Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 1998 Hastings Rivertown News City of Hastings. 101 East Fourth Street Hastings, MN .55033-1955. (651)437-4127 ... Primary Election : '.', The 1998~~~ec~~s~::~ . '- : ' September IS, 1998 and the General Election is Tuesday,November3, 1998. ThePollswillbeopenftom 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day. To be eligible to vote you must be 18 years of age or older, a citizen of the United States and must bave maffitained residence in Minnesota for 20 days preceding the election. If you bave questions on voting or the elections youshouldcontacttheCityClerl<:'sOfficeatHastings CityHal1, 101 Fourth Street East, 437-4127. Hastings Polling Places are as Follows: *' Wan:l1 **~National Guard ArmOI)', 3050 Red Wing Blvd **~Ward2 *~ Saviour's Lutheran Church, 400 West 9'" St **..... _ Wanl3 *~United Methodist Church, 615 West 15th St **"'"'v-. Ward 4 *~t Philip's Lutheran Church, 1401 West 15th St ~ . CITY OF HASTINGS ~~ WARD iT" WARD BOUNDARIES ~ PREC.2 DAKOfA COUNTY _ -"WAQiHGl"ON CCXJNTY : ~ ~ . -. HGHWAY55 WARDS 1-145 WARD 1 PREC.1 ~ '~ ~ Hastingi WardBoundary Map Volume III Issue 4 Volume III 1999 Budget Process Throughout the next several months the City Council and City Staffwill be finalizing the 1999 Budget While the preliminary 1999 Budget and Property Tax Levy have been established, the City Council and City Staff would be interested in hearing your comments and suggestions on possible items to include in the 1999 Budget, and future years' Budgets. Please feel free to contact the Hastings City Hall or your City Councilmember if you have suggestions or comments regarding the Municipal Budget. Committee Involvement Typically, at the beginning of each calendar year, the City appoints new members to the various City Committees. Citizens are encouraged to become involved in their local government by volunteering to serve on a City Committee. Some of the more common Committees in which citizens serve include: Planning Commission; Natural Resources and Recreation Commission; Charter Commission; Historical Preservation Commission; Industrial Park Board. Should anyone be interested in serving on any of these Committees, you are encouraged to contact a City Councilmember, or send a letter of interest to the City Clerk or City Administrator at the Hastings City Hall. Absentee Voting . Hastings City Hall will be opened extended hours on the following days for absentee voting: Primary Election: Saturday, September 12, from I :00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday, September 14, from 5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m. General EkcJion: Saturday, October 31, from 1:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. Monday, November 2, from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Sept. '1998 Page 1 The Home Energy Check-Up A certified energy technician with the Hastings Energy Program, will check your home for energy saving improvements from attic to basement. You will receive a complete rundown on the benefits, costs, and payback of energy saving improvements; and you will receive advice on which gimmicks to avoid. The technician will also inspect insulation levels as well as the heating system in your home. The check-up lasts between one and a half to two hours, and the technician will visit your home at a time convenient for you. There is a $25.00 charge for this service which will be billed to your NSP account. No sales pitches, just objective, money saving information. For further information contact Jon Strand at 437-4127. The Household Hazardous Drop Off Saturday, October 17th The City of Hastings, in cooperation wit Ii Dakota County, will be hosting a household hazardous waste drop off day on Saturday, October 17th from 9:00 a.m. - I :00 p.m. at the Public Works garage. The City of Hastings Public Works garage is located on East 10'h Street and Progress Drive. You will also have an opportunity to drop off your used motor oil, car batteries and tires. There will be a small fee for the drop off of tires. The Home Air Tightness Test A special testing device called a Blower Door is used to determine the air tightness of your home. The test will tell you if your home is too tight oruot tight enough. The air tightness test is a procedure in which a special fan, mounted in an exterior door is used to blow air out of the house, creating a slight vacuum inside. This causes outdoor air to flow into the house through all the unsealed leaks and cracks. All the leakage points can then be identified and the overall tightness can then be evaluated. This service is useful for both older and newer houses and is very interesting to observe and participate in. For further information contact Jon Strand at 437-4127. City Hall Contacts & Telephone Numbers Ward Hastings City Council Mayor Mike Werner 1 Councilmember Janette Yandrasits 2 Councilmember Mike Simacek 3 Councilmember Ed Riveness 4 Councilmember Janice Johnson At Large Councilmember Paul Hicks At Large Councilmember Lynn Moratzka Staff City Administrator David Osberg City Hall General Information City Hall Fax Number City Clerk/ Administrative Assistant Joyce Hottinger Community Development Director Michael Wozniak Finance Director Lori Webster Fire Chief Don Latch Fire Department & Ambulance Service Parks & Recreation Director Marty McNamara Parks Department Civic Arena Police Chief Nick