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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2018-07 -- Summer-FallRetired American Flag Collection at City Hall When an American flag is old or tattered (ripped at the ends,) there are recommended ways to properly retire it. One option is to bring the flag to a local American Legion, where they will reuse the material to make more flags. Another option is to give the flag to a military or scouting organization to ceremonially burn and retire the flag. Frank Brand is a local boy scout and resident in Corcoran and is currently working on his Citizenship Badge and Eagle rank in Troop 563. As part of the badge requirements to attain Eagle rank, Frank will be collecting retired American flags at Corcoran City Hall from July 1-15, 2018. Once the flag collection is complete, Frank and Troop 563 will arrange for the proper retirement of each American flag at a flag retirement ceremony. For more information visit https://www.legion.org/flag/ceremony Summer/Fall 2018 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us CORCORAN NEWS Summer/Fall 2018 City Administrator Update The 2018 year is in full swing and the beautiful summer days are flying by. With life being so busy it’s difficult to stay up to speed with all that is happening in the City. Here is a brief recap of some of the larger items you should know about: Historical Park Land Purchase The City purchased a 59.95 acre parcel from the Rockford School District. This purchase was funded through park dedication funds and debt paid for by general tax dollars. Master planning is taking place for the newly acquired property in combination with the previously owned 19-acre park known as City Park. This parcel purchase was an historic opportunity to obtain and secure future athletic space for Corcoran, in a prime location, at a reasonable price. The Parks and Trails Commission is taking the lead on master planning duties. City Receives Bond Rating Upgrade The City issued debt for the previously mentioned park land which required a bond rating. Corcoran’s rating was upgraded to Aa3 reflecting “strong financial management of the City, increase in overall reserves, and housing growth.” A higher rating results in lower interest rates when the City issues debt. Housing and Land Use Proposals Ravinia continues to grow with 69 new home starts in 2017 and continues on the same pace for 2018 thus far. Bass Lake Crossing and Bass Lake Crossing South (near Lions Park) are approved and beginning construction. Encore, a proposed 398-unit Del Webb community in northeast Corcoran has received preliminary plat approvals, and a concept plan for a senior continuum of care facility (assisted living to memory care) was reviewed. 2040 Comprehensive Plan The drafl plan was approved and submitted to adjacent jurisdictions for review. Final review is projected for October/November 2018. Thank you to all who participated in the 2040 Comprehensive Plan process. Community Communication The Police Department has implemented a new emergency communications system called CodeRED. Download the app, and sign up to receive important community information (more details on page 6). Stay up to date on important news by following the City on Facebook and Twitter. Another way to stay informed of City updates is by signing up to receive Council packet information via email. This option allows you to receive Council packet information the same time the Councilmembers receive it. This is just a brief overview of some of the activity taking place in the City. I encourage you to take the time to read the newsletter and reach out with any questions you have. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out to the City Council or me. My contact information is bmartens@ci.corcoran.mn.us or 763-400-7030. Sincerely, Brad Martens City Administrator City of Corcoran Parks & Rec News! Fall Ball Now Offered in Corcoran! Visit www.ci.corcoran.mn.us See page 18 for more information. 6 Page Public Safety Public Safety 4 Page Environmental Page 12  Page 2 Summer/Fall 2018 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Page 12 Environmental Page 15 Corcoran Happenings Page 19 Election Information Public Works 10 Page 8 Page Environmental 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 . Annual Fire Department Reports  Heard updates from the Hanover, Loretto, and Rogers Fire Departments. Purchase of Rockford School District Property (Adjacent to City Park)  Held a public hearing; approved resolutions to proceed with the sale of the bonds for the purchase of 20400 County Road 50.  Awarded the Sale of the General Obligation Bonds, Series 2018A  Tammy Omdal of Northland Securities presented information related to the bond sale which came in with favorable bids at a true interest cost of 2.98%.  Approved interfund transfer of $250,000 of park dedication. 2018 Dust Control Program  Held public hearing; approved the 2018 dust control program as presented. 2018 Pavement Overlay Project  Authorized plans, specifications and bidding for the 2018 pavement overlay project for Larkin Road and Rolling Hills Road.  Accepted plans and awarded the bid for the 2018 Larkin Road and Rolling Hills Road project. Discussion on Compensation for Commissioners  Discussed merits for compensation; declined making changes at this time. Playground Provider Selection and Budget  Selected St. Croix Recreation as the playground provider for the Ravinia neighborhood park and authorized staff to execute contracts; approved a budget of up to $85,000 for playground equipment. County Road 10/Larkin Road Intersection  Discussed possible safety considerations; no action taken. Site Plan and Variance for 9520 County Road 19  Approved the site plan and variance for a building addition at Doboszenski & Sons. Conditional Use Permit — 7525 Commerce Street  Approved the conditional use permit as presented for High 5 Companies, Inc. Special Home Occupation License— 19320 Mystique Drive  Approved the special home occupation license with an amendment regarding numbers of trips allowed. Preliminary Plat for Rush Creek Run  Approved the preliminary plat to create six new lots along Rolling Hills Road south of County Road 50. 2040 Comprehensive Plan  Approved the Comprehensive Plan update; initiated the six-month review period for adjacent communities; Council thanked the staff and all those that participated in the update. Fir Lane Turn Lane Improvement Project  Awarded the project as recommended contingent upon receiving escrow funds from the developer. 2017 Audit  Heard an audit presentation from Abdo, Eick & Meyers; accepted the audit as presented.  Directed staff to place 2017 surplus above the budgeted $60,000 into the long range planning fund. Page 5 Accessory Structures Planning Commission 7 Page Gravel or Dirt Roads. What’s the Difference? Resolution Accepting Donations  Council accepted a firearm safety donations resolution; Council approved and thanked everyone for their efforts on the program.  