HomeMy WebLinkAbout3rd Q 14 City of
Oak
Tree City USA Third Quarter 2014 Newsletter
Inside this issue: Volunteers Needed for Playground Build!
Fire Tips from Playful City USA is a national recognition program honoring cities and towns
Bayport Fire Chief across the nation that are creating an agenda for play. The Playful City USA
program is a unique self-assessment tool that assists communities in identifying
What's Included local play assets and play deficits, and in developing a rigorous action plan driv-
In Trash Pickup en towards increasing quality, quantity, and access for play in your city or town.
Once again the City of Oak Park Heights was awarded the 2014 Playful City
Arborist USA designation. The City is committed to providing the community with areas
News to play and increase physical activity and has developed a local action plan to
increase the quantity and quality of play in the City. The City of Oak Park
Pet Owner Heights was selected for the designation because of its commitment to children
Reminders and play.
Parking Pads and The City of Oak Park Heights is seeking volunteers for a community play-
Firewood Storage ground build of a playground in the City at 8:00 a.m. on July 12, 2014 at
Swager Park (14290 58th Street North).
Water Quality Volunteers will help prep the playground site, install the playground materials,
Report and finish the area for use. All tools and materials will be provided. Water and
food will be available for the volunteers. This is an exciting opportunity to give
Street Recon. back to your community!
Update
If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Deputy Clerk Jenni Pinski at
651-439-4439.
Park Shelter
Reservation Info Summer watering ban—even/odd schedule
Grill Safety Summer is here! It is time to remind everyone that Oak Park Heights has an even-odd wa-
Tips tering ban except for the watering of new sod and young trees. While the City's water sup-
ply is adequate, the regulation is intended to conserve water and balance demands on the
City's water system.
St. Croix River
Crossing Update To secure the conservation of municipal water as a resource for the benefit of the people of
the City of Oak Park Heights, all water sprinkling and irrigation systems and practices shall
Storm Preparedness 14 be regulated to allow water sprinkling and irrigation systems to operate in the following
Information manner: as to all properties which property address ends in an even number, those proper-
ties will be allowed to sprinkle or irrigate on even numbered calendar days.As to all proper-
ties whose property address ends in an odd number,their right to use sprinkling and irriga-
Summer Park tion systems shall be limited to calendar number days ending in odd numbers.
Schedule
ThirdPage 2 Quarter
25 Tips to make your home fire wise (from Bayport Fire Chief Mark Swenson)
Access
The access to your home not only affects how easily firefighters can reach and protect your home, but how
easily other emergency vehicles can find and reach your home. It starts with signage. Your local fire depart-
ment may know where your house is, but assisting departments won't easily find your home if your address is
not visible from the road.
TIP is In mid-summer, when vegetation is fully leaved, go to the street and see if you can read your address. If
you can't, you may need to move the signor make it bigger. Remember that at times smoke or darkness may
make it harder to see your address. Once firefighters find your home, they need to be able to get to it. If your
driveway is less than 150 feet long, firefighters can reach your home from the street. Your driveway should be
at least 12 feet wide and be clear of branches 14 feet up. Longer driveways need to be 20 feet wide. The drive-
way should also have a firm, all-weather surface and any bridges or culverts should berated to io,000 pounds.
Curves in long driveways need to be gentle to accommodate large emergency vehicles. Long driveways also
need a turnaround near the house. Without a good access, and escape tlzii 'Ila
route, firefighters will not endanger themselves to save your home. !•. ..w
TIP is Widen your driveway to at least iz feet, and prune overhanging
branches to a height of 14 feet. If your driveway is longer than 150 feet, wid-
en it to 20 feet. Also make sure your driveway has a solid driving surface and ' .
all culverts and bridges can accommodate heavy fire trucks.
TIP 3. If your driveway is over 150 feet long, make sure there is a large
turnaround near the house. The turnaround radius should be at least 3o feet. •
Site
The site your home is on is even more critical than the access. In rural areas, fire departments are seriously
understaffed for handling large wildfires with hundreds of homes at risk. Your home may need to stand with-
out firefighter protection. How your home is situated on the lot will determine whether it can survive alone
and also whether firefighters can defend it. The critical area is the thirty feet directly surrounding your home.
This is called the home defensible zone. If there are any outbuildings within these thirty feet, the home defen-
sible zone needs to be extended thirty feet beyond those buildings. Inside the home defensible zone, any-
thing flammable needs to be removed or modified.
