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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRivertown Newsletter - Winter 2007-08 In This Issue: www.ci.hastings.mn. us City Holds 2008 Budget Hearing . 2 TRAC Changes ......... ..... 3 Redrock Corridor Update .. .... . 3 Snow Emergencies ..... ..... . 6 Keep the Wreath White... ..... .9 Snowy Reminders....... ..... 10 Dakota County Eco-Site Info .... 13 City Takes over Youth First. ..... 14 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 Road Work Ahead! Highway 61 Mississippi River Bridge scheduled for facelife, repairs in 2008 As spring returns to the Mississippi River Valley in Hastings next year, a project to repaint and repair the Highway 61 Mississippi River bridge will begin sometime in early to mid April. With years of weather beating on the bridge, paint has worn from the steel members of the deck causing rust and corrosion. Other wear and tear on the bridge also will be repaired during the three month project. Major work next year will include: • Painting all steel members of the Bridge from below the bridge deck to ten feet above the road; • Patching and repairing about 5°~ of the concrete deck; • Replacing a section of sidewalk on the north side of the bridge; • Cleaning expansion joints in the deck and installing new expansion seals used to prevent water from reaching steel beneath the bridge deck; • Replacing a bearing on one of the piers. Bearings allow the bridge to move with expansion and contract; and • Rebuilding deteriorated curb on the entire structure. In addition, an out-dated inspection vehicle that rides on rails beneath the trusses will be removed. The vehicle serves no purpose and is no longer in working condition. While work is underway, traffic will be restricted to a single lane crossing the bride. After considerable discussion, the Hastings City Council passed a resolution supporting single lane traffic during the project. Bridge Works Continues on Pg 4 2008 Budget Public Victorian Holidays Hearing Scheduled Complete the LeDuc December 3rd at 7:00 pm Tour Season Final budget figures will be presented to Council and residents at that time. On December 1 & 2, and 8 & 9, the LeDuc The final budget is expected to be Historic Estate will host its final events of the adopted at the December 17th City 2007 season. The estate is decorated for the Council meeting. holidays and open for tours and shopping from 10 am to 5 pm both Saturday. Questions regarding the budget process can be directed to Finance Director, Char Stark at 480-2350 or at cstark@ci. h astings. mn. us. See page two for highlights of the 2008 budget. For the third year, historic holiday meals will also be offered as well each Sunday. Reservations are required, please call 651-437-7055. For complete menu and ticket information, please visit the estate's website - www. dakotahistory. org/LeDu%vents.asp Rivertown News (~ecember 2007 -February 2008) 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 Finance Director Char Stark 480-2354 cstark@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us Community Relations Shannon Rausch 480-2344 srausch@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us `~ ~~ ~- \ ~, Highlights of the 2008 Preliminary Budget: On September 17`", the Hastings City Council passed a preliminary 2008 fiscal budget. The Truth in Taxation notices residents received in mid-November were based on that preliminary levy. To help residents understand the notice they received, the following is a summary of the preliminary budget; • The 2008 net tax capacity value for the City rose approximately 4.7°~ The City's net tax rate remains below 50°~, a goal established by the City's Finance Committee. • In 2007, a home valued at $200k, would pay $984 in taxes for city services. Next year in 2008, that same home (with no change in it's value) would pay $989 - a $5 increase. • In 2001, Local Government Aid (LGA) from the State was reduced to cities. At that time, Hastings received $2.5 million in LGA, in 2008 that amount will only be $125,000. •The City has paid off debt at an accelerated schedule, Also in 2008 the senior center building is scheduled to be paid off. • Capital expenditures have been declining since 2005 due to the downtown TIF district that was closed in 2006. Sesquicentennial Wrap Up: Hastings' Sesquicentennial year 2007 is winding down and Minnesota's state sesquicentennial year (2008) will be starting soon. How did we do in our year of events celebrating our community? With "150 Faces of Hastings" kicking off in January and a Winter Celebration in the Parks (which unfortunately had to be scaled back in February due to the lack of snow,) the Hastings Sesquicentennial was off with a bang. The March 19`" commemoration of the town's incorporation was held at City Hall. 2 Rivertown News (~ecember 200 -February zoos) • Charges for services show increases for general liability insurance of 15°~, workers compensation insurance of 10°~, and utilities of 20°~. 2008 is an election year and thus an additional $27,900 is required to conduct the elections in Hastings. In addition the Youth First Program is now a part of the City of Hastings budget. • ERF (Equipment Revolving Fund,) is a planning fund that is used to incrementally budget for future capital expenses. This way of planning for large purchases by departments has become more widely used over the past few years. • Increased emphasis on recycling and technological advances allowing for digital document imaging has resulted in lower office supply costs overall for the city. Final budget figures will be presented to Council and residents at 7:00 pm on December 3 at the City Council Meeting. The final budget is expected to be adopted at the December 17th City Council meeting. Again, questions regarding the budget process can be directed to Finance Director, Char Stark at 480-2350 or at cstarkC~ci.hastings.mn.us. During this celebration, citizens helped fill a time capsule with their donated items or made suggestions of items that should be included. This time capsule was enclosed in the recently remodeled steps of the north entrance at City Hall. With Springtime come brides and April's Celebrating Generations of Brides events at The LeDuc Historic Estate were a huge success, as were the twelve 20`" century wedding gowns which were on display in the City Hall Rotunda. Sesquicentennial Wrap Up Continues on Pg 14 T ~ I I ~ ~r1 ~ ,~ ~ ~~r ~..