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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 Stillwater City NewsletterWA m 0� 50�T 1854 S tillwater Scene Official City Newsletter CAR -RT SORT BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Stillwater, MN 55082 Permit No. 206 Postal Patron Vol. 6; No. 4 Stillwater, Minn. 55082 October 1994 Referendum on Nov. 8 ballot Voters in the city of Stillwater will have the opportunity to vote on the fol- lowing referendum question: Shall the City of Stillwater, Min- nesota, seek special legislation to autho- rize the collection of a 1 percent sales tax that will sunset in the year 2010 for the purpose of financing the cost of develop- ment of parks and recreation improve- ments consisting of: 1. Reconstruction and extension of Lowell Park and levee, 2. Purchase land and improve existing neighborhood parks, 3. Purchase land and construct a community park, 4. Construct community recreation complex including an ice arena? If the referendum is approved, the state legislature would be asked to pass special legislation authorizing the city to implement the 1 percent sales tax. It is estimated the tax would generate between $10 million and $15 million while it is in effect. Revenues would be obligated for the following uses. Lowell Park Improvements The Lowell Park renovation plan was adopted by the Stillwater City Council in 1992. A significant element of the park's redevelopment is to rebuild and extend the levee wall and provide flood protection for the downtown area. The city has succeeded in obtaining federal and state funds to re- build the levee wall. However, the city must match the state funds at a cost of as much as $750,000. The park improvement plan is broken into six major areas which extend from Nelson Street to Mulberry Point. The ar- eas provide for informal recreational activities such as picnicking, as well as areas for large events such as Lumberjack Days and other special events. A signifi- cant part of the plan is to restore the for- mal garden on the north side of Chestnut Street as developed by Elmore Lowell for whom the park was named. Another im- portant element of the plan is to construct a performance pavilion on Mulberry Point and develop areas for vendors and displays. Also, parking areas would be reorganized (See Referendum, page 2) Revenue from the 1 percent sales tax would allow Stillwater to purchase a site for a community park as shown here. Page 2 October 1994 Newsletter City briefs Election is Nov. 8 Voters in Stillwater will elect a new mayor in the Nov. 8 general election. Mayoral candidates are Ann Bodlovick and Jay Kimble. Voters in wards 4 and 1 will elect council representatives. Candidates in ward 1 are Don Nolde and Terry Zoller; candidates in ward 4 are Gene Bealka and Gerald Fontaine. The polling place for residents of ward 1 is Oak Park Elementary School, ward 2 is First Methodist Church at Myrtle and Greeley streets, ward 3 is Stonebridge El- ementary School and ward 4 is Lily Lake Elementary School. The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. -- plenty of time to vote! Fire Department sponsors dance The Stillwater Fire Department Relief Association will hold its annual fundraiser at the Stillwater VFW on Friday, Oct. 28. There will be a fish fry, with serving from 4:30 to 7 p.m., followed by a dance to the music of Checkers. Admission to the dance is a $3 donation at the door; a prize will be awarded for the best Halloween costume. State has home improvement law The state of Minnesota has an older home improvement value exclusion pro- gram. The program applies only to owner - occupied homesteaded property that is at least 35 years old with a market value of under $150,000 at the time an improve- ment is made. If the structure is over 70 years old, 100 percent (maximum of $50,000) of the assessed market value of the improvement can qualify for exclusion if the structure is 35 to 69 years old, 50 percent (maximum of $25,000) can qualify for the exclusion. For more information about the pro- gram, call the Washington County Asses- sor's office, 430 -6090 or 430 -6098. Ask for an application form from the city's building inspection office if you apply for a building improvement permit and you think you qualify for the exclusion. (See Briefs, page 4) Prepared and Distributed by the Courier News City sets proposal budget The Stillwater City Council has adopted the proposed 1995 budget and tax levy. The table below shows the estimated change in taxes on homesteaded properties of certain market values: Market Value $68,000 $100,000 $150,00 $200,000 1994 Stillwater tax $201.46 $379.21 $675.47 $971.73 1995 Estimated tax $208.89 $393.20 $700.39 $1007.58 Estimated increase $7.43 $13.99 $24.92 $35.85 The table above indicates only the city's share of the property tax and does not include taxes levied by other taxing jurisdictions such as Washington County or School District 834. The city tax is generally about one -fourth of the total property tax. The Stillwater City Council will hold its truth -in- taxation hearing on the proposed budget and tax levy at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, in the council chambers of City Hall, 216 N. Fourth St. Winter parking reminders The city's winter parking regulation goes into effect Nov. 1. Beginning at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 1 through midnight April 1, the odd -even parking regulation is in force -- at all times. The odd -even regulation means that on odd- numbered calendar days, cars should be parked on the side of the street with odd- numbered street addresses. On even - numbered calendar days, cars should be parked on the side of the street with even -num- bered addresses. Each day between 7 p.m. and midnight, there is a change -over period when the regulations are not in force in order to allow residents to move their cars to the side of the street where parking is permitted the next day. Every winter, the city receives complaints from citizens who have had their vehi- cles tagged or towed because the car was parked on the wrong side of the street. In many instances, residents thought the winter parking ordinance was enforced only during snowfalls. The city's winter parking regulations are enforced at all times. Compliance with the ordinance helps city snow removal crews get the job done quicker, and it could save you some money by avoiding a tag- and -tow situation. Referendum (Continued from page 1) and expanded. The Lowell Park renovation will cost the city about $4 million if done according to the plan. The cost takes into consideration all infrastructure costs, such as irrigation, electricity and other city services. Neighborhood Parks Neighborhood park improvements would be made with input from the neigh- borhoods they serve. Examples of improvements developed by the Parks and Recreation Commission are: playground equipment for Triangle Park; playground equipment and improved ball fields at Staples Field and Schulenberg Park; pathway, ball field and relocation of play equipment at Sunrise Park; landscaping, site furniture and gazebo at Pioneer Park; improved access and ball field at Meadowlark Park; landscaping and new play equipment at Washington Park and Ramsey/Grove park; bleachers and new play equipment at Northland Park; and improved beach area, more picnic areas and green space at Lily Lake. Community Park A site for a community size park that provides additional field space for organized recreational activity would be purchased and improved using the tax proceeds. Community Center /Ice Arena Fifteen acres of land in the Stillwater Business Park has been purchased by the city for a community center. Efforts will be made to coordinate construction of the commu- nity center /ice arena with construction of a National Guard armory as was done in Brooklyn Park. Newsletter October 1994 Page 3 Meet your city staff ELSA HAGEN Any user of the Stillwater Public Li- brary will recognize Elsa Hagen. She's the lady at the circulation desk who greets people, helps them find books if they need help, checks out library materials, and an- swers the phone. Elsa has been greeting people and checking out books at the Stillwater Library since April 1, 1976, an easy employment anniversary to remem- ber, she notes. Elsa was raised in Duluth, where she attended high school and college, and moved to Stillwater after her marriage in 1959. She considers her job to be a perfect match for her love of reading (she majored in English literature in college) and her enjoyment of meeting people. The library is a nice place to work, she says, because co- workers get along with each other "very well" and the morale is "great." She also thinks the city of Stillwater is "nice" to work for. And she, for one, is hoping the Stillwater Public Library never gets taken over by Washington