Loading...
Otsego_Newsletter_Fall2013INFLATABLES & MORE! LIVE MUSIC PERFORMERS PETTING ZOO PAINTBALL CRAFT FAIR FOOD VENDORS FIREWORKS EV E N T S LOWE’S WORKSHOP More information about the Otsego Prairie Festival, including schedules and information regarding sponsors and exhibitor information, is available at the event website at www.otsegoprairiefestival.com. We look forward to seeing you and your family at the Otsego Prairie Festival! vieW in thiS iSSue: Public Works Update Severe Weather reminders: Composting, Rental Housing & Utilities Department Otseg o OtSegO Prairie FeStival is happening September 14th! The Otsego Prairie Festival will feature familiar events and activities that so many have enjoyed in previous years starting at 10:00 a.m. on September 14, 2013 at Prairie Park. The Otsego Prairie Festival this year includes activities for all ages and interests including displays by community organizations and businesses and there will be more than 50 crAFt vendOrS offering their works. OtSegO rOd And cuStOm returns again this year to sponsor the car show open to all street, modified, restored or hot rod cars, trucks and motorcycles. A wide variety of FOOd vendOrS are also signed on to serve festival attendees. This year there will also be many exciting new attractions not the least of which is Live muSic during the dAy tO be FOLLOWed by FireWOrKS At duSK! chiLdren bAcK tO SchOOL Otsego children will be heading back to school in September. Thus the City urges you to be aware for children standing near the street waiting for buses and walking or biking to school. A map of sidewalks and trails is available on the City’s website for parents to use help plan their children’s route to school for those that walk or bike. Also a reminder that it is illegal to pass a school bus stopped on the street with its stop arm extended and flashing lights – please allow space for children to cross the streets. 2013 FESTIVAL SPONSORS de s i g n NEWSLETTER • FALL 2013 don’t flush that! The Utilities Department experiences problems with clogs in the municipal sanitary sewer system due to household items being flushed. Items that are causing these blockages include the following that may come in packaging saying they are “disposable”: The costs for equipment and/or staff time to address this problem are paid for directly and only by funds generated by sewer fees. And, this debris not only clogs the sewer system but may create a blockage in the service line to your home causing sewage to back up into the house. The City is not responsible for any damages if a sewage backup occurs within your home. Your cooperation to not dispose of these household items through the municipal sanitary sewer system is greatly appreciated. – Cleaning Supplies • Disposable floor dusters/mops (Swiffer pads), toilet cleaners, etc. • Disinfection wipes • Shop towels • Paper towels – hygiene Products • Dental floss • Baby wipes • Adult wipes • Feminine products • Prophylactics – Cooking Grease dOg pArKS The Parks and Recreation Commission has designated the area within Prairie Park west of the baseball fields and Waterfront East Park for off-leash dog activities. Owners are responsible to ensure that their dogs remain under their direction and control while off leash within these areas so as not disturb other park users or leave the park area. Outside of these areas, dogs are required to be on a leash or use an electronic collar when at City parks or upon City trails. Also, please help keep our parks clean by picking up after your dog. nAtiOnAL prepAredneSS mOnth September is National preparedness Month (NPM), which is a nationwide, month-long effort promoted by the Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, encouraging households, businesses and communities to prepare and plan for emergencies. One of NPM’s key messages is be prepared in the event an emergency causes you to be self-reliant for three days without utilities and electricity, water service, access to a supermarket or local services, or maybe even without response from police, fire/rescue. Preparedness is a shared responsibility; it takes a whole community. This year’s National Preparedness Month focuses on turning awareness into action by encouraging all individuals and all communities nationwide to make an emergency preparedness plan. Preparedness information and events will be posted to http://community.fema.gov/ connect.ti/READYNPM. Start today to be prepared for an emergency! Prairie CeNter reMODelliNg BegiNS The City Council has approved remodeling of Prairie Center to complete the repurposing of the building from City administrative offices to a community center. The Prairie Center building was constructed in 1993 and served as City Hall until 