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Spring The °:dlIS 1699VIE ON THE GREAT RIVER ROA Vol. 13 MARCH/APRIL 2002 Newsletter of the City of Otsego • ----;77.--..- '. Otsego „__)-7, .,. ....... Clean-up Day 14, Saturday, May 4, 2002 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. w_ Old Otsego City Hall 13474 NE 95th Street(Co. Rd. 39) Water testing for nitrates No Charge Free water testing Scrap metal No Charge (Tires MUST be removed from all bicycles.) for nitrate Vehicle batteries No Charge On Clean-up Day, Saturday, May 4, a Used motor oil No Charge water-testing clinic will be held in the Assorted refuse No Charge Public Works Building next to the Old Residential Appliances $13 each Otsego City Hall. (No RV or commercial appliances.) Water samples will be analyzed on the Residential air conditioners $17 each spot. At the check-in point at Clean-up - CPUs/Monitors/Printers $10 each Day, have someone with you to take the Box Springs/Mattresses $10 each sample into the Public Works Building to Other upholstery and items with springs $5 each conduct the test while you are unloading Tires your stuff. Results are usually available in Average car tires $1 each five to ten minutes. Light truck tires $3 each To collect your sample: Large truck tires $7 each 1. Use a permanent marker to put your name on any Tractor tires $25 and up type of plastic bag. A clean jar may also be used. One pickup size load per household. 2. Run the water for five minutes before taking the sample. Not Accepted: Hazardous waste, brush, construction materials, household garbage, 3. Collect the water in the bag. Only %2 cup of water is curbside recycling materials, RV appliances, needed. Do this within 24 hours of arriving and keep bicycles with tires. it refrigerated until you leave home. The water Bring proof of Otsego residency and your sample should be cool upon arrival. unwanted materials. 4. If you have water treatment equipment(other than a softener) it is recommended to take a sample We need volunteers! before and after your treatment equipment to Contact Otsego City Hall 763-441-4414 determine if your system is working properly. . City of Otsego 8899 Nashua Avenue NE Otsego441-4414,MN 55330 As .. . .�,. . .. .!.' IA;.Fax(763 )1441-8823 Spring begins 5 1 Email:cityhall@ci.Otsego.mn.us With the return of spring and warmer weather NOTES OFFICE HOURS much will be going on in Otsego this construction Monday through Thursday season. One of the numerous projects is from the 8:00 a.m.to6:OOp.m. p 1 Closed Fridays "Otsego's Waterfront". MAYOR CITY COUNCIL I mention this project because it will be a very Mayor Larry Fournier significant commercial development in our city. Council Members This commercial development will be located at by Mayor Larry Fournier Suzanne M.S.Ackerman 4 .._____ - ark_. Vern Heidner the northwest quadrant of County Road 39 and Jerry Struthers wa 101.The Highway project, entitled Waterfront West, includes nine separate Virginia Wendel g y p CITY STAFF development sites with various retail, office, or service commercial uses Mike Robertson,City proposed. The site is a 20-acre site within the Sanitary Sewer Service District and Administrator Judy Hudson,City is guided for commercial land use by the Comprehensive Plan. This will be a Clerk/Zoning Administrator wonderful project and will help create a"down town area" for Otsego. Carol Olson,Deputy Clerk Dave Chase,Maintenance Clean-up Day this year in Otsego is May 4th. I am looking forward to seeing Supervisor all of you there as we work together cleaning up our community. Rick Knutson,Maintenance Don Mass,Maintenance Kenny SlKenny Shierts,Maintenance Karee Rowell,Secretary Meet Your City Staff: Don Mass Kathy Grover,Bookkeeper Sandy Lindenfelser, r t, \„ Receptionist # 1,, PLANNING&ZONING Richard Nichols,Chair Awns= r Ken Fry Jim Kolles Patrick Moonen a Steve Schuck �`7OTSEG 4, Carl Swenson ' 1S i Christian Mbanefo vl. 1 N 'it itl' 1fi David Thompson,alternate .1. , PARKS&RECREATION Michael Day,Chair ' Thomas Baillargeon Tom Constant Jim Gaikowski � t, Terry Long Pauline