County. Elsa's hobbies include reading and old movies; she's also starting to enjoy an- tiques and finds Stillwater to be a great place to pursue that new hobby. And she has two cats -- "I've always had cats." SCOTT SCHELL Having a job that involves being outdoors is a "big plus" for Scott Schell. Scott, a 10 -year employee, is a city parks keeper, a job that entails "a little bit of everything" -- installing playground equipment, planting, mowing, flooding ice rinks, shoveling and plowing. Scott was born and raised in Stillwa- ter. He and his wife, Muery, has an eight - year -old son, Billy. He also has a 22 -year- old daughter, Melissa, and four -year -old granddaughter, Lauren. Scott's hobbies include woodworking and music of all kinds. Wards join Comp Plan process Since the June 6 public meeting on the alternative plans being considered in the city's comprehensive plan update, three neighborhood meetings and six ward meetings have been held to receive com- munity input on the plan alternatives and key issues facing the neighborhoods and the city in planning for the future. Over 200 residents participated in those meet- ings. The Ward Network is sponsoring a include an overview of the planning pro- cess, including Washington County's comprehensive plan as it relates to the city; an overview of citizen input from the city's four wards and from Stillwater Township residents; an opportunity to re- spond to and make recommendations re- garding the alternatives being considered for Stillwater's comprehensive plan; and a discussion of ideas for future ward meet- ings. joint task force meetings will be presented to the City Council in November. Also during November, the Planning Commission will consider the recommen- dations from the ward meetings and will make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the preferred compre- hensive plan alternative. The City Council then will consider the Planning Commis- sion recommendation and direct the prepa- ration of the final plan. community -wide meeting scheduled for A joint task force of Stillwater Saturday, Oct. 29, from 8:30 a.m. to noon Township Town Board and Planning The City Council and Planning in the forum room at Stillwater Area High Commission members and Stillwater City Commission will hold public hearings af- School. Registration will be held from 8 Council and Planning Commission mem- ter the final plan has been prepared. Resi- to 8:30 a.m.; refreshments will be served. bers has been meeting since April to iden- dents who would like to be on the com- The workshop will focus on the results tify areas of common planning concerns prehensive plan mailing list or who would and recommendations received during and to develop a joint plan for vacant land like more information on the alternative ward/neighborhood meetings in regards to in the planning area that could accommo- plans can call the city's Planning Depart - the planning alternatives. The agenda will date future city growth. The results of the ment, 439 -6121. Remember To Vote November 8th Page 4 October 1994 Newsletter I t Briefs (Continued from page 2) A challenge to 'River City' The cities of Hastings, Red Wing, Winona and Taylor's Falls have put out a D -Day challenge for Nov. 17. The chal- lenge is for cities, including the city of Stillwater, to go smoke -free. The city with the most businesses that go smoke - free on that day or that already are smoke - free will be the winner. The winning city will take possession of the River City traveling trophy for one year. Stillwater business owners and em- ployees are encouraged to participate and become part of a winning team. To participate call SuzAnn Stenso -Velo at the Washington County Health Department, 430 -6695. Don't let the challenge go up in smoke! Collection schedule There will be no garbage pick -up on Nov. 24 due to the Thanksgiving holiday. All of Thursday's and all of Friday's routes will be picked up on Friday, Nov. 25. The regular pick -up schedule will be followed the weeks of Christmas and New Year. Holiday gift idea The Stillwater Fire Department re- minds residents that although a smoke de- tector wy}a't prevent a fire, a working smoke4gfttor can double the chances of surviving a fire. Since many fires occur at night, a detector might be the only safety alert. Residents are urged to install a smoke detector on every level of the home, clean and inspect them every month, and re- member to change batteries on a regular basis. Smoke detectors are inexpensive and can be purchased at any hardware, discount or department store. They make a perfect Christmas gift for the ones you love. Raking reminder Residents are reminded not to rake leaves and other yard debris into the streets /gutters. Doing so can clog storm sewer covers. Property owners who notice clogged storm sewer covers are asked to clear them. City show its g enerosity The generosity of the Stillwater community is no where more apparent than the Habitat for Humanity project that will build a new home for Sue Do- err, who lost her son and her home at 124 S. Sherburne St. in a tragic fire ear- lier this year. On Monday, Oct. 10, city officials together with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity and Target officials held a ceremonial ground - breaking ceremony signaling the start of construction of the new home. In addition to the new Target store in Library offers Washington County libraries offer a new service for visually impaired people -- DVS Home Video (Descriptive Video Service), a collection of popular and clas- sic movies, enhanced with narration that describes action, settings, gestures and other key visual elements. Described videos allow people who are blind or have low vision to indepen- dently enjoy a variety of movies or watch with family and friends without having to depend on someone else to describe what's Stillwater, many other local commies have joined forces in the project in- cluding: Miller Excavating Inc., John Heinlein Construction Co., Swift Con- struction Inc., Keyland Construction, Quenzer Electric, Ra -Mar Plumbing, Penguin Insulation Inc., Larry's Floor Covering, Arrow Building Center, Fred - kove Construction Co., Schwantes Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., J.F. Hause Construction, Swanson Construc- tion, Junker Sanitation and Fuhr Trench- ing. new service happening on the screen. Described videos can be requested from any of the 11 library locations in Washington County. The videos are loaned free for two days. Currently the collection includes 35 titles of family and children's classics, popular movies, action and adventure movies and comedy. For more information about descrip- tive videos, large print books or books on tape, call the Stillwater Public Library, 439 -1675, or the Washington County Li- brary, 731 -8487. In photo, from left, are Rod Hofland, president of Firstar Bank, the project lender; George Ness, Stillwater Fire Chief who will serve as contruction manager, Allen Zepper, Stillwater building inspector, Jay Meyers, Stillwater Target store manager; Mayor Charles Hooley, City Administrator Nile Kriesel, Sue Doerr; Councilman Jay Kimble; and Peter Boyle, Firstar Bank. tillwater Scene Official City Newsletter CAR -RT SORT BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Stillwater, MN 55082 Permit No. 206 Postal Patron Vol, 6; No. 3 Stillwater, Minn. 55082 July 1994 City Hall alternatives explored The city is in the process of identify - ing various options for creating additional office space for municipal operations. The city has determined that the existing mu- nicipal building at 216 N. Fourth St. is overcrowded and does not meet the re- quirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (handicapped accessibility) or building and energy code standards. A feasibility study was prepared by BWBR Architects. According to the study, the city needs an additional 4,800- square feet of office space to eliminate overcrowding and to provide more efficient circulation and organization. The feasibility study included a pro- posal to expand and remodel the existing city hall facilities at an estimated cost of $1.8 million. The city council conducted an open house and public hearing on the proposal. As a result of the hearing, the council decided to study other options, such as: the sale of the existing facility, construction of a new municipal building or conversion of another existing facility for municipal operations, construction of a separate public safety (police and fire) building, or leasing additional office space. Possible new construction sites include the former landfill on West Myrtle Street and city - owned property in the Industrial Park. It is expected that a final decision re- garding city facilities will be made by late fall. Levee wall project slated for '95 -'96 start The Stillwater levee project will cost an additional $2.3 