TIP 4: Look at the trees. If the trees are predominantly evergreens, which are highly flammable, a ten-
foot minimum space between the crowns (branches of adjacent trees) should be maintained. This keeps fire
from jumping through the crowns. Also make sure you maintain this distance from tree to house. You may
need to remove a few trees.
TIP 5: Look at the vertical arrangement of the vegetation. Is there continuous fuel (grass, leaves, branch-
es) reaching from the ground to the crowns of the trees? This is called ladder fuel because it provides a
"ladder" for fire to climb from the ground to the crown. Eliminate this ladder fuel by mowing tall grass, trim-
ming shrubs and pruning the lower branches off trees up six to ten feet.
TIP 6: That firewood pile so conveniently placed by the back door should be moved outside the home de-
fensible zone by March each year. Sparks from a wildfire can easily catch in firewood piles, and the intense
heat of those burning piles next to the house will catch the house on fire.
TIP 7: Each spring clean leaf and needle fall that accumulates in foundation plantings, next to buildings
and under decks. Take special care to clean out dead leaves from arborvitae next to buildings. Better yet, re-
place those arborvitae with leafy plants.
TIP 8: Use rock and stone landscaping materials next to buildings.
TIP g: Clean up the home defensible zone. Remove old cars, lumber piles, downed trees and other debris.
Is there enough space for firefighters to protect the backside of the home? Remove obstructing debris and
trees and make sure fences have easily accessible gates. continued on Page 3...
Tree City USA . . . _
TIP io: Keep the lawn watered and mowed short (3 inches or less)on all sides of all w 'r
buildings. A short, green lawn will not carry fire.
TIP ii: Clear a io foot space around propane tanks. Keep this space in gravel, rock "` a
or short, well-watered grass. Propane tanks should be located at least io feet from the
ti
home. As we look beyond the thirty-foot home defensible space, the woods one hun- M t
dred feet beyond our house is another thing to look at. Reducing fuels in this area will
reduce the intensity of an approaching wildfire. Trees might need thinning (removal of
some)to increase their spacing. This is especially important for evergreens, which typ-
ically have been planted or naturally seed at high densities. Pruning the remaining
trees up six to ten
feet and reducing underbrush can also help reduce wildfire intensity.
TIP iz: Remove enough evergreen trees in the ioo feet perimeter of the house, so
their branches are at least io feet apart. Prune the lower branches of the remaining evergreens up six to ten
feet, but no more than 1/3 of the total live crown.
Structure
The next factor to look at is the structure itself. Most of the home modifications needed to further reduce
wildfire risk can be expensive. They include residing with brick, stone, stucco or steel, replacing shake
roofing with class A shingles or steel, and enclosing foundations with steel or masonry. Some less expensive
modifications can be made to other parts of the home.
TIP 3-3: When updating your home, consider less flammable materials such as brick, stone and metal for
roofing and siding.
TIP 3-4: Does fireplace chimney have an effective spark arrestor? Inspect your chimney annually for
cracks in the brick and liner. Clean fireplace and wood stove chimneys at least twice annually.
TIP 3.5: Clean the roof and gutters of leaves, needles and other debris each
, , yw spring. Clean accumulations of leaves from windowsills.
TIP 3.6: Make sure the soffits are enclosed with a solid barrier and that vents
are screened with a fine mesh to keep out flying embers.
TIP 3-7: Radiant heat from a large wildfire can actually ignite sheer curtains
inside of homes through large glass windows. Consider closeable shutters for
large windows.
TIP 3.8: Enclose foundations of homes, outbuildings and trailers, plus decks and overhangs with solid
flame-resistant sheeting to keep sparks from igniting materials underneath.
TIP ig: Make sure you have smoke detectors on each floor of your home and check them each fall to
make sure they work.
Burning Practices&Other Fire Hazards
The burning practices of you and your neighbors can contribute to the risk of home loss from wildfire. The
number one cause of wildfires in Minnesota is escaped debris burning fires.
TIP zo: Consider using composting.
TIP zi: Make sure recreational fires are made in a fire-safe pit or container and completely extinguished
before leaving. Before lighting any outdoor fire, check for local restrictions and permit requirements. Avoid
lighting fires when High winds, high temperatures and low humidities are present or predicted.
TIP ii: Do not dispose of ashes until they are cold to the touch.
TIP 23: Store gasoline, oily rags and other flammable materials in approved safety cans. Keep those
safety cans in a fire-resistant metal or brick building oryourgarage.
TIP 24: Are there any branches close to power lines on your property? Ask the power company to clear
them.
TIP 25: Make sure motorized garden equipment, such as lawnmowers and chainsaws have approved
and functioning spark arrestors.
