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OtsegoNewsletter_Fall2015500 600 2005 1990 20150 400 300 200 100 EV E N T S INFLATABLES & MORE! LIVE MUSIC CARNIVAL PERFORMERS EXHIBITORS PETTING ZOO PAINTBALL BEER GARDEN FOOD VENDORS FIREWORKS LOWE’S WORKSHOP 1990 » 201525 YEARS VIEW IN THIS ISSUE: 2015 Pumpkin Patch City Street Updates General Reminders Parks & Recreation Events Otseg o NEWSLETTER • FALL 2015 BUILDINGPERMITS Since 1990 New Home The Otsego Prairie Festival will feature familiar events and activities, plus a CARNIVAL OPENING FRIDAY AT 5:00 P.M.! The Festival will open 10:00 A.M. ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2015 at Prairie Park. We look forward to seeing you and your family at the Otsego Prairie Festival again this year! Celebrating25 YEARS OTSEGO PRAIRIE FESTIVAL is happening September 12!OTSEGO SILVER CELEBRATION Otsego’s 25th Anniversary of incorporation as a City is on November 15, 1990. The City Council will host a food and entertainment event on November 21, 2015 from 4:00 PM to Midnight at the public works garage at City Hall. The celebration event will include live music, food options, inflatables for kids, and the Otsego Lions Club will be serving beer. 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. The Utilities Department experiences problems with clogs in the municipal sanitary sewer system due to household items being flushed. The Utilities Department has had to repair and upgrade the pumps that are part of the sewer collection system because of these items being flushed. 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. The costs for equipment and/or staff time to address this problem are paid for directly and only by funds generated by sewer fees paid by residents and businesses. Your cooperation to not dispose of these household items through the municipal sanitary sewer system is greatly appreciated. Items that are causing these blockages include the following that may come in packaging saying they are “disposable”: Don’t Flush That! ADVISORY COMMISSION OPENINGS Residents interested in becoming involved in their community may consider applying for appointment to one of the City Council’s advisory committees. There are current openings on the Parks and Recreation Commission, Planning Commission, Police Commission and Heritage Preservation Commission. For more information about the role and responsibilities of each advisory commission or to receive an application, please contact the City Clerk at 763.441.4414 or visit the City’s website. PRAIRIE PARK ARCHERY RANGE OPENS The Parks and Recreation Department has developed an archery range in Prairie Park in partnership with Archery Country out of Rogers, which provided the targets, and Eagle Scout candidates Mitchell Crosby and Ty Dorvinen, who provided all of the other materials and labor. The range, which is located west of the ballfields and accessed off of 90th Street, features three 20 yard targets and other targets between 30 and 60 yards. There is no fee to use the archery range and no reservation required. Hours are from sunrise to sunset each day of the week. Residents interested in composting on your property should be aware of regulations included in the City Code. Composting is limited to yard or certain food wastes to be contained within a structure not exceeding 300 cubic feet in volume. The compost structure must be located in the rear yard of the property, setback from property lines in accordance with the Zoning Ordinance, and also setback 40 feet from any residence on an adjacent property. For those needing to dispose of yard waste but that do not want to compost on their property, the options at right are available: + Otsego residents may dispose of yard waste at the Wright County Recycling Center located at 505 County Road 37, Buffalo MN 55313. Please check with Wright County regarding days and hours of operation via their website at www.co.wright.mn.us under Planning & Zoning. + Otsego residents may purchase a non-resident permit for access to the City of Elk River/Sherburne County landfill located at 19000 Proctor Road, Elk River MN 55303. A link for more information is available on the Otsego website. + Otsego residents may dispose of yard waste at the Albertville compost site located off of MacIver Avenue approximately 1/2 mile north of CSAH 37/60th Street. A permit must be obtained from Otsego City Hall for use of this facility and Otsego residents are not allowed to take compost. Use of the Albertville compost side by Otsego residents has been allowed by the City of Albertville. + Private garbage haulers within the City will also provide a separate container for yard waste for an additional charge. » Cleaning Supplies Disposable floor dusters and 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 COMPOST OPTIONS 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: Oct 1 • East Otsego: Oct 12-16 • West Otsego: Oct 19-23 2016 Notes from the Mayor Election Judges Needed for 2016 Vote Election judges are essential to our democracy by serving as officials to staff local polling places, administer election procedures, and ensure that the rights of voters are protected on Election Day. Serving as an election judge provides an opportunity to learn about the elections process and is a great service to our community. To be considered to be an election judge, please contact the City Clerk at City Hall to receive an application. All election appointments are made by the City Council at least 25 days before an election or about three months before the primary. If appointed, you must attend training conducted by the County Auditor. To be an election judge you must meet all of the following qualifications: You must be eligible to vote in Minnesota You must be able to