HomeMy WebLinkAbout3rd Q 11
City of
Oak Park Heights
Tree City USA Third Quarter 2011 Newsletter
Inside this issue:
Brekke Park Improvements
As part of a three-year
Parking 2
plan approved in
Pads
Spring 2011 by the City
Council, the City of
Pet Owner 2
Oak Park Heights has
Reminders
undertaken major im-
provements at Brekke
Celebrate Water 3
Park including removal
This Summer
of old playgrounds, in-
stallation of new play-
Garbage/Recycling 4
Information
grounds, construction
of a small park shelter
Sanitary Sewer
4 and established pro-
Backup Prevention
posed concept plans
for future trail connec-
2010 Water Quality 5
tions throughout
Report
Brekke Park. With completion of these projects, all of the City’s parks will
have received some form of substantial re-investment within the last five
Recycling 8
years. A project that remains on the City’s agenda will be the replacement of
Information to
the playgrounds at Swager Park.
11
Local Business and 12
Utility Bills
Development News
Utility bills for the second quarter of 2011 (April—June) will be mailed in
Streetlight Outage 12
early July and will be due August 9, 2011.
Reporting
Auto pay is available. With auto pay, there is no need to waste time writing
Arborist 13
and mailing a check. Paying your utility bill electronically allows you to save
News
time and money on stamps and late fees. The amount you owe on your utili-
ty bill is automatically withdrawn from the ac-count you designate on the
Fireworks 14
billing due date each month. You will continue to receive your bill so that
Safety
you know the date and amount to be withheld from your account.
Guidelines for Use 14
If you are interested in participating, please call or stop by City Hall to obtain
of Lawn Chemicals
an enrollment form. The form is also available on the City’s website, under
City Information, Forms & Handouts. Call Judy Tetzlaff at City Hall, 439-
Police Files 15
4439, if you have questions.
Third Quarter 2011 Newsletter
Page 2
Attention Pet Owners
Leash Law Reminder
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 premises of the owner and not under the physical control (by leash
or by voice) of the owner or another designated 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 infor-
mation, please call City Hall at 651-439-4439. City Ordinances can be viewed on the City’s web-
site: www.cityofoakparkheights.com.
Parking pads
City Ordinance states 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, cobblestone, 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 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 pace 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 resi-
dential premises.
Page 3
Tree City USA
Celebrate water this summer!
Mark your calendar for these area events this summer:
Artful Rain Garden Exhibit: June 16 - July 24. Free.
Phipps Center for the Arts in Hudson will be showcasing original artwork and displays plus imag-
es, plans and models of raingardens. There will also be several fun activities, including a perfor-
mance from Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater on June 16 and a Cirque de Soil raingarden educa-
tion event on June 26. http://artfulraingarden.net
South Washington County Garden Tour: June 26, 9am-4pm. $10 pre-sale / $15 at tour
Visit outstanding gardens in South Washington County, including a home in Woodbury with
raingardens designed and installed with assistance from Washington Conservation District and
South Washington Watershed District. Local artists and musicians will be featured on the tour as
well. Sponsored by the Youth Service Bureau. www.ysb.net/events
St. Croix Valley Garden Tour: July 16 and 17,
10am-4pm. $15.
Coordinated by Family Means, the 19 Annual Gar-
th
den Tour will showcase 8 beautiful gardens in
Stillwater, Lake Elmo and Oakdale including a
home in Stillwater, overlooking the St. Croix River,
with extensive native plantings and raingardens de-
signed and installed with assistance from the Wash-
ington Conservation District and Brown's Creek
Watershed District. www.familymeans.org.
100yr Anniversary St. Croix River Paddle:
The Zemcuznikov home in Stillwater will be on the
July 5-22 from Solon Springs to Prescott, WI. Cele-
St. Croix Valley Garden Tour
brate the St. Croix River and get out on the water.
This is the 100yr Anniversary of the St. Croix River
Association and several fun events are planned along the route, including a mid-journey celebra-
tion on July 15 at Wannigan Days in St. Croix Falls, WI and Taylors Falls, MN and a closing cele-
bration on July 22 in Prescott, WI.