Nelson p . EDA ADVISOY LeRoy Lindenfelser,Chair 4.110111111 .01111111.11111111.111f Steve Ackerman Gabriel Davis Tom Koerwitz IPII° . Vincent Peterson Rudy Thibodeau Jon Zack HERITAGE PRESERVATION Elaine Norin,Chair Sf Yaron Cartes Vice Chair Don Mass is another one of Otsego's hard working mantenance crew. He has been Arlene Nolen employed by the city for 2-1/2 years after previously working for Willis Trucking in Frieda Lobeck Rogers. Joan Nichols According to Don, Otsego maintenance personnel need to be able to do a little of OT EGO`Vi���T everything, including mechanical work, working machinery and plowing. He says "It's a L VV fun mixture. There's always something needing to get fixed or painted." The Otsego View is the It has been a long winter with lots of snow, but they are looking forward to the warmer community newsletter for the city months ahead. The department recently painted the tractors and installed new clutches of Otsego. Jacquie Rognli,Editor getting ready for the upcoming mowing season. Correspondence should be sent "Dave(Chase)keeps us ahead of time so we're ready,"Don stated. to OaCity He . fir Contains recycled Don also.said he likes working with a friendly groupof people where everyone gets fr pre-consumer materials. along. w ' Landscaping restricted along property lines As the weather gets warmer, more people begin to ; think about landscaping their yards. The city has some - '- '-'-'-'-'-'-'5' regulations about where and how to plant along property I DRAINAGE& UTILITY WETLAND lines. Plants are not allowed to block the vision of I EASEMENT ► • drivers at a street intersection or from a driveway or i alley to a street. In front yards and side yards next to I ! ► streets, tall hedges need to be open enough to allow 1 !10' ► views through the hedge. , RIGHT► I Did you know that the edge of a street in front of OF i i your lot is not the property line? The paved portion of a ' WAY i / \ i residential street is typically 32 feet wide, and the public i ! Corner visually °°°° 1 right-of-way is typically 60 feet wide. 1 I clear for 20' ��►►►► n n ► ,;.,. A public right-of-way is land that is acquired for a , ►;/ii;•, i public use. Rights-of-way are wider than street surfaces DRAINAGE& UTILITY EASEMENT • to allow space for utility lines next to the street. i.•6;;;*.-:;::.._ 10' PROPERTY LINE 1 Infrastructures that may occupy a right-of-way include —•—•—•—'—•—• streets, trails, ditches, and gas, water, electric, storm RIGHT OF WAY PAVEMENT EDGE sewer and sanitary sewer lines. • Except for any boulevard trees planted by the city or your lawn, rights-of-way should be kept clear of There is no limitation on plantings within a drainage and vegetation to provide the best traffic visibility and avoid utility easement(except within a front yard) although interference with installation or maintenance of public any plantings may be removed without compensation or infrastructure. If vegetation is placed within a right-of- replacement as part of a public project. way, it may be removed without compensation or Vegetation and the ground surface within a wetland replacement if required for maintenance, a public or ponding area should not be altered or disturbed. improvement project, or to improve traffic visibility. Wetlands are protected by special regulations. Altering Drainage and utility easements are also established a non-wetland ponding area or drainage way could around the perimeter of most platted lots. Like public cause erosion, flooding, or other storm water right-of-way, these easements allow for public utilities and management problems. storm water drainage improvements. Be prepared for weather ALSO OF NOTE: • There are currently no official recreation plans for The Minnesota Department of Public Safety •'l the ball fields in Otsego Prairie Park. Anyone is reminds everyone to be prepared for dangerous = welcome to use the fields for formally or weather. Severe Weather Awareness Week wasinformally organized play. April 15-19, 2002 when they focused on the 0 l++'1 • Election judges are needed for fall elections, topics of