million above the $3.2 million initially estimated for the project. According to the proposal negotiated be- tween the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the engineering firm, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. of St. Paul, the addi- tional costs are the result of a number of factors. The inflation factor, since the original estimate was made in 1992, until actual construction in 1996 accounts for about 10 percent of the increase. The inclusion of such work as the construction of new roadways adjacent to the levee wall, an in- ternal drainage system, utilities relocation and traffic accommodations during con- struction have all contributed to the in- creased cost of the project. The planning, development and con - struction of an "I- wall" gives the city a 50 -year flood protection program, but was not included in the original budget esti- mate. The Department of Natural Re- sources required that additional flood pro - tection be provided before the agency (See Levee, page 3) An architect's rendition of a renovated and expanded Stillwater City Hall. Page 2 Judy 1994 Newsletter City briefs I Thanks, Cub A special thanks to Cub Foods for sponsoring this year's Fourth of July fire- works display. The display was a real crowd- pleaser -- and what a crowd there was! Wind Symphony coming to town The American Wind Symphony Or- chestra, under the direction or Robert Austin Bourdreau, will return to Stillwater for an Aug. 4 performance on the St. Croix River in front of Lowell Park. The orchestra is housed on the Point Counter- point II, a converted river barge. The or- chestra visited Stillwater in 1984. Resi- dents who attended that first performance were treeated to a very unique and memo- rable experience. Dump open Aug. 13 The former city dump on Myrtle Street will be open from 8 a.m, to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 13, 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. 'Rumor' is false During construction of the southeast improvement project, "rumors" were circulating that the school district had plans to sell the old athletic field for con - version to a residential development. The rumor is unfounded, and neither the school district or the city have any plans for the sale and development of the property. Discussions between school and city offi- cials have taken place, but only for the purpose of ensuring that this recreational and open space facility remains as such. LJD starts July 27 Lumberjack Days 1994 gets under way on Wednesday, July 27. Opening cer- emonies will be held in Lowell Park at 7 p.m. prior to the Music on the Waterfront concert. The concert will begin at 7:15 (See Briefs, p age 4) Prepared and Distributed by the Courier News Warning system is in place With the installation of the new emergency warning siren at Moore and North Fourth streets, the city has completed its total warning coverage system. The four new 127 - decibel, rotating sirens each provide a coverage area of four- square miles. The new sirens are located on the water tower near Lily Lake Elemen- tary School, on McKusick Lake Road near Oak Glen Country Club, Willard and South Third streets, and Moore and North Fourth. In addition, there is a 102 decibel siren at Nightingale Boulevard and Woodridge in the Croixwood area. The sirens are radio activated. In case of a severe weather warning, the Washing- ton County Sheriffs Department will activate the sirens to shorten response time; the city also has the capability to activate the sirens, if for some reason the county was unable to do so. Civil Defense Director Stuart Glaser reminds people to always be alert to threat- ening weather conditions. The sirens are "outdoor warning" sirens and may not al- ways be heard indoors, f6r example if there are heavy winds/rain. Also when the sirens are sounded in a weather emergency, an all -clear will not be sounded. The all -clear message will be given on radio/TV. Brochures describing recommended safety procedures to follow during emergency weather conditions are available by contacting Glaser at the Stillwater Police De- partment, 439 -1314. Plan is a vision statement What is Stillwater's Comprehensive Plan? The Comprehensive Plan is the offi- cial document, adopted in 1979, by the City Council as the policy guide to decisions regarding the physical development of the community. The document, required by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act, encompasses all geographic parts of the commu- nity and all functional elements which relate to the physical makeup of Stillwater. The Comprehensive Plan is a vision statement for the future development of Stillwater. The plan's primary emphasis is on land use, the types of development, and the location, timing and related public services and facilities needed to accommo- date development. Conditions have changed since the Comprehensive Plan was adopted in 1979. Residential and commercial development have occurred, and the supply of vacant, de- velopable land has been depleted. The 1990 census provides a statistical picture of the city that has been used to describe existing conditions. Besides the physical changes, the attitude of the community and its feelings about the future have changed. During the past 10 months, the Planning Commission has played the key role in providing an opportunity for community input into the update of the Comprehen- sive Plan through special meetings, questionnaires and public hearings. The Planning Commission has identified 10 key planning issue areas in which goals and actions have been developed for Stillwater's future. Four alternative land use plans have been developed for study purposes and are currently being evaluated with regard to the planning goals and action plans. Issues which have become apparent during the Comprehensive Plan updating process include concerns over natural resources, open space, traffic, parks and city expansion. The Comprehensive Plan has raised awareness about the future of not only Stillwater but Stillwater Township. Residents of both communities have vocalized their specific concerns relating to growth and its effects on the area. A joint city of Stillwater /Stillwater Township task force has been formed to discuss the plan alternatives and to plan cooperatively for the future of the Stillwater area. In June, four meetings were held throughout Stillwater to explain the four alter- native land use plans. As a result of these meetings, a Ward Network was formed by a small group of local residents who were concerned that more input was needed on development of the Comprehensive Plan. The Network members will work with lo- cal residents, City Council representatives of each ward, Planning Commission members and city staff in order to provide grassroots input into the plan update. The grassroots effort is a very positive way of networking with neighbors, meeting City Council representatives, and establishing a consensus on specific issues related to Stillwater's neighborhoods and wards. A series of four ward meetings will be held the last week in July and the first week in August. Refer to a separate article in this newsletter for specific times and locations or contact the city Planning Department, 439 -6121. Newsletter July 1994 Page 3 Meet your city staff criminal justice. It was after his second year at St. Cloud that he decided on a law enforcement career. "I don't know what hit me," he says. He began his career with the Glenwood police department and was with the Wash- ington County Sheriffs water patrol prior to joining the Stillwater police force in 1993. Interaction with people, excitement, and the freedom to roam and "not sit behind a desk" are some of the reasons Bjorkman enjoys his work. His hobbies include hunting and fish- ing. CINDY GEIS TODD BJORKMAN Stillwater police officer Todd Bjork- man is a homegrown product, raised in Lake Elmo and a 1987 graduate of Stillwa- ter High School. He is a graduate of St. Cloud State University with a degree in Cindy Geis, one of the new faces at City Hall, is part of the administrative support team. In addition to general secre- tarial duties, she is the computer "trouble shooter." Geis started working with the city in February of this year after four years as an administrative secretary with UFE. She said she looked at the move as a "better career opportunity" and an "opportunity to learn new things." She says working in government is "a lot different" than working with a private company. "I think I'll be learning for a long time," she says. Geis grew up in New Richmond, Wis., ; where she still makes her home. She graduated from New Richmond High School and attended Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College there. Her eight - year -old daughter, Jessica, takes up most of her time away from work. .In addition to spending time with Jessica, Cindy