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ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD
vol. 20 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2009 Newsletter of the City of Otsego
2009 Otsego city budget set
By Gary Groen,Otsego City Finance Director financed primarily by sources other than state revenues. The
The General Fund Budget finances Otsego's basic services city has not received any Local Government Aid from the
to its residents. These services include public safety, street state for several years. Therefore, we are expecting the
maintenance and equipment,park maintenance and potential aid cuts will be manageable.
equipment, and administrative services. The budgeted The city of Otsego also maintains a fund balance(or
expenditures total$3,826,858. About 85% of these cash reserve) to absorb unexpected revenue reductions,
expenditures are financed by local property tax levies paid by such as what may lie ahead, or to absorb unexpected
the residents and businesses that call Otsego their home. expenditures that may not have been anticipated at the time
There has been much publicity recently regarding the the budget was prepared.
projected deficits of the state and the impact this will have on The city's estimated tax rate for property taxes payable
local government finances and our ability to deliver services. in 2009 is 26.975%. Based on preliminary information,
To resolve the state's current year budget deficit,the governor this tax rate is the second lowest tax rate ini Wright County.
"unalloted" monies due to the city of Otsego in 2008. Otsego The city will be monitoring the activity at the state
did not receive$97,000 due in December 2008. As the legislature to determine its affect on our community.
legislature tackles the projected budget deficit for the next The Mayor and City Council review the budgeted
biennium,the city anticipates additional cuts in aid. It is activities throughout the year and will make every
important to note that the Otsego City General Fund is effortnot to reduce the level of services. ..w
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Mayor& Admin. Legal Plan-
Finance Other Engi- Street Streets Equip- Public Parks&
Council ning Gov't neer Lighting ment Safety Other
M
2008 $60,642 $416,298 $35,000 $44,200 $149,879 $163,700 $80,000 $90,000 $1,275,920 $180,000 $791,110 $282,003
1 2009 $61,642 $464,310 $45,000 $44,200 $153,813 $170,647 $80,000 $110,000 $1,312,140 $26.6,926 $820,310 $297,870
of 1.61% 12.13% 1.18% 1.15% 4.02% 4.46% 2.09% 2.87% 34.29% 6.98% 21.44% 7.78%
Budget
1
The State of Otsego in 2009 • = ,) ') ,) , 11' ).
During these hard economic times, the City Council continues to review the way a
we are spending money—as I am sure many of you are also doing. Otsego continues tsisJ O TE 5
to have the lowest local tax rate among the communities in our area. The current and 1
past City Councils have always provided a budget for the city that delivers a high from the
level of city services at the lowest cost possible using a combination of in-house MAYOR
resources and contracted services. The soundness of the city's financial practices has
served the community well during periods of growth, but also positions us to deal
INONNOMISMONOM
with the challenges that may be ahead in 2009.
As has been reported widely in the press, the state has a large budget deficit that by
Y Mayor Jessica 5tockamp
law must be balanced. The need to balance the state budget will likely impact
Otsego, even though Otsego receives no Local Government Aid(LGA).
Reimbursements from the state for the Market Value Homestead Credit(MVHC)for owner occupied housing were
already cut for the second half of 2008 and the 2009 reimbursement is also likely to be reduced or eliminated. The City
Council will monitor economic conditions and the activities at the state capitol this legislative session and make
adjustments to the city budget to avoid raising taxes or cutting essential services to the extent possible. Additional
information on the 2009 Otsego City budget is included in this newsletter and if you have any further questions I
encourage you to contact Finance Director Gary Groen or City Administrator Mike Robertson. Stay warm! –Jessica.wv
Snowmobile regulations in Otsego
City officials have received a number of calls this winter on snowmobiling issues. If you are riding in Otsego, it is your
job to know and follow State laws and Chapter 8. Section 1 of the City Code.
* A summary of State laws is available from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the internet:
<http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snowmobiling/index.html>
* Otsego requires that persons under the age of
14 ride on city streets accompanied by an Otsego snowmobile club donates to Hoofbeats
adult. Minors between the ages of 14 and 18 and Heartbeats
may ride on city streets with a valid . E 3 -w"< m`
snowmobile certificate in their possession.
On city streets with curb, snowmobiles must be
ridden single file in the direction of traffic on o; r `
the pavement as close as practical to the curb. ) ' ' � `
Where no curb exists, snowmobiles must be ,� ,3
ridden within six feet of the pavement surface. `' �="
* Snowmobiles are prohibited from riding upon „ F';< r
l ..
public sidewalks or paved trails or within city -� • 4 ,,
parks or otherproperty. _ •� am� cx+m 10 to u
,� , � ��
* Snowmobiles may only be operated within the ' ,rs •fr'
city between the hours of 8:00 AM to 11:00 ;, ..
PM Sunday through Thursday and between ` i ; d
8:00 AM to 1:00 AM on Friday and Saturday. �:x
* The city has designated residential areas where j, _ 4,4 '
snowmobiling on city streets is prohibited .,:t .fey
except in going to/from your property to a
designated trail. Snowmobiles may not .. t
exceed 10 miles per hour within designated
residential areas. A map of these designated
areas is available from the city. The Otsego Great River Riders snowmobile club donated$500 to Hoofbeats
* The Otsego Great River Riders snowmobile and Heartbeats, Inc.at the club's January meeting held at Rockwoods bar and
club is a great resource for information on Backwater Grill.
snowmobiling in Otsego and related events. Hoofbeats and Heartbeats, Inc.is an equestrian learning center located in
Contact them at<www.ogrr.us>. Otsego dedicated to providing therapeutic riding and teaching proper horse care
The city has developed these local regulations and management to elderly and youth with emotional and physical disabilities,
over time in cooperation with snowmobilers to From left to right representing Otsego River Riders Snowmobile Club, Board
ensure that snowmobiling remains an available Members Russell Harnois, Brian Culkins Pat Hilden, Linda Lewis,Owner of
winter activity within Otsego while protecting Hoofbeats and Heartbeats, Inc, Otsego Great River Riders Board Members
public safety and welfare. Please be safe and Rob Vandenberg and Kathy Pederson.�..�
respectful of your neighbors while enjoying your
ride. w.r
... .