severe weather warnings, flash floods, t" Contact City Hall if you would like to sign up for thunderstorms, tornados and heat waves. training this summer. Severe weather watches are issued when conditions are favorable for tornadoes, severe thunderstorms or CITY WEEETINGiS flash floods. If you are in a watch area, make plans to MEETING DAYS TIME seek shelter if necessary. Warnings are issued when severe weather is imminent. Seek shelter immediately. City Council 2nd&4th Mon. 6:30 pm Warnings are issued by county names, so it is Planning &Zoning 1st& 3rd Mon. 8:00 pm important to know your county. Otsego is in Wright EDA Advisory 3rd Mon. 6:30 pm County, but has the unique distinction of being in the Parks & Recreation 2nd Wed. 7:00 pm northeastern corner so it is very close to Sherburne, Heritage Preservation 4th Thurs. 7:00 pm Hennepin, and Anoka counties as well. • Submit City Council agenda items seven working days prior to Sirens are meant to warn those who are outdoors. If meetings. you hear a siren, turn on a radio or TV to hear safety • To be placed on the Planning Commission agenda,submit information and seek shelter immediately. completed forms&information 15 working days prior to Last year, there was one tornado in Wright County meetings. and there have been 17 since 1950. —'.' - • Official meetingnotices are published in the Elk River Star News and posted at City Hall. • Please call City Hall to confirm times if you plan to attend. Springtime in Early T ri Otsego By Elaine Norin JTljnhIfr' hts The Will Holt Diary contains daily one-line entries for the period of 1877 to 1890. He recorded weather and farm crop conditions as well as births, deaths, marriages and social events. The following entries selected from the months of March and April reveal what occurred in Otsego in the spring of those early years. 1879 April 10 Put wheat in. Clear and quite warm. April 9 They put the ferry in the river. 1880 April 12 Put wheat in. Good farming weather. April 15 Old lady Snow died, age 87 years. 1881 April 6 Warmer. River crossing getting poor. April 24 Will Ingersoll and Jessie Parker were April 22 Mrs. A. Brothwick buried at age 35. married. 1882 April 10 We got home to Otsego from the woods. 1888 March 6 Jane Borthwick died. [Will and other farmers often worked in March 24 Lots of snow. northern lumber camps during winter.] April 18 Commenced seeding. I sowed 10 acres April 18 Warm and hazy. this year. April 26 Commenced putting in wheat. April 21 Mr. Bashaw dropped dead. 1883 March 2 Laura Peavy gave birth to a young son. 1889 March 5 Charley Spencer is very sick. He is March 7 Dance at Hamlets. paralyzed on one side. March 17 Very warm. Snow going fast. March 28 Folks are plowing some. March 19 A dance at Mr. Goodwins. April 1 Lincoln Davis house burned. April 2 Dance at Ingersolls. April 2 Party at Borthwicks April 7 Charlie Wood was married. April 6 Commenced seeding oats. April 8 Snow most all gone. April 9 Party at Frank Browns. Me and Lizzie April 10 Terrible snow storm.About 8 inches. Parker went.[Will married Lizzie later.] Thundered a little. April 17 Len Smith is laid up with Rheumatism. April 16 Got the ferry in the river at Otsego. April 22 Will Fleming and May Borthwick were April 22 Freeze quite hard last night. Snowed married. about 2 inches. April 29 Plum trees are in bloom. 1884 March 16 Andrew Davis had a stroke of paralysis 1890 March 23 Adam Wood died. in his face. March 4 I got home from the woods. I worked March 23 Snow going very fast and making lots of 104-1/2 days. water and awful bad roads. April 14 I commenced sowing wheat. Warm. March 25 Dance ay Len Smiths. Nice day. March 28 Dance at the Pickards. April 20 I had 5 tons of hay burn. Everything is April 9 Jim Morrells little boy died. drying up. April 10 Snow all gone. April 23 Dance to Frank Ingersolls at night. April 26 Cloudy and rainy. Just commencing to April 26 Finnished plowing and commenced look very green. sowing oats. Clear.Nice day. 1885 March 8 James Morrells house burned at night. There were no bridges, so the river was crossed on March 16 The eclipse about noon. 5/6 of sun the ice in winter and by ferry after the ice went out. covered. Will Holt recorded the dates that the "ice went out of April 6 The snow is just about gone. Folks are the Mississippi river:" talking about fanning. March 29, 1879 April 19, 1893 April 8, 1887 April 13 Joe got the ferry in. March 30, 1880 March 31, 1884 April 16, 1888 April 14 Little Jessie Crocker died about noon, April 17, 1881 April 11, 1885 March 22, 1889 age 11 months. ? 