likes to take in a movie once in a while, and she likes to water -ski. Levee project (Continued from page 1) would recommend the project to the gov- ernor and Legislature for funding. Other options, such as raising the existing re- taining wall system, were ruled out be- cause the view of the St. Croix River from Lowell Park would be obstructed. The I -wall will extend about 2 1/2 feet above ground and 15 feet below ground to prevent the seepage of water as was experienced in both the 1965 and 1969 floods. It will be located between Lowell Park and the existing parking lots and will extend the full length of the levee from the Dock Cafe to just past Mulberry Point. According to engineers, the I -wall will provide a base for sandbagging, with little or no seepage, that can give the commercial section of Stillwater a 100 - year flood protection program. The cost of the I -wall is approximately $1.2 million and could be delayed if new funding is not available. The levee project also includes ac- commodations for the development plans for Lowell Park by making allowances for stairways, ramps for handicapped access, boat tie -ups, walkways, and many other small, but important, features. "The inclusion of these features will constitute a major savings to the city as work on the park materializes," said a Corps of Engi- neers official. According to Ed Cain, city lobbyist, the city appears to be in a good position to get additional funding from both the federal and state governments. Working with the Congressional committees, Mr. Cain was able to get language in both the authorization and appropriations bills that t gives the city broad authority in designing the type of structure that best provides for the multiple needs of the community. While the number one concern is flood and erosion control, the city must also be cognizant of the need to maintain the beauty and natural setting of the river in downtown Stillwater. The plans and specifications for the project are expected to be completed by the end of this year, with construction slated to begin in late 1995 or early 1996, based on the latest projections by the Corps of Engineers. To date, Congress has appropriated $2.4 million in federal funds for the pro- ject, and the state of Minnesota has pro - vided $400,000 in non - federal matching funds through the bonding bills of 1993 and 1994. The city will need to obtain an- other $1.75 million in federal funding and an additional $287,000 from the state. The city is responsible for 12.5 percent, or $687,000, of the total project cost, according to Cain. Page 4 July 1994 Newsletter Briefs (Continued from page 2)' p.m. with a preview of Andersen Windows Drum Beauty Minnesota '94 featuring the Santa Clara Vanguard of Santa Clara, Calif., the five -time Drum Corps Interna- tional world champions, and the Capito- laires of Madison, Wis. The Stillwater performance of Drum Beauty will be held in Robert L. Miller Stadium at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 28. Carnival rides will be offered in Low- ell Park beginning at noon Thursday, July 28, through Saturday, July 30. Sidewalk sales will be held Friday through Saturday, and food will be available in Lowell Park Friday through Saturday. Bungee jumping demonstrations will be performed in Lowell Park on both Friday and Saturday. The popular dragon boat races return for this year's celebration. The first races are scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday, July 30, with the finals set for 9 a.m. Sunday. A highlight of the celebration will be a free concert by the Kingston Trio; the concert, courtesy of Andersen Corp. will be held in Lowell Park at 7:30 p.m. Sat- urday. There also will be a concert in the park on Friday night. The festivities will conclude with the annual parade beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, July 31. Musical treats The city of Stillwater will ring with the sounds of music on Wednesday evenings during the summer with the re- turn of the popular Music on the Water- front concert series. This year, the concerts will alternate between Lowell Park and Pioneer Park. All concerts begin at 7 p.m. The music returns to Lowell Park on July 27. The concert will open with a preview of Andersen Windows Drum Beauty '94; performing will be the Santa Clara Vanguard and the Capitolaires of Madison, Wis. Hemlock -9 is the featured band. Mark Adams and Susan Feehan will open for Stampede on Aug. 3 in Pioneer Park. Lamont Cranston, with Beech & York, will take the stage in Lowell Park on Aug. 10. A favorite with the kids, Tricia and the Toons, and Claudia Schmidt will per- form in Pioneer Park on Aug. 17. The Hoopsnakes with Michael Monroe will close out the '94 series in Lowell Park on Aug. 24. Aug. 31 is the rain date if needed. Ward Network organizes meetings The Stillwater Ward Network invites all residents to attend meetings to share ideas, concerns and hopes for Stillwater's future. The Ward Networks is made up of volunteers from each of the city's four wards who want to develop an effective process for broader citizen involvement in decisions concerning Stillwater's future. Resource information will ` be available about the wards and the comprehensive plan process. Ward meetings will be held at the following times and locations. A meeting for ward' 2 residents will be held at city hall on Monday, July 25; the ward 1 meeting will be held in the Margaret Rivers Room of the Stillwater Public Library on Tuesday, July 26; the ward 3 meeting will be held in the Stillwater Senior Community Center on Wednesday, Aug. 3; the ward 4 meeting also will be held at the Senior Community Center on Thurs- day, Aug. 4. All meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. Residents unable to attend their ward meeting are welcome and encouraged to attend any other ward meeting. St. Croix Collection keeps expanding The Stillwater Public Library's St. Croix Collection, a collection of local history, continues to expand. A grant from the Minnesota Historical Society allowed the library to purchase microfilm copies of several items of interest, including the naturalization records of Washington County and a collection of papers written by the Younger brothers from the territo- rial prison at Stillwater. Conservation of the collection is continuing, with maps being unfolded, de- acidified and encapsulated in protective plastic. The process will extend the life of the maps for hundred of years and allow them to be handled without risk of tearing. Residents are reminded that the St. Croix Collection welcomes copies of pa- pers, books, letters, photographs, maps and any other materials pertinent to the history of the area. tillwater Scene Official City Newsletter CAR -RT SORT BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Stillwater, MN 55082 Permit No. 206 Postal Patron Vol, 6; No. 2 Stillwater, Minn. 55082 April 1994 Street projects begin. in May The city will be conducting a number of street improvement projects this season. The improvements were identified in the pavement management study conducted in 1990 which looked at a number of streets /sidewalks in need of major repair or reconstruction. Streets slated for improvements this year in- clude: South Sixth Street -- reconstruction from Olive and Pine streets; Northland Avenue -- reconstruction from Croixwood Boulevard to Hawthorne Lane, as well as resurfacing from Sunrise Avenue to Croixwood Boulevard and from Hawthorne Lane to Myrtle Street; North Sherburne Street -- reconstruction from Myrtle to Linden Street; West Mulberry Street -- reconstruction from Owens to Everett Street; North William Street -- reconstruction from Myrtle to Mulberry Street. (See Streets, page 4) Household hazardous waste facility opens A permanent facility where Washing- ton County residents can dispose of household hazardous wastes opened in Oakdale, adjacent to the city of Oakdale's public works garage, 1900 Hadley Ave., on April 9. The facility will be open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays through November 1. November 1 through March 31 hours will be Satur- day only. Household waste that will be accepted at the facility includes: building products - - paint, varnish and stain, paint thinner and remover, solvents, rust remover, wood preservatives, and driveway sealer; auto /petroleum products -- gasoline, transmission oil, brake fluid, kerosene, charcoal lighter fluid and power steering fluid; household cleaners -- spot remover, metal cleaner, stove cleaner, drain cleaner, and rug and bathroom cleaners with petroleum distillates /solvents; pesticides -- insect killers, weed killers, flea products, moth crystals and fertilizers with weed killer; miscellaneous -- pool chemicals, fluorescent lamps, Ni -Cad batteries, photo chemicals, acid and corrosive chemicals. Items that will = be accepted include used oil, oil