Council accepted a donation from the NW Area Jaycees. Corcoran Development Process and Alternatives  Directed staff to require letter of credit or cash for developments and to reduce the requirements to 100% of the project costs. Natural Resource Protection Options  Directed staff to make no changes at this time. Preliminary Evaluation of Corcoran Water Supply Development  Approved a proposal to evaluate preliminary development of a Corcoran water supply system. Gambling Ordinance Amendment Request  Directed staff to drafl an ordinance amendment to allow for raftfe events at locations that have charitable gambling. 2018 Strategic Goals In January 2018, the City Council completed a vision setting session and outlined a vision for the next ten years. Council identified the following action steps to be completed in 2018 to make progress to the larger vision. Here is an update on how each strategic goal is progressing: Purchase park land, parks and trails commission to begin master planning.  The park land has been purchased. Designate open space park on west side of Jubert Lake.  The 2040 Comprehensive plan designates an open space park on the west side of Jubert Lake. Redesign downtown/town center plan.  Staff has begun to redesign the Southeast district plan. Guide comp plan for increased commercial/industrial area west of existing downtown, and in southwest Corcoran.  The 2040 Comprehensive plan designates the increase commercial/industrial area. Allocate funds in 2019 budget for paving gravel roads in the future.  In July 2019 funds for paving gravel roads will be discussed as part of 2019 budget. Complete staff planning for 2018 (canine, detective, part-time recreation coordinator, part- time code compliance ), update capital improvement plan.  Staff planning is in process and the capital improvement plan has been updated. Plan and budget Crime, Drug, and Safety task force items for 2019.  In July 2019 funds for the Crime, Drug, and Safety Taskforce will be discussed as part of 2019 budget. Review fire service report and consider next steps.  In June the Council received the report and will be working with staff to create a fire service subcommittee. Update City code to better enforce code issues.  Staff is currently working to update the City Code based on feedback from the City Council Learn about options for adjusting ordinances to protect trees/natural areas.  Council will be reviewing options at an upcoming City Council meeting. Ask charter commission to discuss the option of future wards in Corcoran.  The Charter Commission will review the topic of wards at their 2018 meeting in October. For current land use applications that have been reviewed, please see page 4. City of Corcoran Celebrates Staff The City of Corcoran welcomes new staff, and celebrates milestones with other staff this year. Jessica Christensen Buck is a graduate of Minnesota State University, Mankato with a degree in Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services. Jessica joins the City of Corcoran as the Recreation Coordinator, and her tasks include managing parks and recreation needs and facilities rentals. Emma Remillard is currently enrolled at Hamline University pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice. Emma Remillard joins the Corcoran PD as a part-time Police Technician. Emma is a resident of Corcoran and is excited to be working with the Corcoran Police Department. Public Works Crew Leader Brandon Heinz celebrated 15 years of dedicated service to the City of Corcoran. City Administrator Brad Martens celebrated 5 years of dedicated service to the City of Corcoran. City Mission Statement The City of Corcoran will provide high quality public services in a cost effective, responsible, and professional manner in order to create a preferred environment to live, work, play and transact business. City Updates Continued...  Page 3 Summer/Fall 2018 www.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 Soflener Replacement $16 *All of the above fees include the State Surcharge ($1) and can typically be issued immediately at City Hall. Building a Deck? There are a lot of composite or “maintenance free” decking materials being sold at popular home improvement stores such as Menards, Home Depot, and Lowes, etc. These composites are not specifically approved by State Building Code and require testing, approvals, and licensing to prove they meet minimum Code standards. Some manufacturers do not have their product properly tested and licensed, which means they will not pass State Building Code and cannot be used. Others may require smaller joist spacing or special fasteners. Please contact Metro West Inspections at 763-479-1720 to check if your proposed product is an approved decking material. If you have any other building code related questions please stop by the Corcoran City Hall or call Mike Pritchard at 763-400-7033.  Page 3 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Building Permits Land Use Applications and Final Plats The Corcoran Planning Commission is an advisory board and consists of five (5) regular members, and a rotating 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. For more information, please contact City Hall at 763-420-2288. Rezoning, Preliminary Plat and Preliminary PUD Development Plan for “Encore” (PID 1211923120001, 0111923430002 & 0111923440001) (City file 18-016) Pulte has submitted a request for approval of “Encore”, Minnesota’s first Del Webb community. This 398-unit project is located on 220 acres in Northeast Corcoran. The item was reviewed at the Parks and Trails Commission meeting on May 15 and June 19. A Public Hearing was held at the Planning Commission meeting on June 7, and the City Council approved the project on June 28. Preliminary PUD Development Plan/Rezoning and Preliminary Plat for Fehn Meadows 2nd Addition (City file 18-017) Chris Rains submitted a request for a 14 lot Open Space and Preservation plat on County Road 117. The item was reviewed at the Parks and Trails Commission meeting on May 15. A Public Hearing was held at the Planning Commission meeting on June 7, and the City Council approved on June 28. Sketch Plan for “Edgewater of Corcoran” at 19220 County Road 10 (PID 25-119-23-14-0003 and 25-119-23-14-0002) (City file 18-018) Trek Development, Inc. has submitted a sketch plan for a residential development with a 200-unit senior living continuum of care complex, 125-unit apartment and 19 single family homes. The Council gave the applicant feedback at the May 24 meeting. Shoulak Ordinance Amendment (City file 18-020)/Lindblad Ordinance Amendment (city file 18-024) James Shoulak and Marie Lindblad applied separately for ordinance amendments to allow a type of event center in residential areas. While the individual requests are slightly different, the concept of event centers is similar and staff has notified both applicants that we will process the requests concurrently. Staff is preparing an ordinance update for consideration at a public hearing at the August 2 Planning Commission and the August 23 City Council meeting. 