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Vater Conservation (continued from Page 1) The bottom line... Landscapes use lots of water! So, what are some ways we as individuals and as a community can do to lessen our water impacts and become more sustainable? A good place to start is with your landscape irrigation needs. Here are a few quick tips: • Apply 2-4 inches of organic mulch around plants to reduce evapora- tion — save hundreds of gallons a year! • Adjust your lawn mower to a height of 1.5 to 2 inches. The taller grass shades roots and holds soil moisture better than short grass. • Minimize evaporation by watering only during the early morning hours when temperatures are cooler and winds are lighter. • When installing and establishing new plants, water your plants deep- ly, but less frequently to encourage deep root growth and drought tol- erance. • When giving your pet fresh water, do not dump the old water. Instead pour it into a hanging basket or flower pot. • Those leftover ice cubes from your drink? Don't throw them out, pour them on a plant. Other options include capturing rain- water to be either directed or stored for irrigation uses. A good example of water storage right here in Hugo is at Hanifl Park where you will find a rain barrel that is connected to the build- ings downspout. Rainwater col- lected in this barrel is used for irrigation of the surrounding landscape. Another local exam- ple is at City Hall with the exten- sive raingarden plantings which capture all of the water flowing from parking lot and roof. Instil- lation of these raingardens came in as a result of a need to improve the capacity of stormwater pipes behind City Hall. Instead of the costly project of replacing storm - water pipes, the city was able to instead install these raingardens which allow for the infiltration of the water eliminating the need to send it into the stormwater infrastructure. Plus raingardens are great attractors for birds and butterflies! Additional LGA, But None for Hugo Despite the addition of $80 million to the Local Government Aid ante, the City of Hugo will not receive any LGA in 2014. The city continues to be frozen out of the formula that will dis- tribute over $507 million to local gov- ernments next year. The last year the city received any LGA was in 2002. Cities that receive LGA are re- quired to use it for property tax re- lief. "The residents of our community pay into the state coffers but our com- munity receives nothing back," notes Hugo Mayor Tom Weidt. "The City Council will continue to keep our tax rate low without this aid", he add- ed. At their September 3rd meeting the City Council will consider adopt- ing a preliminary tax levy that will re- duce the urban tax rate by 0.23%. The Finance Department will assemble the 2014 budget document based on this decreased tax rate. The public is invited to speak at the December 2 regular City Council meeting, held at 7: 00 pm at City Hall, before the final budget and tax levy are adopted. C Hugo Fire Department's Toy Drive will be 11:OOam to 3:OOpm on December 7. Help the kids in our community have happy holidays!