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Spring 0 The It I\40.3 ILSJoilEigAENv" ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD vol. 17 MARCH/APRIL 2006 Newsletter of the City of Otsego ‘NS zi ,, -...,, . .., , MAY 2006 P I C k u P ( Otsego Clean-up\ •',V,K 'x,'x X Month C A. �// N.,,,x>e<,,,x1Y; i-3i 2006 ,,,o, iMay \<i ,D 0 /x' At Elk River Landfill C_ J) vouchers Voucher Required Otsego Clean-up Month begins May 1. Otsego residents can pick up their Accepted Items Otsego Clean-up voucher good for one free load of junk accepted at Elk River Household junk No Charge Landfill. Bring proof of residency to City Hall during regular administration Furniture No Charge business hours (p. 2) through May 31 to get your voucher. Only one voucher Brush,yard waste(Must No Charge will be issued per household. be separate; No bags) The Otsego Clean-up voucher allows Otsego residents to bring one pick-up Scrap metal No Charge size load to the waste management facility located on Highway 169 just seven Vehicle batteries No Charge miles north of County Road 39. The voucher is good for the entire month of Clean lumber No Charge May during regular hours at Elk River Landfill. Residential Appliances $12 each No liquids, hazardous waste, paint, oil, florescent bulbs or construction Residential air conditioners $22 each debris will be accepted. There is a fee for appliances, computers, monitors,TVs CPUs/Monitors/Printers/TVs $15 each and tires. Console TVs $25 each You must unload your own junk. No children under 16 are allowed out of Computer system $30 each vehicles at the landfill. Items that can not be put in the landfill and items to be Tires recycled will need to be unloaded separately. Tires $6 each When arriving at the landfill, pull up to the gate house where your vehicle is Tires with rims $8 each weighed, the attendant will collect your voucher and ask you questions about the Tractor tires $25 each type of waste you have. Drive to the locations you are directed to unload. The Tractor tires with rims $30 each recyclable items are unloaded at different locations. Not Accepted: Hazardous waste,oil, There will be large waste management trucks dumping in the landfill. There paint, liquids,fluorescent bulbs, will be fewer large garbage trucks on Saturdays. construction debris.No contractors. Stop at the gatehouse when exiting to have your vehicle weighed again. This Elk River Landfill is when you will pay for items other than mixed solid waste(i.e. appliances, 22460 Hwy. 169 NW tires, TVs and computers). Elk River,MN 55330 Driving in the landfill is on rough roads graded through the garbage mixed Monday—Friday 7:00 a. m.to 5:00 p.m. with sand. The roads are maintained every day, but be aware that wet weather ` Saturday 7:00 a.m.to 12:00 p.m. will make surfaces very soft. Pick up trucks or similarly capable vehicles are Closed Sundays&Memorial Day recommended in these conditions. Road dust control provided for a fee 1 �''I The city of Otsego will do dust control of gravel s if requproperty f owners. The city will apply dust control for approximatelyroad5only00 feet, centeredestedby in front o'4., ,,, " of the house of the requesting property owner. The property owner requesting dust control will pay 100% of the cost of dust control, and must sign a form agreeing to pay for dust control. The cost for dust control for any one home in 2006 is $250.00. Please iV contact City Hall if you wish to request dust control for your road. • City of Otsego 8899 Nashua Avenue NE Otsego,MN 55330 Improving -.I `'�. `i (763)441-4414 i i d ; -' j d Building Dept.: (763)-441-2593 Public Works NOTES Fax(763)441-8823 Email:cityhall@ci.Otsego.mn.us The City Council is committed to Web Site:www.ci.Otsego.mn.us a new public works facility. At the from the ADMINISTRATION OFFICE HOURS March 27th council meeting, the City f/IAYO R Monday through Thursday Council awarded construction of the 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. new building to Kue Contractors at a Fridays CLOSED iiiimimmismiimmi cost of$3,659,000. A salt storage BUILDING DEPT.OFFICE HOURSLy Mayor Larry Fournier Monday through Thursday facility is also required by state c 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. regulations to safely house salt and Fridays 8:00 a.m.to noon sand mixtures. Greystone Construction was awarded the contract for the CITY COUNCIL-Meets 2nd&4th Mon.,6:30 p.m.