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Spring i The SrlaidqoaFASSATIENV. ON THE GREAT RIVER ROA Vol. 14 MARCH/APRIL 2003 Newsletter of the City of Otsego N Free well water testing % o tse g offered May 12-15 Otsego area homeowners who get J. Clean-up fi' their water from private wells can have their water tested for nitrate contamination at no cost thanks to a el, Day cooperative effort by the city of Otsego,the Minnesota Department Saturday, Mayof Agriculture (MDA), University of 3� 2003 Minnesota Extension Service and the Minnesota 8 a.m. to I p.m. Department of Health's Well Management Unit. Water samples can be brought to City Hall May 12 Old Otsego City Hall to 15,2003 during business hours, 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. 13474 NE 95th Street (Co. Rd. 39) Results are usually available in less than 10 minutes. Scrap metal No Charge To collect your sample: (Tires MUST be removed from all bicycles.) 1. Use a permanent marker to put your name on any Vehicle batteries No Charge type of plastic bag. A clean jar may also be used. Used motor oil No Charge 2. Run the water for five minutes before taking the Assorted refuse No Charge sample. Residential Appliances $13 each 3. Collect the water in the bag. Only V2 cup of water (No RV or commercial appliances.) is needed. Do this within 24 hours of arriving and Residential air conditioners $25 each keep it refrigerated until you leave home. The CPUs/Monitors/Printers $10 each water sample should be cool upon arrival. Box Springs/Mattresses $10 each If you have water treatment equipment(other than a Other upholstery and items with springs $5 each softener) it is recommended to take a sample before Tires and after your treatment equipment to determine if Average car tires $2 each your system is working properly. Nitrates are the most common contaminants in Light truck tires $3 each Minnesota's groundwater, and a significant number of Large truck tires $7 each the state's wells have high nitrate levels. Major Tractor tires $25 and up sources of nitrate contamination can be from One pickup size load per household. fertilizers, animal waste, and human sewage. The MDA recommends testing your drinking water supply Not Accepted: Hazardous waste (i.e. paint, on an annual basis. solvents, chemicals), brush, construction Elevated levels of nitrates in drinking water can materials, household garbage, curbside recycling cause infants to suffocate due to materials, RV appliances, bicycles with tires. "blue baby syndrome." The Bring proof of Otsego residency. National Cancer Institute suggests a We need volunteers! link between elevated levels of nitrate in drinking water and an Volunteers are needed to help unload and sort, Contact Otsego City Hall 763-441-4414 increased risk of non-Hodgkin's 1 lymphoma. City of Otsego 8899 Nashua Avenue NE Otsego,MN 55330 , , ,*,. , , 'm ,5;,• . Fax(763)441-8441-4414823 Serious Thoughts '' Email:cityhall@ci.Otsego.mn.us With the return of spring and warmer weather, I am NOTE S looking forward to a wonderful summer in Otsego. OFFICE HOURS Being out and enjoying the beauty of our city helps me from the Monday through Thursday 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. forget the seriousness of events which are taking place c:: R Closed Fridays in the world. Though one cannot be completely separated from world events, a short break feels good. CITY COUNCIL I do want to take this opportunity to express my by Mayor Fournier Mayor support for the men and women in uniform who are so y Larry Larry Fournier Council Members courageously serving our country in Iraq and the Middle Vern Heidner East. It is my deepest prayer that God will bless and protect them and bring them safely Dan Scharber home. May God continue to bless America. Jerry Struthers Virginia Wendel Just a reminder that Clean-up Day in Otsego is Saturday,May 3rd.I am looking forward to seeing all of you there as we work together cleaning up our community. CITY STAFF Mike Robertson,City Administrator $979,199 park project approved Judy Hudson,City Clerk/Zoning Administrator The Otsego City Council approved$979,199 for park development this summer. All of Darolve Olson, MaintenanceDepnte the moneywas raised throughpark dedication fees from new developments. The moneylerk Chase, P Supervisor will be used to construct School Knoll Park and make improvements to Prairie Park. Rick Knutson,Maintenance School Knoll Park is located by the city well adjacent to Otsego Elementary School. This Don Mass,Maintenance Maintenance neighborhoodpark will include tennis and basketball courts, two shelters,trails,picnic Kenny Shierts,Maintenance � Karee Rowell,Secretary facilities, and a small parking lot. It can also be accessed from the city bike trail. Kathy Grover,Bookkeeper Otsego Prairie Park is the large area park just west of City Hall. New development this Sandy Lindenfelser, Receptionist summer will include two additional playstructures designed for different ages of children, PLANNING&ZONING a parking lot with drop-off area by the park shelter, two additional ball fields,planting and Richard Nichols,Chair landscaping and a skate park. The skate park will be black top with ramps under three feet Ken Fry high,no attendant and no fees. cs Steve Schuck acquiredLily Land has also been for Pond Park at the intersection of Kadler Avenue and Carl Swenson 101' Street. Development of this five-acre neighbor park will probably take place in one to David Thompson two years. Christian Mbanefo Pam Black,alternate Owners are responsible for ' *- PARKS&RECREATION — Jeff Bartheld,Chair i Rose Cassady control of their dogs Vir:Akie Jim y Gaikowski Terry Long Dogs that are loose, destructive, barking at night, vicious or a Pauline Nelson nuisance are prohibited in Otsego. Jessica Thorstad Stockamp If residents encounter a nuisance dog,theyshould first speak to the Mark P Peter Torresani owner about the problem. If this does not improve the situation,the owner's name and HERITAGE PRESERVATION address are needed to report it to the Wright County Sheriff department(763-682-1162)or Ron Black,Chair City Hall who will contact animal control. If the owner is unknown, residents should try to Joy Swenson,Vice Chair Sharon Carter,Secretaryconfine the dogand have it picked up. Complaints are logged at CityHall and a warning Jeannine S.Christensen letter is sent to the owner after the first complaint. A citation will be issued for further K.Joel Coles violations.,-,-,-, Elaine Norin Jean Schneider DNR sets burning ban Chris Wilson No burning permits will be issued in Wright County due to high `���T fire danger since snowfalls were well below average this winter. ram! v VY According to Olin Phillips, DNR fire protection manager, 80 The Otsego View is the percent of all wildfires in Minnesota occur during April and May community newsletter for the city and most s rin wildfires ori inate from the burnin of and debris. of Otsego. P g g g YJacquie Rognli,Editortimiilli The DNR is asking residents to use alternative methods of debris Correspondence should be sent disposal, such as recycling, composting or chipping. The fire restrictions to Otsego City Hall. will be lifted when vegetationgreen-upoccurs and safe burningconditions prevail. Contains 50%recycled g pre-consumer materials. More information is available on the DNR Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire. 0 Early visitors 9 (Part 2 of a series on Otsego's native people) istorical By Jacquie Rognli ighlights John McDonald Senior was Otsego's and Wright County's first permanent white settler. According to D. R. Farnham's 1880 History of And the Winnebagoes loved her, Farewell,friendly Winnebagoes, Wright County,he worked as a Loved to come and watch her working, Farewell, honest old Horora, millwright in St.Anthony until in July Loved to come and watch her teaching. Farewell, trusting forest children. 1852 he and his wife went up the river Near the window of the new house Nevermore they'd tread the forests in a flat boat and"took a claim in Was a bank of earth and litter Where their fathers and grandfathers section 17,township 121,range 23, Piled breast high beneath the windows. Hunted deer and wolf and wildcat; where they now reside.No other Margaret busy with her children, Nevermore in stream and river settlers came for nearly a year;their Heard one day a smothered titter, Would they fish for pike and pickerel, visitors were the Winnebagoes, and Heard a sound of muffled laugh Nevermore trap mink and muskrat. they called very often during the first When she tweaked an ear convenient Never more bring friendly offering, two years." Of an urchin bent on mischief. Venison and nuts and berries Woman in the Wilderness, Lifting quick eyes, Margaret saw them, Nevermore sit by the fireside published by the Otsego Heritage Four young bucks prone on the sandbank Playing with the white papooses. Preservation Commission, is a poetic Four brown faces grinning at her, Margaret watched the three darkfigures, story of pioneer life in Otsego written Beady black eyes laughing at her. Silent, dark, upon their ponies by Myra Laura Snow based on family Every day they came and watched her, Till they vanished in the forest, legends passed to her by her mother, Lying prone upon the sand bank. Vanished