Wasylik Police Department Public Works Director Tom Montgomery Streets Department Utilities Department HRA Director John Grossman Emergency 9-1~1 437-4143 438-3194 437-3387 437-4416 437-2831 437-8866 437-7869 437-4127 437-4127 437-7082 437-4127 437-4127 437-4127 437-5610 437-5610 437-4127 437-5858 437-4940 437-4126 437-4126 437-4127 437-4415 437-3922 437-4127 OFFICE HOURS: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday Volume III Issue 4 Page 2 -- Tree Trust's 1998 Summer Youth Employment and Training Program Parks and Recreation Hastings Civic Arena The construction of the new arena is in its final stage. The Tree Trust Program completed the landscape projects. They supplied the labor to install the timbers and decorative blocks to the new arena and put the wood chips and 4" rock in those same areas. The Parks and Street Department supplied some help in grooming and hauling fill material. The Parks Department seeded the new area in mid August. The parking lot has been completed to the 1st level of topping and the 2'" topping is expected in early September. Look for the ice season to start approximately October 12th. There will be public skating, youth hockey, figure skating lessons and also time available for group rentals. Call 437-8279 for more information. ~ ~ 4t.- Yard Waste Drop Off Hours _.....~ September 1 through September 30: Saturdays 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Wednesdays 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. October 1 through November 15: Saturdays 8:00 am. - 2:00 p.m. Wednesdays 1 :00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. . Grass and leaf drop off is free. Material must either be in a compostable paper bag or the container must be emptied and removed from the site. . Brush is $2.00 per bundle. Bundles should be no longer than four feet in length and no heavier than 40 pounds. Maximum diameter of branches is four inches. . Demolition Debris -lumber, concrete, roofing, drywall, etc. $1 O.OO/yd - $5.00 minimum. . Tires & Batteries - small fee The compost site is located in the Hastings Industrial Park at 2800 Millard Avenue. Volume III Issue 4 Tree Trust is a nonprofit corporation founded in 1976 whose mission is to provide education and employment experience that develop individual responsibility and environmental stewardship. They have been managing youth employment programs in area parks for 22 years. This summer the Tree Trust had 33 youth crews employing about 750 youth in the Twin Cities area-St. Paul, Minneapolis, Anoka, Ramsey, Washington County, Dakota County and suburban Hennepin County. They are completing significant park improvement projects in their communities. The youth on the crews have special needs and many have little work experience and need a chance to prove themselves. They are recruited through local schools or referred to the program through other youth programs. Through the summer work experience, they develop self esteem and confidence and prepare themselves for future work. Supervisors provide training in basic job skills and stress a positive work attitude. SkillShops, a series of workshops on general employment skills, are conducted at the work site for each crew. Crew leaders incorporate individual skill development goals into the work site experience and document each crew member's progress over the summer. The SkillS hops cover communication skills, conflict resolution, employee expectations, managing money and job search skills. One parent wrote to us already this summer, "1 think your employment program has been a wonderful experience for my son. He has already begun to show a lot of responsibility and he's feeling good about himself (finally). I think his supervisors have been very positive in their training. Thank you!" Page 3 ommunity Development Questions on National Register & Heritage Preservation Properties What does it mean if property is listed on the National Register or as a Heritage Presetvation Site? The property has been designated or listed for protection under the Federal Preservation Act (National Register) or City Preservation Ordinance (Heritage Site). The property was designated because it is an irreplaceable example of past construction or is related to persons or activities important to the community, state or nation. The property is protected trom actions which would alter the appearance or destroy the structure and its setting. National Register properties are nominated to the State Review Board and recommended for listing to the Keeper of the National Register at the National Park Service in Washington D.C. They are protected trom federal- financed or permitted activities. Those activities are reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office. Heritage Preservation properties are nominated by the City's Heritage Preservation Commission (HpC) to the City Council. They are protected by the review ofbuilding or demolition permits by the HPc. In Hastings, National Register properties are also designated for local protection by the City Council. A district may also include non-contributing properties which are not old enough or do not retain original material or design. Changes to non-contributing properties are also reviewed, although the standards have to do with the effect on the district rather than the effect on the building itself What is the Heritage Presetvation Commission? TheHPC is a boardofcitizensappointed