~ r v ..r ~ ~ Winter 2007-08 r ~ Keeping You Moving! Y New Vehicles ~j Earlier this fall, the TRAC program took possession of two ~~ new TRAC vehicles, replacing two vehicles purchased in v 1999 which each had over 140,000 miles. The new '~ vehicles have more comfortable drivers seats, and additional emphasis was placed on installing attractive, r ~o long-lasting passenger seats. Additional replacement of I ~ the two remaining 2001 vehicles is expected in 2010. -~ -moo ~: ~ Fare Adjustment Effective January 1, 2008, the fares for TRAC rides will c be adjusted to $1.60. This adjustment is one phase of a multi-year adjustment to TRAC fares, which will :' ultimately result in TRAC fares being set at $2.00. This ~~ --~+~ c adjustment was approved by the City Council in late 2007 as a result of an evaluation of TRAC fares, when it was c~a discovered that fares had not been adjusted in at least 10 r ~" years and the fares were generally $0.50 less per ride H than comparable transit programs. TRAC receives the majority of its funding ($250,000) through the Metropolitan Recent Updates on the Red Rock Corridor The Red Rock Corridor Commission (RRCC) is nearing the completion of a transit alternatives study in the increasingly congested Red Rock Corridor (Corrido~j. This Corridor runs along Highway 61 and Interstate 94 from Hastings through St. Paul to Minneapolis. The RRCC is a joint powers board made up of county and municipal officials in Dakota, Washington, Ramsey, and Hennepin Counties. Mayor Paul Hicks and Councilmember Barb Hollenbeck (alternate) represent the City of Hastings and Commissioner Joe Harris represents Dakota County as a whole on the RRCC. Council, with another $45,000 from MnDOT and the balance through user fees and local share. An adjustment in the user fees is an appropriate and timely change to the TRAC operations. Coming Soon- Fare Punch Cards! In an effort to provide riders with expanded opportunities to utilize the TRAC service, the system will roll out pre-purchased punch cards. These punch cards can be shared among family and friends, and eliminate having to carry individual tokens or cash for a TRAC ride. Keep your eyes open for more information coming in early 2008! Alternatives Analysis Study Completing an Alternatives Analysis Study for the Corridor is one step in the Federal Transit Administration's process to determine if a transit project can be considered for federal funding. The study involves the eval- uation of several transit options and their ability to cost-effectively address the trans- portation needs of the Corridor. These needs include: Providing transportation choices to travelers for avoiding congestion; Reducing travel time; and Increasing mobility for peak hour travel to jobs. This analysis on the Corridor included the estimation of capital and operating costs along with forecasting the potential number of riders for express bus, bus rapid transit, and commuter rail transit options. Capital costs include the cost of vehicles, maintenance facilities, highway upgrades, track upgrades, stations, and park and ride lots. Operating costs include the cost to operate the vehicle, administration, and marketing. In 2007, these costs were estimated at: • Bus: * $18 -$74 million capital, not including right-of-way * At least $7 million for annual operations • Commuter Rail: * $350 million for commuter rail, including right-of-way * $6.7 million for annual operations The 2030 forecast of the potential number of riders from Hastings through St. Paul to Minneapolis was: • Bus/daily 900 - 3,200 • Commuter rail 1,600 - 3,100 Red Rock Update Continues on Page 5 Rivertown News (~ecember 200 -February zoos) 3 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 Associate Planning Kari Barker 480-2377 kbarker@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us Associate Planning Justin Fortney 480-2381 jfortney@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us .~ Bridge Work continued from pg 1 A signal system at each end of the bridge will regulate traffic taking turns to cross the bridge from each direction. Cross streets on the south end of the bridge between 10th Street and the river will be closed to cross traffic, although emergency vehicles will have access across the highway at 5th Street. Watch for signs alerting drivers to traffic changes next spring. At least one short-term weekend closure of the bridge and detour will be necessary to replace the bridge bearing. Special efforts are being made to reroute traffic to other state highways and lessen the delays to motorists but there will be delays during the project. Plans are being developed to provide emergency vehicle priority access across the bridge and buses also will be permitted to bypass the traffic queue. In addition, the bridge work is being coordinated with the reconstruction of city streets and the rehabilitation of retaining walls along Highway 61 next year. (For details regarding these projects see page 11.) A communications outreach group is also currently meeting to work on outreach and marketing for next year's project. This Committee consists of representatives from surrounding communities, local business owners, and local government offi- cials. Abusiness workshop is currently being 2030 Comp Plan Update The City of Hastings is busy updating its Comprehensive Plan. This Plan charts growth and development of the City between now and 2030. A twenty member Comprehensive Plan Committee consisting of residents from throughout the city continues to meet. Comprehensive Plan Meetings are generally held on the 4th Wednesday of the month beginning at 6:15pm at the Fire Station. Please check the City's website for draft plans and updates. The Planning Department can be reached at 480-2350 with any questions. planned to help businesses survive and thrive dur- ing construction. Watch for additional details. During the work motorist will be strongly encouraged to use the "zipper" method when approaching the single lane closure at the bridge. From either direction, vehicles should use both lanes of traffic all the way up to the merge point. Upon reaching the lane closure at the merge point, drivers should then take turns merging into the single lane, "zipping" together. Use of both lanes up to that point will ensure traffic moves more smoothly and that backups will be reduced, along with increasing safety. The Bridge is currently listed in "fair" condition and all primary structural members including piers, deck, beams, and trusses are sound. However, the bridge is considered functionally obsolete due to the narrow roadway and less than standard clearance for vehicle traffic between the roadway surface and the top truss. Replacement of the structure is currently planned in the 2015 - 2023 timeframe. Further information about the Highway 61 Hastings bridge and next year's work is available at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/ projects/hasitngsbridge/index.html. If you have any questions, please call Kent Barnard, Mn/DOT Metro District Communications Specialist at 651-234-7504 Status of Vermillion Corridor Guidelines Over the past two years, the Hastings Economic Development Commission has worked with business owners, residents and planning consultants to develop the Vermillion Street Development Guidelines. These Guidelines create an economic and land use vision for future Vermillion Street development. A draft of the plan can accessed on line at the City' website www.ci.hastings.mn.us. Please contact the John Hinzman at 480-2378 with any questions. 