HomeMy WebLinkAboutSummer 2002
: Hastings Rivertown News
City of Hastings
(651) 437-4127
Public Works Open House
Scheduled
101 Fourth Street East, Hastings, MN 55033-1955
www.ci.hastinas.mn.u5
Come & see what goes on in the City's Public Works
Department. We'll have many of the department's
vehicles and equipment available to take a close look
at, and kids can even sit in some of the vehicles and
have their picture taken! TRAC buses will also be
available at the event and residents will have a chance
to become more familiar with our local transit system.
This is a great opportunity to talk with some of the
City's employees and hear about all the work that
goes into keeping our public roads and water safe!
Refreshments, prizes, & giveaways will also be available.
WHEN?
TIME?
WHERE?
Thursday, September 12, 2002
4:00-7:00 p.m.
Public Works Garage
1221 Progress Drive
For more information, contact Hastings Public Works
at 437-3922 or check out our website at
www.ci.hastings.mn.us
Election Season is Hem!
It may still be summer, but it's already time to start
thinking about the upcoming 2002 elections. The City of
Hastings will have three seats on this fall's ballot: Mayor
and two At-Large Councilmember seats. Candidacy filing
opens for these races on Tuesday, July 2 and closes at
5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16. There is a $5.00 filing
fee, and prospective candidates file at City Hall, 101
Fourth Street East.
Depending on the number of candidates who file for each
race, a primary may be held. If needed, the Primary
Election will be on Tuesday, September 10. The General
EI<3ction will be held on Tuesday, November 5.
For more information, contact Hastings City Hall or look
on our w<3bsite at www.ci.hastings.mn.us.
Volume VII
Issue 3
2002 Street & Utility
Construction Update
The City has contracted with Three Rivers Construction for street
reconstruction and utility work on Southview Drive and the Westwood
area east of Forest Street, including south of 18~ Str<3et. Work on
these streets is expected to be ongoing through October of this year.
When finished, new curb and gutter and bituminous streets will have
been constructed along with new storm sewer and ex1ensive sanitary
sewer and watermain repairs and replacements.
Around mid-summer, the City will award a contract for the rebuilding
of General Sieben Drive between the South Frontage Road and 4'h
Street to accommodate the new Cub Foods and Wal-Mart
developments. This work will consist of wid<3ning the road, construction
of turning lanes, landscaping, and traffic signal work. Construction
will be continuing through October.
If the Glendale Heights development on the east side of the Industrial
Park is approved, work will begin late this summer on an ex1ension of
Spiral Boulevard and 31" Street to connect to Glendale Road (CR
#91). Street and utility construction work will also be underway at
new developments on the south end of town at South Pines IV Addition,
Century South 2"" Addition, and South Oaks Addition. On the West
Side of town, new development street and utility construction is
continuing at Summit Heights Addition, Bailly Ridge Addition, Riverdale
Addition, and Sieben Crest Addition.
Construction Progress-As is typical with street and utility
construction, the City's contractor, Three Rivers Construction., has
subcontracted the bituminous milling, concrete curb and gutter,
sidewalk and driveway work, bituminous paving, and sodding and
landscape work to several other contractors. These subcontractors
generally do not move their equipment or crews into town until there
is enough work to keep them busy for several days. As a result,
some construction projects may sit idle for s<3veral days while work is
being done elsewhere to prepare for a subcontractor. Also, please
keep in mind that when the contractor is constructing a road, the final
elevation of the finished surface is about a foot higher than th<3 rough
graded road cut. What seems to be a big drop in your driveway or
yard will be much more gradual when the project has been complet<3d.
For more Construction Information, please see Page 3!
Page 1
Summer2002
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The City of Hastings Council meets on the first & third
Mondays of each month at 7:00 p.m. Agendas are
available at City Hall and on the City's website, and
residents are encouraged to attend.
