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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 Spring NewsletterLetter from the Mayor Since I became Mayor in 2012, over 4,000 new residents have made the decision to call Hugo home. The growth and progress exhibited in our community has been astonishing, and year after year I continue to meet marvelous new people. Hugo has been able to grow successfully due the work our public safety departments do to keep us safe and healthy every single day. The Hugo Fire Department has been serving the community since 1908, and the Wash- ington County Sheriff’s Office has been providing law enforcement service to the community since 1980. This past year, the City Council made changes to Hugo’s public safety departments to position them to better serve our community. First of all I’d like to highlight our fire depart- ment, an important pillar to the community’s safety for well over a century. Most residents don’t realize the HFD has been an entirely vol- unteer department for nearly all of that time, with a team of dedicated men and women who serve on-call. Our volunteer firefighters routinely sacrifice time with family, friends, work, and not to mention sleep, to respond to calls. However, as the City has grown the department has struggled to attract enough volunteers. The City Council held several workshops with the fire department to dis- cuss its long term needs. In the fall of 2023, the City of Hugo hired its first ever full-time Fire Chief, Jim Compton, Jr! Chief Compton has served with the HFD since 2001, and became the part-time chief in 2021. In his new full-time role, Chief Compton is more effectively able to handle the day-to-day operations of the fire department. Additionally, Chief Compton is focused on leadership development within the department. The City Council’s decision to in- vest in the Fire Department’s leadership will create a stronger and safer community. (continued on page 3) SPRING2024 In this issue... Public Works.... ....................................2 Disposable Wipes.................................2 Meet Your Hugo Deputies .................4-5 Parks & Recreation ..............................6 Glacier Hills Regional Trail ...................7 Shred It and Forget It! .........................7 Dellwood Ridge Street Project .............8 Commissioners Wanted .......................8 Election Information ............................8 Hugo Cleanup Day ...............................9 Compost Bin Sale ..............................10 Northern Yard Waste Site ...................10 Updates from Fire Chief .....................11 Good Neighbor Days Returns! ..........12 Hugo City Hall 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North Hugo, MN 55038 651-762-6300 • www.ci.hugo.mn.us Fire Department 651-762-6362 Washington County Sheriff’s Office 911 • Non-emergency: 651-439-9381 Public Works 651-762-6301 TUNE INTOGovernment Channel 16 for community updates and to watch City meetings If you have a question you would like to ask the Mayor, send it to info@ci.hugo.mn.us Your question could be featured in the next newsletter! “I’d like to highlight our fire depart ment, an important pillar to the community’s safety for well over a century.” A WORD FROM PUBLIC WORKS 2 Hydrant Flushing Starting as early as April 15th, weather dependent As part of many other spring projects, the Public Works Department will be flushing hydrants. It is expected to take about two weeks to complete all hydrants. Flushing purges rust and stagnant water from the distribution system and identifies hydrants in need of maintenance. Some residents may receive rust colored water that could stain laundry. During this time, please check that wa- ter coming into the house is clear and let the tap water run, if necessary. Prevent Stormwater Pollution Report Illicit Discharges An illicit discharge is an unlawful act of disposing, dumping, spilling, emitting or other discharge of any substance other than stormwater into the streets, gutters, ditches, and ponds that make up our stormwater drainage system, or directly into streams or lakes themselves. As a community member, you play a large part in identifying and reducing illicit discharges in our community. What can you do about illicit discharges? If you see anyone discharging any material other than rainwa- ter in roadside ditches or storm drains, please report it to Pub- lic Works at 651-762-6301. For potentially hazardous materials and petroleum spills, call 9-1-1 FIRST when there is an imme- diate threat to life or property. DISPOSABLE WIPES We need your help! Disposable wipes cause major problems when flushed down toilets. Because they don’t break down the way toilet paper does, these wipes clog homeowner and municipal sewer pipes, put stress on community wastewater collection equipment, and cause cities to spend thousands of dollars on premature equipment repair and replacement. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated by your Public Works Department! Although many brands of disposable wipes are labeled “flushable,” please do not flush them! Letter from the Mayor (cont’d) The other important pillar of community safety is law enforcement, which is provided by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Our partnership with Wash- ington County provides an excellent level of law enforcement service at a greatly reduced cost, as opposed to running a municipal police department. The resources available to us at the county level offer Hugo residents additional services and investigate cases that involve coordination with agencies all across the country. The dedicated deputies that serve Hugo have been valuable members of the community, taking the time to establish a connection with the residents they serve and protect. For the past few years, the Hugo deputies consisted of six patrol deputies, an investi- gator, and a sergeant who leads the team. In order to accommodate the growing needs of our population, the City Council decided to expand the partnership with Washington County and add a seventh deputy to our team. There have been some new faces within the past few years, so I would like to take the opportunity to introduce the Hugo deputies to you now. Join me in extending my gratitude to the people that work hard to make Hugo a great place to live! Tom Weidt, Mayor A WORD FROM PUBLIC WORKS 3 Pet Waste Pollutants from improperly disposed pet waste may be washed into storm sewers by rain or melting snow. When pet waste is washed into lakes or streams the waste decays, using up oxygen and some- times releasing ammonia. Low oxygen levels and ammonia combined with warm tempera- tures can kill fish. Most importantly, pet waste carries diseases which make water unsafe for swimming and drinking. Pet wastes may not be the largest or most toxic pollutant in urban waterways, but it is one of the many little sources of pollution that add up to a big problem. Fortunately there are some things we can all do to help keep our water clean. It’s pet owner’s respon- sibility to “scoop the poop” but it’s a small price to pay to protect our water quality. (Ordinance No. 2023-520 Sec 10-38) Grass Clippings The City maintains many stormwater ponds, control structures, ditches, and wetlands. We ask residents to help us keep these features in good condition, please do not blow grass clippings into the roadways or stormwater ponds. These clippings decompose and turn into phosphorus which causes algae blooms in the ponds. If you live on a stormwater feature and you notice a structure is plugged please call (651) 762-6301 so maintenance crews can remove the obstruction. Watering Restrictions What Are They? Property owners within the City using water from the municipal water system may only water lawns, trees or other vegetation on an odd-even basis. Specifically, property addresses which end in an odd number may only water on odd calendar days. Properties having addresses which end in an even number may only water on even calendar days. An exemption from the odd-even restriction of up to 30 days is available for new sod, seed, or plantings. You may call Hugo City Hall at (651) 762-6300 to be added to a 30-day exemption list. DISPOSABLE WIPES We need your help! Disposable wipes cause major problems when flushed down toilets. Because they don’t break down the way toilet paper does, these wipes clog homeowner and municipal sewer pipes, put stress on community wastewater collection equipment, and cause cities to spend thousands of dollars on premature equipment repair and replacement. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated by your Public Works Department! MEET YOUR HUGO DEPUTIESON NEXT PAGES! 