Otsego's early Planning Commission
By Jacquie Rognli
Otsego Township organized its first planning commission in
hilgh
1978. Before that,the Town Board handled land use questions
as well as the rest of the township business.Former Otsego Planning Commission and from there to the Wright County
Mayor Larry Fournier recalls that the Town Board was hoping to Commissioners.By the time the final decision came from
involve more citizens in township business and trying to get a Wright County, it often did not go the way that the Otsego
broader perspective on residents' opinions. Commission had recommended.
Fournier was on the first Otsego Planning Commission of Some of Otsego Township's land use concerns in the
seven citizens.He fondly remembers serving with Carl Swenson 1980s were about leap frog development with residential
and Ing Roskraft,both loyal civic servants who remained on streets established far apart, creating a need for more
the Planning Commission when Otsego became a city in 1990 services scattered across the township. Trailer homes were
and continued to faithfully serve for the rest of their lives. also erected randomly in the township.
The Township Planning Commission worked much like The Planning Commission began work on a comprehensive
today's City Planning Commission, except it wasn't quite land use plan for Otsego and hired Northwest Associated
as busy, meeting only once a month to consider Otsego Consultants,Inc. to assist with that huge task.That early plan
land use issues and holding public hearings. sought to preserve the rich farmland in western Otsego and
The Commission would make recommendations to the shield it from all development.Fournier remembers that the
Board like today's Commission sends its decisions to the City west was supposed to remain"farms forever"as he
Council. The big difference was that before becoming a city, considered the changes he has seen in his past 30 years of
those recommendations were then sent to the Wright County service to Otsego.
City commissions offer residents opportunities for involvement
The city of Otsego has four commissions made up of Linda Lewis, Chair
residents interested in varied community concerns. Sandra Michaelson
Members meet to discuss issues and make Edgar Pearsall
recommendations to the City Council. Each City Council Jeff Stimac
member acts as an unofficial member of a commission and Jane Theisen, Vice-Chair
serves as a liaison to the Council. Residents are invited to Joel Torkelson
attend all meetings and can apply to become a member of a Rob Vandenberg
commission by completing an application found on the city Parks & Recreation Commission
web site or available at City Hall. The City Council The Parks and Recreation Commission works on matters
appoints the commission members. regarding recreation, trails and parks in the city. Some of
Planning Commission the events they work on are Pumpkin Patch, Santa Day and
The Planning Commission considers land use issues in Easter Egg Hunt. Volunteers are always needed.
the city of Otsego and holds public hearings when required Meets: 2fla Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
by city ordinance. It transmits recommendations to the City Members:
Council on all matters which it considers. Mike Brumm
Meets: ls` & 3`d Mondays, 7:00 p.m. Kathryn Roberts, Secretary
Members: Rose Cassady
Pam Black, Chair Susan Krekelberg, Co-Chair
Tamara Fallon Krista Bean
Doug Hackman Duane Lauseng
Jim Kolles Beverly Kumar, Chair
Richard Nichols Peter Torresani
John Thelen Heritage Preservation Commission
David Thompson, Co-Chair The Heritage Preservation Commission's duties consist of
Brian Gerten— ls`Alternate preserving Otsego's heritage, including information about
Police Commission original settlers, historic sites and buildings and disseminating
The Police Commission is charged with developing a that information to the public, fostering civic pride in the
citizen complaint procedure, promoting public interest in beauty and notable accomplishments of the past.
and an understanding of police work. They serve as a Meets: 2nd Thursday, 7:00 p.m.
forum for the citizens of Otsego to voice their opinions Members:
regarding community safety and police services. Ron Black, Chair
Meets: 2"d Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. Norm Freske
Members: Shirley Isaacson
Denise Andrusko Joan Vasseur
Paul Fields Chris Wilson
John Hinncnkamp
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City nr
OTSEGO PRESORTED STANDARD
US POSTAGE
1) ON THE GREAT RIVER RO:v> PAID
8899 Nashua Avenue NE PERMIT# 1791
Otsego, MN 55330 MINNEAPOLIS,MN
Administration:(763)441-4414
Building Dept.:(763)441-2593
Utility Billing:(763)441-2310
Fax: (763)441-8823
Email: cityhall@ci.Otsego.mn.us
Web Site:www.ci.Otsego.mn.us
OFFICE HOURS
ADMINISTRATION:
M-Th 8 ami pm;Fri.CLOSED
BUILDING DEPT:
M-Th 8 am-6 pm;Fri.8 am-noon
UTILITY DEPT:
M-Th 8 am-5 pm;Fri.8 am-noon
CITY COUNCIL
Mayor:Jessica Stockamp
Council Members:
Tom Darkenwald Dan Scharber
Vern Heidner Mark Thorsted
MEETING CALENDAR
City Council 2nd&4th Mon.,6:30 pm
Planning Commission 1sl&3rd Mon.,7 pm
Parks&Recreation 2nd Wed.,7:00 pm
Heritage Preservation 2ndThurs.,7 pm
Police Commission 2nd Tues.,6:30 pm
All meetings are open to the public.Call City Hall to
confirm times if you plan to attend.Agendas and
minutes are available on the city's web site.
The Otsego View is Otsego's bi-monthly newsletter.
Jacquie Rognli,Editor
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