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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 November Newsletter } 1iTi Hugo City Hall • 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North • Hugo, Minnesota 55038 Proposed Budget Ch x GRANGER FISH angeTax _ Rate '. � Your Neighborhood News&Report sponsored the local debate. It took place at Hugo City Hall and was mod- erated by The League of Women Voters, using questions the City of Hugo continues to provided by the audience. be fiscally conservative, with no change in tax rate. The Hugo City Council has set the maximum tax levy pay- Election e able in 2005 at $3,225,530. The levy, cou- pled with an increase in taxable market value, At the November 25 2004 election, residents does not change the tax rate. In fact, the of Hugo had only one local voting decision levy preserves the 7 percent tax rate decrease to make—the Council At Large position. experienced in 2004. In that race, incumbent Mike Granger won the re-election over challenger Mike Fish. The taxable market value of properties within Granger received about two-thirds of the the City has increased 22 percent. Of this votes cast in the City's four precincts. Hugo increase, 6 percent is from new construction Mayor Fran Miron comments, "I enjoy work- and 16 percent is due to the increase in the ing with Mike. He brings some tremendous expertise to the Council." Running unop- posed were Mayor Miron and Ward 2 Council member Frank Puleo. The tax levy is made up of the following components: $2,180,414 for general oper- Prior to the election, Hugo residents had •,, ating purposes, $796,315 for principal and an opportunity to hear from these local interest on bonds, $101,801 for tax abatement candidates, as well as those running for to finance a portion of the City's share of Washington County Commissioner District ' CSAH 8/14 reconstruction and$147,000 for 1 (incumbent Dennis Hegberg and Marc Budget:See Page 5 Election:See Page 4 Tim 171=1 Rural And Open Space Meeting "' ' ' A joint meeting of the Hugo City Council and the Planning Commission will be held at Hugo City Hall at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday,November 18. The purpose of this meeting will be to discuss the recommendations of the Rural And Open Space Committee. MetCouncil Received The City of Hugo that the Met Council Downtown rede- grant. Krall took the QEVEl0Q1��� received a Livable sees real merit in the velopment began input provided by Communities grant planning efforts of in September 2003 citizens and business of$45,000 from the Hugo and that it is when the Hugo owners and then cre- Metropolitan Council worthwhile to further City Council hired ated a final plan that to finish its down- those plans," says Landform, a consul- clearly depicted the town redevelopment Hugo Community tant for planning and vision of the com- plan. The grant is a Development urban design, to assist munity. competitive program; Director Bryan Bear. the City in updat- thirteen applica- The grant money will ing and finalizing Hugo Administrative tions were submit- be used to finalize its downtown plan. Intern Tom Denaway ted and Hugo was site guidelines, a mar- Architect and urban also deserves credit one of four cities to ket study and a traffic planner Carolyn Krall for the City being receive a monetary study for the City's of Landform was awarded this grant. award. Receiving downtown plan. instrumental in the this grant"shows City receiving this Grant:See Page 7 City Projects Update Dozens of people lined up outside the Waters Edge North and South sales office in order to be among the first to reserve premium lots at these residential developments in Hugo;thirty-six units were sold the first day. Waters Edge North,the first of these two developments to undergo construction, is located west of Creekview Preserve at 159th Street and TH 61. Waters Edge South is located on Frenchman Road. Following is a listing of some of the other current residential developments in the City: Development Location Number of Lots Fable Hill* South of Victor Gardens 76 single family homes Heritage Ponds East of Elmcrest Avenue N. 207 multi-family homes South of 165th Street N. 126 single family homes Oneka Ponds Goodview Avenue N. and 68 single family homes 152nd Street N. Diamond Point West* Goodview Avenue N. and 49 single family homes 145th Street N. Beaver Ponds South Fondant Trail N. south of 43 single family homes 128th Street N. Northern Pines East side of TH 61 between 38 multi-family homes 125th and 130th Streets N. W " , Eagle Shores 132nd Street N. and 11 single family homes Everton Avenue N. - -� -t-, * Project Is Complete Welcome Dr.Aaron Arvig He states, "I'm not with people and has the latest in diagnos- opened a new chiro- zeroed in on chiro- had an interest in tic equipment, includ- practic office in Hugo practic only. If I feel health. After he suf- ing state-of-the-art this past August. someone needs to go fered a sports-related x-rays and computer- Located at 14145 to a medical doctor, injury years ago,he ized imaging technol- Forest Boulevard I'm always open to received chiropractic ogy for muscles and North,Arvig treats referring them and care. As a result of spines. In addition patients with condi- making sure that they that care, his injuries to the technology, tions ranging from get the appropriate healed rather