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OtsegoNewsletter_Summer2014Greetings Neighbors! NEWSLETTER • SUMMER 2014 VIEW IN THIS ISSUE: Upcoming City Events 2014 Election Details Reminders: Neighborhood Sales, Street Maintenance and Underage Drinking Otseg o 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 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. The City of Otsego assumed direct responsibility for organizing and promoting the Otsego Prairie Festival in 2013 with the support of local volunteers and businesses. The Otsego Prairie Festival and Car Show this year will feature familiar and new events, entertain- ment and activities starting at 10:00 a.m. at Prairie Park. We are welcoming community groups, religious organizations, instructional classes, health and wellness providers, personal services and other businesses to display at this year’s event together with the craft show. FOOD VENDORS will be expanded to provide more locations and a wider variety of choices for people attending the Otsego Prairie Festival. OTSEGO ROD & CUSTOM will again host a car show open to all stock, modified or custom classes of automobiles, classic and custom motorcycles. Last year’s Prairie Festival was to have featured live music to be followed by fireworks. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate but LIVE MUSIC AND FIREWORKS are included as a main attraction for this year’s event. Starting at 5:00 p.m., OUTDOOR RECESS will perform from the main stage with fireworks scheduled to start at dusk. The Otsego Lions are also stepping up to operate a BEER GARDEN for the first time at the Otsego Prairie Festival, which will be adjacent to the live music main stage from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 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. Best wishes to you and your family for a fun and safe summer! 08 . 0 5 . 1 4 otsego Night Out Otsego Night Out is Tuesday, August 5, 2014. Sponsored by the Otsego Public Safety 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 Tuesday, July 15, 2014. Online registration is available on the City’s website or by calling Parks & Recreation 763-235-3148 with the event coordinator’s name, address and telephone number along with the location of the event. Notes from the Mayor OTSEGO PRAIRIE FESTIVAL is happening September 13! The City Council looks forward to seeing you and your family at the Otsego Prairie Festival. ASSESSING UPDATE The Wright County Assessor’s Office will be inspecting properties in the area of Otsego north of CSAH 39 between Parrish Avenue (CSAH 42) and Nashua Avenue in 2014 to evaluate the estimated market value and tax classification of each property as required Minnesota Statutes. The Assessors’ determination of market value represents a reasonable estimate of what your property may sell for based on market conditions and information relating to your specific property. The estimated market value is the basis for calculating property taxes. More information is available about the property assessment process on the Assessors page at the Wright County website: www.co.wright.mn.us or by calling 763.682.7367. PRAIRIE PARK SOCCER COMPLEX OPENS Youth soccer teams to begin playing at the new Otsego Prairie Park soccer Complex The soccer complex, which was developed collaboratively by the City of Otsego and Three Rivers Soccer Association (TRSA), has three full size, irrigated grass soccer fields. The soccer complex is located within the City campus north of Prairie Park and west of City Hall. The cost of the soccer complex project was just over $300,000. TRSA has committed to a donation of $100,000 to the project cost, with the balance funded by the City using monies dedicated by developers for park facility construction. The City was excited to enter into this partnership with TRSA to develop the Prairie Park Soccer Complex given the continued growth within the community and increased demand for recreation facilities. TRSA started in 1975 and has invested in field development partnerships with the communities they play in to ensure their members have quality fields for youth soccer well into the future. The City Council appreciates the efforts and commitment to youth recreation of TRSA President and Otsego resident Steve Zoubek, who along with the TRSA Board of Directors, worked with the City to make this project possible. STREET MAINTENANCE The City has established a pavement management program that includes ongoing preventative maintenance such as crack filling, seal coating and overlays to provide for safe travel and extend the usable life for City streets. These maintenance activities are funded each year through general property taxes. Information regarding the location and schedule for street maintenance this season will be posted on the City’s website. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS MNDoT is undertaking two major transportation projects in the area this construction season that will benefit Otsego residents and businesses. More information about the expansion of I-94 from TH 101 to TH 241 and the TH 101/CR 144 interchange in Rogers are available at the links below: I-94 Improvements: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/d3/i94/ TH 101/CR 144 interchange: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy101countyroad144/ OTSEGO FIREFIGHTERS SWORN IN Albertville Fire Chief Tate Mills swore in three Otsego residents as Albertville’s newest reserve firefighters on May 1, 2014. Greg Hubbard, Mark Driste and Paul Maher applied to join the Albertville Fire Department and were each successful in meeting the eligibility requirements including physical fitness and residing or working within the Albertville Fire District. They join Otsego