* salt storage facility, with a bid of$128,998. The new public works Mayor:Larry Fournier facility will be located on 90th Street adjacent to City Hall. The city has Council Members about 2 million in reserve for this project and will have to bond for the Vern Heidner P J Dan Scharber remainder. I expect with our ever expanding tax base, including Jessica Stockamp commercial and industrial, the increase to tax payers will be minimal. Mark Thorsted CITY STAFF Otsego Clean Up Mike Robertson,City Administrator May is Otsego's clean up month. As in the past, for the entire month of Judy Hudson,City Clerk/Zoning Administrator Karee Rowell,Deputy Clerk May, you will be able to take one load of your trash to the landfill on Kathy Grover,Bookkeeper Highway 169 in Elk River. The city of Otsego will provide you with a Brad Belair,Public Works Supervisor voucher which covers the cost of dumping at the landfill. Watch for more Tim Rochel,Building Official P g PLANNING&ZONING-Meets 1,1&3rd Mon.,7:00 p.m.' information in upcoming issues of the Star News or on the Otsego City Richard Nichols,Chair website: www.ci.Otsego.mn.us. Let me know how things go. Pam Black,Vice Chair Tom Darkenwald Tammie Fallon • Doug Hackman Super Target Jim Kolles David Thompson Troy Watring, 1st alternate approved John Thelen,2nd alternate PARKS&RECREATION-Meets 2nd Wed.,7:00 p.m.' On March 13, 2006 the City Council Aaron Stritesky,Chair approved a Super Target store as part of a Peter Torresani,Vice Chair commercial development known as Great Mike Brumm Rose Cassady River Centre. This development is located Virginia Goughnour between Highway 101 and Parrish Avenue. Russ Langer The Super Target will be located just south of Kathryn Robertsg HERITAGE PRESERVATION-Meets 41h Thurs.,7:00 p.m.* the Bank of Elk River and Christ Lutheran Ron Black,Chair Church. Besides the Super Target, the IsobelLStandert development will consist of a mixture of Stander P Jon Stander retail, restaurants, and office space. Super Chris Wilson Target will break ground this summer and POLICE COMMISSION-Meets 2nd Tues.,6:30 p.m.' Thomas Carter,Chair plans to open in summer, 2007. ,-,.--, Philip Larson Sandra Michaelsonr-r° Edgar OTSE i<, r J Cherisse Rushmeier ir Jeff Stimac RO ,' //91/Jane Theisen,Vice Chair ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD -.0J./ ./41./ 'All meetings are open to the public.Call City Hall to confirm Planning is already beginning for Otsego's highly successful festival times if you plan to attend.Agendas and minutes are available on the city's web site, which will take place on September 16 this year. The festival's success can be attributed to the volunteers and supporters that make it happen, r'C OT EGO MEW including event director Rose Cassady. Meetings have already started to produce this great community gathering. Interested volunteers are The Otsego View is Otsego's bi-monthly newsletter. encouraged to contact Rose at 763-441-8769 and check the city website Jacquie Rognli,Editor for meeting times. Correspondence should be sent to Otsego City Hall. Contains 50%recycled pre-consumer materials. 0 • Building permits required for safety and legality The Otsego Department of Building Safety (763-441-2593) oversees all building permits issued in the city while adhering to and enforcing the Minnesota State Building Codes. Working without a permit is illegal and can pose serious complications when it --V- comes time to sell your house. Obtaining a permit insures safety as well as compliance with state code. Applications are available on the city website or can be picked up at City Hall during department office hours. Building permit applications will be processed as quickly as possible. You will be called when your permit is ready. Building permit fees are based on the valuation of the project. Inspections are scheduled with the building department as needed for the project.Be sure to call _ it the department to let them know when the job is finished so the final inspection can be scheduled and the file finalized. Building permits are required for decks, detached structures such as garages and lawn sheds, basement finishing, roofing, siding and windows. Silt fencing is required on all — , .3 1\ new construction in order to control erosion and sediment. Building permits are not required for painting, wall papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, countertops, and similar finish work; detached decks less than 30 inches off the ground; retaining walls less than four feet high; above ground swimming pools less than two feet deep; window awnings. Otsego Building Safety personnel are available to issue permits, answer questions and schedule inspections Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. to noon. Inspection hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday. •,,,,, ''...."'"'