quickly; Arvig also focuses back and neck inju- care that they need." it was then that he on communication ries to carpal tunnel saw his two interests with his patients. He and migraines. Arvig Arvig,who began come together. notes, "I enjoy talk- Dr.Aaron Arvig also works closely his career in West ing to people and with other medi- St. Paul, has always At his practice,Arvig cal professionals. enjoyed working provides patients with Arvig:See Page 6 EGA Gets Down To Business excited to have the is taking an active Commission and to role in trying to foster be a part of it. He expansion, retention, states, "The EDA attraction and recruit- includes people with ment of businesses to some real exper- Hugo." In addition to tise and diversity in focusing on specific thinking; and they goals and objectives, care about the com- the group will begin munity." its work by looking at the downtown plan- EDA from let to right_front row: Theresa Charpentier, The EDA is respon- ning, including trans- Janice Arcand, Nick Skarich,Jim Bever Phil Klein and sible for economic portation, that has Mayor Fran Miron.Back row-rom left to right: Council development issues in taken place to date. Member Becky Petryk, Council Member Mike Granger the City, essentially and Council Member Frank Puleo —Photo By Lou Michaels working in three The EDA meets at areas: keeping busi- 8:30 a.m. on the nesses in the commu- third Monday of Thirteen people September 20, 2004 applied for the five Hugo City Council nity, helping existing the month. These . citizen positions on businesses that want meetings have been p meeting. EDA mem- to expand and attract- scheduled as open the newly-established bers are: Janice Hugo Economic ing new businesses to meetings. Mayor g Arcand, Jim Bever, the community. Miron adds, "I would Development Phil Klein, Theresa The EDA meets on Authority (EDA). hope that the business ) Charpentier, Nick These goals were community and those The five appoin- Skarich, Mayor the third Monday tees, alongwith echoed by EDA who are interested Fran Miron, and member Jim Bever. in what the EDA is two Council mem- Council member He says, `By re- doing and going to of the month at bers,were publicly Mike Granger. Hugo announced at the establishing the do would take part in $•30 a.m. Mayor Fran Miron is Commission, the City those meetings." • Not News From The Hugo Fire Department Fire Department and Lund volunteered high pressure units Hugo on a fire truck Receives FEMA their time to take a will give us a full collecting toys and Grant class in grant writing, half hour of working cash donations on to consult with other time." December 11, from The Hugo Fire departments that had 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. Department was been successful in Santa Comes Pictures with Santa recently awarded receiving grants, and will also be avail- a$117,000 grant then wrote the actu- able on Sunday, from the Federal al application. December 12, u Emergency from 12:00 to The money 4:00 m. at the Management Agency Y p' (FEMA). U. S. will be used Fire Hall. All Representative to upgrade the profits from Mark Kennedy pre- Department's self- the sale of the sented the check contained breathing pictures will be to Hugo Fire Chief apparatuses (SCBAs). donated to the Jim Compton at the Twenty-two new Toys for Tots drive. Hugo City Council's SCBAs will be pur- To Hugo For Fire All toys and proceeds September 20, 2004 chased, along with Departments collected are taken meeting. a new high pressure Toys For Tots to the KARE 11 stu- compressor to fill Drive dios, where the U.S. "This is a signifi- them. SCBAs are Marines distribute cant grant for the crucial for search- As part of their them to families in City of Hugo,"notes and-rescue operations annual Toys for Tots the Twin Cities area. Compton, "and and for hazardous drive,the Hugo Fire Assistant Chief Jadon materials situations. Department and 011ila and Firefighter "Our current SCBAs their Auxiliary, the Bryan Lund are to be allow for only 15-20 Hugo Fireflies, have Election:From Page 1 especially con ratu- minutes of search arranged for Santa p Y g Hugunin) and House lated for their efforts time," explains 011ila, to ride through the " of Representatives to obtain it." 011ila whereas the new neighborhoods in 52B (incumbent Rebecca Otto.and Matt Dean). These people participated anante O r a r s in"Debate and Political Party 2004,"sponsored by The City of Hugo would like to acquire land for neighborhood parks,active rec- your Your reational areas,and open spaces. While primarily interested in land located in the News & Report, a central portion of the City,any parcel of 20 to 100 acres suitable for active rec- monthly newspaper reation purposes will be considered. Funds for purchasing this land would come serving Hugo and from the City's park dedication fund,which is obtained from new development in Centerville. the City. A$1,800 fee is collected and deposited into this fund when new residen- tial lots are created. More than 85 people, the largest Anyone who is interested in selling land to the City of Hugo is asked to contact crowd the City has City Administrator Mike Ericson at City Hall or Parks Commission member Pete had at a local debate, Pedersen at 651-426-4126. attended the event at Hugo City Hall. The Latest Hews On CSAR 8/14 Realignment The use of tax abatement to help fund the