2040 Corcoran Comprehensive Plan (City file 17-001) On April 26 the City Council approved the 2040 Comprehensive Plan for distribution to adjacent jurisdictions for comment. The adjacent jurisdictions have six months to review and comment and then Corcoran will send to the Metropolitan Council to review for compliance with regional systems. Southeast District Master Plan and Design Guidelines Update (City file 18-012) The drafl 2040 Comprehensive Plan anticipates significant changes to the transportation network that make it necessary to update this plan, which is adopted as Appendix B of the Zoning Ordinance. At the April 26 meeting, the Council authorized staff to begin this work. Nuisance Ordinance Ordinance/Process Update (City file 18-013) The Council has directed staff to be more proactive in the Code Enforcement efforts. Review of the ordinance and policies suggests that updates are needed in several areas. Staff presented the City Council with a work plan and schedule at the May 24 meeting. Staff is preparing an ordinance update for consideration at a public hearing at an upcoming meeting. Development Rights and Open Space and Preservation Ordinance Updates (City file 18-014) One of the implementation strategies from the Drafl 2040 Comprehensive Plan was to consider amendments to the OS&P ordinance to better reflect City goals. Staff presented the City Council with a work plan and schedule at the May 24 meeting. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  Page 4 Summer/Fall 2018 City Ordinance ATV Dirt Bike Info Did you know that it is illegal to operate all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and dirt bikes — also known as off-road motor- cycles, on the roadways in Corcoran? Operating these types of vehicles on private property is allowed if the property belongs to you, or you have written permission from the owner, on your person, while you are riding. Section 73.20 (page 83-85) of the Corcoran Municipal Code states it is unlawful to operate an ATV, dirt bike and/or go-cart on any portion of any right -of-way of any public highway, street, road, trail, alley, sidewalk, primary or secondary septic sites, private property of another without lawful authority, on public grounds, park property, playgrounds, or recreational areas. For Minnesota ATV Trails, please visit https://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/ trails/minnesota_list.htm For Minnesota Department of Natural Resources OHV Regulations, visit the link below: http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/ regulations/ohv/ohv_regs.pdf Fast Fact: Accessory structures in Corcoran, which do not exceed 200 square feet do not require a building permit. However, these unpermitted structures must still meet building code, setbacks, and zoning requirements required by the accessory structure city ordinance. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  Page 5 Summer/Fall 2018 Can I Build an Accessory Structure on my Property? Building permits are required for accessory structures over 200 square feet in size. The maximum size allowed is dependent on your property size. Although overall structure height is a factor, the city of Corcoran also measures the sidewall height. This is the distance measured form the bottom of the eave to the ground. In the front or side yard, there is a 10 foot maximum sidewall height; in the rear yard it is 13 feet 6 inch maximum. On properties less than two acres, the finish materials must be of a residential style/type (i.e. no metal standing seam siding/pole barn siding) and the structure must meet all setbacks*. Accessory Structure Permit Submittal Requirements  One (1) completed building permit application form  Two (2) sets of the proposed building plans showing design, materials, and scale  Two (2) copies of a Certificate of Survey indicating the location of the structure  Or Two (2) copies of a site plan, allowing the proposed structure meets all the required setbacks by at least two times. Site Plan must be drawn to scale and indicate the lot dimensions, the location and ground coverage area of existing structures and the location and area of the proposed structure as well as the setbacks from all property lines. Building Plans Must Show the Following  Overhead and Elevation  Size of Building  Sidewall and overall height  Foundation and footings (Size, Depth, Reinforcement, Anchor Bolts, Etc.)  Framing: including walls, headers, trusses/raflers, etc. (Lumber Type, Size, Spacing, Specifications, Etc.) Finish Materials (Roofing, Siding, etc.) Note: Metal roofing/siding requires a Certificate of Compliance Certificate of Survey/ Site Plan must show  Size and location of all existing structures, septic sites, wells, etc.  Size and location of proposed building  Distances to property lines (Setbacks) including: Sides, Rear, and Front  Provide Scale *NOTE: Setbacks are measured from the property line, not the street/road edge. For complete information as well as other ordinance standards and permit/plan requirements, please view the accessory structure checklist located at the city of Corcoran website at http://bit.ly/2u8pQ8u. Pictured at right: Accessory structure setbacks in UR and RR districts in Corcoran. Public Safety On Tuesday June 5, 2018, at approximately 1:00 pm, the City of Corcoran sent out a test notification encouraging residents to sign up for CodeRED. The CodeRED system will serve as the backbone of the Corcoran’s emergency planning and communications outreach to both citizens and staff. The system sends telephone calls, text messages, emails and posts to social media channels in order to inform residents and protect life and property. CodeRED was selected for its reliability and accuracy, as well as the system’s wide spread adoption across the U.S. It will be used to notify residents of significant events in their neighborhood like flooding, road closures, missing children notices, and other public safety emergencies. Residents living within Corcoran are encouraged to download the CodeRED mobile alert app on your mobile device by visiting https://bit.ly/2wZ5vbY. Once the app is downloaded, enroll and enter contact information including cell phone numbers (for text messaging) and email addresses. CodeRED Notification Services www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  page 6 Summer/Fall 2018 The Corcoran Police Department shares information on Facebook and Twitter regarding emergency information, weekly press releases, special events and other happenings around the community. View or follow the links below for more information: Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Corcoran- Police-Department/459695357400188 Twitter: www.twitter.com/corcoranpolice Corcoran Police Social Media Sharing the Road with Bicyclists Information obtained from www.dps.gov/divisions/ots/pedestrians-bicycles/pages/default.apsx Bicyclists and motorists share equal responsibility for bicycle safety. The number-one contributing factor to bicycle-vehicle collisions is failure to yield the right-of-way by bicyclists and drivers alike. Bicycle Rules of the Road and Safety Tips  Bicyclists may ride on all Minnesota roads, except where restricted.  