Summer The Go vIIE-vv-
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ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD
Newsletter of the City of Otsego Vol. 8, No. 4, July 1998
• x.� Comprehensive
r„,_ . ... .4 'I' �� * Plan meetings held
,,; '' c
'
'' ' .a, ' The Otsego City Council and the
�` "" '' '1,1.=
""' ' Planning and Zoning Commission
t ' have hosted a series of informational
iiik ' `q1 meetings that provided information of
� zi the city's proposed ComprehensivePlan
d ' - _ .Vi update. Approximately 325 people
attended the four public meetings that
•
included a presentation,detailed maps,and
_� , t ' � an opportunity to ask questions about the
future development of the city.
TheCity Council,Planning Commission
- and city staff have been working together
w
' on a revision that takes into consideration
the development of a sewer and water
system in Otsego, current development,
An Otsego cyclist peddles the new bike trail south of 85th St.,one of four trails being constructed establishing a broader tax base,
in the city this summer..,..A., transportation planning,and the needs and
Bike trails constructed wishes of land owners and residents.
The Council and Planning Commissin
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Work started in late May and is expected to be completed some time in July on the are reviewing comments received at the
construction of four bike trails in Otsego. information meetings. A public hearing
One of the trails is an off road bike path adjacent to Ohland Ave.and 96th St., will be scheduled this summer before final
running north of County Rd. 39 to the walkway entrance to Otsego County Park. A adoption.Concerned citizens of Otsego are
second off road trail goes south of 85th St. to Otsego Elementary School. The Elk encouraged to.give input through the public
River School District is also working on access to school property through the fence hearing,public meetings,or through written
and a connecting trail to the school. or telephone comments to city officials.
A third trail project includes paved shoulders on Nashua Avenue south of County There is currently a moratorium on
Rd. 39 to Otsego Prairie Park and the City Hall. development in the city that should be
The fourth trail project is along Page Ave.south of County Rd.39 to 85th St.The lifted when the new plan is adopted.
o
trail was originally proposed to run n the west side of the street, but residents in the Otsego's present Comprehensive Plan
neighborhood preferred that the trail run on the east side to reduce the number of was adopted in 1992. Preservation of
driveways that would cross the trail for safety. In order to accommodate the trail,the agricultural land was a provision of that
road bed is being widened to the west. plan. In 1996 the city began the revision
Also as part of the bike trail project,the shoulder is being widened to allow bypasses process with an inventory and
at four intersections on county roads. These are on County Rd. 39 at Odean Ave.and at community profile. The expected fall
the frontage road by Tom Thumb,and also on County Rd.42 at Park Ave.and at 85th St. 1998 groundbreaking for the municipal
The bike trail project has a total cost near$300,000. The work is paid for in part waste treatment plant and city water
by a $200,000 grant through the federal Intermodal Surface Transportation system has been a catalyst for the plan
Enhancement Act(ISTEA)and in part from city of Otsego park funds.A contract for update...)...
the construction was awarded to Buffalo Bituminous Company....,.
r �
�\ Kids' Pedal Power Parade • Live Radio Broadcast by
?I __ , Otsego Family Fun Day •
at 11 AM KRWC, 2-4 CPM
_ Saturday, duly 18 Decorate your bikes, trikes,and Food
,g wheels.
Pie awards at 10:45. • Face painting
�. , 1)� 0am.-4pm. • Craft Fair • Family Games with prizes • Hay Rides
r �" Otsego Prairie Park. Antique/Collector Car Show • Comedian/Magician Jerry • Basketball, Volleyball &
People's choice awards. Frasier at 1 PM Horseshoes
"Something for Kids of All Ages"• Kiddie Carnival • Antique Farm Equipment Bring your own balls and shoes.
