Fall The
OTSEGO
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ON THE GREAT RIVER ROAD
IEW
Newsletter of the City of Otsego Vol. 3, No.5, September/October 1993
Cities establish joint ?�t ;
organizations 4
1 ii
Albertville and Otsego ral Resources (DNR) will be M �` �r
have been in talks over two makingrecommendationsfor ' ` u
issues recently:maintenance minimum and maximum 7 - ' i`
of Otsego Creek and fire ser- water levels. t.
vice. Otsego City Council mem-
The Otsego Creek agree- bers Floyd Roden and Larry ,�` � ,
ment was signed by the City Fournier as well as a mem- �:
Council on August 23, 1993. ber of the Planning and Zon- ,,4
Albertvilleisexpandingits ing Commission will repre- ! ;
sewage treatment plant to sent Otsego on the Creek `` _`. ' '
about triple present capac- Commission.
ity.Discharge from the plant Otsego is also continuing M. , �
will flow through Otsego to to work with Albertville on a 0:A16,..,,,, .:444,\
?'
the Mississippi River via fire contract.Some residents 4w
Otsego Creek. in the western part of the city - 1 .,
After several meetings be- have requested fire service
tween the two cities,a main- from Albertville. An agree- Clty Clerk honored a
tenance and water quality ment has not yet been Otsego City Clerk Jerome Perrault was recog-
monitoring agreement was reached. nized July 31st when Governor Carlson proclaimed
drafted.Ajoint Otsego Creek Otsego currently contracts it Jerome Perrault Recognition Day.
Commissionhasbeenformed with the Elk River and His service to Otsego was also acknowledged
to handle logistics and work Monticello Fire Departments when he was named WCCO Good Neighbor on Au-
out details of the creek clean for service. gust 18th.
up.The DepartmentofNatu- According to Otsego Mayor Norman F. Freske,
"Jerome Perrault has diligently,faithfully,and self-
Community groups lessly performed the duties of Clerk of the Town
and City of Otsego continuously for the last 48
represented at open house years. The public trust in him is well placed. He is
loyal to his community, committed to his public
Otsego City Hall opened Christ Lutheran Church Pre- work and to the welfare of the people of the City of
its doors to the community school were represented. Otsego."..,...,.'
on Saturday,July 31st.Proud Neighboring Albertville's
council members and city em- queen and attendants were
ployees hosted a day of tours also on hand. New burning regulations in effect
as they showed off the new Governor Carlson pro- A new state law for burning regulations has been enacted
building. claimed the day Jerome in Wright County.
Information displays and Perrault Recognition Day in Burning can be done in a regulation burn barrel from 6:00
sales booths were set up and honor ofthe city clerk's nearly p.m. to 6:00 a.m. without a burning permit. The old regula-
r tended by various Otsego 50 years of service tothecom- tion did not put a restriction on the time.
community organizations. munity. Burning piled vegetative material or burning in a burn
The Otsego Lions, Otsego The Elk River-Rogers VFW barrel from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. can be done only with a
Jaycees, Otsego 4-Leaves 4- donated a flag for the city's burning permit.
H Club, Otsego Historical flag pole. It was raised in a The fine for violation of this law is$267.00.
Society, Otsego Parks and ceremony by the color guard. Burning permits are issued without a fee at City Hall 8:00
Recreation Board, 728 Area Otsego rain gauges and a.m.to 5 p.m.Monday through Friday.The Clerk,Mayor,and
Recreation, Monticello-Big pens were given away to a Council Members also issue burning permits from their
Lake Counseling Center,and crowd estimated at 500.x.. homes..
City of Otsego Open House was success
8899 Nashua Ave. NE We had a very good crowd at the open NOTES
Otsego, MN 55330 house for the city hall on July 31st consider- ivfiliROM THE
(612)441-4414 ing the lightning and rainy weather.
I would like to thank the Elk River- YOR,
OFFICE HOURS Rogers VFW for donating the flag and the
Monday through Friday Elk River Honor Guard for the flag raising by Mayor Norman F. Freske
8:00 a.m.to 5:00 p.m. ceremony. I would also like to thank the
CITY COUNCIL local organizations for making the day a are being installed on CSAH 39 and CSAH
Cayo
ITY - - successful one. 42 near Tom Thumb.
Norman F. Freske I again would like to congratulate Jerry Head Start should be in the old city hall
Council members- Perrault on his 48 years of service to the in September.It will be a unique experience
Douglas Lindenfelser community.July 31st was Jerry Perrault's for these young kids to go to a one room
Floyd Roden day proclaimed by the governor and on school house.
Larry Fournier
Ron Black August 18th he got the Good Neighbor With all the rain we've been having, we
Award on WCCO Radio. have water problems.We are working with
CITY STAFF The 85th Street project is near comple- our engineer and the DNR on problems
Jerome Perrault, Clerk tion. The four-way stop signs and flashers already.
