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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 Stillwater City NewsletterVol. 9; Issue 3 A new city hall Finishing touches are all that remain to be completed on the remodeling /expansion of City Hall. The project included the addition of a third floor on the main building and additional space in the Fire Department quarters. Extensive remodeling work was done on all existing space. It is anticipated that an open house will be held in mid - November. Stillwater, Minnesota 55082 CAR -RT SORT BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Stillwater, MN 55082 Permit No. 206 Postal Patron October 1997 The City Council presented a memorial plaque to the family of George Ness and the Stillwater Fire Department at the Oct. 7 council meeting. In photo, Mayor Jay Kimble makes the presentation to Mary Kay Ness as daughters Jennifer and Jessica look on. City mourns passing of Fire Chief George Ness, Stillwater Fire Chief for the past three and one -half years, died Sept. 19, 1997. George started his career with the City in 1982 as a member of the volunteer fire department. He became a full -time firefighter in 1987 and was promoted to Fire Chief on Jan. 1, 1994. During his tenure as chief, the city of Stillwater attained an Insurance Service Or- ganization rating of 3 which is one of the lowest ratings in the state of Minnesota. George was a founding member of the (Continued, page 4) Pick -up schedule and reminders Pick -up of garbage will not be done on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day or New Year's Day. All of the holidays fall on Thursday. Pick -up of Thursday's route will be made on Friday; Friday's routes will be collected on Saturday. Residents are reminded of the following basic rules and regulations pertaining to the City's solid waste collection system: • Place containers at curbside by 6 a.m. the morning of scheduled pick -up; con- tainer handles should face the house. • Do not overstuff containers; lids should be completely closed. Excess waste that does not fit in the container should be placed in special bags that are available for pur- chase at City Hall, Cub Foods, Ace Hardware, Food -N -Fuel and Tom Thumb. Bags are $2 plus tax. • Appliances are picked up on Thursdays only. Call United Waste by 3 p.m. the day before (Wednesday) to request an appliance pick -up. • Call United Waste, 429 -6766, with questions regarding solid waste collection or recycling. Remember rules of winter ant- w Unfortunately, it's not too early to be thinking about winter and s- n -o -w. - The City's winter parking regulations are in effect until midnight April 1. The odd - kg smoke, o v_ even parking regulation is in force — at all times. The odd -even regulation simply means rnt night, ! that on odd - numbered calendar days, cars can be parking on the side of the street with ty ateft. odd- numbered street addresses. On even - numbered calendar days, cars can be parked �a smoke on the side of the street with even - numbered street addresses. There is a change -over period between 7 p.m. and midnight each day when the ton- regulations are not in force to allow residents to move their cars to the side of the street axis (C)no where parking is permitted the following day. metnl� is Here are a few other winter reminders: Em All snow and ice is to be removed from public sidewalks within 12 hours of any ssnow or ice storm. The ordinance applies to both business and residential areas of the dt city. Property owners should be aware that they — not the city — are responsible for vsider'in- removing snow /ice from sidewalks. detector. _ • Residents are asked to assist the fire department by keeping snow cleared from ;ss gas that around fire hydrants. According to code, a three -foot radius around the hydrant must be detectors clear and free of snow. If there is a hydrant by your home or business, please keep it and,- also cleared. • 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. �} _ (continued on page 3) Council to consider sports complex bids The City Council will consider bids for construction of Phase 1 of the Community Center complex this month. Phase 1 of the complex includes an ice arena and field house. If the bids match projected revenues, construction will begin in November and is expected to be completed in the fall of 1998. The complex would be operational by Oct. 1, 1998. Rules of winter continued (continued from page 2) It is against the City's ordinance to operate a snowmobile on park property, playgrounds, school grounds, skating rinks or golf courses, unless authorized by the proper authorities. Snowmobiles cannot be operated on public sidewalks or walk- ways. The sleds can be operated in public streets only in the right hand lane of the portion of the road ordinarily used for vehicular traffic. The ordinance prohibits youths under the age of 14 to oper- ate a snowmobile on any public street or highway in the city lim- its. Youths between the ages of 14 and 17 can operate a machine PROPOSED 40'SETBACK EXISTING 75' SETBACK EXISTING 40' SETBACK PROPOSED 30'SETBACK on city streets/highways if they have a valid snowmobile safety certificate issued by the Department of Natural Resources. • Residents who leave on extended vacations are reminded to have timers on the lights so the lights turn on close to the family's normal schedule. Have a neighbor or relative check on the prop- erty occasionally. Have sidewalks and driveways cleared of snow. Residents also can stop at the police department and fill out a vacation check card; police will check the exterior or the home as time permits. rs continued- Meet your city staff STEVE WICKER A lot of Stillwater residents will recognize Steve Wicker for his work as a volunteer coach for the Valley Athletic Association. He has been coaching girls basketball and fastpitch teams since he gradu- ated from Stillwater High School in 1976. Born and raised in Stillwater, Wicker worked for George W. Olsen Construction for over 16 years before joining the city Park Department in June of 1996. And he's found that he enjoys —all aspects — of his —new— job of maintaining the city's parks. In addition to his coaching, Steve enjoys working with video camera equipment in his spare time. Johnny Johnsen assisted Stillwater Park Department crews install new playground equipment at Ramsey Park. The new equipment is designed for the older kids —those too old for the swing set and too young to drive — who enjoy more of an athletic challenge. L I 0* Are you recycling? Please Do! TILLWATER �tIlwater � en y g .M -Ir 1854 W-20 ON MR ammm' "n. Vol. 9; Issue 2 Stillwater, Minnesota 55082 This photo, circa 1935, shows a trio of unidentified firefighters posed in front of truck No. 2. The photo is one of many that appear to "To the Rescue" which is available for purchase through the Fire Department. CAR -RT SORT BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID 8lillwak)r, MN 55082 Permit No. 206 Postal Patron August 1997 City celebrates two birthdays The year 1997 is a special one for the city of Stillwater. Two of its