The architectural firm is currently in the process of interviewing staff to deter- mine the relationships between depart- ment and shared functions in order to keep the square footage down and used as effi- ciently as possible. The preliminary plans call for the po- lice department to occupy the lower level of the building, with high public contact departments -- engineering, planning and building inspection -- on the second level. Administration and support would be lo- cated in the new third level. Vonasek said actual design work will begin in mid -July, with design plans pre- sented to the City Council in mid - August. If the City Council approves the de- sign plans and authorizes proceeding to the next state, construction could begin in November or December of 1995. Page 2 July 1995 Newsletter City briefs Thanks Cub A special thank you to Cub Foods for sponsoring the Fourth of July fireworks display again this year. The rains came, but did not dampen the enthusiasm and appreciation for the fireworks. Concert series continues After a week off for Lumberjack Days, the Music on the Waterfront concert series resumes Aug. 2 in Lowell Park with Coyote Dreams; Peter Mayer is the open- ing artist. Pioneer Park is the site of the Aug. 9 concert featuring Glen Helgeson and Axis Mundi and One World. The final two concerts will be held in Lowell Park. Thea Ennen and the Algory- thms and the Joel Johnson Band are the featured artists on Aug. 16. Beach & York and G.B. Leighton will perform the final concert on Aug. 23. All concerts begin at 6 p.m. Sponsors of the concert series are: City of Stillwater Chamber of Commerce, Hohensteins Inc./Leinenkugel, Andersen Corp., Andiamo Enterprises LLC, the Bayport Foundation, Jim and Jayne Brad- shaw, the city of Stillwater, the city of Oak Park Heights, Student Assurance Service Inc., Trumps Deluxe Grill & Bar, P.D. Pappy's, the Dock Cafe, Esteban's of Stillwater, Freight House Restaurant, Piper Jaffray, Valley Banker's Asso- ciation, Action Rental, Brine's Restaurant and Bar, Savories, Seasons Tique, Water Music, Mad Capper Saloon & Eatery, Bakers Square Restaurant & Bake Shop, J.P. Laskin, Meerkats Inc., Mulberry Point Antiques, Spotlight Dance Studio, Wrap n' Ship, DeAnna Zink, St. Croix Drug Co., Stillwater Landscaping, Tremblay's Sweet Shop and Vittorio's Restaurant. In -kind sponsors include: The Courier News, Crown Sterling Suites, Stillwater Evening Gazette, Stillwater Trolley, Twin Cities Jazz Society and WIMN Radio 1220. Kennel license is required The City Council recently passed an ordinance requiring a Conditional Use (See Briefs, page 4) Prepared and Distributed by the Courier News Eleven appointed to new Human Rights Commission The appointments of 11 people to the newly formed city of Stillwater Human Rights Commission were confirmed by the City Council at its June 20 meeting. Commission members include Dan Beaver -Seitz and Amanda Harrington, both students at Stillwater Area High School, Karen Bergren, Michael Bonacci, Anita Braunstein, Pat Hanson, Dennis Harcey, Marlene Kakaliouras, Mary Louise Menikheim, Zbigniew Wieckowski and Louise Watson. The first official meeting of the new Human Rights Commission is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, in the council chambers at City Hall. The City Council adopted the ordinance establishing the Human Rights Com- mission on April 18. The purpose of the commission is to: Work to recognize and prevent discrimination and inequities of the daily life of the community; Provide leadership and act cooperatively with other agencies, organizations and other human rights commissions, including the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission; and Serve as an advisory body to the city regarding the Minnesota Human Rights Act. The St. Croix Area United Way worked with the League of Women Voters, Stillwater area schools, church groups and the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission to bring interested parties together. Questions about the Stillwater Human Rights Commission may be addressed to Laurie Maher at the United Way or any member of the commission. Solid waste reminders Residents are reminded that they can change the size of their solid waste con- tainers -- from larger to smaller or vice versa. However, residents may only change container size at intervals of not less than two billing quarters. Residents also must provide a 30 -day notice to the city. When proper notice is given, the containers will be changed, and the fees adjusted for the following quarterly billing. Changes in con- tainers and related fees,only will be made on a Quarterly basis. Residents also are reminded that all waste containers must be at curbside by 6 a.m. on pick -up day. Make sure the lid of the container is completely closed and not overfilled; that leaves, grass, brush and other yard waste is not mixed with the regular household waste; and that recycling material is limited to cans, glass and paper -- no plastics at this time. Finally, residents are reminded that the waste contractor is required to pick up, at no extra charge, appliances, sofas, batteries, tires and yard waste. Tree branches and brush must be bundled and not exceed four feet in length or weigh more than 40 pounds. Facility accepts hazardous waste Washington County operates a household hazardous waste collection facility for the disposal of hazardous waste such as: paint, paint stripper /thinner, furniture polish, weed killer, gasoline, swimming pool acids, aerosol spray products, certain automo- tive petroleum products, pesticides and other chemicals or hazardous waste normally used by a household. The facility is located at 1900 Hadley Ave. N., Oakdale. Hours are 9 a.m. -2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays April through October and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. November through March. There is no fee for the services. However, users must be Washington County res- idents and must show proof of residency. For more information or a free informa- tional brochure, call Washington County, 430 -6655. Reduce, reuse and recycle Newsletter July 1995 Page 3 Me yo ur taff �t c t s y Jon Bell, firefighter, was born and raised in Stillwater. He graduated from Stillwater High School in 1986 and at- tended 916 Vo- Tech's marine and power equipment program. He served as a volunteer firefighter for eight years before becoming a full- timer in January of 1994. What does he like about the job? "Everything" -- the excitement of fighting fire, meeting the public, new challenges, the camaraderie. Jon is married (Renae) and has two children, Jacob and Kayleigh. His hobbies include boating, family camping trips, and skiing. SUSAN FITZGERALD