byCityCouncil, who study and nominate properties to City Council for designation. They provide recommendations and guidelines about maintaining historic properties to property owners. When requested, they meet with owners at the property to discuss options and proposals. They meet monthly to review applications for building and other permits for work on designated properties. What kinds of alterations are reviewed? It saves time to applyforthereview beforethe building permit Applications and guidelines are available at City Hall Call the HPC staff for information, 437-4127. Any work that would change the exterior appearance of the property, except for Volume III Issue 4 painting and routine maintenance, is reviewed: · New construction, including additions to existing buildings, such as decks. · Remodeling, including replacement of windows and doors and residing. · Demolition of all orpartofa building, including removal of architectural details. · Moving buildings trom or to historic districts or properties. · Accessory construction such as signs, awnings, parking lots, fences and garages. Is there financial assistance for appropriate maintenance of listed property? The City does not have a fund specifically for historic preservation at this time. Dakota County HRA's owner-occupied and rental rehabilitation programs can be used for historic buildings if they meet the program requirements. The work would have to be compatible with the preservation standards and guidelines. Call Dakota County HRA 423-4800. ''This Old House" is a program which defers increases in the Assessor's market value for real estate taxes on improvements. For buildings 35 years or older, 50% of the improvement value is exempted for 10 years. If a building is 70 years old or more, 100% is exempted. For further information, call the County Assessor 438-4200. The Uniform Building Code in Minnesota gives local building code officials flexibility to allow, at their discretion, some variance for significant historic building features that do not meet modem building codes, provided there is no health or safety hazard. For contributing properties in historic districts or on the National Register, there is an investment tax credit on federal income tax for substantial rehabilitation of the property for income-producing purposes (commercial or rental). The credit is 20% of qualified costs. The work must conform to the Secretary of Interior's Rehabilitation Standards. Rehabilitation of a private, owner-occupied residence does not qualifY at this time, but there is a bill before Congress to allow tax credits for these properties as well. Call the State Historic Preservation Office 296-5475 for information before doing any work. Page 4 National Night Out Against Crime- A Success! On Tuesday, August 4th the City of Hastings participated in the National Night Out Against Crime Prograrn in which neighborhoods participated in making an active statement against criminal behavior. Several neighborhoods hosted block parties, where neighbors got together to meet each other and join forces to make a statement that their neighborhood will be working together to cut down on the crime problems in their neighborhood. This year's event in Hastings had the highest arnount of participation and it appears the citizens of Hastings are becoming actively involved in the ongoing battle against criminal activity. If anyone is interested in learning more about the Neighborhood Watch Program, please contact Officer Wayne Hicks or Officer Michael Munson of the Hastings Police Department at 437-4126 and they will gladly assist you in starting a program in your neighborhood. J-H~ngS &. Receives Grant 'hlhllll,-- The City of Hastings has received notice from the United States Department of Justice that they have been awarded a "Cops Fast Grant" with the money being used to help pay for the hiring of another police officer for the City of Hastings. On Monday, August 17'" the Hastings City Council approved the acceptance ofthis grant and hopefully a new officer will be on board with the police department in the very near future. Volume III Issue 4 Police Department School is Open- Drive Safely! Hastings Police Department officers are urging all drivers to be extra alert at . s time of year. School is open again d it's an exciting time for children especially youngsters attending school for the first time. Unfortunately, it also means that young, inexperienced pedestrians and bicycles are in the traffic mix where they are most likely to be struck by cars. Motorists can help reduce the risk to children going to and from school by : . Slowing down in school and residential areas . Watching for clues that give warning of children in the area, signs, safety patrols, bike, adult crossing guards and school buses. . Obey all school bus stop laws. . Clearing fogged windows on vehicles before driving. . Obey all traffic signs. . Avoid school zones during arrival and dismissal hours. Each year thousands of children are struck by automobiles. Your Hastings Police Department suggests: . All parents instruct their children in safe crossing practices before the opening of school. . Knowing the route to school or the bus stop is also recommended. . Instruct children how to judge if there is adequate time to cross a street. . Never enter the roadway between two parked cars. . When there is no sidewalk and it is necessary to