HomeMy WebLinkAboutRivertown Newsletter - Spring 2007
In This Issue:
www.ci.hastings.mn. us
Animal Control .............. 7
Arbor Day ............ ..... 15
City Hires Fire Inspector .. ......9
Earth Day Celebration .... ..... 12
HFAC Info ............ ..... 14
Home Buyer Resources ... ..... 4
Panning & Dev. Recap ... ...... 5
Sesquicentennial Events .. ..... 3
Spring Clean-Up Day ..... ..... 13
2007 Street Construction Plan ... 11
Mayor:
Paul Hicks 437-8866
mayorh icks@ci. hasti ngs. m n. us
Ward Council Members:
Ward 1 Anthony Alongi
438-9320
alongihastings@comcast. net
Ward 2 Turney Hazlet
437-5298
turneyhazlet@comcast. net
Ward 3 Ed Riveness
437-4416
emrivyl@msn.com
Ward 4 Danna Elling Schultz
438-3878
dannaelling@hotmail.com
At-Large Council Members:
Barb Hollenbeck 480-0268
barb-hol len beck@comcast. net
Mike Slavik 437-4637
mi keslavik@comcast. net
General City Council E-mail
CitycouncilC~ci.hastings.mn.us
RequestPartners:
At Your Service!
In early 2006, the City of Hastings imple-
mented a web-based online citizen request
system to be available to the public via the
City's website. This system, known as
RequestPartners, gives the City an opportunity
to continue to provide timely, responsive service
to the public using technology and the City's
website. This system allows citizens to make
an online request for service, information,
and/or feedback of City services. There is
also a Frequently Asked Questions section
that provides information to the public as
well as link them to the appropriate form to
complete if they want to make a request.
Residents can access RequestPartners on
any page of the City's newly designed website
(www.ci.hastings.mn.us). The link Make a
Request is available on the left column menu
Budget Surnrnary
Each year, the City of Hastings prepares
a budget which is adopted by the City
Council in December. On December 18,
2006, the 2007 budget was adopted by
the City Council. Per Minnesota statue, a
summary of the budget must be publicized
in the City's Newspaper of Record, the
Hastings Star Gazette.
The 2007 budget summary will be
published in March. The summary can
also be found on the City's website at
www.ci.hastings.mn.us under the heading
City Services-Finance Department. If
there are any questions, please call
Finance Director Char Stark at 480-2354.
on every page you visit. Users are also given
the option to create an account. This entails
the citizen's name, address, a-mail, telephone
and preferred method of response (e-mail,
telephone, letter, fax) as well as a password
for the citizen to check the status of a
request online. Once an account is created,
when the citizen makes a request, their
information is automatically filled in on the
form so they don't have to reenter their
contact information-name, phone, etc.
Citizens can also make a request without
creating an account.
Once you've decided whether to create and
use an account, you will then be able to
choose the appropriate form for your
request-question about snow removal?
Looking for information about an historical
property? Do you have a suggestion about
the City's website? Then RequestPartners is
RequestPartners, continues on page 2
8~ Annual Spring
Clean Up Day
Saturday, April 28, 2007 will be the City
of Hastings 8th Annual Clean-Up Day.
The location once again will be the Public
Works Garage at 1225 Progress Drive,
off of 10th Street East, about a mile
east of Vermillion Street (Highway 61).
Gates will open at 9:00 a. m. and
collections will be accepted until 1:00 p.m.
Look inside to page 13 for
more details!
Rivertown News (March 2007 - ]une 2007) 1
.~
City of Hastings
101 Fourth Street East
Hastings, MN 55033
City Administrator:
Dave Osberg 480-2383
dosberg@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
Asst City Administrator
Melanie Mesko Lee 480-2326
mmesko_lee@ci.hastings.mn. us
Elections
480-2350
electionsC~ci.hastings.mn.us
http://www. ci. hasti ngs. mn. us/News
Info/ Election) nfo. htm
Finance Director
Char Stark 480-2354
cstark@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
Community Relations
Shannon Rausch 480-2344
srausch@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
r ~~ -_
~- \
~,
RequestPartners
continued form page 1
a great source for you! Just choose the form you
feel best applies to your issue, complete the
information, and once it's submitted, it is
automatically forwarded to the appropriate staff
person for attention.
You will also receive a request ID that you can
refer to if you would like to follow up on the status
of a request as well as receiving an a-mail
confirmation of your request. The confirmation
e-mail also reminds you that you can check the
status of your request on the City's website &
provides the Request ID # for future reference.
Once a request has been made, it is then forwarded
via e-mail to the appropriate staff person assigned
to that form. Employees have a link to the RP
system on their computer desktop-this allows
Spiral Shuttle Committee
Seeks Volunteers
For thirty years, the City of Hastings has offered a
transit service called TRAC (TRansportation Around
the City), which provides dial-a-ride transportation
within the Hastings City limits. TRAC is a popular
program that serves all members of our community
well; however, occasionally there are requests for
fixed route service and/or senior service.
In a great example of cooperation and collaboration,
the Spiral Shuttle was unveiled in 2006. The Spiral
Shuttle is a result of a variety of interests -Hastings
Family Services, the Senior Center, ProAct, and the
United Way of Hastings-who identified an unmet
need for regular, fixed route bus service within the
City for our senior community.
The Spiral Shuttle has been offering fixed route
bus transportation service to seniors between the
hours of 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each Tuesday
and Thursday.
2 Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000
staff to enter the system from the staff side to
review and respond to requests, to make additions
or changes to forms, update the FAQ's.
When a request is being responded to, city staff
will be able to track their actions as well as create
correspondence to the citizen in response to the
request. Once completed, the status of the
request is changed from Active to Completed-the
citizen can still review that staff's response by
logging in to the system and reviewing the status
of any request that citizen has made.
RequestPartners is just one of many great
resources for the public to use to stay in contact
with the City and it's representatives.
Visit RequestPartners on the City's website
at www.ci.hastings.mn.us
Phone: 480-2350
E-mail: CityhallC~ci.hastings.mn.us
While the feedback to the service has been positive,
the ridership numbers have not been as high as
anticipated. As a result, the Spiral Shuttle has
temporarily discontinued service to reevaluate the
schedule to better meet the transportation needs
of the City's seniors.