The city of Stillwater got a two -for- one deal when it hired new city planner Susan Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald graduated from the University of Minnesota with degrees in architecture and landscape ar- chitecture, which will allow her to do some in -house design work in addition to her normal planning duties. Currently, she is doing a landscape design for the County Road 5 entrance to the city. Her back- ground in architecture will be helpful in dealing with historic preservation issues. Fitzgerald also has been on both sides of the planning fence -- as a project/site designer for two large corporations (Target and international Dairy Queen) where "bigger (signage) is better" and with two cities (Bloomington during the Mall of America planning) working to "keep signage down." Fitzgerald and her husband, Jon, have lived in Stillwater for seven years, so she's particularly excited about working for the city. "I love the city and all that's happen- ing, the direction downtown is taking in preserving the historic flavor. Hopefully, I'll be a part of that." Her hobbies include drawing and painting. And she and her husband enjoy spending weekends at their cabin. City is enforcing its codes Leo Miller retired from the Stillwater police force in January 1993. He didn't stay retired long. In June of that year, he become die city's Code Enforcement Offi- cer. Miller, who was the adult criminal investigator when he retired, is responsible for enforcing the city's Nuisance Ordi- nance and the Abandoned Motor Vehicle Ordinance. He works part-time Messy yards and high grass top the list of nuisance complaints, Miller says. Other nuisances, according to the ordi- nance, include bushes or shrubs which create blind traffic corners, trees which overhang into the street, firewood which is not stacked properly (firewood can't be stacked bordering streets or sidewalks), and debris, such as scrap lumber or wood, littering the yard. Miller also addresses public health concerns created by garbage, mainly in the downtown area. Miller says abandoned motor vehicles rank right behind messy yards on the vio- lation list . According to state statute and the city's ordinance, an abandoned vehicle is one that is no longer operable or one with license tabs which have been expired for over 90 days. Miller said in the past three summers he has dealt with over 200 abandoned vehicles. Owners of the vehicles must either dispose of the car or store it inside a garage. Miller says the code enforcement program has been well received by the public. The first year, he found most violations by going out into the field. Now, about half of the violations he addresses are the result of complaints which are phoned in by the public. (Residents who wish to make a com- plaint can call Miller at the police depart- ment, 439 -1314. Complainants do not have to leave their name.) When Miller receives a complaint or notices a violation, the property owner or vehicle owner received a "courtesy letter" advising them they have 10 days in which to correct the problem. Miller then revisits the property. If the problem has not been corrected, the owner receives a warning letter and another five days. If the problem still is not corrected after that time, Miller would issue a citation. Violations or the ordinances are misdemeanors with a penalty of a $700 fine and/or 90 days in jail; citations require a court appearance. Thus far, the public has been very co operative. Miller has not had to issue a single citation since the program was insti- tuted. JON BELL Page 4 July 1995 Newsletter Briefs (Continued from page 2) Permit for any person operating a kennel. A kennel is defined as: "any place where three or more dogs or three or more cats over four months of age are kept, raised, boarded, shown, treated, groomed or a place where animals are bred or offered for sale at any age or in any number in the regular course of business." Existing kennels must be in compli- ance with the ordinance by July 22. Any- one wishing to apply for a Conditional Use Permit should contact the Planning Department, 439 -6121. Dump open Aug. 12 The former city dump on West Myrtle Street will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12, for residents to dispose of rock, bricks, cement, sod and dirt. The service is intended for the disposal of refuse from minor landscaping work only. Other types of waste will not be accepted. Proof of city residency will be re- quired. Building permits are needed A reminder that building permits are needed for decks, porches and new roofs, as well as normal construction activities. The permit fee schedule is based on labor and material figures. If the homeowner is doing the work, a labor figure will be in- cluded in the valuation. Common practice is to double the valuation of materials as a labor figure. For example, if the work be- ing done requires $250 worth of materials and the homeowner is doing the work, the project would be given a valuation of $500. In some instances, average contrac- tor bidding prices are used in determining valuation of do -it- yourself projects. According to city ordinance, any work done totaling $500 or more requires a permit. The building inspection depart- ment has regular hours for issuing build- ing permits -- 8 to 9 a.m. and 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Arrange- ments can be made for other times by call- ing the inspection department, 439 -6121. Committee vacancy A vacancy exists on the city's Solid Waste Advisory Committee. Residents who would like to serve on the committee should submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk, 216 N. Fourth St., Stillwater. LJD A as fun for all There's a lot of fun in store in this year's Lumberjack Days celebration, thanks in large part to Andersen Corp., major sponsor of the event. The fun begins with a treasure hunt sponsored by Sebastian Joe's. The treasure is $750 cash and a free pint of ice cream each week for a year. Clues will be given daily Tuesday through Saturday, July 22. Finder of the medallion must be wearing an Lumberjack Days T -shirt to claim the prize. T- shirts will be available at Sebas- tian Joe's and Target. The Lumberjack Days official open- ing ceremonies will be held in Lowell Park at 6 p.m. Friday, July 21, with a mu- sical svectacular following. Big John Dickerson and Downright Tight take the stage at 7 p.m., followed by Johnny Clue- less at 9. Another highlight Friday evening is a Venetian boat parade at 9 p.m. A carnival will be held in Lowell Park Friday through Sunday. The carnival opens at 5 p.m. Friday. Activities on Saturday, include a golf tournament at Applewood Hills Golf Course and 10 mile race and 5K walk or run, all