Bicyclists should ride on the road, and must ride in the same direction as traffic.  Motorists must at all times maintain a three-foot clearance when passing a bicyclist.  Bicyclists must obey all traffic control signs and signals, just as motorists.  Bicyclists must signal their turns and should ride in a predictable manner.  Bicyclists must use a headlight and rear reflectors when it's dark. To increase visibility, add a rear flashing light.  Drivers must drive at safe speeds and be attentive — look for bicyclists, check blind spots.  Drivers should use caution and look twice for riders when turning.  Drivers should use caution when opening door upon parking on side of road. Learn more at www.dot.state.mn.us/sharetheroad/ Pedestrian Safety—It’s Everyone’s Responsibility Safety Tips for Drivers  Scan the road and sidewalks ahead for pedestrians. Drive attentively and at safe speeds. Remember, pedestrians can be difficult to see, especially in bad weather or at night.  Anticipate pedestrians especially in urban areas, around schools and colleges.  Before making a turn, look in all directions for pedestrians.  Look carefully behind your vehicle before backing up, especially for small children.  Watch for people in wheelchairs and motorized carts, who may be below eye level.  Stop for crossing pedestrians at every intersection, even those without crosswalks or stoplights. Stop far enough back so drivers in other lanes can also see the pedestrian in time to stop.  Do not block crosswalks while stopped, and don’t pass other vehicles stopped for pedestrians. Safety Tips for Pedestrians  Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections; don’t cross-mid block and obey traffic signals.  Make eye contact with drivers and ensure they see you and will stop.  Clearly show your intentions to cross.  Watch for turning and passing vehicles.  Look across all lanes for moving vehicles before proceeding.  Continue to be alert and watch for vehicles when walking in a crosswalk — drivers aren't always looking for pedestrians.  Use sidewalks where provided — where no sidewalks are provided, it is usually safer to walk facing traffic.  Make it easy for drivers to see you — dress in light colors and wear retro-reflective material. Carry a flashlight when it’s dark.  Alcohol and drugs can impair your ability to walk safely, just like they do a person's ability to drive.  Use extra caution when crossing multiple-lane, higher speed streets. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Public Works It’s Not Just Dust! Excerpt of an article “Dust: Don’t Eat It! Control It!,” from http://www.usroads.com/journals/ rmej/9806/rm980603.htm When you see dust coming up from your roads, you're really seeing dollars thrown to the wind. Road dust is made up of fine particles that are important to the stability of the road. These fines are small enough to pass through a #200 sieve and feel like powder when rubbed between your fingers. When fines blow away, the gravel road begins to break down. Traffic scatters the coarser aggregate, causing potholes, ruts, washboards, loss of profile, loss of ditch lines, and other problems. Wetting the road surface helps to keep dust-related problems in check. Moisture helps fines adhere to each other and to aggregates, allowing for optimum compaction. The trick is to keep the road moist. Calcium Chloride — What Is It? Calcium chloride absorbs water vapor from the air and liquid water from the road bed. At 77 degrees Fahrenheit and 75 percent humidity, for example, it absorbs more than twice its weight in water. In addition, calcium chloride solutions attract more moisture to the road than they give up in evaporation. The road remains dense and compact under almost any level of traffic because calcium chloride keeps materials on the road by keeping moisture in the road, even under a burning sun on a sweltering day. Calcium chloride is generally sprayed as a 35 percent solution using a tank truck with a rear- mounted distribution bar that spreads the liquid evenly over the road. One pass will cover an 8 to 12-foot-wide road. Two passes are needed on roads 16 to 18 feet wide. As soon as calcium chloride enters a road, it's attracted to negatively charged soil particles, such as clays, which help resist leaching. Calcium chloride may move deeper into the base during wet weather but will rise toward the surface during dry spells. An unpaved road stabilized with calcium chloride retains a moisture. The moisture retained keeps the surface plastic enough so fines can migrate into gaps formed between aggregates under the varying pressure of car and truck traffic. In short, calcium chloride does the following:  Reduces the amount of gravel needed in construction and maintenance  Extends the service life of the gravel-wearing course, decreasing blading and shaping  Controls dust and reinforces stabilization  Helps improve roads when used over time SIDE NOTE: Road projects and engineering studies have shown that using calcium chloride reduces the replacement cost of materials up to 80 percent as well as cuts grading costs as much as 50%. Gravel or Dirt Roads. What’s the Difference? There are 102 miles of roads in the City of Corcoran of which 63 miles are maintained by the City. Sixty percent of the maintained roads (36 miles) are gravel. Gravel roads are common in rural areas and may be referred to as 'dirt roads' in common speech, but that term is used more for unimproved roads with no surface material added. If well-constructed and maintained, a gravel road is an all-weather road. In order to keep gravel roads in good condition, a dust control product is applied to 27 miles of the City’s gravel roads. Benefits of using dust control include a more stabilized road, retained moisture for prolonged periods to reduce dust, a smoother driving surface, and reduced gravel replacement. The dust control product used in 2018 is calcium chloride. Since not all properties in Corcoran use gravel roads, the City assesses costs related to the project to benefitting properties as follows:  Total costs of the project are estimated and a dollar amount in the City’s general fund is dedicated towards the project.  The remaining costs are assessed to benefiting properties based upon what type of road they live on (neighborhood, high density collector, cul-de-sac, or low density collector).  Affected properties are mailed a notice of the public hearing.  A public hearing is scheduled where affected properties can make their views heard formally.  The City Council then finds the project feasible and moves forward with the improvement.  