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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10 -- Fall-WinterHomestead 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 2020 is December 15, 2019. A Certfficate of Real Estate Value (CRV) must be filed before homestead can be granted, and a copy of the warranty deed needs to be included with the homestead applicatfon. Visit the link below for more informatfon: Hennepin County Resident Link or www.hennepin.us/residents/property/ homestead. 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 2020 taxes. Outstanding recycling, dust control, and property management charges not paid will be certffied to Hennepin County for collectfon in 2020, as a property tax assessment. Additfonal late charges and fees will be added to the delinquent amount if not paid. On October 24, 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/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us CORCORAN NEWS Fall/Winter 2019 City Administrator Update 2019 contfnues to bring a great deal of actfvity in the City of Corcoran. I know it can be difficult to stay on top of all that is happening, especially so in the summer months. Here is a brief recap to catch you up on some of the larger items you should know about: Recreation Program Success This summer baseball and soccer were officially transitfoned to the City for programming at the request of the associatfons. Both programs were a complete success and a new fall baseball opportunity was even added. Thank you to those who partfcipated! These programs cover the costs of all expenses including staffing and supplies. City Park Master Planning The Parks and Trails Commission and City Council are in the process of reviewing potentfal plans for the approximately 80 acres of park land near the County Road 10/County Road 50 intersectfon. This is a long term planning process so it won’t happen overnight. Requests for parks and trails improvements were a significant amount of the feedback the City received through the Comprehensive Plan update process. City Hall Remodel The City contfnues to work towards a remodel of City Hall to accommodate the growing needs of the City. The draft finance plan will utflize additfonal tax capacity from the growth to pay for the majority of the project. In additfon to accommodatfng additfonal staff the Council Chambers will receive an update including better audio recording capabilitfes. Water System Planning The City is in the first phase of a potentfal project to begin the City’s own water system operatfons in northeast Corcoran (currently all water is purchased from Maple Grove). This first phase includes a test well, beginning the process to seek approvals, and updatfng a long-range finance plan. Fire Service Planning A City Council sub-committee, Director of Public Safety Matt Gottschalk, and the Fire Chiefs of Loretto, Rogers, and Hanover have met regularly to discuss potentfal optfons to contfnue high quality fire services for our growing community. The first step has been to assess existfng conditfons and to set goals for operatfonal standards. The sub-committee will present its findings and potentfal next steps in late 2019. 2040 Comprehensive Plan The City’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan has been deemed complete by the Metropolitan Council with final approval pending. This two-plus year process has resulted in a strong plan for our future. A sincere thank you to those of you who assisted in the process. I encourage you to take the tfme to read this newsletter and reach out with any questfons you have to the City Council or myself. I can be reached at bmartens@ci.corcoran.mn.us or 763-400-7030. Brad Martens City Administrator City of Corcoran Delinquent Assessments 7 Page Public Safety • Page 2 Fall/Winter 2019 Page 12 Environmental 14 Page Corcoran Happenings 15 Page Election Information 8 Page Page 2 City Updates Parks & Recreation Page 9 Public Works 5 Page Land Use Updates www.ci.corcoran.mn.us City Updates The City Council meets on the second and fourth Thursday’s of the month at 7:00 pm at City Hall. 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 on the City’s website. Council Work Sessions • Held a work session to discuss residential design standards including density, side yard set- backs, lot width and size, planned unit development, and Corcoran’s design standards for gar- ages. • Reviewed a draft 2020 budget and provided direction on policy priorities. • Discussed the land use for City property at 8200 County Road 116 related to a potential devel- opment by St. Therese for a continuum of care facility with independent living, assisted living, and nursing care. Land Use Applications PUD Amendment to Modify the Phasing Plan for E+R Investment, LLC • Approved the phasing plan modification for the self-storage building located at 7340 Fir Ln. Ravinia 13th Addition • Approved the PUD, Final Plat, and Development Contract for 47 homes, 19 of which are a villa product. • Held the public hearing on easement vacations and approved the easement vacations. Wessel Property Transportation Concept Plan— 22020 Hackamore Road • Reviewed a proposed transportation plan and provided feedback to Lennar on a collector road in the project. Site Plan Amendment and Conditional Use Permit for Lithgow Automotive— 20055 75th Ave- nue North • Approved the items as presented. Rezoning, Conditional Use Permit, Site Plan and Variance for Comlink Midwest—23405 County Road 10 • Approved the items and the updated building architecture enhancements; limited outside stor- age until future phasing. Preliminary Plat, Final Plat, and Variance for 22505 Strehler Road • Approved the two-lot subdivision and variance. Ordinance and Policy Amendments • Directed staff to proceed with an update to the campaign sign enforcement policy which out- lines guidelines for candidate signs. • Approved the street name and address policy amendment to clarify how streets are named when they change direction. • Adopted a Development Rights Program and Open Space & Preservation Ordinance Amend- ment allowing for a change of development rights to allow for one development right per ten acres regardless if the property is on a gravel or paved road. Parks and Trails Updates • Reviewed a proposed Eagle Scout project to construct a Veteran’s Day Memorial at City Hall; provided support for the design. • Approved a request to install and name a bench in the Ravinia development. Bridge Inspection— Hennepin County Agreement • Authorized staff to enter into an agreement with Hennepin County to provide annual bridge inspections. Election Precinct Boundaries • Approved precinct boundary changes for the 2020 election and beyond, creating a third pre- cinct. Consider an Offer for the Purchase of Real Estate at 8200 County Road 116 • Held closed session; provided staff direction. 