..1- Burning permits required Meth awareness MEADA MET 'EDUCATION aN-J,:1111'G AriNAENESS Because of the high fire danger, burning restrictions are program underwayC Q "`'T' N C ,N R in effect until spring green up occurs. Burning permits ' u—z ` ON ' from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources The Otsego Police Commission is (DNR), the U.S. Forest Service, or a designated fire partnering with the Methamphetamine Education and warden are required for pile burning and burning in an Drug Awareness Coalition of Wright County (MEADA) approved burn container used outside the legal hours of 6 in an effort to promote community awareness of the p.m. and 8 a.m. Fires must be attended and kept under dangers of methamphetamine(meth). control at all times. Meth is a homemade amphetamine made from Once restrictions are lifted, permits can be obtained at common, easily accessible materials and can be produced City Hall. If you are unable to get in during regular fairly easily anywhere-from homes to inside vehicles. business hours, call City Hall to have a burning permit Use of meth causes a number of negative short and long written up and placed where you can pick it up after hours. term physical effects for users and to those exposed to Permits are issued for a three-day period for pile burning harmful meth residues. With meth, there is also more 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. and must be in possession when stealing, violence, domestic abuse, etc. Crime has burning. increased as the usage has increased. The DNR urges using alternatives to burning, such as MEADA will be presenting a number of community composting and chipping.---,.., awareness forums in Wright County, including April 24th, Animals must be controlled 7:00 p.m. at Rogers High School. For more information, visit the MEADA website(www.meada.org) or contact No animal is allowed to run at large in the city of Otsego. the Methamphetamine Education and Drug Awareness Running at large is when the animal is not on the premises Coalition of Wright County, 763-682-7713. ,-,w of the owner or under the owner's control or on a leash. Dogs and cats must be vaccinated and dogs must be Volunteers sought for licensed. A lifetime dog license can be obtained at City :,., ., safety program Hall. Bring proof of current immunization. N. McGruff House volunteers are still Keeping of three or more dogs and/or cats over the age needed in Otsego. According to of six months constitutes a "dog kennel" or "cat shelter" which requires city authorization. Police Commission member Jane Owners are responsible for cleaning up their animal's - Theisen, "We would like to beef up feces whether it's in their own yard, on the property of NLCGRUFF our list of volunteers before the others or on public property. HOUSE summer arrives." Contact Theisen at 0 763-441-7059. • Record river levels flood Otsego in 1965J . iS.:torjcaI By Jacquie Rognli went out over the radio. • Heavy snow and freezing "About 150 high school boys " hts temperatures spelled disaster for responded to the call ...They begang g communities along the Mississippi River building a sort of dike made of snow in central Minnesota in 1965. Heavy fence, polyethylene plastic and of art Kluge fell part way into the pack ice created jams that dammed the sandbags, under civil defense rushing waters Friday when the flow of water and drove the river to supervision, in a futile effort to keep channel widened and undermined the record levels in April 1965, flooding ahead of the rising water." foundation. Highway 101 (now Parrish Avenue)in After several hundred feet had been Kluge's dog and some chickens Otsego and inundating most of the built, "the effort was termed useless and were rescued on successive days, three homes along the highway. most of the boys were released...Many days after all residents of the area were The river reached a crest in Otsego of the boys, unable to get to their homes evacuated on Tuesday." of 29 feet, 15 feet above flood stage, in the country to get boots, simply put "Between 35 and 70 feet of river on April 15, 1965 and held steady for on gym shoes and went to work. Town bank is estimated to have washed more than 24 hours. A constant vigil boys went home and got properly away on the sharp curve back of was required of sandbaggers and dike outfitted for the task." Howard Leider's and Jay Hetrick's builders in an effort to save homes. By Tuesday afternoon,the highway homes threatening constantly to The Sherburne County Star News was officially closed. "Ladies of the undermine the massive