Bills are sent out for the project and unpaid bills are assessed. The City Council held the Improvement Hearing on May 10, 2018. Dust control has been applied to the scheduled roads. Invoices will be mailed to residents mid-summer. For dust control fees not paid by September 30, 2018, the late charge for past due invoices is 1.5% monthly of the fee, and a one-time $10.00 late fee. Any unpaid dust control fees will be certified to Hennepin County and will be added to your property tax bill. For more information, contact the City of Corcoran at 763-420-2288. If you would like further information please contact Brad Martens at 763-420-2288 or bmartens@ci.corcoran.mn.us. Fast Fact: Applying calcium chloride to gravel roads require some precise timing. To begin the process, the roads need to be appropriately graded. Next, the weather needs to cooperate. Assuming the first two steps follow schedule, now the product, calcium chloride needs to arrive on time to coincide with the road preparation. Depending on train schedules and contractor scheduling, there can be delays in receiving the calcium chloride, which may cause a need for grading to be redone on the scheduled gravel road. Your patience is very much appreciated as the Corcoran Public Works department completes dust control on scheduled collector roads.  page 7 Summer/Fall 2018 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Corcoran Garden Club Article submitted by Corcoran Gardening Club Noxious Weeds and Shrubs Noxious shrub Glossy Buckthorn pictured above. Noxious weeds can be harmful to humans and to the environment, as invasions can threaten the natural diversity and balance of ecological communities. Noxious weeds fall into regulatory listings for state prohibited weeds in Minnesota: Eradicate List Includes noxious weeds that are annual, biennial, or perennial plants designated as detrimental to human or animal health or the environment. Control List Includes noxious weeds that are established throughout Minnesota, but must be controlled by reducing established populations and preventing reproduction and spread. Along with the state prohibited noxious weed list, Minnesota also has restricted noxious weeds, and specially regulated plants. For complete information on noxious weeds visit: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/ pestmanagement/weedcontrol/~/media/ Files/plants/weeds/noxiousweeds2018.pdf Glossy Buckthorn Source: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/ pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist/ glossybuckthorn.aspx Environmental Updates  page 8 Winter 2015 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  page 8 Summer/Fall 2018 Why Are Wetlands Important? Source: https://www.epa.gov/wetlands/why-are-wetlands-important Wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs. An immense variety of species of microbes, plants, insects, amphibians, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals can be part of a wetland ecosystem. Climate, landscape shape (topology), geology, and the movement and abundance of water help to determine the plants and animals that inhabit each wetland. The complex, dynamic relationships among the organisms inhabiting the wetland environment are called food webs. This is why wetlands in Texas, North Carolina and Alaska differ from one another. Wetlands can be thought of as "biological supermarkets." They provide great volumes of food that attract many animal species. These animals use wetlands for part of or all of their life-cycle. Dead plant leaves and stems break down in the water to form small particles of organic material called "detritus." This enriched material feeds many small aquatic insects, shellfish and small fish that are food for larger predatory fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. The functions of a wetland and the values of these functions to humans depend on a complex set of relationships between the wetland and the other ecosystems in the watershed. A watershed is a geographic area in which water, sediments, and dissolved materials drain from higher elevations to a common low-lying outlet or basin a point on a larger stream, lake, underlying aquifer or estuary. Wetlands play an integral role in the ecology of the watershed. The combination of shallow water, high levels of nutrients and primary productivity is ideal for the development of organisms that form the base of the food web and feed many species of fish, amphibians, shellfish, and insects. Many species of birds and mammals rely on wetlands for food, water, and shelter, especially during migration and breeding. Wetlands' microbes, plants, and wildlife are part of global cycles for water, nitrogen and sulfur. Scientists now know that atmospheric maintenance may be an additional wetlands function. Wetlands store carbon within their plant communities and soil instead of releasing it to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. Thus wetlands help to moderate global climate conditions. Far from being useless, disease-ridden places, wetlands provide values that no other ecosystem can. These include natural water quality improvement, flood protection, shoreline erosion control, opportunities for recreation and aesthetic appreciation, and natural products for our use at no cost. Protecting wetlands can protect our safety and welfare. Wetlands are hydrologically connected to the surrounding landscape through surface water and groundwater. Fast Fact: Disappearing Wetlands Source: https://freshwater.org/wp-content/uploads/joomla/PDFs/critical-water/wetlands.pdf Since the time of Minnesota settlement in the 1850’s, over 50 percent of the approximately 20 million acres of wetland in Minnesota have been filled or drained in order to make the land more economically productive for agriculture and other development. Over 90 percent of the original wetlands in the southern and western regions, where agricultural drainage produced great economic benefit, have been destroyed. Some areas within those regions are reported to have less than 1 percent of wetlands remaining. What is a Culvert and Why is My Culvert Clogged? Culverts are usually located under private driveways, on under roads maintained by the city or county. When culverts are operating properly, they help divert water from one side of a ditch, or a roadway, to the other side. Culverts also assist to equalize ponds and to allow wildlife to pass beneath the road. The most troublesome problem clogged culverts present is flooding in unwanted places. As a homeowner, there are some things you can do to avoid culverts from getting clogged. Keep your grass clippings and fallen leaves away from culvert openings. Each time the area around the culvert is mowed and grass clippings are lefl behind, the greater chance debris will move into the culvert and settle. In extreme cases, the culvert can become completely blocked, perpetuating the flooding problem. If you are altering a culvert in a right-of- way, or adding a new driveway with a culvert to your property, please notify the city to verify if a permit is needed. Some culverts are maintained by the city, so its always a good idea