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Winter The rq' ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD Vol. 15 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2004 Newsletter of the City of Otsego Snowmobiling restricted 41 a Otsego's snowmobile ordinance has been revised to prohibit snowmobiling in - :_ . �•-~, the eastern part of the city except on the private property of the owner or with ....., - „,,, written permission of the property owner. No snowmobiling is allowed in the area from Nashua Avenue east to the Mississippi River and 70th Street north to - i the Mississippi River, including the right of way on both sides of those streets. The rest of the city retains the regulations set forth by the state of Minnesota. Snowmobiles in the eastern part of There is no trespassing allowed on private property. Otsego will need to be hauled somewhere If operating in the restricted area with permission of the property owner,the else if operators want to ride anywhere maximum speed is 10 miles per hour.Snowmobiling is prohibited from 11:00 p.m.to except on their own private property or with 8:00 a.m. Sunday to Thursday and from 1:00 a.m.to 8:00 a.m.on other days. the property owner's written permission. Property owners can not put obstacles in the way of Snowmobile club needed for trails snowmobiles, as they can be a The Otsego Great River Riders Snowmobile Club is no longer meeting because serious danger to snowmobiles and of a lack of interest in leadership. The volunteer club had been maintaining 16 motorists. miles of trails in the city. Trail 8A, along Co. Rd. 37, is no longer in existence Snowmobilers violating the without the club. ordinance should be reported to Volunteers from the Foxtailers Snowmobile Club are maintaining the only Otsego's law enforcement agency, remaining trail(Trail 8) in Otsego. According to club president John Patnode, the Wright County Sheriff at 763- volunteers have already put in many hours putting up signs and a culvert in 682-1162. preparation for the sledding season. The club also maintains miles of trails in St. Otsego's ordinances can be Michael, Hanover and west to Pelican Lake. Trails are the result of collaboration viewed on the city website: between property owners and club volunteers. Patnode urges Otsego snowmobilers www.ci.Otsego.mn.us. A copy of to work on getting an active club if they want to have trails in their city. the full ordinance is also available The Foxtailers meet the second Monday of the month, 7:00 p.m. at the St. at City Hall. .w Michael American Legion. Contact John Patnode, 763-497-4335.wv City ready for snow plowing season Otsego's snow removal policy is to begin plowing when the snow stops falling in snowfalls of two or ,• r•",.* more inches. The most heavily used streets are '� f' r"", .' plowed first. On all streets,the plows will make an initial pass to open the road for traffic,then return . `, ►, . :,� later to clean upthe shoulders, intersections and cul- r f° - de-sacs. Please be patient. All streets will be cleared i and problems responded to as soon as possible. The city parking ordinance prohibits parking # • s. I on city streets between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. - . MK between November and April on any day of the Mr" 4...._ Ai ' -::-":77 .---,----- week or after a snowfall of 2.5 inches or more until after the street has been plowed from curb- to-curb or ditch-to-ditch. Residents can not push snow across city streets or deposit it on roadways. City plows await snowfall. 1 City of Otsego 8899 Nashua Avenue NE Otsego, MN 55330 (763)441-4414 Year in review ,: ,1 .ALA ,. ; ;. ;� �, > , .J . e Building Dept.:(763)-441-2593 As we approach the end of another year, and as I Fax(763) i.Otse o. look back,I NOTES Email:cityhall@ci.Otsego.mn.ussee that many good things have happened Web Site:www.ci.Otsego.mn.us in our city this past year. The Minnesota Department of OFFICE HOURS Transportation(MnDOT)approached the city with from the Monday through Thursday plans to turn Highway 101 into a freeway in 2006. The MAYOR 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. City Council worked with MnDOT to create a plan Fridays 8:00 a.m.to noon which will work for a through freeway and will meet the needs of our business and residential communities. milmm CITY COUNCIL We are now waiting for the final plans from them for by Mayor Larry Fournier Mayor our review and approval. Ground was broken in early �`�� = Larry Fournier summer for a 120-room HolidayInn hotel and indoor water park. There is a lot of interest Council Members Vern Heidner in this project which will be completed