in the snowy forest; Ada Maria(Cooley) Snow. The poems And she knew the song was ended— There they watched this slender white are about her grandmother, Margaret Knew that book was closed forever. (Faulkner)Cooley, Otsego's first squaw schoolteacher. The followingis an With her merry eyes and quick step, From the editor excerpt from thepoem: "This is the With her voice like rippling water, With her laugh like lilting bird note; Due to poor health, long time Song of the Winnebagoes." Watched her give the talking paper Heritage Preservation Commission Winnebagoes,friendly neighbors, To the little white papooses, member Elaine Norin has moved to Margaret's Minnesota neighbors, Watched her trace the magic symbols Park View Care Center in Buffalo. Early came with gifts of friendship On complaining slates, and listened Elaine has written Historical To the house above the river, To the children's shrill voices Highlights columns for The Otsego On the bluff along the river, Like the chatter of the squirrels, View since 1992, has been Came with gifts of nuts and berries; Like the jargon of the chipmunks, instrumental in the writing and Came with venison and wild fowl; Were the children's shrilling voices publication of several books on the Came with moccasins and beadwork. To the listening Winnebagoes. history of Otsego, and active on the Margaret greeted them politely, Heritage Preservation Commission Talked to them with signs and symbols, This poem goes on to tell stories of since its inception. Many people have the family's encounters with the met Elaine through her efforts to Learned a little of their language, Winnebagoes and friendships made. It g Smiled with them at their papooses, g p accumulate bits of our local history. I Joked with them when theyends with a regretful goodbye to their encourage you to stop by for a visit or were mer friends when they leave Otsego. dropher a note at Park View Care Helped in illness and in sorrow Center, 200 Park Lane, Room 413, Buffalo, MN 55313. Lions Club of Otsego 85th Street improvement Men and women interested in vlas' Construction will begin this summer on 85th Street forming a Lions Club of Otsego between Page and Nashua avenues. The hills west of are asked to call Lion Dick ©�3 Odean Avenue will be graded to improve sight lines Wendel at 763-497-2392. ?. r and curb, gutter and paved shoulders will be added. The project will also include the addition of a paved off-street bicycle trail. 0 y- More than corn _ * _ The 101 Market has been famous g!.::‘;* 101 1 among vacationers headed north as THE place to stop for deliciously fresh sweet ,- • Market corn. When the newly expanded 101 _, ' Market opens April 11`h, it will still be itio k' , - w . ittit: that, and more. Much more. i Julie and Ken Nathe's new 101 Market is located just a "A" .;,.......,-;k,"14 little southeast of the original location at Highway 101 and IA1 w• ,.ft '"'i `` .. County Road 39 where they are in their seventh year of 17 ` ' `" selling fresh produce and plants. The new facility will be a ...I.,. • fl TIN..--0•,-""‘ complete garden center with greenhouse, gardening supplies, , ; " t • • lawn decor, landscape plants and supplies. There will be a .44« gift department and fresh cut flowers and arrangements . }•, r " _ managed by Marilyn Nathe-Specht. The Nathes also plan to ,,,,,,..„..........4 + ,0,_ add staple groceries. — , .„ , voosiol''' Air z- 3,"-... ` ma °t, .44• -e' -; " Julie Nathe displays racks of seeds awaiting eager spring < . (*-'` gardeners at the new 101 Market. " ,,, • "` -iKen's brothers, Joe and Dave Nathe, will continue lir• to provide fresh locally grown produce from 4 - .- •+• - Riverside Farms. �,0 The greenhouse will be filled with hanging m -� • baskets,bedding plants, flats of vegetables and , ` herbs. Outside will be perennials, shrubs and trees. Julie and Ken want everyone to know that they still plan to maintain their well known reputation for ' ' � "-s'• * - good quality fresh sweet corn and produce t Q, V ( , competitively priced,but will be offering more c 1 J options for their customers . ° ,. 