filters, antifreeze, car batteries or explosives. Business waste will not be accepted Items that can be disposed of in the trash include: empty paint cans, dried out paint, empty aerosol cans, fertilizer with- out weed killer and alkaline, manganese and carbon zinc batteries. Prepare waste properly. Wear protec- tive clothing, gloves and goggles. Do no smoke. Work in a well - ventilated area, and avoid breathing fumes. Keep children and pets away. If possible, bring materials in the original containers. If the original con- tainer is not available, clearly mark the container with the contents. Do no mix different or unknown waste products in the same container. Pack containers in a cardboard box lined with plastic. Pack containers up- right, with newspaper separating them. Tighten lids before transporting. If a con- tainer is leaking, pack it in a larger, leak - free container. Put the boxes in the car truck. If the items must be transported in- side of the car, keep the car ventilated and place combustibles out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources. A technician will unload the materials at the facility; remain in your car and don't smoke. The new disposal facility includes a Product Reuse Room. Products such as paint, cleaners, car car products, adhesives and other products you'd find in a hardware store will be available to county residents at no charge. There will be plenty of road construction activity in Stillwater this season. Five road reconstruction projects are planned, as well as a major sidewalk repair /replacement program. New sletter April 1994 Page 3 Meet your city staff Klayton Eckles, the city's new staff engineer, "loves" the city of Stillwater for its uniqueness, history and character. He's also finding that the city's history and uniqueness makes his job "challenging" because "all the things that happened 150 years ago don't meet today's standards." As city engineer, Eckles' function is to provide direction, long -term planning and organization to the public works /parks de- partments, and to manage the city's infras- tructure. Managing the city's infrastructure will include updating the street inventory in order to develop a long -range plan for the maintenance/rehabilitation /reconstruction of the city's 70 miles of streets. Eckles also will be working with the planning and building inspection depart- ments reviewing plans and plats for techni- cal issues. Another of his functions, one that he believes will be a "real benefit" to the city is that of answering questions and addressing residents' concerns about pro- jects, like the southeast sewer project cur- rently underway, in already developed areas of the city. Although just three months into the job, he is "real excited" about his new position and "impressed" with both staff and the City Council, particularly for tak- ing a stand on "getting things fixed," refer- ring specifically to streets and infrastruc- ture, which is expensive, but in the long- term a real benefit to the city. Eckles was raised in the Osseo area and received his bachelor's degree in civil engi- neering and master's in business administration from the University of Minnesota. He comes to Stillwater after serving as assistant city engineer in Men- dota Heights for nine years. His hobbies include hunting and fish- ing; bird watching, hiking and other out- doors activities with his girlfriend, who is a naturalist with the Minnesota Zoo, and travel. He also finds Stillwater to be an ideal area for one of his other hobbies -- rock climbing. Morli Weldon City Clerk Morli Weldon brings a wide perspective of city government to the post she assumed at the end of January -- perspectives gained from her experience as a legislative assistant for Twin Cities law firms, as secretary with the city of Wood- bury and legislative assistant for the Min- nesota House of Representative Committee on Local Government and Metropolitan Affairs. In addition to her government - related work, she has experience in business as a personal banker with MidAmerica Bank, Newport, and as co- owner /manager of a hardware and furniture store in New Lon- don, Minn., where she lived for 10 years before returning to the Twin Cities area in 1983. While learning the ropes at her new post, Weldon is doing her homework, "learning the history of Stillwater" and its future. A Washington County native, Weldon was born in Newport and graduated from Park /Cottage Grove High School. She earned a bachelor of science degree in soci- ology/political science from Mankato State University and a diploma in legal secretarial operations from Northeast Metro Technical College. She is the mother of three children. Boating is among her hobbies, but right now most of her spare time is being spent trying to get her home in Woodbury ready to sell and finding a place to live here in Stillwater. Library plans summer of family fun The Stillwater Public Library offers a summer filled with activities for children and families. The summer reading program, "Library Kids Check It Out," begin June 1 with reading records, bookmarks and but- tons designed by nationally known chil- dren's author /illustrator Denis Cazet. Stop by the library, 223 N. Fourth St., for more details on how children can partici- pate in the fun. Free entertainment for families will be featured on selected Thursday evenings throughout the summer. The programs begin at 7 p.m. and, weather permitting, are usually held on the library lawn; feel free to bring blankets or lawn chairs. In case of rain, the performance will move to the City Hall Council Chambers. On June 23, enjoy the puppets of Teatro Latino de Minnesota. This perfor- mance will be held at City Hall. July 7, Bill the Juggler will entertain with comedy and juggling skills. People in the audience will get to try their skills, too. Musical comedy with Kit and Kaboo- dle is on tap for July 21. On Aug. 4, Rick Ponzio will enter- tain and inform with folk tales from around the world. Weekly storytime continues at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. each Wednesday through- out the summer. Storytime, for children age three and older, features stories, songs, poetry and puppets. KLAYTON ECKLES Page 2 April 1994 Newsletter City briefs Collection schedule The following are changes in the schedule for trash collection during this year's holi- day weeks. Except for the changes noted, the regular pick -up schedule will be fol- lowed. Memorial Day Monday, May 30 -- No service Tuesday, May 31 -- All of Monday's and all of Tuesday's routes 4th of July Monday, July 4 -- No service Tuesday, July 5 -- All of Monday's and all of Tuesday's routes Labor Day Monday, Sept. 5 -- No service Tuesday, Sept. 6 -- All of Monday's and all of Tuesday's routes Thanksgiving Thursday, Nov. 24 -- No service Friday, Nov. 25 -- All of Thursday's and all of Friday's routes Christmas No schedule change New Year's No schedule change Licenses due Dog owners are reminded that their an- imal must be licensed by May 1. The yearly license fee is $5; a certificate of ra- bies immunization is required. Licenses can be purchased at City Hall during regular office hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Time to spruce up Warmer weather signals the start of spring cleanup time. City crews are already out sweeping streets and are about three weeks ahead of schedule due to the early thaw. Streets in the downtown are swept first, followed by streets with steep grades and high - volume traffic streets, and finally residential streets. Other city cleanup measures include repair of any damage to property caused by city snow removal and the removal of de- bris from public areas. City parks also are being readied for the season, and it won't be long before the fields will be ready for ball games and other recreation. Of course, in Minnesota, it's anybody's guess as to when we'll hear: "Play Ball!" Let's just hope city crews aren't plowing snow in April. (See Briefs, page 4) Prepared and Distributed by the Courier News 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 - waming 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 possibly 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 immediately. Do not wait for a warning signal. Take a portable radio to stay informed of changing weather conditions. Home rehab help available Ramsey Action Programs, with funding from Northern States Power, offers a unique program, the House Doctor program, which could be of benefit to many resi- dents of Stillwater who live in older homes. The House Doctor program provides free energy saving services to qualified people living in Washington and Ramsey coun- ties. To be eligible for the program, residents must heat their home with nature gas and have annual incomes that fall within the following guidelines: household of 1 -- $12,895; family of 2 -- $17,446; family of 