4 RIVEYtOW11 NEWS (December 2007 - FebrilAYy 2008) rv~, ` r/~ City Website; Always There To Assist With Your Projects With Internet access almost every- where there is a host of information to help you with the building projects you may be thinking about doing. The City of Hastings' website C~ www.ci.hastings.mn.us has a wealth of information on what may be required for certain household improvement projects. Permit applications, informational building project handouts, staff contacts numbers, FAQ's, important links, and all can be found on our site. To have access to many different building topics, go under the heading `Planning and Development', and then click on `Building Safety'. This page will tell you what the departrnent's mission and responsibilities are. Permit Info Click on `Permits' for tips on how to simplify the permit process. On the left hand side of this page you will find different sub-headings that will lead you to more helpful information. On the same `Permits' page, click `Permit Fee' and the fees associated with different types of building permits will be listed. You can access all of the Permit Application Forms by simply clicking on `Forms and Applications'. Under this section, you will also find submittal information that needs to accompany your permit application if additional information is required. Many of the permits may be mailed or faxed with payment to the Building Department. ~ ~111~ ~ v /"1~'y1r 1 ~,~1 ~~~~c Winter 2007-08 The heading `Resource Information' will give you phone numbers of different utility companies, the Better Business Bureau, the State Electrical Inspector for the Hastings area, and Gopher One to call for locates before digging. Need code specifics or ideas for your project? Go to the "Handouts" heading and you will find the same informational brochures and handouts we have available at City Hall. Ideas and requirements for additions, basement finishes, decks, porches, swimming pools, egress windows, and others can be found here. Many of the questions we get from homeowners can often be answered here. Have a question? Clicking on "Contacts" will get you the names, phone numbers, and email addresses for department staff, sometimes saving you a trip to City Hall. Questions On Code Enforcement? For information on City of Hastings Property Maintenance and the Rental Housing Codes, you can access a pictorial of examples of common violations we see to help educate property owners on what is and is not allowed by City Codes and Ordinances. The City of Hastings' website can be a helpful tool for just about any question you may have with a building project. If you can't find what you are looking for here, you can email, phone, or stop in to City Hall and tap into over 70 years of building experience of the Building Safety planes all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Department inspectors. For more info contact John Grossman at Let us help you with your project! 480-2347 or jgrossmanC~ci.hastings.mn.us Red Rock Update continued from pg 3 The preliminary results of the Alternatives Analysis Study reveal that as traffic numbers continue to grow, so will the demand for transit services. The current transportation services available are inadequate to meet the demand and needs to be improved through service expansion, increasing bus frequency and providing more park and ride facilities. These improvements are the first steps toward building a stronger transit base in the Corridor. This stronger base, along with the successful implementation of the Hiawatha Corridor, and planned Northstar and Central corridors, are all key components in the phasing of Corridor improvements prior to the construction of commuter rail. Project Funding Federal funding will be sought to pay for a portion of the cost to implement the Red Rock Corridor. Typically, federal funds cover 50°~ of the capital costs and a combination of state and local funds cover the remaining 50°~. High Speed Rail The Midwest Regional Rail Initiative is an ongoing effort to connect the Twin Cities to Chicago via Madison and Milwaukee with high speed trains, traveling up to 110 mph. The system would save 2.5 hours in travel time over the existing Amtrak service and add six daily trains between the Twin Cities and Chicago. From Chicago, travelers could connect to places like St. Louis, Indianapolis, Detroit, and Cleveland (currently in place). The federally identified route between the Twin Cities and Chicago is the same rail corridor as Red Rock Corridor from Hastings to St. Paul. Combining these two projects could reduce capital costs as one investment could benefit both Corridors, increase mobility by providing seamless integration with the regional transit system at the Union Depot, and save energy as trains are 3-6 times more efficient than cars or Rivertown News (~ecember 200 -February zoos) 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 With Winter Comes Snow; With Snow Comes Snow Emergencies In Minnesota we like to say we are the land of two seasons, Shovel and Swat. Now that the season of "shovel" is upon us, the City would like to remind all residents of the snow emergency parking regulations. City Ordinance Section 71.07, subdivision 2 concerning "Declaration of a Snow Emergency, Procedure and Effective Time" states that "An emergency condition shall automatically go into effect whenever the snowfall meets or exceeds two (2) inches in depth. " The City can also declare an emergency for the purpose of safely and effectively removing the snow and icy conditions which may be less than two inches from all city streets. Once a hazardous emergency has been declared, vehicle owners have two hours (regardless of what time a day the emergency is declared) to move their cars from the streets or they will be subject to a parking ticket violation. The vehicle may also be towed and removed from the street at the vehicle owner's expense. The ticket fine for a vehicle parked in the street during a snow emergency is $19.00 and the tow charge to release the vehicle from impound is approximately $124.00, plus $25.00 for each additional day of storage. It is very important for residents and vehicle owners to recognize the importance of getting their vehicle off their street until both sides of the street have been cleared of snow; making the streets passable for emergency vehicles such as fire trucks and ambulances, as well as making the streets driveable for yourself and other resi- dents traveling on our local streets. If you are wondering if a snow emergency has been declared, please tune into KDWA am 1460, Hastings Cable Television Channel 16 or check the City's Website at www.ci.hastings.mn.us. Dakota County Traffic Safety Group Three years ago, the police departments in Dakota County all agreed to work together to form the Dakota County Traffic Safety Group. Throughout the year, each department sends one or two officers and squads to work concentrated traffic enforcement throughout