4 Joseph Zerwas • Deputy Sheriff Sergeant Sergeant Joseph Zerwas is a 17 year veteran of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and is also a proud veteran of the Air Force. He grew up in a law enforcement family. Shortly after joining the Sheriff’s Office, then Deputy Zerwas served in the Hugo City contract for three years. He was then assigned to the Drug Task Force Unit for three years, and later became Hugo’s first full-time dedicated investigator. Zerwas was promoted to Sergeant in 2019 and has been serving Hugo in the capacity ever since. Sergeant Zerwas has served as a defensive tactics instructor, firearms instructor, on the SWAT team and is a mem- ber of our Honor Guard. We are thankful for his steady and solid leadership. Anthony Jaring • Deputy Sheriff Detective Anthony Jaring began his career with Washington County Sheriff’s Office in 2016 as a Correctional Officer. He quickly earned the respect of his fellow Cos and Deputies alike and was promoted to Deputy within a year. While on patrol he served on the SWAT’s Tech Team, and shortly after SWAT’s Tactical Team. Deputy Jaring is highly trained in the Martial Art of Jujutsu, and serves as a firearms instructor and defensive tactics instructor for other Sheriff’s Office personnel. He was assigned as the Hugo Investigator in 2022. Alec Zachrison Deputy Sheriff Born and raised in North Branch, Deputy Alec Zachrison came to law enforcement by way of the Army National Guard and the US Army Reserves where he still serves. After complet- ing his Associates Degree at Century College and his Skills at Hennepin Tech, Alec worked in the restaurant industry where he gained experience and confidence in his communication skills before joining Washington County Sheriff’s Office in No- vember of 2022. He is an active member of our Community Engagement Team and can be found at all kinds of events from job fairs to Fish with a Cop. Deputy Zachrison enjoys reading, hiking and traveling on his off-time. MEET YOUR HUGO DEPUTIES! “Embedded in the needs of the city they proudly serve, Hugo deputies form a proactive alliance between law enforcement and residents through their deep understanding and engagement with the community.” Dan Starry, Sheriff 5 Ross Peterson Deputy Sheriff Deputy Ross Peterson grew up in Wyoming, MN in a law enforcement family. He played sports in high school and was active on student council. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Winona State Univer- sity and his Skills from Rochester Community and Technical College. He joined the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in 2021. When not working, Deputy Peterson he enjoys playing and coaching sports. He has been known to dabble in fishing now and again. Gregory Reiter Deputy Sheriff Deputy Greg Reiter brings with him a great deal of experience in law en- forcement. He has served with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office since 1997. Over the years he has served in our Patrol Division, Water, Parks and Trails Unit, Court Security and Investigations. While during his time in Investigations Greg became a certified negotiator for our SWAT team. He is recently engaged and enjoys time out doors on Minneso- ta’s many beautiful lakes. Jacob Monsma Deputy Sheriff Deputy Jacob Monsma is a native of Denver, CO and came to Minne- sota by way of falling in love while attending college at Dordt Uni- versity in Iowa. Upon receiving his Bachelor’s Degree and marrying his Minnesota sweetheart, they moved back to Minnesota where Jacob attended Hennepin Tech for his Law Enforcement Skills. He joined the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in 2022. Jacob graduated from DARE school in 2023. When not at work he enjoys the great outdoors rock climbing, hiking, fly fishing, camping and cooking. Jeffry Workman Deputy Sheriff Deputy Jeffry Workman, grew up in Maplewood and is a proud vet- eran who served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Free- dom as a Military Police Officer. He joined the Sheriff’s Office team in 2019, after serving as a police offi- cer at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Since then, Deputy Work- man has joined our SWAT team and is an active participant in our Community Engagement activi- ties, including our Special Olym- pics Torch Run. Garett Zakrzewski Deputy Sheriff During his interview for the position of Deputy Sheriff, Garett Zakrzewski stated his goal was to get hired as a Washington County Sheriff’s Dep- uty and work hard to get assigned to the Hugo contract, so he could give back to the community he grew up in. Deputy Zakrzewski achieved his goal and was hired in August of 2022 and is now a part of our Hugo team! Deputy Zak attended White Bear Lake High School where he ran cross county. Deputy Zakrzewski attended Winona State where he participated in several internships and reserve programs for area po- lice departments in an effort to gain more knowledge. Garett completed his Law