departments are celebrating birthdays — the Fire De- partment is observing its 125th anniversary year and the Stillwater Public Library its centennial year. After several failed attempts at orga- nizing a fire department, it was the great Chicago fire of 1871 that finally prompted the City Council to take action. At the May 28, 1872, City Council meeting, the fire de- partment ordinance was passed by unani- mous vote. Jacob Bean was elected fore- man of the company and George Rees as- sistant foreman; C.C. Johnson was ap- pointed engineer. The department's first piece of equipment was a Silsby fire en- gine purchased at a cost of $7,350 — $1,500 in cash and the balance in bonds for four annual payments. The first annual meeting of the de- partment was held on Monday, June 3, 1872. A name was selected — Stillwater Steam Engine company, No. 1 — and uni- forms chosen — New fork fire hats with "Stillwater 1" printed on the front, patent leather belts with the figure 1 on the caps and the name of the company on the back, double- breasted red shirts and black pants. The department's first test came on Dec. 2, 1872, when fire broke out in a small wooden building that housed a grocery store on the east side of Main Street. A row of eight or 10 wooden buildings were in the path of the blaze. And although the depart- ment experienced a few problems, the fire was contained and most of the contents of the buildings were saved. A book chronicling the history of the fire department from its beginning through the present day has been compiled by local historians Brent Peterson and Dean Thilgen. Published by Valley History Press, the hard- cover book, "To the Rescue," contains nu- merous historical photos and highlights the people and major events that have played an important part in the 125 years of the department's service to the city of Stillwa- ter. The book is available for purchase from the Stillwater Fire Department at a cost of $20. It was 100 years ago that the voters of Stillwater agreed to support a tax levy es- tablishing the Stillwater Public Library un- der a state statute that declared a public library's service should be available to all residents free of charge. But, the library really had its beginnings nearly 40 years earlier when, in 1859, a library association (See Birthdays, page 4) City briefs ' Flood and volunteTrs will be remembered City has The spring of 1997 will be remembered for a long time to come due to the near new numbers record level of the St. Croix River in April. The City had to construct a dike that was over 6 feet high and over 2,000 feet long to protect the downtown area from flood waters. The City has installed a new telephone Over 30,000 sand bags were required to construct the dike. system. The new phone numbers are: What also will be remembered is the people who filled all of the sand bags. Over Administration /Finance 430 -8800 500 citizens volunteered their time to help, often under adverse weather conditions. It is Community Development 430 -8820 a simple fact that without the volunteers, the dike may not have been constructed soon Building Inspection 430 -8825 enough or strong enough to hold back the rapidly rising St. Croix. Without the help of Engineering /Public Works 430 -8830 volunteers, there could have been severe flooding and property damage in the downtown Police (non- emergency) 351 -4900 business area. Fire (non - emergency) 351 -4950 The City wishes to thank all who participated, especially the Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts Other city numbers are: and Girls Scouts of the Stillwater area. The Scouts truly lived up to their promise to Parks 439 -4561 "help other people." lee Arena 439 -1337 City Garage 439 -5933 Library 439 -1675 Street projects under way In accordance with the City's pavement management program, a number of street Fire Department improvement projects are being undertaken this year. Major street reconstruction will p take place in the southeast portion of the City. Streets to be reconstructed include: South has reminders Second from Orleans to Willard; Marsh, Hancock and Willard from South First to South Third. The City also will be milling and overlaying Croixwood Boulevard from Northland The Stillwater Fire Department has a Avenue to County Road 5. few reminders regarding recreational fires. In addition to the street work, the City will be repairing the Main Street stairs and Recreational fire sites must be no upgrading the storm sewer and drainage system for the North Fourth Street ravine area. more than three feet in diameter, measured The Fourth Street ravine project is necessary to prevent erosion and to further improve from inside the fire ring, and three feet or drainage in the area. less in height. The site must be completely All of the projects are expected to be completed by late fall. surrounded by non-combustible material, such as rocks, bricks, blocks, or metal rings. parks need more friends Burning materials must be clean fuel — twigs, branches, limbs, presto logs, char- Stillwater residents interested in park improvements, ravines, hiking and biking coal, cordwood or untreated dimensional trails, park accessibility and outdoor recreational opportunities for youths are invited to lumber. join Friends of Stillwater Parks, a volunteer community organization. Fire sites must be at least 25 feet from Enjoy service to the community and making a difference. There are many ways to structures or combustible material help. Volunteers are needed to help create biking and hiking paths; to plant seedlings The fire department does not have to and native plants along nature walks; to participate in the community gardening pro - be notified about recreational fires. gram; to work on ravine clean -ups; and to help raise money for playground equipment, Extinguish fires completely before basketball hoops and nets and field improvements. 'leaving the site. Residents planning recre- Residents can honor a special occasion or remember a loved one with a memorial ational fires are reminded to respect neigh- gift or other planned giving. Gifts will enhance the enjoyment of parks and have a last - last- boring property owners and to be aware o o f weather conditions air quality and burn- ing value. For information, call 439 -8368. Financial contributions are appreciated. Donations are tax- deductible and can be ing bans so the fire will not create a nui- made to Friends of Stillwater Parks Fund, c/o Central Bank, P.O. Box 225, Stillwater. sauce or health or safety hazard, Residents also are invited to participate in the first -ever Stillwater Bicycle Classic All other burning requires a permit and scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 21. Proceeds will benefit Stillwater parks. For more infor- mation about the Bicycle Classic, call 430 -1738. on -site inspection by the fire department. Anyone with questions is welcome to call the department at 351 -4950. Zoning regulates land use City All areas within the City are designated for specific land uses and are regulated by receives the Stillwater Subdivision and Zoning