Dakota County. This year, 24 traffic safety events were held in the various communities in Dakota County with a total of 631 officers and extra squads. As a result of these concentrated enforcement, there were a total of 229 DUI arrests, 267 driving after revocation arrests, 70 drug offense arrests, 46 open bottle arrests and 106 minor consumption arrests. These are just a small portion of the traffic stops that the Traffic Safety Group make. In the past year, there were a total 6,879 traffic stops made by the Traffic Safety Group. Three events were held in the Hastings area by the Traffic Safety Group, two of those over the Halloween weekend on October 26`" and October 27`", 2007. A total of 32 extra squad cars and officers working the area during those two events in Hastings. There were 16 DUI arrests, 14 driving after revocation arrests, one drug offense arrest, two minor consumption arrests and 343 vehicles stopped in our area during these events. This Traffic Safety Group is a credit to all of the law enforcement agencies in Dakota County working together and sharing resources to provide traffic safety enforcement throughout all of the communities in Dakota County. 6 Rivertown News (~ecember 200 -February zoos) rv~, ` r/~ 1 ~~~ 1 I v ir~~~ r~ ~~~ Snowmobile Ordinance • Snowmobiles are permitted to operate within the City limits only to travel from the operator's residence to outside of the City or vice versa. Stopping is only permitted within the Service District. If traveling to and from the City limits, snowmobiles must follow the snowmobile corridors outlined on the adjacent City map. No recreational snowmobiling is allowed within the City limits. • Snowmobiles must use the paved streets. Snowmobiles are prohibited from using boulevards, sidewalks, bike paths, alleys, City parks or ponding basins, and School or City property. • Snowmobile use within the City is permitted only between the hours of 8:00 am and 10:00 pm. After 10:00 pm, snowmobiles in use within the City must be returning to home. Snowmobile routes to enter or exit the City: 10`" Street, Highway 61 to Highway 291 4"' Street, Tyler Street to Pleasant Drive Pleasant Drive, 4"' Street. to Featherstone Featherstone, Pleasant Drive to West City Limits Gen. Sieben Drive, Featherstone Road to County Road 46 15`" Street, Tyler Street to West City Limits 10`" Street, Highway 61 to Pine Street 36`" Street, Highway 61 to Tiffany Street Tyler Street, "° Street to 18" Street Ramsey Street, 2'd Street to 18" Street Pine Street, "°Street to County Road 47 Snowmobile Service District 3.3°St. between Highway. 61 & Highway. 316 -Within the Service District, snowmobile operators are permitted to stop at restaurants, gas stations, lodging, and parking lots for park and ride operations. City Ordinance Reference: 70.04, Snowmobile Operations Winter Travel Tips It's a great time to put together an emergency travel packet to carry in your vehicle during these cold winter months, especially if traveling long distances or in inclement, snowy weather. A winter emergency kit should include: Blanket Candles Bottled Water Matches Crackers/Canned Nuts Flashlight Bright Colored Clothes Portable Radio Jumper Cables Extra Batteries Shovel Window Scraper Basic Tool Kit First Aid Kit If you are traveling in severe snowy weather and have an accident, go off the road, or get stuck in the snow, you should remain in the vehicle and not attempt to walk for assis- tance. With snowy conditions, it is easy to get lost and disoriented, further exposing yourself to the weather conditions. More people are killed or injured each year attempting to go for help than the ones that remain in their vehicle waiting for help to arrive. Rivertown News (~ecember 2007 -February zoos) 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: Mike Schutt 480-6150 msch utt@ci . hasti ngs. m n. u s Assistant Fire Chief/ Fire Marshal: John Townsend 480-6150 jownsend@ci. hasti ngs. m n. us Fire Inspector: AI Storlie 480-6155 astorl ie@ci. hasti ngs. m n. us Working Smoke Detectors Save Lives Test Yours Regularly and Replace Batteries at Least Once A Year! City Hires New Assistant Chief The City of Hastings congratulates John Townsend on being selected as the next Assistant Fire and EMS Director/Fire Marshal. John began his fire career with the City as a Paid On Call firefighter/paramedic in December, 2000. John has also worked as a paramedic for Allina Ambulance, and most recently, the City of Burnsville as a Firefighter/Paramedic. He is also a charter member of the Dakota County Special Operations Team. John and his wife Amy moved to Hastings in 1996, and have a 2 year old daughter, Brooke. John is looking forward to a long and exciting career with the City of Hastings. Safety in Public Assembly Buildings Everyday, people go to work or school in large buildings or take part in social events in buildings such as theatres, churches, gymnasiums or nightclubs. On a rare occasion, the unexpected could happen: a fire, a chemical spill in the building, an act of terrorism or a natural disaster such as a tornado. Each disaster can have lasting effects: serious personal and psychological injury not to mention the costly property damage which can occur. People entering any public assembly building need to be prepared in case of an emergency Have a Communications Plan • Discuss with your group beforehand where to meet in case you are separated from them during an emergency. 8 Rivertown News (~ecember 200 -February zoos) i' F= Locate Exits When You Enter • When you enter a building, look for all avail able exits. Are the exits clearly marked and not blocked? Exit doors should NEVER be locked with a chain. • Some exits may be in front and some may be behind you. The closest exit to you may not be the main exit you entered. • Check for a clear exit path. During an Emergency • React immediately • If an alarm sounds, you see smoke or fire, or other unusual disturbances immediately exit the building in an orderly fashion. • Use your closest exit -remember that it may not be the main exit. Get Out, Stay Out! • Once you have escaped the building, stay out. Never go back into a burning building. rv~, ` r/~ r'~r~ Keep The Wreath White At the holiday season approaches, many of us get busy with shopping, school activities, parties and family gatherings. It is a time when it is easy to forget about fire safety. ~ !