2020 Budget and Levy • Adopted the Preliminary Levy on September 12 in the amount of $4,663,290. Water Supply Planning Report • Approved a motion to authorize staff to complete the plans, specifications, permitting, and site acquisition process for implementation of a test well. Stieg Road Realignment • Approved plans and authorized bids as presented; bids were opened on August 13. Night to Unite Recap and Resolution Accepting Donations • Heard a recap from staff; approved a resolution recognizing the event and accepting dona- tions. Urban Land Institute • Reviewed a proposal to host a panel on development and scheduled the panel to meet wit Council on December 12 at 4:30pm. Page 11 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 $348,840. The City taxes on a home of that value using the projected tax rate is $1,541 or about $128 per month. The chart below shows where the $1,541 is allocated based upon the overall percentage of City expenditures. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us • Page 3 Fall/Winter 2019 2020 Revenue by Category City Updates N E X T S T E P S Truth-in-Taxation Hearing Budget Meeting City Council Chambers Thursday, December 12, 7:00 pm Learn More… The entfre budget and related staff reports are available on the City’s web- site at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us. Under the Government tab click Council, then Agenda Packets, then 2019. Select the 2019-09-12 Council Agenda Packet to view the budget used to set the preliminary levy. City Administra- tor Brad Martens, can also be reached at 763-400-7030 or bmartens@ci.corcoran.mn.us for further questfons. Item Annual Cost Monthly Cost Administratfon $353 $29 Planning/Engineering $32 $3 Public Works/Parks $442 $37 Police/Fire $484 $40 Transfers/Debt Service $230 $19 TOTAL $1541 $128 2020 Expenditure by Category 2 0 2 0 P R O P O S E D B U D G E T A N D L E V Y The City Council adopted its preliminary levy for 2019 at the September 12 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 2020 levies and taxes notfce. W H Y I S A P R O P E R T Y TA X N E E D E D ? Only a small portfon of the City budget is funded through fees or charges for services. For 2020 the portfon proposed to be funded by fees or charges covers only 22.4% of our expenditures. The remaining 77.6% is funded through the property tax levy. Home Value Tax Rate City Tax Tax Capacity 2019 $342,000 45.160% $1,515 $3,355 2020 $348,840 44.920% $1,541 $3,430 TA X E F F EC T The adopted preliminary levy is in the amount off $4,663,290 which is a $400,353 or 9.39% increase from the 2019 levy. Despite this increase, the tax rate is projected to decrease from 45.160% to 44.920% due to new constructfon and increased valuatfons. 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 third 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: 2% Farm: 3.3% Commercial: 5.2% Industrial: 6.2% Using this informatfon, a home previously valued at $342,000 (median value) could now be valued at $348,840. 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 12. Between now and that tfme the levy can decrease but not increase. • Page 4 Fall/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Corcoran Lions Night to Unite 2019 Strategic Goals Update Council met on January 5 to hold the City’s 2019 Goal Setting Session. The City of Corcoran has identi- fied and adopted the following action steps for 2019: Develop a master plan, finance plan, and select amenities for the City Park • The Parks and Trails Commission and staff is continuing to work on master planning on City Park. Develop a needs assessment, action plan, and finance plan for fire service • The Fire Study Sub-committee has been meeting regularly to develop these plans. Complete the update to the southeast district and town center plan; complete a stormwater management plan for the town center • Council adopted the southwest district and town center plan; staff will be working on a stormwater management plan for the town center. Decide on a request for contribution to the Dayton Parkway Interchange project • Council pledged a $250,000 contribution upon substantial completion of the interchange. Develop a low cost option to pave gravel roads; establish criteria to select roads for paving; push legislative priorities which includes street funding options • Staff provided Council with low cost paving options at the May 23, 2019 Council Meeting; Council will continue to establish criteria for selecting roads for pavement and will con- tinue to push legislative properties for street funding. Identify all existing easements/right-of-way the City has obtained for trails, etc. • The City will be identifying easements and right-of-way for City trails. Complete a feasibility study for trails along selected County Roads • Staff is obtaining quotes to complete the work. Identify preferred snowmobile routes • The Parks and Trails Commission has worked to identify preferred snowmobile routes in Corcoran. Evaluate staffing and space needs for public safety • Staff has begun evaluation space needs within the remodel and beyond. Complete studies needed for water system options • Council has directed further study which including approval of a test well in the upcoming months. Investigate options to reduce the use of salt/chloride; apply for funding to complete an additional subwatershed assessment • Council reviewed options for non-chloride dust control and will look at partnering with organizations for testing. • Council authorized staff to apply for funding for an additional sub-watershed assessment. Provide an update on the existing crime/drug action plan; create a new plan for the next steps • Council reviewed the existing plan and will continue to monitor next steps. Execute code enforcement plan • Council has directed staff to execute more proactive code enforcement and staff has be- gun sweeps of the community. As of September 24, 230 notices of violations had been sent. Consider updates to the Open Space and Preservation ordinance and other ordinanc- es to establish incentives for protecting/preserving the natural environment through development • Council reviewed the Open Space and Preservation Ordinance and approved the amend- ments. Review compost site options • Council reviewed compost site options and declined to take action for this year. City of Corcoran Welcomes Staff Mark Reinking joined the Public Works Department in June as our newest Public Works Maintenance Operator. Mark was previously with Allied Waste. We are happy to have him on board! Get Involved: Parks and Trails Commission Looking for a way to become involved in the future of the City of Corcoran? Become a commissioner on the Parks and Trails Commission. The Parks and Trails Commission assists in deciding when and where new parks and trails should be created in Corcoran and meets the third Thursday of each month. If you are a current resident and would like to serve as a city commissioner, please contact Jessica Beise at 763-400- 7029 or jbeise@ci.corcoran.mn.us. Most Requested Building Permit Fees Reroofing, Re-siding $91/each Windows/Doors $91 (In same openings) Furnace or A/C unit Replacement $76/unit Gas Fireplace $101 General Plumbing $51+ Water Heater Replacement $21 Water Softener Replacement $16 *All of the above fees include the State Surcharge ($1.00) and can typically be issued immediately at City Hall. • Page 3 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Land Use Applications and Final Plats The Corcoran Planning Commission is an advisory