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Otsego_Newsletter_Summer2013otsego properties are served by five post offices each with a separate zip code (see list at right). because the u.s. Postal service (usPs) is not adding new Post offices it is unlikely otsego will have its own designated Zip code. however, the usPs allows otsego property owners to use “otsego” as their mailing address regardless of the location of the Post office assigned to the Zip code. using “otsego” as part of your address helps better identify the city and strengthen community identity and we encourage you to include it on all of your mailed correspondence. 5533055374 55301 5537655362 Z i P codes NEWSLETTER • SUMMER 2013 vieW in this issue: Burning & Building Permits Water Quality reminders: Dogs, Juvenile Curfew & Soliciting Otseg o OtSegO Prairie FeStivaL is happening September 14th! Otsego became a City in 1990 and community leaders soon identified the need for an annual festival to unite residents. The first Otsego Festival in its current form was held in 2002 and was initially organized by a volunteer committee, headed by resident Rose Cassady, who wanted to establish an annual event in Otsego whereby neighbors and businesses could come together each September as an annual tradition. Supported by the City of Otsego, the volunteer committee was very successful at attracting a wide variety of exhibitors, vendors and activities to Prairie Park with annual attendance of more than 5,000 people typical each year. This year the City of Otsego is taking the lead planning what will now be known as the Otsego Prairie Festival on September 14, 2013 at Prairie Park. The Otsego Prairie Festival will feature familiar events and activities that so many have enjoyed in previous years starting at 10:00 a.m. We are welcoming food vendors, community groups, religious organizations, instructional classes, health and wellness providers, personal services, etc. to display at this year’s event. This year there will also be many exciting new attractions not the least of which is live Music FroM 5 P.M. to 8 P.M. to be FolloWed by FireWorks! More information about the Otsego Prairie Festival, including schedules and information regarding sponsors and exhibitor information, is available at the event website » www.otsegoprairiefestival.com. We look forward to seeing you and your family at the Otsego Prairie Festival and carrying on this Otsego tradition for many years to come.Save the date! tuesdAy, August 6 National Night Out National Night Out is Tuesday, August 6, 2013. Sponsored by the Otsego Police Commission, this is a great opportunity for neighbors to come together and get to know one another. If your neighborhood is planning an event for that evening, and would like a visit from the Wright County Sheriff or Fire Department, please register no later than Monday, July 22, 2012. To register, please send the event coordinator’s name, address and telephone number along with the location of the event and time to cityhall@ci.otsego.mn.us. burning PerMits The City together with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources regulates open burning within the City in accordance with Chapter 5, Section 4 of the City Code. A burning permit is required for all open burns except for recreational fires within a 3 foot by 3 foot area and setback 20 feet from any structure. Recreational fires are limited to dry, clean wood that is unpainted or untreated including cord wood, branches, limbs, twigs dimensional lumber cut into lengths not longer than three feet. A burning permit may be obtained at City Hall or from the DNR website. Once a burning permit has been issued, it is the permit holder’s responsibility to confirm that no burning ban is in effect prior to starting an open burn or recreational fire and the permit holder must be constantly in attendance of the fire. No fire may be allowed to smolder with no person in attendance and the open burn or recreational fire must be completely extinguished before the permit holder leaves the site. building PerMits Residents planning improvement projects should check with the Department of Building Safety about building permit requirements. The Department of Building Safety works with residents and business owners to ensure structure safety in accordance with Minnesota Building and Fire Codes, which requires building permits for roofing, siding, decks, and sheds. Permits are also required by the City for fences and swimming pools. For more information or to obtain a building permit, please call the Department of Building Safety at 763.441.2593. MotoriZed vehicles Only vehicles licensed by the State for operation on public roads, such as automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, etc., and farm equipment displaying a slow moving vehicle triangle are allowed to operate upon City streets under Minnesota laws. Golf carts, ATVs, trail bikes, riding lawn mowers or other non- licensed motorized equipment cannot be operated on City streets, trails or sidewalks and are subject to ticketing by the Wright County Sheriff’s Office. Only electric personal assistive mobility devices are allowed on the City trails and sidewalks. PrOPerty Maintenance Everyone is excited to get outside and spruce up their property after the long winter. Here are some City Code regulations to follow to help keep Otsego an attractive and inviting place to live: » Lawns and boulevard areas must be mowed regularly so that grass is not longer than eight (8) inches except as allowed by the City Code. » Noxious weeds (and dandelions) must be eliminated before the plants go to seed. » Property owners are required to mow and maintain the boulevard portion of the public right-of-way (generally 16 feet behind the curb or street or the area between the sidewalk and street). Planting within the boulevard or public right-of-way is limited to deciduous trees with minimum clearance requirements for vehicles and pedestrians. Note that the City is not responsible for any damage to plants or trees within the boule- vard or public right-of-way but will replace grass damaged by snow plow operations. » Exterior storage on residential properties is limited to licensed and operable passenger vehicles less than 12,000 lbs. gross vehicle weight parked on a driveway, two recreational vehicles and/or licensed trailers (that may be parked on grass in a side/rear yard or on the driveway in the front yard), construction or landscaping materials being used for a current project or other common items such as outdoor furniture or neatly stacked firewood. » Selling of automobiles, recreational equipment or similar property belonging to the occupant is limited to two items per calendar year and must be parked on a driveway and not within the public right-of-way. For more information regarding specific property maintenance requirements, please contact City Hall or visit the City’s website. There is a property self-test on the Code Enforcement page of the website to help evaluate the condition of