Please join the Hastings Spiral Shuttle
Committee at 4:30 p. m. each Tuesday at
the Hastings Area Senior Center (213
Ramsey Street). Your input is vital to help
enhance the service of the Spiral Shuttle.
Contact Laurie Thrush for more information or to
provide your feedback. She can be reached by
phone at 438-0750 or by e-mail at
hseniorsC~yahoo.com.
,~
OUR SESQUICENTENNIAL IS UPON US!
Spring Sesquicentennial events offer a wide variety of
experiences to be enjoyed by all ages.
.~
may 5, 2007: Historical Homes of Hastings tours to celebrate
National Preservation Month. Buildings open for self-guided tours
will include the LeDuc House, Hastings City Hall (former Dakota
County Courthouse) plus 10 private residences. Tickets for the
Historic Home Tour can be purchased beginning April 1st at any of
the following locations. Hastings City Hall, The LeDuc Estate, The
Emporium or The Scandinavian Marketplace. A map will be provided
for guests to choose their own route between 10:00-4:00 p.m.
Cost: $ 20.00
The Saturday Night Cruise-Ins are back beginning June 2.
Every other Saturday evening during the summer from 5:00-10:00
p.m., Historic Downtown Hastings will be awash in classic cars,
muscle cars, hot rods and custom and restored cars. Free entrance
to vehicles 1976 and older and free to all spectators. Come see the
cars you dreamed about!
If you missed booking a ride on a riverboat during the Grand
Excursion a few years ago, you have another chance June 29-July
1, 2007. The Padelford Packet Boat Excursions down the
Mississippi will be boarding in Hastings. Take a steamboat trip
back in time learning about the history of the river through live nar-
rations. Day trips and dinner excursions with entertainment;
details plus discounted booking is available online at
www.riverrides.com.
Sesquicentennial eventshave drawn good crowds. The February
Winter Celebration in the Parks Ice Skating Parties drew over 450
skaters to Wallin and Pioneer Park. The ice cutting demonstration
at Lake Rebecca was a sight to see, as shown in the photos below
These 75 pound blocks of ice were transported to the LeDuc ice
house where we hope they will last well into summer.
lce Cutting demonstrations were performed by
Dick Darsow and Rod Van Vleet (Above)
John Schumacher (left)
Upcoming Events at the LeDuc
Historic Estate
Celebrating Generations of Brides
Saturday, April 14, 10 a. m. - 4 p.m.
It's spring and the wedding season is upon us. The ladies
of LeDuc host a day of wedding fashions for brides and wives
of all ages. See how the latest styles from today compare
to the dresses of the 1800s, enjoy fun food and discuss
your wedding or anniversary planning with a host of experts.
Door prizes will be awarded at this FREE event. Donations
are accepted.
Mother's Day,
Sunday, May 13
For the second year, the LeDuc will offer families a unique
experience in honor of the mothers in your lives. Enjoy a
fantastic meal set in this beautiful Victorian home built during
the Civil War. Start a new family tradition with brunch at
10:30 a.m., lunch at noon or 1:30 p.m., or dinner at 5:30 p.m.
Reservations required by May 17, call 437-7055. Adults $24.95
and children ages 6 to 12 $14.95.
Founders' Day & Father's Day
Saturday, June 15, 10 a. m. to 5 p.m.
In celebration of both Father's Day and the 150th celebration
of the founding of Hastings, the Dakota County Historical
Society presents Founders' Day at the LeDuc Historic
Estate. Fur traders will be encamped at the estate for a
rendezvous all day and tours of the house start at 10:00,
11:30, 1:00 and 4:00. A humorous original play by
Hastings native Heidi Langenfeld recreates the founding of
Hastings at 2:30 p.m.
Admission rates for Founders' Day are $10 for adults;
$9 for seniors and military personnel with military ID;
$5 for students and Free for members and children five
years or younger.
For information on these and other LeDuc Events,
Contact the LeDuc Estate at 437-7055 or visit the
website at www.dakotahistory.org/LeDuc
Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000 3
j~
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. I ~-J ~- I~ ~-Yv .I
City of Hastings
101 Fourth Street East
Hastings, MN 55033
HRA Director
John Grossman 480-2347
Grossman@ci. hastings. mn. us
Planning Director
John Hinzman 480-2378
jhinzman@ci. hastings. mn. us
Planning Associate
Kari Barker 480-2377
kbarker@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
Resources for Homebuyers
& Homeowners
Through the Dakota County Community
Development Agency (CDA), Hastings residents
have access to a variety of programs to help them
be successful homeowners. For more information,
visit the CDA's Web site at www.dakotacda.org or
call (651) 675-4400.
First Time Homebuyer Program
The First Time Homebuyer Program has been
providing below market mortgage loans since 1983
and has helped over 4,800 households purchase
a home. The current program features interest
rates of 5.50°~ for FHA/VA/RHS loans and 5.625°~
for conventional loans.
Income limits are $78,500 for a one or two person
household and $86,350 for a three or more
person household. Loans can be used to purchase
2007 Home Stretch Schedule
Participants must attend all three nights to complete
the workshop. Home Stretch is a nine-hour course,
offered over the course of three nights (Thursday,
Tuesday and Thursday.) Class is held monthly from
6 to 9 p.m. each night, at the DCD's offices in
Eagan. The schedule for the remainder of the year
include:
April 12, 17 and 19
May10,15and17
June 14, 19, 21
July 12, 17 and 19
August 16, 21 and 23
September 13, 18 and 20
October 11, 16 and 18
November 8, 13 and 15
Pre-Purchase Counseling
Homebuyers can access free one-on-one counsel-
ing whether they are buying a home now or in the
future. This program assists with creating a plan to
existing or newly constructed single family homes, become successful homeowners including creating
townhomes, or condominiums that cost less than a budget to save for a down payment, addressing
$259,050. credit issues or reviewing purchase agreements or
loan documents.
Along with the First Time Homebuyer loans, two
downpayment assistance options are available.