early next summer. The Otsego Festival was held Dan Scharber in September and was a huge success,bringing us together as a community and creating a Jerry Struthers lot of pride in our city. Virginia Wendel In November,the city elections where held and I want to thank all of you for your CITY STAFF wonderful support in my re-election as mayor. I will continue to do my best in keeping Mike Robertson,City Administrator Otsego a great place to live.As always,your suggestions and comments are welcome and Judy Hudson,City Clerk/zoning Administrator appreciated. With the holiday season here,I wish everyone a blessed and happy season Karee Rowell,Deputy Clerk this year. Let's make it our safest ever. ,-,,,-, Kathy Grover, Bookkeeper Brad Belair,Public Works Contacted professional staff: City Attorney Andrew Supervisor MacArthur of Couri, MacArthur & Ruppe, PLLP Tim Rochel, BuildingOfficial PLANNING&ZONING Couri, MacArthur&Ruppe, PLLP has Richard Nichols,Chair represented the city of Otsego since its Pam Black,Vice Chair incorporation in 1990 as well as Otsego Tammie Fallon Townshipduringthe 1980s. The firm consists Doug Hackman Jim Kolles of five attorneys with 90%of its work Steve Schuck municipally related.Andrew(Andy)MacArthur' (NI David Thompson has worked with Otsego since 1988. s Tom Darkenwald, 1S'alternate ,Said MacArthur,"I have very much enjoyed Troy watring, alternate watching Otsego evolve from a townshipto a PARKS&RECREATION g g Pauline Nelson,Chair city.I believe that the City Council and city staff ,- Mike Brumm have evolved into an efficient organization to Rose Cassady deal with the numerous issues facing the city. Terry Long What I reallylike about Otsego is that even with Kathryn Roberts,Alternate g Jessica Stockamp,Vice Chair all of the progress,the Council and staff have not Aaron Stritesky,Alternate lost the idea of paying attention to individual . MS Mark Thorstad citizens.I think when somebody shows up at a Peter Torresani Council or staff meeting to raise an issue with HERITAGE PRESERVATION Ron Black,Chair the city,they are listened to,respected and are City Attorney Andrew MacArthur Sharon Carter,Vice Chair given a straight answer one way or another.I Debbie Carron think it is very important that the residents of the city feel as though things are fairly explained Jeannine S.Christensen to them and that somebody listens and they are treated fairly." Joy Swenson Chris WilsonCouri, MacArthur&Ruppe, PLLP acts as the Civil CityAttorne for Otsego and is POLICE COMMISSION responsible for ordinance enforcement as well as providing ongoing legal advice related Sandra Michaelson,Chair to employment,planning and zoning, contracts,real estate transactions, condemnation Jane M.Bartheld,Secretary and general advise. MacArthur is usually present at all City Council meetings and Thomas Carter,Vice Chair frequently at staff and other meetings. Porn erwiz Philip LarsonThe firm has recently established the newly adopted Civil Enforcement Ordinance, Alvin McClure worked on acquisition of property and easements, and condemnation when necessary for Rudy Thibodeau Otsego's recently constructed sanitary sewer,water and storm drainage systems, and worked with developers on agreements for all of the plats approved in recent years. They ` � have also worked to acquire property for the pending upgrade to freeway status of . I�MEW l Highway 101 and with cooperative agreements with other surrounding cities. The firm has litigated various civil actions, including cases involving feedlots and city franchise The Otsego View is a bi-monthly issues and worked on special legislation on behalf of Otsego. The firm works on a day to newsletter for the city of Otsego. day basis with city staff. Jacquie Rognli,Editor Correspondence should be sent to Currently this firm is working on a Developer's Agreement for the recently approved Otsego City Hall. Waterfront East,potential acquisition of property for future maintenance facilities and ••fir Contains 50%recycled pre- various land acquisitions and condemnations.‘........ CD Tllstorical v��_._______ [ljghlights $ - _ t i z ilv . , First Otsego City Council elected in 1990 On November 6, 1990, elections were held fort - Otsego's first city council. The State Municipal �" Board had just proclaimed on September 21, 1990 that Otsego would be Minnesota's 885th city. The newly elected Otsego City Council was sworn in on '. November 15, 1990: Mayor Norman Freske and councilmembers Ron Black, Larry Fournier, Douglas Lindenfelser and Floyd Roden. Otsego had existed as a Wright County Township Otsego's first City Council elected in 1990:Ron Black,Larry Foumier, since Minnesota became a state in 1858. Prior to the Floyd Roden,Mayor Norman Freske,and Douglas Lindenfeiser. 