beginning at 8 a.m. Golfers should preregister with Applewood, 439 -7276; to register for the races, call 282 -0430. Dragon boat races will be held on the St. Croix River at Lowell Park throughout the day on Saturday, with the first sched- uled for 9 a.m. Lumberjack returns to this year's cel- ebration with the Sheers lumberjack show. Three shows will be presented Saturday, with the first show scheduled for noon, and three more on Sunday, with the rust at 2:30 p.m. A highlight of Saturday's activities is a free concert by Three Dog Night; the 8 p.m. concert will be held in Lowell Park. The Lumberjack Days '95 parade be- gins at I p.m. Sunday, July 23. The pa- rade, featuring 13 musical units, will fol- low the traditional LJD route -- Churchill to Greeley Street; Greeley to Myrtle with the short jog to Owens; Owens to Laurel; and Laurel Street to Pioneer Park. The fun continues on Monday with two shows (6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.) by the Bald Eagle water ski club. Concluding LJD '95 will be Drum Beauty Minnesota. Drum Beauty perfor- mances will take place in Robert L. Miller Stadium at Stillwater Junior High School at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 26. Tuesday's performance will feature Allegiance Elite of Calgary, Alberta; Pio- neer of Milwaukee, Wis.; Santa Clara Vanguard and Vanguard Cadets of Santa Clara, Calif.; Troopers of Casper, Wyo.; Colt of Dubuque, Iowa, and the Madison Scouts of Madison, Wis. Concert -side tickets are $12, general admission (back sideline) are $5. Tickets can be ordered from: Drum Beauty Min- nesota '95, P.O. Box 311, Stillwater, Minn., 55082. Library hosts classes The Stillwater Public Library will host two courses this fall. The first, "Lis- tening Live," is a five - session course in modem art music. Participants will be able to discuss their current listening habits; experience the difference between listen- ing to recorded music and hearing the same pieces played live; and learn about the interplay between composers and per- formers. The class will be led by Brooke Portman, with pianist Tom Linker and noted Minnesota composer Libby Larson. Funding for the course is from the Min- nesota Humanities Commission. Sessions will be Sept. 12, 19, 26, Oct. 3 and Oct. 10 from 7 to 9 p.m. Enrollment is limited to 15. The library also will offer "Women of the St. Croix: Memory and Memoir Writ- ing." The 10- session class is designed for women over the age of 55. Participants will recall their lives and learn the tech- niques to turn their memories into vivid stories and poems. The class will be taught by Margo Fortunato Galt who has extensive experi- ence in teaching the techniques of the memoir. The class is sponsored by the li brary with the assistance of a grant from the River Valley Aris Council and tht Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, with funds provided by the Minnesota Legisla- ture. The class will be held Thursdays, Sept. 7 -Oct. 19, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. and Sundays, Sept. 17, Oct. 1 and Oct. 15, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Enrollment is limited to 15. Both classes are free of charge. To register, contact Lynne Bertalmio, 439- 1675. .LWATER • °�AC� t1 w a t e r G e n e B � A B ULK SORT �+ ULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID sW� Official City Newsletter 2 Permit No. 208 1854 Postal Patron Vol. 7; No. 2 Stillwater, MN. 55082 May 1995 Bridge's final EIS is signed The final environmental im- pact statement (EIS) for construc- tion of a new St. Croix River crossing at Oak Park Heights was signed on April 5. The Federal Highway Admin- istration signed the EIS after reaching an agreement with the Department of Interior - National Park Service concerning the dispo- sition of the existing lift bridge in downtown Stillwater. A 30 -day comment period on the EIS began April 14. Comments then will be reviewed by the Fed- eral Highway Administration be- fore that agency issues its Record of Decision on the project. Once the record of decision is issued, MnDOT will begin pur- chasing bridge right -of -way. Mn- (See Bridge, page 4) City continues sidewalk program The city of .Stillwater plans to com- plete a sidewalk repair and rehabilitation project in 1995. The purpose of the project is to make sidewalks safe for pedestrians. The major scope of the project will involve removing and replacing hazardous and ir- regular sections of sidewalk. The first phase of the project will be- gin this month and will involve identifying sidewalks that should be repaired. In some instances where a street reconstruction is anticipated within the next few years, the sidewalk repairs may be delayed. For ex- ample, South First Street and South Second Street are tentatively scheduled for street improvement in the near future, therefore it is unlikely any sidewalk improvements will be done on these streets. Actual construc- tion of the sidewalk project will not begin until the middle of the summer. The city's policy regarding sidewalk repairs is to notify residents of sections in need of repair. Residents then have the op- tion of completing the work themselves or having the work included as part of the city project. If the city completes the sidewalk improvements, the city will repair only those sections which meet the city's criteria for replacement. The city also will remove any trees which are uprooting sidewalks and repair driveways and yards. Fifty per- cent of the total sidewalk project cost will be assessed to property owners; the other 50 percent will be paid by the city. Property owners who wish to have more sidewalks replaced than the amount proposed by the city may petition the city to do so, but 100 percent of the additional work will be assessed to the property own- ers. Residents who wish to have their entire sidewalks replaced may find it more eco- nomical to finance the entire project them- selves. For comparison, last year, the city charged just under $2 per square foot for sidewalks that were replaced. The charge included all the repairs to the concrete, driveways and yards. Property owners who asked for additional sidewalk replacement were charged about $4 per square foot. Property owners who wish to partici- pate in the project or have their sidewalks examined should send the city a postcard with name, address, telephone number and short note describing the approximate number of panels which need to be re- placed. The final EIS for the new St. Croix River crossing has been signed. The fate of the lift bridge will be determined when it is no longer considered safe for traffic. Page 2 May 1995' Newsletter City briefs Cub sponsoring 4th fireworks Cub Foods has again graciously