Ordinance. Local, state and federal regulations gift ®f benches may apply to land alterations and some construction projects. The St. Croix Riverway is regulated by the flood fringe plain/flood and bluffland/ The city of Stillwater has received a shoreland regulations in order to conserve and protect the natural scenic values, histori- gift of four Victorian bus benches from the cal and cultural resources of the river valley and to maintain a high environmental qual- City of Stillwater Chamber of Commerce. The benches were designed and built by ity . Before planning a land use project — building construction, conducting a business Allan Dow of Glenwood City, Wis., who (home occupation or other), altering the land, placing a sign, etc. — contact the Com- munity Development Department, 430 -8820, to ensure that all requirements and regula- also built a number of the new trash recep- tions are met. tacles on Main Street. If a variance, zoning amendment or conditional use permit is required, an appli- The new bus benches are located at cation can be made with the Community Development Department for review and con- (See Briefs, page 4) sideration by the Planning Commission and, in some cases, by the City Council Meet your city staff SHAWN SANDERS It didn't take long for Shawn Sanders to get his "bap- tism" as a city employee. Sand- ers, a civil engineer, started work with the city in April — just in time for this spring's floods. A native of South Dakota, Sanders earned his degree from South Dakota School of Mining and Technology, Rapid City, in 1989. He worked for the City of Mendota Heights for six years and RLK Association in Minnetonka, an engineering and landscape design company, for one year before coming to Still- water. SHAWN SANDERS on the design of street re- construction projects, storm sewer design and ravine projects. He enjoys the variety of his work, variety that is enhanced by the "charm" and "history" of the city that must be incorporated into proj ects. The one downside of his new Sanders primary respon- position, sibilities have included working daily c Sanders says, is the ommute from Min- ROSE HOLMAN neapolis. But that will be get- ting better soon. Sanders will be married this fall and he and his bride -to -be plan on moving closer to Stillwater. His hobbies include golf and biking. Rose Holman joined the staff in June. She is an admin- istrative secretary and is partic- ROSE HOLMAN ularly excited about working with Administrative Assistant Marcy Cordes in developing the city's networking capabilities. A native of Maplewood and graduate of North St. Paul High School, she has an AA degree in business management from Lakewood (now Century) Col- lege. She currently is working on her bachelor's degree taking classes through Concordia Col- lege, St. Paul. Rose doesn't have a lot of time for hobbies. In addition to working full -time and taking college classes, she's married and the mother of three daugh- ters, ages 10, 9 and 1. Decision on sports complex expected in mid - September For the past two years, the city of Still- water has taken the lead in the drive to build a community center for the St. Croix Val- ley area. The complex would include a Na- tional Guard community training facility, an ice arena and soccer field house; the field house also would feature an indoor golf driving range, as proposed. The community center would provide a variety of opportunities for residents, in- cluding meeting rooms, basketball courts, a walking /running track and other recre- ational activities. Because of the cost of the complex and a delay in the decision on the National Guard facilities, the City is considering con- structing the complex in phases. The first phase would include the ice arena and soc- cer field house. The City Council recently approved preparation of plans and specifi- cations for the arena and field house. Bids are to be received in late August, with a de- cision on whether to proceed with the com- plex to be made in September. A considerable amount of time and ef- fort has been expended by city staff and pri- vate citizens in developing plans and rais- ing funds for the project. Many individuals, other governmental units, foundations and businesses have pledged funds toward the project. However, the decision on whether to proceed will depend on the cost of the project, as determined by the bids, and whether or not adequate funds are available to pay for the project without the need to levy additional taxes to finance construction. The City Council is very supportive of the project, but does not want the citizens of Stillwater to be unduly taxed for the fa- cility. If the decision is made to proceed, it is anticipated the complex will be available for use by October 1998. City has solid waste policies Here are some reminders about the City's solid waste policies. • A penalty of $10 is added to any util- ity bill that is not paid within 10 days after the end of the quarter. For example, Janu- ary quarterly bills would have to be paid by April 10 to avoid the penalty, April quar- ter bills would have to be paid by July 10, etc. • Residents may select a container size of their choice. Three sizes are available — 30, 60 or 90 gallons. The charges, exclud- ing sales tax, are $13.75, $17.75 and $19.75 per month, respectively. Container size can only be changed once every two billing quarters and upon 30 days notice to the col- lection contractor, United Waste Inc. • Regular household waste that does not fit into the container must be placed in a special bag; bags for excess household waste are available for sale at City Hall, Cub Foods, Ace Hardware, Tom Thumb and Food and Fuel. • Containers should be placed at curb- side by 6 a.m. the day of pickup. (See Solid Waste, page4) Briefs (Continued from page 2) Water and Commercial streets, Third and Myrtle streets, Third and Chestnut streets and Third and Pine. The existing benches were moved to new locations on the County Road 5 bus route. New Victorian style benches also have been installed in front of the Stillwa- ter Fire Department and the new "Myrtle Green: at Myrtle and Greeley streets. Roses need TLC The city of Stillwater is seeking some assistance from local gardeners in maintaining the rose beds on County Highway 5 between Cub /Target and the Oasis Market at Croixwood Boulevard. There are 16 rose beds that require weed- ing and some general TLC. Volunteers could "adopt" one or more beds. To volunteer, call Sue Fitzgerald at 430 -8820. Give detectors a `birthday' gift The Stillwater Fire Department re- minds residents that although a smoke de- tector won't prevent a fire, a working smoke detector can double the chances of surviving a fire. Since many fires oc- cur at night, a detector may be the only safety a] ert. Smoke detectors are inexpensive and can be purchased at any hardware, dis- count or department store. Residents are urged to install a detector on every level of the home, and clean and inspect the device every month. also, give the smoke detectors a "birthday present" by Chang- ing batteries once a year. City regulates solicitors The