The paddle will be passing through Washington County on July 17 – 22. www.scrapaddle.org
A River Runs Through Us: July 18, sunset. Free.
A candlelight march over the Stillwater Lift Bridge with the St. Croix River paddlers. Artists will
carry a large river mural that shows the many different ways the river affects us as humans.
http://artfulraingarden.net
Save the Fish…and then Eat ‘Em! July
Throughout the month of July the East Metro Water Resource Education Program will be team-
ing up with the St. Croix River Association and Lift Bridge Brewery to distribute drink coasters in
bars and restaurants throughout the St. Croix Valley to raise awareness about what people can do
to keep our water clean. www.stcroix360.com.
Page 4
What’s included in trash pickup?
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, refrigerators, couches, chairs, desks, wa-
ter-heaters, stoves, dishwashers, dryers, etc. for single family resi-
dences 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 dispatched to your home. If you re-
ceive 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.
The City is investigating the possibility of moving from dual-sort recycling to single-sort recycling.
If the City determines it is best to switch systems, the change would likely occur in January 2011
and will not affect rates. Single sort recycling would allow you to comingle paper, plastic, cans,
and glass in one large container that would be picked up by the hauler bi-weekly. The current
system of recycling requires you to separate paper from your plastic, cans, and glass and is picked
up weekly.
REMINDER!!
Waste and Recyclable pick-up is every THURSDAY, unless the week contains one of the six holi-
days – New Years Day, Memorial Day, 4 of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Dur-
th
ing those weeks, collection may occur on FRIDAY.
Sanitary sewer backup prevention
Oak Park Heights residents can play a key role in preventing sanitary sewer backups. To help prevent
backups, please dispose of the following items properly by NOT dumping in a drain or flushing down the
toilet:
Food scraps and grease
Diapers
Sanitary napkins
Rags, shop towels, or paper towels
Garage waste products such as oil, grease, gasoline, antifreeze
Household waste such as ashes, grease, corrosives, glass, metals, paint, poisons, or solvents
Yard waste such as sand, soil, or mud
2010 Water Quality Report—Page 1 of 3
2010 CONSUMER CONFIDENCE REPORT
CITY OF OAK PARK HEIGHTS
14168 Oak Park Blvd N.· Box 2007 · Oak Park Heights, MN 55082 · (651) 439-4439 · Fax 439-0574
PWSID: 1820020
2010 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, 2010. 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 (and press 5) during normal
business hours. Also, you can view it on line at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/water/swp/swa.
Call Andy Kegley, Public Works Director 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
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pled for in 2010. 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/l).
ppb─Parts per billion, which can also be expressed as micrograms per liter (μg/l).
N/A─Not Applicable (does not apply).
2010 Water Quality Report—Page 2 of 3
Level Found
Contaminant (units) MCLG MCL Typical Source of Contaminant
Average/
Range
Result*
(2010)
State of Minnesota requires all municipal water systems
Fluoride (ppm) 4 4 1.1-1.3 1.28
to add fluoride to the drinking water to promote strong
teeth; Erosion of natural deposits; Discharge from fertiliz-
er and aluminum factories.
Nitrate (as Nitrogen) Runoff from fertilizer use; Leaching from septic tanks,
10.4 10.4 1.7-2.9 2.9
(ppm) sewage; Erosion of natural deposits.
Total Coliform 0 >1 N/A 1 Naturally present in the environment.
ǂ
Bacteria present present
*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.
ǂ Follow-up sampling showed no contamination present.
