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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-10 -- Fall-WinterFall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov CORCORAN NEWS Fall/Winter 2021 Homestead by December 15 The homestead classificatfon applies to propertfes that are physically occupied by the owner(s) as the principal place of residence. Classificatfon as a homestead may qualify the property for a reduced classificatfon rate, a reduced taxable market value, a property tax refund, and/or other special program eligibility. The deadline to apply for taxes payable 2022 is December 15, 2021. Apply online or complete a paper applicatfon at www.hennepin.us/ homestead. Mail your completed applicatfon with a copy of your deed to: Hennepin County Assessor 300 S 6th Street, A-2103 Minneapolis, MN 55487 Questfons? Contact: Hennepin County Assessor Email: ao.homestead@hennepin.us Phone: 612-348-3046 Delinquent Assessments All delinquent utflity bills, including water and sewer, dust control, and property maintenance are subject to certfficatfon to Hennepin County for collectfon as part of the 2022 taxes. Outstanding recycling, dust control, and property management charges not paid will be certffied to Hennepin County for collectfon in 2022, as a property tax assessment. Additfonal late charges and fees will be added to the delinquent amount if not paid. On Wednesday, November 10, a public hearing will be held on the assessment of delinquent fees and the City will finalize the certfficatfon process of delinquent charges and fees due. Fall Update New Councilmember Dean Vehrenkamp was appointed to the City Council at the September 9 meetfng following the resignatfon of Manoj Thomas. Dean was previously on the Planning Commission and has been a Corcoran resident for 14 years. 2022 Budget The City Council has adopted the preliminary tax levy for 2022. Detailed informatfon is inside this newsletter and property specific letters will be mailed in November. While the tax levy increases to contfnue to provide services to a growing community, the tax rate is projected to decrease for the fifth year in a row. Northeast Corcoran Land Use Planning A development moratorium is in place for northeast Corcoran while the City Council completes water supply planning and updates the northeast district design guidelines. The City received a grant in the amount of $40,000 to complete the design guideline update. Opportunitfes for public involvement will take place this fall. Fire Service Planning Work contfnues on long-range fire service planning. A four-year work plan was presented to the City Council at a work session on September 23. Development Recent project approvals include Tavera, Rush Creek Reserve, Amberly/Bellwether, and Cook Lake Highlands, to name a few. For more informatfon navigate to the Development Projects page of the City’s website. Software Update Staff is in the process of implementfng new software that will streamline operatfons and allow for improved usability for residents and business owners. This excitfng project will take several months to complete and more informatfon will be available as we incorporate and roll out new features. Lots more There is a lot more going on which you’ll find more informatfon about inside this newsletter. Also remember that you may subscribe to receive City Council packets at www.corcoranmn.gov — Our Government / Council / Agenda Packets. As always, feel free to contact the Council or me with comments or questfons. I can be reached at 763-400-7030 or bmartens@corcoranmn.gov. Have a safe and wonderful fall season! Did you know there are multiple options available to pay your utility bill? • ACH direct payment • Online credit card payment • Payment drop boxes (located at City Hall) *See page 12. Brad Martens City Administrator •Page 2Fall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov Page 5 Parks & Recreation Public Safety Page 9 Environmental Page 10 Corcoran Happenings Budget and Levy Public Safety Page 7 Public Works Page 4 Land Use Applications Page 8 City Updates The Corcoran City Council meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at 7 pm at City Hall unless otherwise posted. The following is a recap of a selection of items discussed at meetings since the last newsletter. A full recap can be found by reviewing the approved City Council minutes at www.corcoranmn.gov — Our Government / Council / Minutes. Rezoning, Preliminary Plat, Planned Unit Development Application for “Amberly and Bellwether” •Approved the items for 192 single family lots (116 additional in Bellwether and 76 as a new neighborhood). PUD Amendment Request for Tavera •Approved a portion of the request for lot number, some additional signage, and a recapture agreement. Three Rivers Park District — Diamond Lake Regional Trail Corridor Alignment •Approved the preferred alignment as presented. Rezoning, Preliminary Plat, and Planned Unit Development Plan for “Cook Lake Highlands” •Approved the items for the 102-unit senior condo, 20 single family villas, 32-unit memory care facility, and daycare facility at 19220 County Road 10. Grading Request for Amberly/Bellwether •Directed staff to draft an agreement to allow early grading with conditions. Improvement Hearing — City Center Drive & 79th Place Improvement Projects •Held the hearing; action on the project to be considered in the future. Dust Control Billing •Directed staff to bill for the 2021 project. NTIA Broadband Partnership Grant Application •Authorized staff to apply for the $5.2 million grant. 