City has an ordinance which regulates peddlers and solicitors. Any resident who wishes to exclude peddlers or solicitors from his or her pre- mises should place a printed sign "Ped- dlers and Solicitors Prohibited" near the regular entrance to the residence. The sign must be at least 3 -3/4 inches long and 3 -3/4 inches wide. Any peddler /so- licitor who ignores the sign is guilty of a misdemeanor. Solicitors /peddlers are required to obtain a permit and be licensed by the city and are required to exhibit the license at the request of any resident. #1� Are you recycling? ��0 Please Do! The addition to and remodeling of City Hall is nearing completion. Work is expected to be completed by Sept. 1. City birthdays (Continued from page 1) was formed in Stillwater for the purpose of being able to receive government doc- uments. The Civil War interrupted the activi- ties of the Association, and it wasn't until the late 1860s another effort began, this time headed by a group of women who opened a rental library in S.S. Denton's store. Rental fee was 10 cents per book. The li- brary association and lending library merged in 1870, and the book collection moved from location to location. Proceeds from memberships and rentals weren't enough to support the lending library, so additional monies were raised through ice cream socials, suppers and dances. Finally, in 1897, voters approved a 3/4 mil tax levy to establish the library as a public body governed by an appointed board. Construction of the existing library building started in 1902 when Judge S. Blair McBeath wrote to Andrew Carnegie, a steel millionaire who became the benefactor of public libraries. McBeath's letter extolling the virtues of the city of Stillwater resulted in Carnegie's offer of $27,500 to construct a building if the city would provide the site and funding for library services. The build- ing was dedicated in 1903. Major additions were constructed in 1973 through funding from the Margaret Rivers Foundation. The library has a number of activities planned in celebration of its 100th birth- day. Residents are invited to participate in the "Birthday Book" program during 1997 and donate funds in honor of their own birthday or the birthday of someone they designate. The library will choose a book and include a bookplate with the person's name and birthday. Juvenile fiction and non - fiction books are $10, preschool pic- ture books and adult fiction $15, and adult nonfiction $20. A birthday card will be sent to the person being remembered through the book gift. For more information, call the library at 439 -1675. For information about upcoming spe- cial events see the Shelf Life inserted in the newsletter.. Solid waste policies (Continued from page 3) • Appliances are picked up by the con- tractor at no additional charge. However, appliances are picked up on Thursdays only, and residents must call United Waste, 429- 6766, no later than 4 p.m. Wednesday prior to pick up. • Remember to recycle. Material that will be accepted for recycling includes of- fice paper, newspaper, magazines, plastics and cans (metal and aluminum). Cans and plastics may be placed in the same bag; pa- per also may be mixed but kept separate from the plastics and cans. To receive the City's guide to recycling, call 430 -8800. • Yard waste may not be placed in the regular household garbage. Yard waste should be placed in the paper yard waste bags that are supplied by the contractor and which are currently available at Cub Foods. The contractor also will start delivering yard waste bags to households; to receive the bags, call United Waste, 429 -6766. The City apologizes for not having an adequate number of bags available for res- idents during spring cleanup. The demand was greater than anticipated and many resi- dents were unable to obtain the bags in a timely manner. The City is working with the contractor to ensure that an adequate supply of bags is available in the future. The City wishes to emphasize that Cub Foods is not responsible for the supply of bags and only agreed to act as a distributor of the bags. t1*11water Scene CAR -RT SORT BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Stillwater, MN 55082 Permit No. 206 Postal Patron Vol. 9; Issue 1 Stillwater, Minnesota 55082 March 1997 Stillwater's river - front will have a new look this sum- mer with the com- pletion of the levee wall project. The levee south of the interstate bridge is nearly completed; work north of the bridge is about half done. The levee will be about seven inches wider (due to construction of a new outer wall), and it will feature concrete bollards (which can be seen in the photo) with mariners chain hung between the bollards to provide a safety feature and more clearly define the edge of the wa- ter. City seeks bridge resolution After decades of discussion and after over 10 years of formal study, including selection of a corridor and design, con- struction of a new interstate bridge south of Stillwater is on hold. At the last minute, the National Park Service (NPS) deter- mined that the new bridge would have an adverse effect on the scenic and recre- ational values for which the St. Croix was included in the Wild and Scenic River System. The St. Croix was added to the Wild and Scenic River System in 1976. In a letter to President Bill Clinton, James Denn, commissioner of the Min- nesota Department of Transportation, stated "...the last minute intervention by the NPS after nearly 30 years of environ- mental study, has been capricious, irre- sponsible and extremely costly to the tax- payers of Minnesota. Approximately $14 million has been spent on this project, much of it after the Federal Highway Ad- ministration (FHWA), on behalf of all federal agencies, approved the project's fi- nal environmental impact statement. The FHWA, not the NPS, is recognized as the federal government's final authority for approval of bridge projects." The city of Stillwater supports the state of Minnesota's position. The city also believes the existing bridge situation cre- ates a harmful effect on the environment, especially due to pollutants from vehicular traffic directly entering the river and the air. The city further believes the existing bridge is unsafe and inefficient. The state of Minnesota is now pursu- ing a judgment in federal court to overturn the decision of the NPS. The city of Still- water has requested, and the court has ac- cepted, a motion to intervene in the law- suit. The city was found to have direct in- terests in the legal action apart from the other key parties involved. Key members of Congress also strongly support the proposed bridge con- struction and believe the NPS has over- stepped its authority in vetoing a project that fully met all federal and state re- (See Bridge, page 4) City Briefs Planning for sports City has new complex moving ahead phone numbers The city continues to move forward with the development of a community cen- A new telephone system hsa been in- ter and sports complex in the Industrial Business Park near Cub and Target. The stalled in conjunction with the addi- sports complex