Contaminant # sites over
90% Level
(units) AL
MCLG AL Typical Source of Contaminant
Copper (ppm) Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natu-
1.3 1.3 .23 0 out of 20
Lead (ppb) Corrosion of household plumbing systems; Erosion of natu-
0 15 4 0 out of 20
(09/22/2008) ral 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 expo-
sure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
2010 Water Quality Report—Page 3 of 3
Some contaminants do not have Maximum Contaminant Levels established for them. These unregulated contaminants are as-
sessed using state standards known as health risk limits to determine if they pose a threat to human health. If unacceptable levels
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its customers and take other corrective actions. In the table that follows are the unregulated contaminants that were detected:
Level Found
Contaminant (units) Typical Source of Contaminant
Average/
Range
Result
(2010)
Sodium (ppm) 6.13-7.05 7.05 Erosion of natural deposits.
Sulfate (ppm) 9.93-10.8 10.8 Erosion of natural deposits.
Compliance with National Primary Drinking Water Regulations
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,
agricultural 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
residential uses.
Organic chemical contaminants, including synthetic and volatile organic chemicals, which are by-products of industrial
processes 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 be 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 be particularly at risk from infections. These
people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. EPA/CDC 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.
Third Quarter 2011 Newsletter
Page 8
Recycling incentive program How to sort your recycling
The City of Oak Park Heights has a recy-
Materials collected by Veolia for recycling must be
cling incentive program. The City awards a
sorted into two categories to make sure they get
prize of $25.00 or a fire extinguisher and/
recycled. Use paper bags and recycling bins to
or smoke detector. Residents participating
separate your materials. Do not use plastic bags.
in curbside recycling are picked randomly
Place textiles in a separate paper bag from every-
twice a month.
thing else.
Recycling benefits the environment in
Paper & Cardboard Cans & Bottles
countless ways: it reduces the amount of
Newspapers Steel and Allumi-
natural resources used to make new prod-
Magazines, mail, num Cans and Foil
ucts, it saves energy, it prevents water and
and office paper Glass bottles and
air pollution including greenhouse gas
Corrugated card-jars (any color)
emissions, and it reduces waste. This means
Milk cartons and
board
that the simple act of recycling in your daily
Boxboard/soda juice boxes
life provides significant protection for our
boxes Plastic bottles (1
environment and reduces global warming.
and 2)
Phonebooks
Thank you for recycling!
Recycling your electronics
Did you know that most TVs and computer monitors contain 2 to 8
pounds of toxic lead? Many electronics contain other toxic metals such
as mercury and cadmium. If any of these contaminants gets into our riv-
ers, streams or lakes, they can harm our health and damage the environ-
ment.
Most TVs and computers contain a cathode ray tube (CRT). Electronic
products containing a CRT may not be placed in the garbage (Minnesota
Statutes §115A.9565).
The solution? Recycle your electronics! Convenient, easy and affordable electronics recycling options are
available for household electronics including: televisions; computers: central processing units (CPUs), moni-
tors, laptops; computer keyboards, speakers, printers, and other peripherals; VCRs and DVD players; fax ma-
chines. Other electronics, such as cell phones and stereos, can also be recycled.
Electronics recycling has never been easier or more important. Recycling options for household electronics
available to residents include:
Garbage hauler: Veolia will pick up your electronics from your home for no charge. You must call
City Hall at least two days in advance of pickup day to schedule the pickup.
Washington County Environmental Center: You can drop off your old electronics at the Wash-
ington County Environmental Center in Woodbury. For details and directions, call 651-430-6655.
Take-back programs: Some manufacturers and retailers will take back your old electronics for recy-
cling.
To find electronics recycling options, visit RethinkRecycling.com, your go-to-guide for waste and recycling in
the Twin Cities.
Tree City USA Page 9
Recycling cans and bottles
You’ve just finished your afternoon bottle of soda,
what do you do with it? Do you take the extra
Save natural resources Recycling aluminum
step to ensure that it is recycled? How important
reduces water consumption and air pollutants by
is it that your can or bottle ends up in a recycling
95 percent and air pollutants by 95 percent. Mak-
bin? Recycling cans and bottles not only decreas-
ing glass from recycled material cuts water pollu-
HVWKHPDWHULDOVJRLQJWRODQGILOOV LWKHOSVNHHS
tion by 50 percent.
our environment healthy.