walk on the roadway, walk on the far left side facing traffic using crosswalks and designated school crossings whenever possible. Some youngsters, especially those venturing away ftom home for the first time may never have learned traffic safety, others may have forgotten over the summer. Drivers need to be cautious, especially around school, bus stops and areas where children walk to school. Remember children are greatly influenced by their peers and imitate the actions of adults, even if they are poor traffic safety role models. Parents are encouraged to stress upon all of their children the basic safety steps so all citizens of Hastings can enjoy a safe and uneventful start of the new school year. Page 5 Public Works New Water Storage Tanks The new 1.0 million gallon waterc. I tower in the Industrial Park was recently put into operation. The new water tower will add needed water storage to the water supply high system, serving the area south of the Vermillion River, west of Pine St., and south of Highway 55. Two existing water towers, a 300,000 gallon tower in the Industrial Park, and a 150,000 gallon tower on 23,d St. by the Hastings Country Club, will be taken down. The cost of rehabilitating these two towers to bring them up to code and the need for additional storage dictated the need for the new tower. A new 1.0 million gallon water tank along Highway 55 between Pleasant and Westview Drive was also recently put into operation. This new water tank will service the water supply low system, which is the area north ofthe Vermillion River, east of Pine St., and north of Highway 55. The existing 750,000 gallon tank is being removed. The existing tank was 45 years old and in need of substantial repair. Fall Lawn Care Tips Fertilizing lawns in the fall helps make healthier turf going into winter and improves spring green-up. Depending on the type of grass, most established lawns benefit from fertilization in September to mid- October. Most soils in Dakota County contain enough phosphorus for healthy grass growth. Residents are encouraged to apply low or no phosphorus fertilizer. Ofthe three numbers on a bag offertilizer, phosphorus is the middle number. Low phosphorus fertilizer has a middle number of three of lower. So why the concern about phosphorus? Even small amounts of phosphorus carried to local lakes, ponds, and wetlands by water run-off can cause significant algae and weed growth and thus decrease water Volume III Issue 4 quality. Fertilizer, grass clippings, and leaves, all contain phosphorus. You can help protect water quality by sweeping up fertilizer and grass clippings from streets, sidewalks, and driveways. Take time to clean leaves and trash out of nearby storm drains since whatever washes into a storm drain is carried to a local body of water. For more information on lawn care and water quality, call the Dakota County Environmental Educaiton Extenion office at 651-480-7700. Water System Improvements This past Spring, Well #3 at State and 6th Streets and Well #4 on 23"' St. near Westview Dr. were redeveloped to gain additional pumping capacity to meet the increasing water demands caused by growth of the City. The redevelopment of these wells involved enlarging the well cavern in the aquifer and resulted in almost doubling the pumping capacity of the two wells. This fall, the two pumphouses will be renovated, replacing windows and doors, constructing additions to provide room for mechanical updates and chemical rooms, and replacing the roofs. In addition, the pumphouse at Well #6 in the Industrial Park will also be renovated and standby power will be added that will allow the well to continue to supply water during a prolonged power outage. A major addition will be added to the pumphouse at Well #5 near the water storage tank on Highway 55. Booster pumps will be added to the site that will allow water to be pumped from the low system to the high system, taking advantage of excess pumping capacity on the low system to provide for increased water demands on the high system. The combination of the water system renovations and the additional pumping and water storage capacity will complete a major overhauling of the City's water supply system; improving the water system to supply present and future water needs for many years to come. Page 6 Fire Department The Great Escape Every year, almost 5,000 Americans die in home fires. That's 13 people a day, dying in their own homes. Tens of thousands more suffer pain and disfigurement ftom fire injuries. It could happen to you and your furnily. People can survive even large fires in their homes if they get out quickly. To be among the survivors, there are two things you can do: . Install and maintain smoke detectors to warn you of a fire. . Make an escape plan and practice it. Ploy It Safe: Install Smoke DetectDrs The majority of futal home fires happen while people are asleep. So every home needs smoke detectors to wake people up before they are trapped or overcome by smoke. With working smoke detectors, your risk of dying in a fire is cut in ha1f1 You need smoke detectors outside each bedroom and on each additional level of your home- including the basement. Smoke detectors are inexpensive, but read the installation instructions carefully; and test your detectors every week, following the manufuc!urer's directions. Make An Escape Plan When afire occurs, there's no time for planning. So sit down