HomeMy WebLinkAboutSpring 05 rti
SPRING 2005
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city of
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Oak Paark Hel s
In This Issue (ity of oak Park Heights Position Document
STH 36 Realignment
Project New St. Croix River Crossing /
City Meetings STH 36 Realignment Project, (the Project)
How to Prepare Your
Recyclables One of the largest issues facing the City is the final decision on the construction of
new St. Croix River Crossing and related Highway 36 updates. The City Council has
Protect Our Lakes, adopted the following four positions and is continuing its dialogue with _1\1nDOT,
Ponds &Rivers Federal Highway Administration and other agencies to come to the best possible
Water & Sewer Flow solution for Oak Park Heights as well as for the entire St. Croix alley. Should you
have specific questions please contact City Hall at 439 -4439.
City Waste & Recycling
Collection . The City of Oak Park Heights generally supports the construction of a new
Crime in Oak Park Heights St. Croix River Crossing. However, as of this date the City has not committed to
a particular design or final bridge alignment. The City will be in a better position
Caring for Your Trees & to commit to an alignment and bridge type when other related and essential
Water Conservation commitments are satisfactorily provided to the City.
Parks Commission 2• The City of Oak Park Heights supports updates to STH 36 as such updates are
Vacancy essential to accommodate the traffic both to and from the Bridge as well as
Spring Clean Up alleviating current STH 36 traffic management problems. The City will be a better
position to commit to an alignment and bridge type when other directly related
commitments are satisfactorily provided to the City. The City seeks specific
language in any pending funding legislation (Transportation Bill) that specifically
and directly identifies financial assistance for the City of Oak Park Heights for
utility relocations and other needed mitigation items such as protection from
The Oak Park
Heights newsletter is construction damages and full reconstruction of the Scenic Overlook.
�+
published by the
City of Oak Park Heights.
Comments are welcome. . The Project, regardless of the final STH 36 design, shall require the City to relocate
and/ or replace significant elements of the City's utility infrastructure. These costs
MAYOR
David Beaudet could be as high as $10 million dollars. Accordingly, without financial assistance
COUNCIL MEMBERS and funding assurances the City of Oak Park Heights will not be in a position to
Les Abrahamson grant Municipal Consent as these costs would be devastating and would create a
Jack Doerr
Mary McComber severe financial hardship to the City.
Mark Swenson
CI 4• Costs for STH 36 reconstruction have been estimated to be as high as $140
OAK PARK HEIGHTS million dollars (2004 dollars). However, the City can only support a STH 36
14168 Oak Park Blvd. N. layout that effectively addresses local impacts and mitigations.
Box 2007
Oak Park Heights
MN 55082 -2007
Phone: 651-439-4439
Cit Meetings Spring Cleaning: Protect our Lakes, Ponds Rivers
y Our snow is finally melting and spring • Reseed bare spots. If spots are caused
Cite Council: rains are here! All that runoff is by salt, reseed with a salt - tolerant
2nd and 4th Tuesdays funneling down streets into ditches grass seed mix.
at 7:00 p.m. and storm severs that carry it to our • Deep newly seeded areas moist for
Planning Commission: lakes, ponds and rivers. 3 or 4 weeks.
2nd Thursday at Here's bow to keep your spring Here's bow to keep lawn care
7:00 p.m. runoff clean: products out of your runoff.
• Deep storm drains clear. Do not rake • Always read and follow label
Parks Commission- debris from lawn into street. directions when using lawn care
3rd Monday at • Clean up pet waste and trash. products and disposing of their
6:30 p.m. • Sweep up sand and reuse it next year. containers.
City meetings are • Put leaves and twigs in a compost pile • Use a no phosphorus fertilizer to
or b for di with other yard fertilize your lawn.
broadcast live on cable g P Y�
channel 16. trimmings. • Don't apply lawn care products to
• Direct `eater from downspouts away frozen ground - wait until the grass
Agendas and minutes can from the house and paved surfaces starts growing.
be accessed on the City's and onto the lawn. • Sweep up and reuse any lawn care
website: Here's bow to restore your lawn: products that fall on streets, sidewalks
���.ci�k71ti7f.ksfi k �cir �.cti7m • Remove debris and yard trimmings. and driveways.