Enforcement Skills at Rochester Community Technical College. When not working he is active, working out every day, hiking, camping and spending time with family and friends. Cassie Rice Deputy Sheriff Hugo resident Deputy Cassie Rice enjoys all the good things life in Minnesota offers. From camp- ing and hiking to kayaking and baking, Deputy Rice does it all. Deputy Rice grew up in the Blaine area, and spent six years working for the Minnesota De- partment of Corrections in Lino Lakes before trying her hand as a Law Enforcement Conservation Officer with the MN DNR. Luckily for us, Cassie joined our team in 2022 and quickly became an active member of our Community Engagement team. We are excited to add Deputy Rice’s positive energy and her highly developed communication skills to assist the residents of Hugo in their law enforcement service needs. MEET YOUR HUGO DEPUTIES! City Facility Rentals Hugo has four public facilities available for rent for graduation parties, birthdays, and more. Residents can book up to a year in advance and receive discounted rates over non- residents. To make your reservation, please go to https://secure.rec1.com/MN/hugo-mn/catalog. 6 Bill the Juggler! Friday, July 12th | 6:30 PM Lions Volunteer Park • 5524 Upper 146th St N Laugh and cheer for this high-energy juggling show full of zany antics. Sponsored by Washington County Hardwood Creek Library. This program is funded by Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Diamond Point Park Improvements The Parks Commission has been proposing improvements to Diamond Point Park as the neighborhood park project for 2024. The proposed improvements include removing and replacing old playground equipment, minor asphalt and concrete remov- als, landscaping repairs, resurfacing the basketball court, and replacing the volleyball court with a pickleball court. The Parks Commission will hold a neighborhood meeting on May 15, 2024 at 7:00 PM at the Peder Pedersen Pavilion to receive community feedback on the proposed improvements. Hanifl Gathering Room 8 tables and 40 chairs, servery Oneka Room at Hugo City Hall 20 tables and 100 chairs Rice Lake Centre 14 tables and 95 chairs Peder Pedersen Pavilion 20 tables and 136 chairs, servery, and 10 seat conference room PARKS & RECREATION and Forget Itand Forget It 7 Washington County is developing a long-range plan that will guide the future development of a paved multiuse trail called the Glacial Hills Regional Trail. Once fully developed, it will connect pedestrians, bicyclists and trail users to regional destinations, including Hardwood Creek Regional Trail, Big Marine Park Reserve and William O’Brien State Park. The project is progressing into the route development and plan draft- ing phase. To learn more about this project and to stay informed on future engagement opportunities, please visit the project website: https://www.co.washington.mn.us/3645/Glacial-Hills-Regional-Trail. WASHINGTON COUNTY UPDATESGlacial Hills Regional Trail Residents Only: Bring up to 5 bags of papers with confidential and personal information to be shredded. We are offering FREE paper shredding events in the City Hall parking lot. Thursday, May 9, 2024 8:00 am – 10:00 am Friday, October 4, 2024 8:00 am – 10:00 am Hugo Cleanup Day Saturday, May 4 · 8 am – Noon Hugo Public Works Building 8220 140th Street Location Questions? Call the Hugo Public Works at 651-762-6301 The City’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan will be available for comment at this event. Cash (small bills) or checks only. Please make payable to City of Hugo. (Proportional rates may be applied to partial loads and overloaded trucks) Car load of trash $10 and up Pickup load of trash $30 and up Trailer load of trash $35 and up Lawn mower (Push) $15/unit Lawn mower (Rider) $30/unit Household appliance $25/unit Commercial appliance $75 and up Air conditioner $30/unit Water softener $25/unit Mattress or box spring $30/unit Upholstered furniture $35/each Carpet $1/yard Bicycle with tires $5/each Bicycle without tires FREE Scrap metal FREE Tires $2.50 and up Spring 2024 Drop-off Items for Hugo residents only Drop-off Procedures •See attendant for fees. •Follow attendants directions for location for your waste by type. REMINDERS Hazardous household waste and electronics will not be collected at Hugo Public Works. Hazardous waste and electronics will be collected at: Forest Lake Transit Center 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM on May 4, and June 15, 2024 There will NOT be a second City cleanup event in fall 