Elaine Beatty, Deputy Clerk .,
Zoning Administrator
Jim Barthel, Treasurer �:
Judy Hudson, Secretary
Dave Chase, Maintenance
Supervisor
Duane Fiedler, Maintenance
PLANNING
COMMISSION """".".--.
Carl Swenson, Chairman #
Ron Black, �'0 ,;
Council Representative i 1
Eugene Goenner I ,. i
Jim Kolles x
Dennis McAlpine �4 ,-`"'"`.• .2
Bruce Rask
I.G. Roskaft
ti
Arleen Nagel, Alternate ,, ���
Mark Wallace
.; � gam, o
PARKS & RECREATION x
COMMISSION City purchases new PCs
Tom Constant , Chairman JudyHudson works at one of two newpersonal computers recentlypurchased
Tom Constant P
Darlyn Kofoed by the city. The computers are linked together to share data, software and a
Roche Martin printer.
Kris Niebler Deputy Clerk/Zoning Administrator Elaine Beatty says having the computers
Floyd Roden, has been a real time saver.Before,three employees were trying to share a single
Council Representative terminal and they would always be held up waiting for a turn at the keyboard.
Darlene Solberg The city's first computer was purchased in 1988 for about $6,000. It does not
Carl Swenson
have the capacity to run many modern softwares.Although it is not linked to the
imimimiiim
OTSEGO ���TW new computers, it is still being used for word processing.
The two new computers and software package cost $4,442. The system has the
potential for more extensive data base management.
TheView is a community New Parks and Rec members added
newslletteretter for the city of Otsego.
Correspondence and news items are Darlyn Kofoed was appointed to the Parks Baillargeon,Tom Constant,Roche Martin,
welcome and should be sent to Jac- and Recreation Board by the City Council. Kris Niebler, Darlene Solberg, and Carl
quie Rognli,Editor,Otsego City Hall, She replaces Andy Beecher who resigned in Swenson.
8899 Nashua Ave. NE, Otsego, MN
55330(612)441-4414. July. The Park Board meets the second Tues-
" Brad Mickelson and Debbie Carron have day of the month at 7:30 p.m.The public is
aRecycicycled d
ted on
Rebeen named alternates. welcome to attend all meetings.,-A-,,,
Paper Other Park Board members are Thomas
2
ftio/ iiiAlwAsiiiid\rir^a^11/%%=^1..11."rre
New road is not open
Some drivers just can't wait. They
have been ignoring the "Road Closed"
"" signs are drivingon the partially
P Y
constructed 85th St. already.
*1 ,:.:, i p
- ,,,, 4„oir
There has been a recent delay in
construction because thefirst lift of pave
ment was borderline at meeting specs
a
for the project. It needs to be re-tested
f
.#- , 1 before the next layer is put down.
1 The road is being constructed be-
r tween Page Ave. and Parrish Ave. (Co.
r t Rd.42).When completed there will be a
^ three-way stop at 85th and Page.
gip, o This is the city's second Minnesota
a StateAid(MSA)roadproject.Theproject
should be completed this fall. ,
Intersection signal delayed park Commission
Footings are poured, poles, conduit and wiring are installed and
waiting, but something is still missing. starts tree program
The Wright County Public Works Department is still waiting for The Otsego Parks and Recreation
delivery of flasher equipment for the intersection of County Road 39 and Commission has organized an"Adopt a
County Road 42. Tree Program"for the city's new park.
The intersection is being converted to a four-way stop. Red flashing People may contribute a tree of any of
lights are to be installed above each stop sign.Delivery of the flashers is the specified species as designated on
expected by the end of September.•., the park map.Cash donations may also
be made for trees. Donations can be
given as memorials. Records will be
Work on un-named park continues kept at City Hall.
by Kris Niebler, Parks and Recreation Commission Member Trees will be planted prior to October
Nominations for a name for the park the progress on its development contin 15, 1993 and in spring 1994.
surrounding Otsego City Hall are being ues.Extensive clearing and spraying of Trees and cash contributions maybe
accepted through the end of September. brush has already taken place. Devel- dropped off at Otsego City Hall. Trees
Making a nomination can be done by opment of an ice skating rink and cross- will be accepted as long as there is room
calling Otsego City Hall or sending a country ski trails are also in the early in the parks.
note to the Parks and Recreation Com- stages, with possible completion prior Hall available for rent
mission at City Hall. to the winter, making those facilities
While the park does not have a name, available for use. The large meeting room with adjoin-
ing kitchen in the Otsego City Hall is
available for rent and can accomodate
: :.:: : : : ;: : : ::: ; .; ; ; :>: : ; , >:>>< » »» > >> > «.;.......:»» ;> » uP
utiopp3e0People. Thekitchen is fully
September 15 8 p.m. Planning&Zoning Commission The building's conference room can
September 27 7:30 p.m. City Council also be rented when there is a need for
October 6 8 p.m. Planning&Zoning Commission a smaller place, according to Judy
October 11 7:30 p.m. City Council Hudson, city secretary.