One is a 4°~ grant in exchange fora 0.6°~ higher
interest rate and the other is a loan up to
$10,000 for income qualified households. Buyers
work with participating mortgage lenders to qualify
for the program.
Home Stretch® Homebuyer Education
The first step in making a sound investment is to
learn about the homebuying process and the
responsibilities of homeownership. Home Stretch
is taught by housing professionals including morn
gage lenders, real estate professionals,
credit/budget counselors and inspectors.
The workshops are offered on a monthly basis at
the CDA's office in Eagan. The cost to attend is
$15 per household for Dakota County residents;
$25 for non-residents. Pre-registration is required.
and can be done by calling 651-675-4400, or visit-
ing their website www.dakotacda.com.
Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention
Foreclosure can be a stressful and complicated
time with many questions. Answers and referrals
to additional resources are just a phone call away.
The Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Program
provides free counseling assistance to help home-
owners who are in or nearing foreclosure.
Home Improvement Loan Program
This program provides low interest home improve-
ment loans to income eligible households. Loan
funds can be used to make general repairs such
as roof replacement, furnace replacement, and
electrical or plumbing repairs. Eligibility for these
loans is based on household size and gross annual
household income.
4 Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000
rv~, ` r/~
Spring 2007
What Is the HRA and What Do They Do?
The Hastings City Council established the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA)
in 1971. The HRA's redevelopment authority can be used throughout the city,
although certain types of programs require the establishment of a redevelopment
area first. There is currently one redevelopment area in Hastings right now and that
is the downtown neighborhood.
Goals and Objectives of the Hastings HRA include:
1. Assist housing development and maintenance.
2. Assemble parcels for new development
3. Assist rehabilitation of commercial structures.
4. Clear blighted parcels and relocate incompatible uses.
5. Assist public improvements: alleys, utilities, streets, landscapes
6. Assist historic preservation and restoration.
One misconception of the HRA is that it owns or operates housing. That responsibility
was assigned to Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) in 1984. The
CDA provides two elderly and three family housing facilities in Hastings. The HRA assists
housing and medical facility projects by authorizing the sale of tax exempt revenue bonds.
The HRA does, however provide rehabilitation programs within the City limits. Current
programs for both residential and commercial property offered by the Hastings HRA
and Dakota County CDA are listed to the right.
The HRA Board consists of five commissioners appointed by the Mayor and Council. The
current commissioners are Dennis Martodam, Pam Holzem, Robert Hollenbeck, Ron
Toppin and Kurt Keena. The HRA can be contacted through John Grossman, HRA
Director at 480-2347 or jgrossmanC~ci.hastings.mn.us.
2006 Planning & Development Recap
Over 22,000 people now call Hastings home. With that continued population growth
comes many new projects. In 2006, the City issued 174 permits for new residential
construction, over 150 of which were for townhomes. Glendale Heights, on the
southeast side of town, and Prairie Ridge Development on the west edge of town
accounted for many of the new townhome development. Single-family home
construction numbers were lower than years past with only 17 permits issued.
Commercial and industrial construction continued to be strong in 2006. Major projects
included Premier Bank at Schoolhouse Square, Amcon Office Building on South Frontage
Road, Wal-Mart Superstore expansion, and Miller Electric in the Industrial Park.
New construction is expected to continue in 2007 with construction of the new
YMCA, Regina Hospital Expansion, and conversion of the former Wal-Mart building in
the County Crossroads Center into a Coborn's Grocery Store.
These along with other statistics about the city's growth in 2006 can be found in
the Planning Department Report which can be found on the City's website.
www.ci.hastings.mn.us/Plann ingDev/Planning/PLN ReportsDemograph ics. html
Housing Information
For affordable housing, contact the
following providers. This list is limited to
rent-restricted units for households that
meet income qualifications.
Dakota County CDA provides all types of
public housing and Section 8 programs.
www.dakotacda.org or call 651-675-4440
for mor information.
Senior Apartments
Mississippi Terrance and Rivertown Court
Dakota County CDA 675-4514
Oak Ridge Manor independent living 437-1367
Oak Ridge assisted living 438-0418
www.commonbond.org
Family Townhomes
Pleasant Ridge and Marketplace
Dakota County CDA 651-675-4516
Guardian Angels Townhomes
Sherman Associates 612-366-0670
Guardian Angels Apartments
Sherman Associates 612-366-0670
Affordable apartments without age restrictions
Section 8 Applications
Dakota County CDA: 651-675-4440
Emergency Housing
Hastings Family Service: 437-7134
Robert B. Lewis House: 437-1291
Housing Rehab Assistance Programs
Owneroccupied home improvement loans -
owner income qualifications, rental housing
improvement loans - tenenat rent & income
qualifications
Dakota County CDA:
Mark Hanson, 651-675-4469
mhansonC~dakotacda.state. mn. us
Owneroccupied home improvement loans -
income qualifications; Historic exterior
restoration loans -designated historic
properties
Hastings HRA: John Grossman, 480-2347
jgrossmanC~ci.hastings.mn.us
Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000 5
Hastings Police
Department
150 Third Street East
Hastings, MN 55033
Non-Emergency: 480-2 300
Emergency: 911
www.ci.hastings.mn.us
Police Chief:
Mike McMenomy 480-2300
m mcmenomy@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
Lieutenant:
Joe Kegley 480-2300
jkegley@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
Lieutenant:
Jim Rgnonti 480-2300
jrgnonti@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
2006 Crime Numbers
Decrease
Encouraging news from the City's Police
Department for 2006! The statistical numbers
for crime in last year shows a decrease
compared to the previous year.
These statistics are the incidents and reports
received by the Hastings Police Department.
These are used for official state and national
crime statistics such as thefts, damage to
property, assaults, robberies, auto thefts,
burglaries, DUI, disorderly conduct, fraud,
drug offenses and other violations.
Total Reports Traffic tickets/warnings
2005 1,673 6,011
2006 1,490 6,876
(a decrease of 183) (An increase of 865)
These are positive signs of decreasing crime, even
though our community is growing.
Civil Defense Siren Procedures
With warmer weather comes a different type of severe weather and the use of the civil defense sirens.
These sirens will be activated whenever the threat of a severe thunderstorm or tornado is imminent for
the City of Hastings and surrounding area.