Create jobs The plastic recycling industry pro-
By recycling, residents can:
vides jobs for more than 52,000 American work-
ers.
Use less energy Recycling a single aluminum
can saves enough energy to power a television
Reduce taxes Recycling generates $64 million in
for three hours. In total, metro area recycling of
Minnesota tax revenue every year!
metal, glass and plastics in 2006 saved enough
energy to heat over 78,000 houses for the year.
So the next time you go to dispose of your bottle
or can, remind yourself how much recycling can
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions In 2006,
do! You may recycle curbside, or you may
recycling of cans and bottles in the Twin Cities
drop off your recyclables at the Washington
metro area reduced greenhouse gas emissions
County Environmental Center. For details
equal to taking 125,000 cars off the road.
and directions, call 651-430-6655.
How to recycle cans and bottles
Recycling cans and bottles is important for our environment and economy. For example, recycling aluminum
reduces water consumption by 95 percent and air pollutants by 95 percent. Recycling also generates $64 mil-
lion in Minnesota tax revenue every year!
But do you know how to prepare containers for recycling collection? As recycling programs have changed over
the years, many Twin Cities residents may not be aware of how to prepare cans and bottles for curbside collec-
tion. Here is a guide for curbside recycling.
Put these bottles and cans in the recycling bin
:
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PHWDOIRRGDQGEHYHUDJHFDQV SODVWLFERWWOHVDQGMXJVLQFOXGLQJ ZDWHUVRGDDQGMXLFHERWWOHV
PLONDQGMXLFHMXJV
NHWFKXSDQGVDODGGUHVVLQJERWWOHV
GLVKZDVKLQJERWWOHVDQGGHWHUJHQWMXJV
shampoo, soap, and other bottles from the bathroom.
Here are some how-to tips
:
Remove caps and lids and put them in the trash
Give the containers a quick rinse
Labels are okay
Flatten cans and bottles to save space and reduce the number of trips
needed to take the materials to the recycling center. This helps save
energy!
Third Quarter 2011 Newsletter
Page 10
Wanted: more recycled paper
It’s time to rethink recycling. You can recycle more kinds of paper than you think. Approximately 21%
of household garbage in the Twin Cities metro area is recyclable paper. This includes items such as un-
wanted mail, office and school paper, phone books, magazines, catalogs, cardboard and other boxes, and
newspapers.
Why does paper recycling matter? The demand for recyclable paper is greater than the supply. Recy-
clers and manufacturers in Minnesota and the Midwest are looking for more paper, because they can’t
get enough of it!
Demand for recycled paper is high for several reasons:
We’re using more paper than ever. Global paper use is more than six times greater than what it was in
1950.
Paper mills need recycled paper to produce new products. Recycled paper supplies more than 37% of
the raw materials used to make new paper products in the U.S.
Paper is a valuable export. In 2003, more than 25% of U.S. recycled paper was exported, much of it to
China and sold overseas. It is expected that by 2007 one-third of recycled paper will be exported.
So why can’t supply keep up? Recycling collection rates in the Twin Cities metro area have been at a
stand-still since 1998. Many factors contribute to this, but one of the main reasons is that many people
are uncertain about what items are recyclable, particularly what types of paper products.
Paper recycling: where does it go?
On any given morning, people throughout the Twin Cities metro area bring their recyclable paper out to
the curb. Newspapers, cereal boxes, school paper and more sit ready and waiting for the recycling truck.
But where does that truck go? And what happens to the paper?
Here’s how the paper recycling process works:
1. You place your recyclable paper at the curb for recycling.
2. A recycling hauler picks it up and takes it to a Materials Recovery Facility, or a MRF (pronounced
“murf”).
3. The MRF separates the paper into types, wraps it into large bales and ships it to a paper mill.
The paper mill then mixes the paper with hot water and turns it into pulp. The pulp is screened for con-
taminants, such as staples and plastic, then cleaned, often de-inked and bleached and made into new pa-
per products.