1990 election,the township was governed by three elected township supervisors: Freske, Lindenfelser and Roden. The Wright County Board of Commissioners provided approval on zoning, platting and building inspections. Before the oaths were administered, State Senator Betty Adkins presented plaques to the outgoing Town Board members and special recognition was given to Jerome Perrault for his 43 years of service as Otsego Town Clerk. Adkins had worked with Perrault with Perrault as Otsego's Deputy Clerk.. 2004 elections run smoothly a, The November 2, 2004 election was a record breaker ' for Otsego. There were 5,213 residents who voted including 1,301 newly registered voters. s Voters lined up early before the polls opened,but the rest ,,:. u.. of the day voters were able to get in and out without a wait. '' A t t si Head election judge Judy Hudson commends all of the rw election judges and expressed the City Council's appreciation for their service. Larry Fournier will return for his third term as mayor of Voters lined up early for the November 2 general election. Otsego. Mark Thorsted and Jessica Stockamp are Otsego's new city council members.w./ CORNER Lily Pond Park open for play l 40) Construction is complete on Lily Pond f ay Park located at the northwest corner of 1 ; `� imp1 Kadler Avenue and 101s` Street I .fit• �� r � ` ' � � � IJ �""r °°. ' The five-acre neighborhood park includes a tennis court, full basketball court, walking trails, a shelter,picnic tables, grills,benches a and a variety of play equipment designed for diverse ages. There is a paved walking trail around the park that passes through a grove of ... pine trees and a small parking lot. Funding for the $345,500 park was provided entirely by park fees charged to developers.w., The new Lily Pond Park includes play areas for varying age levels of children. O MarketPlace West Businesses offer body care 100 101,, _ , Turbo Nails Licensed manicurist and store manager Kim 1 N tu. A Duong works on a manicure for a client, Becky 1 -moi A DeMars, at Turbo Nails. Turbo Nails opened in July #' an . j A 2003 providing manicures and pedicures as well as It ,/ nail related products. The nail salon offers acrylic, r, _ - gel, and ping and way nails. Walk-ins are welcome t- ` and Duong says they always keep appointments. w„s Business is busy as clients prepare for special -`' Ill t ' occasions during the holiday season. Gift certificates are also available. Turbo Nails is open Monday to Friday 10-7:30 and Saturday 10-6:00. It is located in Suite 101 in the Market Place West mall. 763-441- 6409. / ilf SunCity Tan & Essentials i iMark and Nancy Larson own and operate Sun �: City Tan& Essentials offering tanning services and -____ related products. Sun City has eight tanning beds as well as a stand up unit. A variety of packages are available for multiple visits. The Larsons are committed to providing customers with a clean relaxed tanning environment. Skin health and safety is a priority. The winter months are popular for tanning and with clients preparing for vacations. SunCity Tan is open Monday to Thursday 10-9:00, 11 • Friday and Saturday 9-5:00 and Sunday 10-3:00. It is located in Suite 108 in the Market Place West mall. 763-633-1290. PUBLIC SAFETY BITS - City website full of info Visit Otsego's website at: www.ci.otsego.mn.us for Addresses must be displayed agendas and minutes, copies of city ordinances, Otsego has an ordinance requiring all buildings to maps, back issues of The Otsego View and clearly display street addresses. This helps emergency helpful links of interest to residents. personnel locate them in urgent situations. NumeralsNIP- must be at least four inches high in a color contrasting with the building and clearly visible from the nearest CITY MEETINGS street. If view of the building is obstructed, there must be numerals on the mailbox at least two inches high of MEETING DAYS TIME light reflective material in a contrasting color. City Council 2nd&4th Mon. 6:30 pm Stay Back. Stay Alive Planning&Zoning 1st&3rd Mon. 7:00 pm Observe caution when snow plows are working. Stay Police Commission 2nd Tues. 7:00 pm at least eight seconds or 50 feet behind plows. Allow Parks&Recreation 2nd Wed. 7:00 pm plenty of room when passing a snowplow. Keep small Heritage Preservation 4th Thurs. 