Page 4 Third Quarter
BAYPORT FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HIRING
Bayport Fire Department is seeking motivated and dedicated community members for service as paid, on-call
firefighter/first responders.
Consider the following as you ponder this decision:
• Mandatory classroom training includes Fire Fighter I (100 hours) and First Responder(48
hours) at an accredited institution within your first two years of joining. Classes are offered frequently throughout the area
on evenings and the Bayport Fire Department will pay for your training and reimburse your mileage.
• Members are required to attend 75% of regularly scheduled drills. Drills are offered every second and fourth Monday
of the month from 6 pm —9 pm with make-up drills running on the third Saturday of each month from 8am— 11am.
• Members are required to participate in 25% of all calls on a yearly basis. Bayport Fire Department runs approximate-
ly 900 calls per year, with the vast majority consisting of EMS runs. Most calls last between 30 —45 minutes.
• Pay is on an hourly basis with minimum of 1 hr pay and max of 5 hr pay per call. Pay rate is$13/hr. Members are also
paid for training.
• Members must live within 10 minutes of the Fire Station
• Bayport Fire Department Pensions are well-funded and members become partially vested after 10 years of service and
fully vested after 20.
• Although joining Bayport Fire Department is a big commitment that must be weighed by you and your family,time remains
plentiful for our members to enjoy family, friends, and their careers.
APPLY NOW! Email inquiries to: Hiring@bayportfire.org
What's included in trash pickup?
Advanced Disposal
In addition to the typical garbage and recycling pickup, the City also
covers the disposal of yard waste, large household items, and `white-goods' such as televisions, refrigera-
tors, couches, chairs, desks, water-heaters, stoves, dishwashers, dryers, etc. for single family residences
and complexes with four units or less in Oak Park Heights. In order to have these items picked up in a
timely fashion, please contact Judy Tetzlaff at City Hall, 651-439-4439, at least two days prior to collec-
tion day so that the special truck may be dispatched to your home. If you receive a bill from Veolia for
these additional services, please call the City Administrator at 651-439-4439 as most, if not all, of these
items are covered under the City's contract, and you should not be billed.
Some items are not included in your monthly fee are extra bags of garbage not placed in your container.
The City's waste hauler, Veolia, will bill you $1.50 per bag. Some other items that are picked up for a fee
are sinks, toilets and construction debris. You will be billed by Veolia at a regulated rate as monitored by
the City.
REMINDER!!
Waste and Recyclable pick-up is every THURSDAY. However, if one of the six holidays—New Years
Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas—falls on a weekday,
collection may occur on FRIDAY of that week.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Fall Clean-up is Saturday, October 4, 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Tree City USA Page 5
Emerald Ash Borer Tree Problems?
Emerald ash borer (EAB) has been found on age") injected by a professional tree service
the East side of St. Paul. It has not been with experience in tree injection. Examples If you are an
confirmed yet in Oak Park Heights, but may of several such tree services are: St. Croix Oak Park
be in this area. If you have an ash tree in SavATree (formerly St. Croix Tree Ser-
your yard which is in good condition and vice), S&S Tree Specialists, and Rainbow H e i g h t s
important to your landscape in terms of Tree Care. resident, and
beauty, shade, etc., you should consider hav- have a problem
ing the tree treated with an insecticide to Do not move ash wood with intact bark with a tree or
protect it against EAB starting this year or from one area to another, as this is one
next. If the tree has a trunk 12 in. in diame- way that emerald ash borer is easily spread. shrub, such as
ter or greater, it is best to have an insecti- If you have an ash tree you think should be an insect or a
cide such as emamectin benzoate ("Tree- removed, contact the Arborist. disease, have
p l a n t i n g
Oak Wilt questions, or
Oak trees can be pruned up to April 1 in most years. Due to insect transmission of the Just want to
oak wilt fungus to fresh wounds on healthy oaks, oaks should not be wounded or have a plant
pruned from April 1 to July 1. If they are wounded during the growing season (April i- identified, call
October 1), the wounds should be painted with latex house paint to prevent oak wilt in- D r. Kathy
fection. It is best to prune oaks between October 15 and March 15.
Widin, the OPH
Canker Diseases of Trees Arborist, at 439
-4439 Ext. 11o6.