1882 April 6, 1886 April 10, 1890 April 15 Father commenced sowing wheat. Copies of The Holt Diary: 1877-1890, which 1886 March 5 Real warm. Thawing fast P March 6 Mr.Hallet and Corie Spencer were includes the diary entries, Holt family history and married. photographs, are available for$10.00 at City Hall. March 11 Party to D. L. Ingersolls at night. HeritageCommission opening April 2 Mr. Oddways house burned down. P 9 April 9 Ernest Ingersoll and Emma Vail were There is a vacancy on the Otsego Heritage married. Fred Vail and Lilly Morrell Preservation Commission. If you are interested in were married. preservation of historic sites and the history of your April 14 Terrible cyclone in Sauk Rapids and St. community,please complete an application at City Cloud. Heavy hail storm PM. Hall. j 1887 March 26 Lots of snow on the ground. 0 The PZ °F1'ilk99VIE ON THE GREAT RIVER ROA Vol. 13 MAY/JUNE 2002 Newsletter of the City of Otsego � re K,4,k �'-^°,; ,': -uv. „u.4� _,€m _ `etas-;" : d4 .- '"`y•$: ,4100011t ,III I mi. .., ...., 4, ,„ _ ,,,,,..„, 1.; , I , rfr - i" f �_� j a il' " .iisr.i . `; t • i-- . ,. .. . �, ' a ", d Otsego Waterfront development begins A groundbreaking ceremony(above)for the LandCor is developing the Otsego Waterfront in BlackWoods Grill and Bar signaled the kickoff for the two phases, starting with the 20 acres west of Otsego Waterfront West commercial development just Highway 101 and expect this $20-million first phase west of Highway 101 north of County Road 39. The to include a fuel-station convenience store, hotel, BlackWoods will have smoke-free dining room,patio bank, and retail office building. The 31-acre east and screen porch seating areas and a full bar area portion would be developed in the future. opening in November 2002 and a future banquet center. i . ( Thanks to Clean-up Day volunteers ') `�V- Jonathan Kolles (right)was one of more than 15 volunteers, City Council members, city staff and Wright County Sentence to Serve people who helped make Otsego's eleventh annual Clean-up Day a success. City Clerk Judy Hudson reports that 319 residents took advantage of the opportunity to dispose of their unwanted junk. The city collected 191 appliances, 11 ,, 30-yard dumpsters of junk, 11 30-yard dumpsters of ,-.-�=-___ recyclable steel and more than 1,049 tires. ,_ Thanks to everyone who helped! `"� '' City of Otsego 8899 Nashua Avenue NE Otsego,7441-4414° A safe city . ,,.1 .i J ./ i .:, .-, Fax(763)441-8823 Email:cityhall@ci.Otsego.mn.us Over the past several months I have heard from many NOTES OFFICE HOURS of you with regards to police protection and law Monday through Thursday enforcement in our city. This is a very important issue 8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. from the Closed Fridays for the City Council. We are concerned about providing MAYOR CITY COUNCIL the best possible police protection at a reasonable price. Mayor We have discussed two different approaches in Larry F e mier achievingthisgoal: We could add more hours with the � Y Larry IIIINImmilm Council Members byMayorFournier Suzanne M.S.Ackerman Wright County Sheriff department, or we could vem Heidner establish Otsego's own police department. There are Jerry Struthers Virginia Wendel many pros and cons to each approach and the City Council is reviewing each option. By CITY STAFF the end of this year the, City Council will pick one of these options. We must have quality Mike Robertson,City protection to keep our city a safe place to live. In the mean time,recognizing the need for Administrator Hudson, more hours of law enforcement, the CityCouncil