2002 June Newsletter - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY PURCHASES LAND FOR FUTURE PARK A purchase agreement was finalized and approved at the May the Bernins have the use of that land for up to 10 years to 6, 2002 City Council meeting for the City's purchase of the run their tree farm and to live on the property. City resi- Bernin property, a 21-acre site located on Oneka Lake. The dents do not have the right to go onto that property. It's the purchase price of$752,000 will be funded in part by a grant homestead for the Bernins until they give it up." In cooper- of $305,000 acquired by the City from the Minnesota ation with the Bernins, the City will be doing some prelim- Department of Natural Resources (DNR), with the balance inary work on the land, such as planting trees for the picnic being paid from the City's park fund, a special fund set aside area and other land preparation, while the Bernins are still by the City for park development. (A $1,700 fee is collect- living on the property. ed and deposited into this fund when new residential lots are created.) All parties involved are pleased with the final agreement. In his Represented by Hugo resident statement at the May 6 City George Anderson, executive direc- _ Council meeting, Bruce Bernin for of the Minnesota State Lottery, r � " . x noted that he and his family were the DNR check was presented to a ,,> treated fairly and honestly, and he the Mayor and then to the Bernins. commended the City Council and The DNR grant was funded in part :; staff for their creativity and leader- by the lottery. ship. City Administrator Mike Ericson noted, "Pete Pedersen The City's future plans for this land deserves credit for making this hap- are to establish a natural open space park-like setting, with a pen." And Pedersen commended the Bernins for being open picnic area and such features as play equipment for children to having their land become a park and for allowing the City and walking trails. The property's 1,500 feet of shoreline to negotiate and put together a final agreement that benefits would provide public access to Oneka Lake and could allow all involved. for expansion of the DNR boat access facility. Pete Pedersen, Vice Chair of the Hugo Parks Commission, REMEMBER TO RECYCLE! adds that there will be no formal ball or soccer fields on this property. The purchase agreement allows the land to be used In one week, the average Minnesotan throws away only for passive park purposes. However, he states, "When more than 40 pounds of garbage. How can you help make less waste? Try using a reusable lunch box or bag the land develops west of this property, we hope to be able and pack your food in reusable containers. Use both to negotiate with the developer to add some land to the park sides of a sheet of paper, and then recycle it. When and put in a formal baseball or soccer field for the City." shopping, look for items with minimal packaging and Pedersen is also hopeful that the City may be able to negoti- those made with recycled materials. ate with the DNR to stock Oneka Lake with fish and then add a fishing pier out into the lake for people who don't own In Hugo, items for recycling are collected curbside as boats but like to go fishing. part of your weekly trash collection. A recycling con- tainer is available from your garbage hauler or by call- ing City Hall at (651) 762-6300. Those items which The former owners, Bruce and Ginni Bernin, have agreed to can be recycled include newspapers, aluminum bever- a 10-year lease. They will continue to live on the property age cans, tin cans, glass jars and bottles, corrugated and operate their tree farm for up to 10 years. Pedersen is cardboard, glossy magazines, junk mail, boxboard quick to point out, "We want to make sure that the citizens (such as cereal boxes), #1 and #2 plastic bottles, and of Hugo understand that although the City owns this land, car and tractor batteries. 7