The Hastings Police Department and dispatch service receive these alerts from the National Weather
Bureau if a tornado warning or severe thunderstorm warning has been reported for our area. The civil
defense sirens are activated to alert the public of this potential threat and to tell citizens that it is time
to find a safe place for shelter from the storm. A safe place would include the basement of your home
or lowest level of an apartment building. If you live in a mobile home park you should head immediately
to the designated storm shelter.
For updates on the severe weather risk, tune to local radio
station 1460 AM, KDWA when severe weather incidents are
imminent.
The sirens are also tested the first Wednesday of each month
at 1:00 pm. If you live in the area of a civil defense siren and
do not hear or do not remember it going off in your area, please
contact the Hastings Police Department and we will check to
make sure the civil defense siren is working properly in your
neighborhood and throughout the city.
6 Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000
Animal Control
Residents are reminded that the city has regulations in place regarding dogs.
Simply, the ordinance states that:
• All dogs must be on leash or under control when out walking.
• Owners are responsible for picking up any waste left by the dog.
• Dogs are not allowed to be running loose.
Hastings Police Department handles all dog and
animal control problems in the City of Hastings.
In 2006, there were 131 calls received by the
Hastings Police Department concerning dog issues
where there was a dog running loose, a barking dog
or a found dog.
If a dog is found loose and turned over to the
Hastings Police Department, the dog owner must pay a fee to release the
dog and also is subject to being criminally charged with a ordinance violation
if the record shows that it is an ongoing problem of the dog running loose
and owner not being responsible for taking care of the dog.
In 2006 there were 18 written warnings issued to dog owners and 22 tickets
issued to dog owners who had previous history of similar violations concerning
their dog.
There was also $4,415.00 collected by the Hastings Police Department from
various dog owners having to pay the pick up cost and animal storage cost
for the dog being held in the dog pound.
Residents are also reminded that there is a limit of
3 dogs/cats or combination per household. It is
_ ~ s importance for owners to obtain a dog license for
J ~ your dog from the city, as this can assist the police
department in finding you as the owner of this dog
should they pick it up, thus saving the dog owner the
cost of storing the dog in the pound.
Licenses are $8.00/$10.00 and can be obtained at
City Hall. If your dog is turned over to the City and is
not licensed, you will be required to have it licensed
before it will be released.
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1 ~1~ 1 I ~l ~~~~ r~ S ~~~
Spring Safety Reminder
Now that spring is approaching, everyone is
reminded there will be an increase in the number
of people out walking, biking, skateboarding and
rollerblading, using the streets and sidewalks of
our City. Some safety tips for people out enjoying
the weather:
First and foremost Drivers need to yeild to
pedestrians
• Always try to have a walking partner with
you on your walks. If you can't have a
walking partner, always try to walk in a
residential area where you can easily get
help if needed.
• When walking, stay on the sidewalks
when at all possible and off the roadway.
If no sidewalks are available, stay as
close to the curb and walk against the
direction of traffic.
• Always wear light colored clothing which
can be more easily seen than dark clothing.
When walking in the evening hours or at
dusk, try to wear some sort of reflective
type clothing or reflective traffic vest. Many
walkers are now wearing bright orange
slip-on vests with reflective stripes or
tape on the vest.
• If walking after dark, carry a flashlight
and walk in well lit neighborhoods.
• When crossing a street, always cross at
the corner intersection of the street, in a
designated crosswalk if possible. Never
cross in the middle of the street.
Have a
Safe •r
En.~oyable
Spring
Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000 z
~r~,~-
Hastings Fire
Department
115 Fifth Street West
Hastings, MN 55033
Non- Em a rge n cy: 480-6150
Emergency: 911
www.ci.hastings.mn.us
Fire Chief:
Mark Holmes 480-6150
mhol mes@ci. hasti ngs. m n. us
Assistant Fire Chief/
Fire Marshal:
It Doesn't Take Flames
To Burn
Scald burns, caused by steam, hot liquids or foods
are the most common burn injury among children
age four and younger.
While the injuries are distressing, even more
disturbing is the fact that many of these burns
could have been prevented.
How Scald Burns Happen
Ninety-five percent of scald burns occur in
residences. Scald burns are typically related to
ordinary activities -bathing, cooking and eating
-and often happen to children because of a
lapse in adult supervision or a lack of protective
measures. Youngsters may not understand or
even be aware of potential dangers of hot liquids,
microwaves may heat food and liquids unevenly.
It is very important to mix and then test the
temperature of foods and liquids that are heated
by a microwave.
Also, keep children away from the cooking and
sink areas when food is being prepared. Maintain
a three foot "no kid zone" around the cooking
area. When possible, use the back burners on
cooktops and turn the handles of pots and pans
inward so as they are not hanging over the edge
of the stove top where they could be easily
grabbed. Also, be aware that toddlers can pull
on tablecloths and appliance cords, spilling hot
items onto themselves, so it is important to keep
foods and liquids away from the edges of counters
and tables.
These suggestions may seem obvious and simple,
but can't be repeated too often.
Act Quickly
If you witness a burn or burn yourself, the sooner
you act, the better. Immerse the affected area in
cool water, not cold, for at least five minutes. This
will stop further damage from occurring. Do not put
butter on a burn and do not pop any blisters. They
will go away as the skin heals itself.
Apply a clean non-stick dressing. Gently change
the dressing and clean the area at least once a
day, more often if it gets dirty. If blisters break,
wash the area with mild soap and water, then
apply an antibiotic ointment and a clean dressing.
See a healthcare provider if you notice signs of
infection, such as redness around the area,
swelling, heat, pus or failure to heal in a few days.
Remember the 5 and 55 rule. Children under age
5, their bodies are growing faster than it can heal.
In adults older than 55, their bodies are slowing
down and may take longer to heal.
Mike Schutt 480-6150 especially water, and foods.
msch utt@ci . hasti ngs. m n. u s
Working Srnoke
Detectors
Save Lives
Test Yours
Regularly
and Replace
Batteries at Least
Once A Year!
In addition, young children have thinner skin that
burns more quickly than adults. People of all ages
can be burned in 30 seconds by constant expo-
sure to liquid that is 130 degrees F. and at 140
degrees, it only takes five seconds. For children
younger than five, these temperatures can cause a
burn in half the time.