read, write, and speak English You cannot be a spouse, parent, child, or sibling of any election judge serving in the same precinct at the same time You cannot be a candidate or the spouse, parent, child, or sibling of any candidate on the ballot in that precinct 70TH STREET CONSTRUCTION PROJECT Work on the construction of 70th Street between Odean Avenue and Martin Farms Avenue continues. Updates regarding the progress of the construction project are available on the City’s website or by calling City Hall. DALE LEHRKE FIELDS NAMED The City of Otsego and Three Rivers Soccer Association (TRSA) partnered in 2013 on development of a soccer field complex at Prairie Park, with TRSA funding approximately one-third of the cost of the facility. The balance of the field construction costs were paid for using park dedication monies collected from new subdivisions. This summer has been the first full year of use for the soccer fields and they have been a well-used and welcome addition to the City’s park system. TRSA approached the City about naming the fields after a long-time member passed away unexpectedly in February 2014. Dale Lehrke, who was also an Otsego resident, coached TRSA soccer from 2003 to 2014 and was a member of the TRSA Board of Directors from 2010 to 2014. The Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council unanimously agreed to the field name recognizing Mr. Lehrke’s contribution to Otsego youth and his commitment to TRSA’s role in the community. A sign identifying “Dale Lehrke Fields” has been donated by TRSA and will be installed at the entrance to the soccer complex. Great River Area – Faith In Action Great River Area Faith in Action is a service agency, established in 2003, which provides an opportunity for people to live their faith by serving others with a mission to strengthen our communities by helping those in need remain living independently, with dignity and quality of life. They offer wide variety of programs for all ages and it might be easier to say what they don’t do, which is food, provide emergency financial assistance, shelter or work with domestic abuse. In 2013 Great River Faith in Action served more than 1,700 individuals, families and households in central Minnesota mobilizing over 1,000 volunteers, who together provided more than 21,000 hours of service to help their neighbor in need. Great River Area Faith in Action provides both professional and volunteer services. Professionals form a talented team from diverse disciplines, including a social worker and pastor, as well as nurses, educators, advocates and coaches, who work together to meet the needs of the whole person. Volunteers are screened, trained and matched with a client in need of assistance. Some volunteers serve as drivers, transporting seniors on a regular basis to medical appointments; others may clean, provide chore services, visit or help with paperwork. Still others work in groups, raking, building ramps or helping with moves. Great River Area Faith in Action is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit organization. Approximately 50% of Great River Area Faith In Action’s funding comes from local support including fundraisers and proceeds from their store, The GREAT Room in Elk River, as well as donations from family members of those served, other individuals, businesses and organizations. Wright County Department of Health also provides funding for Great River Area Faith in Action”. They also encourage those using our services to share in the cost of providing them. For more information regarding Great River Faith In Action’s organization and programs, please contact them at 763.263.4277 or visit their website at www.gra-fia.org. PRSRTD STDU.S. POSTAGEPAID PERMIT NO. 1791 TWIN CITIES, MN Time Dated Material T U M B L E 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. PUMPKIN PATCH OCTOBER 24: 11 A.M. – 1 P.M. AT PRAIRIE PARK The Parks and Recreation Commission is planning its annual Pumpkin Patch event. The event is free with each child able to choose a pumpkin to take home. There are games, treats and inflatables at the event as well as a contest to guess the weight of one of three giant pumpkins that will be delivered to the person with the closest estimate. People are also encouraged to bring donations to CAER food shelf. More information regarding the Pumpkin Patch will be posted on the City’s website as date of the event approaches. STREET SIGN REPLACEMENT PROGRAM The Public Works Street Department is responsible for the maintenance of approximately 2,500 signs throughout the City. Those 2,500 signs consist of street name, regulatory, warning and guidance signs. The Department is nearing the completion of a federally mandated replacement program, started in 2013, to bring all of these signs up to Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MN/MUTCD) minimum standards. The prismatic sheeting, which gives the signs reflectivity when vehicle headlights are cast upon them, being used on the new signs being installed has a life expectancy of approximately 12 years. As the signs are being replaced, pictures and documentation is noted in the City’s tablet-based SignTrack software system, which allows the Department to track the history of a particular sign and recommend its replacement as it nears the 12 year life expectancy, which will most likely result in another blanket replacement of the City’s sign infrastructure in 2025. REPORT STREET LIGHTS OUT With the end of Daylight Savings Time more people notice when a street light is not working. If you observe a street light not working, please contact City Hall at 763.441.4414 to report it. City staff will contact the appropriate utility to have the street light repaired to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians.