HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 [09] Sep 20
In the Know in St. Joseph
Volume 2, Issue 5 September 20, 2008
City Contact Information
Fall Clean-up
Mayor Al Rassier
115—9th Avenue SE
It is that time again, time to air out the house and do a little fall cleaning. Did you ask how
St. Joseph MN 56374
will the City help? Well, this is how — The City will provide all residents on the City refuse
320-363-4711
programs two weeks to place extra garbage curbside. Here are the specifics:
alanrassier@yahoo.com
WHO: Participants in the City refuse program
Councilor Dale Wick
WHAT: Anything with the following:
1211 Dale Street East exceptionsAppliances, tires,
St. Joseph MN 56374
batteries, pollutants, & yard waste, computer monitors and televisions.
320-363-0221
WHERE: Curbside at your residence
contactdalewick@hotmail.com
WHEN: Thursdays, October 2nd and October 9, 2008
Councilor Renee Symanietz
PLEASE PUT OUT ITEMS BEFORE 6 AM
354—4th Avenue SE
St. Joseph MN 56374
is scheduled for Saturday, October 11, 2008 between the hours
The Appliance PickupONLY,
(320) 980-1461
of 7AM and 12 noon and will take place in the parking lot of the City Offices.
There is a limit
symanietzrenee@clearwire.net
per household and residents should be prepared to present identification as
of two appliances
proof of residency.
Councilor Steve Frank
Remember that this service is for residents only. Persons hauling garbage into the City can be
606 Birch Street West
charged with theft of service which is considered a misdemeanor, subject to a maximum fine of
St. Joseph MN 56374
$ 700 and/or 90 days in jail. The City can only offer this ser-
(320) 493-0311
vice if it is not abused.
sfrank@stcloudstate.edu
Councilor Rick Schultz
326—7th Avenue SE
Comprehensive Plan Update
St. Joseph MN 56374
(320) 363-4334
The 2008 St. Joseph Comprehensive Plan Update is nearing completion of the draft. The
rschultz@mywdo.com
Planning Commission continues to work on the Comprehensive Plan, which is an umbrella
Administrator Judy Weyrens
document guiding overall growth and redevelopment of St. Joseph. The City’s zoning ordi-
PO Box 668
nance, subdivision ordinance and the capital improvement plan are used to implement the
St. Joseph MN 56374
Comprehensive Plan. It is anticipated that the public hearing for the adoption of the Plan
(320) 363-7201
will be conducted in October..
jweyrens@cityofstjoseph.com
While St. Joseph will continue to develop and the landscape will be changed, you are invited
to be a part of the process. Everyone living, working or recreating in the St. Joseph area is
Police Chief Pete Jansky
invited and encouraged to participate in the comprehensive planning process. The Planning
PO Box 268
St. Joseph MN 56374
Commission meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:00 PM in the Council Cham-
(320) 363-8250
bers.
pjansky@cityofstjoseph.com
Additional information including draft portions of the Plan are available at
the City’s website, www.cityofstjoseph.com.
Public Works Dir. Terry Thene
PO Box 668
St. Joseph MN 56374
(320) 363-7201
tthene@cityoftjoseph.com
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Hear ye, Hear ye the Council is looking for input….
Master Park Plan
Public Hearing Set—
2 AM Bar Closing.
The St. Joseph Park Board has
been working with SEH to prepare
a master park plan. The Park plan
Members of the City Council have been
identifies the existing and future
approached to reconsider the 2 AM Bar Closing. In an
parks along with a development
effort to gather information, the City Council on August
schematic for each. The documents
21, 2008 scheduled a public hearing for October 16, 2008
prepared as of this date are available on the City website for
at 7:00 PM to consider extending the bar closing time to
review.
2AM. All persons wishing to testify will be heard. Oral
presentations should be limited to five minutes and
The Consultants along with the Park Board will be holding an
written testimony can be sent to: Judy Weyrens,
open house on September 29, 2008 between 5 PM and 8:00 PM
Administrator; City of St. Joseph;
at the St. Joseph Community Fire Hall. The Open House is an
PO Box 668; St. Joseph MN 56374.
opportunity for you to see the concept drawings for each Park
as well as the narrative. Comment cards will be available at
the open house. All comments will be reviewed and a final
draft plan will be prepared after the Open House.