board and consists of five (5) regular members, and a City Council liaison that is a non-voting member. The Planning Commission holds public hearings, reviews and then makes recommendations regarding land use and planning applications to the City Council. The following projects are currently underway or have been presented as new business to the city of Corcoran Planning Commission and City Council. Site Plan and Conditional Use Permit for Lithgow Automotive at 20055 75th Ave N (PID 26-119-23-11- 0037) (city file 19-013) The business currently operates out of Tom Lithgow’s home and has grown to the point where a commercial site is required. The business would move to the existfng building and make modificatfons to the site and utflize the building for auto repair. This item was reviewed at Pubic Hearing at the July 9 Planning Commission and the City Council approved at the July 25 meetfng. Corcoran Self-Storage PUD Amendment (city file 19-010) E&R Investments, LLC submitted a request for approval of a PUD Amendment to the approved Phasing Plan for Corcoran Self Storage. The change to the phasing plan was approved by the City Council at the June 27 meetfng. Comlink Midwest Site Plan, CUP, Variance and Rezoning at 23405 CR 10 (city file 19-011) The request is to allow constructfon of a contractor’s yard in the Rural Commercial (CR) district over three to five years. Phase 1 is for the 20,000 square foot Utflity Constructfon building. This item was reviewed at Public Hearing at the July 9 Planning Commission and the City Council approved with changes to the building architecture at the August 22 meetfng. Ravinia 13th Addition Final Plat, Final PUD and PUD Amendment (city file 19-012) Lennar requested approval of a PUD amendment to allow twinhomes for a portfon of the site where the villa homes were planned and a PUD amendment to allow garage forward design for these twinhomes. The project also includes single family Landmark homes. The item was reviewed at the July 9 Planning Commission and following the Planning Commission meetfng the applicant revised the plans to include villa homes instead of twinhomes and City Council approved at the July 25 meetfng. Ravinia 13th Easement Vacations (city file 19-016) Lennar is requestfng easement vacatfons for outlots that are being platted for Ravinia 12th and 13th Additfons. New easements are being provided with new plats. Item was reviewed at public hearing and the City Council approved at the August 22 meetfng. Wessel Property Transportation Concept Plan for 22020 Hackamore Road (PID 35-119- 23-43-001, 35-119-23-44-0001, 35-119-23-11-0001 and 35-119-23-12-0002) (city file 19 -018) The applicant has requested City Council review of the transportatfon plan for this site as the 2040 Comprehensive Plan shows a collector street through the site. The City Council reviewed the transportatfon plans and provided feedback at the August 22 meetfng. Following transportatfon feedback Lennar has submitted a concept plan that was reviewed at the September 26 meetfng. Bellwether 3rd Addition Final Plat (city file 19-017) This final plat is for 29 lots north of the new Stfeg Road. The PUD was approved as part as city file 19-002, but this plat approval was deferred untfl the Stfeg Road alignment is completed. The plat was approved at the September 26 meetfng. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us • Page 5 Fall/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us • Page 6 Fall/Winter 2019 Telephone Scam Warning Source: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) is warning residents about telephone scams in which individuals pose as representatfves of local law enforcement agencies. These individuals are telling residents that there is a warrant out for their arrest because they missed a federal jury date. The phone scammers tell residents that they will be arrested unless they pay a fine, and often suggest purchasing gift cards, calling the scammer back, and reading them the numbers on the cards. The victfm is then told to contact their local Sheriff’s Office to get a federal number for proof that the warrant has been cleared. HCSO and other law enforcement agencies will never contact individuals via phone or email to ask for any kind of payment. If individuals receive such a call, they are advised to NOT provide any personal informatfon to the caller. Rather, they should record the caller’s number, save any voicemails that may have been left by the caller, and contact their local law enforcement agency. Individuals should not rely on caller ID or recorded messages to verify the origin of a phone call. In some cases, phone scammers are able to use technology to appear as if they are calling from a legitfmate law enforcement or government agency number. Scammers have also been known to create fraudulent recorded messages that identffy their number as originatfng from law enforcement. If you are uncertain about the identfty of a caller, hang up the phone, locate the official phone number of the agency, and call the number directly. Look for more news on the Hennepin County Sheriff's website at http:// www.hennepinsheriff.org. Fire Department News The City of Corcoran contracts with the Loretto Fire Department, the Rogers Fire Department, and the Hanover Fire Department for fire protectfon services for Corcoran residents. To view the Corcoran map that includes fire department boundaries visit www.ci.corcoran.mn.us and select Departments, Emergency Management and then select Fire Protection Services, or click here to view the map. Loretto Fire Department Open House When: Saturday, October 12 Time: 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm Where: 259 North Medina Street, Loretto, MN There will be a delicious dinner (free will offering), games and inflatables, silent auctfon, face paintfng, fire truck rides, demonstratfons, free drawings, and more! Join the Loretto Fire Department Come meet our local firefighters, tour the fire statfon, and join the Loretto Fire Department team by becoming a Loretto firefighter! Contact Chief Jeff Leuer at 612-221-4963 or by email at lfdch1@gmail.com. Hanover Fire Department Turkey Bingo When: Friday, November 22 Where: 11250 5th St NE, Hanover, MN Hanover Fire Relief Associatfon will be sponsoring a turkey bingo event to raise funds for the Hanover Fire Department. For more informatfon visit http://hanoverfiremn.org/ or contact Tony Wychgram, FRA President at tony.hanoverfire@gmail.com. Hanover Fire Department Recruitment If you are interested in learning more about the Hanover Fire Department or how to become a firefighter, stop by Hanover City Hall to pick up an applicatfon or contact Chief Dave Malewicki at chief1@ci.hanover.mn.us. Rogers Fire Department The Rogers Fire Department provides City fire services to the residents in the northeast corner of Corcoran. Rogers Fire Department has two fire statfons, a full-tfme fire chief, a full-tfme fire inspector, and 41 paid on-call firefighters. For more informatfon, visit www.cityofrogers.gov/fire-dept. Fire Fighter Recruitment If you are interested in becoming a firefighter, download a fire fighter application and contact Chief Feist at 763-428-3500 or by email at bfeist@ci.rogers.mn.us. Public Safety 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. You can get a copy of the firearm ordinances and regulatfons at City Hall, the Police Department, or on the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us. 