dike that was reported on April 15, 1965 about rising American Legion and VFW Auxiliaries built Friday and Saturday with heavy flood waters"south of Elk River" served lunch to the workers on the far equipment brought in by the Army cutting a channel across the"Ebnerville side of the flood scene after driving to Corps of Engineers. Heavy canvas was peninsula"along Highway 101: Monticello to cross the river. Some placed against the bank and much of it "Highway 101 first felt the clammy sandwiches made by Barnier's seemed to hold fairly well, but there hand of the flood about midnight Confectionary, Atom Café, and were other places that simply could Sunday [April 11, 1965], when an ice Crossroads Cafe were taken to the other not be protected." jam up the river broke and the water side by a highway patrolman, also." Current from the main stream looked rose six feet in 20 minutes, but went The Sherburne County Star News like a race track as it banked and curved back down 10 minutes later. reported the following week on April swiftly into the newly cut channel across The sudden rise and fall left a pile of 22, 1965 that two homes on the what only a week before had been ice between the ice breaker and the south Ebnerville Peninsula had been washed somebody's home and yard." shore,capped by a boat picked up from away as the Mississippi had re-routed "List of Evacuees: George Kline, who knows where.Atop the ice breaker itself, cutting a channel right across the Reinhard Ebner,Roy Bistodeau,F.A. Kuhn,Joe Ebner, Art Kluge,William was a lone cake of ice which stayed there peninsula. The river ran through a gap Zacharda,Elmer Mord,Jack Hetrick,M.F. for two days,much to the delight of in Highway 101 estimated to be at Milless,Donald Ebner, Rolland Barthel, spectators.But by Monday noon,the rest least 100 feet wide and up to 20 feet Dan Luby,Roger Tarnowski,James of the ice and boat were gone. deep a week later. This would create a Adams,Arleen Nogel,Roger Olson,Jay But Monday night and all day permanent channel if not filled in. Hetrick, Walter Smit,Gerald Courteau, Tuesday the river continued its "A summer home owned by Mrs. Eric Ebner,Gale Poehler,Norman relentless rise until by Tuesday night Victoria Olson Rouse of Brainerd was Schwanbeck, Gene Chouinard,Daryl the highway was flooded for a length washed away and stopped when it hit a McAlpine, Howard Leider,Joe Pallansch, of nearly half a mile." tree in front of the Jay Hetrick home, Bill Klemz, Harold Hohn,Donald Putnam, Residents of the area were almost on the right-of-way of what Joseph Haus,and Curtis Briggs(on the Elk evacuated and a call for volunteer help was once Highway 101. And the home River)"w,..... Resident emergency preparedness In December 2005,the Otsego City Council adopted an emergency operations plan that includes a section on Elements of a Household Disaster Plan Resident Emergency Preparedness. The plan details • Emergency communications plan.Choose an out-of-town person information on creating an emergency preparedness kit, to be your contact for family members to call if you are separated. handling of suspicious mail,reporting suspicious activity, Make sure everyone has the number. responding to power outages,procedures for evacuating • At least two emergency meeting places.One right outside your the city,planning for pets and businesses, what to do if home in case of sudden emergency,such as fire.Pick another your child is in school during an emergency situation and outside your neighborhood in case you can't return home. other necessary information. It recommends that residents • A disaster supplies kit. • Information about school and workplace emergency plans. develop a household disaster plan.,..A.,..... 0 • The --1‘.-1Z. ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD IENv Vol. 17 MAY/JUNE 2006 Newsletter of the City of Otsego ... .daiiio Road construction season underway _ The 2006 summer season will also 2007, although work is planned to 1 be road construction season in Otsego, begin on temporary interchanges in with the biggest projects being State the fall. The entire Highway 101 / Highway 101 and Wright County project from Elk River to Rogers is ,A Road 42. expected to take two years, and should lal Highway 101 be complete by the end of 2007. The The Minnesota Department of $60 million project is part of the Transportation(MnDOT)will begin state's $1.5 billion highway 00°/' its work in June on turning Highway improvement projects statewide. 