Safety Day
Recreational fires
The St. Joseph Fire
Department, St. Joseph
With the cooler weather arriving, the City sees an increase
Police Department,
in recreation/bon fires. While Recreational Fires are
Gold Cross and Life Link will be
allowed within the City Limits the Fire Chief asks that you
sponsoring Safety Day on October 10, 2008 between 4:30 PM
use common sense and abide by the regulations in the St.
and 6:30 PM at the St. Joseph Community Fire Hall.
Joseph Code of Ordinance.
Public Safety responders will be available to provide safety
The Ordinance defines recreational fire as: a fire set for
tips and demonstrations. The Fire Department will
cooking, warming, ceremonial or esthetic purposes, which
providing fire extinguisher demonstrations
is not more than three feet in diameter by three feet high,
at 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM.
which has the ground five feet from the base of the fire
cleared of all combustible material, and which is contained
Refreshments will be
within a metal ring, rock, concrete
provided.
or other similar non-combustible
material surrounding the base of
What’s New in St. Joseph?
the fire.
Remember, it is illegal to burn
Parkway Business Center—The City is working with a
garbage or use burning barrels for
developer to platapproximately 54 acres of property for a
lawn waste. The City of St. Joseph
future business/industrial park. The new business park will
provides a compost area for lawn waste.
be located adjacent to and north of the current industrial
park (19th Avenue SE).
City website
Centra Care Medical Facility— When you drive down CR 75
you can notice the construction for the Centra Care Facility.
The staff at the City Offices has been working on updating
It is anticipated to be open April of 2008.
the website, providing additional information to the
residents.
Collegeville Development Group—The City welcomes
Collegeville Development Group as they have moved their
When looking at the website you will notice a calendar of
office to the lower level of the Millstream Shops and Lofts.
meetings which lists the scheduled meetings. As agendas and
packets are prepared they are placed on the site as well. To
College of St. Benedict—The College of St. Benedict is
access the packet material all you need to do is click on the
working on opening a retail store in the Shops and Lofts,
calendar date where a meeting is scheduled and an agenda
congratulations.
will appear. A link has been provided for each agenda item
District 742—Congratulations to St. Cloud School District
that has information for each separate item. The City
742 for the opening of the new Kennedy School, educating
Council hopes you find this information useful.
students grades K—8.
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ELECTION NEWS….
PRECINCT CHANGE
—Residents living west of College Avenue will have a new polling
location. Effective June 1, 2008 the City Council approved the combining of Precinct 1
(residents north of Minnesota Street and west of College Avenue) and Precinct 3 (residents
south of Minnesota Street and west of College Avenue). The new precinct will be entitled Precinct 1 and
the polling location will be the new Kennedy Elementary School and include all eligible voter residing west
of College Avenue. The space at the new school is large enough to accommodate voters of both precincts
while providing adequate and convenient parkingPrecinct 2 will remain unchanged and include all resi-
.
dents east of College Avenue and the polling place will be located at the St. Joseph Fire Hall.
PRE-REGISTRATION-
You may register to vote by completing a Voter Registration Application and sub-
mitting it by mail or in-person at the Stearns County Courthouse. For your name to appear on the polling
place roster, register at least 20 days before Election Day. For the 2008 State General Election register by
October 14th. Registering before election day can save you long waits in the precinct.
ELECTION DAY REGISTRATION—Minnesota provides for same day registration provided that you:
?
will be at least 18-years-old on Election Day
?
are a citizen of the United States
?
will have resided in Minnesota for 20 days immediately preceding Election Day
?
have any felony conviction record discharged, expired, or completed
?
are not under court-ordered guardianship where a court has revoked your voting rights have not
been ruled legally incompetent by a court of law
CITY ELECTION —The ballot on November 4, 2008 will include the local election for the Mayor and
Councilor. The Mayor position is a two year term and the City Council position is a four year term with
two positions elected every two years (Even Calendar Years). Affidavits for candidacy have been filed
for the following:
MayorCouncil
Al RassierRenee SymanietzBob Loso
Brian CihacekJoshua WimmerTom Gustafson
Rick Schultz Mike McDonaldHerman Gangl
Ross RiekeSteve Olson
Sean Lathrop
ABSENTEE BALLOTS—If you are unable to vote on election day because you are away from home, ill
or disabled, an election judge serving in another precinct or unable to go to the polling place you can
vote absentee. With absentee voting, you can either vote in person at the Stearns County Auditor-
Treasurer’s Office or by mail. You must submit a written application to the Stearns County Auditor.