2024. DELLWOOD RIDGEDELLWOOD RIDGE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 8 Project Background: The proposed project consists of a reclamation and overlay of 125th Street North between Goodview Avenue and County Road 7, as well as a complete reconstruction of Upper Heather Avenue North and Heather Avenue North. Upper Heather Avenue North and Heather Avenue North Complete Reconstruction • Complete pavement and gravel removal • Installation of new gravel and pavement section • Installation of concrete curb and gutter • Installation and reconstruction of storm sewer and stormwater management improvements The construction is anticipated to start in June. Please check the City of Hugo’s website for future updates on the project. Get Involved! The City of Hugo is looking for new volunteers to serve on City commissions! The following commissions currently have vacancies: Economic Development Authority: Commissioner Term expiring 12/31/26 Alternate Commissioner Term expiring 12/31/27 Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Commission Commissioner Term expiring 12/31/25 Historical Commission Commissioner Term expiring 12/31/24 Associate Member Two-year terms Associate Member Two-year terms Any Hugo resident is welcome to apply. Visit the City website at https://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/jobs volunteer or contact City Clerk Michele Lindau at 651-762-6315 for more information or to apply. Important Election Dates for 2024 Primary Election Tuesday, August 13. Vote by Absentee Ballot June 28 – August 12 At the Washington County Service Center Save time on election day. Pre-register to vote by July 23. General Election Tuesday, November 5. Vote by Absentee Ballot September 20 – November 4 At the Washington County Service Center Save time on Election Day. Pre-register to vote by October 15. Hugo Candidates on the Ballot in November Council Member Ward 2 4-year term Council Member at Large 4-year term Mayor 2-year term Filing for Candidacy July 30 – August 13 Become an Election Judge! The City is looking for Election Judges. Pay is $12.75/hour. Serving as a judge is a great way to learn more about the election process. For more information, visit https://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/judge info or contact City Clerk Michele Lindau at 651-762-6315. Project Scope: 125th Street North Reclamation/Overlay • Recycling the existing pavement to use as the roadway base • Minor subgrade corrections as needed • Minor Grading • Minor storm sewer and drainage improvements • Stormwater management improvements Hugo Cleanup Day Saturday, May 4 · 8 am – Noon Hugo Public Works Building 8220 140th Street Location Questions? Call the Hugo Public Works at 651-762-6301 The City’s Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan will be available for comment at this event. Cash (small bills) or checks only. Please make payable to City of Hugo. (Proportional rates may be applied to partial loads and overloaded trucks) Car load of trash $10 and up Pickup load of trash $30 and up Trailer load of trash $35 and up Lawn mower (Push) $15/unit Lawn mower (Rider) $30/unit Household appliance $25/unit Commercial appliance $75 and up Air conditioner $30/unit Water softener $25/unit Mattress or box spring $30/unit Upholstered furniture $35/each Carpet $1/yard Bicycle with tires $5/each Bicycle without tires FREE Scrap metal FREE Tires $2.50 and up Spring 2024 Drop-off Items for Hugo residents only Drop-off Procedures •See attendant for fees. •Follow attendants directions for location for your waste by type. REMINDERS Hazardous household waste and electronics will not be collected at Hugo Public Works. Hazardous waste and electronics will be collected at: Forest Lake Transit Center 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM on May 4, and June 15, 2024 There will NOT be a second City cleanup event in fall 2024. DELLWOOD RIDGEDELLWOOD RIDGE STREET IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 9 10 Bring leaves, grass clippings, brush, and other plant materials to the Northern Yard Waste Collection Site. Items Accepted Grass clippings Leaves Lake weeds Garden Waste Branches and Twigs Tree Waste and Shrubs No stumps No sod or dirt 5527 170th St. N. • Hugo This site is free and open to Washington County residents. State law prohibits the disposal of yard waste in the trash. Summer Hours: April—November Wednesday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (or dusk) Friday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Saturday 