1 Night to Unite Resolution Accepting Donations•Approved the resolutions; thanked staff for the all the work to make the event so successful. Northeast Corcoran Water Project •Approved the preliminary design of the northeast water supply project as presented; next steps to decide on type of storage and location. Paving Petition — Park Trail Road •Directed staff to initiate a feasibility study to pave Park Trail Road. Staff Recognition and Updates •The Police Officer oath of office was issued to Josh Lawson.•Pete Ekenberg was recognized for his promotion to Sergeant. •Approved the Public Safety Administrative Manager job description. Council and Commission Updates •Accepted the resignation of Manoj Thomas from the City Council and approved the resolution honoring Manoj on his service. •Appointed Dean Vehrenkamp to the City Council and issued the oath of office. •Directed staff to accept applications to fill the Planning Commission vacancy. Final Plat for “Gordon’s Country Estates First Addition” at 19701 & 19717 Jackie Lane •Approved the lot line amendment as presented. Amendment to Section 1030.020 of the Zoning Ordinance Regarding Accessory Structures •Approved the amendment for sidewall height as presented. Conditional Use Permit for Dave Dornsbach at 6805 Rolling Hills Road•Approved the conditional use permit for a new accessory structure. Sketch Plan at 23185 County Road 10•Provided feedback for the proposed 10 residentfal lots and three commercial lots on the 124-acre parcel. Sign Ordinance Update — Campaign Signs •Provided staff directfon on sign ordinance updates. Corcoran Trail Street Improvements — Award Bid •Awarded the bid for the project. Karinemi Sketch Plan•Council provided feedback on the concept plan. Continued on page 4. Pages 3 Page 6 •Page 3Fall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov NEXT STEP Truth-in-Taxation Hearing Budget Meeting Meetfng format to be determined. Thursday, December 9 at 7 pm Learn More… The entfre budget and related staff reports are available at www.corcoranmn.gov — Our Government / Council / Agenda Packets / 2021-09-23 Council Agenda Packet to view the budget used to set the preliminary levy. City Administrator Brad Martens can be reached at 763-400-7030 or bmartens@corcoranmn.gov for further questfons. 2022 PROPOSED BUDGET AND LEVY The City Council adopted its preliminary levy for 2022 at the September 23 meetfng. This levy amount may be decreased prior to final approval but not increased. This levy amount was used to create the City tax amount you see on your proposed 2022 levies and taxes notfce. WHY IS A PROPERTY TAX NEEDED? Only a small portfon of the City budget is funded through fees or charges for services. For 2022 the portfon proposed to be funded by fees or charges covers only 29% of our expenditures. The remaining 71% is funded through the property tax levy. TAX EFFECT The adopted preliminary levy is in the amount of $5,728,847. This is a $683,470 or 13.55% increase from the 2021 levy. Despite this increase, the tax rate is projected to decrease from 43.522% to 43.168% due to new constructfon. As the City of Corcoran grows it will often be the case to see higher percentage overall levy increases in order to provide services to the new developments. However, it is the goal of the Council to contfnue to lower the overall tax rate year after year, and this goal has been accomplished for the fifth year in a row. A reduced tax rate means that propertfes with no change in value would see a decrease in City taxes. Propertfes with valuatfon increases would likely see an increase. According to the City Assessor, the following average increases took place in Corcoran: Residential: 3.9% Agricultural: -6.2% Commercial: 0.8% Industrial: 5.5% Using this informatfon, a home previously valued at $400,000 (median value) could now be valued at $415,600. The antfcipated tax impact in this example would be as follows: The City Council will contfnue to refine the budget and levy prior to final approval which is antfcipated on December 9. Between now and that tfme the levy can decrease but not increase. Home Value Tax Rate City Tax Tax Capacity 2021 $400,000 43.522% $1,735 $3,988 2022 $415,600 43.168% $1,794 $4,156 2022 Revenue by Category 2022 Expenditure by Category A L LO C AT I O N O F TA X D O L L A R S The median household value in Corcoran is projected to increase to $415,600. The City taxes on a home of that value using the projected tax rate is $1,794 or about $150 per month. The chart below shows where the $1,794 is allocated based upon the overall percentage of City expenditures. Item Annual Cost Monthly Cost Administratfon $438 $37 Planning/Engineering $52 $4 Public Works/Parks $560 $47 Police $444 $37 Fire $97 $8 Transfers/Debt Service $203 $17 TOTAL $1,794 $150 • Page 4 Fall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov Land Use Applications & Final Plats The Corcoran Planning Commission meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7 pm at City Hall unless otherwise posted. The Planning Commission is an advisory board and consists of five regular members, and a City Council