OtsegoNewsletter_Spring2012The City Council is committed to providing quality, efficient City services
for Otsego’s residents and businesses.
The City Council has adopted a 2012 budget of $4.261 Million dollars. By comparison the
2011 levy plus fire service assessments totaled $4,445,325. The 2012 levy represents a
decrease of 4.15 percent from the 2011 levy.
Otsego does not receive any local government aid from the State of Minnesota. The
State has also terminated the Market Value Homestead Credit program and replaced
it with a Market Value Exclusion program, which has caused a shift in the property tax
burden to higher value residential, commercial and industrial properties. Otsego finances
approximately 90 percent of its activities through property taxes. Other revenue sources
include State aid for streets (funded through gas taxes and allocated to cities based on
population and miles of streets), State aid for police services (which Otsego contracts for
with the Wright County Sheriff’s Office), special assessments paid by benefited properties
for specific infrastructure projects, franchise fees, user fees, interest on investments,
licenses and other miscellaneous revenues.
Expenditures provide for the delivery of services including general government,
police and fire protection, public works involving maintenance of streets
and storm drainage systems, and parks and recreation activities and projects.
Operation of the sanitary sewer and water system is funded entirely by
customers connected to these utilities.
The City Council is currently completing a Capital Improvement Plan that
will forecast major capital expenditures into the future. When complete,
this document will be incorporated in the 2013 budget. Together, the City’s
budget and annual updates of the Capital Improvement Plan will be effective
tools for continuing to manage the City in a fiscally responsible manner.
NEWSlETTEr • SPrINg 2012
VieW
There are 18.6 miles of asphalt trails in parks and adjacent to City streets
and County roads and 18.9 miles of concrete sidewalks within
residential neighborhoods and commercial/industrial areas in Otsego.
the mississippi river trail Bikeway follows csah 39 and csah 42
for 10 miles within otsego as part of its 3,000 mile route through 10 states
from lake Itasca to the gulf of Mexico. a map of existing trails and
sidewalks in otsego is availaBle on the city’s weBsite:
www.ci.otsego.mn.us
2012
City
Budget
8%
35%
GENERAL
GOVERNMENT 28%
PUBLIC
WORKS
PARKS AND
RECREATION
PUBLIC
SAFETY
29%
Otsego Facts
in tHis issue:
2: Spring Clean Up
2: Easter Egg Hunt
3: New City logo/Website
4: Pride in our Parks and
Adopt-a-Street
Otseg o
neW on-line CommuniCation tool for resiDents
The City continues to explore new ways to improve service for residents with the
latest tool in this effort now available on the City’s website with an online Portal
to ask questions, seek information or submit a Comment to tHe
City. This online portal will automatically direct your inquiry to the appropriate
City staff member for a response or action. In making service requests, users are
also able to track the progress of their request or question. The City’s goal is for
City staff to respond within a few business days. There is also a comprehensive
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section where people may seek answers to
commonly made inquiries or requests. Residents can use this new tool by clicking
on the faqs/requests tab on the homepage of the City’s website.
spring clean up
The City will again partner with
Metro Appliance recycling to provide
residents an opportunity to do some
spring cleaning of their yard and home
with Clean up Week between monday,
april 30 and saturday, may 5. Clean Up
Week with Metro Appliance recycling
offers City residents discounted rates
for disposal of unwanted goods for
recycling that cannot be handled in
the regular trash. People will need to
present identification to verify residency
and drop items off at metro appliance
recycling at 16403 60th street in
otsego between the hours of 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. on monday-friday and 8 a.m.
to 1 p.m. on saturday.
see the list of accepted items at
right and the cost for residents.
Mississippi River
Trail Bikeway
This Spring signs will be
going up in Otsego along
CSAH 39 and CSAH 42
indicating the route of the
Mississippi river Trail Bikeway
(MrT) through the community.
The MrT route through
Otsego is small part of a
much larger system of bicycle
routes that follow the
Mississippi river from lake
Itasca to the gulf of Mexico
stretching 3,000 miles
through 10 states.
Sometimes, the trail is
along side roads and streets,
sometimes atop levees, and
in other sections, the route is
an off road trail for bicyclers
and walkers only. The route
through Otsego will initially
follow the shoulders along
CSAH 39 and CSAH 42 but
will include off-street trails
as the City’s trail system
continues to expand.