to call if there is a question regarding the culvert. Culvert projects on local county roads can have significant environmental effects, some of which may not immediately appear. If there is a culvert in question, on a county road, call Hennepin County Public Works Department at 612-596-0299. If you believe the culvert in question is located under a city road, contact City Hall at 763-420-2288. www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  page 9 Summer/Fall 2018 Environmental Updates Fall Lawn and Landscape Tips Source: http://www.mda.state.mn.us/protecting/waterprotection/lawnfalltips.aspx Fall is the best time of year to fertilize your lawn and control weeds. In fact, healthy lawns help area lakes and streams. Thick grass prevents soil erosion and absorbs rainwater. By soaking up rainwater, lawns decrease the amount of storm water runoff funneling pollutants into lakes and streams. Here’s How To Keep Your Lawn Healthy In The Fall: Mow. Mow your grass at a height of two and one-half to three inches. Water. Even though it is cooler in the fall, lawns still need regular watering to maintain plant health and better survive winter conditions. Water until the ground begins to freeze. Fertilize. Mid-to late October is the best time of year to fertilize your lawn. Fertilizer provides grass with nutrients for spring growth. Use zero phosphorous lawn fertilizer unless you are establishing a new lawn or you have a soil test that indicates additional phosphorus is needed. Look for a middle number of zero on the fertilizer package. Water your lawn for one to two hours afler fertilizer application. Control Weeds. September is the best time of year to treat dandelions, plantain, clover, and creeping charlie. Limited numbers of weeds should be removed by hand or spot-treated with herbicide. Sweep Up. Sweep up and reuse lawn care products that fall on streets, sidewalk and driveways. Here’s How To Recycle Your Leaves: Compost. Composting recycles nutrients and helps keep leaves out of streets and storm sewers. Mulch. You can use leaves, whole or shredded by a power mower, as winter or spring mulch. Mow. If you have less than two inches of leaves covering your lawn, you can leave them in place and make several passes over them with a power mower. By shredding them into a fine, thin layer, you will provide your grass with valuable nutrients and end up with a lawn that looks like it was just raked. Gradually reduce mowing height to two inches to prevent winter turf damage. Bag. Rake and bag your leaves. Contact your local garbage disposal company, or check with a local yard waste facility for disposal options.  page 8 Ch i l d ’ s N a m e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ C h i l d ’ s A g e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Pa r e n t ’ s N a m e _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ E m a i l _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Ad d r e s s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Public Safety Night to Unite 2018 Join your neighbors across the City of Corcoran on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, to celebrate Night to Unite! Night to Unite! is a nationwide event designed to strengthen neighborhood and community relationships. The Corcoran Police Department encourages participation in this celebration of community, crime prevention and strong police/community partnerships. You can get involved by organizing a party for your neighborhood and registering the party online. Visit http://bit.ly/2sYr5aU or click here to register your neighborhood Night to Unite! party. All registered parties will be visited by either Police, Fire, City staff or elected officials on Night to Unite!, Tuesday, August 7. Neighborhood parties may include anything from large cook-outs with games and prizes to small gatherings with root-beer floats. Night to Unite! is sponsored by the City of Corcoran, AAA, and the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association. To help make your party a success, a party starting basket will be provided to each registered party with prizes and coupons. Remember, a strong community makes for a safe community. Everything we do to strengthen the ties among neighbors of all ages, backgrounds and lifestyles makes our present and future much brighter. Celebrating Night to Unite! with the Corcoran Police Department and your neighbors is a positive way to build and nurture our community by starting, quite literally, in your own back (or front) yard. The City of Corcoran, the Corcoran Lions, and NW Area Jaycees, will again host a city wide celebration for residents that may not have a formal neighborhood. The event will be held at the Public Works Building, located at 9100 County Road 19, from 5:00—9:00 pm. There will be free pork chops on a stick, hot dogs, a free ice cream social, bounce houses, a rock wall, yard games, fire trucks, a helicopter, SWAT, K-9 dogs, and lots of fun! Not sure how to start planning your neighborhood party? Click here or visit http:// bit.ly/2ti1Gf5 to checkout the handy links for additional resources in planning your Night to Unite! neighborhood party. For more information please contact the Corcoran Police Department at (763) 420-8966. Please register your Night to Unite! neighborhood party by July 20 for this year’s Night to Unite event. We look forward to seeing you on August 7! Fast Fact: The Night to Unite! is Minnesota’s offshoot of National Night Out which was established, and has been held annually since 1984. Night to Unite! is sponsored by the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association, AAA of Minnesota/Iowa and local law enforcement agencies. The event is meant to increase awareness about police programs in communities, such as drug prevention, town and neighborhood watches, and other anti-crime efforts. Corcoran celebrates its third year of participating in the national Night to Unite! Night to Unite 2018 Coloring Contest Coloring contest rules:  1 entry per child  Voting will be open on Facebook until contest closes on August 7, 2018.  