101 from an expressway with traffic Otsego contributed land to cover the conjunction with Duke Realty placing lights into a freeway. Work will city's share of the cost. a large industrial park along TH101. initially begin on the County Road County Road 42 (Parrish Ave.from Completion is anticipated in the 42/Highway 101 intersection. County CSAH 39 to 85th St.) summer of 2007. Road 42 will remain at the same This summer the city of Otsego will Quaday Ave. (CSAH 37 to 78th St.) elevation and Highway 101 will go be widening Parrish Avenue from two Work will continue this summer about 20 feet over it. Highway access lanes to four lanes from its with work to be completed by July of at County Road 42 will eventually be intersection with County Road 39 2006. closed this summer and reopen in the south to just past 85`h Street. This Frontage Road (NW corner of CSAH fall. Though there will be some project will begin in June and be 39 and CSAH 42) detours as part of the project, most of completed by the end of the year. Work will continue this summer the time Highway 101 will remain Queens Avenue(CSAH 37 to 59th St) and he completed by July of 2006. open and will continue to have four Work will begin this summer on MacIver(SCAH 37 to 80th St.) lanes of traffic. Queens Avenue. This will be a new Work will continue this summer Work on the interchanges at county road, a lane in either direction with a and be completed by July of roads 39 and 37 will primarily be in continuous center turn lane. This is in 2006. New parks being built this summer j�;`\` ��i�`,1 This summer Otsego Beaudry Meadows Park is located at the corner of 77th (���/\ I�%t will be constructing three Street and Lancaster Avenue and is about 8 acres in size. It Air . new parks. (See map p. will consist of a park shelter, play equipment, two tennis 2) The park construction courts, a ball field, basketball court and trails. 1 costs are paid for by the Kittredge Park is located at the intersection of Kittredge ,,, 1,11 ( fees charged to new Parkway and 71st Street and is about 5 acres in size. It will f`Lii1T developments. These consist of a park pavilion with a fire pit, play equipment, a parks should be tennis court and horseshoe courts. 7 completed by the end of Zimmer Park is located at Mason Avenue and 64th Street the year and will and is about 5 acres in size. It will consist of a park shelter, all��' , officially open in spring a baseball field, play equipment,tennis court, basketball nil of 2007. court and trails. .A..A.A..i .A,, ,AidiA.i .i City of Otsego • 8899 Nashua Avenue NE Otsego, MN 55330 Summer Projects (763)441-4414 'i w ��e •; e , Building Dept.: (763)-441-2593 update J4JOTE S Fax(763)441-8823 Email:cityhall@ci.Otsego.mn.us Summer in Otsego is a time for Web Site:www.ci.Otsego.mn.us outdoor fun activities and public from the ADMINISTRATION OFFICE HOURS construction projects.This year we )b4iAt A�O Monday through Thursday have several city construction projects. 12 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. The City Council is building three new Fridays CLOSED city parks. They are Beaudry BUILDING DEPT.OFFICE HOURS Meadows Park on County Road 19 by Mayor Larry Fournier Monday through Thursday close to the waste water treatment `i0= 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. plant, Kittridge Park near the city's west water tower and Zimmer Park on Fridays 8:00 a.m. to noon Mason Avenue and 64th Street.These parks are financed by the park and trail CITY COUNCIL-Meets 2nd&4'h Mon.,6:30 p.m.* fees collected from new developments. These monies can only be used for Mayor: Larry Fournier Council Members park development projects. Vern Heidner The city also has three road construction projects this summer. County Dan ScharberRoad 42 from County Road 39 south to 85`h Street will be widened to a Jessica Stockamp four lane road to accommodate the increased traffic ex ected when the Mark Thorstedorsted P CITY STAFF new Super Target store opens in July of 2007. Queens Avenue from Mike Robertson,City Administrator County Road 37 south to 60th Street will be a new two lane road to meet Judy Hudson,City Clerk/Zoning Administrator the needs of Duke Realityas theybuild their 100 million dollar industrial Karee Rowell,Deputy Clerk Kathy Grover,Bookkeeper project. On the west side of 101, Quale Avenue and 62nd Street will be Brad Belair,Public Works Supervisor reconstructed to address safety and erosion problems. This project is Tim Rochel,Building Official long overdue. These projects are funded by a combination of developer, PLANNING ZONING Nichols,Chair Meets 1S'&aro Mon.,7:00 p.m.