There are a number of fungi which can cause canker diseases of trees. These dis- She can either
eases often look like sunken areas in branch unions or the main trunk. There may
be decay associated with the canker, or open wound. Some common canker dis- answer your
eases on trees and shrubs are: Cytospora canker on spruce — usually looks like question over
dead branches in the lower portion of the tree and there may be white, dried sap the phone or
(resin) on the outside of the bark. Nectria canker on honeylocust — often appears m a k e a n
like a sunken wound in branch or trunk unions. The portion of the branch above
the canker may be dead. Cryptodiaporthe canker on pagoda dogwood — affected appointment
branches are usually dead and appear orange due to the powdery spores on the for a site visit.
surface of the canker. Black knot of cherry — looks like a `blackened corn dog' on This service is
the branches. There is no fungicidal treatment which is very effective on canker paid for by the
diseases. The best treatment is to prune the affected branch beyond where you City of Oak
see the wound or discoloration, or at the main trunk. Wiping pruner blades with a
10% bleach/water solution after each cut may help prevent transfer of the fungus to Park Heights.
new wounds. Always prune woody plants during dry weather, if pruning from April
to October. Spores of canker fungi are released during wet weather and can easily
re-infect newly cut wood.
Boulevard Trees
Oak Park Heights will again be planting boulevard trees in August 2014. If you are inter-
ested in getting a new or replacement boulevard tree, contact the Arborist. She can come _
out and take a look at the frontage of your property and see if there is room for a new tree.
Requests for new trees for 2014 can only be taken until June 20th after which time a list
will be started for tree planting in 2015.
Page 6 Third Quarter 2014
Attention Pet Owners
Leash Law Reminder
There have been reports of dogs not leashed and acting aggressively toward other walkers on
City trails, specifically at the new Oak Park Crossing Park. The City of Oak Park Heights has a
leash law in effect that prohibits pets from running at large. Any dog or cat that is off the prem-
ises of the owner and not under the physical control by leash of the owner or another designat-
ed person is in violation of this Ordinance.
When you are out walking your pet, please remember to bring a plastic bag. Pet owners are re-
quired by City Ordinance to clean up pet waste on public and private property. Removal and
proper disposal of pet waste helps keep our City clean and healthy.
Pet Licenses
All dogs and cats in the City for more than 30 days are required to have a City Pet License.
There is no charge for this service and it could save your pet from a trip to the animal shelter.
Bring proof of your pet's rabies vaccination to City Hall to receive a pet license and tag. For
more information, please call City Hall at 651-439-4439. City Ordinances can be viewed on the
City's web-site: www.cityofoakparkheights.com.
Parking pads and firewood storage
City Ordinance state that cars, trucks, trailers, boats, snowmobiles, water-skis, four-wheelers, motor
homes and other similar items shall be parked in your garage or other accessory building, upon your
driveway or an approved parking pad.
What is an approved Parking Pad?
An approved Parking Pad is a parking pad that is hard surfaced constructed of asphalt, concrete, cobble-
stone, paving block or crushed rock that meets minimum Class 5 material specifications and has at least a
4 inch deep base.
Designated parking pads shall extend directly from the driveway, away from the house and may be locat-
ed within the front, side or rear yard setback. Parking pads must be set back at least 5 feet from rear yard
property lines.
There are Limitations to What You Can Place on a Parking Pad
Your parking pad may be used for the placement of:
• No more than a total of two (2) recreational vehicles (boats, snowmobiles, etc.) or pieces of equip-
ment (trailers, etc.), not including racing cars.
• Registered and operable passenger vehicles.
• No more than one (1) truck and/or trailer not to exceed a gross vehicle weight of 12,000 pounds,
except when loading, unloading or rendering a service.
• Construction and landscaping materials currently being used on the premises.
Firewood Storage shall not be on a parking pad. Firewood shall be neatly stacked and stored in
the side yard or rear yard or residential premises.
2013 Water Quality
2013 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
PWSID: 1820020
46
2013 Drinking Water Report
The City of Oak Park Heights is issuing the results of monitoring done on its drinking water for the period from January 1 to De-
cember 31,2013. The purpose of this report is to advance consumers' understanding of drinking water and heighten awareness of
the need to protect precious water resources.
Source of Water
The City of Oak Park Heights provides drinking water to its residents from a groundwater source: two wells ranging from 290 to
310 feet deep,that draw water from the Jordan aquifer.
The water provided to customers may meet drinking water standards, but the Minnesota Department of Health has also made a
determination as to how vulnerable the source of water may be to future contamination incidents. If you wish to obtain the entire
source water assessment regarding your drinking water,please call 651-201-4700 or 1-800-818-9318 (press 5)during normal busi-
ness hours. Also,you can view it online at www.health state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/swp/swa.
Call Public Works Director, Andy Kegley, at(651) 439-4439 if you have questions about the City of Oak Park Heights drinking
water or would like information about opportunities for public participation in decisions that may affect the quality of the water.