will include an ice arena, soccer field house and National Guard Ar- tion/remodeling of City Hall. mory. The complex also may house a new public works maintenance facility. The new phone numbers are: The complex initially was planned for construction and opening in 1997. How - Administration 430 -8800 ever, due to the many related issues, it now appears opening may not take place until Community Development 430 -8820 1998. Building Dept. 430 -8825 Stillwater has received a Mighty Ducks grant of $125,000, and the city antici- Public Works 430 -8830 pates receiving an additional $125,000 in 1997 to help finance the complex. Many Police Dept. 351 -4900 individuals, foundations, businesses, School District 834 and other participating mu- (non- emergency) nicipalities have pledged contributions toward the financing of the project. However, Fire Dept. 351 -4950 financing is not complete and additional contributions are being sought and are (non- emergency greatly appreciated. Contributions can be sent to St. Croix Valley Sports Facility The previous numbers will automati- Commission, P.O. Box 903, Stillwater, Minn., 55082. All funds received will be held cally roll over to the new phone lines for a in trust by the city of Stillwater. period of time. The numbers for the maintenance garage, Parks Department, library and Lily Lake Ice Arena have not been changed. Yard waste disposal changing Keep sidewalks Effective March 1, 1997, residents will be required to use paper yard waste bags for the collection of yard waste (grass clippings and leaves). The paper bag system clear and safe has been adopted because landfilling of plastic bags is no longer acceptable, and it has become extremely costly to process yard waste placed in plastic bags. The new Although spring is just around the ' paper bags are biodegradable and more environmentally friendly. corner, we all know that March is the ! The city's waste collection contractor, United Waste Inc., will provide the paper snowiest month of the season. So, remem- j bags to residents free of charge. The bags will be distributed March 22 and April 5, 8 ber to keep sidewalks shoveled after each a.m. to noon, at Stillwater Area High School, 5701 Stillwater Blvd., Stillwater Junior snowfall. Also, this time of year brings a High School, 523 W. Marsh St., and Stonebridge Elementary School, 900 N. Owens lot of thawing and freezing so it is impor- St. The bags also will be available at Cub Foods and Ace Hardware in the St. Croix tant to keep walks free of ice and snow to Mall on a regular basis. Additional pickup locations will be established in the near eliminate potentially hazardous condi- future. tions. Residents are encouraged to compost yard waste. Call the Washington County And, remember the city's odd/even compost hotline, 430 -6655, for more information on composting and composting parking regulations are in effect until sites. Residents also might consider mulching yard waste, rather than raking and April 1. bagging. Collection reminders Protect resource, save money Residents are reminded of the follow- Water usage determines both water and sewer utility bills. Residents can save ing rules and regulations pertaining to the I money and protect a valuable resource by following these simple tips: city's solid waste collection systems: • The toilet is not a wastebasket -- don't use it to flush cigarette butts or Kleenex. • Containers should be placed at curb- • Toilet "dams" save about two gallons of water per flush. side by 6 a.m. on the scheduled collection • A shower generally uses less water than a bath. day; handles should face the house. • Most showers can be fitted with a flow restrictor or low- volume head to con- - Do not overstuff containers; lids serve water. must be completely closed. Excess waste • An electric shaver uses less energy than it takes to heat up water for razor shav- must be placed in special bags that are ing (and it requires no water). available for purchase at City Hall, 216 N. • Check every faucet for leaks. Even a "slow leak" can waste 15 to 20 gallons of Fourth St., from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mon- water a week. day through Friday. Bags also are avail- • When washing dishes, use low suds detergents. Also, adding one - quarter to able for purchase at Cub Foods; Tom one -half cup of vinegar to the wash water cuts grease more readily than hot water Thumb on County Road 5 /Orleans Street; alone. Ace Hardware in the St. Croix Mall; and There are many other ways to conserve water and energy -- consider using them. Food and Fuel on North Owens Street. Bags are $2 each and are sold in lots of (Continued on page 4) 0 0 Meet your city staff Marcy Cordes Marcy Cordes is one of the new faces at City Hall. She came on board in July of 1996 as administrative assis- tant/personnel coordinator. A graduate of the Univer- sity of Minnesota and Hamline University School of Law, she has been supervising the devel- opment of the city's Internet site and working on special projects dealing with personnel policies, labor relations and is- sues related to the "new" City Hall. Although things have been a bit "jumbled" her first few months here, Cordes says she's been very pleased with "how great" her co- workers have been. And she said she has friends who are "envious" that she gets to work in such a "beautiful" city. Cordes worked for the city MARCY CORDES of Roseville and the League of Minnesota Cities before com- ing to Stillwater. Her hobbies include read- ing and the theater. In the win- ter, she says about the only thing "she can stand" is an oc- casional walk and some cross country skiing. She currently TIM MOORE resides in Minneapolis and also has been involved in neighbor- hood issues in her home com- munity. Tim Moore Tim Moore is the city's se- nior engineering technician. His function is to review public and some private improvement plans. He inspects the city's public improvement projects and does some design work and management of improve- ment projects. He also obtains quotes and performs other functions relating to mainte- nance projects that the city does not do in- house. A graduate of Coon Rapids High School, Moore at- tended the University of Min- nesota for two years. He was employed by Short, Elliott and Hendrickson for 15 years prior to joining the city staff in May 1995. He enjoys the Stillwater community and the public con- tact his job involves. He also just plain likes to construct "stuff' -- like streets. A resident of Hugo, his hobbies include hunting, fish- ing and snowmobiling. Law protects school/park zones The Minnesota Legislature has de- clared the area surrounding school prop- erty and park property as "drug free" and "weapons free" zones. Any persons found in possession of or selling narcotics, in- cluding marijuana and amphetamines, may be subject to increased penalties for committing the crime in a drug free /weapons free zone. Persons caught possessing or using a dangerous weapon in one of the designated zones also are subject to increased criminal penalties. "Park zone" is defined as an area des- ignated as