HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.01.24
Sept/Oct
2024
Annual Fall Cleanup—October 19th
Residents who participate in the City Refuse Program are eligible to place additional refuse curbside at no additional
charge. All refuse must be out by 6AM on Oct. 19th and items are limited to a 6ft x 6ft area.
Exceptions (include but are not limited to): Appliances, electronics, tires, pollutants, yard waste, construction waste,
computer monitors and televisions.
Appliance & Electronic Collection October 19th, 8AM—Noon
Appliance & Electronic Collection will take place at the St. Joseph Public Works Facility located at 1855 Elm St E.
There is a limit of 2 appliances/electronics per household. Please be prepared to present your ID to confirm
residency.
Water Meter Replacement Program. The city is converting to cellular read ultrasonic meters. In August 2022,
the city implemented a mandatory water meter replacement program. This program will be conducted in phases over
the next several years. This year 500 accounts have been selected for conversion. These account holders have been
notified in a letter that was sent in early August. Cellular read meters allow consumers the ability to monitor their
water usage in real time. Water leaks such as a dripping faucet or running toilet could be caught early, potentially
avoiding a high water bill. If you are interested in converting in 2025, please call 320-363-7201, option 1 to get on the
waiting list.
Wipes and Personal Hygiene Products Clog Pipes
Wet wipes are used for many purposes from household cleaning to personal care. Often,
they are marked as flushable; this is not the case. Wipes should never be put down the toilet.
They do not break down or biodegrade like toilet paper does. Want to test it for yourself?
Using two separate bowls of water, place a wipe in one and toilet paper in the other. Put your
timer on for 10 minutes. The results will speak for themselves. In fact, sanitary napkins, paper
towels and tissues should also not go in the toilet. When in doubt, throw it out. If you don’t
know if it is flushable, put it in the trash instead.
Flushable wipes can cause blockages in your home, resulting in costly repair bills. When they make it into the public
wastewater system, they block sewer pipes, pumps and other equipment, causing overflows, backups and other
damage. The considerable damage they cause leads to expensive repairs and in turn, could lead to an increase in fees
on utility bills. In 2019, the National Association of Clean Water Agencies estimated that wipes are costing
approximately “$441 million dollars a year in additional operating costs in the collection systems of U.S. clean water
utilities.”
Please do your part to keep your plumbing and our city water system running efficiently and effectively.
Attention Seasonal Residents
Are you planning on heading south for the winter? A resident that is absent from their
residence for at least 30 consecutive days may qualify to temporarily suspend garbage/
recycling services. There is a simple form to complete, sign, and date. You may find the
form on the utility billing tab of our website.
Residents of St. Joseph… As we look back at the past several months, we have witnessed a wealth of ground-
breaking ceremonies, new business openings and unique events – Hanson Woodwork, The House, WR Littles,
CGMC Summer Conference just to name a few.
College is back in session, having witnessed the mass move-in days of students. It reminds me of the upcoming shift
in seasons from summer to fall. Soon the leaves will change color and temperatures will be falling.
Events coming up in September:
Friday, September 27th – Bad Habit: Badtoberfest
Saturday, September 28th – Rocktoberfest
There are several candidates for both Mayor and the two open council seats in St. Joseph.
Mayor: Adam Scepaniak, Jon Hazen, Bob Loso
Council: Troy Goracke, Kelly Beniek, Adam Schnettler
I am confident each will represent our city to the best of their abilities. Please get out and listen to these candidates
and VOTE on or before November 5th!
The City Council and I have entered another budget season. We are all committed to investing in infrastructure,
parks, trails and recreation activities, while keeping your taxes as low as possible. We have demonstrated this
commitment through several recent improvement projects, increased enforcement of city ordinance, enhanced
security and partnerships with local organizations.
September is National Suicide Prevention Month – a time that serves as a powerful reminder that there are steps we
all must take in looking out for loved ones, the people in our community, and those who have been impacted by this
leading cause of death.
Mayor Rick Schultz
2024 Street Improvement Project
The 2024 Street Improvement project consists of improvements to the following areas: 295th Street, Kale Court,
Kiwi Court, 304th Street, Pearl Drive, Liberty Pointe Trail, and Klinefelter Park Trail. The general contractor is
Knife River Corporation. The project is anticipated to begin the week of September 9th, continuing through the
month of September into early October, weather permitting.
Parking Restrictions Begin November 1st
No parking is allowed on city streets between the hours of 2AM – 7AM from November 1st – April 1st.
2025 Budget
The St. Joseph City Council is preparing the 2025 budget, levy, and fee schedule. The final 2025 budget and levy
must be adopted by December 28, 2024. The city will hold a public hearing on December 2, 2024 at 6PM on the
proposed 2025 budget, levy and fee schedule. The current proposals can be found on the city’s online digital
budget book at https://city-saint-joseph-mn-budget-book.cleargov.com/18352.
Pickleball Courts Construction Underway!
The city will have four outdoor pickleball courts in Millstream Park. Construction is currently underway.
Construction is planned through October, weather depending. If there is early frost, some pavement curing will
finish in the Spring of 2025.
Clean Water Starts with You! Leaves decompose and restock the soil with nutrients and organic matter;
however, when there is no soil to land on – such as on a street, driveway, or sidewalk – the leaves can be washed
down into the storm drains. Storm drains go directly into our local lakes, ponds and rivers. Leaves in the storm
drains promote algae growth. Algae uses up oxygen that fish and native plants need. Please remember to continue
to clean out storm drains near your property.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
A number of projects have kicked off in St. Joseph over the past few months.
Hansen and Company Woodworks – 2040 Jasmine Court
o Broke ground end of July on a $20 million investment
with new state-of-the-art 92,000 square foot facility.
o Retention of over 60 jobs in the community
The House l Food
and Tap –
13 2nd Ave NW
o Broke ground on Aug. 19th
o Building will have 3 Commercial kitchen spaces, coffee bar
(Eminent Coffee Roasters), and self-tap pour wall with 30
choices
o Kitchen Spaces include: 98 Hawaiian Grille, Joetown
Smashburger, Birdie’s Pizza and Garden Bar
Braegelmann Buildings – 803 21st Ave NE
o Broke ground in late August for two 3,500 + square foot spec buildings. Plans call for additional
buildings in future phases
Promotional Resources Expansion – 702 19th Ave NW
o Broke ground in June on a 16,000 square foot expansion
Expansion of WR Home with WR Littles -
o Brand new baby and children’s boutique opened on August 17th
Sal’s Bar
o Brand new outdoor patio opened in late August
American Legion
o New siding and insulation on the Western portion of building
Sampling of upcoming projects scheduled to break ground later this year:
Interstate Bearing – 622 Elm St E
o 16,500+ square foot building
o 15-18 new jobs
Floor to Ceiling – 942 21st Ave NE
o 13,900 + square foot building
Premier Stone – Address TBD but location is off Jasmine Court
o 18,500 + square foot building
Feedmill building – 454 1st Ave NE
o removal of Eastern portion of building where roof has collapsed
o removal of Western grain elevator
o sealing of building to protect from further water damage/intrusion.
The city expresses profound gratitude for every project and investment in the community and sincere thanks for
choosing St. Joseph for their projects. For any questions on development activity please contact:
Nate Keller, Community Development Director
nkeller@cityofstjoseph.com 320.557.3524 (cell)
PARKS & RECREATION
Youth Soccer Ages 7-11, Tuesdays & Thursdays, Sept. 17th – 26th, 6:30-7:30PM, Kennedy
Community School, $20. Youth soccer’s emphasis is on fun, developing good sportsmanship, and learning the
basic skills of the game. Please wear athletic clothing, athletic footwear, and bring a water bottle. Everyone plays in
every game and all skill levels are welcome. https://secure.rec1.com/MN/st-joseph-mn/catalog.
Adult Softball Tournament, Sept. 21st at 9AM, Millstream Park, $100/team. Registration deadline is
September 14th. Prizes for the top 3 teams. All other teams will receive drinks from local establishments. There is a
free agent category for those that want to play, but do not have a team. Register at https://secure.rec1.com/MN/st-
joseph-mn/catalog.
Youth Basketball Ages 7-11, Tuesdays & Thursdays, Oct. 15th-24th, 6:30-7:30PM, Kennedy
Community School, $20. The focus of this program will be the fundamentals of basketball and how to use
them in a team setting. Players will be taught the property way to shoot, dribble, pass, catch, defend, rebound, and
most importantly to have fun! We will also do some 1 on 1 and 3 on 3 situations. Please bring your own water
bottle. https://secure.rec1.com/MN/st-joseph-mn/catalog
Halloween Adult Dodgeball, Oct. 29th, 6PM, Kennedy Community School, $20 per team of 8.
Come and battle for the bragging rights of the best dodgeball team in St. Joseph! Put on your best costume and
gather 8 of your co-workers/friends and join the challenge. There will be prizes for the top two teams as well as for
the best costume! This will be a double elimination tournament. https://secure.rec1.com/MN/st-joseph-mn/catalog
Kids Dodgeball Ages 7-13, Tuesdays Nov. 12th, 19th, 26th. 6:30-7:30PM, Kennedy Community
School, $20. Join the fun playing games of dodgeball/trench/team elimination with 8” nerf balls. Wear tennis
shoes and bring a water bottle. https://secure.rec1.com/MN/st-joseph-mn/catalog
Youth Volleyball for 3rd – 5th graders, Tues. & Thurs. Nov 12th – 21st, 6-7PM, Kennedy Community
School, $10. Participants will be introduced to basic volleyball skills including passing, setting, hitting, and
serving. Please dress in athletic clothing and tennis shoes. Registration for this program is through ISD 742.
https://isd742.ce.eleyo.com/course/6692/fall-youth/youth-volleyball-grades-3-5#2801-24f1.
“Where’s Mayor Rick?” Scavenger Hunt. Starting Monday, October 7th, find “Mayor Rick” in various areas
throughout the city. The first 3 people to get the 4 locations correct will win a prize from Modern Barnyard or
Bruno Press. Hunt ends Sunday, October 13th. Email rjuell@cityofstjoseph.com with the locations. Good Luck!
Free Senior Events, St. Joseph Fire Hall, everyone 60+ is welcome.
Oct. 10th, 12-1PM, games including Cribbage, Sequence, Blokus
Oct. 10th and Nov. 14th 1:30-3:30PM, play 500 and enjoy treats/coffee/cocoa
Pickleball starts Oct. 21st, Kennedy Community School, $2/person/time.
Mon. & Wed. 6-9PM; Sat. & Sun. 8AM-12PM.
Senior Yoga, Wednesdays, 1:30-2:30PM, Heritage Hall. Call (320) 255-7245 to register. Increase your
flexibility, balance, and range of motion as you move your entire body through a series of seated and standing yoga
poses. Optional chair support provides added stability when needed.
Senior Enhance Fitness: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30-2:30, Heritage Hall. Call (320) 255-7245 to
register. Improve the overall functional fitness and well-being of older adults.
The General Election is Tuesday, November 5, 2024
All polling places will be open from 7AM—8PM
What’s on Your Ballot? There are 3 local seats up for election in 2024; the Mayoral Seat and 2 City
Council Seats. The following residents have filed for office:
Mayor Council (vote for up to 2)
Adam Scepaniak Troy Goracke
Jon Hazen Kelly Beniek
Robert Loso Adam Schnettler
To view a complete sample ballot, go to mnvotes.org
Voter Registration: Pre-register for the General Election by October 15th. You can register to vote online at
https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/VoterRegistration/VoterRegistrationMain.aspx. Pre-registering will result in
shorter wait times on Election Day!
Absentee Voting: Absentee voting begins September 20th. St. Joseph residents can vote by absentee in
person or by mail.
In person at:
•St. Cloud City Lake George Municipal Complex, 1101 7th St S. Hours are 8AM-4:30PM., Monday through
Friday; Saturdays, Oct. 26th & Nov. 2nd from 9AM-3PM; Sun. Nov. 3rd from 9AM-3PM.
•Stearns County Service Center, 3301 County Road 138. Hours are 8AM-4:30PM., Monday through Friday;
Saturdays, Oct. 26th & Nov. 2nd from 9AM-3PM; Sun. Nov. 3rd from 9AM-3PM.
By Mail: Apply for an absentee ballot online at mnvotes.org or contact the Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer’s
office and an application will be mailed to you. The ballot will be mailed with instructions on how to complete
the process and return it to the Stearns County Election Office. Voters can then track their ballots online at
mnvotes.org.
Early Voting at City Hall: St. Joseph Residents will have the opportunity to vote at the St. Joseph
Government Center 1 week prior to Election Day. The available dates/times are as follows:
• Oct. 29th—Nov. 1st 8:00AM-4:30PM
• Nov. 2nd 9:00AM-3:00PM
• Nov. 4th 8:00AM-5:00PM
Where Should You Vote? St. Joseph has 2 precincts.
Precinct 1 polling place—Heritage Hall, 12 MN St W. All residents residing WEST of College Avenue/CR2 will
vote here. All residents residing NORTH of County Road 75 will also vote here.
Precinct 2 polling place—St. Joseph Government Center, 75 Callaway St E. All residents residing SOUTH of
CR75 and EAST of College Ave/CR2 will vote here.
Direct local election questions to:
City Clerk Kayla Klein
kklein@cityofstjoseph.com | 320-229-9421
**Precinct Map is on the next page**