Results of Monitoring
No contaminants were detected at levels that violated federal drinking water standards. However, some contaminants were detect-
ed in trace amounts that were below legal limits. The table that follows shows the contaminants that were detected in trace
amounts last year. (Some contaminants are sampled less frequently than once a year;as a result,not all contaminants were sam-
pled for in 2013. If any of these contaminants were detected the last time they were sampled for,they are included in the table
along with the date that the detection occurred.)
Key to abbreviations:
MCLG—Maximum Contaminant Level Goal: The level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or ex-
pected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
MCL—Maximum Contaminant Level: The highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLS are set as close
to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology.
AL—Action Level: The concentration of a contaminant which,if exceeded,triggers treatment or other requirement which a water
system must follow.
90th Percentile Level—This is the value obtained after disregarding 10 percent of the samples taken that had the highest levels.
(For example,in a situation in which 10 samples were taken,the 90th percentile level is determined by disregarding the highest
result,which represents 10 percent of the samples.) Note: In situations in which only 5 samples are taken,the average of the two
with the highest levels is taken to determine the 90th percentile level.
ppm—Parts per million,which can also be expressed as milligrams per liter(mg/1).
ppb—Parts per billion,which can also be expressed as micrograms per liter(µg/1).
N/A—Not Applicable(does not apply).
2013 Water Quality
Level Found
Contaminant(units) MCLG MCL Range Average/ Typical Source of Contaminant
2013 Result*
Fluoride(ppm) 4 4 1.3-1.6 1.43 State of Minnesota requires all municipal water
systems to add fluoride to the drinking water to
promote strong teeth;Erosion of natural deposits;
Discharge from fertilizer and aluminum factories.
Nitrate(as Nitro- 10.4 10.4 2.9-3.3 3.3 Runoff from fertilizer use;Leaching from septic
en)(ppm tanks, sewage;Erosion of natural de osits.
*This is the value used to determine compliance with federal standards. It sometimes is the highest value detected and sometimes
is an average of all the detected values. If it is an average,it may contain sampling results from the previous year.
Contaminant 90% #sites
(units) MCLG AL Level over AL Typical Source of Contaminant
Copper(ppm) 1.3 1.3 .19 0 out of 20 Corrosion of household plumbing systems;Erosion of
natural deposits.
Lead(ppb) 0 15 4.9 0 out of 20 Corrosion of household plumbing systems;Erosion of
(07/19/2011) natural deposits.
If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women and young children. Lead in
drinking water is primarily from materials and components associated with service lines and home plumbing. City of Oak Park
Heights is responsible for providing high quality drinking water,but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing com-
ponents. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your
tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you
may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize
exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
Monitoring may have been done for additional contaminants that do not have MCLS established for them and are not required to
be monitored under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Results may be available by calling 651-201-4700 or 1-800-818-9318 during
normal business hours.
2013 Water Quality
Compliance with National Primary Drinking Water RegWations
The sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and
wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground,it dissolves naturally❑occurring minerals and, in some
cases,radioactive material,and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activity.
Contaminants that may be present in source water include:
Microbial contaminants, such as viruses and bacteria, which may come from sewage treatment plants, septic systems, agri-
cultural livestock operations,and wildlife.
Inorganic contaminants, such as salts and metals, which can be naturally[]occurring or result from urban stormwater run-
off,industrial or domestic wastewater discharges,oil and gas production,mining,or farming.
Pesticides and herbicides, which may come from a variety of sources such as agriculture,urban stormwater runoff,and resi-
dential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals,which are by-products of industrial pro-
cesses and petroleum production,and can also come from gas stations,urban stormwater runoff,and septic systems.
Radioactive contaminants, which can be naturally[]occurring or be the result of oil and gas production and mining activi-
ties.
In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)prescribes regulations which
limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. Food and Drug Administration regulations
establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
Drinking water, including bottled water, may reasonably be expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants.
The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants
and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the Environmental Protection Agency's Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-
800-426-4791.