City of Otsego City Update 9
8899 Nashua Ave. NE I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you that NOTES
Otsego, MN 55330 participated in the city's information meetings on the
(612)441-4414 proposed comprehensive land use plan. The Planning from the
Fax (612) 441-8823 Commission and City Council are working at putting
�0�
OFFICE HOURS together a complete document which should be ready for
Monday through Thursday public hearing some time in late July.The moratorium on
8:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m. residential development will be lifted after adoption of the
Closed Fridays new Comprehensive Plan by the City Council. by Mayor Larry Fournier
CITY COUNCIL The waste water treatment plant construction has been * *,
Mayor slowed by the heavy work load at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. This is the
Larry Fournier
government agency which must review and permit a project of this nature.In my discussions
CounSuzanne M.S. and meetings with them,the cityhas beengiven a time line of completion of the permitting
Suzanne MAckerman g p p g
Mark Berning process in October.
Vem Heidner Interest by developers who need sewer and water for their projects continues to be very
Virginia Wendel strong. A good economy and a good mix of commercial, industrial and residential
CITY STAFF development greatly reduces any financial risk to our city.These factors together will give
Elaine Beatty,City Clerk/Zoning us the broader tax base we need.
Administrator Now that summer is here, I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable summer. ..
Mike Robertson,City Administrator
Judy Hudson,Deputy Clerk/Treasurer
Carol Olson,Secretary I
Dave Chase,Maintenance Supervisor
Rick Knutson,Maintenance ���° .
PLANNING&ZONING
Carl Swenson,chair
Eugene Goenner
Jim Kolles
Arleen Nagel
Richard Nichols
Bruce Rask
I.G.Roskaft
Christian Mbanefo,altemate
PARKS&RECREATION
Jeff Bartheld,chair
Thomas Baillargeon
Tom Constant , " r°
Michael Day �y.
Sue Kroll ' ' '
Nicole Martin � a,.,, Air
Ten Kohler,alternate
Bill Olson,second alternate • , ,
EDA ADVISORY
Wally Odell,chair r� if'
Steve Ackerman '# - r
Gabriel Davis ,„„,, 1/"''�
LeRoy Lindenfelser
Rudy Thibodeau �" °
Vincent Peterson Rainbows Day Care provides program for children
Liz Wilder
HERITAGE PRESERVATION Shannon Osterman shares the story of The Three Little Pigs with a group of
Norman Schwanbeck,chair pre-school children at Rainbows Day Care in Otsego.The center provides full and part
Ron Black time day care for children aged six weeks to 12 years Monday through Friday.Each age
Arlene Nolen group has a structured program which strives to meet the physical,emotional,and social
Frieda Lobeck needs of the children. Rainbows is licensed by the Minnesota Department of Human
Joan Nichols Services and complies with its health and safety standards.Rainbows owners Sandy and
Elaine Norin Mike McChesney have been in business 10 years in Otsego at 15590 90th Street NE.
Joy Swenson Call 441-5547 for more information. ..
Janet Bridgland,altemate
t. °VIEW Candidates for city council must file
The Otsego View is a community Filing for candidates for city council will members will take office in January 1999
newsletter for the city of Otsego. open August 25. Candidates must file with for a four-year term. The city council
Jacquie Rognli, Editor the city clerk before 5:00 p.m.September 8, positions currently held by Councilmember
Correspondence should be sent to 1998. There will be two city council Suzanne Ackerman and Councilmember
Otsego City Hall. positions up for election at the November 3 Vern Heidner expire at the end of this
OF Contains 50%recycled general election. The elected council year....,..,
• pre-consumer material. 2 1
ft
f °
Life at the brick house, 1911 to 1930
by Elaine Norin Wood
There is a distinctive farm house in Otsego on the north burning stoves I
side of County Road 39, east of Nashua Ave. Instead of the provided heat ■ ■
common wood frame two story farmhouse, the home is and were used 'g h I ghtsstorical
constructed with tan colored bricks. for cooking. Ice
Edith Kiichli(Mrs. Louis)Kluge recently shared with us was harvested
some memories of early days in Otsego.Her parents,Edward from the river,
Michael Kiichli and Minnie Dorothea Miller moved into the stored in the ice house and used in the iceboxto keep food
brick house in 1905. Edward's father gave the farm to them from spoiling. Food grown in the garden was canned in
after they had farmed it for 10 years. Edith was born there in glass jars.Root vegetables were buried in sand and apples
1911 and lived there until she married Louis in 1930. were stored in barrels in the cellar. Oil lamps furnished
The farm was originally claimed by David Look Ingersoll light.Telephone service was on a party line with 19 other
who came here in 1854. He established a brickyard on the families. Each had a code of long and short rings and in
property and built the house after first living in a log cabin an emergency all were alerted by a long continuous ring.