has increased it's contracted hours with Judy City C Clerk/Zoning Administrator the Wright County Sheriff department from 16 hours a day to 24 hours a day. These new Carol Olson,Deputy Clerk hours will become effective about the middle of Jul as this is the earliest the Sheriff Dave Chase,Maintenance Y, Supervisor could provide more deputies to patrol our city. Rick Knutson,Maintenance As always I would like to hear from as many of you as possible about your feelings of Don Mass,Maintenance Kenny Shierts,Maintenance which type of police protection is best for our city: having our own police department or Karee Rowell,Secretary continued contracting with Wright County. Kathy Grover,Bookkeeper Sandy Lindenfelser, PLANNING&Receptionist Meet Your City Staff: Tim Rochel and Jerry Olson Richard Nichols,Chair Otsego's contracted building Ken Fry .._-- inspectors just might be two of the _ � Jim Koller Patrick Moonenmost popular city staff members as Steve Schuck the height of the construction Carl Swenson . : season gets under way in the city. Christian Mbanefoq Tim Rochel David Thompson,alternate (standing)and Jerry PARKS&RECREATION ` , Olson(seated)are both certified Michael Day,Chair _ building officials contracted to the Thomas Baillargeon t ,, city for inspections. Olson started Rose o Cassady in the fall of 1991 workingonly Constant i � Jim Gaikowski ,s, three half-days a week. Otsego's Terry Long growth neccesitated a change to Pauline Nelson Jessica Stockamp full time about six years ago and EDA ADVISOY adding Rochel in June 2000. LeRoy Lindenfelser,Chair _ Olson recalled growth being a Steve Ackerman lot slower when he started,with Gabriel Davis Tom Koerwitz most permits being for additions Vincent Peterson and remodels as well as new septic RuRon Za k�eau systems. Permits today are more HERITAGE PRESERVATION for new construction and septics Elaine Norm,Chair as common. Joy Swenson,Vice Chair In 1990 there were 134 permits Sharon Carter,Secretary issued and 54 new homes. In Arlene Nolen Frieda Lobeck comparison, in the year 2001, 720 permits were issued with 485 new homes and 449 ismisssmo`� sewer and water hook ups. UTG,O V11EW Rochel and Olson spend their time meeting customers in person and on the phone to The Otsego View is the answer questions,provide information, issue permits and doing site inspections. They are community newsletter for the city there to help people make sure their new and remodeling construction is up to code to of Otsegoouie Rognli,Editor insure their safety. "We're here to be advocates for the consumer," said Rochel. I JacCorrespondence should be sent Rochel and his wife live in Zimmerman.They have five children and two grandchildren. to Otsego City Hall. A former homebuilder and contractor,he said working here is interesting because"there are of Contains 50%recycled a lot of different types of construction and Otsego is a growing city. pre-consumer materials. U 1 1 � h hts The Round Barn By Elaine Norin 7,. An excellent example of highly developed agricultural activity in the m.< � early 1900s is the well-preserved a t round dairy barn on Parrish Avenue. 40, It is believed to be the only .' . ..4 e, surviving round barn in Wright � i= 21-1004 fait County. According to an oral history interview with Al LeFebvre,the barn was built around 1915 with local lumber and stone. Joe LeFebvre engineered the building, assisted by his brother Noel. The upper section is used for hay storage. Cattle are housed on the ground level. The 1895 census shows the earliest listing of the LeFebvre family in Otsego: Ferdinand,his wife, Estella, and three children. The 1910 census lists the family with seven children, including Joseph and Noel. The barn is still owned by the family and many other members of the LeFebvre family live in the area. ie , ,: Ne m X3riefle (Yr - E t i 1 1 1 • The city is still seeking election judges. Contact City 1 f /,1 f Hall by July 15 if you are interested in helping ON ME GREAT RIVER OD .,,off///I,/dot administer election procedures. Training will be provided and judges are paid. Family fun will