How to Prepare Water & Sewer Flow Info
Your Recyclables
Newsprint: Place entire The following chart shows the monthly amount of `eater pumped from our `yells and
newspaper in separate the flow that is sent to Metropolitan Council Environmental Services for wastewater
Grocery bag. Place in or treatment. Summer `eater use is higher and reflects `eater used for lawn and garden
near recycling bin. irrigation, car washing and recreation that does not enter the sever system. There is
some `eater that enters the sever system that the city must pay to treat that comes
Cans: Place aluminum from inflow and infiltration (I &D. This costly problem is from rain entering the system
and metal cans in bin. through downspouts, drain tile and sum pumps illegally tied in to the sanity
g P P P e p`. g� Y n' sever
Glass: Jars and bottles system, or leaks in the sanitary pipes from tree roots or broken lines. The City of
only. Rinse and place in Oak Park Heights owns and services the `eater and sever mains (those larger lines
bin. No light bulbs, that serve multiple properties). The services lines that feed an individual property
window panes, glassware (laterals) are owned by and are the responsibility of the property owner. A yearly
or ceramics. Consumer Confidence Report is typically issued in early summer with details on
Cardboard: Corrugated the `eater quality of the drinking `eater.
cardboard, break into '''' ' The following information and
y y
pieces no larger than iy,r ShawQrrr low reminders are from Public Works:
3'x 3'. Bundle with T ` ' Aci
twine or string. Road weight restrictions are
Mixed Paper: All mail imposed every spring to limit
including envelopes,
damage to streets
magazines, catalogs, Street sweeping to remove winter
direct mail, office and sand from roads will be done late
school paper plus 1 spring
boxboard. (Boxboard is 1.7 Property owners must not blow
cereal, cracker, cake and - -'--
snack boxes plus shoes, c+�F or place leaves or raking material
gift, game, pop and If
s in street
detergent boxes). Place n !'!,!',h Parking restriction are in place
all these in a separate during winter months
bag. All fire hydrants will be flushed to clear sediment from lines in the spring
If you have f Please heighten awareness and drive safe around students and workers
questions call Onyx at Call City all 439 -4439, to re port p roblems and hazards on City roadways
Y P P Y
(6> 1) 4 59 - 3029
parks, or trails or for `eater or sever emergencies.
Avoid Tree Pruning in the Spring Parks Commission
Tree pruning should he avoided in the flow is not harmful to the tree but may
spring due to the high demands on the be alarming to tree owners. Oaks should Vacancy
tree for nutrients and `eater at this time not be pruned between April 1 and July Applications are ncnv
of year. Pruning further stresses the 1 to help prevent insect transmission of
trees, making them susceptible to the oak wilt fungus to fresh wounds. If being accepted for
secondary insect and disease problems. wounds are made on oaks during the a vacancy on the Oak
Birch, maple and a few other species growing season, they should be Park Heights Parks
also "bleed" sap from fresh wounds immediately covered with paint. Commission. The Parks
made in late winter or spring. This sap Commission is comprised
Spring is a Good Time to Plant Trees Of five mem bers
w ho are
Oak Park Heights
Spring is an excellent time of year for cranberry, common lilac and forsythia. residents appointed by the
City Council. The Parks
tree planting due to cool, moist soils Remember when planting trees and
and a long period for root growth before shrubs to give the plant's roots plenty Commission serves as the
winter. A few types of trees which of room to grow to maturity. Dig a hole City's park board and tree
have done well in our area include: `eider than the root ball but no deeper. board and advises the City
green ash ('Summit' is a good variety), Place the roots on firm soil and backfill COUncil as to parks
basswood (American linden), bicolor or the hole with original soil. If soil is poor, management, tree protec-
s`vamp white oak, bur oak, river birch, you may add soil amendments such as
thornless honeylocust, hackberry and black dirt or compost but these should tin and tether related
red maple. Large shrubs for shade comprise no more than 113 of the matters such as park
include pagoda dogwood, and service- backfill soil. dedication, policies and
berry, and for sunny locations, highbush park design issues. The
Commission meets the
New Boulevard Trees 3rd Monday of each
at 6:30 p.m, and
The City plants new and replacement utility boxes and mailboxes. Ideally, they month p erio dically holds
boulevard trees in August. Trees are should not be planted closer than 20 1 y'
planted approximately 6 feet from the feet to existing trees. If you would like workshops or other
curb (depending on street width) and to request a new or replacement tree, special meetings.
need to be placed away from driveways, please call the Arborist at 439 -4439. Interested citizens are
City t 1 stop by
Answers to Plant Problems an
Cit Hall t� pick Li an
If you have a problem with a tree or 439 -4439 (voice- mail). As a application. For additional
shrub in your yard, want to identify a service to residents within Oak Park information or to request
plant unknown to you, or have a ques- Heights city limits, she will answer your an application by mail
tion about tree care or a boulevard tree, question by telephone or make a site or fax, please
call the Arborist, Dr. Kathy Widin, at visit to diagnose the problem. call 439 -4439.