Some people may he more vulnerable to contaminants in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised
persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy,persons who have undergone organ transplants,people with
HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can he particularly at risk from infections. These
people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. EPAICDC guidelines on appropriate means
to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium and other microbial contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Wa-
ter Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Page 1 Third Quarter 2013
2014 Street Reconstruction Project Update
Field work on the 2014 street reconstruction project began in late April within area ""E". (SEE
MAP on next page). Xcel Energy's gas installation contractor (Q3) has begun replacing gas
mains and services throughout the impacted neighborhoods. The City's contractor Hardrives and
its subcontractors have also begun pavement removals and water utility replacement/installation
in early May. In order coordinate with other construction occurring throughout the City, the utili-
ty subcontractor New Look Construction began work on portions of Area E and then needed to
move to Area C. After utility installation and during the testing period, the contractor will resume
work in area E. Activity and progress as of 6/20/14 includes:
Area E- Completed Items
• Tree removal complete
• Private utility replacement/installation complete in area E
• Pavement removals complete on Perkins Ave, Penrose Ave, Upper 56th Street N and portions
of 58th Street N.
• Temporary water installed in portions of area E (Except services and testing).
• Water main installation complete on Perkins, Penrose and portions of 58th St (Except services
and testing).
• Sanitary sewer main repair complete on Perkins, Penrose and portions of 58th St. N.
Area E —Upcoming Work
• Water services connection and testing
• Storm sewer install on Perkins Ave
• Remainder of Area E removals and installations
• Curb and gutter
• Asphalt
Area C — Completed Items
• Tree removals complete
• Street removals complete on Omaha Ave
• Water main and sanitary sewer main installation in progress on Omaha Ave
• Water main installation (via Drilling) on Olene Ave complete.
• Temporary water service installation throughout Area C
Area C- Upcoming Work
• Pavement stripping on Olene, Olinda, 59th and 58th Streets
• Storm sewer installation
• Water main and service install throughout area C
• Storm sewer main install
• Grading and curbing
• Asphalt
Area B and elements of area C north of STH 36 will be commencing in early August 2014.
Tree City USA Page 11
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Date:OCTOBER 2013 PRO].NO.:/93801994
Reserve a City Park Shelter
IIM��iI III:
Are you thinking about having a get-together or a family reunion? The
Brekke, Cover, Valley View, and Autumn Hills Park shelter buildings can be
reserved free of charge for your event. The Autumn Hills Park Shelter does w
require a refundable $100 deposit.
Brekke Park is located on Omar Avenue south of the former St. Croix Mall.
The park has a covered shelter building with restrooms as well as a tot lot, baseball diamonds, playground
equipment, and barbeque grills.
Valley View Park is located on Osgood Avenue at the edge of the city limits. This park has a covered shelter
building, picnic areas, play-grounds and a beautiful passive park area with trails, a prairie restoration area
and wetlands.
Autumn Hills Park is located at 5697 Norwich Parkway off of 58th Street adjacent to the Boutwells Landing
campus. The park contains meandering trails, trail access parking, and playground equipment. It has a
2,000+ square foot shelter, which includes a covered gathering area with a small kitchen/serving area,
men's and women's restrooms, and a water fountain.
You may use the City's online reservation form to reserve either the Brekke Park or Valley View Park shel-
ters. You may obtain the Autumn Hills Park Shelter reservation documents and information online as well.
Or, you may call or visit City Hall anytime to reserve any of the shelters for your next event!
Page 12 d Quarter 2013
Mind your grill
Use of a gas or charcoal grill on a balcony can put an entire building and
its occupant's life safety at risk of a fire.
According to a November 2011 published study by the National Fire
Prevention Association (NFPA), during the period of 2005 through
2009, over 50 percent of structural fires relating to BBQ grills occurred `J
in a courtyard, terrace, or exterior balcony deck area. More than half of
these fires occurred on an exterior balcony deck.
Grill and BBQ Safety Tips:
• Check propane or gas connections to the BBQ before lighting the grill. Make sure lines are not blocked or
clogged.
• Be careful when using lighter fluid. Avoid wearing loose fitting clothing, and never add lighter fluid to an
already lit fire.
• Keep lighter fluid,matches, and lighters out of children's reach.
• Always have a lit BBQ or grill attended by an adult. Never leave a lit BBQ unattended.
• When turning off your BBQ make sure all flames are extinguished properly. Turn off gas line or propane
line connections to grill. If using charcoal make sure coals are full extinguished. Douse coals with water and
stir them to ensure there are no hidden embers.
• Dispose of hot coals properly. Never put hot coals in plastic,wood, or paper containers, and make sure
coals are full extinguished before discharging them.
• All BBQs and grills emit carbon monoxide fumes including charcoal grills. Never grill or BBQ in an en-
closed area where carbon monoxide poisoning can occur.
For more information about fire safety, visit the National Prevention Association's website at http://nfpa.org/
St. Croix Crossing Construction Update
Work is well underway on all aspects of the St. Croix Crossing projects. Below are several progress updates.