Otsego seeks to become a
destination along the MrT
at the gateway to the Twin
Cities Metropolitan Area
offering restaurants, hotels
and services for MrT riders.
Visit the MrT website at
www.mississippirivertrail.org
for maps and more information
about the MrT.
The annual Easter Egg Hunt is planned for saturday, March 31
from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Prairie Park, 8899 Nashua Avenue
(behind City Hall). This free event is sponsored by the Otsego Parks and
recreation Commission. Kids are invited to hunt for hidden Easter Eggs
as well as visit with the Easter Bunny. A bike giveaway and clowns are also
planned. For more information, visit the City’s website or call City Hall.
Shelter
Reservations
The shelter at Prairie Park
may be reserved by families,
organizations or other groups
during weekends throughout
the summer. The shelter has
picnic tables, charcoal grills
and electric service available.
there are two reservation
periods per day on friday,
saturdays and sundays from
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and
from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
there is a fee to reserve the
shelter of $10.00 plus state
sales tax.
residential appliances: $10.00/each
Crt televisions/monitors: $0.30/lbs.
electronics and computers: $0.25/lbs.
Junk (level pickup load or less): $45.00
scrap metal: Free
mattress or box spring (clean/dry):
$25.00/each
stuffed chair: $15.00/each
stuffed couch: $20.00/each
Wood furniture: $5.00/each
batteries: Free
light car/truck tires: $5.00/each
tractor/heavy truck tires: $25.00/each
fluorescent blubs: $0.60/each
Cell phone: Free
Items not accepted include: paint, oil,
antifreeze, gas, ammonia, refrigerators,
and yard waste.
EASTEr Egg HUNT
Greetings Neighbors!
The City Council has always made the
safety of the community a top priority.
The City works together with the Wright
County Sherriff’s Office to provide
contracted local police protection services
24/7 within Otsego. This approach
provides a high level of protection in
the most cost effective manner given the
extensive resources of the Wright County
Sherriff’s office. An important part of
their service to Otsego is that the Wright
County Sherriff’s Office assigns individual
Deputies to regular patrol shifts within
the City so that they become familiar with
the community and any local issues that
require more directed attention. Wright
County Sheriff’s Deputies utilize office
space at the public works building to
more efficiently complete their duties
while being readily available to respond
to caller requests for service.
The Otsego Police Commission is also
encouraging residents to become more
involved in the safety of our community
by promoting the Neighborhood Watch
program. Neighborhood Watch is a
cooperative effort between the Wright
County Sheriff’s Office and individual
neighborhoods in Otsego. Neighbors can
tell if something or someone is unusual
to the area but it is not good for your own
safety that neighbors become vigilante
police officers. However, you are encouraged
to report any behavior that causes concern,
or arouses your suspicions. In this way,
we and our neighbors become the eyes
and ears of the Wright County Sheriff’s
Office through the Neighborhood
Watch program.
The Neighborhood Watch program is
most effective with groups of approximately
fifteen families within a one or two block
area. As Watch Groups are formed, one
of the first tasks will be to select a block
coordinator. This person will be the liaison
between the Wright County Sheriff’s
Office and the Watch Group. The Wright
County Sheriff’s Office will keep the
block coordinator informed about what
crimes are being committed in the area
and the block coordinator will disperse
the information to increase awareness.
Neighborhood Watch is a proven crime
prevention program; but like any self-
help activity, its success depends upon you
and your neighbors. I encourage you all
to talk with your neighbors to form Watch
Groups and step up to increase protection
of our community together.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For more information contact
Sgt. Brian Johnson with the
Wright County Sheriff’s Office:
Phone: 763-684-2366
Email: Brian.Johnson@co.wright.mn.us
~ Jessica Stockamp
No
t
e
s
f
r
o
m
t
h
e
M
a
y
o
r
CITy lOgO AND WEBSITE UPDATE
Otsego has adopted a new logo for the City as part of a renewed
effort to promote community identity and marketing outreach. The
new logo incorporates a modernized font with lowercase letters that
is easier to read as well as a stylized prairie grass button in gold and
blue. The City’s website is also undergoing a comprehensive revision
to update its appearance, content and functionality. look for the
new website to be launched in the coming weeks at the same
address as before: www.ci.otsego.mn.us
P
R
S
R
T
D
S
T
D
U
.