liaison that is a non-voting member. The Commission holds public hearings, reviews, and then makes recommendations regarding land use and planning applications to the City Council. Request for Rezoning, Preliminary PUD Development Plan and Preliminary Plat for “Amberly” and “Bellwether” from Pulte Homes (PID 01-119-23-34-002 and 01-119-2343-0002) (city file 21-017) Pulte has submitted a request for approval to allow 192 homes. The Council reviewed a concept plan earlier this year and indicated support. This item was reviewed at the Parks and Trails Commission meetfng May 20, at a public hearing at the July 1 Planning Commission meetfng, and approved by Council on July 22. Conditional Use Permit for Accessory Building Sidewall Height at 6805 Rolling Hills Road (PID32- 119-23-11-0002) (city file 21-018) The applicant is requestfng approval to exceed the sidewall height on a new accessory building in the rear yard. This item was reviewed at a public hearing at the June 3 Planning Commission meetfng where questfons were raised about the sectfon of the Zoning Ordinance regarding accessory buildings. Council approved on September 9. Final Plat for “Gordon’s Country Estates First Addition” at 19701 Jackie Lane and 19717 Jackie Lane (PID 01-119-23-22-0024 and 01-119-23-22-0021) The final plat adjusts the lot line between two existfng parcels and was approved by Council on August 26. Amendments to the text of Chapter 82 (Nuisances) of City Code (city file 21-032) At the June 10 meetfng, Council directed staff to prepare amendments to ease storage for recreatfons from RVs, firewood and lots with more than one street frontage. The Council reviewed a draft ordinance amendment prepared by staff and the City Attorney. Council directed staff to proceed with the draft ordinance with to allow a 25-foot front yard setback for up to two recreatfonal vehicles in additfon to modifying the language to also allow personal recreatfonal vehicles and unoccupied trailers in the front yard. A public hearing was held at the September 23 meetfng and Council approved. Zoning Ordinance Amendment (city file 21-029) Staff is requestfng that the Council consider a text amendment to Sectfon 1030.020 of the Zoning Ordinance regarding accessory structures. The ordinance was amended in 2011 to allow landowners to apply for a conditfonal use permit to exceed the sidewall height for all propertfes regardless of parcel size. As part of the review of a recent applicatfon by David Dornsbach, the City Attorney was asked to review the ordinance and recommends changes before actfng on the landowner request. A public hearing was held at the August 5 Planning Commission meetfng and Council approved at the August 26 meetfng. Code Enforcement To report a nuisance violatfon, contact Code Enforcement at 763-400-7026 codeenforcement@corcoranmn.gov. Public Hearing — Amendment to Chapter 82 (Nuisances) of City Code related to Outside Storage •The public hearing was held and minor amendments to the definitfons of setbacks related to storage were adopted. Draft Solid Waste Collection Ordinance •Council proved feedback on an ordinance aimed at regulatfng garbage haulers to assist with organics recycling requirements. City Park Water Connection •Council approved connectfng the warming house to the City’s water supply. Garages Too Rezoning, Variance, Conditional Use Permit, Site Plan, Preliminary Plat•Garages Too was tabled at the request of the applicant. City Updates Continued... Parks and Trails Update The Corcoran Parks and Trails Commission meets on the third Thursday of the month at 7 pm at City Hall unless otherwise posted. The Parks and Trails Commission serves as an advisory board to the council to provide safe, clean parks and open spaces. The Commission consists of seven regular members. Three Rivers Park District •Recommended approval of the route as presented by Three Rivers Park District. Cook Lake Highlands •Recommended the Council accept the park land as requested by the applicant; recommended no trail connection from the cul-de-sac. 2022 Budget and Fee Schedule •Staff presented recommended changes for the 2022 budget; Commissioners provided feedback. Building Permits Building Permit applicatfons can be found online at www.corcoranmn.gov — Permits & Licenses. The City has a number of guidelines and checklist handouts available to help you with the permit process. Completed permit applicatfons and supplemental informatfon can be submitted to permits@corcoranmn.gov. Online permit payment optfon now available. Permit number and verified total amount due is required before submitting payment. The City of Corcoran also accepts cash and check payment for permit applicatfons. Credit card transactfons over $100 are subject to 3.49% convenience fee. Metro West Inspectfon Services is contracted by the City of Corcoran to conduct plan reviews and inspectfons. Call 763-479-1720 for building code questfons or to schedule an inspectfon. Requests for a Certfficate of Survey can be submitted to permits@corcoranmn.gov. •Page 5Fall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov Parks & Recreation 2021 Corcoran Calendar *Meetings may be held by telephone or by electronic means. Visit www.corcoranmn.gov for updates. Oct 14: City Council Meeting 7 pm — Council Chambers Oct 21: Parks & Trails Commission Meeting 7 pm — Council