Recycled paper is used in many of the paper products you use every day. More than 80% of all U.S. pa-
per manufacturers use some recovered fiber to make their products. Here
are just a few of the everyday paper products made with recycled paper:
Egg cartons: Egg cartons are made from recycled newspaper and inserts.
Newspaper: A newspaper is recycled and back in circulation in less than
four weeks.
Cereal boxes: Recycled office paper, newspapers and cardboard boxes are
used to make cereal and other types of boxes.
Tree City USA Page 11
Paper recycling: beyond the kitchen
recycle envelopes with windows, paper with sta-
Every hour Twin Cities metro area residents
ples and paper clips, and magazines and cata-
place over 21 tons of recyclable paper in the gar-
logs.
bage. That’s 42,000 pounds of valuable, recy-
clable paper!
In the Bathroom
Remember to recycle boxes
So how is so much paper ending up in the gar-
from toothpaste, medica-
bage? One problem is that most people associ-
tions and other toiletries.
ate recycling with the kitchen. A common place
Place a recycling container
for a recycling bin is in the kitchen, next to the
in your bathroom for collect-
garbage. While this is convenient, it often leads
ing these recyclables.
people to forget that recyclables, particularly pa-
per, are generated throughout the home. Here
Other Areas
are some ideas on how you can recycle more
Consider placing recycling containers in other
paper beyond the kitchen:
areas of the home where you generate recycla-
ble paper, such as children’s play areas or bed-
In the Office
rooms. You will be more likely to recycle your
Place a small contain-
paper if containers are readily available.
er for recycling next to
your computer or desk
Rethink Recycling. You can recycle more types
for easy recycling of
of paper than you think. You may recycle
mail, office and school
curbside, or you may drop off your recycla-
paper. If you shred
bles at the Washington County Environmen-
paper, shred your doc-
tal Center. For details and directions, call 651
uments into a brown paper bag for easy and
-430-6655.
proper recycling. Remember that you can also
Paper recycling has many benefits
Believe it or not, your old catalogs and magazines may be tomorrow’s news. What many people don’t know is
that magazines and other forms of glossy paper are recyclable. When recycled, that glossy paper may be
used for many purposes:
To make new newspapers
In the manufacturing of tissue products
In the production of writing and printing paper
About two million tons of catalogs and magazines are produced each year in
the U.S., but only about 32% of that is recycled. One of the reasons for that
gap is that many people are uncertain about whether glossy paper is recyclable.
Glossy paper was once excluded from recycling, but today it is a valuable recycling commodity. Recyclers and
manufactures in Minnesota are anxious to get as much of it as possible because the demand for recyclable pa-
per is greater than the supply. Every bit counts, so add your catalogs and magazines to your recycling bins.
Rethink Recycling. To learn more, contact City Hall or visit
www.RethinkRecycling.com, the metro area’s resource for recycling and
waste disposal.
Third Quarter 2011 Newsletter
Page 12
Local business and development news
Welcome New Businesses:
Beverly’s Curiosities Shoppe – 5898 Omaha Avenue North, Suite 6
Grand Auto Salon Professional Auto Detailing & Protection—12430 55th St., Suite
1A
Peaceful Retreat Massage & Wellness Center—14791 60th Street North
Rivertown Health & Wellness Chiropractic—5813 Neal Avenue North
Congratulations to:
Wal-Mart at 5815 Norell Avenue North on their recent remodeling
project, adding a new wireless retail center to their store interior
Currently Under Construction:
th
Oakgreen Commons Assisted Living Complex – 13936 Lower 59 Street
th
AutoZone – 13613 60 Street North (between Applebee’s & Jerry’s Auto)
White Castle – 5950 Nova Scotia Avenue North
Opening Soon:
Aldi Foods—13747 60th Street North
Mr. Chow – 5980 Neal Avenue, Suite 600
Streetlight out in your neighborhood?