of- fered to sponsor the Fourth of July fire- works display. This will be the third con- secutive year Cub has sponsored the fire- works, and Cub officials have promised to provide a pyrotechnic display that is certain to please one and all. Cub also is planning family events in Lowell Park prior to the display. The City appreciates Cub's sponsorship of this community event and looks forward to a fun- filled Fourth of July. Holiday garbage pickup schedule Memorial Day Monday, May 29 -- No service Tuesday, May 30 -- All of Monday's and Tuesdays routes Wednesday, May 31 -- No change Thursday, June 1 -- No change Friday, June 2 -- No change Fourth of July Monday, July 3 -- All of Monday's and Tuesday's routes Tuesday, July 4 -- No service Wednesday, July 5 -- No change Thursday, July 6 -- No change Friday, July 7 -- No change Labor Day Monday, Sept. 4 -- No service Tuesday, Sept. 5 -- All of Monday's and Tuesday's routes Wednesday, Sept. 6 -- No change Thursday, Sept. 7 -- No change Friday, Sept. 8 -- No change Thanksgiving Monday, Nov. 20 -- No change Tuesday, Nov. 21 -- No change Wednesday, Nov. 22 -- No change Thursday, Nov. 23 -- No service Friday, Nov. 24 -- All of Thursday's and Friday's routes Christmas Monday, Dec. 25 -- No service Tuesday, Dec. 26 -- All of Monday's and Tuesday's routes Wednesday, Dec. 27 -- No change Thursday, Dec. 28 -- No change Friday, Dec. 29 -- No change New Year's Same as the Christmas week schedule (See Briefs, page 4) Prepared and Distributed by the Courier News City to explore Internet The information revolution is here. The question is what can be done locally to take advantage of the technological revolution that is upon us. To help answer that question, the city council, on the recommendation of Mayor Jay Kimble, is forming a Stillwater Internet Task Force. The task force will be asked to explore the ways the city might be able to assist residents in assessing and using the information highway -- the Internet. The task force would work to achieve objectives such as: giving the city a pres- ence on the Internet; creating a Stillwater bulletin board system that would be free . for Stillwater residents, with a fee charged and limited access for non - residents; bring fiber -optic connectivity to individuals, businesses and organizations, educational and government institutions, and non - profit organizations located in Stillwater; and much more. People who have a good working knowledge of personal computers and net- working capabilities are invited to participate on the task force. Anyone interested in serving on the task force is asked to send a letter, including background and qualifications, to Mayor Jay Kimble, 216 N. Fourth St., Stillwater. Letters of interest should be sent no later than June 9, 1995. City is establishing Human Rights Commission The City Council recently adopted a new ordinance establishing a Human Rights Commission. The commission will consist of 11 members, all of whom must be resi- dents of the city. Two of the 11 members must be students in School District 834. The purpose of the commission is to: • Work to recognize and prevent discrimination and inequities in the daily life of the community; • Develop programs of formal and informal education to assist in the implemen- tation of the ordinance; • Provide leadership and act cooperatively with other agencies, organizations, and other human rights commissions, include the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission; • Serve as an advisory body of the city regarding the Minnesota Human Rights Act. It is the desire of the City Council that the commission membership represent as much as possible the diversity of population in the city, as well as the ward system. Any resident interested in serving on the commission should send a letter of interest to the City Council, c/o City Clerk, 216 N. Fourth St., no later than June 2. Severe weather reminders The arrival of spring signals the approach of the severe weather season in Min- nesota. Here are some reminders of the rules of safety associated with severe weather and the weather - warning system in place in Minnesota: • Severe Thunderstorm Watch means weather conditions are favorable for the formation of severe thunderstorms, with high winds, hail, heavy rain, lightning, and possible tornadoes. When a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued, be alert and stay informed of changing weather conditions. • Severe Thunderstorm Warning means that severe thunderstorms have been sighted or indicated on radar. Stay tuned to a radio or TV for the latest advisory in- formation. Be prepared to seek shelter. Tornadoes may accompany severe thunder- storms. Heavy rains causing flash flooding, large hail, high damaging winds and lightning also may accompany severe thunderstorms. • Tornado Watch means weather conditions are favorable for the formation of tornadoes. Be alert and stay informed of changing weather conditions. • Tornado Warning means a tornado has been sighted. Seek shelter immedi- ately. Do not wait for a warning signal. Take a portable radio to stay informed of changing weather conditions. Families are encouraged to develop a plan of where to take shelter and what items to have available. At the sound of the siren, move your family to your "safe area." Remember, "all- clear" signals are not sent. Newsletter May 1995 'Page 3 -- -Meet your city staff - lege, and she didn't want to make "working at Burger King" a career. She received training as an electrician while in the service, work she found she "hated." So at the end of her four -year stint she decided to change careers. Although joining the Marine Corps was a rude awakening, all in all, she considers the experience to be a good one, especially traveling to Japan and various parts of this country. Jennifer has lived in Minnesota for over eight years. Prior to joining Stillwater, she worked part -time as secretary/dispatcher for the Woodbury Police Department. She "loves" her new position and finds the city staff to be "more friendly, like one big fam- ily." Jennifer lives in Maplewood with her "beautiful" eight -year -old daughter, Brittany. Her hobbies include rollerblading, aerobics and playing clarinet with the Woodbury Or- chestra/Chorus. Jennifer Eddy joined the city staff on February 16 of this year as secre- tary/dispatcher in the police department. A native of Millville, N.J., Jennifer joined the Marine Corp immediately after her graduation from high school. "Talk about a rude awakening," she says. She signed up because at age 17 she wasn't ready for col- NICK CHAVES Nick Chaves will celebrate his first an- niversary with the city on May 2. Chaves is a sewer maintenance worker with the Public Works