101 Market will be open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven The 101 Market greenhouse will be filled with bedding plants and days a week beginning April 11. The phone number hanging baskets when the store opens April 11. is 763-441-4487. Plan your planting Home improvements require Warm spring weather inspires many homeowners permits to add to their landscape. Although they may be anxious to plant, gardeners should take time to plan Deck construction and garden sheds are popular spring where they will place trees and shrubs. projects for handy homeowners that require obtaining a Plants are not allowed to block the vision of drivers building permit from City Hall. Permits are required for at a street intersection or from a driveway or alley to a decks. Outbuildings 120 square feet and larger also need a street. Rights-of-way should be kept clear of vegetation building permit. to provide the best traffic visibility and avoid Getting a building permit assures that projects will be interference with installation or maintenance of public completed to meet safety requirements and inspected by a infrastructure. If vegetation is placed within a right-of- qualified building inspector. way, it may be removed without compensation or Other common home improvement projects requiring a replacement if required for maintenance, a public permit are: basement finishing, re-roofing, fireplace improvement project, or to improve traffic visibility. inserts, swimming pools greater than 5000 gallons, Vegetation and the ground surface within a wetland plumbing,mechanical (furnace,gas lines), structural or ponding area should not be altered or disturbed. changes, window replacements that make a structural Wetlands are protected by special regulations. change, and electrical work. Be sure to check for overhead utilities and know Building permits can be obtained at City Hall. the mature size of the tree or shrub before planting. Electrical permits are issued by the state.Application Call Gopher State One Call(651-454-0002)before forms are available at City Hall. Call the city building digging. This is required by law and is free of charge. inspector for more information. ® The { 811111d45115 ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD NV. Vol. 14 MAY/JUNE 2003 Newsletter of the City of Otsego Summer road construction Otsego is doing two I E t major road i �_. improvements this ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD ,f � , !/ ,, summer. Page Avenue The second Otsego Festival is being planned for September between 85th Street 13th,2003, 10 a.m.to 6 p.m.at Otsego Prairie Park. The day 1 and County Road 39 will include entertainment,craft sales,food and fun. " `r,, M i t - and 85th Street Many of last year's popular attractions will return, ., -- between Page Avenue including the Teddy Bear Band and the Minnesota Raptor m and Nashua Avenue. Center demonstration. The children's parade with a red, = Both roads will be white and blue theme will kick off the festivities. ' , . reconstructed and ��� �: � New events added this year will be a Lil' Miss and Mr. widened to include Otsego pageant open to children age 6 to 8 living in Otsego paved shoulders and an as of Sept. 1, 2003. Deadline for registration is Aug. 1. off road bike lane. Also new this year is a talent contest with junior and Work began on Page senior categories. The planning group is seeking people to -1- -= ' — Avenue in mid-May.Y exhibit old tractors, cars and machinery as well as crafters The work on 85th Street and businesses wishing to have an exhibit. will start at the east end For Otsego Festival information or to volunteer, contact: at Page Avenue and move west. The pavement work should • Volunteers& exhibits-Rose Cassady 441-9188 be finished by September 1 and the re-seeding of boulevards • Lil' Miss&Mr. Otsego-Kandi Kath 458-6490 or should be finished by October 2003. Traffic tickets are Kandi.Kath@charter.net being issued for drivers that go around the barriers. • Car clubs, tractors etc.-Mark Thorsted 241-7344 These improvements are funded by a combination of • Children's parade-Kathy Bandy 241-0774 Minnesota State Aid(MSA)money, assessments, and • Talent contest-Kathy Roberts 295-5372 Otsego's capital improvement fund. • Festival planning meetings will be 7:00 p.m. July 8, 29,Aug. 12, 26, Sept. 4, 9. Communities across the country will unite on Tuesday, August 5, 2003, 7:00 to NATIONA L 10:00 p.m. for the 20th annual National Night Out(NNO)to promote police- - - - community partnerships, crime prevention, and neighborhood unity.Neighborhoods - ---—� in Otsego are invited to join by hosting a variety of special events, including block 111 Pill lap I I al il _'_III al parties, cookouts,parades, visits from police, festivals,neighborhood walks, safety .int � �- fairs, contests, rallies and meetings iY NE i National Night Out is sponsored by the National Association of Town Watch in partnership with the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. ifsk0Z , Department of Justice. It is designed to heighten crime, drug and violence prevention awareness, generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships, and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. While