2000 December Newsletter - Laserfiche WebLink

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From the Mayor Stolzman Dear Residents of Hugo, •Since July, the Hugo City council has moved ahead with many improvements for the city. A new well is being drilled, so by spring it should be operational. A water tower site is still being explored within the north-cen- tral area of Hugo. Furthermore, plans for a new city hall are moving ahead, looking at building a new facili- ty in the general vicinity of the current city hall. Finally, the City is working on adding new sites for parks. The Hugo City Council has extended the land development moratorium until April of 2001. An additional nine months can be added if the staff and council desire more time to solve development issues. Even with the moratorium, Hugo ranked fifth in new home construction in Minnesota in the year 2000. A study of development issues in the Everton-Elmcrest area is nearly ready to begin. Also, a study to re-evaluate devel- opment standards is also ready to begin, once the new council is in place. More than anything, I would like to encourage people to get involved in what happens in our community. This is your city,whether you have lived here for two months or 50 years. The many complex issues that the city faces should not be left for just the staff and five council members to solve. We should be taking part by sharing ideas and supporting our city officials in making decisions. The decisions they make today will stay with us for many years to come. Some people may choose not to attend meetings, feeling that government works too slowly or that no one seems to be listening. However, I don't know how many times I have had to attend at least three or four meetings either at City Hall or with other agencies before some action may have been taken. So, do not get discouraged or give up too soon. Persistence and patience are important. At the same time, remember that our leaders can only do just so much, so choose your words carefully, listen care- fully and put yourself in their place as you voice your concerns to them. A community that rolls up its sleeves and works together can accomplish great things. As my term as Mayor is drawing to an end, I would like to say thank you to everyone for your support and kindness they have shown me during the last two years. I would like to say a special thanks to the many res- idents who have been my eyes and ears on many issues. They make a big difference in how successful this term has been. Also, thank you to the city staff for preparing background information and for the day-to-day tasks they did to make our city a better place to live. And finally, thank you to my family who has put up with many,_ inconveniences so that I could spend my time with Hugo residents and attend to city business. My family and I wish each of you a safe and happy holiday season, and a prosperous and peaceful new year. Respectfully, Wally Stoltzman, Mayor