your property and your neighborhood. Greetings Neighbors! River Rider Heartland Express Public transportation is available to Otsego Residents via the River Rider Heartland Express bus service operated through a Joint Powers Board between Wright County and Sherburne County. The River Rider provides door-to-door trans- portation for any need with fares based on the destination point. All of the River Rider buses are wheelchair accessible. River Rider was created in 1979 by Sherburne County with Wright County eventually partnering in the service. In addition to Otsego, River Rider serves the Cities of Annandale, Buffalo, Cokato, Delano and Monticello in Wright County and the Cities of Becker, Big Lake, Elk River and St. Cloud in Sherburne County. The service receives funding from MNDoT for to assist with the purchase of buses. For more information regarding River Rider services and costs call 763.263.0101 or toll free 800.821.9719. Notes from the Mayor Lawn care practices can have a large impact reducing phosphorous, decreasing algae growth and promoting overall water quality for plants, animals and you. By following these techniques your lawn will look great and will not be harming nearby wetlands, streams, lakes or rivers. – Leaving grass clippings on the lawn provides the equivalent of one application of fertilizer per year. – By sweeping lawn clippings from sidewalks, driveways and streets you will greatly reduce the amount of phosphorus that reaches area water bodies. – Maintain a 20 foot buffer of native plantings from any wetland or stormwater basins to filter out nutrients that cause algae and water plant growth – these plants will also keep geese from your yard. – Water lawns between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. to reduce evaporation and minimize the potential for diseases that will harm your lawn. – Wash your car on the lawn using non-phosphorus soap to keep water out of the storm drain and irrigate the grass at the same time. – Use pesticides and herbicides only to the extent necessary and by following the label directions exactly. – Compost containers must comply with City Code requirements and be setback from water or drainage ways to avoid leaching phosphorus directly into the water. – It is illegal to dispose of yard and tree waste with household garbage – contact your waste hauler for a yard bin or visit the City’s website for information on compost sites.W A te r Q u A li t y A goal of the City Council strategic planning sessions is to strengthen Otsego’s community identity. One of the ways to accomplish this goal is to promote development of community based service organizations. Because of Otsego’s history as an agricultural township adjacent to rural cities such as Elk River or Albertville, many residents would look to these communities for social organizations such as schools, churches or social clubs. The population growth in Otsego in recent decades has brought many new residents interested in volunteering and creates the opportunity for the City to establish its own service organizations. The City worked with Rogers resident and Lions International member Jack Hines to charter an Otsego Lions Club. Lion Jack and members of the St. Michael Lions Club met with Otsego residents and business people in late 2012 to organize the Club, elect a Board of Directors lead by President Chad Christian and begin recruiting members. The Otsego Lions Club was officially chartered on March 19, 2013 with 43 members at a dinner held at Rockwoods Bar and Grille that was also attended by representatives of Lions International and other area Lions Clubs. The motto of Lions International is “We Serve” and the Otsego Lions Club is busy identifying ways in which it can support our community. Some of the first ideas being considered include a food drive, volunteer and mentoring opportunities at schools attended by Otsego residents, a sweet corn stand at the Otsego Prairie Festival and raffles. I invite anyone interested in contributing and being part of our community to bring their ideas and energy and become involved with the Otsego Lions Club. Meetings of the Otsego Lions Club are held the first Tuesday of each month usually at Rockwoods Bar and Grille starting at 6:30 p.m. with food and beverages available. Guest speakers, such as Wright County Sheriff Joe Haggerty and Elk River Area School District Superintendent Mark Bezek, are often invited to attend. For more information regarding the Otsego Lions Club check out their website at http://www.otsegolions.org/ or call 612.466.0013. I look forward to seeing you at future Otsego Lions Club events! PRSRTD STDU.S. POSTAGEPAID PERMIT NO. 1791 TWIN CITIES, MN Time Dated Material 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 * Any information available on the website is also available by calling City Hall. Peddlers And solicitors Persons taking orders or selling goods door-to-door are required to obtain a license from the City. Non-profit organizations, religious groups, political candidates and organizations or others distributing non-business related information only do not require a license. The licensing process involves a criminal background check and registration of the people working within the City. Identification is issued to those peddlers and solicitors that are granted a license, which is to be visible when conducting their business. If a peddler or solicitor comes to your door and you do not see the City certificate, ask if they have a license and request to see it. If the peddler or solicitor does not provide documentation upon request, residents are encouraged to ask the person to leave your property and call the Wright County Sheriff’s Office by dialing 911. d o g s Dogs are required by the City Code to be kept within the boundaries of their owners’ property or otherwise leashed or an electronic collar or other device so as to effectively be under control as by leash. Dog owners are required to pick up and dispose of feces when walking their dogs in City parks or along public trails and sidewalks. Feces must also be picked up and disposed of from yards or otherwise be subject to enforcement of nuisance violations. To report a dangerous dog, dog running at large or barking dog that is disturbing the peace, please call the Wright County Sheriff by dialing 911. Juvenile Curfew Parents should be aware this summer that the City has estab- lished curfew hours for minors. Except when accompanied by a parent or other guardian or under specific circumstances outlined by the City Code, persons under the age of 18 may not be in any public place or establishment during the following hours: — under 16 years of age: Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. each day of the week. — Age 16 or 17: Between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday—Thursday; 12 midnight and 5 a.m. Friday—Saturday The full curfew ordinance is Chapter 5, Section 3 of the City Code and is available by contacting City Hall or on the City’s website under the City Documents tab.