HomeMy WebLinkAbout4th Q 14 City of
Oak
Tree City USA Fourth Quarter 2014 Newsletter
Inside this issue: Oak Park Heights is switching waste haulers
After completing a formal bid process, the City of Oak Park Heights will be
Party in the Park switching from Advanced Disposal to Tennis Sanitation for residential solid
Recap waste and recycling pickup beginning in 2015. The switch will save more than
$30,000 per year than if the City signed a new contract with the current hauler,
Parks Commission 2 Advanced Disposal.
Vacancy
Here is what residents can expect with the switch:
What's Included
In Trash Pickup . Collection of solid waste will remain on Thursdays.
Utility Bill • Collection of recyclables will remain every other week on Thursdays.
Information
Electronic waste (such as computers and televisions) will only be collected
Arborist at spring and fall clean-up events. Those items can also be brought to the
News Washington County Environmental Center (4039 Cottage Grove Drive,
Woodbury) during their regular business hours. For their hours, contact
St. Croix River 651-430-6655.
Crossing Updates
• Advanced Disposal will pick up ,1'1
garbage and recycling contain-
Parking Pads and ;
ers and each resident well re-
Firewood Storage - --
ceive new containers from Ten- r+
nis Sanitation. This switch is
Water System expected in either December or
Chlorination January. More information will
be provided to residents closer
Update on Street to the date.
,P
Reconstruction
Residents will still not be billed for solid waste or recycling collection.
Notes from
Public Works • Washington County is still charging the CEC Charge which has been billed
through Advanced Disposal. This will be billed through Tennis Sanitation
Pet Owner quarterly commencing in 2015.
Reminders
If you have any questions about the expected changes, please contact City
Winter Parking Administrator Eric Johnson, 651-439-4439.
Reminder
Page 2 Fourth Quarter
Party in the Park—Hot dogs are back in 2015!
The City held the 20th Annual Party in the Park on September 7. The City served ice cream sundaes and
root beer floats. There were activities and prizes for the children, live music, fire truck bucket rides, and
promotional items from local businesses.
The City would like to extend a special THANK YOU to the following local businesses and organizations
for their sponsorship and donations:
Andersen Corporation
Cover Park Manor
Dahl-Tech, Inc.
Eckberg Lammers Law Firm
Joseph's Family Restaurant
Liquor Time _
Party on Stillwater
Phil's Tara Hideaway \,
Regis Hair Salon ,►. 0.�`
Shear Hair
Valley Floral �..._
Xcel Energy ,
Based on feedback from you, our residents, we will be moving the event to a weeknight instead of a Sun-
day afternoon and will be serving hot dogs and chips. If you attended the event and have any comments
or suggestions, please visit the City's webpage, www.cityofoakparkheights.com, and click on the Contact
Us link to let us know. We would love to hear from you!
Parks Commission Vacancy
The City is seeking applications to fill an upcoming va-
cancy on the City of Oak Park Heights Parks Commission. µ
This vacant term is anticipated to expire on December
31st, 2017; however such date is subject to final City Coun-
cil appointment. W! c or 0, AD
The Parks Commission is a board of five members, ap-
pointed by the City Council, who meet regularly on the
third Monday of each month, typically at 7:00 pm as well
as on other occasions, when needed.
The objectives of the Parks Commission are to make rec-
ommendations to the City Council, which will guide the development of city parks, trails and re-
lated services and facilities. Commission terms are three years and run from January to Decem-
ber.
If you are a resident of Oak Park Heights and are looking for an interesting and rewarding oppor-
tunity to participate in development and governance of Oak Park Heights, contact Deputy Clerk
Jennifer Pinski at (651) 439-4439 or via e-mail at jpinski@cityofoakparkheights.com.
Tree City USA Page 3
Winterizing park shelters Recycling incentive program
The City of Oak Park Heights has a recy-
Park shelters will be winterized in early cling incentive program. The City awards a
October. This means water will be shut prize of $25.00 or a fire extinguisher and/
off and drained from the interior plumb- or smoke detector. Residents participating
ing and bathrooms will be closed. The in curbside recycling are picked randomly
City does provide portable toilets on site twice a month.
at Autumn Hills Park, Brekke Park, Cov- Recycling benefits the environment in
er Park, and Swager Park. The portable countless ways: it reduces the amount of
toilets will be placed prior to the re- natural resources used to make new prod-
strooms being closed for the season. ucts, it saves energy, it prevents water and
air pollution including greenhouse gas
emissions, and it reduces waste. This
K.4 means that the simple act of recycling in
AL your daily life provides significant protec-
tion for our environment and reduces glob-
al warming.
