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Home My WebLink About2008 [03] Mar 20c:rrti' ~ sr.~cnhrN City Contact Information Mayor Al Rassier 11.5-9th Avenue SE St. Joseph MN 56374 320-363-4711 araesier@csbsju.edu Councilor llale Wick 1211 llale Street East St. Joseph MN 56374 320-363-0221 co nt actdalew is k@ hotm ail.com Councilor Renee Symanietz 354th Avenue SE St. Joseph MN 56374 (320) 980-1461 symanietzrenee@dearwire. net CouucilurSteve Frank 606 Birch Street West St. Joseph MN 56374 (320)493-0311 sfra nk @s tcloudstate. ed u Councilor Rick Schultz 326-7th Avenue SE St. Joseph MN 56374 (320)363.4334 rschultz@rnywdo.com Administrator.Tudv Wevrens PO Box 668 St. Joseph MN 56374 (320)363-7201 j w cyrens@cityufstjoseph.com Police Chief Yete .}anskv PO Box 268 St. Joseph MN 56374 (320)363-8250 pj ansky@cityufstj oseph.com Public Works llir. Dick Taufen YO Box 668 St. Joseph MN 56374 (320)363-7201 dtaufen@cit yuftj oseph.com In the Know in St. Joseph Volume 2, Issue 2 March 20, 2008 Water Meter Conversion As you are aware the City is in the process of converting all the water meters in the City from a manual read system to an automated system. The new water meter system will allow the maintenance staff to read the meters from their vehicle, eliminating the need to access your property. As of this time approximately 91% of t}~e meters have been converted. If your meter is not converted please call the City Offices at 320-363- 7201 to make arrangements. In addition to providing an automated reading system, the new meters record water usage in gallons as opposed to the old meters which registered in cubic feet. This change required considerable conversion. The accounts that have had a new meter installed (converted) will note a six digit number in the Previous Read column beginning with the number 9. The fol- lowing steps were used to convert the meter data: 1. At the time the meter was converted, a manual read of the water meter was recorded. 2. The reading from step one was subtracted from the January meter reading, providing the staff with the water usage since the last billing period. 3. The water usage from step two was converted to gallons. 4. The meters can only read to 999,999 gallons. When a meter reaches this number it then rolls over and starts at 0. Therefore, the previous reading on the water bill where the meter has been converted is generated by taking 999,9991ess the water usage as converted in step 3. 5. At the end of the billing cycle all the new water meters were read, keeping in mind that they begin at 0, and the usage from the date of conversion until the end of the billing period was recorded in gallons. For example: If your bill shows a previous reading of 996,999 (999,999 - 996,999 = 3,000) and the current readurg states 2062 (meter starting at 0) the usage will be 5062 (3,000 + 2062 = 5062) 6. The two readings were combined to generate the total usage for the billing period. In addition to converting the meter data, the water rate has been converted to gallons as well. The current water rate is $ 1.60 per 100 cubic feet., which converts to .002133 per gal- lon. There are 7.5 gallons of water in cubic foot. I£ you have any questions about your water bill please feel free to con- tact Mary at the City Offices. When calling please leave your name, phone number and a brief description of the concern. Mary will review the account and call you back. ------ _.r ---~.,- Public Works Corner.......... StreetStreet S~eeoine -With Spring here the maintenance staff will begin street sweeping the middle of April. If possible try and keep the street clear from vehicles until the streets are clean. Water Hydrant Flushing -Shortly after the streets are swept the maintenance staff will begin flushing the water hydrants. During hydrant flushing resi- dents may experience temporary discoloration .This should only be temporary. However, it if persists please contact the City Offices. Hazardous Waste Pickup Stearns County will be sponsoring a Household Waste pick-up at the St. Joseph Maintenance Facility, 18:i~i v Elm Street E. WHEN Saturday August 23, 2008 x .•~~ TIME 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM .Items include: paints, cleaners, poisons, fuels, automo- tive chemicals, garden and pool chemicals, fluorescent bulbs, adhesives, aerosols, mothballs and mercury. The mobile collection unit cannot take products such as used motor oil, medical waste, appliances, anti- freeze, explosives, furniture, business waste, tires, unknowns or regular household garbage. Amtual Permit Fee $ 25.00 2nd Permit for second vehicle $ 10.00 Annual Spring Clean-up It is that time again, time to air out the house and do a little spring cleaning. is how -The City will provide all residents on the City refuse programs two bage curbside. Here are the specifics: WHO: Participants in the City refuse program Did you ask how will the City help? Well, this weeks to place extra gar- WHAT: Anything with the following exceptions: Appliances, tires, batteries, pollutants, & yard waste, computer monitors and televisions. WHERE: Curbside at your residence WHEN: Thursdays, May 31st and June 7th Compost Area to Open Soon The Curnpost area will open in April with the date de- pending on the weather. Compost stickers will be available at the City Offices beginnutg Apri] 15, 2008. The Council adopted the following fee schedule: City/Township of St. Joseph Resident Annual Permit Fee $ 15.00 2nd Permit for second vehicle $ 5.00 Replacement Permit $ 5.00 Township of St. 1Vendel Resident (only those served by the 5t. Joseph Fire District) PLEASE PUT OUT ITEMS BEFORE 6 AM Appliance Pickup Saturday, June 9th, 2007 ONLY from 7AM to 12 noon in the parking lot of the City Offices Limit of two appliances per household. Be prepared to present identification as proof of residency Remember that this service is for residents only, the Police Department will ticket people hauling refuse into the City Comprehensive Plan The City and Planning Commission initiated the 2008 Comprehensive Plan update process in February. The Comprehensive Plan is the umbrella document guiding overall growth and re- development of St. Joseph. The City's zoning ordinance, the subdivision ordinance and the capital improvement plan are used to implement the Comprehensive Plan. St. Joseph will continue to grow and change. However, the pattern, location, and to a certain extent the timing of that development can be influenced by the community. 