2012, when the Administration Department and Department of Building Safety were moved to the Public Works Building that had been built with additional space to accommodate future office needs. The remodeling project includes replacement of the roof and heating and air conditioning systems that are original to the building, exterior wall repairs as well as interior updates and changes to address the age of existing fixtures, provide for disability accessibility and make spaces available for a wide range of community activities and programs. City Council and advisory committee meetings will continue to be held at Prairie Center after the remodeling is complete and the Parks and Recreation Department offices will also be located within the building. The remodeling project is being funded using capital reserve and park dedication monies paid by developers with new subdivisions. Building contractors are expected to begin work in early September with the project lasting six to eight weeks. Greetings Neighbors! Notes from the Mayor The Public Works Department has completed its 2013 Street Maintenance project, which consisted of: Crack Filling approximately 23.5 miles of street using 28,000 lbs of crack filling rubber material, Seal Coating and Fog Sealing approximately 23.5 miles of street using 132,000 gallons of seal coating and fog sealing oil and 4,100 tons of rock, and striping of 7 miles of street consisting of 36,500 linear feet of yellow paint and 66,000 linear feet of white paint. Street Department crews also perform street repairs for potholes and other deficiencies using over 166 tons of hot-mix bituminous material. Annual street maintenance is undertaken to maintain the quality of Otsego’s street system and extend the useful life of the street before a pavement overlay or reconstruction is required. Street maintenance such as crack filling and seal coating, which is funded as part of the City’s budget and not assessed to property owners.pu b L ic WO r KS de p A rt m e n t None the less, the City Council and City staff, together with officials from Wright County and surrounding communities, continue to review and update emergency management procedures to ensure preparedness in case of an event such as severe weather or other incidents such as traffic accidents, major fire, chemical spill, etc. The governmental response to an emergency within Otsego is based on the National Incident Management System (NIMS), which provides a nationwide standard for how the City, Wright County Sheriff, Fire Departments, medical and other local, state or federal agencies work together to prepare for, prevent, respond to, recover from and mitigate the effects of an emergency regardless of the incident’s cause, size, location or complexity. On-going NIMS training provides the groundwork for effective responses to an emergency whether it is to a single building fire or a multiagency, multijurisdictional natural disaster. While the City maintains its preparedness for emergencies, there are things residents can do for themselves to prepare and keep their families safe in the event of an incident: • Make a family plan for what your individual family members will do in the event of an emergency, including how you with contact each other and a predetermined meeting point. You should also build a kit of supplies to have ready in the event of emergency. Information regarding making a family plan and preparing and maintaining an emergency kit is available from FEMA at www.ready.gov and referenced in the story regarding National Prepared- ness Month in this issue. • Purchase a NOAA All Warnings Radio for your home. The City has installed warning sirens throughout the City as an emergency alert intended only for people outdoors. The sirens are controlled by Wright County and will be sounded for severe weather including sustained winds over 54mph or hail larger than three-quarters of an inch in diameter or other emergencies and can be controlled based on specific weather patterns. Residents may hear sirens being sounded in adjacent communities that are in Hennepin or Sherburne Counties that are not controlled by Wright County. There are also emergency sirens within Otsego located by Xcel Energy related to the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant, which are also sounded for non- power plant related incidents. Residents should be aware that all of these sirens are interconnected so if one is needed to be set off due to an emergency in Clearwater, these sirens in Otsego will also sound. • Otsego property owners within 10 miles of the Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant should receive annually in the mail an Emergency Planning Guide and Calendar that provides information about