All entries must be dropped off or mailed to the Corcoran City Hall/ Police Department, 8200 County Road 116, Corcoran, MN 55340. The entries will be added to Facebook in July, and then as they are received, but the earlier the better! Entry coloring sheets can be picked up at the Corcoran City Hall, Corcoran Police Department or at participating locations. Additional coloring sheets are located online on the Corcoran Police Department Facebook page and also at the City of Corcoran website at www.ci.corcoran.mn, select Organizations/Events, and then Corcoran Night to Unite. Coloring Contest Prizes: 1st Place: Ride to school in a police car 2nd Place : Milk and doughnuts with a police officer 3rd Place : A visit at your house from a police officer  page 11 Summer/Fall 2018 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Corcoran Police Department Adds K9 Officer to Team K9 Zeke is a 2-year old Belgian Malinois who came to the Corcoran Police Department from the Czech Republic in February 2018. K9 Zeke was purchased with funds donated to the City from community members and local organizations. K9 Zeke and Officer Vojacek completed over 500 hours of training. During that time, K9 Zeke learned to track people, assist in dangerous situations, locate narcotics, and to search for items thrown by suspects. K9 Zeke is extremely social, loves Kong toys, tennis balls, and working alongside Officer Vojacek. Come meet us at Night to Unite! Environmental Updates Minnesota’s Good Garden Spiders Source: http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ ecology/black_and_yellow_argiope.htm Don’t Be Afraid If you see a spider like the one in the picture above, enjoy looking at the beautiful web and know the spider is harmless to humans. In fact, this very large orb weaver actually does a lot of good, as they eat large amounts of insect pests like flies, mosquitoes and aphids. The official name of this spider is a Black and Yellow Ar- giope and is a common orb web spider in Min- nesota. Orb means it spins a web in a circle. These spiders prefer sunny places with no wind to build their webs, and rarely venture inside human dwellings. Each night, they eat their web and build a new one. Typically this garden spider only lives for one year, afler mating in the fall, the female eats the males, lays her egg sac on the side the web, then dies soon afler. Spiderlings hatch in the spring. Attracting Spiders to Your Garden The most common garden spiders do not spin webs, rather they hang out in your garden waiting for prey under bushes or in mulch. Like any predator, spiders are attracted to good hunting. Perennial herbs that grow into lush bushes can make a good spider conservatory, and mulches like grass clippings create a biode- gradable habitat for spiders. A few other good garden spiders include wolf spiders, jumping spiders and crab spiders. Wolf spiders carry their young on their backs and live in shallow underground burrows and are common beneath mulch. Jumping spiders hunt during the day by pouncing on their prey, which includes flies and other winged insects. Wolf spiders also use a string of silk to tether themselves in case they miss a jump. Crab spi- ders have oversized front legs, making them look like a miniature crab. They are oflen called flower spiders as they are attracted to the bright colors of flowers and can change color to match the flower color they have chosen as their hunting perch. Bee Friendly Plants That Promote Healthy Bee Activity Article Submitted by Heidi’s GrowHaus What do Cosmos, Monarda and Coneflower have in common? They are bee-friendly plants that promote healthy bee activity! Did you know that some growers genetically enhance their flowers with pesticides which directly impact the health of the world’s bees and the pollination of our crops? It is up to citizen gardeners to help maintain the health of our pollinators by adding to the inventory of flower-rich habitat and planting bee-friendly plants. Consider replacing part or all of your front lawn grass with flowering plants to provide food for honey bees, bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. You need only a small plot of land for a bee garden—it can even be a window container or rooflop—to create an inviting oasis for bees. Every little bit can help to nurture bees and other pollinators. Planting three seasons of bee-friendly flowers will ensure your bee garden is a popular spot all season:  Crocus, hyacinth, calendula, and wild lilac provide enticing spring blooms in a bee garden.  Bees feast on bee balm (Monarda), cosmos, coneflowers (Echinacea ), snapdragons, foxglove, and hosta in the summer.  For fall, zinnias, sedum, asters, witch hazel, and goldenrod are late bloomers that will tempt foragers. In addition to hosting their own beehives, Heidi’s GrowHaus holds free and informative classes in the importance of pollinator plants and the art of beekeeping. See our summer events regarding bees. Stop in – we are always glad to answer questions about bee- friendly flowers and plantings. Free Classes Open to the Public Please RSVP to the events to info@bloomonmn.com Fun and Free Teachable Tuesdays Presentations 4:00-6:00 pm July 10: Mushroom Growing Bee Squad 2:00-3:00 pm July 24 Representatives from the U of M Bee Squad will be on hand to promote programs offered by the U of M Bee Squad. They will be servicing GrowHaus’ beehives during this time as well, and you may observe them in action and ask questions. Special Event: Bee Smart Saturday 12:00 pm — 2:00 pm July 28 Bee Smart Saturday Free fun for all ages! Learn about bees and pollinator plants from Women Who Buzz! Participate in a capture and release walk and wear a bee suit! Anne Turnham from the U of M Bee Squad will talk about how to acquire your own bee boxes and programs offered by the U of M Bee Squad.  page 12 Summer/Fall 2018 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us The City Hall Community Room is available to rent for family or business events. The Corcoran Community Room is a great location for family holiday gatherings, graduation parties, birthday parties, weddings, baby or wedding showers, and family reunions. The Community Room is 45 x 45 feet and accommodates seating for up to 150, has a full kitchen, men’s/women’s restrooms and access to the Memorial Garden with a gazebo behind the City Hall. Banquet, classroom, and lecture style seating are available for room setup options. Community Room rental fees per day: Monday-Thursday $150.00 Friday $275.00 Saturday or Sunday $350.00 Park Shelter/Picnic Facility rental fees per day: Park Shelter $100.00 Ballfields/Soccer Fields $30.00 (6 hour usage) Lion’s Field $30.00 (Addl $30.00 per game for lights) Tennis Courts $30.00 (All courts-4 hour usage) Volleyball Court $30.00 (4-hour usage) For more information, please contact City Hall at 763-420-2288 or view the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us. Community Room/ Park Rental Fast Fact: What Is Illicit Discharge? Eliminating illicit discharge is critical to restoring our watersheds. When water cannot meet designated uses for drinking water, fishing or recreation can be affected: waterfront home values fall; fish harvesting can be restricted or halted; and illicit discharges can close beaches, primarily as a result of bacteria contamination. In addition to public health impacts associated with illicit discharges, aquatic life, and wildlife are significantly impacted. Numerous fish kills and other aquatic life losses have occurred as a result of illicit discharge, accidental dumping, or spills that resulted in lethal concentrations of combined pollutants being release into our watersheds. Visit https://www3.epa.gov/ npdes/pubs/nps_month_bookmark.pdf for ways to limit illicit discharges.  