City Meetings
Your help in identifying street lights that are not working
(subject to change)
is very important, as we rely solely on your notification
assistance. Once City staff is aware of a light out, we
City Council:
contact Xcel Energy immediately to help make sure the
2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00
light is repaired in a reasonable amount of time. Xcel En-
p.m.
ergy Streetlighting Department strives to repair outages
within two business days of notification that the light is
Planning Commission:
out or not working properly. To report a City street light
Typically the 2nd Thursday at
7:00 p.m.
out, please contact City Hall at 439-4439.
Parks Commission:
If possible, have the following information available:
3rd Monday at 6:30 p.m.
Property address and/or nearest cross street to where
Agendas and Minutes are post-
the light pole is located.
ed on the City’s website:
Whether the light is located on a corner, midblock, or
www.cityofoakpark
in a cul-de-sac.
heights.com
The nature of the problem (i.e. light is out, light is
blinking, light is broken).
Tree City USA Page 13
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
Tree Problems?
At the time of this writing, emerald see ¼ in. long “D-shaped” exit holes
ash borer (EAB), a serious insect in the bark if adult EAB exited the
If you are an
pest of ash, is in Minneapolis and
tree in 2010.
Oak Park
St. Paul but has not yet been found
Heights
in Washington County. We do not
If you have any ash trees which are
resident, and
know if the insect is already in this
dying from the top down, have ex-
have a problem
area, so everyone with ash trees
cessive woodpecker activity and
should be examining them for signs
feeding, or you see any other signs
with a tree or
of EAB activity. If larvae are under
of EAB activity, please contact the
shrub, such as
the bark, one might see a lot of
Arborist to come out and take a
an insect or a
woodpecker activity and feeding
look. Do not move ash wood from
disease, have
holes on the tree along the trunk
one area to another, as this is one
planting
and larger branches, particularly in
way that emerald ash borer can be
the top half of the tree. Looking
easily spread
questions, or
.
closely, you might also be able to
just want to
have a plant
identified, call
Structured Removal and Replacement of Ash Trees
Dr. Kathy
Over the past year and a half, the city has completed a project of “structured
Widin, the OPH
removal and replacement” of 100 ash trees on boulevards and in parks. The
Arborist, at 439-
removal of ash, and replacement with diverse types of shade and ornamental
4439 Ext. 1106.
trees, is being done to reduce the ash population on public property in antici-
She can either
pation of the emerald ash borer (EAB) reaching the city within a few years.
answer your
This management method has been used in other areas where EAB is estab-
lished, and spreads out the cost of removal and replacement of ash trees
question over
which are killed by EAB. Most ash removed so far have been in poor health,
the phone or
of poor form, or crowding other trees. The majority of funding for the remov-
make an
al and replacement of the first 60 trees was provided by an EAB Planning and
appointment for
Preparedness grant from the MN Dept. of Agriculture. The city plans to re-
a site visit. This
move some ash each year from parks and boulevard rights-of-way. If you
have an ash tree on the boulevard near your home, and are interested in hav-
service is paid
ing it removed, please call the Arborist and let her know the reason and the
for by the City of
address.
Oak Park
Heights.
Oak Wilt
In the spring and early summer, oaks are susceptible to insect transmission
of the oak wilt fungus to fresh wounds. Avoid pruning or wounding oaks in
the spring or summer. If trees are wounded during this period of oak wilt sus-
ceptibility, paint the wound with latex house paint or shellac to discourage in-
sect feeding at wound sites. The City of Oak Park Heights will remove wilting
red and pin oaks from both public and private property. Please contact the
Arborist if you have any questions regarding oak wilt.
Page 14
Third Quarter 2011 Newsletter
Fireworks safety
In a typical year, according to a 2010 NFPA report on Fireworks, far more U.S. fires are reported on the
Fourth of July than on any other day. Fireworks account for more than half of those fires.
In 2008, fireworks caused an estimated 22,500 fires, including
1,400 structure fires, 500 vehicle fires, and 20,600 outdoor and
other fires.
These fires resulted in an estimated $42 million in direct proper-
ty damage, 40 injures, and one death.