October 12 7:30 p.m. Parks& Recreation Commission
October 13 7 p.m. Economic Development Authority The City Council has developed guide-
October 20 8 p.m. Planning&Zoning Commission lines for use of the building.A building
October 25 7:30 p.m. City Council supervisor has been hired on an on-call
November 3 8 p.m. Planning&Zoning Commission basis. Liquor can be served when cer-
November 8 7:30 p.m. City Council tain conditions are met. j
November 9 7:30 p.m. Parks& Recreation Commission Otsego residents qualify for a dis-
To be placed on the Planning Commission agenda,submit completed forms and information 15 counted rate.
working days prior to meetings.Submit City Council agenda items seven working days prior to Call Judy at City Hall(441-4414)for
meetings. more information about renting space
Please call City Hall to confirm times if you plan to attend any of the listed meetings.
4 at City Hall.
,
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,� aY? : t ri s
Early Settlers i..
,k Selkirk Colony
According to Wright County histo-
rian Daniel Ross Farnham,a party of ship across from the town ofElk River.
Swiss, Scotch, and Irish emigrants It was located in the northeast part of
were the first European settlers in Otsego where the Mississippi makes
Otsego.However,they didn't stay for a sharp bend to the southeast.
,,, ..,. , i .2 very long. The open area on the land south of
These refugees left the Earl of Carrick'stradingpostbecameknown
A. .
Selkirk's colony at the Red River of as Carrick's early cus-
_ ,...„ ,...4.,,, ,
,,-.
s the North in Canada because war- tourers were WinPrairie. His s who had a
fare between rival trading compa- settlement in Otsego.
nies had frightened some families Carrick filed a claim in 1852 and
Carol Olson lends a hand away.Some of these pioneer farmers started the first farm in Wright
The smiling face of Carol Olson and stock raisers stopped in Otsego County.
could be seen this summer at City near the mouth of the Crow River in Brother James W, and nephew
part-timethe fall of 1836. George W.Carrick came in 1853 and
Hall.Carol was hired for settled on Carrick's Prairie, also.
four months until the end of Sep- But the Selkirks stayed only two
tember to help with secretarial winters and one summer. The Sioux Brother Eli drowned in the west
work.Deputy Cleric/Zoning Admin- (Dakota)and Chippewa(Ojibwa))In- branch of the Rum River in 1852.
dians were at war and the settlers Samuel never married.
istrator Elaine Beatty and secre- Samuel established Otsego's first
tary Judy Hudson have appreci- moved to a location "nearer Fort
ated having the extra help for tele- Snelling, on account of the warlike ferry in 1854.It traversed the Missis-
phone answering,duplicating,typ- attitude of the Sioux Indians"accord- sippi River where the Parrish Ave.
ing, and other clerical jobs. ing to Farnharm. bridge now crosses.
Artifacts of glass,pottery,and iron Samuel enlisted as a private in
from the group were found in 1855 in Company G.ofthe Fourth Minnesota
Administrative Office Employees the defunct city of Northwood about a Volunteer Infantry during the Civil
in Neighboring Cities mile and a half north of Dayton on War. He was captured during the
the bank of the Mississippi River. advance upon Atlanta and kept in
Estimated Office the rebel prison at Belle Isle during
City Population Employees' the winter and spring of 1864. He
Samuel Carrick was moved to Andersonville Prison
Albertville 1,500 2 full-time In 1850 or 1851,Samuel E.Carrick where he died at the age of 31 in May
established a trading post on the 1864.w..
Dayton 4,600 3 full-time Mississippi River in Otsego Town-
3 part-time
Elk River 12,000 12 full-time
2 part-time Wild and Scenic ordinance in motion
Frankfort 3,350 1 full-time It has been about a year and a half ing once again. The DNR should be
Township 1 part-time since Otsego held a public information noticingahearingin November.At least
meeting on its proposed Wild and Sce- 25 protest signatures must be received
Monticello 5,000 10 full-time nic ordinance.The city has been waiting in order to hold the hearing.
for the Department of Natural Resources Otsego's proposed Wild and Scenic
Otsego 6,000 3 full-time (DNR)to schedule a hearing. Recreational River ordinance addresses
1 temp.part-time It seems the ordinance was buried in lot size,building standards,and uses in
the DNR's files,but the matter is mov- the Wild and Scenic zone in the city.
Rogers 800 2 full-time
2 part-time
'Does not include public works. 3