Thank you for recycling!
ICA
What's included in trash pickup?
In addition to the typical garbage and recycling pickup, the City also co-
vers the disposal of yard waste, large household items, and `white-goods' I Advarxoe+dDiiq�1
such as televisions, refrigerators, 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 collection day so that the special truck may be dis-
patched to your home. If you receive a bill from Advanced Disposal 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, Advanced Disposal, 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 Advanced Disposal at
a regulated rate as monitored by the City.
REMINDER!!
Waste pick-up is every THURSDAY and recyclable pick-up is every-other 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.
Page 4 FourthQuarter
{ Go GREEN: Pay & View Oak Park Heights Utility Bills Online
F
Pay ONLINE WHY?
Help save natural
Go to www.CityOfOakParkHeights.com resources by viewvng
1. Click"Pay Utility Bill" and paying online
2. You will go to our payment processor's website where
you should register and make your payment • Easy,fast and
secure
" • Pay immedfatefy,
Or CALL schedufe a payment
' Y 3 or set up A uto-Pay
1-877-886-7968(have your bill handy to provide your account number) e Keep costs down;
. " opt out of paper bills
View Bills Online • PnOrece)pts,view
payment history
Go to www.City0fOak Park Heights.corn and more
1. Click"View Utility Bill"
Vire accept... 2. You will go to our payment processor's website to register
3. You will get an email each time your bill is ready
eCheck VISA You don't have to pay onlne to view our bills onlie.
FSH
Third quarter 2014 utility bills
City Meetings Utility bills for the third Quarter of 2014 (July 1 — Sep-
(subject to change) tember 30) will be mailed to residents in October and
will be due November 9, 2014.
City Council:
2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 Auto pay is available. With auto
p.m. _ pay, there is no need to waste
time writing and mailing a
Planning Commission: ' " „ check. Paying your utility bill
Typically the 2nd Thursday at 'r electronically allows you to save
7:00 P.M. time and money on stamps and
late fees. The amount you owe
Parks Commission: ►' _,d1dA on your utility bill is automati-
3rd Monday at 6:30 P.M. tally withdrawn from the ac-count you designate on the
billing due date each month. You will continue to re-
Agendas and Minutes are posted ceive your bill so that you know the date and amount to
on the City's website: be withheld from your account.
www.cityofoakparkheights.com
If you are interested in participating, please call or stop
by City Hall to obtain an enrollment form. The form is
also available on the City's website, under City Infor-
Trick-or-Treating in mation, Forms & Handouts. Call Judy Tetzlaff at City
Oak Park Heights takes place on Hall, 651-439-4439, if you have questions.
Friday, October 31.
If utility account balances are not paid they may
be certified to the County for payment with
Property Taxes along with additional penalties.
Tree City USA Page 5
Clusters of brown leaves on White and Bur Oaks
Tree Problems?
There have been a number of calls to the Forestry line this season regarding
clusters of brown leaves on bur and white oaks. These clusters may stay on If you are an
the tree, but many of them eventually fall. These clusters are usually caused Oak Park
by insects such as twig pruners or twig girdlers or by fungal leafspot/blight dis-
eases. These issues are not serious for the trees long-term and will resolve Height s
themselves without treatment in most cases. Brown clusters of leaves usually resident, and
do not indicate oak wilt infection. have a problem
with a tree or
shrub, such as
Oak Wilt an insect or a
Oak trees can be pruned up to April 1 in most years. Due to insect transmission disease, have
of the oak wilt fungus to fresh wounds on healthy oaks, oaks should not be p I a n t i n g
wounded or pruned from April 1 to July 1. If they are wounded during the questions, or
growing season (April 1- October 1), the wounds should be painted with latex just want to
house paint to prevent oak wilt infection. It is best to prune oaks between Oc- have a plant
tober 15 and March 15.
identified, call
Dr. Kathy
Emerald Ash Borer Widin, the OPH
Arborist, at 439
Emerald ash borer (EAB) has not yet been confirmed in Washington County. -4439 Ext.