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 website (MN DNR) has a vast amount of informatfon on hunter safety, seasons, regulatfons, licenses, and much more. Their website is: 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. •Page 7Fall/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Burning Permits If you choose to burn yard debris, don’t forget to purchase a burn permit; it only takes a couple of minutes to apply in person during the business hours of Monday—Thursday, 7:30 am – 5:00 pm; and Friday, 8:00 am – 12:00 pm at the Corcoran Police Department. Burn permits are required for any fires larger than three-feet diameter by three- feet in height. Anything smaller than a three-foot by three-foot fire must be a recreatfonal fire. Burn permits are not required when the ground is snow- covered, which is ground that has a contfnuous unbroken cover of snow to a depth of three inches or more surrounding the immediate area of the fire. Items approved to burn: vegetatfve material, such as grass, leaves, brush, and untreated lumber. Items not approved to burn: hazardous wastes, demolitfon debris, motor vehi- cles, oils, rubber, plastfcs, chemically-treated materials, sheet rock, paint, gar- bage, and debris castoff from businesses. You can find the complete list on the city’s website or on the MN DNR’s website at: www.dnr.state.mn.us/forestry/fire. Public Safety Hands Free = Ticket Free Source: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office Under the new law, effectfve August 1, drivers are al- lowed to use their cell phones to make calls, text, listen to audio and/or get directfons only by voice commands or single-touch actfvatfon without holding the phone. While driving, phones may NOT be held in the driver’s hand. Watching videos, video calling, Snapchat, gaming, and similar actfvitfes on a cell phone are prohibited at all tfmes while driving. “Distracted driving is extremely dangerous and has caused far too many traffic acci- dents, some very serious and even fatal,” said Hennepin County Sheriff David P. Hutchinson. “We urge everyone to obey this new law to help protect themselves, their families, and everyone else on the road. The text that you got while you were driving can wait. Period.” Critfcal informatfon on Minnesota’s hands-free law: • The penalty for the first hands-free violatfon is $50 plus court fees. Additfonal tfck- ets are $275 plus court fees. • Hand-held phone use is allowed to obtain emergency assistance when there is an immediate threat to life or safety. • Tucking a cell phone into a headscarf or head wrap does not violate the hands-free law. However, removing the phone and holding it does violate the law. • Smart watches, tablets, e-readers, and similar devices are subject to the same re- strictfons as cell phones. • In 12 states that have instftuted hands-free laws, traffic fatalitfes have decreased by an average of 15 percent. More informatfon on Minnesota’s new hands-free law can be found at the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety or www.handsfreemn.org. Corcoran Police Department General Information: Police Administrative Office Hours: 7:30 am – 5:00 pm Monday— Thursday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm— Friday Police Administrative Office Phone: 763-420-8966 Police Department is located at: 8200 County Road 116, Corcoran, MN FOR EMERGENCIES DIAL 911 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Public Works City Snowplow Policy Fast Fact: 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 County 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. 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 maxi- mum $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. •Page 8Fall/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us 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 has more than 70 miles of roads and 109 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 2:00 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 will assume 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 view the city website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us and select Departments - Public Works/Parks Department - Snowplowing. 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. Mailbox Reminder Inspect your existfng mail box post for damage and replace before the winter snowplowing season begins. Ensure your mail box posts are sturdy, set solidly in the ground, and in good conditfon before the snow falls. Swing-Away Mail Box Post Option Available Swing-Away Mail Box 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 front doors of Corcoran City Hall. The Swing-Away Mail Box Posts are available to purchase for $65.00 for the individual product or installed by Corcoran Public Works for $150.00. Please call 763-420-2288 for more informatfon or to schedule the installatfon. Ice Rink Attendants WANTED! As the weather cools, it’s tfme to start thinking about winter! The City of Corcoran is looking for Ice Rink Attendants to over- see recreatfonal actfvitfes, ensure safety of partfcipants, and assist with general maintenance and upkeep of the skatfng rinks. Attendants will work approximately 5 – 15 hours each week startfng around mid-December through mid-February. Hours are 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm on weekdays and split shifts between 11:00 am – 9:00 pm on weekends. A complete job descriptfon and applicatfon can be found on the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us or by visitfng Cor- coran City Hall at 8200 County Road 116, Corcoran, MN 55340. Deadline for applica- tfons is Friday, November 1, 2019 at 4:00 pm. Questfons can be directed to Recrea- tfon Coordinator, Jessica Christensen Buck at jchristensenbuck@ci.corcoran.mn.us or 763-400-7034. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us •Page 9Fall/Winter 2019 Parks & Recreation Corcoran Skating Rinks Looking for something to do this winter? City Park isn’t just for the summer! Corcoran's skatfng rinks offer fun and recreatfon for cold weather enthusiasts of all ages. The Corcoran Public Works department hopes to get the ice rinks open by the last week of December and keep them open untfl mid-February. Building and maintaining them depends on many variables. To start making ice, crews need temperatures to be around 0 degrees to –10 degrees for about one week and frozen ground about four inches deep. The crews can 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. If rinks don’t have complete coverage, they can be unsafe for skaters. Once the rinks are established and open, the Public Works crew cleans and resurfaces the rinks daily, Monday— Friday and weekend mornings, depending on weather conditfons (roads and public safety are first prioritfes). During inclement weather, the rinks and shelter building may be temporarily closed and a “Closed” sign will be posted on the shelter door. Pending weather conditfons may also lead to unexpected late openings and/or early rink closings. Updates on the ice rinks will also be posted on the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us and the weather line at 763-400-7025. Corcoran Youth Athletics Thank you to all those that partfcipated in Corcoran Parks and Recreatfon programs this year. This was the first full year the baseball and soccer programs were under the City of Corcoran. We hope you all had fun and we look forward to seeing you back next year! 