7:00 pm children inside when snow removal equipment is •Submit City Council agenda items seven working days prior to meetings. operating in your neighborhood. •To be placed on the Planning Commission agenda,submit completed Clear snow forms&information 15 working days prior to meetings. Shovel out the fire fire hydrant near your home for •All meetings are open to the public.Please call City Hall to confirm times if you plan to attend. public safety. Clear snow from around mailboxes for •Agendas and minutes are available on the city's web site: carriers. They will not deliver mail if the box is www.ci.otsego.mn.us. inaccessible. The It ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD "W vol. 15 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2004 Newsletter of the City of Otsego -..00011111iistwi i TM or /11 * • al '''` / stretched to a full month ` The Otsego City Council has decided to try something new { i • this year for Otsego's popular annual clean up day. Instead of I just one day,there will be Otsego Clean-up Month for all of SP1 1� May 2004. . Details are still being worked out,but the preliminary plan is that Otsego residents will be able to haul one load of junk to 1 III the Elk River Landfill on Highway 169 at their convenience during the entire month of May. Because the landfill is open six days a week,residents will have many times to choose from to drop off their junk. They will need to unload their own trash. Residents will need to obtain a voucher from City Hall to ' .11110111present at the landfill. It is expected that vouchers will be available starting in mid-April. Proof of residency will be required. Only one voucher will be issued per household. ` No liquids or hazardous waste will be accepted, but yard _ I ' wastewill be. Prices for appliances,tires and other items still need to be finalized. Watch for more information in the next issue of The Otsego View, in MAY 2404 u ,, upcoming editions of the Star News or a on the Otsego city website: j�► ,/ www.ci.Otsego.mn.us. ���^ •r West side sewer and water under construction Otsego's new west side water tower can be seen from million for the sewer plant. Both projects are funded 100% 194 where it is under construction on 70th Street between through user fees on new development. Kadler Avenue and County Road 19. The capacity of the The water tower will be online in late summer and the new water tower is one million gallons. The new 600,000 sewer plant in late fall. Sewage will initially be trucked gallon-per-day capacity waste water treatment plant is to the east Otsego sewer plant until the west plant opens. being constructed just east of the water tower. The well The initial area served is south of 80th Street and west of a house is located east of County Road 19. line 1/2 mile east of the Albertville border, running to a line The cost of the water system is $1.2 million and$6.4 '/2 mile west of the Albertville border. ...—... l i City of Otsego 8899 Nashua Avenue NE Otsego,MN 55330 (763)441-4414 Fax lli. ' , Email:ctyhall@cOt ego.mn.us State of Our City 2004 , dd Web Site:www.ci.Otsego.mn.us The state of our city is very good. As the state of NOTES OFFICE HOURS Monday through Thursday Minnesota continues to balance its budget by reducing 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. and eliminating state aid to city governments, it is a real Closed Fridays challenge to provide funding for all our needs and not from the CITY COUNCIL Nt AY O Mayor to raise city taxes. Our 2004 budget balances revenues Larry Fournier against expenditures, and is the product of the work of Council Members the City Council and city staff that began in July 2003. milmisi Vern Heidner by Mayor Larry Fournier Dan Scharber The budget has expected revenues of$1,757,332 and Jerry Struthers projected expenditures of$1,757,332. Virginia Wendel Though the state budget situation and continuously changing tax laws provide CITY STAFF Mike Robertson,City Administrator challenges,the city of Otsego is committed to providing services to city residents and Judy Hudson,City Clerk/Zoning property owners in the most cost effective manner it can. This budget meets these goals. Administrator Karee Rowell,Deputy Clerk Clean-up Day is changing! Dave Chase,Maintenance This year the City Council has decided to try something new for our spring clean up Supervisor event. In the past clean up day was the first Saturday in May. This year we will have Tim Rochel,Building Official Kathy Grover,Bookkeeper Clean-up Day for the whole month of May. It will work like this: Each resident of Otsego Rick Knutson,Maintenance will receive a voucher from City Hall which will entitle them to take one load of trash to Sandy Lindenfelser,Secretary the Elk River Landfill located on Highway 169. You will have the choice of going to the Bari Williams,ReReceptceptionist landfill at a time that will best fityour schedule. The landfill is open six days a week so Barb Receptionist P Y Don Mass,Maintenance you will have many times to pick from. This new clean up procedure will be done this Kenny Shierts,Maintenance year on a trial basis to see how well it goes. If it goes well and people like it,the City PLANNING&ZONING Richard Nichols,Chair Council may decided to keep this process for our annual clean up event. Let me know Pam Black what you think. ,.A.