Check ash trunks for bark cracks and "S-shaped' larval galleries under the 11o6. She can
bark. If larvae are present there may be a lot of woodpecker activity, particular- either answer
Iy in the top half of the tree. If you see any signs of EAB activity, please contact
the Arborist. Do not move ash wood with intact bark from one area to another. your question
The city is continuing to remove ash trees which are doing poorly, are interfer- over the phone
ing with power lines, competing with other trees, have storm damage, or are or make an
blocking sight lines along the street. If you have an ash tree that you think appointment
should be removed, contact the Oak Park Heights Arborist. for a site visit.
This service is
Watering trees and shrubs paid for by the
City of Oak
If the autumn weather is drier, established shrubs, small trees, and evergreens Park Heights.
will need water this fall as well. Water plants well, once per week, at the ground
line. If the property slopes at all where you are watering, use a root-feeder,
which attaches to your garden hose, pushed into the ground about four inches.
Water plants up to the time that the ground freezes.
** New Trees" — If you received a new boulevard tree in September of this
year, please water those trees well once a week (at least io gal. of water per
week) up until the ground freezes. Any week where we have 1/2 in. of rainfall, or
more, you will not need to water. Leave mulch around new trees for at least sev-
eral years to help retain soil moisture.
Page 6 FourthQuarter 2014
St. Croix River Crossing construction updates
Crews are working diligently to get construction work wrapped up before winter comes knocking at our
door. Highway 36 and Highway 95 area road construction work will be substantially complete by the end
of 2014. Crews will be back in 2015 to complete landscaping work and other finishing touches to the
highway project. Below are several progress updates for fall 2014, weather permitting. See map for con-
struction locations:
Current road construction
South Frontage Road between Osgood Avenue and just west of Oakgreen Avenue -- Ongoing through
late October. Some overnight work may be required.
Highway 36 – Remains single-lane in each direction through November, while lanes are used as the tem-
porary South Frontage Road.
Highway 95 -- Remains single-lane in each direction while crews complete median work and bridge con-
struction. This work will be ongoing through November.
Greeley Street north of Highway 36 – Ongoing through early October for city of Stillwater water main
work and St. Croix Crossing road reconstruction.
Upcoming road construction
Oakgreen Avenue between the South Frontage Road & 58`" Street – Begins in early October, and
will be under construction for 25 days. Oakgreen Avenue will be closed to through traffic during
this work. Follow posted detour.
North Frontage Road west of Greeley Street – Beings in October to realign the North Frontage
Road. The North Frontage Road will close, with a detour, between Industrial Blvd and Greeley
Street for about 1.5 months.
Osgood Avenue south of Hwy 36 – Expected to occur in October and November.
For more specific details about any of this work, connect with project staff in one of the ways listed
below.
Bridge piers construction
All five St. Croix Crossing river pier locations are
built to the height of the crossbeam, which connects a
the upstream and downstream pier columns. Crews
are now constructing the crossbeams on Piers 8, 9
and 12. Work at Piers 10 and I I is complete for
2014 and will start up again in 2015—the crossbeam
trusses on Piers 8 and 9 will move to Piers 10 and
11. Also in 2015, crews will construct the bridge
deck, towers and cables. -
Bridge deck construction
Segment production at the on-site casting yard near y�
the Highway 36/95 interchange continues. Crews
will place a few bridge approach span segments near
Highway 95 this fall. Segment production also is ramping up at the Grey Cloud Island casting yard near
Cottage Grove, where crews are casting the river bridge segments. Segment casting at this indoor casting
yard will continue through the winter, while activities at the on-site casting yard will pause over the cold
Tree City USA Page 7
winter months. About 1,000 pre-cast concrete segments will become the driving surface of the new St.
Croix Crossing. The majority of segments will be placed in 2015.
Wisc. bluff work
Crews will clear trees as needed on the Wisconsin bluff this fall to prepare for building the east bridge
abutment and Pier 13 in the bluff. Periodic pile driving for bridge falsework and Pier 13 will occur this fall
and winter 2015.
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 on Twitter @stcroixcrossing
Stop by the office at 1862 Greeley St. S., Stillwater
St. Croix Crossing Highway 36& Highway 95 ==A `
Construction update %
As of September 2014 CROSSING
ShIll 1, a
jA
$ �,6
_ x
N F,oa eaa
IF, 9Ada 9eaa Fa
LEGEND
I� Ongoing/upcoming construction ""MMM' Future St.Croix Crossing Bridge
activity through fall Complete
Trail completion throughout 2014
Complete in 2015-16
Short-term partial closures expected
For more information about the St.Croix Crossing Project:
Call the project hotline Stop by the project office
1-855-GO-CROIX visit the project website 1862 Greeley St.S.