Department. His duties include main- tenance, repair and cleaning of the sanitary and storm water sewers. The Stillwater native graduated from Stillwater High School in 1976. Prior to his employment with the city, he worked in road and sewer construction with CSI, his fami- ly's trucking and excavating company based in Oak Park Heights. Nick says he enjoys working for the city, the people he works with and being able to work outdoors. He has three daughters, Nichole, 18, Missy, 16, and Jennifer, 15. His hobbies in- clude house restoration, restoring old cars, and antiques. Friends of Stillwater Parks is a volun- teer organization which has been formed to support and enhance the work of the city in providing parks and recreation and to help create a vision for parks which will inte- grate Stillwater's historic character and el- ements of art and design in meeting the needs of the community. The group's mission is: to assist the city of Stillwater, organizations, and citizen efforts in beautification of Stillwater's neighborhoods, parks, and open space; in- crease park use by residents; improve handicapped accessibility; and preserve and promote the enjoyment of Stillwater's natu- ral setting. Friends of Stillwater Parks is a non- profit, tax- exempt organization made up of individuals, organizations and businesses that want to help improve the city's parks and streetscapes. The group invites all in- terested people to participate in the effort. There are a variety of ways to assist -- of- fering ideas and suggestions; lending a "green thumb" or carpentry skills to pro- jects; financial or in -kind contributions; (See Park, page 4) Library plans for summer of fun The Stillwater Public Library offers a summer filled with activities for children and families. The summer reading program gets under way June 1. The theme this year is "Amazing Library Kids." The program will feature reading records, bookmarks and buttons by well -known children's illus- trator Trina Schart Hyman. Stop by the li- brary for more details on how children can participate. Free entertainment for families will be featured on selected Thursday evenings. The programs begin at 7 p.m. and are usu- ally held on the library law -- feel free to bring blankets or lawns chairs. In case of rain, events will be held in the council chambers at Stillwater City Hall. The fun begins June 22 sith sidewalk chalk drawing and facepainting. The family night on June 29 will fea- ture juggling and magic by The Zuchinis. On July 13, enjoy music and dancing with the Banjo Dancers. African- American sto- (See Ubrary, page 4) Stillwater has friends of parks JENNIFER EDDY Page 4 May 1995 Newsletter Briefs (Continued from page 2) Time to spruce up Warmer weather signals the start of spring cleanup time. City crews are al- ready out sweeping streets. Streets in the downtown area are swept first, followed by streets with steep grades and high -vol- ume traffic streets, and then residential streets. Other city cleanup measures include repair of any damage to property caused by city snow removal, and the removal of debris from public areas. City parks also are being readied for the season, and it won't be long before fields will be ready for ball games and other recreation. The police department reminds resi- dents that the code enforcement officer will be out and about. Cleaning up yards and removing or storing non - functional or unlicensed vehicles will be a high priority. LJD fun in store Lumberjack Days '95 gets under way on Friday, July 21, and the fun continues through Wednesday, July 26. The event will feature a carnival, lumberjack shows, dragon boat races, wa- ter ski shows, the Grand Parade, and lots of music. Opening ceremonies will be held in Lowell Park at 6 p.m. July 21, followed by a free musical spectacular featuring Big John Dickerson and Downright Tight and Johnny Clueless. The lumberjack gets put back in Lumberjack Days '95. There will be three performances by Scheers Lumberjack Show on both Saturday and Sunday. While it hasn't been firmed up yet, there's a good possibility that Engine 328 will re- turn to Stillwater for the celebration. The popular dragon boat races are scheduled to return this year. Races will be held throughout the day on Saturday. A 10 mile run and 5K walk or run also is planned for Saturday. Highlight of Saturday's events will be a free concert by Three Dog Night, popu- lar in the late '60s and '70s. Sunday's highlight will be the Grand Parade; the parade route has yet to be de- termined. The fun continues on Monday evening with two performances of the Bald Eagle Water Ski Show. City nearing decision on Comp Plan update The City Council held a public hearing April 25 to receive public input on the draft of its revised Comprehensive Plan. Adop- tion of a final plan will take place this summer after another public hearing. The revised plan reviews planning is- sues and information and formulates a plan for the next 15 -25 years. Once adopted, the plan will be updated and monitored to keep it fresh and applicable. The draft Comprehensive Plan is orga- nized in 12 sections, along with an imple- mentation section. The details of the plan implementation will be developed as the plan proceeds. The draft Comprehensive Plan was de- veloped in context with the Washington County Comprehensive Plan revision and the recent Metropolitan Council Blueprint plan policies. Those documents designate Stillwater as a free - standing growth center, a center for urban services and develop - Bridge (Continued from page 1) DOT expects to complete final bridge de- sign selection and to begin acquisition this summer; construction is tentatively slated to begin in the spring of 1997. Cost of construction of the new bridge is estimated at $54 million. Improvement to the Highway 36 bridge approach, from Washington/Norell Avenue to Osgood Av- enue, is expected to cost about $15 million. Copies of the final EIS are available for ment. The city's plan maintains that desig- nation with a moderate rate of continued growth to 2010 an beyond. The plan sections cover: community character; land use; transportation; local economy; housing; natural resources and open space; parks, riverfront and trails; his- toric resources; public facilities and ser- vices; fiscal impact; and special area plans. Each section identifies key goals and poli- cies. The implementation section of the plan will identify specific actions, such as zon- ing amendments, subdivision relations changes, capital improvement program, park purchase, etc. The section also will provide specific year -by -year direction for plan implementation. Complete copies of the draft Compre- hensive Plan are available for review at City Hall, 216 