Garden Committee Water
The Oak Park Heights Garden interested in participating, please contact Con$erVatlon
Committee maintains public gardens Julie Johnson at City Hall 651- 439 -4439.
throughout the City, including the flower As eve approach the
beds in front of City Hall. If you are
.• ...•,,. , Summer months, it is
time to remind everyone
that Oak Park Heights
L ooking to Save Time Money? has an even -odd sprinkler
ban except for the water -
The City has available to all residents by you on the billing due date each ing of new sod and
the ability to pay your utility bills month. You will continue to receive yC)ung trees. While the
electronically. This allows you to sage your bill so that you know the date City's water supply is
time and money on stamps and late and amount to be withheld from your adequate, the regulation
fees. With direct pay the amount you account. If you are interested in is intended to conserve
owe on your utility bill is automatically participating, please call or stop by City water and balance
withdrawn from the account designated Hall to obtain an enrollment form. demands on the City's
water system.
Oak Park Heights Sp ring Clean Up
Saturday, April 30, 2005 7:30 a.m. -1:00 p.m.
The City of Oak Park Heights will be hosting a Spring Clean -Up
on Saturday April 30, 2005
from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
The clean -up will be the southwest corner of the St. Croix Mall parking lot
14167 59th Street North in Oak Park Heights.
City Clean -up events are an excellent opportunity for residents to dispose of unwanted items
at no cost. Proof of residency such as a utility bill or driver's license will be required.
Common items disposed of include small appliances, brush, construction materials, furniture,
cardboard, scrap metal and carpet.
Hazardous waste (including tires and computers), stumps, firewood or items larger
than a major appliance will not be accepted. If you have any questions,
please call City Hall at 671- 439 -4439 or Onyx Waste Services at 651 -459 -3029. ..... u
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City Waste Recycling Collection
The City provides solid waste and recycling collection
services to most single family and low density
residences. The City's monthly fee for the typical user
is $11.20 per month. The monthly charge does corer a
majority of the costs incurred for these services. � '.. °II III �Ila. °Y, 6orl �A SoUiik.11 �✓ ur V.K.°
However the City's general fund (your property taxes) p`,.ro ° °uv Ilnuvv «.ti °;v "d. du a ° auo" a °41 «, Vv ° °eVu"41
does subsidize approximately 30% of the total costs.
3 ,f.�;,�uUll�,uuv Uy�u:y.
The chart below provides information on the tonnages
of collected solid waste and recyclables collected in the �,p�. „V•:U . ,uuUU� °r:"un�Vvu vu r, °c cUvullnV ¢„
City monthly since 1/1/2000. The tonnages collected �0.ouu�uunvuVa.a..V ;vunvPUU.uuwuv
have been steady relative the City's population growth.
(The solid dark line with no monthly marker is the
TREND over time). In ?004, approximately ?.4 million ��'d.° `V III a °ua�tl. a"uu vuv ,v0" " 4uu,.l ka °V:ouu /\: "usVa
pounds of solid waste and 648,000 pounds of
recyclable materials were collected. "as'�w °V•:U ,uuUU� °r:"un�Vuu vu "�'Uvuuw° e: �vrU,V4"
The City's solid waste is taken to the Washington- i,wuvlpb.° dun. °uuvr� o , ,u�U �.',pp I V,u�U ..n a Uvvr�, uvu
Ramsey County Resource Recovery Facility where it is
incinerated for the generation of electricity; recyclables
are taken to EZ Recycling Services for processing and `,Jp: by p, �vnd I;Al (Ac%° Jn I IV,
ultimate placement on the commodity market. V V .ti o°u v v;.; ;V ° u v v I. l �,ti u;•v V v"u U "iV Du V v , v
City of aak Park Heighhs
Soil Waste and PeGyGlinq Tonnages
V1 fOO to 1201.