~ r ~ ~ . ~ ly~~~r~S ~~~~ ~r~ Jrrr~~~~~~~~~ Winter 2007-08 Candles Candles have become increasingly popular in homes, whether to create atmosphere, release fragrance or to keep insects away. However since the 1980's, the number of home fires caused by candles has tripled nationwide. Common Causes of Candle Fires • Burning candles left unattended • Combustible materials too close to the candle • Children playing with candles • People falling asleep while candles are burning Cooking Cooking is still the cause of almost one-third of all home fires. Most cooking fires are caused by human behavior, not appliance failures. Common Causes of Cooking Fires • Leaving food cooking on the stovetop unattended • Placing combustible materials too close to heat sources • Wearing loose-fitting sleeves near hot burners Remember to keep a 3 foot kid-free zone around the stove, keep the oven and stovetop clean and free of grease and spills that can catch fire. Extinguish Grease Fires Safely • Turn off the burner (if you can do so safely) • Put a lid on the pan DO NOT carry the pan to the sink Leave the house and call 911 if you can't quickly put out the fire In an effort to promote fire safety during the holiday season, Hastings Firefighters have placed a large wreath on the Vermillion Street side of the Fire Station. It is decorated with all white lights. From Thanksgiving until January 1, for every preventable structure fire within the Hastings fire response area, a white lightbulb will be replaced with one red lightbulb, our goal is to have all white lights remaining on our wreath! Help Keep the Wreath White! From everyone at the Hastings Fire Department, we would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Holiday Season! 35W Bridge Collapse Responders The City of Hastings would like to recognize and thank the members of the Dakota County Special Operations Team who responded to assist the during the rescue operation following 35W Bridge Collapse. In addition to being highly skilled in multi-hazard rescues, the Dakota County Special Operations Team is also one of five Structural Collapse Teams for the State of Minnesota. Hastings team members are John Townsend (fire), Paul Seleski (fire), Chris Paulson (fire), Craig Latch (fire), Steve Crisp (fire) and Craig Puch (police). These highly motivated and dedicated individu- als were recently recognized by the City of Minneapolis, Dakota County Board of Directors and the Hastings City Council. We offer a special thanks to them for going above and beyond the call of duty. sy Having Working Smoke Detectors your chances of survival are better than 80°Xo~ Rivertown News (~ecember 200 -February zoos) 9 ,~ .~ ~i / l ' ~' ~ r ' / ~1 .Ivv ~/rrv//~1 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 - - =,,,_ ~~_. • - -•~~_- _~ ~ <; ~ ~: ~V ~~ ~ ~ When it Snows ...Remember! NO PARKING - A snow emergency automatically goes into effect when 2 inches or more of snow has fallen. Under a snow emergency, no parking on any City street is allowed until that street has been cleared to its full width. Violators will be ticketed and towed. (See Page 6 about violations) Not sure if a snow emergency is in effect? Check cable channel 16, KDWA 1460 AM or the City's Webs ite. PLOWING - A normal snowfall takes eight to ten hours to clear, with City crews typically starting snow removal operations at 5:00 am. Snow windrowed in the downtown area is generally removed the following day. • SAFETY -Snow plow drivers' visibility is limited. There is a large blind spot directly behind the trucks. When following a snow plow, please stay well back. The plows occasionally have to stop and back up and the drivers cannot see vehicles directly behind the trucks. R,+~ar 11'iew MirrBr Never paw bn the rnghl, Piows ace pushing &r~aw 8nd SAre2cFing sand to the ri9hl. ~~ Sand ~'~ Plra Dri~ter's '` ' ~ Field of '; Plcaw Vision ~, Dri~r~er's ' Field of Vision MAILBOXES -Snow plow operations occasionally damage mailboxes. The City has a policy to repair or replace mailboxes struck by snow plows. However, mailboxes damaged by snow thrown by the plow are the homeowner's responsibility to repair. Mailboxes are supposed to be installed flush with the back of the curb, 8 inches behind the edge of the street. The Postal Service requests that homeowners keep the area in front of their mailboxes clear so that postal vehicles are able to get close to the mailbox. lifting arm can reach 6 to 8 feet. Please keep the containers at the end of your driveway. • GARBAGE & RECYCLING CONTAINERS -Please do not place garbage and recycling containers in the street or gutter area on your garbage collection day. Containers placed in the street and gutter area will prevent snow removal crews from plowing the parking areas on streets. The garbage truck • SIDEWALK SNOW REMOVAL -Many children walk to school each day and many people enjoy walking year round. Homeowners with sidewalks on their front or side yards are asked to shovel and maintain their walks in a timely manner to assist all users. As a reminder, City ordinances require property owners to clear snow and ice off of sidewalks abutting their property within 48 hours after each storm, and also prohibit blowing or shoveling snow out into the street. A Snow Emergency AUTOMATICALLY Goes Into Effect When 2 or More Inches of Snow Has Fallen see page 6 for complete regulations. 1o Rivertown News (~ecember zoos -February zoos) I~C]N~T ASSUMI= PLAN C3f~i`VJ~Fi SEE ~1fOU. THEIR FIELD ®F VISIC7N IS LIFv11TED. Nitrate Education Program Public Works Superintendent John Zgoda recently participated in a Nutrient Management Initiative field day in Dakota County. The field day was part of a nitrate education program for local farmers sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and supported by Dakota County and the City of Hastings. Brian Williams, a water quality coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, is working with farmers in Dakota County to reduce nitrate infiltration into the groundwater from area farm fields. With large areas of highly pervious sandy soils overlying ground water aquifers, the Hastings area is particularly sensitive to ground water contamination, allowing surface .~ ~ ~ ~ / ~j ~ ~I ~ ~' ~~~~ ~~~~ ~ ~ ~ ~rl~ Winter 2007-08 water runoff to reach aquifers much faster than other areas of the state. Some John also talked about the new $3.5 million nitrate removal treatment plant the City has estimates note that storm water runoff can had to build in order to reduce nitrate levels reach the aquifer in as little as 10 years, compared to 100 years in most other parts of the state. This local geology and sensitivity of the aquifer makes timing and application rates of nitrogen on area farm fields particularly important. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is working with area farmers on education and testing programs to better control nitrogen applications and reduce nitrate losses to the groundwater. Public Works Superintendent John Zgoda spoke to a group of farmers at the July 31 Nutrient Management Initiative field day. He noted that nitrate levels at the City's municipal wells typically jump every spring. from two of the City's six municipal wells. These two wells were approaching health standard levels for nitrate contamination. The remaining four City wells are well below health standard nitrate levels, but show a troubling, though slow, annual rise in nitrate levels. Most of the City's groundwater is drawn from the south and west, and farmers' activities in those areas have a direct impact on the City's drinking water supply. For a number of years, the City has been supporting Dakota County and Minnesota Department of Agriculture activities to study nitrate issues and promote nutrient management education programs as one way to address groundwater nitrate contamination issues. 