N. Fourth St., or at the Stillwater Public Library. review at City Hall, as well as from Mn- DOT metro division office in Roseville. Comments should be addressed to Mark Benson, project manager, MnDOT, 1500 W. County Road B -2, Roseville, Minn., 55113. Questions may be directed to Ben- son at 582 -1294. The cities of Stillwater and Oak Park Heights will hold a joint meeting on May 30 to discuss issues related to the bridge. Park Friends (Continued from page 3) writing grant proposals; promoting the benefits of parks and open green space, and lots more. The group hopes all residents consider themselves to be friends of parks. For more information, to offer support or get in- volved in upcoming projects, leave a mes- sage with Judy Gulden, 439 -8368, Mary Peroceschi, 439 -4470, Ned Souder, 439- 2266, or call the city Parks Department. Donations and memorials are welcome and may be sent to Friends of Stillwater Parks, c/o Central Bank, Stillwater. Library fun (Continued from page 3) nes from the Arts US Young Storytellers program will be featured on July 20. The Aug. 3 program featuring the Shiffelly Puppets will be held at city hall. Weekly storytime continues each Wednesday at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. throughout the summer. Children age three and older are invited for a program of sto- ries, songs, poetry and puppets. Lunch Bunch, a special hours of sto- ries for children age six and older, will be held, beginning at noon, on July 11, July 25 and Aug. 8. Bring a lunch and join the fun. People who need special assistance to accommodate a disability are asked to call the library at least 10 days in advance of a program. For more information about summer activities at the library, call 439 - 1675. EIS S tillwater Scene Official City Newsletter CAR -RT SORT BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Stillwater, MN 55082 Permit No. 206 Postal Patron Vol. 7; No.1 Stillwater, Minn. 55082 February 1995 Community shows its generosity The October 1994 Stillwater Scene highlighted a home building project for Susan Doerr, whose home was destroyed in a tragic fire earlier in the year. The project was sponsored by Target and coordinated by the Twin Cities chapter of Habitat for Humanity. Ground- breaking ceremonies were held Oct. 10, 1994, and construction was completed in January of this year thanks to the very generous efforts of a number of individuals and or- ganizations. Project contributors included: Miller Excavating Inc., John Hein- lein Construction Co., Swift Con- struction Inc., Keyland Construc- tion, Quenzer Electric, Ra -Mar Plumbing, Penguin Insulation Inc., Larry's Floor Covering, Arrow Building Center, Fredkove Con- struction Co., Schwantes Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., J.F. Hause Construction, Swanson Construction, Junker Sanitation, Fuhr Trenching, Firstar Bank, Croix Valley Glassworks, Andersen Windows, Linner Electric Co., and Peterson Construction Inc. (ABC Seamless Siding). Many other individuals, in- cluding Fire Chief George Ness and other members of the Stillwater Fire Department, volunteered their efforts on the project. A big "thank you" to everyone who was involved in making the project possible. It is people like you who make Stillwater a great place in which to live. Comprehensive Plan enters final phase During the months of November and December the Planning Commission re- ceived input and reports from community groups regarding the updating of the city's Comprehensive Plan. Mike Anderson, representing the Ward Network, presented a report to the Planning Commission. The report, developed by the Ward Network from input at ward -spon- sored meetings, was organized into four ar- eas: growth and preservation of small town character, open space; traffic; and park and recreation facilities. The report also con- twined specific design criteria that can be applied to existing neighborhoods and new development. A presentation by the joint Stillwa- ter /Stillwater Township Task Force was made at the Planning Commission's Nov. 14 meeting. The presentation contained two new alternative plans -- alternatives E and F -- and outlined areas of agreement regarding future planning. Areas of agreement in- cluded environmental concerns, areas for future development, parks and recreational facilities and coordination. Areas of differ- ence are development density and land use (rural or urban). The joint planning task force is con- tinuing to meet to refine a guidepost land use statement and to work on coordination and implementation of programs once the Comprehensive Plan is adopted. The Planning Commission, with staff assistance, will use the information and public input to develop a recommended Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Com- mission is expected to make its recommendation to the city council this month. Thanks to the generous efforts of a number of individuals and organizations, a home has been built for Susan Doerr. Page 2 February 1995 Newsletter City briefs New council sworn in Mayor Jay Kimble and Councilmen Tent' Zoller and Gene "Taco" Bealka were administered the oath of office on Jan. 3, 1995. Zoller was appointed ward 1 repre- sentative last spring and elected to the post in the November general election. Bealka is serving his first term as ward 4 repre- sentative. Ann Bodlovick, who served on the city council for 20 years, was thanked for her efforts on the city's behalf and also was honored with Ann Bodlovick Day on Jan. 21. Outgoing Mayor Charles Hooley also was thanked for his service to the city during his two -year tenure. Eric Thole was appointed to fill the ward 2 vacancy on the council that oc- curred when Kimble assumed the office of mayor. Thole took the oath of office on Jan. 17. Recycling fee is instituted Effective Jan. 1, 1995, a 50 cent recycling fee will be added to residents' sewer and garbage bill. The fee increase was necessary to help finance the city's recycling collection programs. The city also receives a state grant, through the county, to help finance recycling efforts. Recycling programs do not pay for themselves. But, recycling programs do help save natural resources, and it is less costly to collect/process recyclable mate- rial than regular household waste. Collection rules Residents are reminded of the follow- ing rules and regulations pertaining to the city's solid waste collection system: • Place containers at curbside by 6 a.m. the morning of scheduled pickup; handles should be facing the house. • Do not overstuff containers; lids must be completely closed. Excess waste that does not fit into the container can be placed in special bags that are available for purchase at City Hall, 216 N. Fourth