* cit and assessment funding. The most noticeable project this year will Richard Y� P .) Pam Black,Vice Chair be the beginning of a two year project where 101 will be constructed to Tom Darkenwald become a freeway. The 101 project is a state project and funding is Tammie Fallon Doug Hackman provided by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. Jim Kolles Summer in Otsego is a wonderful time. Everyone have a wonderful David Thompson summer and let's make it our safest ever. Troy Watring, 1St alternate John Thelen,2nd alternate .M u+he Y. .gi PARKS&RECREATION-Meets 2nd Wed.,7:00 p.m.* ! Ili �" 11 "'moo i Aaron Stritesky,Chair �` i�IR� Mike Brumm,Vice Chair 1 = III. „ rl -rm0 111��1E111 Beaud Park 1II� Rose Cassadyry ~1ii =rt Virginia Goughnour,Secretary �. ap Russ Langer '. ;0.:r.«rr �T-. ` W �r�a I 11.9t Kathryn Roberts N Peter Torresani �� 41- �" � •I iii HERITAGE PRESERVATION-Meets 4th Thurs.,7:00 p.m.* II li Kittridge Park s �. �. i r- Ron Black,Chair �. '_ Lilia Rousselet k II I �■ , ENE , Isobel Stander $ S y Sill wird ��►/��� Jon Stander _ Ilia !� '..sr..a'f nes? 'tel X17 Chris Wilson °LI fp,gi �.. or Zimmer Park ' mufti POLICE COMMISSION-Meets 2nd Tues.,6:30 p.m.* %OTSEGO •Ft,. / D Thomas Carter,Chair 111110 1 'IP". � � ■ M THE GREAT AMER.;GAi: Sandra Michaelson 1q�gl�` 'I 1 mi lIE _ ■ Edgar Pearsall l / �� r G 1'I Fpdk I N IF j 7 1 t Cherisse Rushmeier E ,, i 7l� *� Jeff Stimac ' "� -t•:•' ' Jane Theisen,Vice Chair ` Joel Torkelson *All meetings are open to the public.Call City Hall to confirm New Otsego Parks Under Construction times if you plan to attend.Agendas and minutes are available on the city's web site. Electric utility upgrades along Co. Rd 39 �T EGO \,TII \\,T Elk River Municipal Utilities has added a bay to the electrical substation in Otsego and upgraded its � distribution lines,placing them underground along CSHA 39 Wow The Otsego View is Otsego's bi-monthly newsletter. from the substation eastward, to better serve the growing ."` Jacquie be ,Editor demand in Otsego accordingto Brian Adams of Elk River Correspondence should be sent to Otsego City Hall. g Contains 50%recycled pre-consumer materials. Municipal Utilities. ,.A.A-i 0 1965 flood cleanup action drags on Historical By Jacquie Rognli Record Mississippi River flood levels first loads were carried away by theighligiTts of 29 feet on April 15, 1965 flooded swift current,bulldozers were used on Highway 101 (now Parrish Avenue)in both sides and the current was finally Otsego,destroying homes on the controlled and dammed, so that a basements and clear some debris that peninsula and cutting off transportation roadway could be built. might become infested with rats. between Elk River and Otsego Township. ...[H]undreds of spectators crossed The flooded residents of Otsego— The river had re-routed itself,cutting a the Mississippi bridge on foot to view referred to in newspaper accounts as channel right across the peninsula and the channel fill and inspect the damage to the "flooded area south of the bridge" created a gap in the highway at least 100 homes in the area.One spectator from or"Ebnerville" met with state feet wide and up to 20 feet deep. the Meadowvale area remarked, `It is representatives and the Army - Crossing the river meant driving to just like county fair time' as she met so Engineers to come up with a solution either Anoka or Monticello,at least a 50 many old friends in the flooded area." to prevent future flooding of the area. mile round trip. Students in Otsego had to Elk River merchants and businesses A six-week survey was finally meet their buses at least 40 minutes early had felt the sting of the highway being completed in July. The and return 40 minutes late each day. closed for over three weeks and took recommendation was not to prevent The Army Corps of Engineers and out a cooperative two-page flooding, but to prevent further the Minnesota Highway Department advertisement to"Welcome 101 erosion that would cut a permanent worked to find a solution, entertaining Friends"with special bargains and gifts. channel across the Otsego peninsula. suggestions of installing culverts, a At the end of June 1965, Otsego This would be accomplished in a pontoon bridge or filling in the gap. Township was finally authorized by $500,000 project to build a couple of Water had finally receded enough by the Office of Emergency Planning to rock diversion dams to encourage the early May so that they were able to do spend up to $9200 to make health and current to use the west channel which a rush job of filling and building a safety repairs in the area as deemed was considered the main channel for temporary roadway. necessary by the public health and many years. The project would An article in