Preventing Scald Burns
According to the National Safe Kids Campaign,
most scalds occur while bathing. Continuous
supervision of young children is the most important
factor in preventing tap-water scald injuries, but
there are additional simple preventative measures
that can be taken. These include lowering the tem-
perature settings on water heaters to 120 degrees
Fehrenheit or less.
When bathing a child, fill the bathtub first. Mix the
warm and cold water carefully and keep your child
away from the faucet. The bath water temperature
should be about 100 degrees F. Test the water
temperature by moving a hand rapidly through the
water. If the water feels hot to an adult, it is too
hot for a child.
Tips in the kitchen include testing heated food and
liquids before serving children. Remember,
Seek emergency medical assistance if a burn:
• Involves the face, airway, hands, feet,
genitals or a large joint
• Is larger that two inches in diameter
8 Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000
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-~ . ~ r ~ .
Spring 2007
Hastings Fire
Department
Hires Fulltime
Inspector
The City of Hastings would
like to welcome to our
full-time staff at the Fire
Department, Alan (AI)
Storlie, who was recently
hired as the Fire Inspector.
AI brings with him 23 years
of construction experience
and has also has been one of the City's paid-on-call firefighters for 22 years. He is
certified as a National Registered Emergency Medical Technician, Fire Inspector, and is
also a member of the Metro Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team, which consists of
staff comprised of law enforcement, firefighters, and paramedics who assist their peers
after a major incident. He is also very active in coaching and officiating at the girl's
basketball games.
AI and his wife Sandy have two daughters, Lea and Leslee, who all reside in Hastings.
Welcome!
A Little-Known Law.......
Flashing Lights mean `Move over'!
Minnesota State Law 169.18 subd. 11,
otherwise known as the "Ted Foss Move
Over Law" states:
When approaching and before passing an
authorized emergency vehicle that is
parked or otherwise stopped on or next to
a street or highway having two or more
lanes in the same direction, the driver of
a vehicle shall safely move the vehicle to
a lane away from the emergency vehicle.
To Put is Simply:
• If you are traveling on a road with
two or more lanes, you must keep a
lane away when passing a stopped
ambulance, fire truck or law
enforcement vehicle.
• If you are not able to safely move a
lane away, reduce your speed.
• If you fail to take these actions you
could receive a citation.
Ignoring this law endangers the emergency
medical personnel, firefighters, law
enforcement officers and tow truck operators
who provide critical -and sometimes -
lifesaving services.
This relatively new law is named after
State Patrol Officer Ted Foss, who was
killed on the side of the road after being
struck by a vehicle while investigating a
traffic accident on a highway near
Rochester.
That is why the law says: MOVE OVER.
Fire Facts for
2006
In 2006, the Hastings Fire Department
responded to 2,719 total calls,
• 489 were fire responses
• 38 were structure fires
• 18 were vehicle fires
• 2,230 were medical responses
• $2.5 billion in property was
protected throughout the HFD
Jurisdiction
• $1.4 million in losses
Recreational Fires
As warmer weather arrives, it is
sometimes nice to have a campfire in
your backyard. Just remember a few
simple rules:
• The fire can be no larger than 3
feet in diameter or 3 feet high
• Use only clean firewood
• No treated wood, garbage or leaves
• Locate the fire no closer than 25
Feet from a building
• Have a method to extinguish the
fire handy
Most importantly, have respect for your
neighbors. If the smoke is blowing
towards your neighbors, you may want
to have a campfire on another night.
By Having
Working Srnoke
Detectors
your chances
of survival
are better
than 80°Xo!
Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000 9
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Hastings Public Works
Department
Public Works Garage
1225 Progress Drive
Hastings, MN 55033
480-6185
www.ci.hastings.mn.us
Public Works Director:
Tom Montgomery 480-6185
tmontgomery@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
City Engineer:
Nick Egger 480-2334
engineeringdept@ci.hastings.mn.us
Streets & Utilities:
John Zgoda 480-6185
publicworksdept@ci.hastings.mn.us
Storm Water Permit
The City of Hastings submitted its initial storm
water permit this February as part of the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
which was created by the Federal Clean Water Act.
The goal of the NPDES permit is to restore and
maintain the integrity of the state's rivers and
lakes through the management and treatment of
urban storm water runoff.
Our NPDES permit will cover a five year period and
as part of the permit application, the City has
developed a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan
(SWPPP) that outlines the steps the City will take
to meet the NPDES program goal of clean rivers
and lakes. The City's SWPPP addresses six
required action categories called minimum control
measures:
1. Public education and outreach
2. Public participation/involvement.
3. Illicit discharge detection and elimination.
4. Construction site stormwater runoff control.
5. Post construction storm water management in
new development and redevelopment.
6. Pollution prevention/good housekeeping for
municipal operations.
There are 34 mandatory best management prac-
tices that must be included in the City's SWPPP to
address the six minimum control measures. In
addition, over the 5 year life of our initial storm
water permit, the City must document all activities
taken to follow these 34 best management prac-
tices, prepare and submit annual reports on how
well the City met its best management practices
goals and hold annual public hearings outlining the
activities undertook as part of its best manage-
ment practices and SWPPP. Assistant City Engineer
John Caven will be serving as the City's storm
water management lead person and public con-
tact.
On a positive note, the City has been progressive
in its storm water management and had previously
adopted and implemented several of the recom-
mended erosion control and storm water quality
best management practices. This summer, City
staff will be working on redrafting the City's
stormwater management ordinance to conform to
the new Vermillion River Watershed rules and stan-
dards and update the City's practices to meet new
best management practices guidelines. Look for
storm water management information coming soon
on the City's web site, and storm water quality arti-
cles in forthcoming issues of the City's newsletter.
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Hydro Green Energy
Last October, the Hastings City Council approved a
concept plan to install a floating kinetic energy
hydropower facility downstream of the City's
hydropower plant tailrace. The floating hydropower
facility is a prototype developed by Hydro Green
Energy of Houston, Texas and is expected to have
a generating capacity of about 100 KW, or 2.5°~ of
the City's 4 MW hydropower plant.