St., from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Bags are $2 each and are solid in minimum lots of five. Bags also are available for sale at Ace Hardware in the St. Croix Mall; Tom Thumb on County (S ee Briefs, page 4) Deblw city earn award for financial reporting For the fifth consecutive year, the city of Stillwater has received a certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Offi- cers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive an- nual financial report. The certificate of achievement is the highest form of recogni- tion in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attain- ment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. Finance Director Diane Deblon has been presented with the GFOA's award of fi- nancial reporting achievement as the individual primarily responsible for preparing the award - winning comprehensive annual financial report. The annual financial report was judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, including demonstrating a constructive "spirit of full dis- closure" to clearly communicate its financial story and to motivate potential users and user groups to read the report. Copies of the city's year -end annual reports are available at City Hall and the Stillwater Public Library. Any residents who are interested in learning more about the city's financial health are encouraged to stop by and review the reports. Fire prevention saves lives Here are some fire prevention tips from the Stillwater Fire Department. • Install and maintain smoke detectors. They work. Smoke detectors are inexpensive, and they save lives. • Never store gasoline or gas- powered equipment in the house. The vapors are explosive. You could lose your home -- or life. • Electricity can and does cause fires. Never use extension cords for appliances or heaters. Repair frayed cords. Make sure all electrical wiring is done according to elec- trical code. Remember, the code is the minimum acceptable standard. • When heating with wood, a clean chimney is a must. Have the chimney cleaned and inspected once a year. Make sure wood stoves are installed according to manufacturers specifications. Make sure that existing stoves and fireplaces are in good condition. • Check your furnace and water heater vents. They should be rust free and se- curely fastened. A leaky vent can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Don't take that chance. • Remember, everyone should know two ways out of the house. Make sure you can open doors from the inside, WITHOUT the use of a key. If you encounter smoke, crawl under it. • Smokers be careful! Make sure cigarettes are out cold before disposal. Never smoke in bed •If you have a fire, call us! This may seem obvious, but many people try to handle the fire themselves first, only to find out they can't. Call 911 FIRST! • Install a home extinguisher. We recommend a dry chemical type extinguisher with a rating of at least IA -10BC. This rating can be found on the side of the extin- guisher. Purchase only UL- Listed extinguishers. • Beware of door -to -door salesmen offering expensive fire and smoke detectors or fire extinguishers. Smoke detectors for home use should cost $20 -$25, and a 1A- IOBC extinguisher no more than $25. If you have a doubt, question or concern, call the fire department. • If you have any questions about fire safety, call the fire department at 439- 6120. Fighting fire is more than fire engines and hoses. It may not be as exciting, but fine prevention can save more lives and property because fire prevention saves before the fire occurs -- not after the fact. Prepared and Distributed by the Courier News Newsletter February 1995 Page 3 Meet your city staff of the reasons he enjoys his job with the street department. He also likes the variety of work in the job and the people he gets to meet. Ken and his wife, Mary Jo, have three daughters and one son and seven grandchil- dren. His hobbies, not surprisingly, are hunting and fishing -- hunting, most of all. SHARON HARRISON Public Works Department employee Ken Kress was born and raised in Stillwa- ter. He's worked for the city for the past eight years, five years full -time. Prior to his employment with the city, he was a bus driver for School District 834. Ken likes the outdoors, which is one Sharon Harrison, senior account clerk for the city, thought about nursing as a ca- reer after working at a local healthcare facility for a number of years. After gradu- ating from Stillwater High School, she at- tended Winona State University intending to obtain a degree in nursing. Three years later, she switched majors and transferred to Lakewood Community College where she earned an accounting degree. She says she loved her high school accounting classes and had taken several accounting classes as electives at Winona. And, she says she's never regretted her change in career choices. Sharon joined the city staff in January 1994. Prior to her employment here, she worked for seven years with the Washing- ton County Public Works Department. She doesn't regret making the job move, either. "It's smaller. You feel like you have a purpose. There's more variety." And, "It's a great bunch of people to work with." Sharon lives in Oak Park Heights with her two kitties. Her hobbies include collecting stamps, and knitting and crocheting to keep busy. And, she "loves" to fish. Also, some day she'd like to do a bit of traveling, returning to Europe where she lived with her family for five years while in elementary junior high school. Library offers dial -in computer access The Stillwater Public Library, as well as all Washington County Library branches now offer dial in access to its online catalog. People with access to a personal computer and modem can now search the Stillwater Library catalog, and others, from their home or office! For one modem to communicate with another both must use the same settings. The library's online catalog modem has the following settings: Parity: none Data bits: 8 Stop bits: 1 Duplex: FDX Baud Rate: 300/1200/2400/4800 /9600 For access, dial in 739 -9647. When you are connected, push return or enter until you receive the log on prompt, Lo- gin please: then type, in lower case letters, library, press return or enter. When you are logged on, you may use the online catalog in the same way you would if you were in the library: • Search the library's holdings by au- thor, title or subject; (See Library, page 4) Free tax help is available at Senior Center Free tax assistance for senior citizens and for families with incomes of $25,000 or less will be offered, by appointment, at the Stillwater Senior Community Center from Feb. 15 through April 13. Trained volunteers will be at the Senior Center from 