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 (1) play- er reimbursement/team coached. For more informatfon contact Recreatfon Coordinator, Jessica Chris- tensen Buck at jchristensenbuck@ci.corcoran.mn.us. Important future dates for 2020 Corcoran Youth Athletics: January 6– 12: Priority registratfon for spring baseball opens (Corcoran residents only) April 28: Spring coach pitch baseball begins January 13: Registratfon for baseball open to all May 31: Summer soccer registratfon closes February 28: Spring baseball registratfon closes June 22: Fall baseball registratfon opens April 6– 12: Priority registratfon for summer soccer opens (Corcoran residents only) July 9: Summer soccer begins April 13: Registratfon for summer soccer open to all July 26: Fall baseball registratfon closes April 20: Spring machine pitch baseball begins August 17: Fall t-ball begins April 27: Spring t-ball begins August 26: Fall coach & fall machine pitch begins Warming House Hours: 11:00 am – 9:00 pm weekends and holidays 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm weekdays For ice rink concerns contact Recreation Coordinator, Jessica Christensen Buck at jchristensenbuck@ci.corcoran.mn.us • page 8 Parks & Recreation City of Corcoran Area Snowmobile Trails Sponsored by: Northwest Trails Association 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 Associatfon was formed as a non-profit volunteer organizatfon in 1973. Its mission is to support a safe, adventurous, and friendly snowmobiling experience primarily through trail coordinatfon, safety educatfon, and club actfvitfes of value to members. Northwest Trails meets at 7:30 pm on the first Tuesday of each month at the Medina Entertainment Center in Medina. The Trail Associatfon's goal is to build and maintain snowmobile trails in north- western Hennepin County with the help of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) and its Grant-in-Aid Program. 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. Our 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. Our 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. We, as an associatfon, are 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 our trail system throughout the year. Trail signs are set up in October for the December 1 trail opening and will be removed in April. The trails are groomed using a modern Tucker Sno-Cat and our custom built drags. The future of snowmobiling depends on all snowmobilers working together to promote the sport. Being a member of the Northwest Trails Associatfon is a way to promote safe, responsible snowmobiling as well as supportfng a good local trail system for snowmobiling. Snowmobile Safety Training is also an offering coordinated by the Northwest Trails Associatfon. Family involvement is encouraged. Northwest Trails Associatfon social actfvitfes include: dinner outfngs, club work nights and group snowmobile trips. By joining Northwest Trails, you will also become a member of the Minnesota United Snowmobile Associatfon (MnUSA), from which you will receive their many benefits. For Trail Updates please view www.nwtrails.net/changes.htm. Snowmobile Safety & Training Sponsored by: Northwest Trails Association The Northwest Trails Associatfon is an organizatfon of enthusiastfc and committed snowmobilers in Hennepin County and the NW suburbs of Minneapolis. Its mission is to support a safe, adventurous, and friendly snowmobiling experience primarily through coordinatfon, safety educatfon, and club actfvitfes of value to members. Corcoran will be a hostfng site for the snowmobile training course at the Corcoran Community Room. To register for the class, go to the Northwest Trails website at http://nwtrails.net/safety.htm (space is limited). An online course is required prior to the classroom session. There is a $30 fee for the online course (students can save $8 if purchased through Northwest Trails Associatfon). There is also a $5 fee due at the tfme of pre-registratfon to reserve a seat. More informatfon will be made available with pre-registratfon. Important Info: Students must bring with a copy of their birth certfficate and a printout from the online training, verifying completfon of the written test to class on November 29. Partfcipatfon in class will not be allowed if the online course step is not confirmed. Classes: Friday, November 29, from 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (parents are required to attend) and Saturday, November 30, from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm is the outdoor practfcal course. Questions: Please call Randy Baudler at 763-420-5526 or email at youthsafetytraining@gmail.com. Did You Know? All Minnesotans born after December 31, 1976 must have a safety certificate to operate a snowmobile in the state. If you have a driver’s license, this certification will be indicated on your license. • Page 10 Fall/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us • Page 11 Fall/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Environmental Updates 2019 Corcoran Recycling Schedule For more information regarding recycling, please contact Randy’s Environmental Services at 763-972-3335 or visit their website at www.randyssanitatfon.com Give Back to Nature With Organics Recycling Source: Randy’s Environmental Services About 30 percent of what we throw away is organic waste, which includes food scraps and food-soiled paper products. Organics re- cycling programs involve collectfng fruits, vegetables, bones, meat, bread, eggshells, paper towels, tfssues, and more for recycling into compost. Compost is a nutrient-rich soil additfve used in landscap- ing and road constructfon projects. Organics recycling is an easy way to reduce waste and create a valuable resource that improves soil, reduces soil erosion and de- creases the need for chemical fertflizers. Corcoran residents can partfcipate at home with the curbside organics program. Learn more about organics recycling at www.randysenvironmentalservices.com/residentfal/ organics-recycling or call at 763-972-3335 for more informatfon. What is a Watershed? Source: MN Pollution Control Agency A watershed is the area of land where all of the water that drains off of it goes into the same place—a river, stream or lake. The smallest watersheds are the drainage areas for small streams and lakes. Think about your local pond, creek or river. Where does it start? What type of landscape does it flow through? Where does it end up? All of the area covered is a watershed. Each small watershed is part of the more extensive watershed for a larger stream or lake in the vicinity. These larger watersheds are, in turn, part of even larger drainage networks, and so on. The largest-scale