MAYOR
Mike Werner
437-4143
COUNCILMEMBERS
Ward 1 Janette Yandrasits
Ward 2 Turney Hazlet
Ward 3 Ed Riveness
Ward 4 Danna Elling Schultz
At-Large Lynn Moratzka
Paul Hicks
438-3194
437-5298
437-4416
438-3878
437-7869
437-8866
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City Hall Office Hours 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Monday - Friday
City Hall Phone 437-4127
Inspections &
Code Enforcement:
Engineering:
City Website:
438-3888
438-2334
www.ci.hastinas.mn.us
CITY HALL STAFF
City Administrator
Public Works Director
Finance Director
Planning Director
Code Enforce.Supervisor
Admin.Asst./City Clerk
HRA Driector
Dave Osberg
Tom Montgomery
Lori Webster
John Hinzman
Bill Mesaros
Melanie Mesko Lee
John Grossman
OTHER CITY FACILITIES
Police Department 437-4126
Emergency 911
Mike McMenomy, Chief
Fire Department 437-5610
Emergency 911
Mark Holmes, Chief
Streets Department 437-4415
Cal Ruedy, Superintendent
Utilities Department 437-3922
Jim Heusser, Superintendent
Parks Department 437-5858
Parks & Rec. Director Marty McNamara
Lee Erickson, Superintendent
Civic Arena 437-4940
Jim McGree, Manager
Aquatic Center 480-2392
Darbie Johnson, Manager
Page 2
Summer2002
SIlMlGJU soar N~r~UlMlGJ 8gGJIlMlS
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I~ace to Recyclingn
Race To Recycling is
the theme for Hastings
new Single Sort
Recycling Program. Join
us in the Race to
Recycling and Help
Hastings Carry the Checkered Flag.
Here's how the new Single Sort Recycling Program
works:
.
Beginning the Week of June 24, every residential
home in the City of Hastings received a new 64-gallon
recycling cart with a gold lid. Carts were delivered on
your regular service day. There is an instruction
packet attached to the new cart. This will be the last
week to set out your 18 gallon recycle bin. Please
keep your old recycle bin-it has many other uses!
Place all your clean recyclables in this cart:
newspapers, magazines, junk mail, cardboard,
chipboard. Rinse clean, glass bottles and jars,
aluminum and metal cans, plastic bottles and jugs.
Mix papers and containers together. All the sorting of
this material will be done at Waste Management's
Material Recovery Facility in North Minneapolis.
Recycling collection service will be every other week,
instead of weekly. The new 64-gallon cart stores more
than three times the volume of material that the 18-
gallon recycle bin held, therefore, the recycling truck
can make fewer stops which results in greater cost
efficiency. Each one of us will be able to recycle
1 ,664 gallons of recycling during the year with our new
64-gallon cart compared to 936 gallons of recycling
with the 18-gallon recycling bin.
The first week of July there will not be any recycling
collection in Hastings.
During the week of July 8, place the new 64-gallon cart
out for collection on your regular service day. Please
keep the cart three to five feet away from the trash
carts, and other objects like mailboxes, cars, trees,
and signs. If the cart is too close to objects, the driver
can not empty the cart.
For more information, please contact Waste
Management at 437-9201. Thanks for Recycling!
Public Works Garage
1221 Progress Drive
437-4415-Streets
437 -3922--Utilities
438-2334-Engineering
Public Works
Streets
Permanent Odd/Even Sprinkling
Ban
By City Ordinance, a permanent odd!
even sprinkling ban is automatically in
effect from May 15 to September 1 of
each year. The purpose of the ban is to
even out water demands and reduce the
peak pumping demand from the City wells caused
during the summer months by lawn sprinkling.
The permanent odd/even sprinkling ban ordinance
reads as follows; "From May 15 to September 1 of each
year, an odd/even lawn sprinkling ban shall be in effect for
all lawn sprinkling systems supplied by water from the City
of Hastings water utility. Properties with even numbered
addresses may sprinkle lawns only on days with even
numbered dates. Properties with odd numbered ad-
dresses may sprinkle lawns only on days with odd num-
bered dates. A one (1) week exemption from the odd/even
sprinkling ban may be granted for newly planted sod,
grass, or landscaping upon registering for the exemption
with the Hastings Utility Department. Other exemptions
may be granted upon evaluation and recommendation of
the Hastings Utility Superintendent."