a public park by a federal, state or local unit of government (city, town- ship, school district, etc.) or park board. The zone includes the area within 300 feet or one city block, whichever distance is greater, of the park boundary. "School zone' is defined as any prop- erty owned, leased, or controlled by a school district or an organization operat- ing a non - public school where an elemen- tary, middle, secondary, secondary voca- tional center or other school providing ed- ucational services in grades one through 12 is located or used for educational pur- poses, or where extracurricular activities are regularly provided. Reminders for do- it- yourselfers It's time to start thinking about com- pleting all those home improvement pro- jects. Before you get started, here's a couple of things to remembers. Other than paint- ing, improvement projects that cost over $500 in labor and material to complete re- quire a building permit. For do- it- yourself projects, labor is generally figured at dou- ble the cost of the materials. Also, for you do- it- yourselfers, ac- cording to city ordinance, the exterior portion of remodeling projects and house additions must be completed within 120 days. Permits are required for re- roofing and construction of decks. If you'reLbuild- ing a deck, stop by the building inspection office at City Hall for an informational handout as there are specific regulations for constructing decks. If you're using an outside contractor, check references and make sure the con- tractor is licensed with the city. Building Inspector Allen Zepper said one problem his office has encountered is with contrac- tors who include the permit cost in the job bid and then fail to actually obtain the permit. When that occurs, the homeowner is getting charged for something he or she never receives and the project doesn't get inspected. If the contractor says the cost of the permit is included in the bid price, ask to see the permit before the project is started, Zepper advises. Zepper also suggests getting more than one bid for a project. And if there's a big discrepancy between the two bids, get a third. Remember -- get a permit before starting a project. griefs - Continued from page 2 five. The city has developed a comprehen- sive guide for waste management which includes rules and regulations pertaining to recycling. The guide was distributed to household residents earlier this year. Any- one who didn't receive a copy should con- tact City Hall, 430 -8800. Remember to recycle -- it's good for the environment, and it saves money for all of us in the long run. Late payment has penalty Residents are reminded that the city has a penalty for late payment of utility charges. The penalty is $10 and is im- posed on any utility bill not paid within 10 days of the end of the applicable billing quarter. In addition to the penalty for late payment, City Code provides for certifica- tion of delinquent utility bills to the county for collection with property taxes. Delinquent bills are defined as any bal- ance that is past due for over 90 days on Sept. 30 of each year. A 10 percent inter- est charge is added to the utility bill bal- ance with the certification to the county. Residents are encouraged to pay their utility bills in a timely manner to avoid the late penalties. Rabies clinic scheduled The city is sponsoring a dog rabies vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12. The clinic will be held at the Stillwater Fire Department, 212 N. Fourth St. Parking is available in the Trin- ity Lutheran Church parking lot, south of the fire department. Dogs must be over six months old to receive the vaccination and must be ac- companied by an owner over 18 years of age. Other announcements will be made in local newspapers and radio. For more in- formation, call the city's Community Ser- vice Officer, 351 -4900. Are you recycling? Please do! Harcey honored with Human Rights Award DENNIS HARCEY Dennis Harcey is the recipient of the first -ever Stillwater Human Rights Award. Harcey, a social studies teacher at Stillwater Area High School, was recog- nized for his personal leadership to bring about awareness of Native American cul- ture. history and political reality through the annual Big Woods/Big Plains seminar which he helped initiate over 10 years ago. Harcey serves as advisor to STAND, a group at Stillwater Area High School that was formed to address racism issues at school. He is an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Stillwa- ter. He also was active in working with the city of Stillwater in the creation of the city's Human Rights Commission. Harcey's colleagues at SAHS, Nancy Berven and Philip Buck, in nominating him for the award said, "He has done much to encourage both students and community members to embrace diversity. Dennis has served on numerous school district committees, always championing the causes of diversity and tolerance." Laurie Maher, chairperson of the work group that lead to the formation of the Human Rights Commission, said in her nomination, "I believe Dennis is very deserving of this award. He has been an excellent example to children and adults alike on living in harmony and brotherly love with people of all cultures." Harcey received his award at the City of Stillwater Chamber of Commerce an- nual meeting held Feb. 5 at the Dock Cafe. Dispose of household chemicals Stillwater residents can dispose of unwanted or unusable home, garden, lawn and other hazardous household chemicals at Washington County's hazardous waste facility at 1900 Hadley Ave., Oakdale, next to the city of Oakdale's public works garage. Business waste is = accepted. There is no fee to dispose of house- hold hazardous waste at the facility. How- Bridge (Continued from page 1) quirements. However, a legislative solu- tion needs to be initiated by the members representing the affected Congressional districts. Citizens are encouraged to con- tact the following representatives to help initiate the action needed to bring about a solution: The Honorable Bill Luther, Represen- ever, proof of Washington County resi- dency, such as a driver's license, is re- quired. Hours are noon to 7 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays April through October. November through March hours are noon to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. The facil- ity is closed on major holidays. tative; Minnesota Sixth District; 117 Can- non House Office Building; Washington, D.C. 20515; phone (202) 225 -2271 The Honorable Ron Kind, Represen- tative; Wisconsin Third District; 1713 Longworth House Office Building, Wash- ington, D.C. 20515; phone (202) 225- 5506 VOLUME 2 NUMBER 1 1997 - _ - - FREE! STILLWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY * 223 NORTH FOURTH STREET * STILLWATER, MN 55082 * 612.439.1675 SPL CENTENNIAL EVENTS In 1897, Stillwater residents went to the polls to vote for public library service. During 1997, there will be a number of activities to celebrate our 100th birthday. In this issue of the newsletter, you'll find stories about our Birthday Book program, the birthday card