Chambers Oct 28: City Council Meeting 7 pm — Council Chambers Nov 4: Planning Commission Meeting 7 pm — Council Chambers Nov 10: City Council Meeting (Wednesday) 7 pm — Council Chambers Nov 11: Holiday – City Hall Closed Nov 18: Parks & Trails Commission Meeting 7 pm — Council Chambers Nov 22: City Council Meeting (Monday) 7 pm — Council Chambers Nov 25-26: Holiday – City Hall Closed Dec 2: Planning Commission Meeting 7 pm — Council Chambers Dec 9: City Council Meeting 7 pm — Council Chambers Dec 16: Parks & Trails Commission Meeting 7 pm — Council Chambers Dec 22: City Council Meeting (Wednesday) 7 pm — Council Chambers Dec 24 & 27: Holiday – City Hall Closed Dec 31: Holiday – City Hall Closed Jan 6, 2022: Planning Commission Meeting 7 pm — Council Chambers Jan 10, 2022: Spring Baseball Priority Registration Begins (Corcoran residents only) Jan 13, 2022: City Council Meeting 7 pm — Council Chambers Corcoran Skating Rinks Corcoran's skatfng rinks offer fun and recreatfon for cold weather enthusiasts of all ages. Building and maintaining the rinks depend on many variables. To start making ice, crews need temperatures to be around 0 to –10 degrees Fahrenheit for about one week and approximately four inches of frozen ground. The crews then establish a six-inch base, which will help rinks survive most warm snaps. The final step is to build a smooth “finish surface” on the ice. Every year, Public Works aims to open for the season late December, and weather permitting, remain open untfl late February. Depending on weather conditfons, the Public Works crew cleans and resurfaces the rinks daily, Monday through Friday, and weekend mornings (with roads and public safety being first prioritfes). Inclement weather can cause the rinks to be temporarily closed. Rink closing will be reflected on the weather line at 763-400-7025. HIRING SOON! The City will soon be looking for ice rink attendants! If interested, the application will be posted on www.corcoranmn.gov — How do I? / Apply For / Employment/ Volunteer Opportunities soon and can be emailed to Recreation Coordinator Jessica Christensen Buck at jchristensenbuck@corcoranmn.gov. Like, follow, and watch the City of Corcoran: facebook.com/CorcoranMN facebook.com/CorcoranPDMN @CorcoranMNCity @CorcoranPolice Search: City of Corcoran Minnesota SAVE THE DATE – BASEBALL REGISTRATION! Baseball registratfon opens for residents on Monday, January 10, 2022 for the spring season. Be sure to mark your calendars so you do not miss the chance to register before registratfon opens to all on Tuesday, January 18, 2022. The password for early baseball registratfon is: Early Corcoran Youth Athletics Thank you to all those that partfcipated in Corcoran Parks and Recreatfon programs! A special thank you to all those that volunteered to coach. These programs would not be able to run without your willingness to coach and contfnue to grow the partfcipant’s skills! If you’re interested in coaching your child’s team next year, be sure to mark it when registering. Coaches receive one player reimbursement per team coached. Important dates for 2022 Corcoran Youth Athletics: •January 10 – 17: Priority registratfon for spring baseball opens (Corcoran residents only) •January 18: Registratfon for spring baseball open to all •February 27: Spring baseball registratfon closes •April 4 – 10: Priority registratfon for summer soccer opens (Corcoran residents only) •April 11: Registratfon for summer soccer open to all •April 18: Spring machine pitch baseball begins •April 25: Spring t-ball begins •April 26: Spring coach pitch baseball begins •May 30: Summer soccer registratfon closes •June 20: Fall baseball registratfon opens •July 7: Summer soccer begins •July 24: Fall baseball registratfon closes •August 15: Fall t-ball begins •Page 6Fall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov Public Works City Snowplow Policy The Corcoran Public Works and Police Departments, and Hennepin County Public Works would like to cautfon residents that it is unlawful to dump, plow, or push snow from private driveways onto county roads or city streets whether you are plowing your driveway or you have hired someone to remove snow. Snow dumped on highways or street right-of-ways can create a hazard not only for motorists, but also for snowplows. Even heavy snowplows have been ditched and damaged when hitting compacted and frozen snow. The person responsible for depositfng snow on roadways may also be liable in a civil lawsuit if damages or injuries that occur as a result of this actfon. Under Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 160.2715, RIGHT-OF-WAY USE, violatfon of the above statute is a misdemeanor. City ordinance 130.04 also prohibits the plowing, blowing, shoveling or otherwise placing of snow from sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots onto public roadways. The violatfons are considered a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum $700 fine and/or 90 days in jail. Through the years this issue has become a bigger concern as the community grows. The Corcoran Public Works and Police Departments will be enforcing these laws. Hennepin County Snow and Ice Removal Source: www.hennepin.us/residents/transportation/snow-and-ice Hennepin County plow drivers maintain more than 2,200 lane miles of county roads. Plow drivers help people