the one night is not an answer to crime, drugs and violence,NNO represents the kind of spirit, energy and determination that is helping to make many neighborhoods safer places throughout the year. For more information and ideas for suggested NNO activities, contact Otsego's NNO coordinator, Polly Liberko(763- 274-2029) or visit the NNO web site(http://www.nationaltownwatch.org/nno/). To register your block or neighborhood, contact Liberko. City of Otsego 8899 Nashua Avenue NE Otsego,MN 55330F . ,I ,., . < ,„1 1 (763)441-4414 Summer in Otsego j - ) ' Fax(763)441-8823 Email:cityhall@ci.Otsego.mn.us As you well know, summer in Minnesota is a time for NJ O�E 5 OFFICE HOURS Monday through Thursday outdoor fun activities and public project construction. 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. This year our city has several projects being done. Two from the Closed Fridays CITY COUNCIL city parks are being constructed. They are Prairie Park, Mayor behind City Hall and School Knoll Park next to Otsego MAYOR Larry Fournier ElementarySchool. Theyshould be completed in time to Council Members p Vern Heidner be used in the fall. Parks are such a wonderful asset to by Mayor Larry Fournier Dan Scharber our community. They will be paid for by the park and Jerry Struthers Virginia Wendel trail fees collected from new developments. These monies can only be used for park CITY STAFF development projects. Mike Robertson,City We have two road projects this summer. Theyare Page Avenue and 85th Street. These Administrator P J Judy Hudson,City two projects will be completed this fall. Minnesota State Aid money and assessments will Clerk/Zoning Administrator finance both projects. Carol Olson,Deputy Clerk Dave Chase,Maintenance In the western part of our city a wastewater treatment plant and a water tower and Supervisor distribution system are under construction. These projects will be completed in 2004. They Rick Knutson,Maintenance are bothpaid for bythe users throughwater hook upcharges and sewer hook upcharges. Don Mass,Maintenance g g Kenny Shierts,Maintenance Summer in Otsego is a wonderful time. Everyone have a wonderful summer and let's Karee Rowell,Secretary make it our safest ever. w., Kathy Grover,Bookkeeper SandyLindenfelser, Otsego Planning and Zoning Commission Receptionist PLANNING&ZONING Richard Nichols,Chair -TM---- _. __._ - - Ken Fry Jim Kolles Christian Mbanefo Steve Schuck Carl Swenson David Thompson Pam Black,alternate . -- ,.--. PARKS&RECREATION Jeff Bartheld,Chairettr-IP‘ Rose Cassady ' ', Jim Gaikowski Terry Long Pauline Nelson Jessica Stockamp Mark Thorstad � � , Peter Torresani +=: - HERITAGE PRESERVATION Ron Black,Chair Sharon Carter,Vice Chair tiOr Jeannine S.Christensen ` K.Joel Coles Jean Schneider,Secretary Joy Swenson 1 Chris Wilson , It .1:4fi;N ..--,4 1.810 - POLICE COMMISSION Sandra Michaelson,Chair Jane M.Bartheld,Secretary Thomas Carter '.: ,,,,— . , Kathie Davis we Tom Koerwitz ` rasa cx�awia.,iba � Alvin McClure Rudy Thibodeau,Vice Chair FRONT ROW:David Thompson,Richard Nichols,Chair Steve Schuck;BACK ROW:Pam Black,alternate,Carl f iOT GO�� Swenson;NOT PICTURED:Ken Fry,Jim Kolles,Christian Mbanefo. I� The Otsego Planning and Zoning Commission in composed of seven residents appointed The Otsego View is the by the City Council to review all proposed land use changes, including new developments. community newsletter for the city of Otsego. The Commission holds hearings for public input and makes recommendations to the City Jacquie Rognli,Editor Council. It examines and keeps the City Comprehensive Plan, Zoning Ordinance and Correspondence should be sent Subdivision Ordinance upto date. The cityis currentlyseekinganother member for the to Otsego City Hall. Contains 50%recycled Commission. Applications are available at City Hall and are due July 8, 2003. The Planning t`rr pre-consumer materials. and Zoning Commission meets on first and third Mondays at 8:00 p.m. The public is always welcome to attend. 