contest, and a visit from children's book author and illustrator Barbara Knutson. We sincerely hope that you will join us in the festivities. If you would like to volunteer to help with centennial activities, please call me at 439.1675. Lynne Bertalmio, Director DESIGN A BIRTHDAY CARD CONTEST What's a birthday without birthday cards? We'd like to invite artists of all ages to participate in the Happy Birthday Library! exhibit and contest. Artists may submit a design for a birthday card in the medium of their choice. All entries will be exhibited at the library in March. A number of entries, selected by a panel of jurors, will be printed as note cards for use during the centennial year with prizes for those whose work is selected. All birthday card art must be two - dimensional on a single sheet of paper, no larger than 9" x 12 1/2 ". All entries must be received by February 25. To enter, call Lynne Bertalmio at 439.1675. " HOURS Monday 1 - 9 P.M. Tuesday 10 A.M. - 9 P.M. Wednesday 10 A.M. - 9 P.M. Thursday 1 - 9 P.M. Friday 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. Saturday 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. Sunday* 1 - 5 P.M. * Closed Sundays, Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day. STORYTIME Preschool Storytimes: An introduction to books and storytelling for ages 3 to 5 Wednesdays at 10:15 & 11:15 A.M. Bedtime Storytimes: A monthly "pajama party" storytime for children 3 and older and their parents. Co- sponsored by ECFE. At 7 P.M. on Thursdays: February 20, March 20, April 17, & May 15 Stuffed animals and blankets are welcome! "I Love to Read" Storytime: Sunday, February 9, 2 P.M. BIRTHDAY BOOKS! What is a birthday without presents? Throughout 1997, we invrte you to participate in the library's Birthday Book program in which you donate funds to the library in honor of your own birthday or the birthday of someone you love or respect. The library will choose a book and include a bookplate with the name and birthday of the person to be honored. Juvenile fiction and nonfiction books are $10 each, preschool picture books and adult fiction are $15, and adult nonfiction is $20. We will send a birthday card to the recipient from the library. (We'll happily send a belated card if your birthday has already occurred.) The library also encourages memorials, contributions to the endowment fund now under development, and gifts in support of the library's programs such as children's or reference services. All gifts to the library are tax deductible. To make a gift to the library, call 439.1675. WHAT'S STILLWATER READING? Jim Schug, Washington County Coordinator, recommends two venerable novels that deserve another look: Waterland by Graham Swift and Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison. ,1 o u R R u N D L E T Al I N D E E p SCHOOL AND LIBRARY COLLABORATION In its long range plan, the library identified support of independent learning as its major role in the community. In making this decision, the Board of Trustees looked at other community resources in order to avoid duplication of services. As a result, the library has been collaborating with a major community resource - District 834 - to make certain that our services complement each others and to develop projects of mutual interest. To that end, public library staff visited each of the schools in the district to talk with teachers about the ways in which school and public libraries differ. We also talked about how assignments could be constructed to take advantage of the nature of public library collections which often contain only one copy of a given title. A version of our tip sheet for teachers is available as SPL's Tips for Students and Their Parents. Ask for a copy at the Information Desk. NEW CD ROMS The Reference Department will add a number of exciting and informative CD ROM products in February. Titles include Landmark Documents in American History; The American Indian: a Multimedia Encyclopedia; Science Navigator; Mayo Clinic Family Health; Microsoft Bookshelf, Cartopedia; Time Multimedia Almanac; and the The Writer's Market. Ask about them at the Information Desk. LOFT CLASS AT THE LIBRARY The library will co- sponsor a writing class with The Loft, Minnesota's nationally recognized nonprofit organization for writers and writing instruction. Writing Family Stories will be taught by Cynthia Orange in the Margaret Rivers Room at the library on Wednesdays, March 19 to April 23, from 7 to 9 P.M. Participants will examine how to tell rich stories, what to write about, and how to jog the memory in this class for beginning and intermediate poets, short story, and memoir writers. The tuition is on a sliding fee scale of $90 to $132. To register, call The Loft at 612.379.8999, ext. 19. SPRING CLEANING Remember the library when you begin your spring cleaning. Overdue materials are a real problem for the library, limiting what is available for others. If you have overdue library materials on your shelves, please return them. If you fail to return materials with a combined value of $50 or more, you will be unable to check out other items until you return the overdue materials or pay the replacement fees. 101 REASONS TO USE YOUR PUBLIC LIBRARY! Reason * 18 Suffering from cabin fever? Want to go further than Cancun? Ask us what the exchange rate is for rupiahs (the currency in Bali)! HEAR CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR / ILLUSTRATOR Drawing from the rich visual and folk traditions of Africa and South America, Barbara Knutson, children's book author and illustrator, will speak to adults and children at the library on Saturday, April 19, at 2 P.M. Knutson was born in South Africa and has taught in Nigeria. She has recently returned from two years in Peru. Many of Knutson's works are retelling of African folktales accompanied by illustrations in scratchboard and watercolors. Her books include Sungura and Leopard: a Swahili Trickster Tale; How the Guinea Fowl Got Her Spots: a Swahili Friendship Tale; and Why the Crab Has No Head. She has also illustrated the works of other authors, including Kwanzaa Karamu by April Brady and Count Your Way Through Africa by Jim Haskins. As with all library programs, if you or your child have a disability and need special assistance, please call the library at least 10 days before the program to request assistance. NEW BOARD MEMBERS The Mayor recently appointed two new members to the Board of Trustees. Ken McFayden, Executive Director of the North Central Career Development Center, was appointed to a three year term. Bill Hickey, an architect with Shea Architects, Inc., was named to fill an incomplete term. The library wishes to thank retiring Board members Fred Kalinoff and Mary Ann Sandeen for their many years of dedicated service to the library and the community. VOLUME 2 NUMBER 3 FREE! 1997 STILLWATER PUBLIC LIBRARY * 223 NORTH FOURTH STREET * STILLWATER, MN 55082 * 612.439.1675 SOIREE IN THE STACKS We're enjoying sharing the library's birthday celebration with you. Please join us for the final event of our centennial year on Saturday, November 8, 7 - 