2008 Street and Utility Construction Projects This past summer, the Hastings City Council approved a conceptual cost sharing plan with MnDOT for an $800,000 joint project to repair the historic stone walls on the north end of Vermillion Street and sides streets and alleys. The Hastings Engineering Department is proposing to coordinate the stone wall repair with street and utility reconstruction in the north Vermillion Street neighborhood. The project would involve replacing the 100- year-old sewer and water mains, storm sewer improvements, and reconstructing streets and sidewalks in addition to the wall repair. Curb and gutter and paving is also proposed for those alleys that have stone walls that will be repaired. (The curb and paving would help protect the walls from future water damage.) Please refer to the map illustrating the area proposed for street and utility reconstruction. Neighborhood meetings explaining the proposed project will be held early in 2008. See page 1 regarding Mn/DOTES 2008 Bridge Maintenance Project. Rivertown News (~ecember zoos -February zoos) 11 CITY C3F HASTINGS PROPOSED OITY PRQIEOT 200P 1 2008 STREET& UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS 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 Coordinator Kristin Behrens 480-6175 kbeh rens@ci. hasti ngs. mn. us Reduce Junk Mail! Every American man, woman, and child receives over 30 pounds of junk mail per year. Even if junk doesn't annoy you, consider the amount of... • Trees, water, and inks used to produce the junk mail; • Fossil fuels used to carry the junk mail to you, and carry away your garbage/recycling; • Problems associated with disposing of 4.3 million tons of unwanted mail; and • Energy used to recycle it. Many people would love to stop receiving unwanted mail and clear out old school and office papers from their homes, but it can be a daunting task. Keeping up with all the papers that pass through the house may feel like a full time job! Reduce and manage all the paper in your house with the following tips and tricks: Top Ways To Stop Unwanted Mail Contact: • The Direct Marketing Association's website at www.dmachoice.org/consumerass istance. html • Opt Out to eliminate credit card offers: www.optoutprescreen.com • Find more great ideas at GreenGuardian.com or www.reduce.org Take Steps To Reduce the Amount of Junk Mail You Receive You will need to do most of the steps listed below separately for each person in your household, and it may take several months before all your efforts will begin to significantly reduce your junk mail, but it will be worth it. Reduce Advertising Mail Significantly reduce advertising mail by registering with the Direct Marketing Association's "Mail Preference Service." This service costs $1 and registers you with many of the biggest direct mail marketers in the country. Visit: www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing to complete your registration on-line or print amail-in copy. Send one for each person in your household. 12 Rivertown News (~ecember zoos -February zoos) ~i / 1 ' \' ` / ' 1 ~1` ..~vv ~/ rrv//~• Credit Card Offers? Opt-Out! The nation's consumer credit bureaus established ways to help you get off lists for pre-approved credit card solicitations. "Opt-out" for two years or permanently. To get off permanently, you need to return a letter sent to you after you make the phone call. • Call 1-888-567-8688, or visit www.optoutprescreen.com Mail List Brokers These two companies provide national lists for non-financial data. • Experian - 1-800-228-4571 ext. 4633. After listening to a long message, leave your name, address, city, state, zip, area code and phone. • The Polk Company - 1-800-464-7655 Ask for the "opt-out" line and follow directions. Weekly Coupon/Advertising Mailings You can get off the mailing lists for common weekly/monthly coupon mailings. • Call ADVO, Inc. at 1-888-241-6760 to stop getting "ShopWi$e". • Call Val-Pak (Cox Target Media) at 1-800-550- 5025 and follow the instructions. Contact Individual Companies/Organisations Not all groups use the national mailing lists. If companies or charities have your name and address, you may continue to receive mail from them. However, you do have the right to be left alone, once you request it. Contact the company directly (by mail or telephone) and asked to be placed in their "do not mail" file. Sample language to use (you could create labels or notes with this message to send in until the mail stops): "Please remove my name from your marketing database. Do not sell, give away, rent, or trade my name and address to others. Thank you, [give full name and address]." By proactively requesting, every time you write down or tell someone your name/address, not to share it with others you can prevent a lot of junk mail before it is even sent to you! '/. ,~ °Know Recycling 1Whaf io ~~J"' Thraw" ~:~' Myths GreenGv~ ian.com Unmasked Myth: There are no markets for recyclables. Fact: Demand for recycled materials has never been greater. In fact, demand for recycled materials exceeds the supply currently provided by the American public. We're using more paper than ever, and paper mills need recycled paper to produce new products. Paper is also a valuable export. Myth: I don't generate enough recycling to make a difference. Fact: You would be surprised! Even in a single person household, the amount of material that could have been recycled quickly adds up. About 1/3 of what is thrown away could have been recycled. Myth: Recycling doesn't make that big of an environmental difference. Fact: Recycling doesn't just save natural resources - it also saves energy and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Plus, it's great for our economy. Cleaning For the Holidays? Minnesota's recycle over 2.3 million tons each year. By recycling, Minnesota's: • Save Natural Resources: Recycling 1 ton of paper saves 7,000 gallon of water • Reduce Greenhouse Gases: Recycling in Minnesota reduces emissions equal to taking 2.3 million cars off the road • Create Jobs: Over 19,000 Minnesota jobs are involved with recycling • Reduce Our Taxes: Each year, recycling generates $64 million in Minnesota tax revenue. Are you tired of working around all that extra junk just uselessly lying around? Then now is a great time to get rid of your household hazardous waste. Dakota County offers a hazardous waste drop off site just northwest of Highway 149 and Yankee Doodle Road in Eagan. The Dakota County Eco-Site accepts the following items: • Aerosols • Antifreeze • Auto batteries • Fire extinguishes • Ruorescent lights • Gasoline • Household cleaners • Latex/oil paint • Lawn and garden products • Propane tanks/gas cylinders • Tires (fee) • Thermostats • Used oil/filters • Weed killer • Most products labeled dangerous, flammable, poison, combustible, corrosive Please note, the materials listed are accepted from Dakota County residents only. Your drivers license is required. Also, household hazardous waste should never be mixed together and should remain labeled in their original package. And for safety reasons, it should be transported in a box. • Mercury thermometers For additional information including • Pesticides hours and directions call (952) 891- 7020 or visit www. co. dakota. mn. us/ NEW! No Charge for Electronic Disposal EnvironmentRoads/EcoSite/ .