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and 9:30 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Thursdays. Volunteers are trained to provide the service through AARP, the IRS and the Minnesota Department of Revenue. Taxpayers should bring with them the following information: • State and federal tax forms • Records showing 1994 income from interest, dividends, wages and other sources • Copies of 1993 state and federal and property tax returns • Certificate of rent paid in 1994 or property tax statement payable in 1995, if applying for Minnesota renters credit or property tax refund • Retired people should bring forms showing pension income, Social Security benefits or Railroad Retirement benefits To make an appointment, call 439- 9159. Walk -ins are welcome but will have to wait their turn. Tax assistance also is available to homebound people; for infor- mation, call the number listed above. KEN KRESS Page 4 February 1895 Newsletter Briefs (Continued from page 2) Road 5 and Orleans Street; Food and Fuel on North Owens Street; and Cub Foods. • Call Junker Sanitation, 439 -7135, if you have any questions regarding solid waste collection. Clubs work for good The Stillwater area is blessed with many benevolent service clubs and organizations such as: two American Le- gion clubs, two Lions clubs, two Rotary International clubs, two VFW clubs, the Elks, Knights of Columbus, Masons, Optimists, Eagles and others. These organizations have raised and distributed large amounts of money. They have helped bring goodwill and better un- derstanding to all parts of the world -- es- pecially third world countries. They also have contributed generously to their com- munities. One of the organizations, Rotary In- ternational, will celebrate its 90th anniversary on Feb. 23, 1995. Rotary In- ternational has among other things, helped eradicate polio as a life- threatening disease throughout the world. Happy anniversary to Rotary International, and thank you to all the other service organizations for their generous contributions to the community and the world. New well completed The city water department is nearing completion of the installation of remote water meters (meters placed on the exterior of the residence). The project was started in 1986. To date over 4,400 of the meters have been installed, with about 100 remaining to be converted to the new sys- tem. The project should be completed this year. The new meters should serve the city's needs for 15 to 20 years. The new city well, well No. 10, in the Highlands addition is completed. Drilling for the well started in early 1993. The well and pump house are now opera- tional. Cost was $250,000 and required no bonding by the city. At the current rate of expansion, the new well, in conjunction with the other city wells, should supply the city's water needs for 10 to 15 years. The water department's next major capital improvement project is construc- tion of an additional water storage tank. Cost of that project is estimated to be in excess of $600,000. The tank most likely will be constructed in the northwest area of the city. Group working on formation of Human Rights Commission A group of concerned citizens is work- ing toward establishing a Human Rights Commission in Stillwater. The group came together last May in the wake of vandalism by area youths. The St. Croix Area United Way worked with the League of Women Voters, church groups and the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commissions to bring interested parties together. Human Rights Commissions are vol- untary, city chartered groups appointed by city councils to advise on and promote matters relating to human rights and to work toward the elimination of prejudice and discrimination. Members of the Stillwater Human Rights Commission work group include: Laurie Maher, United Way; Sally Evert and Glenna Bealka, League of Women Voters; Anita Cummings, St. Croix Valley Ministerial Association; Mary Jo Wein- garten, Ken Pedersen and Nancy Hof, Stillwater Area Schools; Sheila Maybanks, Family Service St. Croix; and a number of other concerned citizens. The group has re- ceived letters of support from over 25 indi- viduals and organizations. The group held a public information meeting on Feb. 2 and will be holding a workshop session with the City Council in the near future. Questions about the Human Rights Commission may be addressed to Laurie Maher at the United Way or any other member of the work group. City construction activity tops $22 million in 1994 Construction activity in the city of Stillwater couldn't compete with 1993 when building permits were issued for a number of major projects -- the Target store, Stillwater Veterinary Clinic and the addition to Lakeview Hosptial. In 1994, the city issued 983 permits for construc- tion valued at slightly over $22 million. In 1993, permits were issued for construc- tion valued at $39.4 million. New home construction topped the list last year. Eighty -seven permits were isued for new homes valued at $9.8 mil- lion, along with eight permits for town - homes and four twinhome permits. Alto- gether residential permits totalled $13.4 million. Outside of constructing new homes, the major activity last year was reroofing, with 86 permits issued for work valued at about $296,000; other building activites ranged from finishing basements to constructing decks to installing base- ment footings. Commerical permits totalled $6.3 million, with about half that amount for construction of the new CUB Foods store. The other major permit ($1.3 million) is- sued was for construction of the apartment for wheelchair -bound people nearing com- pletion on Curve Crest Avenue. There were 23 permits issued for commercial remodeling projects valued at $746,000. Library access (Continued from page 3) • Place a request on items in Wash- ington County libraries' you must have the Washington County Library barcode when requesting an item. (To request items from other library systems, check with library staff to make an inter - library loan request.) • See a list of items you have re- quested, items you have checked out, overdue items and charges, and items be- ing held for you. When you are finished: choose Logoff from the menu to exit. Logging off cor- rectly and disconnecting your modem will ensure the line is available to others. Dial -in service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except during maintenance. The Stillwater Public Library has a flier available which lists online informa- tion (access numbers, modem settings, logon commands, etc.) for other metro area library systems, including the University of Minnesota libraries, com- munity college libraries and state govern- ment agency libraries.