abound at the Otsego Festival planned • Filing to be an Otsego City Council candidate opens for Saturday, September 21, 2002. There will be booths and August 27 and closes on state primary day, September activities 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Otsego Prairie Park 10. The seats currently held by Suzanne Ackerman and located just west of City Hall. There will be live music, a Vern Heidner will be up for election. kiddie parade, games for kids, craft booths, food vendors, • Construction of Page Avenue between 85th Street and and demonstrations. The Wright County Mounted Patrol is 79th Street is underway. This should be completed by currently scheduled to be there, also. the end of summer. In conjunction with the festival,the Otsego Heritage • Application for a sewage treatment plant on the west Preservation Commission will hold Otsego Heritage Day end of the city was submitted in March. 2002, celebrating 150 years since the first white settler claim in Otsego, with historic displays and exhibits inside CITY MIKEETINGI•B City Hall. MEETING DAYS TIME Exhibitors and vendors are still being sought for the City Council 2hd&4th Mon. 6:30 pm festival. There will be no exhibit fees this year. If exhibitors Planning&Zoning 1st&3rd Mon. 8:00 pm require a shelter,they must provide their own. EDA Advisory 3rd Mon. 6:30 pm The Otsego Festival volunteer planning committee will Parks&Recreation 2nd Wed. 7:00 pm meet again Wednesday, June 19 and Wednesday,July 17, Heritage Preservation 4th Thurs. 6:30 pm 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. Interested volunteers are welcome • Submit City Council agenda items seven working days prior to to attend. meetings. To apply for an exhibit space or volunteer to help, • To be placed on the Planning Commission agenda,submit contact Committee Chair Rose Cassady(763-441-8769)or completed forms&information 15 working days prior to meetings. e Kasper 763-441-4566 . • Official meeting notices are published in the Elk River Star News L yan ) and posted at City Hall. • Please call City Hall to confirm times if you plan to attend. CD OF \—ft"ZilYT GO City Trails c511:) ■ Existing Park/Recreation Area ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD Z1 Street Separated Trail A Mk N eNR Boat Access �� Street Side Trail OTSEGO ilt,, COUNTY .;;.,, Q PARK 1114111111� eu\�.''�,�` -�-�' DNR BoetAc ss # �,��# i fn1.�'R�`��� � `�.y '� J .,� AC '•+IIIIIIM:' 1. � ilia: • .i;+11;;1 ! y 0 E 0.,s4•4.0„,:-.4x 1.o mi `" 'all 1111Piloism r -CSAH S! 1i c-:01 MillaiHim III — Mill..:.'! . r::► :Ura. Win"F. II A ma Milli OTSEGO is vim r4a :'ilii ;r •_^0.8 :, `'A Vil • �.■� Nom PRAIRIE �� ,ND "�C i � r :.:'.I'"; Ilhll� � r� Mar,sea PARK •a=n11 : ._1,' .ii'�t(ifi�►. cifuufnun =� f� �/����salllInet e::::-.":".r . ..=sll Weo hitavINSE :: ••:n1y !=!_0.5 ml II III II..1iiIIl . � -- ��Y ii��N ��i.11ll.,l� . '.f1f. ..., ll .� '�� § __ a :fluff1 _c MI= NE 4c 1111.1 1 WWI •TMIIIIII ,., , NOTE THIS YAP IS C) 111111 = NTfq "1"16C2-12441.O� FONLY CRP AND SHOULD ik- LAHNNO PURPOSES :NNW f f, � u• , NOr i USW FOR CJNCT 11111 BIN i - 42111E1 II 11121:=111. krZ4v,. 11111.41 1 ill , --: kis INN --iiiIRMIrill11 , 11E6 11111wMplillirillialii- 111111111111111 IIIEll�i� SII . MEM 1% /011111i111111111111111111111111111LAmbIII zoilmimmis. ism 4111 iminumilissior iiii limalaimilib Ir Otsego Prairie Park - MFAI _,�.,= A. gem" a iii; ,rutis� City park located just west of Otsego City Hall off Nashua Avenue. Playground, ball fields, picnic OTSEGO �,,�,;,,1� r�r shelter, sliding hill, and paved trails. DNR ri ', / ''`117, Aill�Otsego County Park MANAGEMENT ..1I,` Wright County Regional Park off Great River Road (CSAH 39& Co Rd.42). 70-acre park on AREA • • / Mississippi River; picnic area with two reserveable shelters, two miles of paved trails, play field, � / handicap accessible play structure, toilets, prairie restoration area, canoe access. This county park offers a playground (including a new one being constructed this summer),fishing, hiking, and picnic facilities.The shelters may be reserved for a fee by calling firA