~ ~- ~~ ~ ~~ r~ s r Why recycle? It just gets thrown away anyway. It is against state law for haulers to pick up recyclables and not recycle them. It is also against the law for a landfill or resource recovery facility to accept a load of recyclables. Recyclables are in demand. Cities and haulers receive revenue from the sale of recyclables. Congratulations Youth Green Teams!! The City and Waste Management congratulate the PHCA Student & Parent Boosters for all of their hard work in recycling during the 3rd quarter of 2007. They collected over 46 tons of recyclable mixed paper and received about $700 for their participation in the Youth Green Team Recycling Program! How can our group participate? If your youth group is interested in this program, contact Sandy Spring at 480-0307, ext. 0104, complete the application form, and submit to: Waste Management, 2800 Millard Avenue Hastings, MN 55033. Groups selected to -- ~ -~ i ~ participate will be -~ -_ notified well in f-;}4:: ~ , i ! ? ~ advance of their ~~•~ . ~ / - three month term. ~ Is your current Single Sort recycling cart insufficient? Waste Management will provide larger or additional recycling carts at no extra charge. dust call their Customer Service Center at 43~-g201~ Rivertown News (~ecember zoos -February zoos) 13 ,1 Hastings Parks and Recreation 920 10th Street West Hastings, MN 55033 Phone: 480-6175 Fax: 437-5396 www.ci.hastings.mn.us 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 Recreation Coordinator: Jared Flewellen 480-6181 jflewellen@ci. hastings. mn.us Recreation Weather Hotline 480-3102 Civic Arena Manager: Sliv McGree 480-6195 jmcgree@ci. hastings. mn.us Aquatic Center Manager: Darbie Johnson 480-6179 djohnson@ci.hastings.mn.us Hastings Family Aquatic Center: 437-6999 HFAC Hotline 480-2392 Youth First Operates with the City of Hastings Youth First is delighted to now be operating under the City of Hastings in the Parks and Recreation Department. Many of the asset building initiatives that were previously established will be main- tained, while also working closely with the City of Hastings to increase our efforts. The Youth First Mission Our mission is to build a healthy community by engaging all community members in developing, supporting, and nurturing positive assets in our youth. What are Assets? Assets are 40 key building blocks to help a kid succeed. A caring neighborhood is a support asset. Youth are more likely to grow up healthy when they experience caring neighbors. What is Asset Building? Asset building is intergenerational. Assets are those positive values, attitudes, and attributes that develop youth into positive role models and contributors to our community. We all need assets and we all build assets. Sesquicentennial Wrap up: continued from pg 3 The release of the May 2007 issue of the Over the Years magazine published by the Dakota County Historical Society. This issue was devoted to the development of Hastings. Entitled "Tales of a Historic Rivertown: 150 Years of Progress and Pride" it was widely distributed and copies are still available for purchasing. Also in May, the Historical Homes of Hastings Tours had a great turnout. Ten local homes, plus the LeDuc Estate and City Hall, opened their doors for tours. Over 300 tickets were sold for this Youth First Coordinator: one day event! Ann Grotjohn 480-6182 June was the busiest month for events beginning agrotjohn@ci. hastings. mn.us with the Saturday Night Cruise-Ins hosted by the Downtown Business Association, the All Years Alumni Banquet at the Senior High School, and the Padelford Packet Boat Excursions down the Mississippi. 14 RIVEYtOW11 NEWS (December 2007 - FebrilAly 2008) I i ~~ ~~1r~~~r~Jy!~ I~ i/asrt~ngs Aron Henltlry Ce~nzm~mnetiQS hiitiative Talk Triggers Talking with a neighbor may seem daunting to your child. Encourage your child to use these talk trig- gers to strike up a conversation with a neighbor: • What do you do in your spare time? • What do you like best about our neighborhood? • Which books have had an impact on your life? • What troubles you most about the world today? • What is your favorite childhood memory? • What do you wish you had more time to do? Friendships can only develop when people take risks by acknowledging their neighbors, getting to know their neighbors, and taking time to form rela- tionships. Usually all neighbors - no matter what their age -benefit! Feel free to contact Ann Grotjohn at 651-480-6182 or agrotjohnC~ci.hastings.mn.us to learn more about Asset Building and the Youth First Programs. Once again,the Sesquicentennial Committee celebrated Rivertown Days in July, with a booth at Pioneer Park. Merchandise was sold and orders for a commemorative ceramic crocks which feature an image of the Spiral Bridge on one side. A limited edition, a few of these crocks are still available for $30. The Civil War Weekend at the LeDuc House in September drew good crowds with re-enactor soldiers at drill, work and play, as well as several "support groups" of re-enactors. The final event Hastings Artists at the LeDuc was held November 9 - 17 was an art show and sale of art by local artists at the LeDuc Historic Estate and was a huge success! Thank you for joining us this year in celebrating our communities 150 years of People, Progress and Pride! ~ ~~I~~~~r~S ~~i 2007-08 Outdoor Ice Skating and Hockey Rink Warming House Schedule December 17, 2007 -February 18, 2008 Weather Permitting* The City of Hastings Parks & Recreation Department operates 7 warming houses for the 6 outdoor recreational skating rinks and the 5 outdoor hockey rinks. The rinks are free for the general public to use during posted dates and times. The City of Hastings will be hosting a Skating Party in February 2008 at Pioneer Park This Party will include a bonfire, winter games, hotchocolate, popcorn, and other fun events. Check warming house information boards for dates and details. Warming House Hours • Civic Arena Behind Civic Arena on Highway 316 Hockey rink Monday -Friday 4pm - 8pm Saturday Noon - 8pm Sunday Noon - 6pm • Isabel Park East 2nd Street & Frank/in Street Recreational rink Saturday Noon - 7pm Sunday Noon - 6pm • Lions Park West 5th Street & State Street Recreational & hockey rinks Monday -Friday 4pm - 9pm Saturday Noon - 9pm Sunday Noon - 6pm • Kennedy Park 10th Street & Bailey Street Recreational & hockey rinks Monday -Friday 4pm - 8pm Saturday Noon - 8pm Sunday Noon - 6pm • Pioneer Park