with your fumily today and make a step-by-step plan for escaping a fire. Know Two Ways Out Draw a diagram of your home. Plan two ways out of every room, especially bedrooms. In An Apartment Be sure you can unlock all locks quickly, even in the d31k Neveruseanelevatorduringafire; it maystop between floors or even take you to the floor where the fire is burning. In a Two Story House Make sure everyone can unlock all locks and opeo all windows and doors quickly. If you must escape ftom a second-story window, be sure you have a safe way to reach the ground. Make special arrangements for small children and peoplewithdisabilities. Volume III Issue 4 Get Out Fast! In case of a fire, don't wait for anything. Do not try to take possessions or pets. Just get out Call the Fire Department afler you are out Do Not Go Btu:k, No Matter What! Make sure everyone in your fumily knows that, once they are out, they must not go back for any reason. If people are trapped, fire fighters have the best chance of rescuing them. Prepare Make your exit drill as realistic as possible. Practice both escape routes. Pretend that certain exits are blocked by fire, that there are no lights, and that the hallways are filling with smoke. Everyone should gather at one meeting place outside, prefereably at the ftontwhere the Fire Department will arrive. Test Every Door Before opening a door, feel it with the back of your hand as high as you can reach, at the crack on the hinge side. If it is hot,useyoursecond way out. Ifit iscool,braceyourshoulder againstthedoorandopeo it carefully. Bereadytosiam itshut ifheat orsmoke rushes in. As you leave, close all doors behind you to slow the spread of fire and smoke. Craw/Low Smoke contains deadly gases and is hot, so it will fill the room ftom the top down. If your only way out is through smoke, the best air will be several inches off the floor. Get down on your hands and knees and crawl quickly to the exit. If You Are Trapped Close doors between you and the fire. Stuff the door cracks and cover vents to keep smoke out. Wait at a window and signal with a flashlight, or by waving a sheet or other light colored cloth. Delay is Deadly If a fire starts, smoke detectors give you early warning. You need to know how to get out without delay. Exit drills make sure that your family can get out quickly when there is no time for mistakes! Fire Prevention- Open House The Hastings Fire Department would like to invite you to our annual Open House, Tuesday, October 13, 1998 from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.. There will be activities for children and adults, fire prevention handouts, and refreshments. Page 7 ~~~~~ ~~ ~~ ~ Voter ~ ~ ~ ~ Pre- Registration ~ ~ ~ ".., ~ ~~~~~~ The Clerk's Office urges all non-registered residents of the City, who plan on voting, to pre-register. By pre- registering you will avoid long lines while waiting to register on election day. You need to register if your name or address has changed since you last registered or if you have not voted in the last four years. Registration cards are available at various locations including Hastings City Hall (101 Fourth Street East), the Dakota County Government Center (1590 Highway 55 West) and also may be requested through the mail. Qualifications for voters include being a citizen of the United States, a resident of the state for 20 days preceding the election and 18 years of age by election day. Interested in Serving as an Election Judge? The City of Hastings is seeking election judges for the General Election on November 3, 1998. Elections require many helping hands to insure that the voting process goes smoothly. Election Judges are compen- sated for their service. The election day starts at 6:00 a.m. and runs until the votes are counted, usually 10:00 p.m or later. An election judge can work the full day or a shift if an opening is available. Employed persons who wish to serve as an Election Judge can do so with- out penalty, but you must give your employer 20 days written notice. If you are interested in serving as an Election Judge andlor want more information, contact Hastings City Hall at 437-4127. HASTINGS INDUSTRIAL PARK Spiral Boulevard-off Hwy 316 Lots available zoned for manufacturing, processing, wholesaling, warehousing and garaging Contact John Grossman at Hastings City Hall at 437-4127 ~ LHASTINGS TRAc] LO~ Hastings TRAC is a Monday through Friday 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. flexible curb to curb transit service avail- able to Hastings residents. The policy is to pick riders up at their door and deliver them to their destinations. Individuals that have difficulty getting in and out of ve- hicles will benefit from Hastings TRAC buses that are disabled accessible. The cost for a one-way ride is $1.50 with a token ($3.00 round trip). The cash fare is $1.55 for a one-way ride. In order to make the ride efficient and enjoyable for everyone please schedule your appointment with TRAC at least 24 hours in advance of your trip. Rjdes may be scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by calling 437- TRAC (8722). City of Hastings 101 Fourth Street East Hastings, MN 55033-1955 Carrier Route Sort BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID Hastings. MN Permit No. 166 POSTAL CUSTOMER PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER CONTAINING NO LESS THAN 10% POST CONSUMER WASTE Volume III Issue 4 Page 8