1-855-(462-7649) vaww.mndot.gov/stcroixcrossing Stillwater,MN 55082
Page 8 FourthQuarter 2014
House Numbers Required by City Ordinance
Not only are house numbers required by the City's Zoning Ordinance, they are essential for peo-
ple to find you and can be critical for emergency response groups, such as the police depart-
ment, fire department and emergency medical responders to assist you as quickly as possible.
To make it easy to locate your home, your house numbers should be:
A minimum of 3 inches in height
Made of a durable, weather resistant material such as metal, glass, plastic, etc.
A color that stands out with the house or background upon which they are placed such as
dark numbers against a light background
Easily and clearly seen from the street when approached from any direction. You may
want to consider having the numbers coated with a reflective material for better visibility at
dark or locating them beneath a light source
Attached to your home or a sign post that faces the street
If your home does not have house numbers on it, make it a priority to put them on today.
Parking pads and firewood storage
City Ordinance state that cars, trucks, trailers, boats, snowmobiles, water-skis, four-wheelers, motor homes and oth-
er similar items shall be parked in your garage or other accessory building, upon your driveway or an approved park-
ing pad.
What is an approved Parking Pad?
An approved Parking Pad is a parking pad that is hard surfaced constructed of asphalt, concrete, cobblestone, pav-
ing 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 located 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 equipment
(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.
Tree City USA Page 9
Temporary chlorination of the water system
The City recently chlorinated its water due to the presence of Total Coliform Bacteria in the
City's water system. Total Coliform Bacteria are generally not harmful and these bacteria are
naturally present in the environment and may be used as an indicator that other potentially
harmful bacteria may be present. E. Coli and Fecal Coliform were NOT detected in the system.
The chlorination will continue until approximately mid-October in order to disinfect the water
system completely. Chlorination of the system is NOT an emergency and water remains safe to
drink. If a Drinking Water Advisory were required,
we would notify residents immediately. Consumers
with health concerns related to chlorine in drinking
water may choose to use bottled water or an alter-
native source during this period.
You do not need to boil your water or take other
corrective actions. Chlorine was added as a pre-
caution. Consumers may wish to let the water run
for a few minutes to flush plumbing of discolored
water before using it for cooking or laundry.
Although the Department of Health allows four
parts per million of chlorine, the City of Oak Park
Heights will feed one part per million to the water
system.
For more information, please contact Public Works Director Andy Kegley at 651-439-4439 or re-
fer to www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/factsheet/emergency/index.htmI for factsheets on
Drinking Water Advisories. General guidelines regarding water quality safety are available from
the EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Winter skating
Oak Park Heights maintains three rinks for park patron use. Brekke Park, located on 5500 Omar
Ave N has a pleasure rink and a boarded hockey rink. Cover Park, located at 15366 581" Street
N, which is on the same intersection of Beach Road and Peller Ave, has a boarded hockey rink.
Both parks have warming houses for patron's convenience.
Ice is made as soon as nature allows and usually takes up to two weeks to form a solid ice sheet
thick enough to skate on.
Warming house Hours:
Monday— Friday 3:30 PM — 9:00 PM
Weekends 9:00 AM — 9:00 PM
Holidays 9:00 AM — 9:00 PM
Page I Fourth Quarter
Street reconstruction update
Overall Project Overview:As of 9/18/2014
Overall the 2014 street reconstruction project is roughly 75% complete as of September 18, 2014.
Roughly 95% of the utility work is complete throughout Area E, Area C and Area B. Most remaining work
involves concrete curb and gutter installation and asphalt base and wear courses. Roughly 60% of
street/asphalt work is complete. The following is a brief overview of progress as of September 18,
2014:
Area E - Village Area
Curb and gutter complete -except for around catch basins
Asphalt to be placed within 10 working days
Topsoil and driveway restoration to follow
Area C -Omaha Ave, Olene Ave, Olinda Ave, and Oren Ct. N
99% complete -1% remaining is punch list items (Except
for Oren Ct. N).
♦ Remaining work on Oren Ct. N - Utility work is wrapping
up September 18, 2014
Curb and gutter to follow utility work -beginning week of
September 22, 2014.