3 -- $21,990; family of 4 -- $26,548; and family of 5 -- $31,099; for families with over five members, add $4,551 for each additional member. The House Doctor program is a service to help make homes more comfortable while reducing energy costs. A qualified energy auditor will come to the home and do a thorough energy check -up. The check will include locating air leaks, checking insulation levels and a furnace evaluation. The auditor also will answer questions. The check -up takes about two or three hours. Based on the evaluation, contractors will be sent out to work on the home. Typ- ical projects include adding insulation, cleaning and tuning the heating system, and sealing drafts and leaks. The auditor determines which projects are most cost- effective for the home. The program is funded entirely by Northern State Power; there is no to the homeowner. The auditor will also be able to give advice and, if necessary, help the home- owner locate resources for projects not covered under this program. The goal is to help homeowners save money on energy bills while making the home more comfortable. There is a limited number of homes to be worked on. Eligible residents are en- couraged to send in an application as soon as possible. People who think they qualify for the program should call 482 -8260 for an ap- plication form; income will be verified. People who don't qualify for the Home Doctor program may be able to get assistance with energy conservation projects and other home improvement projects through the Minnesota Housing Finance Agency (MHFA). MHFA offers home energy loans at 8 percent interest; there is no income limit. Improvements which qualify under the loan include furnaces, replacement of ineffi- cient doors and windows, water heaters, insulation and weather - stripping and caulk- ing. Loans are available in amounts of $1,000 - $5,000, with a maximum repayment term of five years depending on the loan amount and household budget. Fix -up loans of up to $15,000, with rates ranging from 2 to 8 percent annual interest rate, are available for qualifying homeowners whose gross household income does not exceed $41,000. For more information about the fix -up loans or home energy loans, call the MHFA, 296 -7615, for a free brochure and list of participating lenders. Page 4 April 1994 Newsletter Briefs (Continued from page 2) The Police Department reminds resi- dents that the code enforcement officer will be out and about now that the snow is gone. Cleaning up yards and removing or storing non - functional or unlicensed vehi- cles will be a high priority. The Police Department expresses its appreciation to residents for cooperating (for the most part) with the city's odd/even narking ordinance. Reminders for safe fires The Stillwater Fire Department has a few reminders regarding recreational fires. Recreational fire sites must be no more than three feet in diameter, measured from the inside of the fire ring, and three feet or less in height. The site must be completed surrounded by non - combustible material, such as rocks, bricks, blocks or metal rings. Burning materials must be clean fuel -- twigs, branches, limbs, presto logs, charcoal, cordwood or untreated dimensional lumber. Fire sites must be at least 50 feet away from any structure. The Fire Department must be notified the day a recreational fire is planned. The fire must be extinguished completely before leaving the sites. Resi- dents planning recreational fires are re- minded to respect neighboring property owners and to be aware of weather condi- tions, air quality and burning bans so the fire will not create a nuisance or health or safety hazard. All other burning requires a permit and on -site inspection by the Fire Department. Anyone with questions is welcome to call the department at 439 -6120. Have a safe and fun summer! WD under new sponsorship The city has entered into an agreement with a group of local citizens, Stillwater Lumberjack Days Festival Association, to organize this year's Lumberjack Days cele- bration. The city also has an agreement with Stillwater American Legion Post 48 to organize the LJD parade. Lumberjack Days '94 is scheduled for July, and the city looks forward to working with the new organizers to make this year's celebration a fun -filled event. '94 is final ward transition election Filing for city offices opens July 5 and closes at 5 p.m. July 19. Offices to be filled in the Nov. 8 general election include the office of mayor and council members in wards 1 and 4. . The 1994 election is the last in the transition from an at -large to ward system of council representation. Council members who were in office when the ward system won voter approval in a November 1991 referendum were "grandfathered in" for one election should they choose to seek re- election when their next regular term expired. The 1994 election is the last in the transition plan. The mayor is elected at large, by all voters in the city. Street projects: (Continued from page 1) Construction will begin in May, with completion in September. The city began construction of the South East Area project in February 1994. The project involves the installation of sewer and water service, along with street reconstruction. The South East Area pro- ject is expected to be completed by late fall. Also, a major sidewalk re- pair /replacement program will get under way this month. Over 10,000 lineal feet Of sidewalk will be repaired or replaced. Property owners affected by the pro- jects should have been notified of the plans and estimated assessments. Anyone having questions regarding the work can call the city's engineering department, 439 -6121. Property owners who have not been notified of the sidewalk improvement pro- ject but who may want to have their side- walks replaced also should contact the en- gineering department. The city pays for 50 percent of the sidewalk replacement cost. tillwater Scene Official City Newsletter CAR -RT SORT BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Stillwater, MN 55082 Permit No. 206 Postal Patron Vol. 6; No. 1 Stillwater, Minn. 55082 February 1994 City construction up 21 percent Construction in the city of Stillwater for the year 1993 was up 21 percent over the previous year's activity. In 1993, per- mits for construction valued at $39,390,000 were issued, compared with the $32,449,000 million in permits issued in 1992. Permits were issued for 154 new resi- dential units -- 121 single family homes, eight twinhomes, 10 townhomes, and the remainder in multi -unit projects. Residen- tial construction accounted for 51 percent of the construction value, while commercial construction totaled $17,502,859. Major commercial projects included: Target, Stillwater Veterinary Clinic, Lakeview Memorial Hospital ($8.1 million). The total valuation of the city of Stillwater is $521 million. Market Place under way Stillwater Market Place project, a 256,000 -square-foot retail center anchored by Target and CUB Foods stores, is under way. The site, located at the northeast cor- ner of the intersection of Minnesota High- way 36 and Washington County Highway 5, has been graded and utilities installed. The 116,880- square -foot Target Store is under construction; estimated completion date is Oct. 15, 1994. Construction of the new 88,000 - square-foot CUB Foods store will begin in the spring of 1994, with opening scheduled for Jan. 1, 1995. Other Market Place tenants have not been determined, but a lot of interest has been expressed by area businesses, accord- ing to Steve Russell, Community Devel- opment Director. As part of the project, Curve Crest Boulevard will be extended from Washing- ton Avenue (just west of Brine's) to High- way 5; the Highway 36 frontage road also will be extended to Curve Crest Boulevard and Highway 5. Other road improvements in the project area include: upgrading the Washington Avenue /frontage road/Highway 36 intersection; widening Highway 5 to four lanes from Croixwood Boulevard to Highway 36; and installing stop lights on Highway 5 at Croixwood Boulevard, Curve Crest Boulevard and West Orleans Street. CUB headquarters CUB's corporate headquarters office building is nearing completion, with occu- pancy scheduled for mid - February. Esti- (See Construction, page 3). The first phase of the Stillwater Market Place project is!, under construction, with opening scheduled for October. Page 2 February 1994 Newsletter ity briefs Check it out A variety of children's programs will be offered at the Stillwater Public Library in the coming weeks. Children and their caregivers are encouraged to stop by and "check out" the action. Storytime for children ages three to five is held at the library at 10:15 and 11:15 a.m. every Wednesday. Storytime features stories and songs, poems and puppets. "A World of Reading," featuring a trained volunteer reading, on an informal basis, to children of all ages will be of- fered at the library from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturdays through the month of May. A special "I Love to Read" storytime will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 13. Storytime will be followed by Valentine's Day festivities for children age three and older. Bedtime storytimes are scheduled at 7 p.m. Feb. 24, March 17 and April 21. Stuffed animals and blankets are welcome. The "pajama party" storytimes are for children age three and older and their par- ents. All activities are free and open to the public. For more information, call the li- brary, 439 -1675. The library is located at 223 N. Fourth St. Jaycees plan winter fest The 3rd annual Stillwater Jaycees winter softball tournament and snow festival will take place at the ballfields at the Lily Lake athletic complex on Satur- day and Sunday, March 5 and 6. The softball action gets under way at 9 a.m, both Saturday and Sunday. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded to tournament winners. Entry fee is $80 per team; registration is limited to the first 12 teams. To register, call Rusty at 351 -7134. A medallion hunt is part of the festivities. The medallion search begins Feb. 28. If the finder has a Jaycee winter festival button, the prize will be $100; if the finder does not have a button, the prize will be $50. Festival buttons can be pur- chased from Jaycee members or at Este - ban's. A fishing contest will be held on Lily Lake beginning at noon Saturday. Entry (S ee Briefs, p age 4) Prepared and Distributed by the Courier News Caucuses signal start of election year The 1994 election year gets under way March 1 when precinct caucuses will be held throughout the state. State law requires each of the major parties to hold caucuses for every election precinct to elect delegates and party officers and to conduct party business. All cau- cuses convene at 7:30 p.m. March 1. (No public meetings or school events can be held after 6 p.m. that day. The regularly scheduled Stillwater Council meeting has been changed to Feb. 28.) Location of the precinct caucuses will be available from the county auditor's office and will be published the week prior to their convening. Anyone who is an eligible voter or who will be eligible to vote in the Novem- ber general election and who is a resident of the precinct can participate. Anyone, in- cluding people who will not be eligible to vote, may attend a caucus as an observer. Precinct caucuses offer voters their first opportunity to express a preference for candidates who will be elected in November. Also, by participating in caucuses, vot- ers may influence the issues of campaigns and party platforms. Any caucus partici- pant may offer resolutions for consideration. Resolutions approved at the precinct level will be presented to the county/legislative district convention for possible ap- proval; resolutions passed at the county level are sent on to the state convention where the party platform is developed. In addition to allowing participants an opportunity to express their preference concerning candidates and an input into campaign issues and party platforms, cau- cuses are usually the time when parties recruit eligible people to recommend for ap- pointment as election judges. People can serve as an election judge if they are an eligible voter in the city or town; are affiliated with a major political party; are able to read, write and speak En- glish; and are appointed by the city council or town board. No more than one -half the election judges in each precinct can belong to the same major political party. Judges may be assigned to precincts other than their own (within the city or county in which they reside) in order to achieve party balance in precincts. Stillwater residents interested in serving as election judges are invited to contact City Clerk Morli Weldon, 439 -6121. Reminders of winter The city's winter parking regulations are in effect until midnight April 1. The odd -even parking regulation is in force -- at all times. The odd -even regulation simply means that on odd- numbered calendar days, cars should be parked on the side of the street 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. Here are a few other winter reminders: • All snow and ice is to be removed from public sidewalks within 12 hours of any snow or ice storm. The ordinance applies to both business and residential areas of the city. Property owners should be aware that they are responsible for removing snow /ice from sidewalks -- not the city. • Snowmobiles may not be operated in the city between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Sunday through Thursday or between midnight and 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday. • Residents are asked to keep snow cleared from around fire hydrants. If there is a hydrant by your home or business, please keep it cleared. • Residents who leave on extended vacations are reminded to have timers on their lights so they turn on close to the family's normal schedule. Have a neighbor or relative check on the property occasionally. Have sidewalks and driveways cleared of snow, and have someone leave a vehicle parked in the driveway on occasion to give the impression that someone is home. Residents also can stop at the police depart- ment and fill out a vacation check card; police will check the exterior of the home as time permits. Recycling do's and don'ts When: Every week on the regular garbage pickup day. How: Place recycled material in brown paper bags and place at curbside. What: Metal cans: (steel, tin and aluminum) Remove labels, rinse clean and flatten, if possible, to save room. Place in brown bag, separate from other recyclables. 1 • ( not window glass, ceramics, china, lightbulbs or mirrors.) Do not break glass; remove caps and metal rings and rinse. Plastic rings and labels need not be removed. Place in brown paper bag separate from other recyclables. P r• Class I -- white and pastel bonds, computer, copy machine, yellow legal pad, and regular bond writing paper; bundle or place in brown paper bag. Class II: -- newspaper and dark colored paper; bundle or place in brown paper bag. Magazines and catalogs (not Readers' Digest, T.V. Times); bundle or place in brown paper bag. Corrugated cardboard (not cereal boxes, pizza boxes, pop or beer cases); flatten and bundle. *Do not mix classes I, class II, corrugated or magazines together; *Do not recycle telephone books, file folders, blue print paper, food wrappers or containers, tissue paper, carbon paper, coated fax paper, or envelopes with plastic (see through) windows. SAVE Trash Collection rules & regs In order to avoid problems related to trash collection, it is important to remember and observe the following rules: • Place containers at curbside by 6 a.m. the day of pickup. Handles should be facing away from the curb (wheels toward the residence). • Make sure containers are accessible -- especially during a snowfall. • Make sure the lid is completely closed; do not place any items on top of the container. • Use special city bags for "excess" waste -- normal household waste that does not "fit" into the container. The city bags can be purchased at City Hall, CUB Foods, Ace Hardware at the St. Croix Mall, Tom Thumb store, Brooks Superette, and Food and Fuel. • Do not place yard waste in trash containers; yard waste must be bagged separately and placed at curbside. • Tree branches and brush must be bundled; bundles must not exceed four feet in length or five inches in diameter. • Residents can change their container size only once every two billing quarters and after 30 days notice to the city. New residents can change their container size within the first month of occupancy or the previous rule applies. The city has established a Dispute Resolution Committee to make recommendations regarding any complaints relative to the collection of garbage within the city limits. Any resident with a complaint should send a signed letter to: Bob Fritts, 1575 N. Second St., Stillwater, 55082. If a complaint requires immediate action, a citizen may call Fritts, 439 -0772, who will schedule a meeting of the Dispute Resolution Com- mittee. SAVE Newsletter February 1994 Page 3 Meet your city staff George Ness, Stillwater's new fire chief, is still getting used to the change of going from "pulling hoses and swinging axes to pushing papers and pencils." He assumed the post in mid - January. Ness grew up in Stillwater and gradu- ated from Stillwater High School in 1968. He graduated from the University of Min- nesota, with study concentrations in agri- culture and parks and recreation. After col- lege, he spent several years with the Metropolitan Mosquito Control Commis- Stillwater is currently in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan. The current plan was prepared in the late 1970s. Conditions have changed since then, and the city is running out of land for future development. Some of the major planning issues identified by city resi- dents, the Planning Commission and other city commissions and committees that need to be addressed in updating the Com- prehensive Plan include: • Growth and the preservation of small-town character; • Preservation of open space and natural resources; • Preservation of historic and mu comnity character; • Traffic congestion; • Economic development; sion, with NSP at the Allen S. King plant, and the Andersen Corp., before turning to construction in 1982. 