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From Your Mayor
Happy Fall! I'm sorry to say that the cold weather has arrived. However, it was really nice to see so many residents and visitors out enjoying our beautiful city this past summer.
Although it's often easy to overlook the complex system of water and sewer infrastructure below our feet, ensuring that it works effectively around the clock is one of the primary responsibilities of City government. To that end, one of the unfortunate realities of our role as the Spring Park City Council is to periodically review and amend the water and sewer utility fees to keep up with the necessary repairs and maintenance. Recently, the City Council reviewed several years of past financial audits to get a better idea of the overall financial strength of our water and sewer utility funds. The findings of this review showed that these two funds were at a point where small adjustments would be needed in order to keep them solvent for the foreseeable future. For this reason the City Council recently voted unanimously to phase in moderate increases to the utility rates over the course of a three year period beginning in 2019. Prior to this action, the City last increased its utility rates in 2008.
While the City works diligently to run our utility operations as efficiently as possible, the revenue generated by the current fee structure is no longer capable of keeping up with the costs of operating the water and sewer systems in an environment where nearly all of the City's costs have increased substantially over the past decade. For example, the annual amount that the City pays to the Metropolitan Council alone for sanitary sewer treatment has increased 32% from $162,522 to $215,331 just since 2013. Under the newly adopted rates typical residential users will see their quarterly utility bill increase in the range of $10-$15 under the first phase of increases beginning in 2019. If you would like to see how the rates will affect you specifically based on your average usage please call City Hall at (952) 471-9051 and ask staff to perform a utility bill analysis.
Your Mayor,
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News From Around the Lake
Attention Snowbirds & (Lucky) Winter Travelers
Water Shut-Off Requests ~
Don't forget to contact the Utility Billing Department before you leave town for the winter if you would like to schedule an appointment to have your home's water turned-off at the street. Contact Sharon at (952) 471-9051 to schedule an appointment and for more tips on winterizing your home before you leave.
Orono Police Vacation Checks ~ If you are going out-of-town for a week, or even the entire winter, the Orono Police Department offers a free service to check your house while you are away. Reserve officers will periodically come to your home and make sure all windows and doors are secure. If packages are left at your doorstep, or your mail is overflowing, they will call a person you have designated as your "key holder." Contact Spring Park City Hall at (952) 471-9051 to receive a "House Check Form" or visit the Orono PD website at http://www.ci.orono.mn.us/164/Vacation-Checks.
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From the City Desk
Election 2018
Don't forget to vote on Tuesday, November 6 at City Hall from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Laker's "Spring Park Candidate Issue" will be published in mid-October. You can also view candidate statements online at http://www.lmcc-tv.org.
Absentee Voting
- Absentee Vote In Person - You may vote in person at Spring Park City Hall during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Voters can either complete their ballot in person and turn in their envelope the same day or they can take their ballot with them and mail it back in the postage paid return envelope.
- Absentee Vote By Direct Ballot - Beginning Tuesday, October 30 voters can apply for, vote, and deposit their absentee ballot into the ballot counter at City Hall just like on Election Day! This is a good option for people who are unable to stand for longer periods of time since City Hall will have more tables and chairs setup for voters. Please note that voters can only deposit their ballots into the ballot counter if the voter and their ballot remain in the polling place just like on Election Day.
- Absentee Vote By Mail - You can have your absentee ballot mailed to you by applying at MNvotes.org or by contacting Hennepin County Elections at (612) 348-5151 for an application. If returning your ballot by mail, your voted ballot must be received by Hennepin County Elections on or before Election Day.
- Extended Hours for Absentee Voting - City Hall will be open for absentee voting on Saturday, November 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and extended hours on Monday, November 5 until 5 p.m.
Help Reduce Lines on Election Day
- Voter Registration on Election Day - Voters in Minnesota can
 register to vote at the polling place on November 6. Knowing what you need to register to vote on Election Day and bringing that information with you will make your Election Day experience much smoother and faster. To find out what you can use as your proof of residence when registering on Election Day, visit the Secretary of State's website. If you are unsure if your registration is current, go to MNvotes.org to check your voter registration status or call Theresa at City Hall (952) 471-9051.
- Be Prepared - Voters who don't know what is on the ballot until they walk into City Hall on Election Day can occupy a voting booth for a longer period of time which can create a backlog of voters. In an effort to inform voters prior to Election Day the City sent blue sample ballots along with the mailed newsletter in mid-October. Sample ballots are also be on display at City Hall and on the City's website at www.ci.spring-park.mn.us/vote.
Budget Process
2019 Proposed Tax Levy
The City Council recently met to review the first draft of the City's 2019 budget and to approve a preliminary tax levy of $1,073,764, which represents a 3.0% increase from the 2018 tax levy. The Council will be hosting a truth in taxation meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 3 before adopting the final 2019 budget and tax levy. In the meantime, residents and business owners will be receiving their preliminary tax statements from Hennepin County.
Street Sweeping and Hydrant Flushing
Street Sweeping
Street sweeping will occur in late Fall.
Hydrant Flushing
The City will be flushing hydrants from October 22 - 26 (weather permitting). Flushing hydrants may cause water discoloration issues. Residents are advised against doing laundry, especially white clothing, while crews are in the area.
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City of Spring Park, Minnesota
4349 Warren Ave
Spring Park, MN 55384
www.ci.spring-park.mn.us |
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Council Meetings
:
7 p.m.
Oct 15; Nov 13 (Tue); Dec 3, 17
Council Work Sessions:
Planning Commission
:
No Sort Recycling:
Fridays
Oct 19; Nov 2, 16, 30; Dec 14, 29 (Sat)
Hydrant Flushing:
Oct 22 - 26
Fall Clean-Up Day:
Saturday, Nov 3
General Election:
Tuesday, Nov 6
City Hall Closed:
Nov 12, 22, 23; Dec 24, 25;
Jan 1
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COUNCIL
Mayor: Jerry Rockvam
Council Members:
Pamela Horton
Gary Hughes
Catherine Kane Palen
Megan Pavot
PLANNING COMMISSIONERS
Chair: Jeff HoffmanMax Avalos Bruce Homan Pete Kaczanowski Michael Mason |
| Mound Fire Department 2415 Wilshire Blvd Mound, MN 55364-1001 Phone: (952) 472-3555 Orono Police Department: 2730 Kelley Parkway Orono, MN 55356 Phone: (952) 249-2700 Main (952) 258-5321 (Non emergency)
911 - Emergency
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