S
.
P
O
S
T
A
G
E
P
A
I
D
P
E
R
M
I
T
N
O
.
1
7
9
1
M
I
N
N
E
A
P
O
L
I
S
,
M
N
T
i
m
e
D
a
t
e
d
M
a
t
e
r
i
a
l
C
i
t
y
H
a
l
l
:
8
8
9
9
N
a
s
h
u
a
A
v
e
n
u
e
N
E
O
t
s
e
g
o
,
M
N
5
5
3
3
0
P
H
o
n
e
n
u
m
b
e
r
s
M
a
i
n
/
A
d
m
i
n
i
s
t
r
a
t
i
o
n
:
7
6
3
-
4
4
1
-
4
4
1
4
B
u
i
l
d
i
n
g
D
e
p
t
.
:
7
6
3
-
4
4
1
-
2
5
9
3
U
t
i
l
i
t
y
B
i
l
l
i
n
g
:
7
6
3
-
4
4
1
-
2
3
1
0
F
a
x
:
7
6
3
-
4
4
1
-
8
8
2
3
o
f
f
i
C
e
H
o
u
r
s
:
a
d
m
i
n
i
s
t
r
a
t
i
o
n
M
o
n
-
T
h
u
:
8
a
.
m
.
–
6
p
.
m
.
F
r
i
:
C
l
o
s
e
d
b
u
i
l
d
i
n
g
D
e
p
a
r
t
m
e
n
t
M
o
n
-
T
h
u
:
8
a
.
m
.
–
6
p
.
m
.
F
r
i
:
8
a
.
m
.
–
N
o
o
n
u
t
i
l
i
t
y
D
e
p
a
r
t
m
e
n
t
M
o
n
-
T
h
u
:
8
a
.
m
.
–
5
p
.
m
.
F
r
i
:
8
a
.
m
.
–
N
o
o
n
C
i
t
y
C
o
u
n
C
i
l
:
J
e
s
s
i
c
a
S
t
o
c
k
a
m
p
(
M
a
y
o
r
)
T
o
m
D
a
r
k
e
n
w
a
l
d
V
e
r
n
H
e
i
d
n
e
r
D
a
n
S
c
h
a
r
b
e
r
D
o
u
g
S
c
h
r
o
e
d
e
r
C
i
t
y
W
e
b
s
i
t
e
w
w
w
.
c
i
.
o
t
s
e
g
o
.
m
n
.
u
s
Hydrant
FlusHing
The Utility Operations Department will
be flushing fire hydrants throughout
the City in April. Flushing the hydrants
removes sediment and mineral build up
within the City’s water lines to maintain
water quality and also tests the system
for adequate flows. Note that the cap
may be left off of some hydrants after the
water is turned off to allow the fixture to
drain completely but City staff will return
to replace the cap. The schedule for
flushing is as follows:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
riverwood national: April 12
East Otsego: April 16-20
West Otsego: April 23-27
Pride in our Parks and adopt-a-street
The City encourages people of all ages, including residents, community
groups and businesses, to help keep Otsego clean, safe and more attractive
through two community programs:
Pride in Our Parks volunteers assist in picking up debris, raking leaves,
planting and maintaining vegetation, special projects and to help identify
needed repairs in our parks.
Adopt-A-Street is a partnership between volunteers and the City Public
Works Department whereby participants assist in picking up debris, planting
and maintaining boulevard vegetation, special projects and to make visual
inspections roadway areas to identify maintenance issues.
__________________________
Pride in Our Park and Adopt-Street volunteers make a two year commitment
for activities. Otsego Public Works staff provides basic oversight, safety vests,
tools and materials as may be needed. The City also places a sign within the
park or at the approaches to the adopted street crediting the individual, group
or organization for their efforts.
More information about Pride in Our Parks and the Adopt-A-Street programs,
including possible projects, available parks or streets and application forms, is
available at the on the City’s website or by calling City Hall.