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Home My WebLink About03.01.22In the Know in St. Joseph March 2022 Utility Bill Payment Assistance Program The City of St. Joseph has partnered with the State of Minnesota to offer assistance to city residents with their water bills. Please visit www.cityofstjoseph.com and click on the MN Energy Assistance Program at the top of the home page. Compost Permits Available Soon! The compost site will open May 1st, weather permitting. Site hours are Monday, Wednesday, Friday 4 -7 PM; Sat- urday 8:00 AM—Noon. Permits will be available for pur- chase by the end of March. Frozen Service Line Prevention Check your water temperature. If it’s below 38°, run your water at a pencil-sized stream 24/7. This is a cheaper al- ternative to having your water service thawed in the event of a frozen line. Annual Spring Cleanup—May 21st Residents who participate in the City Refuse Program are eligible to place additional refuse curbside at no additional charge. All refuse must be out curbside by 6AM on the 21st 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 Dropoff May 21st, 8AM—Noon The appliance & electronic drop-off is at the St. Joseph Public Works Facility located at 1855 Elm St E. There is a limit of two items per household. Please be prepared to present your ID to confirm residency. 2022 UTILITY RATES/PER BILL CYCLE Water Usage $5.25 per 1,000 gallons Water Line Charge $24.00 Sewer Usage $6.10 per 1,000 gallons Sewer Line Charge $34.00 State Surcharge $1.62 60 gal Recycling $15.80 90 gal Recycling $22.10 30 gal Refuse & Sr. Rate $19.00 60 gal Refuse $20.50 90 gal Refuse $24.50 Refuse Tax 9.75% Street Light Utility $4.80 Stormwater $14.00 Residents of St. Joseph… GO PAPERLESS. Save yourself some hassle by going paperless with your utility bill. You can setup auto pay for your account so you never have to worry about late fees again. Setting up and monitoring your account is simple and easy. Go to the City’s website, under Utility Billing and you will find the links to pay automatically. 1. Direct Payment Authorization: Submit a completed Authorization for Direct Payment Form and your utility bill payment will automatically be withdrawn from your account on the 15th of every even numbered month. 2. Online Bill Pay. Pay online with the City’s secure payment portal. Create an account and setup your recur- ring online payment by check, savings account, or credit card. If you have any questions, please reach out to City staff. Happy Spring!! Warmer weather is near and soon the trees will start to get their leaves and we will see green again. As snow and ice are melting, I encourage you to keep the storm drains in your area free from ice and snow. On Saturday, April 16th, the St. Joseph Jaycees will host their annual Easter Egg Hunt. Look for a flyer soon. Cue up to the David Bowie music: “Ch-ch-ch-ch- changes!” I am referring to all the construction changes around town. We have a lot of great things happening in St. Joseph. The expansion of Bad Habit Brewing Co.; the remodel of the old fire hall, and other construction in the downtown area. We also welcome Jolie Olie’s Sweet Shoppe and Amy Hedtke Insurance to our City. It ’s OK to not be OK, and it’s good to get help! People of all different backgrounds and demographics experi- ence mental health crises. There are local and national resources to help those in need. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, here are some resources to help: • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support. Call 1-800-273-8255. Be- ginning July 16, 2022, the Lifeline can be reached by dialing 988. • Crisis Text Line offers 24/7 help anywhere in the United States via text or WhatsApp. Text 741741 • Stearns County Adult Mental Health Crisis Response Phone Number: 1-800-635-8008. Mayor Rick Schultz Mark Your Calendars April 15th—City Offices Closes at Noon April 7th—Tornado Drills at 1:45 PM & 6:45 PM Severe Weather Awareness Week May 30st—Memorial Day, City Offices Closed Community Development Update As construction season approaches, we would like to re- mind you of the types of projects that require a permit with the city. Projects include: fences, accessory struc- tures, parking pads, decks, roofing, windows and siding. Permit applications and additional information can be found at www.cityofstjoseph.com under the Building De- partment tab. Dog Licensing: The city no longer requires an annual license for dogs. Dog owners should have their dogs leased at all times while off their property except in the established city dog park. A current rabies vac- cination record is still required and owners will have to submit vaccination records upon request. Fire Mitigation & Spring Safety Tips • Daylight Savings Time begins March 13th. This is a great time to check smoke detector batteries and re- place if necessary. There should be a smoke detector in every bedroom and at least on every level of your home. • Check fire extinguishers and recharge if needed • Inspect gas grills, including gas hoses & propane tanks prior to use. • Review your family’s Fire Escape Plan • Store fuel for lawn & garden equipment, pesticides, and chemicals in a safe/approved container and out of the reach of children. 2021 was very busy with development activity and 2022 is shaping up to be just as busy! Highlights include: • Sale of the Village/Fire Hall building on 1st Ave NW • Bad Habit Brewing Expansion • Redevelopment of the property at 414 8th Ave NE. • Remodel and redevelopment of commercial properties along Ash St W near the Post Office • Townhome development, near Kennedy Community School is planned for construction in 2022 Clean Water Starts with You! Safely Deposit Pharmaceuticals – A secured drop box for unused prescriptions is located outside on the west side of the Government Center. Keep a Lid on Trash – Refuse carts left open cause gar- bage to fall out into storm drains. Avoid over-filling and properly bag your garbage. Tap not Bottled – Tap water is the smarter option. Plas- tic bottle production and disposal can cause many envi- ronmental hazards. Properly Dispose of Hazardous Waste – Stearns County’s hazardous waste drop off site is just a few miles east of St. Joseph. It is easy to drive up and drop off your toxic wastes at no cost. Keep Fat, Grease & Cooking Oil Out of our Plumb- ing – Grease and oils clog up not only your pipes, but also the city’s pipes. Properly dispose leftover fat in sealable containers and then into the trash. The City of St. Joseph is accepting applications for the St. Joseph Volunteer Fire Department. Members are paid per response and training will be provided. Posi- tions are open until filled. Apply online at www.cityofstjoseph.com. Park & Recreation Events More information on each event can be found at www.cityofstjoseph.com. March Madness Game Nights: Come out to Neighbor’s Route 75 Bar & Grill on March 17th for Trivia Night and March 24th for Family Feud. Events start at 6:30PM. Spring Scavenger Hunt: Every Monday in April a spring related item will be hidden in Klinefelter Park for you to find and take a picture with. Take pictures with all four items and be entered to win a prize. Chalk the Walk: 1:00 PM on April 23rd at Klinefelter Park. Take a lap around the Kline- felter trail and then draw colorful spring picture on the path with chalk. Kids Bike Safety Event: Join the St. Joseph Women of Today for the 2nd Annual Bike Safety Event on May 14th from 10AM-Noon at Klinefelter Park. Free bike helmets for the first 100 kids. Kids can enter their name into draw- ings to win a free bike and other fun prizes. Youth Summer Softball/Baseball/Soccer Leagues: Sign up by May 27th. Fee is $20. Newmie Baseball Camp: May 14 & 21. Registration closes May 1st. Register at City Hall or www.cityofstjoseph.com.