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to }A} -- —• -- —. —. E U-2
4 Y u U 4
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Washington County Hazardous Waste Collection Event
Saturday, May 21, 2005 9:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m.
Lily Lake Ice Arena, 1208 So. Greeley Street, Stillwater
For more info: 651 - 430 -6655 or www.co.washinaton.mn.us
Crime in Oak Park Heights A Few Words from Police Chief Lindy Swanson
Does the City of Oak Park Heights, with a population endless supply of resources. Traffic work is a lover
under five thousand and nestled in the beautiful priority than the previous mentioned items and traffic
St. Croix Valley, really have serious criminal activity? I work can only be done when officers are not busy
am sorry to say, yes, we do. Fortunately, the east on other types of calls. With the ability to run checks
majority of crimes committed in our city are property on driver's licenses and license plates from the police
crimes, rather than crimes against persons. car our officers also make a significant number of
As our city commercial development continues to grow, warrant arrests.
so does our criminal activity. Ranging from thefts of Along with eery type of offense I have previously
constriction equipment to identity theft, shoplifting, listed, is narcotics. I would like to say that on more than
forgery and burglary. We have been fortunate to contin- fifty percent of our "serious" contacts we discover drugs.
ue to have an extremely low rate of home burglaries. Marijuana is still very common, but in the last few years
Identity Theft: Our police department handles we have also been making numerous arrests for
numerous cases involving identity theft. These cases possession of methamphetamine. The "meth" arrests
generally involve an individual attempting to use stolen are most commonly made when we are able to make
credit cards with stolen identification which is then contact with subjects trying to pass a forged check
altered to fit the subject attempting to use them. These and /or use a stolen credit card. These people are also
crimes generally occur in our larger, nationwide chain quite dangerous as they are committing the crimes to
type of stores. I am sorry to say that the individuals support their drug habit.
committing these crimes are often successful. For those I've listed these items in an attempt to give our
cases that our department develops suspect information, community an idea of exactly what our police
we often find that the suspects are busy throughout the department does. We need the help of our citizens.
Twin Cities metro area and the vast majority are not We continue to ask that you call us if you observe
residents of Washington County, let alone, our city. suspicious activity. As I've said previously, we would
Forgery: Along with identity theft comes check forgery. rather receive information and find that there wasn't a
We have a serious problem with suspects again coming problem rather than be called and find out a crime has
to our larger retailers and passing forged checks. These been committed. We are told many times when
forgery attempts usually are accompanied with stolen responding to an offense that someone saw something
identification altered to fit the subject attempting to but they weren't sure and didn't want to bother the
pass the forged check. police. I also ask that you look out for one another. If
Shoplifting: Our shoplifting cases Crary from a local you're going away, contact the police department and
individual taking a ten dollar item to the professional fill out a vacation check form. We will then keep a
thief taking many hundreds of dollars `north of closer eye on your residence while you are away. Stop
merchandise. It seems the more serious the crime, your mail and papers. Let a trustworthy neighbor know
the greater the chance that the thief is not from our you will be gone so they can keep their eyes open for
local area. anything unusual. Lastly, do not place outgoing mail in
your curbside mailbox. This is one of the primary `nays
Theft: With all the constriction going on, `vex do that subjects can access your personal data. All they
experience an occasional theft or equipment report. need is a routing number from one of your checks.
Subjects generally attempt to pawn stolen equipment, They will print their own counterfeit checks and have
which can be of assistance to our investigation, as we They supply."
do have access to pawn shop records. Per state statute, pp y.
photo identification must be used when pawning items. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not
ate to call
it
Burglary: We normally have not had a significant hesitate
the
problem with burglary. However, or , er, in the last six months or visit
depart- wk' Uu�
�* V�enB'phIs 7h0t ih�,'s� p'wls
we have had one residence burglarized and several police
We
business burglaries. It appears that the burglars are have brochures 011 '
primarily looking for cash as little else was taken. I „ covering
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Traffic: We have a NEVER ENDING problem with
laws. However, it does seem that there are a raffic from home I��p ,r
r bit can't amount traffic vi
be everywhere atonce We re receive an several senior safety � � y y y y y
complaints of certain traffic problem areas and try to to narcotics
give extra focus on those areas, but we do not have an information. . .
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