Minnesota Approach Road Work (See Map):
• Phased construction on Hwy 36, its frontage roads and the north end of Hwy 95 continues. The following
activities should be complete by early July:
• Construction on Osgood Ave north of Hwy 36
• Construction on the N. Frontage Road between Northwestern Ave and Osgood Ave, except near
Greeley Street
• Construction on the S. Frontage Road east of Osgood Ave
• Crews plan to make the following traffic switches by early July:
• Single-lane traffic on Hwy 36 switches to the newly constructed westbound lanes
• Single-lane traffic on Hwy 95 switches to the newly constructed northbound lanes
• Crews will finish work on the areas north of Hwy 36 before moving to the remaining areas south of Hwy
36. These include Osgood Ave, Oakgreen Ave and new Hwy 36 eastbound lanes.
• Construction on the S. Frontage Road west of Osgood Ave will begin in late-summer 2014.
• Work on existing Hwy 36, Hwy 95 and adjacent roads should be complete by the end of 2014. The new
ramp from Hwy 95 to Hwy 36 be complete in 2015.
continued on Page 13...
Tree City USA Page 13
Bridge Work:
St. Croix Crossing bridge construction is underway at all five pier locations on the St. Croix River and at all sev-
en pier locations on Minnesota land. Night work began in June and will continue into fall.
In the coming months, crews will build up all Minnesota approach and main river bridge piers to their full
height. Crews also anticipate beginning work on the single pier that will sit on the Wisconsin bluff.
The new bridge will be made up of about 1,000 pre-cast segments, which will become the bridge deck driving
surface. At the on-site casting yard near the Hwy 36/95 interchange, crews have readied the work site to pre-
pare for casting the approach/ramp segments — about 350 segments total. A second yard exists at Grey Cloud
Island near Cottage Grove where crews will cast larger segments for the main river bridge. The casting process
will begin in 2014 and continue into next year.
Learn more about how the bridge deck will come together at www.mndot.gov/stcroixcrossing. The project
website features design and construction information, project background, maps, video, photos, re-
sources for business, and a live look at construction through a webcam.
Stay connected
• Visit the project website: www.mndot.gov/stcroixcrossing (Sign up for weekly email updates)
• Call the hotline at 1-855-GO-CROIX (462-7649)
• Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/saintcroixcrossingmndot
• Follow us on Twitter @stcroixcrossing
• Stop by the office at 1862 Greeley St. S., Stillwater
St. Croix Crossing Highway 36 & Highway 95 ! `
TENTATIVE 2014 Construction Phasing St.Croix
Aso0uly20?4 CROSSING
0
51,61.1
• '
SEEM-36 36
_ c
s
LEGEND
Spring through mid-summer Future St.Croix Crossing Bridge
Mid-summer through fall Completed
Late-summer through fall ■ ■ ■ Complete in 2015-16
Trail completion throughout 2014
. Short-term partial closures expected
oekgreen/Greeley and 0s9�d mt--ti-,will never For more information about the St.Croix Crossing Project.
di ,ttheSametime
Call the project hotline Stop by the project office
1-855-GO-CF Visit the project website 1862 Greeley St.S.
Allscliedulingisteniativeandsubject[ociiange 1-855-(462-7649) www.mndot.gov/stcroixcrossing Stillwater,MN 55082
Page 14 d Quarter 2013
Storm Preparedness in Oak Park Heights
Residents should be advised that the City of Oak Park Heights maintains an Emergency Prepar-
edness Plan that will be implemented in the event the City experiences a storm, similar to what
recently occurred in the City of Hugo. The City's Police and Public Works Departments, along
with the Bayport Fire Department would immediately implement the strategies as outlined.
Generally, it is anticipated that water and sewer services will be operational as these facilities are
underground, but the City may implement emergency water consumption practices should direct
power be lost to the City's two wells. This would basically only allow household use, not the
sprinkling of lawns or car washing, etc. The City maintains back-up generation power that can
operate wells and sewerage lift-stations, but again these can only accommodate typical house-
hold usage.
Downed power lines can be the most dangerous aspect of storm clean-up, and residents are re-
quested to not make attempts to clear tress, limbs and braches that may be entangled in power
lines. Generally, the electricity distributions system in the City as operated by Xcel Energy lie un-
derground in most areas, however extreme caution should be taken until trees and limbs are first
verified as safe for removal.
Residents and businesses are encouraged to have an Emergency Preparedness Kit that will pro-
vide relief and resources in the event of a storm event and/or where electricity outages may be
several days. Please visit www.codeready.org for a listing of what every household or place of
business should have in their Emergency Preparedness Kit.