1982 also was the year he signed on as a volunteer with the Stillwater Fire Department; he became a full -timer in 1987. He considers himself fortunate to have been in the "right place at the right time" for his advancement through the ranks of the department. His goals as chief include updating equipment, noting that the department's ladder truck is 22 years old, and providing the department personnel with the best in personal equipment, education and train- ing. An ongoing goal is to improve the city's ISO rating for insurance purposes, he said. Ness and his wife, Mary Kay, have three children -- Joshua, 14, Jennifer, 12, and Jessica, 8. His hobbies include fishing and hunting, as well as power weightlift- ing, which he says is a "good stress re- lease." CHRIS FELSCH When Chris Felsch joined the Still- water Police Department a little over a year ago, it was a homecoming of sorts. He was born and raised in Stillwater and graduated from Stillwater High School in 1987. After graduating from high school, Chris attended St. Cloud State University for two years, with the initial thought of majoring in history. He has several • Parks and recreational facilities; • Range of housing opportunities; • Coordination of new development with the provision of public facilities and services; • Condition of city streets, sidewalks cousins in law enforcement and a couple of "ride- alongs" in Minneapolis and Farmington officers "opened his eyes" to the opportunities of a law enforcement ca- reer. He transferred to Lakewood Commu- nity College and obtained his degree a year later. What does Chris most enjoy about working with the local police force? The community itself. "I grew up here and understand how things have been for the past 20 years or so," he says. and other public facilities; • Cost of new development to taxpayers. During the next phase of the plan up- date, 15 to 20 alternative land use plans will be developed. Construction (Continued from page 1) mated cost of converting the former east wing of Stillwater Junior High School into an office building to accommodate over 200 CUB office employees is in excess of $4 million. The city of Stillwater is constructing a parking lot across Third Street, on the site of the former west wing of Stillwater Ju- nior High. The parking lot will accommo- date 150 cars. The lot will provide parking for CUB employees during the week, and parking for events and activities at the Washington County Historic Courthouse and in downtown Stillwater on weekends and evenings. GEORGE NESS Key planning issues are identified Page 4 gebrilary 1994 Newsletter Briefs (Continued from page 2) fee is $3 or $2 with a button. Prizes will be awarded, and bait will be available. A bocce ball tourney will be held be- ginning at 1 p.m. Sunday. Entry fee is $10 per team, and a trophy will be awarded. Register with Jim Sontag, 439- 3230. An ice cream social will be held from noon to 2 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The first 100 ice cream sandwiches served will be free. A cake walk is also part of the festivities. For more information about any of the events, call Jim Swanson, 430 -1639, or Cheryl Olson, 436 -6502. Did you know? Did you know that in 1990, Stillwa- ter had a population of 14,000 people liv- ing in 5,042 households; that of the 5,042 households, 21 percent were one - person households, and 31 percent were house- holds of four or more people? Did you know that Stillwater has more people age 65 and older than the surrounding areas? Eleven percent of the city's population is age 65 and older. Did you know that the median family income of Stillwater residents is $38,212? That figure is high compared to state averages, but lower than the $44,122 me- dian family income for Washington County. Did you know that almost 30 percent of Stillwater residents commute over 30 minutes to work, and that compared to Washington County, Stillwater has more professional and service workers? Skating lessons offered at Lily Ice skating lessons will be offered at Lily Lake Ice Arena from 2 to 6 p.m. Saturdays, Jan. 29 through March 12. The program includes one -half hour of small group lessons, with 3 and one -half hours of practice time available (1 and one -half hours of practice is recommended). The program follows the guidelines and levels of the Ice Skating Institute of America for recreational instruction and testing. All ages -- youth through adults -- are wel- come. The 30- minute lessons will be scheduled based on ability level and age. Cost is $35. Register through District 834 Community Education Department, 430 -8226. Levy work schedule Stillwater city officials have met with Army Corps of Engineers officials, Dis- trict Commander Col. James Scott and Marsha Risch, project director, as the first step in the construction and extension of the levee wall in downtown Stillwater. The construction process requires ade- quate assurances that the project is well planned, and that it follows the bidding process established by Congress to ensure equal opportunity for architects, engineers and construction companies to bid on the project. According to the Corps of Engineers, the Stillwater project is unique because it did not follow the usual procedures through which Corps' projects are devel- oped. Congress authorized, funded and di- rected the Corps to construction the pro- ject without the usual pre- planning and feasibility studies. According to the city's legislative consultant, Ed Cain, going directly to Congress for authorization and funding will speed up the project; often such projects require from seven to 10 years to move from pre - planning through the construction phases. The tentative work scheduled is as follows: January 1994: The city will provide the Corps with "scoping information," - alignment of walls, elevations of walls and fill areas, surface treatment of walls, construction limitations, notes on public meetings, etc. July 1994: The Corps will develop the scope of the project and select a firm to provide architectural and engineering design services. March 1995: Design and environmental review processes will be completed; plans and specifications will be developed March 1996 -- Contracts for the pro- ject will be awarded and construction will begin. The $3.2 million project will include repair /reconstruction of the existing wall; extension of the levee 1,000 feet to the north, around Mulberry Point, and 300 feet to the south; and construction of a second wall between Lowell Park and the parking lot. The second wall, to provide protection from seepage that occurs with floods of the 1965 and 1969 magnitude, would extend 15 feet below ground and two and one -half feet above ground. The project is intended to provide the city with a 50 -year flood protection program. The city has received $2.4 million in federal funding for the project, as well as $200,000 in state funding in 1993 and the likelihood of an additional $200,000 in 1994. The city's share of the project is es- timated at $400,000. Southeast sewer project set to beg this month Last month, the City Council awarded the bid for the southeast area sanitary sewer project construction to S.M. Hent- ges and Sons, Shakopee. The project area includes streets from Fifth Avenue east to the St. Croix River bluff and from Quarry Lane south to East Orleans Street. The project has been discussed by the City Council many times in the past years. The work is necessary because the area is unsewered and homeowners are ex- periencing problems with failing or failed septic systems. In addition to installation of sanitary sewer and water service, the project includes street reconstruction and installation of storm sewer. Work is scheduled to begin in mid - February. Projects of this nature usually begin after April 15 because construction is difficult in winter conditions. However, the southeast project area is primarily bedrock, so winter conditions do not ad- versely affect construction. There may be some interruption of gas service during construction. Effected property owners should have received an informational notice from NSP about the interruption. NSP officials will make ev- ery attempt to keep the interruptions to a minimum length of time so property owners are not unduly affected.