Under the approved concept plant, the City and
Hydro Green Energy will equally split the revenues
generated by the prototype hydropower facility.
The City's share of the revenues is estimated to be
about $10,000 per year. A guiding principal of the
concept plan approval holds that the City will not
incur expenses in developing this experimental
hydropower facility.
As of this past February, Hydro Green Energy has
completed its feasibility study and finalized a
power purchase agreement with the City. Work is
continuing on final design, federal licensing and
approvals, and development of an overall working
agreement with the City. Hydro Green Energy hopes
to finalize approvals and have the prototype
hydropower facility installed by late fall.
1o Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000
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Spring 2007
Street Salting
This winter season, the Public Works
Department converted to an all-salt
application on all plow routes to melt ice
and compacted snow on local streets.
Three years ago, the City experimented
with an all-salt application on one of the
City's six plow routes, which resulted in a
significant cost savings as a result of
reduced spring sweeping time.
During the 2005/2006 winter season,
three plow routes spread asalt/sand mix
to use up left over material, and the
remaining three routes converted to all-salt.
The all-salt routes took less than half the
time to sweep in spring than did the routes
that spread asalt/sand mix. Prior to switch-
ing to all salt, spring sweeping would take
six to eight weeks using a seven man crew.
The Public Works Operators are using a
treated salt mixture called Clear Lane that
sticks to road surfaces better and retains
some residual effect, continuing to de-ice
when the next snowfall hits. When temper-
atures are above 20°F, salt is mixed in with
the Clear Lane to stretch its use further.
Public Works is experimenting with different
inserts in the spreaders to better control
and reduce salt usage.
The switch from sand to salt is a learning
process, but as we continue to use the
Clear Lane, the City expects reductions in
the use of salt, much less time spent on
spring cleanup, and better water quality
resulting from less sediment in the spring
runoff.
2007 Street And Utility Construction: Here We Go Again!
The Hastings City Council is holding a public hearing
on March 19th to determine whether to proceed
with proposed street and utility construction in
the 5th Street area.
The proposed project will involve 5th
Street between Spring and State Streets,
6th and 71"Streets between Pine and
State Streets, Forest and Spring Streets
between 4th and 61" Streets, and Ashland
Street from 5th Street to 6th Street.
This project will also include replacing old
water and sanitary sewer mains, some of
which date back to the original 1906
system. Work will also include upgrading
the storm sewer system, constructing new
concrete curb and gutter, replacing
existing sidewalks, and new street surfacing.
Construction is expected to begin by early
June and be completed before the end
of October.
Look for construction updates on the City's
web site beginning in late May. If you have
any questions please contact the
Engineering Department at 480-2334
Proposed Pra jest 2007-1
5th Street Area Improvements
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Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000 11
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Hastings Department
of Building Safety:
101 Fourth Street East
Hastings, MN 55033
480-2342
www.ci.hastings.mn.us
Building Official
Tom Bakken 480-2342
tbakken@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
Code Enforcement: 480-2342
dwest@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
City Recycling
Kristin Behrens 480-6175
kbeh rens@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us
Earth Day 2007
Come and join us for the City of
Hastings first ever Earth Day Festival!
When: Saturday, April 28th
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Where: Hastings Civic Arena -West Rink
Corner of Highway 61 and Highway 316
Cost: FREE!
Come and see the Earth Balloon, a 20' model of
the earth featuring a high resolution satellite image
with true-to-life earth colors. It is like looking at the
earth from outer space! And, YOU GET TO GO
INSIDE! There will be short (5-10 minute)
presentations taking place continuously throughout
the day on April 28, 2007.
Participating Groups Include:
Dakota County Waste Management
ArtStart WHEP Dakota Electric
Hastings Environmental Protectors
and The City of Hastings
How can YOU make a difference right here in
Hastings?
• Learn about rain barrels, wetlands, recycling,
energy conservation and more!
• Kids -Come and do fun art projects and learn
about protecting the earth!
• Learn how to make your own environmentally
friendly cleaning products for pennies!
• Detoxify your tackle box. Bring in your lead
sinkers and exchange them for free non-toxic
sinkers!
• Do you have old shoes or clothing that iyou
need to get rid of? Don't throw them in the
garbage... Bring them to the Earth Day Festival!
We will have a collection box for your old
shoes, belts, purses & clothing. All items will
be reused or recycled into new products!
Snacks, Beverages
and Door Prizes~l
Fun for the
whole family!!
Funding for this event is
provided by the Dakota County
Board of Commissioners and
the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency.
Congratulations Youth green Tearns~~
The City and Waste Management would like to express appreciation to Boy Scout Troop #534 for all their
hard work in recycling during the 4th quarter of 2006. They received over $800 for their participation in
the Youth Green Team Recycling Program!
Throughout 2006, four youth groups participated in this program, collecting over 209tons of mixed paper
recycling. That accounted for almost 10°~ of the City's total recycling tonnage of 2,141 tons for the year!
A big thanks you to our volunteer youth groups!
How can our group participate?
If your youth group is interested in this program, contact Sandy
Spring at 651-480-0307, ext. 0104, complete the application
form, and submit to Waste Management, 2800 Millard Avenue,
Hastings, MN 55033. Groups selected to participate will be noti-
fied well in advance of their three month term.
12 Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000
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Need A Permit? wny?
Spring time is building time, and that
means permit time. To help eliminate
confusion, it is important to understand
the value of obtaining building permits.
Building permits and standards are in
place to help make our community a safer
place to live.
There are several reasons why a building
permit benefits everyone. Consumers who
may not have construction expertise will
have an experienced City building inspector
to help with many aspects of the construction
process. Also insurance companies may
not cover claims from policyholders/home-
owners that do not have a permit or do
not have their work inspected.
Having a city inspector review work that
has been done assures the minimum
code is met. A building permit allows the
code official to ensure public health, safety
and welfare by reducing the potential
hazards of unsafe construction. By following
code guidelines, your completed project
will meet minimum standards of life safety
and will be less likely to cause injury to
you and others.
checked in a legal and proper manner. In
addition, building permits produce historical
records of maintenance and remodeling
work for each property.