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sunday Noon – 4:30 p.m. Meet Our New Firefighters The Hugo Fire Department would like to welcome our newest probationary firefighters Tony DeLaRosa and Kyle Anderson. They officially joined our department on December 5, 2023, and started the hiring process in May of 2023. Tony and Kyle started their firefighter training at Century College and will complete that by the end of May 2024. They will then start on their medi- cal training which will take another 6 to 8 weeks to complete. The first year of a Hugo Probationary Firefighter is filled with training and classes along with responding to calls for some on the job training. Join Our Team! Hugo Fire will be accepting applications until end of busi- ness June 28, 2024, applications are available on the City of Hugo Website or at City Hall. An information session will be held at the Fire Station on June 25th from 7:00 - 9:00 PM. Any questions please contact Assist. Fire Chief Colin Emans at cemans@ci.hugo.mn.us or 651-755-2056. Fridays with Firefighters Spend a Friday morning with the Hugo Fire Department. Learn about fire prevention, tour the Fire Station, and participate in fun activities! This event will be held on Friday, June 14th, July 12th, and August 9th from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. Please visit the City of Hugo website for more information. https://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/hfd 11 Burn Restrictions The Hugo Fire Department asks that residents use caution while having recreational fires and to have a water source nearby. Burning permits are required for any fire over 3 feet by 3 feet when there is less than 3’’ of continuous snow on the ground. A burning permit can be requested and obtained at City Hall, for information visit the City website. This year is especially dry! Please use caution when burning and refer to the DNR website for more information on burning restrictions. www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire/firerating/restrictions UPDATES FROM FIRE CHIEF Jim Compton Jr. jrcompton@ci.hugo.mn.us Firefighters overhauling a structure fire. Fire Marshal Duncanson training to extinguish a propane tank fire. Fire Marshal Duncanson., Engineer Roettger, and the MN Air Rescue Team (MART) at the HFD Open House demonstrating a helicopter rescue. PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. Twin Cities, MN SPRING2024 Hugo City Hall 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North Hugo, MN 55038 651-762-6300 or info@ci.hugo.mn.us Office Hours 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday - Friday Closed weekends and holidays www.ci.hugo.mn.us THIS ISSUE IS RECYCLABLE PLEASE HELPPLEASE HELPSAVE TREES. SAVE TREES. 12 Good Neighbor Days is returning to Lions Volunteer Park after 2 years at its temporary home at Hanifl Fields, while the park was undergoing major updates. Hugo Lions are so thankful to have the event back in the heart of Hugo. We’ll put many of the park’s new amenities to good use over the weekend of festivities, including a pickleball tournament at the new courts, bingo inside Peder Ped- ersen Pavilion and events organized by Hangtime Boardshop at the new skatepark. Then there’s the usual favorites - live music, a parade, carnival, craft fair, corn- hole tournament, fireworks, and ribfest. Things are moving along quickly and you can check all updates on the site at goodneighbordays.com or on our social channels @hugomnlions. We want to thank our returning sponsors. • BB Landscaping for funding this year’s fireworks display, • Grundhofer’s for supplying all the ribs. • Dead Broke Saddle Club for sponsoring the free activities for kids. We welcome our newest sponsor, Smash Park, for donating pickleballs. Thanks as well to Blacksmith for your continued community support and the City of Hugo for being a steadfast partner. ABOUT HUGO LIONS: Hugo Lions have hosted Good Neigh- bor Days for the last 48 years but its history goes back even further before the club was established. The purpose of the event and all Lions’ events is to raise money for local causes including school athletics, arts and ed- ucation, scholarships, local families in need, and local organizations like Good Neighbor Food Shelf, Hugo Senior Club and Hugo Chapter of the Yellow Ribbon Network. Funds raised also support statewide Lions foundations for sight, hearing, diabetes and childhood cancer. The mission of all Lions Clubs is to empower volunteers to serve their com- munities. We encourage residents to consider joining or volunteering.