West 16th Street & Pine Street Recreational & hockey rinks Monday -Friday 4pm - 9pm Saturday Noon - 9pm Sunday Noon - 6pm Holiday Hours: (weather permitting*) December 24 All Rinks: Warming houses open Noon- 4pm December 25 All Rinks: WARMING HOUSES CLOSED Extended Hours! December 26 - 31 & Ja nuary 1 Wallin & Pioneer: 11am - 9pm Wilson & Civic Arena: Noon - 8pm Isabel: Noon - 7pm Lions: Noon - 9pm January 21 & 25 Wallin & Pioneer: 11am - 9pm Wilson & Civic Arena: Noon - 8pm Isabel: Noon - 7pm Lions: Noon - 9pm February 15 & 18 Wallin & Pioneer: 11am - 9pm Wilson & Civic Arena: Noon - 8pm Isabel: Noon - 7pm Lions: Noon - 9pm • Wallin Park Genera/ Sieben & Northridge Drive Recreational & hockey rinks Monday -Friday 4pm - 9pm Saturday Noon - 9pm y Sunday Noon - 6pm • Wilson Park West 5th Street & Spring Street Recreational rink Saturday Noon - 8pm Sunday Noon - 6pm 'The rinks may close due tc extreme cold weather conditions of unseasonably warm weather conditions. Please call the Outdoor lce Skating hotline at 651-480-2392 for up to date information. Questions? Please call Hastings Park & Civic Arena: The Hastings Civic Arena offers a variety of skating opportunities. Whether figure skating or hockey is your fancy, the Arena has time available for you! Lessons are also offered at the Arena through the River Blades Skating School - with Amanda Truax Korobko Saturdays, January 12, 2008 -March 15, 2008; 9:30-11:00 am. For more informa- tion, please contact the Civic Arena at 480-6195 or Amanda at (763) 232-5195. Civic Arena Calendars can be downloaded from the City's Web Page wwwci.hastings.mn.us or picked up at the Civic Arena or Park & Recreation Department's Main Office. Public Skate Opportunities Public Skate $3.50 Public Skate Book of 10 $30.00 Public Hockey $5.00 Skate Rental $2.50 Skate Sharpening $3.25 Adult Recreational Activities Adult 4 v 4 Outdoor Hockey Starting January 5, 2008 will be co-rec on Sundays, and men's on Mondays. Teams will play for 5 weeks. Registration is open through December 14. Games will be played at Lions Park Adult 6 v 6 Outdoor Broomball Starting January 6, 2008. Teams will play for 5 weeks. Registration is open through December 14. Games will be played at Lions Park For registration information on either of these activates, check the City's website at www.ci.hastings.mn.us or contact Jared Rewellen at 480-6181 or jflewellenC~ci.hastings.mn.us RIVEYtOW11 NEWS (December 2007 - FebrilAly 2008) 15 What Can Government UO?A Message From Ward 1 Council Member Tony Alongi When I learned I'd be writing an article for this issue, I first planned to do a little piece on downtown redevelopment. After all, Hastings has a unique resource tucked away by the river, and I believe the city can help preserve and enhance its vitality. Good stuff, right? Then the 35W bridge came down. A few weeks later -before we could even get out of August - southeast Minnesota experienced horrific flash floods, and several towns went under water for days. It was a bad month for Minnesota. This newsletter's coming out in winter, well after both these events took place. But I'll bet we all still remember them just fine -and of course, there are families and friends who will never forget. Some events touch people's lives forever, well after the media and everyone else's attention span has moved on. As Hurricane Katrina taught us, people can feel the effects of some disasters for years afterward. So who helps these people, long after the initial headlines? Is it friends and family? Community? Government? Of course, it depends on the circumstances. The more personal the tragedy, the less government City of Hastings 101 Fourth Street East Hastings, MN 55033 City Hall: Hours: 8 am - 4:30 pm Phone: 480-2350 Fax: 437-7082 www.ci.hastings.mn.us cityhallC~ci.hastings.mn.us can do to help. Loss of a son, a mother, a friend - we don't expect government to rush in and heal the hurt. And we would not be satisfied if we did. We sensibly turn to others -the rest of our family, our neighbors, perhaps clergy or other spiritual sources. The more widespread the disaster, the greater the expectation of government help. Individual families can purchase insurance, generate savings, and reach out to other families for temporary help. Non-profit organizations and churches can provide blankets and other emergency supplies. But entire communities swept under floodwaters need something even greater. I had the privilege of meeting several local elected officials in the wake of the flash floods in southeast Minnesota. (In my day job, I direct the Dislocated Worker program, which helps people suffering from unexpected job loss.) When I visited Rushford, the waters had receded -but there was no electricity, no telecommunications beyond cell phones, and no safe drinking water or properly working sewage system. Portable toilets dotted each residential block. Dirt and debris stains on buildings gave a stark indication of just how high the water had gotten. The odor of the failed wastewater system lingered in the air. In the face of all this, the mayor and council mem- bers Imet in Rushford were unflappably calm, thoughtful, and professional. They were even friendly to visitors (once you got past the National Guard, bless them!), and had all the information we needed as state workers in order to begin to arrange for assistance. In fact, they'd been working with other state agencies (like Health) from the very start, with barely a seam, going door to door multiple times with important safety communications for residents, arranging for tetanus and diphtheria shots, learning where the most urgent problems had arisen, and com- ing up with smart plans to solve them. The best part is, I know those same officials, local and state, elected and appointed, will still be working hard by the time this newsletter comes out. There will be follow-up inspections on the infrastructure, continued testing of water, and residents with various ongoing and persistent problems related to flood damage. It won't look as impressive as the terrific emergency assistance they received from police, fire, and National Guard in the early days -but it will keep people from getting sick or hurt, or losing even more than they already have. Hastings has officials just like the ones in Rushford, or at the Department of Health. They're dedicated, smart, and capable. Heaven forbid we should experience anything on the scale of a major flood or bridge collapse -but if we do, I am confident in their abilities, and proud to work with them. It's not always glorious work, public service. (In fact, I don't know that I'd ever call it "glorious"!) But it's deeply rewarding. I have friends who occasionally snigger at "government bureaucrats", who wonder why I do what I do, and why I don't ditch my low-paying government job for something more profitable. They weren't wondering any of that in August. They seemed to get it just fine, then. ~~ 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.