watershed is called a basin. Minnesota has ten basins, some of which include portfons of neighboring states or Canada. Major Watersheds The largest watersheds within a basin are called major watersheds. These are the drainage networks of the basin's largest rivers or lakes. There are 80 major watersheds in Minnesota. For each of these, Minnesota Pollutfon Control Agency (MPCA) works with other state agencies and local partners to identffy water restoratfon and protectfon needs throughout the watershed and to determine how best to address them. Learn about MPCA’s major watershed approach to water quality restoratfon and protectfon. Find informatfon about your watershed here, or visit www.pca.state.mn.us/water/watersheds. Fast Fact: Organics Recycling Drop-offs Organics recycling drop-offs can be a good option for residents that don’t have organics recycling service available yet. That in- cludes those who live in cities where it isn’t offered and those who live in apartment buildings, condos and townhomes that don’t have access to their city’s residential service. For more in- formation visit: www.hennepin.us/green-disposal-guide/items/ organics Environmental Updates How to Dispose of Leaves and Brush Yard waste disposal includes backyard compostfng, brush, garden debris, grass clippings, leaves, sod, logs, trees, stumps, indoor and outdoor plants, mulch, and wood chips. State law prohibits disposal of all yard, brush and tree waste in landfills or solid waste facilitfes. Ash Tree Disposal Hennepin County prohibits hauling ash tree waste. Ash tree waste should be takin to closest disposal site to minimize the spread of the emerald ash borer. Some yard waste haulers and sites cannot accept ash tree waste. Visit www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/ eab/ashtreewaste.aspx for a list of ash tree disposal sites. Included below are some ideas for disposing of leaves and brush: Curbside Pickup Contact your waste hauler for informatfon, availability, and material prep. Yard Waste Drop Off Sites Open to all Hennepin County residents. Call before visiting these businesses for hours, materials they accept, requirements, and fees. SKB Malcolm Avenue Transfer Station 630 Malcolm Avenue SE, Minneapolis 612-331-4610 Open to the public Monday- Friday 7:00 am — 5:00 pm (all year) Saturday 7:00 am — 12:00 pm (Apr- Nov only) Maple Grove Yard Waste Site 10300 Maple Grove Parkway, Maple Grove 763-420-4886 Maple Grove, Champlin, Brooklyn Park, Dayton, Brooklyn Center, Crystal, and New Hope residents at no charge. General public may have fees — call first for fees. Rogers residents need a City Hall issued permit to dump. Open Apr 1– Nov 30 Monday- Saturday 8:00 am — 7:00 pm Sunday 11:00 am — 7:00 pm The Mulch Store Locatfons in: * Burnsville- 952-736-1915 * Empire Township- 651-423-4401 * Minnetrista- 952-446-1056 * Shakopee- 952-445-2139 Yard and Tree Waste Fast Fact: The Salt of the Matter Source: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/12/06/road-salt-water-pollution Minnesota dumps some 730 million pounds of salt on roadways each winter. A teaspoon of road salt pollutes five gallons of water forever. Once snow melts, salt flows into lakes and streams. Once salt is in a body of water, it’s nearly impossible to remove. Chloride, the mineral in salt that contaminates waters, is toxic to fish, other aquatic life, and birds. The MN Pollution Control Agency launched a chloride management plan in 2017 across the metro area. The plan focused on smart salting, which is using the minimum amount necessary (https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/03/31/mndot-cutting-back-road-salt). • Page 12 Fall/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Minnesota Waters Need a Low-Salt Diet Source: www.pca.state.mn.us/water/salt-and-water-quality Doctors tell us to stfck to a low-salt diet. Our lakes and streams should follow the same advice. While salt helps to keep our roads safe in the winter and to soften the water in our homes, it contains chloride, a water pollutant. Salt pollutes. It takes only one teaspoon of road salt to permanently pollute five gallons of water. Once in the water, there is no easy way to remove the chloride, and at high concentratfons, chloride can harm fish and plant life. Less is more when it comes to applying road salt and water softening. Learn more about chloride pollutfon here or visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/chloride-salts. Looking to spread the word? Let residents and organizatfons in your area know about the dangers of excess salt applied to pavement with this handy, printable Salt pollutes postcard. How Can I Help Reduce Salt Runoff? Source: https://www.pca.state.mn.us/featured/snow-removal-do-it-better-cheaper-and-pollution- free Do you shovel your own driveway for your business or home, or hire a business to remove it? The more snow and ice you remove manually, the less salt you will have to use and the more effectfve it can be. Whether you use a shovel, snow blower, snow plow, or ice scraper, remove the snow as early as you can and keep up with it throughout the storm. You may find you don’t even need salt. Make sure to ask your snow removal company what their process is for salt applicatfon in the winter months. • Fifteen degrees or below for salt to be effectfve. Use sand instead for tractfon, but note that sand does not melt ice. • Slow down when driving in snowy or icy conditfons. Make sure to allow plenty of room for plow drivers. • Be patfent and understand that just because you don’t see salt on the road, doesn’t mean it hasn’t been applied. • More salt does not equate to more meltfng. Use less than four pounds of salt per 1,000 square feet (an average parking space is about 150 square feet). One pound of salt is approximately a heaping 12-ounce coffee mug. Consider purchasing a hand- held spreader to help with a consistent applicatfon amount. • Sweep up any extra salt or sand that is visible on dry pavement. It is no longer doing any work and will be washed away. Utflize the salt or sand somewhere else. How Often Do I Need My Septic Pumped? Septfc tanks must be periodically cleaned (pumped) to remove floatfng scum and sludge that accumulate. If either floatfng scum or sludge is allowed to enter the soil treatment system (drain field) it will cause expensive and often irreparable damage. How often to clean a septfc tank depends on its size, use, and operatfng conditfon. A typical household will calculate a cleaning frequency of one to three years. A septfc tank in a northern climate will need to have the solids removed more often than a tank farther south. This is primarily because the cooler temperatures inhibit bacterial actfon and provide less decompositfon of the sewage solids. A constant foul odor, slow drains, and drains that back up are all signs your septfc tank needs pumping. Contact a qualified septfc system professional from the local yellow pages for additfonal advice. Do Septic and Well Systems Have To Be Inspected Before a Property Transfer? The law requires that prior to signing an agreement to sell or transfer real property, a seller must disclose to a buyer the status and locatfon of the septfc