residents Chris Adams, Albert Barthel, Matt Minnette and Ryan Zachman who also serve the Albertville Fire Department. The Albertville Fire Department provides fire protection services for western areas of Otsego as shown on the map available on the City’s website. The City of Otsego, led by Council Member Jason Warehime and Council Member Vern Heidner acting as liaisons, has been working more closely with the City of Albertville and Albertville Fire Department on long range planning for fire services to ensure that fire protection needed for both communities is provided for in a fiscally responsible manner as new development continues in the area. 2014 Election Otsego residents will head to the polls again on August 12, 2014 for Federal and State primary elections. The polls open at 7:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. The City is divided into three precincts that will vote at two polling places. To determine which Precinct you are in, visit the Minnesota Secretary of State’s website at http://pollfinder.sos.state.mn.us/. A map showing the Precinct boundaries and polling places is also available on the City’s website or you may also call City Hall for more information on the election process. The election ballot will include two Otsego City Council positions. The filing dates for the City Council election are July 29 to August 12, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. There is a $5.00 cash filing fee. Please contact the City Clerk for more information or to file. The polling places are as follows: PRECINCT 1-A PRAIRIE CENTER 8899 Nashua Avenue NE Please use the main entrance PRECINCT 2-A OTSEGO ELEMENTARY 8125 River Road NE Please look for signs directing you to the appropriate entrance PRECINCT 3 OTSEGO ELEMENTARY 8125 River Road NE Please look for signs directing you to the appropriate entrance NEIGHBORHOOD SALES Below are some reminders for people planning to hold a garage sale or sell a personal vehicle or recreational equipment. The number of garage sales permitted on a single property is limited to two (2) within a calendar year. The duration of the sale cannot exceed four consecutive days. The merchandise offered for sale must be the personal property of the occupant of the home and may be displayed only on the improved driveway and not in the front yard, boulevard or public right- of-way. Signs are allowed only on private property and cannot be placed on utility poles or in the public right-of-way. Not more than two (2) personal vehicles and recreational vehicles, boats, trailers or equipment are allowed to be sold from a single property within a calendar year. The vehicle or recreational equipment must be the personal property of the occupant of the home. The vehicle or recreational equip- ment may only be displayed upon an improved driveway with a sign not to exceed two square feet in area. More information may be obtained by calling City Hall or reviewing the Zoning Ordinance on the City’s website. The way you maintain your yard 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. » Sweeping lawn clippings from sidewalks, driveways and streets will greatly reduce the amount of phosphorus that reaches area water bodies. » Maintain a 20 foot buffer of native plantings from any wetland or storm water 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 may 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.WA T E R Q U A L I T Y 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: 763.235.3148 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. OTSEGO TIDBITS Many of Otsego’s early settlers came from Maine and other New England states. They made their living in the fur trade, lumbering and agriculture. Most forests in New England had been cut down, destroying the habitat for fur-bearing animals. The thin, rocky soil made farming difficult and unprofitable. News of cheap, affordable land in the west attracted many to this area. When the first permanent settlers arrived at Otsego in 1852, Minnesota had not yet attained statehood; this occurred May 11, 1858. In Wright County, Pleasant Grove Precinct was established April 9, 1855 under the territorial government. The name Pleasant Grove is used in several history books, but the name appears as Pheasant Grove on the 1855 Census and in some County records. The Township was established April 5, 1958 and renamed Otsego. The Otsego townsite of about 400 acres was surveyed and platted in 1857 in the area surrounding the current intersection. There was a school, town hall, post office, store, ferry, sawmill, blacksmith shop, church, parsonage, tabernacle, camp grounds, and hotel as well as a number of homes. A few original structures still stand. Visit the Heritage Preservation Commission’s page on the City website for more information about Otsego’s history. Source: Otsego Heritage Preservation Commission, 1996. Otsego - In the Beginning 1852 to 1880. Deterring Under Age Drinking The City has adopted a social host ordinance to provide the Wright County Sheriff’s Office an additional tool to address underage drinking. Sheriff’s Deputies responding to calls where alcohol is being provided to minors have the ability to issue citations to the consuming minors under existing State and local laws. The social host ordinance prohibits an adult from knowingly providing a place where underage drinking by other than their own children occurs and makes them subject to citation and arrest. Holding the adult host responsible for the provision of alcohol to non-family minors serves as a greater deterrent to underage drinking facilitated by adults. The text of the social host ordinance adopted as part of the City Code is available on the City’s website or by calling City Hall for more information.