radiation and what to do in the unlikely event of an incident. The calendar also includes vouchers for Potassium Iodide (Ki) pills that can be taken to reduce the risk of thyroid cancer caused by exposure to radiation from an incident. If you do not currently receive the information calendar, contact Xcel Energy by email at MNGP_EP_Manager@xenuclear.com We have been fortunate this year to have gone through the Summer without an incident of severe weather impacting our community. Kickball! &PARKSRecreation CITY OF OTSEGO Otsego Adult Fall Kickball League Otsego Parks & Rec and New Life Community are teaming up and running this league – so call your neighbors, friends and co-workers to come and join. Rules and guidelines can be found on-line at otsego.recdesk.com/recdeskportal/. SundAyS, 5:30 p.m. Otsego Prairie Park Starting September 15 - October 6 End of the season Kickball Tournament - October 13 $100 Per Team Registration deadline September 7 Sponsored by: Bring your family out and enjoy an outdoor movie on our 16’ screen. All the movies are free and will be making a visit at a variety of parks throughout Otsego. *In case of inclement weather movies will move inside to Prairie Center 8899 Nashua Ave. Please call the Rec Info line at 763.235.3150 the day of the movie. mOvie ScheduLe And LOcAtiOn: Friday, September 6 Beaudry Meadows Park Wreck it Ralph Friday, September 13 School Knoll Park Brave Friday, September 20 School Knoll Park The Hobbit The Otsego Parks and Recreation Department is offering a wide range of programs and events for this fall. Visit www.ci.otsego.mn.us for more programs, information or to register online or call 763.235.3150. mOvieS in the park Movies start at sunset. FREE! EVENTS • FALL 2013 dread in the Shed AWF prO WreStLing Join the stars of the American Wrestling Federation (AWF) at the Otsego Public Works Facility on Saturday, October 5 at 7 p.m. for this fun all ages show. AWF will be bringing out their best wrestlers for what is sure to be the biggest and best show in the Midwest. LOcAL ceLebritieS OtSegO eLementAry principAL erin tALLey And cOunciL member JASOn WArehime will both be making their wrestling debut! Tickets will be sold both online and at the door. Saturday, October 5; 7 p.m. tickets Online: $8 for Adults; $4 for Kids 16 and under tickets at the door: $10 for Adults; $5 for Kids 16 and under Otsego public Works garage 13400 90th Street ne 5 On 5 nFL FLAg FOOtbALL LeAgue Kids will be grouped in teams K/1st grade, 2nd/3rd grade and 4th/5th grade. Games will be 60 minutes for K/1st grade and 2nd/3rd grade teams and 90 minutes for the 4th/5th grade teams. All games/practices will be held at the Prairie Park fields and will be officiated by trained football referees and coached by volunteer parent coaches. tuesday, September 24 – Saturday, november 9 at prairie park Fields Tuesdays are practice from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays are games; between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Fee: $49; Includes an Official NFL reversible Vikings jersey, NFL flag belt, and a mouth guard. Appropriate for boys and girls grades K–5 The game is 5 on 5 flag football that teaches the basic skills of football running, passing, receiving and defending with non-contact rules that eliminate all forms of blocking and tackling. The program is played on a 50-yard field where participants may run or pass the ball. Teams start at their 5-yard line and have three downs to move the ball past midfield. Once a team has crossed midfield they receive a new set of three downs to score. No standings will be kept as the main purpose of this league is to promote players having fun while learning the basic skills of football. registration deadline September 10th, 2013. pumpKin pAtch OctOber 12 – 11 A.m. – 1 p.m. At prAirie pArK Come to our annual event and pick out your very own pumpkin in our pumpkin patch. There will also be games, inflatables, prizes and more. Please bring a non-perishable food item for CAER. cOupLeS FALL cOLOrS cAnOe trip The City of Otsego is once again pairing with riverwood inn and conference center to offer a fall colors canoe trip down the Mississippi River. Couples will park at the beautiful Riverwood Inn and Conference Center and be taxied up to launch their canoes and they will begin their guided trip down the Mississippi River ending at Norin landing. After landing, couples will be shuttled to Riverwood for dinner, the cost of which is included with the trip. Saturday, September 28 at 10 a.m. cost: $70 per couple (includes canoe trip and dinner) Registration deadline September 25 tiny tOt Open pLAy time AgeS neWbOrn-5 With pArentS Kids bring your parents to this super fun hour of fun and enjoyment. Come meet up with your future classmates while your parents get a chance to meet and catch-up with other parents. thursdays, 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at prairie center Starting September 19* Please check the website for days that are closed $2 each time pArKS And rec dAyS At the hOLidAy inn Get out and enjoy one of the gems of Otsego, the Holiday Inn and Water Park is pairing up again for the second year and offering Parks and Recreation Days throughout the fall and winter months. Enjoy everything the Holiday Inn and Water Park has to offer for only $10 (see admission prices below)! OctOber 24 nOvember 21 december 19 All children must be accompanied by an adult. 