10 P.M., for the Soiree in the Stacks. We're planning an elegant evening of dancing, activities, and refreshments. You may help us write the "great Stillwater novel," compose poetry magnetically, listen to fine musicians, and participate in a library scavenger hunt. There will be contra dancing, complete with instruction for those who have never participated in this dance form which was so popular in the nineteenth century. To make the evening easier for parents, Warm World will provide child care. To reserve a spot for your children or inquire about fees, call Warm World at 439.2909. This is a great chance to cap off the centennial year, wear your best clothes, and spend an evening after hours at the library! For a free Soiree ticket, call the library at 439.1675 ext. 29. Lynne Bertalmio, Director THANKS ARE DUE... to Bob Raleigh of the Stillwater Trolley and Jim Jacobs for their recent contributions to the library's endowment fund. Mir, t 11 ii 1l� iip AH HOURS Monday 1 - 9 P.M. Tuesday 10 A.M. - 9 P.M. Wednesday 10 A.M. - - 9 P.M. Thursday 1 - 9 P.M. Friday 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. Saturday 10 A.M. - 5 P.M. Sunday 1 - 5 P.M. CHILDREN'S EVENTS Preschool Storytimes: _ An introduction to books and storytelling for ages 3 to 5 Wed., 10:15 & 11:15 A.M. Bedtime Storytimes: Thurs., October 16, November 20, December 11, 7 P.M. Halloween Storytime: Sun., October 26, 2 P.M. Lunch Bunch: Fri., November 7, Noon CENTENNIAL EVENTS Carnegie Library Display Continues through December Author Judith Guest Speaks Fri., October 24, 7:30 P.M. Soiree in the Stacks Sat., November 8, 7 - 10 P.M. AUTHORS INAUGURATE MARVEL OLD SERIES Best - selling authors Judith Guest and Rebecca Hill will speak about the importance of reading, writing, and transmitting the story on Friday, October 24, at 7:30 P.M. This centennial event will honor the memory of Marvel Old, who worked for the Washington County Library, including driving the bookmobile. As book selector, Marvel endeared herself to many for her ability to put the "right" book in a patron's outstretched hand. It is hoped that this will be the first in an annual series of events. A reception will follow the presentation. For a free ticket, call the library at 439.1675 ext. 29. This program is also the first part of a writing workshop offered by the Valley Writers Guild on Saturday and Sunday, October 25 and 26, at Hazelden.. To inquire about the workshop, call 257.2200 or 433.2439. WHAT'S STILLWATER READING? Jan Spreeman (Mr. Spree), U.S. history teacher at the Stillwater Junior High School, couldn't put down Stephen Ambrose's Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis; Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West. His current favorite for rereading is Night by Elie Wiesel. L E T `l 0 u R A4 j N p S U N D F E p 1 INFO - SEEKERS CLASS IMPORTANT CHANGES IN LOAN POLICIES FALL EVENTS FOR CHILDREN The library's search stations offer access to a wealth of information. If you have ever suspected that you weren't using our catalog or the library's other data bases to their full potential, you may be interested in the class that we will be offering this fall: an introduction to information searching on Saturday, November 15, from 8:30 to 10 A.M. In an informal session, participants will be guided through hands -on searching of online periodical indexes; will investigate the StarTribune CD ROM database; and will learn how to access the remote online catalogs of other libraries as well as learning helpful features of the library's own catalog. Although this is not a training session on how to use the Internet, the session will highlight some websites featured on the library's menus as well as covering how to access the Internet from the library's terminals. (As yet, only text -based searching is available on library terminals. Capacity to do graphical browsing is expected in 1998.) Handouts for further work on one's own will also be provided. This free program is designed for ages junior high school through adults. Space in the class in limited. To register, call the library at 439.1675 ext. 11. As the class meets before the library opens, all participants are asked to gather at the staff entrance of the library off the lower parking lot. If you have a disability and need assistance to attend this program, please call at least 10 days in advance to request assistance. When one patron keeps an item out past the due date, others are deprived of its use. In order to make books and other library materials more readily available to the public when they are needed, the Board of Trustees has implemented some changes in loan policy, effective October 1, 1997. All borrowers who have accumulated more than $25 in fees or charges for lost or damaged materials will not be able to borrow more items or place holds on materials. Borrowers who have more than ten items overdue will also be automatically blocked from these services. To ensure continued service, borrowers may return all items by their due date; renew library materials before they are overdue whether at the Circulation Desk, at the public access catalog, or by phone; or pay outstanding fees for damaged or lost library materials. Changes have also occurred in the library's refund policy. Payment made for any lost item valued at less than $5 will not be refunded if the item is later returned. Payment made for any lost item valued at $5 or more will not be refunded if the item is later returned and the lost item has been deleted from the library's catalog. The loan period for some videocassettes has also changed. Children's videos and informational videos now have a one week loan period. Adult recreational videos continue as two day loans. In addition to the weekly storytimes at 10:15 A.M. and 11:15 A.M. on Wednesdays, there will be lots of storytelling opportunities this fall. Bedtime Storytime, co- sponsored by ECFE, is an opportunity for children 3 and older to listen to stories in their pajamas. They occur on Thursdays, October 16, November 20, and December 11, at 7 P.M. Stuffed. animals and blankets are welcome! A special Halloween Storytime is scheduled for Sunday, October 26, at 2 P.M. There will be stories and activities for ages 4 and over. Wear a costume! On Friday, November 7, at Noon, Lunch Bunch will feature read -aloud stories celebrating the season of thanks. Children 6 and older are encouraged to bring a lunch to the library and listen! If you or your child have a disability and need assistance, please call the library at least 10 days before the program. HOLIDAY BOOK DRIVE Research has shown that children who read and whose parents read to them are more successful in school and in work than children in homes where reading does not take place. Yet in many homes, books just don't fit in the budget. The library will be collecting new children's books for distribution through the Holiday Bureau and Project Headstart. The public is invited to bring new, unwrapped books for children of all ages to the library through Friday, December 12. There is a special need for books for preschool children.