the following developments: Waters Edge CSAH 8/14 realignment project was approved North and South, Heritage Ponds and Victor at a September 27, 2004 meeting of the White Gardens. R A Bear Lake Area School District. According to City of Hugo Finance Director Ron Otkin, the Washington County is also helping to fund theW®R K tax abatement will provide partial funding for project, but not in the form of tax abatement. A H E A the CSAH 8/14 project, as well as for a seg According to Washington County policy, local ` .. ment of Oneka Parkway—a road to be locat- jurisdictions are responsible for 100 percent ed south of County Road 8 that will provide of right-of-way acquisition costs; however, the access to the new Oneka Elementary School. county has granted a variance to this policy and will fund 45 percent of the acquisition Tax abatement is a financing tool that allows costs. Both the City of Hugo and the White cities to use property taxes from a particular Bear Lake Area School District will grant geographic area to fund a specific project. abatements for a 15-year period. Those within the abatement district would continue to pay property taxes, but those taxes The next steps include issuing a tax would now be dedicated to paying for a por- abatement bond and presenting tion of the CSAH 8/14 project. Otkin notes, a formal agreement for final "We're not abating all of the dollars, so there approval. These steps are still going to be tax dollars generated from are expected to take developments for other purposes, like fire and place at the start police protection." The abatement district of 2005. includes parcels that are mostly contained in Budget:From Page 1 Historical anticipated reductions in state aid. _ Commission News According to Hugo City Finance Director Ron Otkin, the Minnesota Department of After approval from the Hugo City Council, Finance projects a$160 million budget deficit the Hugo Historical Commission expects for fiscal year 2004-2005 and a$441 million to welcome its newest volunteer member, .. deficit for fiscal year 2006-2007. In light of Barbara Marohnic. Barbara recently gradu- ated with a B.A. in Writing, and her interests these projections, the City Council feels it is include photography, drawing and history. important to levy for anticipated reductions She has lived in Hugo for five years. Carrie in the state aid that is equivalent to aid reduc- Meyers will step down as Commission chair- tions experienced over the last two years. person at the end of 2004, and Pam Videen will take over as the position in January 2005. The 2005 budget continues the City Council's commitment to fund equipment replace- Hugo's first annual commemorative mug features a painting of the Hugo Feed Mill ment and staffing expansions in the Hugo done by local artist Len Shimota. If you Fire Department and the Public Works missed your chance to purchase one at Good Department. Funding is also included to Neighbor Days or the Fire Department finalize planning for downtown redevelop- Booya, they are still available for purchase at ment. the Feed Mill for$8.00 each. MeetNU90'SNewest y Eileen Ottney began in her position of Ottney grew up in Hastings and is currently Building Department Receptionist on October living in Fredric,Wisconsin with her husband, 18, 2004. The City received 176 applica- Paul and their snow lab, Samantha. Outside tions for Ottney's position, which will include of work, Ottney enjoys fishing, hunting, quilt- inputting information for building permits and ing, and reading. She states that she is grate- serving as a general administrative assistant ful for the position,which will allow her to and receptionist. She has extensive experience combine her work experience and interests in in both office work and construction, making a growing, dynamic community. her qualifications especially appropriate for this position. Eileen Ottney, Building Department Receptionist p Arvig:From Page 3 Is Your Nome Ready truly understanding and trying to figure out what's going on in order to be as much of a ForWinterP help as I can." The City of Hugo is partnering with CEE A graduate of Northwestern Health Sciences Financial Resources, a local non-profit orga- University in Bloomington, Minnesota, Arvig nization, to offer low-interest rates for home received his bachelor of science degree in improvement. human biology and a doctorate degree in chi- ropractic. He was born and raised in Forest Right now, you may borrow up to $35,000 at Lake and has lived in Hugo for nearly two a fixed interest rate of 5.25% for your entire years with his wife and their beagle, Lily; home improvement wish list, including all they are expecting their first child in January. of those projects you need to complete to ready your home for winter. This low rate "I love the area; this is my home," says is available immediately with no application Arvig. "I like the small town feeling and deadlines as long as your household income people have all been welcoming. I'm glad to is $88,000 a year or less. Repayment terms be here,"he adds. of up to 20 years means CEE Financial A recycling Resources can tailor a monthly payment that Container is avail- is affordable for your budget. Most improve- ment projects are eligible for financing able from yourthrough this loan—furnaces, windows, doors, emember o siding,roofing, kitchen and bath