Utility Construction-Other utility companies will
typically replace or upgrade their utilities in
conjunction with the City's construction projects.
Sprint, Reliant Energy, Xcel, and AT&T Broadband
will all have their own crews or contractors working
alongside the City's reconstruction projects. If
you have any problems, concerns or
questions about the City's construction
projects or the utility companies'
construction, please feel free to contact
the following people:
Sam Schmidtke,
Hastings Engineering Department
Sue Gille,
Xcel Energy
Tom Birkholm,
Reliant Energy
Lynn Rousch,
Sprint
Tony Sandwick,
AT&T Broadband
651-480-2334
651-768-5106
612-861-8438
952-448-8369
651-493-5120
Utilities
Engineering
Water System Consumer
Confidence Reports
Included with this newsletter is a copy of the City's consumer
confidence report detailing the water quality of the Hastings
water system. The federal government requires the City to issue
these reports annually to all users of its water system. The
content of the report and language and des,criptions used to
describe the City's water quality have been furnished by the
Minnesota Health Department, as required by regulation. If you
have any questions about the report, please call Jim Heusser,
Utility Superintendent, at 651-437-3922.
You Can Help to Protect Water Quality
Do you know that you live on waterfront property? You do if
there is a storm drain nearby! Stomn drains carry runoff water
directly to ponds, lakes, and rivers. Whatever washes off your
yard and street runs directly into these waters, including lawn
fertilizer, grass clippings, pet waste, and tree leaves. These are
all sources of phosphorus, the plant nutrient that runs lakes and
rivers green with algae.
Anything that enters a storm drain
goes directly to a local pond, lake, or
river. It does not go to a wastewater
treatment facility. In order to protect
our water supply, remember to never
dump waste oil, radiator fluid,
pesticides, liquid fertilizers, paint
and paint cleanup liquids or other
wastes into a storm drain.
2002 Sealcoat Program
As a way of extending the usable life of City streets, the City
hires a contractor to sealcoat 12% to 15% of the City's streets
annually. Sealcoating involves spraying an asphalt/water mix
on the streets, which is then covered with small rock. The
sealcoating helps rejuvenate the existing street pavement and
seals the small cracks in the road surface as well as helping
to prevent water from saturating and weakening the road's
base.
Sealcoating operations should begin sometime in August.
The areas scheduled for sealcoating include the streets
between 15~ and 18th Streets, west of Hwy 61 and east of Pine
St., and the area both south and east of the Louis Lane
ponding basin.
Page 3
Summer 2002
Season Pass Rates
Resident:
Ages 1-5 $36.00
Ages 6-54 $40.00
Ages 55+ $36.00
Non-Resident:
Ages 1-5 $46.00
Ages 6-54 $50.00
Ages 55+ $46.00
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Daily Admission Rates ~
Daily $5.00/person
Children under 42" tall $3.50/person
Under 12 months Free
After 5 p.m., all patrons $3.50/person
Parks & Recreation
Q 2002 Information
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HASTI
Family Aquaticl'C ri'ter
901 Maple St.
Hotline: 651-480-2392
Seasonal Phone: 651-437-6999
'Teen Night!
~ Teens ages 13-17 are invited to
listen to tunes, play games,
and have a great time!
Cost With a Season Pass $3.00
No Season Pass $5.00
Time: 8:30 p.m. -10:30 p.m.
When: Friday June 28,
Friday July 12,
Thursday, July 18 and
Friday, August 16
Adult Lap SWim~
June 10 - August 24, 2002
Tues. & Thurs. 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.
Saturdays 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Mon. & Fri. 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Family Swim
Families have exclusive use of the
facility!
Floatation devices and toys allowed!
June 12 - August 21,2002
Wednesdays 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
We'll have a Disc Jockey, Games,
Water Volleyball and Basketball
Closing Day: Sunday, August 25, 2002
HASTINGS SKATE PARK
2002 SCHEDULE
Monday - Friday
10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Saturday
10:30 a.m. - 8:30 P.M.
10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
10:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
10:30 a.m. -7 p.m.
10:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Daily
Punch Cards
13-Punch Card
Resident
Non-Resident
3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
3 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Monday-Friday
(School year)
$3.00/day
$50.00
$55.00
Sunday
12 Noon - 8:30 P.m.
12 Noon - 8:30 p.m.
12 Noon - 8:30 p.m.
12 Noon - 7 p.m.
12Noon-6p.m.
12 Noon - 5:30 p.m.
Located in the
Industrial Park,
the Hastings Skate
Park premiered in
August 2001 and
is a Tier II park.
There are several
ramps and agility
areas for bikes,
skateboards, and
roller blades.
Monday-Friday
(Summer)
$5.00/day
Saturday/Sunday
$5.00/day
Equipment Rental
Helmets $2.00/day
Wrist Guards $1.00/day
Elbow Guards $1.00/day
Entire set $3.00/day
The park will close due to inclement weather.
For more information please call Darbie Johnson at 651-438-3058
Page 4
Summer 2002
Season Pass
Resident
Non- Resident
$130.00
$135.00
Dates open
July 1-31
August 1-31
September 1-2
September 3-30
October 1-5
October 6-31
Fees
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The Neighborhood
Wilds Program is
designed to. help
metro area residents
understand, protect,
and restore the natural
resources in their
neighborhoods. Consisting of two separate
hases-workshops and demonstration
~rojects-the program aims to link and buffer
existing natural areas by coordinating
landscaping and land management among
neighbors.
III 01
NEIGHBORHOOD
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This is a collaborative effort of the Minnesota
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and
local conservation groups and neighborhoods;
the 2001-03 program is funded by the
Legislative Commission on Minnesota
Resources (LCMR) and the Metropolitan
Council.
Past projects, averaging 30 households each,
have helped enhance native plant diversity
around a neighborhood pond, restore a native
forest, and propose landscape design to buffer
a remnant oak savanna. Upcoming
workshops will focus on streambank
stabilization, invasive plant control, and
protecting a rare wetland community.
One of the neighborhood associations in
Wyndham Hills has applied for Phase II of the
program: funding and technical assistance for
a demonstration project. This assistance was
sought through the work of resident Pat Gillard.
In response to the request, a grant has been
awarded to plant native material on two ponds
In the Wyndham Hills neighborhood. The
planting will take place this summer and will
benefit the environment through wetland plant
community enrichment, bank stabilization, as
well as being a benefit to those who visit this
~~e Via the public trail access through the site.
e planting site is located off Northridge Drive
and Stoneg t D. .
ru' a e rive with the access trail
nnlng between the two ponds.
Congratular
wo k' Ions to the neighbors who are
s ring to benefit their environment The City
D~~~~rts the. program and th~ Parks
reside ~ent wliI continue to work with the
compie~' s and are looking forward to the
Ion of the planting.
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Who should you call if you are concerned about the
maintenance of a property? Call the Code Enforcement
Division of the Inspections & Code Enforcement Department, which is
responsible for assisting property owners in coming into compliance
with the City's ordinances regarding property maintenance.
It is the intent of the City to first educate a violator and provide information
to assist in correcting the issue. Generally, a letter will be sent to
suspect violators, which includes a description of the possible violation.
The letter encourages the recipientto call with any questions regarding
the issue. The allotted time to make repairs will be determined by the
amount of work needed to accomplish the task. If attempts to correct
the issue go unanswered, the situation will then be taken to the next
level of enforcement, which could include a summons to court.
Hastings City Code Chapter 18 addresses the property maintenance
provisions of the City's ordinances. Here are some of the most common
code violations being addressed on a daily basis by the Code
Enforcement Division:
Violation: Oversized recreational vehicles, boats, or trailers being
parked in driveways
Relevant City Ordinance: Section 18.05, Subd. 3. Licensed vehicles,
not exceeding 7 feet in height are permitted
Violation: Non-registered/non-running vehicles being stored on
properties.
Relevant City Ordinance: Section 18.05, Subd. 2. Outside storage
of non-operational vehicles is prohibited.
~. Violation: Failure to keep weeds and grass cut within
. . the city code requirements.