Asphalt base course to be laid in approximately the first
couple of weeks into October.
Area B -Upper 55th St and 56th Street N
Roadway removals and utility work in progress.
Utility work completion date (Including storm and San spot replace-
ment) -second week of October.
Curb and gutter possible first week of October, or shortly thereafter.
Final base work and asphalt to follow -into second week of October.
Top soil and driveway restoration to immediately follow base course of
bituminous
For current daily updates, call the construction hotline at (651) 604-4727.
Tree City USA Page 11
Notes from Public Works
Protect your house from frozen meters and pipes
You can take easy and inexpensive steps to prevent the damage, expense and inconvenience
associated with freezing pipes and meters. Temperatures are colder along the floor and cement
block wall of the basement than near the ceiling. Circulating the warmer air can help prevent fro-
zen meters. In some homes, meters are in separate unheated rooms or boxes; open the doors
to rooms or open a meter box to allow warmer air to circulate. Simply keeping your home and
basement warm enough will help prevent freezing. In addition:
• Check along the foundation for areas where cold wind can enter the basement or a crawl
space and plug them with insulation.
• Close off crawl space vents and doors.
• Replace broken or cracked basement windows or doors.
• Install a storm window or cover basement windows with weather insulation kits
• Make sure basement doors and windows close tightly.
• Seal or caulk cracks in the walls.
• Insulate pipes.
• Don't forget to turn off the water supply and drain all outdoor faucets!
Hydrants Trash receptacles Prevent sewer backups
Note the location of the near- During a snow event on a Dumping grease down the
est hydrant to your home. It trash pickup day, it is help- drain can cause sewer back-
is extremely helpful and ap- ful to the street plowing crew ups. Grease solidifies in the
preciated that residents help when residents keep trash sanitary sewer and creates
city staff and the fire depart- receptacles from creeping too dams and blockages in the
ment in maintaining hy- far into the street. Please be invert. Dumping grease in
drants clear of snow. Keep- aware on trash day if a snow the sanitary sewer usually
ing a hydrant clear and easi- event is occurring. The affects houses closest to the
ly accessible could save pre- plows will likely be out. entry point, but can also have
cious time in the case of an adverse effects further down-
emergency. stream.
Water main breaks
Water main breaks usually occur during freezing and thawing cycles which causes the
ground to shift. To report a potential main-break, please call City Hall at 651-439-
4439 during business hours and the Oak Park Heights Public Works Department
emergency duty number at (651) 485-2304 after 4:30 PM or on weekends and holi-
days. As a last resort contact the Oak Park Heights Police Department at (651) 439-
4723; an officer will contact Public Works.
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
11111q•,. • - •
City of Oak Park Heights -
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N.
PO Box 2007 Leash Law Reminder
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
Phone:651-439-4439
Fax:651-439-0574 There have been reports of dogs not leashed and acting aggressively
Police non-emergency:651-439-4723 toward other walkers on City trails, specifically at Oak Park Crossing
Police Emergency:911 Park. The City of Oak Park Heights has a leash law in effect that pro-
Office Hours: hibits pets from running at large. Any dog or cat that is off the premis-
Monday through Friday es of the owner and not under the physical control (by leash or by
8:00 a.m.to 4:3o P.m. voice) of the owner or another designated person is in violation of this
excluding legal holidays
Ordinance.
MAYOR Whenou are out walkingour et, lease remember to bringa las-
Mary McComber:351-7879 y y p p p
tic bag. Pet owners are required by City Ordinance to clean up pet
Ck Dough MEMBERS waste on public and private property. Removal and proper disposal of
Chuck Dougherty:491-0419 p p � p p y• p p p
Mike Liljegren:351-2742 pet waste helps keep our City clean and healthy.
Mike Runk:439-5458
Mark Swenson:270-5385
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Eric Johnson
WINTER PARKING REMINDER
. .• .• Parking regulations begin November 1St through March 31St.
No parking is allowed on City streets during the hours of 1:00am and 6:00am.
Please be aware that these parking restrictions are in place AND ENFORCED
The Oak Park Heights regardless of whether or not there has been recent snowfall.
newsletter Vehicles left parking on the streets may be removed without notice by the Oak
is published by the City Park Heights Police Department.
of Oak Park Heights.
Comments are welcome.
651-439-4439