remodel, garbage hauler or plumbing,wiring, driveways, sidewalks, Recvclel. carpet, flooring, basements, garages, fences, by calling City Halllandscaping, and more. at 651-762-6300. In Hugo, items for recycling are collected CEE Financial Resources also has a Home curbside as part of your weekly trash collec- Energy Loan available. This program has no tion. A recycling container is available from income limits; the maximum loan amount is your garbage hauler or by calling City Hall $10,000 and is also available at 5.25% inter- at 651-762-6300. Those items which can est for energy-related improvements such as be recycled include newspapers, aluminum furnace, air conditioning, insulation, win- beverage cans, tin cans, glass jars and bottles, dows, doors, and water heaters. For more corrugated cardboard, glossy magazines, and information or to have an application sent to car and tractor batteries. you, call Kristin at CEE Financial Resources at 651-731-2626 or visit www.mncee.org. a In The Works News From Public Works Department Public Works to perform in all remind everyone that to remember that both HU Facility Update areas of mainte- it is against the law to the property owner Construction of nance, including deposit snow, in any and the person who the City of Hugo's streets,water and fashion, on or next moved the snow onto ' N, new Public Works sewer, parks,build- to a public highway the roadway may be Facility continues to ings and grounds, or street. Minnesota liable should an acci- move along on time and equipment repair. State Statute 160.27 dent occur as a result and within the bud- "Because we still prohibits plowing, of improper snow get. Public Works have relatively small shoveling, blowing placement. If you Director Chris Petree crews," explains or otherwise plac- have questions about informs us that the Petree, "we believe ing snow onto any snow removal or final exterior and cross-training all public road right-of- would like a copy of interior finishing maintenance workers, way, and doing so the City's Snow and work is being com- giving them knowl- is punishable as a Ice Control Policy, pleted, and he expects edge of all aspects of misdemeanor. Snow call the Public Works to move in to the our operations, is key which is moved to the Department at 651- new facility in early —so any worker can public right-of-way 762-6300. December 2004. do any job." can create hazardous situations, including .'ubl"IC works Winter Parking slippery areas, fro- Department g Ordinance zen ruts and ridges, Growing Please remember to bumps, sight obstruc- l Two new Public follow the Hugo win- tions and drainage Works Maintenance ter parking ordinance. problems. Property Workers began their From November 1 owners are responsi- employment with through March 31, ble for informing any the City of Hugo no parking is allowed person who performs on September 27, on any street in the snow removal on 2004. Public Works City between the their premises Director Chris Petree hours of 2 a.m. and of this law. It notes that one is fill- 7 a.m. Outside of is also important ing anewly-created those dates, the same position and one is restrictions apply Grant:From Page 2 replacing a former if there is a snow accumulation of two "Denaway was responsible for completing City of Hugo employ- the grant application and making sure that all ee. The department inches or more. components were in place,"notes Bear. now has a staff of six full-time members, Don't Place « Snow On Public The Met Council, by awarding this grant, including Petree. feels that the planning efforts of the City of Roadways Hugo are very positive and warrant moving All Public Works With winter quickly Maintenance Workers approaching, the City to the next steps," says Bear. He adds, "The next steps will allow us to bring the concept in Hugo are trained of Hugo would like to plan to reality." Your Huge BULK RATE Hugo City Hall• 14669 Fitzgerald Ave.N.•Hugo,MN 55038 POSTAGE PAID HUGO, MN 55038 PERMIT NO. 21 i I OCCUPANT Visit our website: www.ei.hugo.mn.us City Directory City Staff service City Administrator Mike Ericson 651-762-6312Directory Community Dev. Dir. Bryan Bear 651-762-6320 Public Works Director Chris Petree 651-762-6316 Building Official. John Benson 651-762-6313 Citv Hall General Building Inspector Gary Schwartz 651-762-6317 Information Sr. Engineering Tech. Scott Anderson 651-762-6326 City Clerk Mary Ann Creager 651-762-6311 • 11 ' to 1 ' Monday—Friday ' Community Dev.Asst. Michele Lindau 651-762-6315 except ' • • • 11 Bldg. Dept. Receptionist Eileen Ottney 651-762-6310 Billing Clerk Jodie Guareschi 651-762-6309 Finance Director Ron Otkin 651-762-6314 Citv Hall FAKNumber Fire Chief Jim Compton 651-429-6366 651-426-2859 { Clty CouncilWashington Countv Mayor Fran Miron 651-429-5961 Sheriffs Department Ward 1 Becky Petryk 651-426-4722 (Police non-emergency) Ward . - - •- Ward 2 Frank Puleo 651-653-9369 651-439-9381 Ward 3 Chuck Haas 651-439-4475 Council-at-Large Mike Granger 651-426-8171 Fire Hall Monthly Meeting Schedule 651 . -29-6 City Council 1 st and 3rd Mondays at 7:00 p.m. Planning Commission 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. Fire a Police Emergencv Parks Commission 2nd Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. 911 Historical Commission 3rd Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. EDA Commission 3rd Monday at 8:30 a.m.