system. The seller must disclose this informatfon in writfng. Further questfons or additfonal informatfon on your septfc system can be directed to Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department at 612-543- 5220, or click on the link below: www.hennepin.us/search#q=septfc% 20systems&t=All&sort=relevancy • Page 13 Fall/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Environmental Updates Corcoran Garden Club Add Composting to Your Recycling Routine Compostfng isn’t just for gardening. There are many benefits to compostfng organic waste. While one compost purpose benefits gardens, compostfng is also a great way to recycle organic waste. What exactly is compostfng? Compostfng uses the natural decompositfon process to change organic waste into a humus-like, usable product. It is nutrient-rich and can be used to fertflize poor soils, rather than using chemical fertflizers. Since approximately half of the waste stream is organic matter, compostfng can play a significant role in reducing waste from landfills; in conserving landfill space and reducing the productfon of leachate and methane gas; and in producing a high quality fertflizer for your garden. What Can be Composted? In additfon to food waste, yard waste, like grass clippings and leaves, can be added to compost bins or containers. Food waste, such as banana peels, coffee grounds and eggshells, are great items to compost. Perennial flowers can also be added to compost piles, however, do not place perennial weeds which come grow back year after year, into compost piles, as they will only grow back and spread. Composting Facts and Benefits Source: http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/news/2013/some-composting-facts •The average US. Household generates 650 pounds of compostable materials each year.•Over 60 percent of what we put in our landfills is organic waste, such as food scraps. Yard trimmings, and paper, much of which could be recycled by compostfng. •Compostfng saves money. Families reduce their garbage collectfon bills and municipalitfes save money on transportfng and disposing of waste when organic materials are eliminated from the collectfon system. •Compost improves soil, adds important nutrients for plants, and reduces the need for expensive commercial fertflizers. For additfonal informatfon on compostfng, please view the links below: www.ecochem.com/t_compost_faq2.html http://extension.psu.edu/plants/gardening/news/2013/some-compostfng-facts http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/getdirtyactfvitfes.aspx https://www.dakotavalleyrecycling.org/component/tags/tag/organics Fast Fact: Building Biodiversity in the Soil Source: http://beyondpesticides.org/assets/media/documents/infoservices/pesticidesandyou/ documents/diybiodiversity.pdf The foremost method for building biodiversity in the soil is composting. Composting breaks down organic matter, while growing the organisms necessary for a healthy food web. Compost can be made in different ways, depending on the soil where it will be used. Compost made predominately from wood chips, sawdust, or dry leaves (“browns”) and turned infrequently favors fungi. Compost made largely from kitchen scraps, grass cuttings, green plant residues, and/or manures (“greens”) and turned fre- quently favors bacteria. Composting should be an aerobic process favoring aerobic or- ganisms. NW Area Jaycees Upcoming Events • Page 14 Fall/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Corcoran Happenings Hope Community Church Community Events Sponsored by: Hope Community Church Hope Community Church has been actfve in the Corcoran community since it was founded in 1997. One of the key ways they serve is through community events such as the festfvals, comedy nights, and Christmas events. We invite you to join us for these fun Fall and Winter events. All events held at: Hope Community Church, 19951 Oswald Farm Rd, Corcoran, MN Ladies Christmas Tea All ladies, ages 4 to 104, are cordially invited to attend the 23rd 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. This event is filled with Christmas traditfon and much joy! Date: Saturday, December 7 Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm Christmas Boutique opens at 1:00 pm. Come early to admire the beautfful tables set up by our table hostesses and vote for your favorite! Become a table hostess and receive one (1) complimentary tfcket! Contact 763-494-4673 for details. General tfcket sales open November 3. Adults $15.00 Young Ladies (ages 4-10) $8.00 Purchase tfckets by November 24 at www.myhopecommunity.com or call 763-494- 4673. “Hope Radio Hour” Christmas Dinner Theater Date: Saturday, December 14 Time: Doors open 5:30 pm / Dinner served 6:00 pm The 17th Annual “Hope Radio Hour” is a delightiul night of comedy, laughter, and reflectfon, in celebratfon of the birth of Christ. Enjoy a delicious dinner, creatfve comedy skits, and beautfful musical performances. Call 763-494-4673 for more informatfon and reservatfons. Trunk or Treat Event Date: Saturday, October 26 Time: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Place: Corcoran Lion’s Park Corcoran, MN This first ever free family -friendly trunk or treat event will include a cake walk, bounce house, apple cider, and cookies for families to enjoy along with all the great trunks to trick or treat around! A food shelf donation would be appreciat- ed and costumes are encouraged! Santa Claus is Coming! Date: Saturday, December 7 Time: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm Place: Immanuel United Methodist Church, Corcoran, MN Pictures will be taken with Santa, plus kids get to pick a free small gift from un- der the NW Area Jaycee’s holiday tree! Kids can also enter a prize drawing for larger gift items and pan- cake breakfast will be served for all to enjoy. Activities are free with a non- perishable food shelf donation. Holiday Wreath Sales The NW Area Jaycees are teaming up with the Rock- ford High School 2019- 20 Prom Committee for the annual Holiday Wreath/ Centerpiece Fundraiser. Three sizes of wreaths and one centerpiece option are available for purchase. Cost: 25” wreath- $16, 36” wreath- $27, 48” wreath- $45, and centerpieces- $22. Pick-up is scheduled for Saturday, Novem- ber 23 at Corcoran City Hall parking lot from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm or by arrange- ment the following week. If you are inter- ested in ordering, please contact Candice Lark at cmlark@me.com or 763-202- 9143. St. Thomas the Apostle Church— HUGE Garage Sale When: October 2, 3 and 4 Oct 2— 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm Oct 3— 8:00 am – 8:00 pm – 50% off from 4 pm— 8pm Oct 4— 8:00 am – 1:30 pm – bag day all day - $4/bag, unlimited bags. Where: St. Thomas the Apostle Church 20000 County Road 10, Corcoran, MN For questions, call the Parish Office at 763-420-2385. Oct 2– 4: St. Thomas the Apostle Garage Sale Location: St. Thomas the Apostle Church Oct 10: City Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Oct 11– 12, 18– 19, 25– 26: Haunted Acres Sponsored by: Lions and NW Area Jaycees 7:00 pm — Corcoran Lion’s Park Oct 17: Parks & Trails Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Oct 24: City Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Oct 26: Trunk or Treat Sponsored by: NW Area Jaycees 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm — Corcoran Lion’s Park Nov 7: Planning Commission Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Nov 11: Holiday — City Hall Closed Nov 14: City Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Nov 21: Parks & Trails Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Nov 25: City Council Meeting (Monday) 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Nov 28– 29: Holiday — City Hall Closed Dec 5: Planning Commission Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Dec 7: Santa Visit Sponsored by: NW Area Jaycees 9:00 am – 12:00 pm — Immanuel United Methodist Church Dec 12: City Council Meeting 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm — Council Work Session 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Dec 19: City Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Dec 24– 25: Holiday — City Hall Closed Jan 1: Holiday — City Hall Closed For the most up to date calendar information, visit www.ci.corcoran.mn.us and check out the Upcoming Events link. City Mission Statement The City of Corcoran will provide high quality public services in a cost effec- tive, responsible, and professional manner in order to create a preferred environment to live, work, play and conduct business. Haunted Acres Prepares for Haunting Season! Sponsored by: Hamel Lions, NW Area Jaycees and Corcoran Lions Visit Haunted Acres and you will understand why Hamel Lions Haunted Acres was voted #1 in Minnesota! The Hamel Lions Haunted House was established in 1997. Throughout the years, Haunted Acres has received accolades by several websites as one of the best haunted attractfons in the state of Minnesota. Over the years Haunted Acres has raised over $70,000 and 2,500 pounds of food for Interfaith Outreach and the Hanover Food Shelf. Haunted Acres is completely volunteer operated. If you are interested in helping out on the Boo Crew this year, please click here to apply, or visit www.hamellionshauntedacres.com and select Contact Us / Volunteer page to complete the online volunteer form. The first night of hauntfng begins on Friday, October 11 at Corcoran Lions Park! For more informatfon on hours and event rules please view the website at: www.hamellionshauntedacres.com. Corcoran Happenings 2019 Corcoran Events Calendar • Page 15 Fall/Winter 2019 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Election Registration Information Voter Registratfon is required prior to castfng your ballot. To register, complete a Minnesota Voter Registratfon Applicatfon by mail, in person, or online at mnvotes.org. You may also register on Electfon Day at your polling place with required informatfon to prove your residency. To register, you must be: A U.S. citfzen • At least 18 years old on Electfon Day. • A resident of Minnesota for 20 days. • Finished with all parts of any felony sentence. • You can vote while under guardianship unless a judge specifically has revoked your right to vote. • You cannot vote if a court has ruled that you are legally incompetent. If you have moved, changed names, or haven't voted within four (4) years, you must update your registration by completing a new registration application. Election Information on the City of Corcoran Website Additfonal electfon informatfon is available on the City’s website. You can find this sectfon under the ‘Government’ tab on the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us. Election Information Local Businesses Support Corcoran Country Daze Sponsored by: NW Area Jaycees and Local Businesses Corcoran Country Daze would not be possible without the teamwork of the NW Area Jaycees, the Corcoran Lions, Corcoran Public Works, Corcoran Police Department, City of Corcoran staff, and local business partfcipatfon. The support of local area businesses are greatly appreciated and are a valuable part of the Corcoran community. For a list of sponsors please visit: www.corcorancountrydaze.org. PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID ROGERS, MN PERMIT NO. 98 8200 County Road 116 Corcoran, MN 55340 General Information City of Corcoran City Hall — 763-420-2288 Monday- Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm City of Corcoran meetfngs can be viewed via video links at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Upcoming Meetings Planning Commission Meetings Nov 7, Dec 5 & Jan 2 7:00 pm Parks & Trails Commission Meetings Oct 17, Nov 21 & Jan 23 7:00 pm Corcoran City Council Meetings Oct 10 & 24, Nov 14 & 25, Dec 12 & 19, Jan 9 & 23 7:00 pm City Website www.ci.corcoran.mn.us • Page 16 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Fall/Winter 2019 Corcoran News is published quarterly by the City of Corcoran to update residents and businesses on city government news. City Council Ron Thomas, Mayor rthomas@ci.corcoran.mn.us Jonathan Bottema, Councilor jbottema@ci.corcoran.mn.us Brian Dejewski, Councilor bdejewski@ci.corcoran.mn.us Mike Keefe, Councilor mkeefe@ci.corcoran.mn.us Alan Schultz, Councilor aschultz@ci.corcoran.mn.us City Administrator Brad Martens 763-400-7030 bmartens@ci.corcoran.mn.us Election Official Do you have an interest in serving as an electfon official? Electfon Judges attend training, assist with equipment testfng, and work at the polling places on electfon day. If you are interested in becoming an electfon judge contact Jessica Beise, Administratfve Services Director at jbeise@ci.corcoran.mn.us for more in- formatfon. Important 2020 Election Information Precinct Update Due to contfn- ued growth, the City Council has created an additfonal pre- cinct and will be adding an additfonal poll- ing locatfon. More informatfon will be in the next newsletter or by contactfng Jessica Beise at 763-400-7029. Absentee voting for Presidential Nomination Primary begins: January 17, 2020 Presidential Nomination Primary: March 3, 2020 Census Day— April 1, 2020 Source: www.census.gov/partners/2020.html Once a decade, America comes together to count every resident in the United States, creatfng natfonal awareness of the important of the census and its valuable statfstfcs. The decennial census was first taken in 1790, as mandated by the Con- stftutfon. It counts out populatfon and households, providing the basis for reap- portfoning congressional seats, redis- trictfng, and distributfng more than $675 billion in federal funds annually to sup- port states, countfes and communitfes’ vital programs— impactfng housing, edu- catfon, transportatfon, employment health care and public policy. Monthly Water and Sewer Bills The City of Corcoran offers a direct payment ACH optfon for monthly city sewer and water bills. Direct payment ACH guarantees bills are paid in full and on tfme each month by automatfcally deductfng payment from a checking or savings account. Please email utflitybilling@ci.corcoran.mn.us for more informatfon on how to enroll. In additfon, the City of Corcoran also offers online credit card payments as another method of payment besides cash or check. Visit the following web address to use online credit card payments: https:// cityofcorcoran.revtrak.net.