In 2008, 57% of fireworks injuries were burns, while 20% were
contusions and lacerations.
Two of five people injured by fireworks (40%) were under the
age of 15.
The risk of fireworks injury was highest for teens ages 15-19
and children 5-9 , both with at least 2-1/2 times the risk for the
general population
Sparklers, fountains, and novelties alone accounted for 32% of
the fireworks injuries in 2008.
Fireworks and sparklers are designed to explode or throw off
showers of hot sparks. Temperatures may exceed 1200°F.
Reprinted from the June 2011 Minnesota Public Fire Educator with the permission
Guidelines to proper use of lawn chemicals (groundwater protection)
Increased use of home lawn and garden fertilizers can cause concern about pollution of lakes and groundwaters. The two
fertilizer nutrients primarily involved, nitrogen and phosphorus, are needed by all plants for healthy growth. However,
excessive runoff and drainage of these chemicals into our waters can cause pollution to the City’s drinking water supply.
Proper fertilizer use can enhance plant growth without polluting the environment. Here are some general guidelines to
note this growing season:
Water your lawn after fertilizing, but do not allow water to run off into streets or lakes.
Use phosphorus-free fertilizer
Any fertilizer spilled on roads or sidewalks should be promptly cleaned up.
Never apply fertilizer to frozen ground.
Clippings not left on the lawn, leaves, and other plant debris should be removed as soon as possible from street gut-
ters, sidewalks, and driveways. This plant material can be composted, used in the garden as a mulch, or disposed of
through appropriate community services.
When mowing lawns, do not direct clippings into the street or lake.
Aerate compacted or high thatch lawns to promote better water infiltration and reduce runoff potential.
Have your soil tested and follow soil test recommendations. Application of phosphorus fertilizer to established turf in
Minnesota is regulated by state law. Unless a soil test indicates a need, phosphorus fertilizer cannot be applied to es-
tablished turf.
Although phosphorus use on gardens is not restricted, a phosphorus-free fertilizer should be used on high phospho-
rus testing soils.
For further information on soil testing and calculating fertilizer rates, refer to BU-01731, Soil Test Interpretations and
Fertilizer Management for Lawns, Turf Gardens, and Landscape Plants.
Avoiding over-application of fertilizer by following soil test guidelines as well as by practicing simple landscape mainte-
nance techniques will help reduce potential pollution problems and protect natural resources.
More information on proper use of lawn chemicals can be found at: http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/
horticulture/DG2923.html or http://www.extension.umn.edu/topics.html?topic=5&subtopic=155.
Tree City USA Page 15
Oak Park Heights Police Files
From the desk of Chief Brian DeRosier
Spring graduation celebrations and backyard BBQs are upon us. Just a reminder to do your part in help-
ing prevent access to alcohol by persons under the age of 21. As homeowners it is our responsibility to
not allow persons under 21 to drink or obtain alcohol at our homes. The city adopted Social Host Or-
dinance #1205 in an effort to help deter and enforce violations of this activity. A copy of this can be
found on the city web site. You as a homeowner can be found in violation if you know or reasonably
should know this is taking place at your home and have not taken reasonable precautions to prevent it
regardless if you are present or not. Also, be respectful of your neighbors with the noise and parking
caused by your parties.
Another problem that comes along with the warm weather is persons prowling our neighborhoods
looking for easy targets of theft and vandalism. Please keep your garages and cars locked. Do not leave
items in plain view in your vehicles parked on the street or in your driveway. Please call our nonemer-
gency phone number 651-439-4723 to report suspicious persons or activity before it becomes a theft or
other incident. We need your eyes and ears to assist us.
I want to thank all of you who have provided information to the department using our anonymous tip
form on the police section of city web site. The information is very helpful to us. I would like to ask
that, if possible, please provide your contact information so we can follow up with you. You can still re-
main anonymous for our reports. You provide good information and things you have observed that
would greatly help an investigation, but we are unable to use the information to its full potential due to
the anonymous status. Timely and specific information may allow us to obtain a search warrant or take
other actions, but not when received from an anonymous source. If you want to remain anonymous I
understand, and ask you to please continue providing information as all information is important to us.