continue getting where they need to go. This is a big job in the county. Hennepin has a quarter of Minnesota’s population — more than 1.2 million residents. Half of all jobs in the Twin Cities metro region are located in Hennepin County. And, more than 4,200 people who live in other places travel into the county to work each day. For issues related to snow removal on a county road call 612-596-0299. A goal of the Corcoran Public Works Department is to clear snow and ice from City roads as soon as possible. Delays may occur in the event of equipment breakdown or extreme weather conditfons. The safety of the public and the City employees is a top priority. Currently the City of Corcoran has over 70 miles of road and more than 100 cul-de-sacs that are maintained by the Public Works Department. The criteria for the decision to begin snow and/or ice control operatfon are as follows: •Snow accumulatfon of two inches or more warrants the plowing of asphalt roads, two to four inches warrants the plowing of both asphalt and gravel roads dependent on road conditfons. Call out is normally at 2 am when practfcal. •High volume major collector roads and roads with steep hills and curves receive first priority. •Safety of the plow operators and the public are important. Therefore snowplowing operatfons may be terminated after 12 – 14 hours to allow personnel adequate tfme to rest. High winds creatfng white out conditfons could cause suspension of services untfl weather improves. The City assumes no responsibility for damage to underground lawn sprinkling systems, exterior lightfng systems, and similar landscaping installed in the public right-of-way. To review the City approved policy visit www.corcoranmn.gov — Public Services / Public Works / Snow Plowing. Garbage Can Driveway Location During winter months, please be sure to place garbage containers inside your driveway perimeter or boundary on garbage pickup days. Garbage containers should never be placed on the roadway as they are a traffic hazard and an obstacle to the effectfve and safe removal of snow and ice in the winter. Mailbox Reminder Inspect your existfng mailbox post for damage and replace before the winter snowplowing season begins. Ensure your mailbox posts are sturdy, set solidly in the ground, and in good conditfon before the snow falls. Swing-Away Mailbox Post Option Swing-Away Mailbox Posts are designed to reduce or eliminate damages to mail receptacles during inclement weather. The swing-away posts are constructed of galvanized steel and are designed to meet the Postal regulatfons and MNDOT’s specificatfons. An example is currently on display by the main entrance of Corcoran City Hall. Swing-Away Mailbox Posts are available to purchase for $65.00 for the individual product or installed by Corcoran Public Works for $150.00. •Page 7Fall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov Corcoran Police Administrative Office: 763-420-8966 Office Hours: 7:30 am - 4:30 pm, M-F Non-Emergency: 952-258-5321 FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL 911 Public Safety Burning Permits The City has transitfoned to an online process for residents to apply for burn permits. Once approved, the permit will be sent via email. Allow 2-3 business days for online permit payments and 7-10 business days for check or cash permit payments. Contact the Police Administratfve Office at 763-420-8966 with any questfons. Burn permits are required to burn anything larger than a 3’ x 3’ recreatfonal fire, unless there is three inches of snow on the ground. Open Burning: Vegetatfve materials only, clean wood, brush, leaves, grass, etc. All burning must burn with actfve flames, smoldering burns are NOT ALLOWED and must be extfnguished. It is required that someone be present during the entfre burn. To apply for a burn permit or for additfonal informatfon visit www.corcoranmn.gov — Public Services / Police / Burning Regulations/Permits / Burning Permits & Guidelines. Hunting Reminder Many of us look forward to fall as a great tfme to be outdoors. It is possible that you may hear gunshots in the distance when you’re outside. Because huntfng is permissible in most areas of the City of Corcoran, we have citfzens who hunt or allow others to hunt on their property with written permission. To review a copy of the firearm ordinance and regulatfons visit www.corcoranmn.gov — Public Services / Police / Firearm Permits and Hunting / Corcoran's Firearm Ordinance. You will need a license for the game you wish to hunt. A person may not shoot, hunt or discharge a deadly weapon or take a wild animal with a firearm within 500 feet of any structure or corral containing livestock without written permission from the landowner. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) has a vast amount of informatfon on hunter safety, seasons, regulatfons, licenses, and much more. Visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/huntfng/ index.html. Be an ethical hunter and follow safe huntfng practfces. Corcoran PD asks that hunters respect others and their property while huntfng. Everyone has the right to enjoy the outdoors safely. Parking Regulations Parking is prohibited on public streets November 1 - April 1 from 1 am – 7 am and after a snowfall of at least two inches. Parking may not resume until snow has stopped accumulating and the street has been plowed. No vehicle of 10,000 lbs gross weight or greater shall park on any city street unless authorized by the Director of Public Safety or Public Works Director. Any questions in reference to the parking ordinance, please call the police department at 763-420-8966. Operation Lock and Unload The safe storage of firearms is the responsibility of all gun owners. Not only is it the law in Minnesota, but it is a matter of public safety. Educatfng gun owners on the need to take such precautfons has taken on a renewed sense of purpose with the recent surge in firearm sales across the state. There are also people purchasing firearms for the first tfme that are seemingly unaware of the obligatfons that come with gun ownership. This includes making sure firearms are not accessible to children, criminals, and emotfonally distraught individuals. To bring more awareness to this public safety issue, the Corcoran Police Department has undertaken an initfatfve entftled, Operation Lock and Unload. The focus is on the safe storage of firearms, whether at home or some other locatfon. Simply hiding a gun without taking additfonal precautfons is not a safe practfce. Proper safeguards include unloading the firearm, using a trigger or cable lock and placing the gun in a lock box or safe. Ammunitfon should be securely stored away from the firearm. To learn more about firearm safety go to Project ChildSafe at www.projectchildsafe.org. Please join this effort to prevent a needless tragedy from occurring due to the negligent storage of a firearm. The Corcoran Police Department offers free cable locks that will secure most types of guns. •Page 8Fall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov Public Safety continued... Night to Unite Area Snowmobile Trails Source: Northwest Trails Association — www.nwtrails.net Corcoran’s snowmobile trails are setup and maintained by the Northwest Trails Associatfon. Northwest Trails is an organizatfon of enthusiastfc and committed snowmobilers in Hennepin County and the northwest suburbs of Minneapolis, MN. Northwest Trails has created over 150 miles of groomed trails throughout northwestern Hennepin County for all to enjoy. Permission to construct and maintain these trails has been granted by private landowners as well as government agencies. The trail runs through Hennepin County and the park reserves of: Baker, Crow-Hassan, and Elm Creek. The Wright Country Trail System is accessible from several locatfons. The success with the trail system and the acknowledgement of snowmobiling as a sport, is attributed to the willingness of landowners who let snowmobilers travel on their private property. Remember to always stay on the trail. The associatfon is very grateful to all the landowners for extending this privilege to Northwest Trails and the snowmobilers who use the trails. It takes many hours of volunteered labor to mark and maintain the trail system throughout the year. Trails officially open when the snow cover reaches four inches on or after December 1 and closes by April 1. Winter Safety Tips Source: National Safety Council — www.nsc.org Drive Safely in the Snow Driving in the winter means changes in the way you drive. Snow, sleet and ice can lead to hazardous road conditfons. Prepare your vehicle for the upcoming winter season with these helpful tfps. Avoid Shoveling, Snowblowing Injuries Shoveling snow or using a snowblower are among winter's most grueling actfvitfes. High levels of actfvity in cold temperatures put many people at risk of heart attack, especially those that have inactfve lifestyles. Treat Frostbite Immediately Use first aid to help someone who may have hypothermia or frostbite. Online and classroom courses are available at workplaces and other organizatfons through the Natfonal Safety Council. Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Carbon monoxide detectors save lives. Every year, over 400 people die and 50,000 are treated for carbon monoxide poisoning. The most common symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are often described as “flu-like” – headache, dizziness, weakness, upset stomach, vomitfng, chest pain, and confusion. Avoid Injuries While Enjoying the Winter Weather Whether you are skiing, snowboarding, sledding, skatfng, take safety precautfons like learning basic skills and using the appropriate gear for the sport. •Page 9Fall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov Environmental Emerald Ash Borer Source: Minnesota Department of Agriculture and University of Minnesota The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) confirmed the first known presence of emerald ash borer (EAB) in Corcoran in August. EAB is an insect that attacks and kills ash trees and is spread through the transport of firewood. The adults are small, iridescent green beetles that live outside of trees during the summer months. The larvae are grub or worm- like and live underneath the bark of ash trees. Emerald ash borer larvae kill ash trees by tunneling under the bark and feeding on the part of the tree that moves nutrients up and down the trunk. Minnesota is highly susceptfble to the destructfon caused by EAB. The state has approximately one billion ash trees, the most of any state in the natfon. Help limit the spread of EAB •Be aware of what emerald ash borer looks like as well as the symptoms of an EAB infested tree. •Report any suspected insects or declining ash trees. Contact the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) on their Arrest the Pest phone line at 1-888-545-6684 or arrest.the.pest@state.mn.us to report your suspicions. There have been many cases where the public was the first to find an initfal infestatfon in an area. •Don't transport firewood when you go camping or are buying it for home use. Buy the wood you need at local sites or at the campgrounds you are visitfng. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/eab for further informatfon. EAB adult EAB larvae Stormwater Runoff Source: www.dot.ny.gov Stormwater runoff is water from rain or meltfng snow that does not soak into the ground. It flows from rooftops, paved areas, bare soil, and lawns into storm drains or ditches. Storm sewers and ditches collect stormwater runoff and empty it directly to local bodies of water. Ideally, stormwater runoff would be free of contaminants. In reality, it picks up pollutants such as animal waste, pestfcides, fertflizers, salt, oil and grease, soil and debris, and transports them to waterways where they are discharged with no treatment. This is stormwater pollutfon or illicit discharge. Illicit discharge is any discharge to a municipal storm sewer system – storm drains, pipes, and ditches – that is not composed entfrely of stormwater. If you suspect there may be an illicit discharge occurring in the City of Corcoran, complete the complaint form at www.corcoranmn.gov — How do I? / MS4 Corcoran Complaint Form Examples of Illicit Discharges: • Septfc Tank Seepage / Illegal Sanitary Connectfons • Laundry Wastewater / Detergent • Improper Waste Oil Disposal / Auto Fluids Flushing • Home Improvement Waste (e.g. concrete, paint) • Pestfcides and Fertflizers • Improper Disposal of Commercial and Industrial Hazardous Waste • Pool / Spa Discharge • Cooking Grease / Household Waste Benefits of Wetlands Source: www.dnr.state.mn.us/wetlands/index.html There are many types of wetlands in Minnesota, each with widely varying characteristfcs. Some wetlands are dry for much of the year; others are almost always covered by several feet of water. Some wetlands have grasses and sedges, shrubs, or trees. They may be small confined basins or extend for hundreds of miles. It is estfmated that Minnesota has lost about 50 percent of its original wetland acreage. Benefits of wetlands •Erosion control: Wetland vegetatfon reduces wave damage along lakes and stream banks. •Flood control: Wetlands can slow and retain runoff water, reducing the frequency of flooding along streams and rivers. •Groundwater recharge and discharge: Some wetlands recharge groundwater by holding surface water and allowing it to slowly filter into the groundwater reserves. Some wetlands are discharge areas; they receive groundwater even during dry periods, and help maintain flows in nearby rivers and streams.•Water quality: Wetlands protect the water quality of downstream lakes, streams and rivers by removing pollutants. •Rare species habitat: 43 percent of threatened or endangered species in the U.S. live in or depend on wetlands. •Recreation: Wetlands are a great place to canoe, hunt, fish or watch wildlife. •Economic value: Wetlands provide economic commoditfes such as wild rice and bait fish. Types of wetlands •Swamps •Bogs •Marshes •Wet Meadows •Seasonally Flooded Wetlands •Shallow Open Water • Page 10 Fall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov Environmental 2021 Corcoran Recycling Schedule www.randysenviornmentalservices.com Corcoran Happenings Hope Community Church Ladies Christmas Tea and Boutique Date: Saturday, December 4 Time: 3 pm – 5 pm — Christmas Boutique opens at 1 pm All ladies, ages 4 to 104, are cordially invited to attend the 24th Annual Ladies Christmas Tea at Hope Community Church. Come and begin your holiday season in an elegant, festfve setting, enjoying delicious food and beautfful music. You will also have an opportunity to shop at the Holiday Boutfque. Come early to admire the beautfful tables and shop at the boutfque! General tfcket sales open November 7. Purchase tfckets by November 24 at www.myhopecommunity.com or call 763-494-4673. Adults: $20 Young Ladies: (ages 4-10) $12 “Hope Radio Hour” A Festive Evening of Music and Comedy Date: Saturday, December 11 Time: Doors open 6 pm — Event begins 6:30pm The 19th Annual “Hope Radio Hour” is a delightiul night of comedy, laughter, and reflectfon, in celebratfon of the birth of Christ. Enjoy creatfve comedy skits and beautfful musical performances. Get your tfckets early as there will be limited seatfng capacity due to social distancing restrictfons. If you are unable to join in person, the event will stream live on www.myhopecommunity.com and on Facebook (@myhopecommunity). Tickets go on sale November 7 and can be purchased at www.myhopecommunity.com. Tickets: $10/person Organics Recycling — www.hennepin.us/organics • Page 11 Fall/Winter 2021 www.corcoranmn.gov City of Corcoran Welcomes Staff Jodie Peterson joined the Administratfon Department as the new Accountant. Eric Gregory joined the Public Works Department as a new Maintenance Worker. City Information City of Corcoran Contact Information City Hall —763-420-2288|Police —763-420-8966|Public Works —763-420-2652 www.corcoranmn.gov Administration