Common projects that need a building
permit are:
• roof replacement
• new windows
• decks
• siding
• sheds
• fences
• basement finishes
• additions
• retaining walls over four feet high
Common spring projects that do not need
a building permit are normal maintenance
for a house, like painting, window cleaning,
installing gutters, yard work or landscaping.
If you have any questions or are unsure if
you need a permit, call the Department of
Building Safety at 480-2342.
If you need additional information, please
check our website www.ci.hastings.mn.us
under Building Safety.
Building permits increase the value of your
property by showing potential buyers that
construction work was completed and
City Code Enforcement Reminders
In an effort to keep your community
clean, the Code Enforcement Department
will be patrolling the neighborhoods this
spring, for ordinance violations. Among
the issues that will be looked at are:
• Unlicensed and inoperable vehicles
• Missing house numbers
• RV storage
• Peeling paint on exterior
• Deteriorating fences
• Miscellaneous debris storage
Please help make our city a better
place to live, and try to address these
concerns before they become an issue.
If you are cited for a violation there maybe
a fine associated with the violation.
Thank you for
your cooperation!
8~ Annual Spring
Clean Up Day
Spring Clean-up is a great time to get rid of
items that your regular weekly waste pick-up
cannot handle, including hazardous waste
items, at a low cost!
Collection of general household items is
limited to Hastings residents living within
city limits. Items that can be brought by
Hastings residents include: appliances,
construction debris, electronics, metals,
tires, furniture, mattresses, carpet, etc.
These items will be charged a minimal fee
to help cover cost to properly dispose of the
items to the proper places.
Hazardous waste will be accepted from all
Dakota County residents.
No commercial waste will be Accepted.
Hazardous items are products that many
times say CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER,
POISON, on the labels. Hazardous products
collected include: paint, motor oil/ filters,
fertilizer with weed killer, household cleaning
products, fluorescent lights, etc. Hazardous
items are collected FREE OF CHARGE!
Residents will be asked to provide valid
identification.
Items that will not be accepted are compost
items such as leaf, grass, brush, etc. Also,
please recycle items such as glass, plastic,
paper, metal cans, aluminum, etc. in your
single sort recycling container.
This is a good time to help us keep the City
of Hastings a clean and vibrant city. For
more information or to verify your residency
status, please contact Kristin at 480-6175
or kbehrensC~ci.hastings.mn.us.
See you Saturday, April 28, 2007 at
the Cal Ruedy Public Works Building at
1225 Progress Drive. Gates will be
open from 9:00 a. m. until 1:00 p. m.
Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000 13
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Hastings Parks and Hastings Family Aquatic Center!
Recreation
920 10th Street West 2007 Opening Date Tons of Tots Time... Are you a daycare provider
Hastings, MN 55033
Saturday June 2, 2007 12 N - 8 p.m. or summer preschool coordinator? HFAC has set
Phone: 480-6175 Sunday June 3, 2007 12 N - 6 p.m. aside time for you and your group to have
Fax: 437-5396 June 4th - 8th 2007 Monday -Friday exclusive use of the zero depth area before open
www.ci.hastings.mn.us 3 p.m. - 7p.m. swim time. Check out rules, times and dates on
(June 8th is the last day of school) our website at www.ci.hastings.mn.us
Parks & Recreation Hotline
480-2392
Parks & Recreation Director:
Barry Bernstein 480-6176
bbernstein@ci. hastings. mn.us
Parks Superintendent:
Kevin Smith 480-6178
ksmith@ci. hastings. mn.us
City Forester:
Paul Mahoney 480-6177
pmahoney@ci. hastings. mn.us
Aquatic Center Manager:
Darbie Johnson 480-6179
djohnson@ci.hastings.mn.us
Hastings Family Aquatic
Center: 437-6999
Civic Arena Manager:
Sliv McGree 480-6195
jmcgree@ci. hastings. mn.us
Starting Saturday June g,
200 through Sunday August
26, 200 HFAC will be open ~
days a week!
Check out our website for a full list of hours, fees,
and class details www.ci.hastings.mn.us
Swim Lessons... Did you miss swim lesson
registration day last year? Starting March 16,
2007 you can register for swim lessons, water
aerobics and water walking ONLINE!
For more details check out the HFAC website at
www.ci.hastings.mn.us
Have questions about the swim lesson
program or need to register for classes?
Online registration begins March 16, 2007.
If you are unable to register online, you can
mail or fax in a form with payment, or register
in person at the Hastings Parks & Recreation
Department. Call 651-480-6179 for more details
Parks & Recreation Information
Financial Assistance Available:
Financial assistance is available for most
programs. For assistance, or additional
information, please call 480-6175.
Photo/Video Po/icy, Periodically the
City of Hastings takes pictures or video of
participants during programs, special
events or people enjoying the parks.
These photos may appear in local
newspapers, Department and/or the
City's website/publication.
Season Passes and Punch Cards
Beginning May 15, 2007 season passes and
punch cards can be purchased at the Hastings
Family Aquatic Center.
Prior to May 15, 2007 season passes and punch
cards can be purchased at the Hastings Parks and
Recreation Department: 920 W 10th Street
Hastings, MN 55033
651-480-6175
What's New for 2007:
Shade, Shade, and more Shade....at the end
of the 2006 season, a 50' X 50' shade structure
was erected to help protect and keep HFAC
patrons cool. Shade structures were also erected
above the lifeguard stations to help protect staff.
Gift Cards...Are you looking for a gift for that
hard to buy for person? HFAC will be offering gift
cards that you can pre-load. Gift cards can be
used for daily admission, season passes, punch
cards, and concession items. Just think.....no
more carrying change to the pool for concessions
-just bring your gift card!
Lost and Found: We retrieve many
personal belongings each year that are
left behind at parks, programs or special
events. If you have lost something at any
of our locations, contact us at 480-6175
to see if it was recovered. We hold items
for six months before being disposed of.
Removal of Dog Waste: Citizens are
reminded that it is their responsibility to
clean up after their pets!
Data PrivacyAdvisory_ In accordance
with MN Govn't Data Practices Act, the
Parks & Recreation staff of Hastings hereby
informs you that the personal information
we are requesting of you and/or your child
on our registration form is considered private.