Lastly, in the event of a severe storm, you should contact City Hall at 651-439-4439 for infor-
mation on clean-up and response. Or, if you are able, check the City's website for "Storm Re-
sponse Information" as this will be updated regularly.
Above all, patience and neighbors helping each other will result in the most effective and efficient
clean-up/response to any disaster, large or small. The City will do its part to ensure a quick return
to normalcy.
Things to know about Washington County's Warning Sirens
There are 62 sirens in Washington County. The the weather itself for any changes that could en-
Washington County Sheriffs Department tests danger you or those around you. Make prepara-
all sirens at 1:oo p.m. on the first Wednesday of tions to initiate your emergency plans. Consider
the month from March through October. The cri- canceling outdoor activities. If you are in a mo-
teria for activating the sirens is as follows: when bile home, travel trailer or recreational vehicle,
a tornado warning is issued for Washington consider moving to shel-
County by the National Weather Service; when ter as the storms move
the National Weather Service indicates sustained into your area, before
wind speed of 76 miles per hour or more; or warnings are issued, es-
when a City or County Public Safety Official re- pecially if these are fast
quests activation due to imminent danger to life moving storms. Stay in-
and/or property. formed and be prepared. '`
i
Monitor weather information sources and watch
Tree City USA Page 15
•----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLIP AND SAVE!
July/August 2014
Summer Park Activities Schedule
All events are free! Look over the following schedule, and mark the dates on your calendar.
Please check the City's website for further updates on summer programming in the parks.
All Y an ages are welcome to attend the activities. Children under six must be accompanied b '
g P ,
adult. Pre-registration is appreciated for the craft activities. E-mail Gina at gzeuli@q.com
with number and ages of children attending.
July I
Craft in the Park— Painting Ceramic Banks: Brekke Park, 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.
July 8
Family Bingo, play for candy and prizes: Brekke Park, 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.
July 15
Minnesota Zoomobile Animal presentation: Autumn Hills Park, 10:30 a.m. — 12 p.m.
July 22
Craft in the Park— Decoupage and Chalkboard painting: Brekke Park, 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.
July 24
Family Movie in the Park: Autumn Hills Park. Movie begins at dark. Popcorn/beverages available for pur-
chase. ;
July 29
Magic Performance and Balloon Twisting: Autumn Hills Park, 10:30 a.m. — 12 p.m.
August 5
Craft in the Park— pillowcase/shirt/bag decorating: Autumn Hills Park, 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.
August 12
Mad Science Presentation: Autumn Hills Park, 10:30 a.m. — 12 p.m.
August 19
Craft in the Park— stepping stones: Brekke Park, 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.
August 21
Family Movie in the Park: Autumn Hills Park. Movie begins at dark. Popcorn/beverages available for pur-
chase.
August 26
Craft in the Park— plants and planters: Autumn Hills Park, 10 a.m. — 12 p.m.
------------------------------------------------
City of Oak Park Heights Presorted
14168 Oak Park Blvd N, Box 2007 Standard
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082-2007 u.s.Postage
PAID
Twin Cities,MN
Permit No. 90100
City of Oak Park Heights City of Oak Park HeightsQuarter 2014 Newsletter
14168 Oak Park Blvd.N.
PO Box 2007 2014 PARTY IN THE PARK
Oak Park Heights,MN 55082
Phone:651-439-4439
Fax:651-439-0574 The City of Oak Park Heights invites all city residents to attend the
Police non-emergency:651-439-4 2014 Party in the Park!
Police Emergency:91 1
Office Hours: Sunday, September 7, 2014, 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday Brekke Park (5500 Omar Avenue)
8:00 a.m.to 4:30 p.m.
excluding legal holidays
Come join the fun!
MAYOR Ice cream sundaes and floats
Mary McComber:351-7879 Live music
COUNCILMEMBERS Prize raffle
Chuck Dougherty:491-0419 Children's games and activities
Mike LiRunk:n:35-54582 Promotional items from cit businesses
Mike Runk:439-5458 y
Mark Swenson:270-5385
CITY ADMINISTRATOR The event is free and a great way to meet the City Council
and area business owners!
City Meetings (subject to change)
City Council: Parks Commission:
2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. 3rd Monday at 6:30 p.m.
The Oak Park Heights Planning Commission:
newsletter Typically the 2nd Thursday at Agendas and Minutes are
is published by the City y y posted on the City's website:
of Oak Park Heights. 7:00 p.m.
Comments are welcome. www.CltyOfOakparkheightS.COm
651-439-4439