5-8 p.m. children: $10 at the door parents: One Free Admission with paid child Admission mOnSter mASh dASh 5K OctOber 19 — 8 A.m. At prAirie pArK entry Fee: $15 Pre-registered by October 10 $20 after October 10 including race day registration $10 Kids 1K Start Location: Prairie Center 8899 Nashua Ave NE Otsego, MN 55330 course: 5K (3.1 mile) course on City streets and trails in and surrounding Prairie Park race day: Registration opens at 7 a.m. All pre-registered 5K participants will be guaranteed a race T-shirt. There will be refreshments and a chance to win attendance prizes after the race. Awards will be given for the overall men’s and women’s winners. celebrate the Fall! Join your neighbors and friends at these annual fall events. Kickball! PRSRTD STDU.S. POSTAGEPAID PERMIT NO. 1791 TWIN CITIES, MN Time Dated Material rentAL hOuSing The City Council has adopted an ordinance regulating rental housing requiring that all such properties be licensed and inspected by the City annually. The purpose of the Rental Housing Ordinance is to establish occupancy and main- tenance standards so that rental units do not become a nuisance or have a blighting influence in Otsego’s neighborhoods. A rental house is defined by the City Code as any dwelling where the occupant is other than the owner regardless if cash rent or other considerations are paid. City staff reviews Wright County Tax records to identify potential rental housing properties within the City. A letter will be mailed to the owners of the properties identified by City staff to provide notice as to the City’s Rental Housing Ordinance and the need for a license application and inspection by the Depart- ment of Building Safety to continue renting the dwelling. Renting a dwelling unit without obtaining a Rental Housing License from the City is a violation of the City Code and the City will enforce its ordinance through criminal, civil or administrative means. More information regarding the Rental Housing Ordinance may be obtained by contacting City Hall or on the City’s web page under City Code. i-94 WeSt cOrridOr cOALitiOn green Light 94 prOJect The I-94 West Corridor Coalition has been organized by local governments, private businesses, the I-94 West Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders affected by the transportation challenges facing Minnesota. The Coalition takes a comprehensive approach to expanding the capacity of the I-94 corridor that will benefit communities and businesses along the entire corridor. The need for lane expansion is quantifiable. I-94 between TH 101 and St. Cloud is one of the most congested roadways in the state. This section of road represents only 1.6% of MnDOT’s Interregional Corridor System, yet makes up 40% of the system’s congestion. The recent Reason Foundation Annual Highway Report of road conditions ranked Minnesota’s interstates as the second most congested in the nation, behind only California. The I-94 West Corridor Coalition recently launched an advocacy campaign, dubbed ‘Green Light 94,’ focused on educating the public and State government officials about the need for lane expansion to reduce congestion between TH 101 and St. Cloud. The Coalition has set its sights on adding a lane in each direction from TH 101 to TH 241 in St. Michael as the next phase of I-94 expansion. To get involved in the Green Light 94 effort, please visit www. i94coalition.com and share your frustrations with traffic congestion on I-94 as the Coalition works to solve this growing problem for our area. city hALL: 13400 90th Street NE Otsego, MN 55330 phOne numberS Main: 763.441.4414 Building Dept.: 763.441.2593 Utility Billing: 763.441.2310 Fax: 763.441.9163 recreAtiOn inFO Line: 763.235.3150 OFFice hOurS: monday–thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Friday 8 a.m. – Noon city cOunciL: Jessica Stockamp (Mayor) Tom Darkenwald Vern Heidner Doug Schroeder Jason Warehime city WebSite* www.ci.otsego.mn.us * Information listed herein as being available on the City website will also be mailed upon request by calling City Hall.