Private data is available to staff to perform
their duties. While you may choose to
withhold this data, the result could be that
staff may not be able to complete your
registration and/or you may not receive
updated program information such as
schedule changes, etc.
14 Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000
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Youth Bird Study Program
When: Thursday, May 3rd - 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Friday, May 4th - 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Cost: FREE!
The Hastings Parks & Recreation Department is teaming up with the
Minnesota Ornithologist Union to give 11-18 year olds a chance to learn
about birds found in our City Parks. If you would like to learn more about
different types of birds in Hastings, as well as why habitat in our parks and
natural areas is so important to them, then this class is for you! There will be
a classroom learning session on Thursday, May 3rd and a field trip to the
Mississippi Riverfront Natural Area on Friday, May 4th. Binoculars and field
guides will be available for student use.
This program is free, but advance registration is required. Parents are
encouraged to accompany their children. Registration is limited to 15
participants, so sign up early by calling 651-480-6175 to reserve your spot!
Hastings Civic Arena -Spring of 2007
Interested in Dry Floor Rental? Rates are $83.07/hour including tax.
Call 480-6195 for details or to reserve your space today!
Calendar of Upcoming Events at the Hastings Civic Arena
4/21/07 Pet Expo
Sponsored by Rio Gran Dog Boarding - 480-4726
4/28/07 Earth Day Festival
Sponsored by City of Hastings - 480-6175
5/15/07 Jose Cole Circus
Sponsored by Hastings Lions Club
Park, Picnic, Ballfield Reservations
Picnic and Ballfield reservation permits are available to anyone wishing to use
a picnic shelter at Roadside Park, Vermillion Falls Park, Wallin Park or any
ballfield within Hastings. To reserve a shelter and/or ballfield, you must complete
and return a reservation form to the Parks & Recreation Department.*
Reservation Forms are available on the city website, by stopping by the Parks
& Recreation Office or by calling 480-6175 to have one mailed to you. Fees
apply for both ballfield and park shelter reservations at resident and non-resident
rates, and vary from location to location, so please call for details!
Reservations are taken on a first-come first-served basis.
* These reservations do not provide you with exclusive rights to the park, just the ball-
field or shelter. Other residents are still welcome to enjoy the park's other amenities.
Arbor Day 200
City of Hastings, Arbor Day Celebration
Friday, April 27, 2007 4:00 p. m.
Come and join the Parks & Recreation Department
and City Officials for the Arbor Day Proclamation
and the planting of several varieties
of trees at Veteran's Athletic Complex.
Please contact the City Forester,
Paul Mahoney, at 480-6177
with any questions
regarding this event.
Hope to see
you there!
Trail Sweeping
All trails and sidewalks maintained by the Parks &
Recreation Department will be swept this spring.
This is expected to take less than one week and will
be done once the snow plowing season has ended.
Summer Softball Registration
The Parks & Recreation Department is currently
accepting registrations for our summer softball
program! Registration packets can be downloaded
from the city website (www.ci.hastings.mn.us) or
can be picked up at the Parks & Recreation office
located at 920 W 10th Street. Now accepting credit
cards for registration! If you have any questions,
please call Jared Flewellen at 480-6181.
Reserve the Party Wagon Toaiayl
The Party Wagon is a 16-foot covered trailer which
includes all the equipment needed for backyard
gatherings. The Party Wagon is available to
Hastings residents who live within the city limits.
Neighborhood block parties may reserve the party wagon
free of charge! Individuals may reserve the party
wagon for personal gatherings for a minimal rental
fee of $25 on weekdays and $40 on weekends.
Call to Reserve it today! 480-6175
Rivertown News (March 200 -dune 2000 15
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Being a good neighbor,
what does that mean?
A Message to the Residents of
Hastings From Mayor Paul Hlcks
As a Council Member for 16 years and as
your new Mayor, I receive more phone calls
regarding issues relating to a neighbor's conduct than any other city
issue combined. Why is that? I believe its because our neighbor-
hoods do reflect our quality of life. Being a good neighbor and living
in a neighborhood where people respect and look after each other is
so important to our overall quality of life. A vibrant and healthy neigh-
borhood brings safety to our children and property, is aesthetically
pleasing and provides us a better sense of community.
Let's face it, a disrespectful neighbor can cause much discomfort
and acrimony. Whether there are junk cars in the yard, a dog barking
all night long, loud music or partying, or a bad case of paint peeling
off an exterior of a house those are examples of behavior that irri-
tates neighbors. And with good reason.
Being a good neighbor is part of citizenship. As members of a
community, we are accountable to and for our community. To be a
good neighbor is as simple as the golden rule itself - Do unto others,
as you would have them do unto you. There are some basic
guidelines to keep in mind.
City of Hastings
101 Fourth Street East
Hastings, MN 55033
City Hall:
Hours: Sam - 4:30pm
Phone: 480-2350
Fax: 437-7082
www.ci.hastings.mn.us
cityhallC~ci.hastings.mn.us
Be friendly to your neighbors. Get to know them. Good relations
and the open communication that comes with it can keep a
potentially bad situation from growing worse. If there is a problem,
talk to your neighbor and be respectful.
* Hastings has a maintenance ordinance that requires properties
(owner occupied or rental) to be at a certain standard. Become
familiar with our local ordinances and abide by them. Most
homeowners desire neighbors who will take good care of the
exterior of their homes, their lawn and property in general.
When this is not the case, it's disappointing and the entire
neighborhood is affected.
* One of the most frequent complaints that neighbors express
is that of pets. If you own a dog it is important to take good
care of it. That also means clean up after your dog on and off
your property. Cat owners also have a responsibility to make
sure that their pets do not become a nuisance.
* Be very attentive to noise issues. Be courteous to your
neighbors regarding loud music and/or parties.
One of the most important duties of a good neighbor is becoming a
good citizen. Stay informed of our local news and participate in local
organizations. Hastings is a great community and we all need to
work together to keep it that way.
PRSRT-STD
ECR
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Hastings MN
Permit No. 166
Postal Customer
Printed on recycled paper containing no less than 10% post-consumer waste.