_ Relevant City Ordinance: Section 18.05, Subd. 5.
':i~.~'.~.. '/j I..~i Weeds and grass higher than 12 inches is not permitted.
'~ijl~lm~,II!I!i. :Ilil!
"., ,,' . Violation: Miscellaneous materials and debris being
stored throughout the property limits.
Relevant City Ordinance: Section 18.05, Subd. 4. With a few
exceptions, all storage must be done within a building for be fully
screened.
Violation: Failed paint on homes, businesses, sheds, and garages.
Relevant City Ordinance: Section 18.05, Subd. 9. This subdivision
outlines the maintenance requirements for buildings within the City.
The intent of this code is to help maintain the beauty of our historic
community. The City continues to work on developing methods to
assist our residents in keeping our City clean. Our annual cleanup
day is one such example of these efforts. The City appreciates
everyone's help in keeping our community a great place to live and to
visit.
If anyone has concerns or questions regarding this ordinance or a
property or business which may have violations, please feel free to
contact Marsha Jones, Code Enforcement Inspector, at 438-3888,
Monday-Friday between the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Page 5
Summer 2002
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Police Department
150 East Third Street
Hastings, MN 55033
Police Chief: Mike McMenamy
Non-Emergency: 437-4126
Emergency: 911
Curfew Reminders-
Now that summer is here, parents and children are reminded of the curfew
hours for the City of Hastings:
Under Age 12:
Ages 12-14:
Ages 15-17:
Sunday-Thursday: 9 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Friday & Saturday: 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Sunday-Thursday: 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11 p.m. to midnight
Sunday-Thursday: 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.
Friday & Saturday: 12 midnight to 5 a.m.
Please remember that it is unlawful for any juvenile, defined as 17 years of
age and younger, to be present at any public place within the City of
Hastings between the hours listed above. In order to make the curfew hours
more effective, we need your assistance to report any curfew violations.
Reports can be made by contacting your Hastings Police Department at
437-4126. Thanks for your help!
Bike Rodeos:
Coming to a Park Near You
The Hastings Police Department, in cooperation
with Hastings Community Education, will be
sponsoring Bike Safety Rodeos during the
upcoming summer months at various parks
throughout the City of Hastings. Children will
have fun learning the importance of bike safety
while practicing on an actual bike safety course.
They will learn and understand the various
safety features on their bikes and how to
properly adjust them for riding. They will also
learn the rules of traffic and to obey traffic signs.
Please check your Hastings Community
Education Calendar for the dates and locations
of these bike rodeos or contact Hastings
Community Education for further I
information. , it' ~.
Parents, remember to teach JI!! -
your children how to bike in -:/ II
an area that is safe. Riding
your bike properly takes skill
and the better you are, the
safer you will be!
~Graduation & iih
~ -.......-". Alcohol ..,
It's that time of year for graduation
parties & you could be put in a
tough situation. What do you do
about alcohol? Here are a couple
of suggestions:
Safety Tips While You Are on Vacation
Summertime is a great time for family vacations. Unfortunately, home burglaries have
increased at an alarming rate, especially in suburban residential areas, and Hastings residents
can all be vulnerable to home burglaries. Residents can take steps to reduce the chance of
a home burglary by taking some steps that can discourage burglars.
Here are some ideas for you to consider:
_ Use a timer to automatically turn lights on when it starts to get dark;
_ Always close and lock garage doors;
_ Secure your automatic garage door opener in the glove compartment of your
vehicle;
_ Use secure locks, preferably dead bolt locks on the doors of your residence;
_ Brightly illuminate all your entrances;
_ Avoid displaying valuable items near windows with open drapes or shades;
Never leave a note on the door explaining why you aren't home;
_ Make sure your neighbors are aware that you will be gone and ask them to keep
an eye on your house;
_ Notify the Hastings Police Department that you will be gone and the dates and
times you will be gone. The Police Department does have a Residence Check
Program and our officers will be able to periodically check your residence while
you are gone to make sure nothing has been disturbed;
_ Become involved in your local neighborhood watch program. If there isn't a
program initiated in your neighborhood, maybe you could start one. These.
programs provide a partnership between you, your neighbors, and the Police
Department to combatting crimes in your neighborhood.