Have a great and safe summer!
Summer watering ban—even/odd schedule
Summer is here! It is time to remind everyone that
tion systems and practices shall be regulated to al-
Oak Park Heights has an even-odd watering ban
low water sprinkling and irrigation systems to oper-
except for the watering of new sod and young trees.
ate in the following manner: as to all properties
While the City’s water supply is adequate, the regu-
which property address ends in an even number,
lation is intended to conserve water and balance
those properties will be allowed to sprinkle or irri-
demands on the City’s water system.
gate on even numbered calendar days. As to all
properties whose property address ends in an odd
To secure the conservation of municipal water as a
number, their right to use sprinkling and irrigation
resource for the benefit of the people of the City of
systems shall be limited to calendar number days
Oak Park Heights, all water sprinkling and irriga-
ending in odd numbers.
City of Oak Park Heights Third Quarter 2011 Newsletter
City of Oak Park Heights
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N.
PO Box 2007
Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
RESERVE A CITY PARK SHELTER
Phone: 651-439-4439
Fax: 651-439-0574
Police non-emergency: 651-439-4723
Are you thinking about having a get-together or a family reunion? The Brekke,
Police Emergency: 911
Cover, Valley View, and Autumn Hills Park shelter buildings can be reserved free
Office Hours:
of charge for your event. The Autumn Hills Park Shelter does require a refunda-
Monday through Friday
ble $100 deposit.
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
excluding legal holidays
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
MAYOR
diamonds, playground equipment, and barbeque grills.
David Beaudet: 439-2582
COUNCILMEMBERS
Valley View Park is located on Osgood Avenue at the edge of the city limits. This
Les Abrahamson: 351-0807
Mary McComber: 351-7879
park has a covered shelter building, picnic areas, play-ŐƌŽƵŶĚƐĂŶĚĂďĞĂƵƟĨƵů
Mike Runk: 439-5458
ƉĂƐƐŝǀĞƉĂƌŬĂƌĞĂǁŝƚŚƚƌĂŝůƐ͕ĂƉƌĂŝƌŝĞƌĞƐƚŽƌĂƟŽŶĂƌĞĂĂŶĚǁĞƚůĂŶĚƐ͘
Mark Swenson: 270-5385
CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Autumn Hills Park is located at 5697 Norwich Parkway off of 58th Street adja-
Eric Johnson
cent to the Boutwells Landing campus. The park contains meandering trails, trail
access parking, and playground equipment. It has a 2,000+ square foot shelter,
Visit our Website!
which includes a covered gathering area with a small kitchen/serving area,
www.cityofoakparkheights.com
men's and women's restrooms, and a water fountain.
zŽƵŵĂLJƵƐĞƚŚĞŝƚLJ͛ƐŽŶůŝŶĞƌĞƐĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĨŽƌŵƚŽƌĞƐĞƌǀĞĞŝƚŚĞƌƚŚĞƌĞŬŬĞWĂƌŬ
The Oak Park Heights or Valley View Park shelters. You may obtain the Autumn Hills Park Shelter res-
newsletter
ĞƌǀĂƟŽŶĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚƐĂŶĚŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶŽŶůŝŶĞĂƐǁĞůů͘Kƌ͕LJŽƵŵĂLJĐĂůůŽƌǀŝƐŝƚŝƚLJ
is published by the City
,ĂůůĂŶLJƟŵĞƚŽƌĞƐĞƌǀĞĂŶLJŽĨƚŚĞƐŚĞůƚĞƌƐĨŽƌLJŽƵƌŶĞdžƚĞǀĞŶƚ͊
of Oak Park Heights.
Comments are welcome.
651-439-4439
Permit No. 558
Stillwater, MN
PAID
2007-Oak Park Heights, MN 55082
U.S. Postage
14168 Oak Park Blvd N, Box 2007
Standard
Presorted
City of Oak Park Heights