'therefore, every- one living, working or recreating in the St. Joseph area is invited and encouraged to partici- pate in the comprehensive planning process. C•drarce Plan ~ Additional information is available at the City's website, including drafts of portions of the plan. If you'd like to be placer] on a mailing list (email or postal) for the project please contact City IIall. If you'd like to attend public meetings hosted by the Planning Commissio^ regard- ing the plan, they will be held on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers ANNOUNCING .. . The 5t. Joseph Economic Development Authority and the City Council are pleased to amrounce the creation of the St. Joseph Business District Fagade Architectural Design Grant Program. The program's purpose is to stimulate visible reinvestment in St. Joseph businesses. The program pro- vides amatching grant for actual design costs, up to $1,000 per property address, to commercial property owners and/or merchants planning exterior building and landscape improvements. Ap- proved projects will be funded on afirst-come/first-served basis until all funds are expended. In addition, the opportunity exists that the St. Joseph Economic Develuprnent Authority's revolving loan program or other local incentives could be available t.o assist with construction costs associated with the implcment.atiun of facade designs. For more information con- tact City Hall, log onto ww~e.cityul'=tGusenlT.conr, or phone the City's EDA Consultant Cynthia Smith-Strack at 888-763- 4462. How much is that doggie in the window? ACH Just a reminder that the City requires all dogs to be licensed Licenses expire May 1st of each calendar year and are available at the St. Joseph City Offices. In ap- plying for a dog license, the owner shall provide the name, sex, breed, age, color and marking of the dog for which the license is to be procured and a certificate from a qualified veterinarian showing that the dug has been given a vaccination against ra- bies. License fee: $ 10.00 Also remember that It shall be unlawful for the owner of any animal to permit the same to run at large anywhere in the City of St. Joseph other than the property of the owner thereof. Every dog so licensed, nmst. wear a collar around its neck, to which shall be attached a metal tag, distinctly marked with the year in which the same is issued. It shall be unlawful for any person to cause or permit a dog to be on any property, public or private, not owned or possessed by such person, unless such person has in his or her immediate possession a device £or the removal of the excrement and a depository for the transmission of excrement to a proper receptacle located upon property owned or possessed by such person. The City now offers automatic bill payment for utility bills. This ser- vice is at nu charge to the customer and applications are available on the City website, www.cityofstjoseph.corn, ur at City Hall. Applications aurst be received by the City prior to the 1=~ day of the odd months to be set up for the next calculated utility bill. For example, applications fur the November 2007 utility bill must have been received by the City by November 1, 2007. Sign up forms can be sent in at any time, but will only be executed for the next bill- ing if received on time. 3 Congratulations Dick Taufen !!! On September 8, 1969 Dick Taufen became employed by the City of St. Joseph as a Maintenance Worker. Since that time Dick became the Pubic Works Director and it is now time for him to retire. Dick has served the City for over 37 years and on April 1, 2008 he will retire. In his honor the City will be hosting an open house from 2:OU YM to 4:00 PM at the St. Joseph City Offices. We encourage you to stop by the office and wish Dick well on his retirement. The good news for the City is we know where he lives. Dick has a lot of expertise and knowledge that cannot be replaced, he will be missed. N S New Medical Facility '1'he St. Joseph Planning Commission will be considering the development plan of Centracare to construct a new medical facility in St. Joseph. The new facility will be located at the intersec- tion of CR 75 and 12th Avenue (CR 133), located in the Northeast intersection corner. It is anticipated that the new facility will begin construction early this year and ready for patients in 2008. Congratulations Centra- Care. HERE COMES THE JUDGE ........... Election judges arc needed to help serve in the primary election on September 9 and the general election on November 4. The position requires working from early morning (6:00 am) until late evening on election days and a few hours of election training. Judges will be compensated £or their work. If you are interested in serving as an election judge please contact Mary at 320-363.7201. Grease, not just a movie 1'he City of St. Joseph's Public Works Department. is asking f'or help with the disposal of fats, oils and grease from food waste. Utility workers are experi- encing grease and fat build-up and even blockages in the sewer system due to waste being put down sinks and drains. Cit}' staff ask that you scrape material frorn plates and pots arrd other utensils into the garbage to avoid greasy material entering the sewer system. Maintenance costs for treating and cleaning pipes, both in the house and in the city sewer system can be significant when problems occur. The sanitary sewer system is designed to transport wastewater to a treatment facility not to serve as a garbage disposal system. Proper disposal of grease and fats saves not only money but the environ- ment. Welcome Terry Thene The City has hired Terry Thene as the new Public Works Director Terry grew up north of St. Joseph and has been working for the City of Savage for over 20 years overseeing the water utility. His first day was March 9~, 2008. Be sure and introduce yourself' when you see him. -Y-- _ ~~~ ~~ ,'' Did You Know? Frequently the State of Minnesota adopts up- dated Building Code regulations. This occurs approximately every three years. On July 7, 2007 a revised Minnesota State Code was adopted. In December the Plumbing Code was amended . In August 2008 a carbon Monoxide detector is required to be installed in a single E'amily dwell- ings. All multi-family dwellings must have the detectors installed by August of 2009. The de- tector must be located within 10 feet of every bedroom and receive its power from battery or house power. Smoke detectors are required to be installed in every bedroom, in the hallways leading to the bedrooms and on every level of the house when a permit is issued requiring the inspector to en- ter the dwelling to perform the inspec- tion. These detector can be powered by battery when the framing is not opened to provide ac- cess to the house wiring. For questions or specific detail of changes please call the Building Inspector at 320-363-7201 4