0 Otsego and the Indian • • H scares of 1862 and 1863(Last in a series on Otsego's native people) Ii I i h t s By Jacquie Rognli g g The Dakota(Sioux)surrendered 28 million acres through Minneapolis were filled with hurrying multitudes only different treaties, 21 million of those acres coming from the anxious to escape from the merciless savage,who in their Traverse des Sioux Treaty of 1851. They were left with two opinion were but a short distance behind,killing,burning, reservations for the 7,000 that lived in Minnesota,each only destroying everything within reach.And to add fuel to the 20 miles by 70 miles. The government was behind in their flame various persons with a very imaginative temperament annuity payments,resources being diverted to the Civil War [spread rumors that]the whole west part of the county was and the Indians were starving in the summer of 1862. In being over run with Indians;and the only hope was to get to August 1862, four Dakota killed five settlers near Litchfield. Minneapolis, St.Paul or Fort Snelling." Councils are held among the Dakota and war was the chosen The Indian scare in Wright County was very bad because course. Battles were fought at the Redwood Agency,Fort "in the timber the settlers had at that time small clearings Ridgely,New Ulm, and Birch Coulee. and each settler was comparatively alone and isolated from Company E of the 8th Regiment of Minnesota Volunteer all others, and the idea prevailed that the Indians could or Infantry, Wright County, Minnesota was organized to join would come unaware on the family, and that would be the to fight in the Civil War and departed from Monticello in fatal and horrible end." August 1852, including Edson D. Washburne and Elbridge When the news reached Otsego, "it created a panic, and F. Washburne of Otsego. According to D.R. Farnham's the inhabitants all fled to Minneapolis, or over the 1880 History of Wright County, "In a few days after the Mississippi to Elk River; only two or three persons company was organized the Sioux massacre took place and remained in the town. But the scare did not last long; after the Indian war followed. Company 'E,' was sent to two or three days the people began to return, and the few Monticello to protect citizens and property as the who would not leave acting as an assurance that there was excitement was great and the county nearly depopulated." no danger, and along the river the settlers were soon at News of the Indian outrages reached Wright County. work again on their farms." According to Farnham's"As the reports were much Another scare arose in 1863 when members of the Amos exaggerated, it created the greatest commotion imaginable, Dustin family were killed by a small group of Indians near and as it was currently reported that the Indians had murdered Howard Lake. Gruesome accounts of"The Dustin nearly all of the inhabitants of Meeker county,and were Massacre"can be found in Farnham's. People left their moving east in large forces through Wright county,the panic homes and farms again, but in Otsego, the 1863 stampede stricken settlers left everything and fled.Attempts were made "did not amount to much. Some persons in the timber in by brave men to stop the flight,but in vain; like frightened the west part of the town left, but along the river the animals,they would hear to nothing.Reason and common settlers generally did not get frightened." sense were entirely forgotten; in their headlong flight they could not be stayed.Day and night the roads leading to Goodbye and thanks to Elaine Norin Otsego historian and proud resident Elaine Norin, ;''; talk .4- ?«.:�7 .`' age 85, died May 25, 2003. '' • t,-, : . Elaine was a founding member of the Otsego 10 s���*r o` ' Heritage Preservation Commission and wrote kt i ' " Historical Highlights columns for The Otsego View �• � "� ��. ° f " - ` '' since 1992. She persistently and enthusiastically . ' researched Otsego's history and wrote several books � ° _- published by the Commission. She typed all of them on ' t.A, her typewriter,not interested in learning new computer '. #' skills in her retirement years. ' 1 When the Heritage Preservation Commission I ', a ' !. # x presented her with a framed certificate of appreciation, it became a conversation starter with - :? °' ° .a' visitors and staff at Park View Nursing Home and -.). w ilk , . *16 gave her the opportunity to proudly tell them about ` ` -1 - `it Ar her community. Elaine Norin standing by the largest cottonwood tree in Wright County located on her family's Century Farm in Otsego. 1998 photo. 0 Clean-up Day another success Park construction update Thank you to all of our Otsego Clean-up Day volunteers Construction has started for the improvements at Prairie who helped make it successful again.There were 285 vehicles Park behind City Hall and for the new School Knoll Park that dropped off 13 roll offs of junk, 146 appliances,more on the north side of Otsego Elementary School next to the than 300 tires and two drums of used oil. city pump house. West sewer and water system At Prairie Park,two additional ball fields will be constructed, along with more children's play equipment, a construction begins skate park, and a new parking lot back by the park shelter. Otsego has started construction on a sewer and