near the river. Edith provided a great deal of information Water was usually pumped by hand. Drinking water was
about the brick house.We hope to organize it into book form. kept in a pail with a dipper used by everyone. Washing
Following are some of her recollections. was done by a hand propelled machine or rubbing on a
Most families followed a similar schedule of activities: washboard. Water was wrung out between hand cranked
wash clothes on Monday, iron and bake bread on Tuesday, rollers clamped to the wash tub.
mend and sew Wednesday,sell eggs and cream and shop for Times were hard due to hailstorms, crop failures and
food Thursday,clean upstairs Friday,clean downstairs,bake food shortages during World War I.Nothing was wasted.
and take baths Saturday, and entertain company and pump After washing was done, the soapy water was used to
water for washday on Sunday. scrub the outhouse and floors. After rinsing these,
remaining water was used for the garden. Feed, flour,
sugar,and salt came in cloth sacks.These
were bleached and sometimes dyed to
make clothing and quilts. Leftover scraps
were cut in strips, sewed together, rolled
in balls, and woven into rugs. Coat
hangers were made with rolled magazines
wm E and string.
There were few opportunities for
'$ earning extra money. Visiting city folks
, would buy wild grapes, butternuts,
berries,vegetables,and eggs.Fish caught
in the river on Thursday were sold to
Catholic families between Otsego and
Albertville. Mink and muskrats were
. ,° trapped and pelts were sold. People were
n charged for using the pasture for picnics.
There were no school buses and when
Edith attended high school in Elk River,
she worked for board and room and came
;$ home on weekends.
Next to the brick house were a large barn,
chicken house,ice house,machine shed,and
` �= smokehouse. Storms frequently damaged
David Look Ingersoll farm at 12188 95th Street(Co. Rd. 39) in Otsego at the time these buildings and they finally burned.
the Kiichli family lived there..,,,, The brick house has survived.
Street improvements information meeting set
There will be a special public informational meeting The purpose of this meeting is to give engineering reports
regarding street improvements for Halls 1st, 2nd, and 3rd and poll the residents on how they want the city to proceed
Additions, Vasseurs Oak Grove Estates 1st and 2nd with any street improvements. The mayor,city council, city
Additions, Hidden Valley, Deerfield Acres, and Page Ave. engineer,and city staff will be present at this meeting.wn./
NE from County Rd. 39 to 85th St. The meeting will be held
at 7:00 p.m. on July 20 at Otsego City Hall. 3
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CORNER lng Roskaft, outstanding Otsego senior
Ing Roskaft met Olga Olson when Otsego
.S.7/ they attended Roosevelt High School in Township's
Friends of the Park Minneapolis. After they were married very first
C4 by Nicole Martin on Memorial Day 1936, Ing and 011ie planning
The Otsego Park and Recreation Roskaft drove many times from commission ,
Commission will be coordinating a Minneapolis on old Highway 101, now when it
Friends of the Park volunteer group County Road 42,to Otsego to visit their was formed 4'
. 0 to carry out its mission on a larger friends in the country. They often spent in 1978.At
a scale. the night with friends Otis and Frances age 86,
Friends of the Park is a local Nickerson before returning to the city. Roskaft -
community organization interested in the They enjoyed the relaxed rural continues to t
improvement, maintenance, protection, atmosphere. When they noticed a small serve on
and expansion of Otsego parks, seeking to farm house on the old highway was for Otsego's
enhance them for the benefit of present and sale, they bought it and moved Planning
future generations. Its other goals are to permanently to Otsego in 1947. and Zoning Roskaft
increase local interest and utilization of the Ing worked for the Pullman Commission.