Department Brad Martens Jessica Beise City Administrator Administratfve Services Director bmartens@corcoranmn.gov jbeise@corcoranmn.gov 763-400-7030 763-400-7029 Maggie Ung Jodie Peterson Finance Manager Accountant mung@corcoranmn.gov jpeterson@corcoranmn.gov 763-400-7032 Michelle Friedrich Natalie Davis McKeown Deputy Clerk Planner mfriedrich@corcoranmn.gov ndavis@corcoranmn.gov 763-400-7031 763-258-4272 Jessica Christensen Buck Shawna Zuther Recreatfon Coordinator Administratfve Assistant jchristensenbuck@corcoranmn.gov szuther@corcoranmn.gov 763-400-7034 763-400-7027 Police Department Matt Gottschalk Ryan Burns Paula Steelman Director of Public Safety Lieutenant Public Safety Administratfve Mgr. mgottschalk@corcoranmn.gov rburns@corcoranmn.gov psteelman@corcoranmn.gov 763-420-8966 763-420-8966 763-400-7002 Public Works Department Kevin Mattson Pat Meister Mike Pritchard Public Works Director Public Works Supt. Constructfon Services Coord. kmattson@corcoranmn.gov pmeister@corcoranmn.gov mpritchard@corcoranmn.gov 763-400-7028 763-400-7037 763-400-7033 City Assessor City Planner City Building Inspector Hennepin County Assessor Kendra Lindahl, Landform Metro West Inspections 612-348-3046 612-638-0225 763-479-1720 assessor.ao@hennepin.us klindahl@landform.net Homestead Classification Recycling Septic Systems 612-348-3046 Randy’s Environmental Hennepin County ao.homestead@hennepin.us 763-972-3335 612-543-5200 Hennepin County Public Works— Dispatch/Roads 612-596-0299 Utility Billing Questions: General Inquiries/Concerns: utflitybilling@corcoranmn.gov general@corcoranmn.gov Permit Submission & Survey Requests: Code Enforcement: permits@corcoranmn.gov codeenforcement@corcoranmn.gov 2020 Census Numbers According to the United States Census Bureau, as of April 1, 2020, the City of Corcoran had 2,244 housing units, 2,174 households, and 6,185 people. Household size averaged 2.84 persons per household. To view the summary report visit metrocouncil.org/ METC/media/Census2020/ CensusReport_13168_Corcoran.pdf Planning Commission The City of Corcoran is acceptfng applicatfons for a vacant Planning Commission seat. The Planning Commission reviews land use applicatfons and meets the first Thursday of every month. The applicant will serve the remaining term through February 2022. Applicatfons are due October 20 at 4 pm. Visit www.corcoranmn.gov — Our Government / Commissions or contact City Administrator Brad Martens at bmartens@corcoranmn.gov or 763-400-7030 for more informatfon. 8200 County Road 116 Corcoran, MN 55340 PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID ROGERS, MN PERMIT NO. 98 General Information • Page 12 www.corcoranmn.gov Fall/Winter 2021 City of Corcoran Main Office — 763-420-2288 City of Corcoran meetfngs can be viewed via video links at www.corcoranmn.gov. Upcoming Meetings City Council Meetings Oct 28, Nov 10 & 22, Dec 9 & 22, Jan 13 & 27, 2022 7 pm Parks & Trails Commission Meetings Oct 21, Nov 18, Dec 16 & Jan 20, 2022 7 pm Planning Commission Meetings Nov 4, Dec 2 & Jan 6, 2022 7 pm City Website www.corcoranmn.gov Corcoran News is published quarterly by the City of Corcoran to update residents and businesses on city government news. City Council Tom McKee, Mayor tmckee@corcoranmn.gov Jon Bottema, Councilor jbottema@corcoranmn.gov Alan Schultz, Councilor aschultz@corcoranmn.gov Jeremy Nichols, Councilor jnichols@corcoranmn.gov Dean Vehrenkamp, Councilor dvehrenkamp@corcoranmn.gov City Administrator Brad Martens 763-400-7030 bmartens@corcoranmn.gov Utility Payment Options The City of Corcoran offers multfple payment optfons to conveniently pay your city utflity bill. Direct Payment ACH Direct payment guarantees bills are paid in full and on tfme each month by automatfcally deductfng payment from a checking or savings account. Email utflitybilling@corcoranmn.gov or visit www.corcoranmn.gov — Our Community / New Resident Information / Water and Sewer Information for the ACH applicatfon and informatfon on how to enroll. Online Credit Card Payment Visit https://cityofcorcoran.revtrak.net to complete your online payment. Drop Box Payment Outdoor drop box: submit all utflity service applicatfons and payments, ACH direct payment applicatfons, and other general City business 24 hours a day, seven days a week by using the secure drop box located outside of the main City Hall entrance. New indoor drop box: secure indoor optfon available to residents during business hours. This drop box is located just inside City Hall to the right of the front counter window. Contact utflitybilling@corcoranmn.gov with any questfons regarding your utflity bill or to begin/stop service. Subscribe to the City Newsletter Visit www.corcorcoranmn.gov — Our Community / What’s New / Newsletters and look for the gray BELL icon with Subscribe and follow the prompts. CORCORAN NEWS Yard Waste and Compost The City of Corcoran currently does not have a compost or yard waste site. The nearest site available for residents is the Maple Grove Yard Waste Site. For a small fee Corcoran residents can drop off yard waste, which includes leaves, grass clippings, brush, and logs up to 10” in diameter. Maple Grove Yard Waste Site 10300 Maple Grove Parkway North Maple Grove, MN 8 am— 7 pm Mon- Sat, 11 am— 7 pm Sun Open through November 30 Visit www.mgyardwaste.com or call 763-420-4886 for more information.