water School Knoll is a 3-''/2 acre neighborhood park that will system for the western part of the city. The water system consist of a park shelter, children's play equipment, a will consist of two wells, a water tower, a pump house, and tennis court, a basketball court, and a small parking lot. several miles of water mains. The sewer system will These improvements will cost approximately$1 million consist of a sewage treatment plant, a main sewage lift and are totally funded from park fees paid by new station, and sewer mains. development. No property taxes are used. Plans are available The sewer plant will be constructed on 20 acres located at City Hall for anyone who would like to see them. approximately half a mile north of 70th Street and a quarter Responsible lawn care mile east of County Road 19 (Labeaux Ave.). The water tower will be located just north of 70th Street preserves environment approximately half a mile west of County Road 19. When land is converted from natural areas to developed The water system and sewage lift station will be finished urban areas,pavement and rooftops replace grass and trees. this fall. The water tower and sewage treatment plant will be finished in summer, 2004. As with the sewer and water Water flows over driveways, streets and parking lots taking system on the east side of Otsego,these systems will be sediment, debris, fertilizers,pesticides, leaves, grass 100%paid for by the users of the service. clippings, motor oil and pet waste that can cause serious Burning permits required water quality problems. Every year,Minnesota wildland firefighters and local fire Legislation was passed in 2002 restricting the use of departments respond to some 7,500 wildfires.Careless debris phosphorus lawn fertilizer. Phosphorus feeds algae and burning causes about 40%of these wildfires.Burning of lowers water quality. It has been prohibited to spill or household waste has been illegal in Minnesota since 1969. spread any fertilizer on impervious surfaces since August All pile burning and burning in an approved burn 2002. Spills must be cleaned up immediately. Beginning container used outside the legal hours of 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. January 1, 2004, lawn fertilizer is restricted to 0% require a burning permit from the Minnesota Department phosphate in the seven county Twin Cities metropolitan of Natural Resources(DNR),the U.S. Forest Service, or a area and 3%content in other areas of the state unless it is a designated fire warden. Fires must be attended and kept new lawn. The phosphorus content is listed as the middle under control at all times. number on the fertilizer package. Soil and organic debris Permits can be obtained at City Hall Monday through also contain phosphorus that can wash into ditches, storm Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. If you are unable to get in sewers and bodies of water. during regular business hours, call City Hall by Thursday Some things homeowners can to control phosphorus to have a burning permit written up and placed where you run-off: can pick it up after hours. Permits are issued for a three-day • Keep you lawn healthy and reseed bare spots. period for pile burning 3:00 p.m.to 8:00 a.m. and must be • Clean lawn and garden equipment on the grass, not hard in possession when burning. surfaces. Sweep up soil and grass The DNR urges using alternatives to burning, such as clippings. composting and chipping. • Pick up pet feces promptly. Double bag i 4, Recreational motor vehicle use regulated and put in the garbage.Never drop feces 1 , Recreational motor vehicle users are reminded that state in the street or in ditches. I Orailaa trespass laws apply and they cannot operate on private • Don't apply fertilizer or treat dandelions ., property without permission of the owner. The use of during the hot days of summer. recreational motor vehicles in Otsego is governed by • Don't over-water sandy soil. ; 1 Minnesota Statute In addition,they may not be operated in • Leave grass clippings on your lawn , ,)` 1 the platted residential areas of the city except on private whenever possible. As they decompose, i property between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. they'll recycle nutrients. Violators should be reported to the Wright County Sheriff • Regular mowing with a sharp blade set at ' at 763-682-1162. a grass height of 2 to 3 inches provides a i - Recreational motor vehicles include trail bikes, good quality turf. During the heat of motorized bicycles, all-terrain vehicles,hovercraft,and off- summer, raise the blade '/z inch to help road motorcycles. your lawn tolerate stress.