Page 6
Summer 2002
#1 Don't Serve It. One day
without alcohol won't hurt. Let's keep
In mind that this party is for the
student.
#2 If you do plan to serve
alcohol to the adults,
rememi:>er to Keep Control.
No alcohol to those persons under
21 years of age. You are not doing
your child or anyone else's child any
.favors by using old-time excuses
like, "I just let them have two drinks"
or "I took their keys" or 'Their parents
said it was okay for them to drink".
Serving alcohol to minors Is illegal and
if you are caught serving alcohol to
underage persons, you will be
charged. If you have any doubts about
liability, call your insurance agent and
get his or her opinion. That
conversation aione should help you in
your decision.
Fire Department
115 Fifth Street West
Hastings, MN 55033
Fire Chief: Mark Holmes
Non-Emergency: 437-5610
Emergency: 911
.. Help Your Child Learn
...... to Respect Fire
Parents are the most influential people in a child's life - having
the primary responsibility to serve as role models, to be a
source of comfort and support, to nurture and to teach as
well as provide the necessities for your children. A major
portion of these responsibilities is to ensure a safe
environment and teach safe behaviors. Effectively done,
these lessons will impact not just the child but the community
as a whole. Below are just a few of the things the State Fire
Marshal says parents can do to help.
Set a Good Example-Install and maintain smoke alarms and fire
extinguishers per manufacturer's directions, and always use fire in
a safe manner.
Take Responsibility for Fire Safety-Paint out to your children
the fire safety rules you follow throughout the day and discuss the
dangers of fire.
Control Access to Fire-Keep all ignition devices out of reach of
children and teach them to notify an adult if they find them.
Identify Telltale Signs-Check in waste baskets, under beds
and in closets for burned matches or other evidence your child is
misusing fire and, if you find evidence, react positively by using it as
a teaching opportunity.
Develop a Positive Identity-Children with positive self-esteem
are less likely to fall victim to peer pressure, and they tend to make
better decisions and look toward their future.
Empower Your Child-Teach your child a home escape plan, how
to crawl low in smoke, the importance of maintaining smoke alarms,
and give them an understanding of situational awareness so they
can provide themselves with a safe environment.
Provide Boundaries-Help your child understand responsible
behaviors in various settings (home, school, neighborhood, etc.) and
provide clear and consistent consequences for violating these rules.
Nurture & Support-A well-nurtured child will seek advice and
counsel prior to making decisions they don't fully understand, and
they will show an interest in helping others.
Invest Time in your Child-By committing
time for them and making them your companion,
you help them acquire values such as Integrity,
honesty, and responsibility.
City Administrator Participates in Local
Government Exchange Program
From Monday May 27 through Friday May 31,2002,
Hastings City Administrator Dave Osberg
participated in a group study exchange with 16 other
City Administrators and Assistants from Minnesota,
and one County Administrator from Wisconsin. This
exchange was with the country of Sweden, and
participation was coordinated with the Skane
Association of Local Authorities, which is the
organization that represents the interests of 33 local
authorities in southern Sweden.
Activities during the exchange included a tour of a
local school system, briefings on the coordination
of local government activities in southern Sweden,
attendance at City Council meeting in the City of
Herby, discussion of urban planning in the City of
Malmo, (the third largest city in Sweden), a tour of
the western harbor in Malmo as well as its housing
and commercial redevelopment activities. The group
also were briefed on the public transportation
system in Sweden, visited a nursing and elderly
home health care facility, and discussed regional
planning.
Plans are being made by the Minnesota City/County
Management Association for a similar visit by a
delegation of Swedish local government authorities
in September, 2002.
Pictured from L-R: Richard Fursman, City Administrator,
City of Maplewood; Mike Ericson, City Adminstrator, City of
Hugo; Osberg; and Chuck Whiting, County Adminstrator,
St. Croix County, Wisconsin. The picture was taken in the
reception room at the historic Malmo City Hall.
Page 7
Summer 2002