-, Ken Fry Jim Kolles Contracted Professional Staff: Kurt Neidermeier, PeopleService, Inc. Steve Schuck,Vice Chair ..-- ( ' Carl Swenson David Thompson �'• Doug Hackman,1st alternate Tammie Fallon,2nd alternate PARKS&RECREATION � ��. ,, Pauline Nelson,Chair Mike Brumm - s_ -__-_I la Rose Cassady t 1 Terry Long • � ;' —261141 Kathryn Roberts,Alternate ` ` _ Jessica Stockamp,Vice Chair " - t " Aaron Stritesky,Alternate Mark Thorstad ,r, 1 • t jg` Peter Torresani " ' 4 !` ` ` ` i HERITAGE PRESERVATION ':". ' ," Ron Black,Chair • ` L`., ,°, ti Sharon Carter,Vice Chair Jeannine S.Christensen K.Joel Coles ..� _. r-2--------- ...., Jean Schneider,Secretary Joy Swenson4. - = - Chris Wilson .a POLICE COMMISSION . Jane M Michaelson,Chaircre a Kurt Neidermeier, of the of water and wastewaterprofessional groupPeopleService Jane M.Bartheld,Secretary P Thomas Carter Inc., manages Otsego's city sewer and water system. He has a Bachelor of Science in Kathie Davis biology from St Cloud State University, an Associate degree from St. Cloud Technical Tom Koerwitz Alvin McClure College and holds a water and wastewater operators license. Rudy Thibodeau,Vice Chair Neidermeier started with Otsego when the city's first wastewater treatment plant mmosommin initially opened in 2000 with a 200,000 gallon-per-day capacity. Phase 2 of the OT GO VIEW treatment plant went into service in July 2003 with double that capacity. The plant was recently upgraded with added equipment for preliminary treatment for grit and The Otsego View is the community removalscreenings l andagravitybelt thickeningbuildingto take out more water newsletter for the city of Otsego. Jacquie Rognli,Editor and decrease the size of the bio-solid remains. Neidermeier lives in Albertville and Cgrespondence should be sent to is in communication 24 hours a day to computerized monitoring systems for the Otsego City Hall. t wase treatmentplant, the citywells, water tower and distribution system.�'� Contains 50%recycled pre- 5' consumer materials. (2) Winter chores without indoor plumbing I S 0 ri Ca The following account is excerpted from Life at the Brick ighlights House: 1911-1931, Edith(Kiichli)Kluge's reflections of her childhood on a farm in Otsego during the early 20th century. This little book is published by the Otsego Heritage Preservation Commission and available for sale at City Hall. "Monday was 'wash day.' In summer we washed in Laundry was hung on it and put on the porch to freeze- the shed next to the dining room. In winter the kitchen dry. After a few hours it was brought in and thawed out was used. The water was heated in a large copper boiler near the stove." on the kitchen range or the low oil burner stove in the "Saturday was also bath day. In summer we used the shed. Bar soap, cut into small thin pieces, was put in the shed where we did laundry. A grey metal wash tub was boiler to melt as the water heated. Then the soapy water our bath tub. In winter we used the kitchen or dining was put in the hand-powered washing machine with a room beside a stove. The tub was filled with hot water huge dipper. ... Some of the wash had to be soaked and from the teakettle or reservoir on the stove. In winter the sometimes boiled a while in strong soap and lye. Very stoves were stoked up; sometimes to a cherry red. We dirty pieces were also rubbed on the wash board ... A rotated like marshmallows; the side by the wall with hand cranked wringer was hooked onto the tub. The `goose bumps' from the cold, sometimes almost clothes went between two rollers which squeezed the singeing our butts when we lingered too long near the water out. Everything was rinsed twice;the last tub had stove. We dried ourselves in a hurry, sometimes shocked `blueing' added to help whiten sheets,towels, etc. ... In by the ice cold linoleum if we stepped off the rug. We the winter we hung much of the laundry upstairs in the never had a bathroom while I lived in the brick attic on lines strung back and forth across the room. We house." also had a tall wooden clothes rack made of dowels. CORNER Volunteer wanted to take water Easter Egg Hunt planned samples _ Children are invited for an Easter Egg The Wright Soil and Water District —e Hunt Saturday, April 3, 11:00 a.m. at , ( (SWCD) is looking for a volunteer for ----� " Otsego Prairie Park next to City Hall. .. c\t water sampling on Otsego Creek. This biemiliddi The Easter Bunny will also be available sampling would take place in Otsego for photographic portraits that can be and involve taking a sample about once a week or after purchased. There is no charge for the hunt. Check rain storm events. gio the Star News for details closer to the date. Those interested in volunteering should contact Kerry %Ant AOA open Saxton or Colleen Allen at SWCD 763-682-1933, The Prairie Park ice rink and extension 3. More information on the SWCD is warming house just south of City ''' available on the website: Hall is open Monday to Friday http://www.mn.nres.usda.gov/partnerships/wright evenings and weekends as weather `'`rte • permits. The warming house is CITY MEETINGS staffed as well. MEETING DAYS TIME Commission work City Council 2nd&4th Mon. 6:30 pm The Park and Recreation Commission is working on Planning&Zoning 1st&3rd Mon. 7:00 pm the possibility of providing residents with local Police Commission 2nd Tues. 7:30 pm recreation at School Knoll Park and Prairie Park this Parks&Recreation 2nd Wed. 7:00 pm summer as well as doing planning for the new Lily Heritage Preservation 4th Thurs. 6:30 pm Pond Park. •Submit City Council agenda items seven working days prior to meetings. •To be placed on the Planning Commission agenda,submit completed Paths for pedestrians and bikes only 1 forms&information 15 working days prior to meetings. i The Commission would like to remind •Official meeting notices are published in the Elk River Star News and residents that motor vehicles are notposted at City Hall. •All meeting are open to the public.Please call City Hall to confirm times if allowed on the walking/bike paths. you plan to attend. 0 2004 EXPENDITURES SUMMARY City budget set General Government $678.633 for 2004 The 2004 city budget has been set by the Otsego City Council. Projected Commu revenues are $1 757 332 balanced with 346.666 E ,,,,..,,,,�`� >\\\,\ \.•, • • :•::•:•••:-:•:•:••• • • • • • , y��WWWJJv JJJJJJJJJJJv+"b `'`'`'`'`'`^`` "`^ ' projected expenditures of$1,757,332. `>g ' `C Public Safety :J$ Expenditures are summarized in the �.�.�.�. �.�.t.�.. . . . . . . . 'viii/l sVR�•.'.'.'.' '. chart at left in the following categories: ��������✓�������, " " " " " " " " General Government—Mayor and vv✓✓z,4,!�.;,� i.,t0,.t Council, administration, elections, finance, assessing, legal, Planning Commission, planner, EDA, and City Hall. Public Safety—Police, Police Commission. 200312004 BUDGET EXPENDITURE COMPARISON Public Works—Engineering, street $6 ; ; lighting, street maintenance, and $577,849 animal control. $x97,9' Communi Services—Clean-up fY Da Y, park maintenance, recreation services and Heritage Preservation. $389,060$399,183 City revenues are obtained from property taxes (projected to be $1,673,967), special assessments, licenses and permits, charges for services, interest on investments and state aid($108,170). The state budget situation and $59,671 $46,666 changing tax laws present challenges to the city which strives to continue to (' provide services in the most economical General Public Safety Public Works Community way it can. Government Services Copies of the complete city budget can II 2003 0 2004 be viewed at City Hall during regular business hours. PUBLIC SAFETY BITS Winter road conditions should be a warning sign for all to be extra cautious on our city streets. Citizens should be careful when crossing city and county roads, especially when snow banks are blocking the view of pedestrians and drivers. Drivers are reminded that it is illegal to pass cars on the shoulder. Left-turning cars can only be passed on the right side when a passing lane is provided. Snowmobilers are reminded that they are not to ride on private property without the owner's permission and must not operate closer than 300 feet from any residential area except in coming and going from a residence to a designated trail on the most direct route at a maximum speed of 10 miles per hour. Residents can help by keeping snow clear from hydrants so they are accessible in an emergency. Review safety rules with children to follow as they wait for and board the school bus: Will Wait at least three giant steps back from the curb. Ri If you drop something,near the bus, don't pick it up Wait for the bus to stop completely before until you tell the driver. approaching. Rd Make sure nothing sticks out from you, your clothes Always stay in the sight of the driver. or backpack that might get caught on the bus.