park facilities, public education, and to Company, often gone for a week at a •
help park staff by any permissible means time riding the train to the west coast or In addition, Roskaft served on the
for the best interest of the parks. Chicago. He would plant seed oats or Wright County Planning and Zoning
Friends of the Park looks to carry out pickling cucumbers on their five acres Commission from 1983 to 1995,played
these measures through volunteer labor by the Mississippi River.Their children, a major role in the development of the
and fundraising. One goal is to work on Craig and Kaye,and their friends would Elk River Country Club, served on the
getting a picnic shelter in Prairie Park and help pick the cucumbers and sell them to Otsego City Hall Building Committee,
also to obtain picnic tables, recruit Gedney's in Elk River where Hunt's and the Otsego/Albertville Consolidation
volunteers for park clean up, field work, Feed and Garden Center is now located. Committee.Roskaft made the motion for
and park beautification as well as After the Pullman Company went out of Otsego to become a city at Otsego
recreation program expansion. business in 1968,Ing worked for Federal Township's 1989 Annual Meeting.
Groups, organizations, and businesses Cartridge before retiring. Roskaft was named first runner up
interested in learning Along with Otsego Mayor for 1998 Wright County Outstanding
more about how to join c Larry Fournier and Planning and Senior Citizen for his outstanding
Friends of the Park can r—� g Zoning Commission member Carl leadership and service to his
contact City Hall and O ego
Swenson,Roskaft was a member of community.�..�...
leave a message for the Rr g..
Park Commission. Election judges needed "Thanks" to Cleanup
Thanks Darlene Solberg Otsego is seeking election judges for
Darlene Solberg has resigned from the the primary election to be held Day volunteers
Otsego Parks and Recreation Commission. September 15 and the state general At Otsego Cleanup Day held May 2,
The city of Otsego, mayor, council, and election on November 3. Training is 1998, city staff Elaine Beatty, Judy
staff wish to thank her for her dedication, provided and there is some monetary Hudson, and Carol Olson signed in 298
hard work, and many hours of time and compensation. Election judges must be residents who brought their unwanted
energy that she has spent working with the residents of the city. Students are also junk in to be receycled or hauled away.
Otsego Parks and Recreation Commission invited to help with the election.Contact Collected were 155 appliances,638 tires,
since its creation in 1991.",�,. City Hall for more information..,,., batteries, oil,over 20 tons of scrap metal
and over 50 tons of assorted junk.
CITY MEETINGS The mayor, city council, staff, and
residents of Otsego thank our volunteers
MEETING DAYS TIME for making May 2, 1998 another
City Council 2nd&4th Mondays 6:30 p.m. successful Cleanup Day.
Planning&Zoning Commission 1st&3rd Wednesdays 8:00 p.m. Thank you to Nadine Aarvig,
Parks&Rec Commission 2nd Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Suzanne Ackerman, Mark Berning,
EDA Advisory Commission 3rd Monday 7:00 p.m. Larry Blesi, Terry Boyle, Tim Boyle,
Heritage Preservation Commission 4th Thursday 7:00 p.m. Mary Rose Chase, John DeMars, Larry
• Submit City Council agenda items seven working days prior to meetings. Fournier, Ross Hagen, Vern Heidner,
• To be placed on the Planning Commission agenda,submit completed forms&information 15 working days prior Jerry Olson,Clayton Rask,Harlan Rask,
to meetings. Mike Robertson, Pat Sawatzke, Kenny
• official meeting notices are published in the Elk River Star News and posted at City Hall. Shierts, Phillip Wellman, Sr., Phillip
• Please call City Hall to confirm times if you plan to attend. 4 Wellman, Jr., Virginia Wendel, and
Wright County Sentence to Serve.......
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