The application can be found on the Stearns County website, www.co.stearns.mn.us or by calling their
office at (320) 656-3920.
GENERAL ELECTION INFORMATION.
* Polls are open between 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM. By Statute polls cannot remain open past 8:00
PM. Voters in line to vote at 8:00 PM will be allowed to vote even if the time extends beyond 8:00 PM.
If voters are waiting in line to vote at the end of the day, at 8:00 PM an Election Judge will stand at the
end of the line and all persons waiting to vote in front of the election judge will be allowed to vote.
* Offices included on the November 4, 2008 ballot include: President/Vice President, U. S.
Senator, U. S. Representative, State Representatives, State Judicial Offices and Local Offices.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
I can’t believe it is that
Millstream Arts Festival
time again!!!!
The 2008 Millstream Arts Festival will return to Minnesota
Just a reminder that winter parking
Street in downtown St. Joseph on Sunday, September 28, 2008
from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Millstream brings together great
restrictions take effect November 1. St. Joseph Code
regional artists selling their work in a festival atmosphere with
of Ordinance 84.05 states:
a fabulous lineup of musicians and entertainers throughout the
Section 84.05: SNOW SEASON PARKING.
day, numerous food booths, the famous “Pedal Pub”, and a
children’s art area hosted by the
Subd. 1: There shall be no parking on any City
Paramount Visual Arts Center.
street from November 1 to April 1, during the hours of
2:00 A.M. and 7:00 A.M.
The Arts Festival will include 38 Artists
Bring your family
and 12 food vendors.
Subd. 2: Any vehicles parked in violation of
and spend time Downtown St. Joseph
Section 84.03.1, which interfere with the plowing or
removal of snow, are subject to immediate towing at the
Compost Site
owner's expense.
As long was we are talking about winter, don’t forget
The City compost are will remain open through the end of
about the sidewalk. St. Joseph Code of Ordinances also
October on Wednesdays and Fridays from 4:00 PM to dark and
require
Saturdays from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. If we have an early snow
fall the compost area will close upon the first snow. The
Section 33.03: REMOVAL OF SNOW AND
compost area accepts yard and garden waste.
OBSTRUCTIONS. The owner of each lot, part of lot,
parcel and piece of land within the City shall remove or
In addition there is a separate area for tree
cause to be removed from the sidewalks or walks adjacent
branches. Tree branches must be cut to less
thereto all snow, ice, dirt and rubbish within twenty four
than three feet in length. The City does not
hours after the same has been deposited on the sidewalk or
accept tree trunks.
walk. If such owner fails or
Residents wishing to use this service must
neglects to remove the same
annually purchase a compost permit at
within twenty four hours, the
City Hall .Watch the website for closing
City Council may cause the same
to be removed and shall assess the
cost of removal against the
AARP Driver Safety Program
fronting lots, parts of lots, parcels
and pieces of land.
The City of St. Joseph is excited to sponsor the AARP Senior
Driver Safety Course. The AARP Driver Safety Program is the
Workshop Opportunity
nation’s first and largest refresher course for drivers age 50 and
older that has helped millions of drivers remain safe on the road.
The St. Joseph City Council and St. Joseph Planning
The program will:
Commission have accepted a training opportunity entitled
** Tune up your driving skills and update your knowledge of the
“Growing Green for Growing Communities.” Regional
rules of the road.
experts will discuss options for small to mid-sized cities
that expect growth, but want to plan for economically
** Learn about normal age-related physical changes and how to
viable green space in residential and commercial
adjust your driving to allow for these changes.
developments, effective park design, and storm water
**Reduce your traffic violations, crashes, and chances for injury.
management.
** Get an insurance discount.
The focus will be on the increasingly used principles of low
-impact development and conversation-based design using
The classes will be offered at the Fire Hall, 323—4th Avenue NE.
real examples. Speakers include: Kris Larson—MN Land
The registration fee for the Safety Class is $ 8.00 per person.
Trust, Jay Michels—Emmons & Oliver, Brian Ross—CR
** Initial Course, Saturday, October 4 8AM to 5 PM
Planning.
** Refresher Course, Wednesday, October 5
The workshop will be held on Monday, October 20, 2008 at
PM to 9 PM
the Gorecki Family Theater in the Benedicta Arts Center
from 8AM to 4PM. The registration fee is $ 15.00 per
Register by contacting the City Offices at 320
person and is open to the general public.
-363-7201. Enrollment is limited to St.
Joseph Residents.
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