The Sherburne County sanitation engineers. They were to fill include a levee 10 feet wide at the top Star News,May 6, 1965 said"Trucks large water-filled holes with dirt, and approximately 58 feet wide at the were engaged and arrangements made support the corners of some homes bottom and four feet higher than the to haul sand from the Peavey farm,west where foundations had washed away 1965 crest. There would be a detailed of the bridge,and from a point near Don to prevent possible collapse and four month study in 1966 with work Henderson's farm east of town.The bodily injury and place snow fencing beginning shortly after completion of trucks were sent to the channel from around foundations to prevent the study. w.... both north and south and although the children from falling into water-filled j + t1 4' This April 1965 photo is looking north on Highway 101 (now Parrish Avenue) . " _ -- towards the bridge crossing M to Elk River.The 100-foot 4,0 4 .. .64 . " 4 - i, il., wide channel was ra impassable for over three ` ♦ weeks before engineers + "' .�- -•..r.,.., were able to fill in with dirt u6 p ,,„ t r C i t as 4 ,may, ' ? and 4 build a temporary road. illka �;U Ice jams had blocked the : . -. main channel just upriver •w , t. . lli :-� � '' from the bridge,causing the i: ,-, . Mississippi River to crest at •... aila record 29 feet and re , , ,. ': ' , 1 route itself,cutting a new .. ••- -' ` *.. channel across the Otsego A , peninsula Photo provided :, .. by Kenny Shierts ,, AK CD • Park shelters can be reserved Otsego Prairie Park, located just west of City Hall, offers many amenities for outdoor recreation, including a large picnic shelter able to hold 30 to 40 people. A wall was added to the e ` west side this spring to block strong winds. The _ >;¢'` pavilion can be rented for$10.00 per time slot, I"x -'r. ' �'• rim 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. 4 Permits may be made by returning an application to City Hall. Applications can be : . obtained at or faxed by City Hall, orIA , downloaded from the city's web site. Complete ` ' ll applications must be received by noon of the t - _`. - Wednesday before use. There are no refunds for -"4 cancellation less than a month before use or V V . , V Po", w:`,r ." because of inclement weather. - Otsego County Park, located on the Mississippi River in northeastern Otsego, also 4, Iii.4., has three reservable shelters. The park is run by _ r had The large shelter in Prairie Park haa wall added help block wind from the the Wright County Park Department. west side.The shelter will hold 30 to 40 people and can be rented using the Reservations can be made online from their reservation form on the city's web site and paying$10.00 at City Hall. website: http://www.co.wright.mn.us/ department/parks or by calling 763-682-7693. Clear address display ,ft Recreational important in emergencies s motor vehiele All buildings in Otsego are required to display their ��, i0 use regulated correct address in numerals at least four inches high in a a �� color contrasting with the background and clearly visible -tit Trail bikes, all-terrain from the street.If the building is obscured,two-inch P-' vehicles, hover-craft or motor reflective numerals must be clearly visible on the '-' vehicles being used for off- r-- mailbox.If there is no mailbox,the four-inch numerals road recreational purposes are must be clearly visible from the street on another only allowed to operate on private property with the permanent mounting. Rescue personnel need to be able owner's written permission in Otsego, not on streets or in to easily locate addresses in emergencies. city ditches. A proper muffler or other device which , . effectively prevents loud or explosive noises is required. It A is unlawful to willfully make loud noise which annoys or disturbs others or affects the peace and quiet of any neighborhood. 4'1, 1234 Call before you dig Residents are reminded that if you have a project that requires digging deeper than one foot,you are required by Contrasting color law to call Gopher State One Call(GSOC).A phone call to 1-800-252-1166 will get all underground r utilities marked free of charge within two days. SE�1 �/ �. New this year,a request to locate can be R R A ��>'��/" // applied for online at the GSOC website: - ON-THEGREAi IVER o o �i�/�i./J www.gopherstateonecall.org. Volunteers are needed to help at the Otsego Festival on September 16, 2006 as well as to help with the planning , process. Contact Rose Cassady 763-441-8769 to help. Planning Meetings are scheduled for June 20,July 18, August 16,August 19 and September 6.