page 13 Summer/Fall 2018 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Environmental Updates Paper  Mail, office/school papers  Magazines and catalogs  Newspapers and inserts  Phone books  Shredded paper in closed paper bags Boxes  Cardboard  Cereal and cracker boxes  Shoe boxes, gifl boxes and electronics boxes  Toothpaste, medication, and other toiletry boxes Cartons  Milk cartons  Juice boxes  Soup, broth, and wine cartons Glass  Food and beverage bottles and jars Plastic Bottles and Jugs  Water, soda, and juice bottles  Milk and juice jugs  Ketchup and salad dressing bottles  Dishwashing liquid bottles and detergent jugs  Shampoo, soap and lotion bottles Cups and containers:  Yogurt, pudding and fruit cups  Disposable cups and bowls  Margarine, cottage cheese, and other containers  Produce, deli, and take out containers Plastic Packaging:  Clear Packaging from toys and electronics Metal  Food and beverage cans Recycle Batteries at City Hall Some batteries contain toxic metals, such as cadmium, lead or mercury, which poses a threat to human health and the environment when batteries are improperly disposed of. City Hall has a battery recycling bin located at the front doors of City Hall. Place batteries in a clear plastic bag or tape the positive (+) terminal of lithium and lithium-ion batteries to prevent fires. If you cannot remove the batteries from the device, you will need to bring the entire device to a Hennepin County drop-off facility. No automotive are batteries accepted. Visit www.hennepin.us/batteryrecycling to locate additional drop-off locations. Non-Recyclable Materials Styrofoam, plastic wrap, microwaveable food trays, paper soiled with food, paper plates and towels, drinking glasses, dishes, mirrors, needles, plastic bags or any containers that held hazardous products. Hennepin County Recyclable Materials BYOB Bring Your Own Bag Common sense beckons us that it is better to bring reusable bags when com- pleting weekly shopping. On average we only recycle one plastic bag in every 200 we use. Each year, an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide. That comes out to over one million per minute. Source: https://conservingnow.com/plastic-bag- consumption-facts/  page 14 Summer/Fall 2018 2018 Corcoran Recycling Schedule www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Environmental Updates Join the Zero Waste Challenge and Slash Your Trash Source: https://www.hennepin.us/zerowastechallenge If you’re interested in taking steps to prevent waste but aren’t sure where to start, Hennepin County’s Zero Waste Challenge is a great way to learn more and get hands-on help. The county is looking for 50 households to participate in the eight-month-long challenge that takes an in-depth look at the goods we buy and waste we create to uncover opportunities to recycle more and reduce waste. Although many people know that preventing waste is a great way to lower their impact on the environment and reduce the amount of stuff they have to deal with, taking action and making change can be hard. The county developed the challenge to help people figure out the best waste-reduction actions to take and how to fit them into their lives. Zero Waste Challenge Participants Learn a Lower-Waste Lifestyle This year’s challenge families took a wide variety of actions on their journeys toward zero waste, including some of the following: Improving recycling: Taking organics to a drop-off site, adding backyard composting, and learning about wish-cycling (and stopping!). Eliminating disposables: Using steel straws instead of disposable ones, switching to reusable feminine products, sewing reusable sandwich bags, and using handkerchiefs, coffee mugs, cloth napkins and reusable produce bags. Preventing waste in the first place: Making beeswax wrap, learning to cook more from scratch, getting chickens, organizing the fridge, shopping in bulk, and cutting back on online shopping. Getting everyone involved: Many households commented about how involved children were, such as one family’s two-year-old who already knows how to say when something is “compostable.” Participate in the Next Zero Waste Challenge With the assistance of county staff, participating households identify low-waste lifestyle changes they would like to make and track their progress by reporting the amount of recycling and trash generated in their homes. Participating households will: Receive hands-on, personalized coaching to assess the waste generated in their homes, develop a customized waste reduction plan, and make low-waste lifestyle changes. Have opportunities to attend waste-reduction workshops on topics like low-waste shopping, green cleaners and backyard composting and connect with other households striving to live lower waste lifestyles. Receive bi-weekly tips on waste reduction topics and get access to supplies and educational materials. Commit to tracking and reporting the waste their household generates for four weeks at the beginning and end of the challenge, schedule time for a home visit with county staff during the challenge, and make their best attempt to adopt actions to reduce the amount of waste created in their households. The challenge will go from September 10, 2018, to April 30, 2019. Registration will open Friday, July 27, at www.hennepin.us/zerowastechallenge, and interested households should complete the online application at by Sunday, August 19. 2018 Corcoran Event Calendar Jul 4: HOLIDAY—City Hall Closed CANC Jul 5: Planning Commission Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Jul 5-8: Hamel Rodeo Corcoran Lion’s Park Visit http://hamelrodeo.org Jul 12: City Council Meeting 5:45 pm — Council Work Session 7:00 pm — Council Chambers CANC Jul 17: Parks and Trails Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Jul 26: City Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Aug 2: Planning Commission Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Aug 7: Corcoran Night To Unite! Click here for more information or visit www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Aug 9: City Council Meeting 5:45 pm — Council Work Session 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Aug 12: Great Hope Get Together Event Location: Hope Community Church www.myhopecommunity.org/ghgt/ Aug 14: Parks & Trails Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Aug 17-18: Corcoran Country Daze www.corcorancountrydaze.org Aug 19: NH Pioneer Society Summerfest Location: Corcoran Burschville School House Aug 19: St. Thomas Parish Festival Location: St. Thomas the Apostle Church Aug 23: City Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Aug 25: NTPA Tractor Pull Location: Lion’s Park Gates open at 5:00/Starts at 7:00 Sept 3: HOLIDAY—City Hall Closed Sept 6: Planning Commission Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Sept 8: Demo Derby Location: Lion’s Park Gates open 5:00/Starts at 7:00 Sept 13: City Council Meeting 7:00 pm — Council Chambers Corcoran Happenings Burschville School Summerfest Event Sponsored by North Hennepin Pioneer Society Date: August 19, 2018 Where: Corcoran’s Burschville School 22995 County Road 10, Corcoran, MN (4½ miles west of Corcoran on Hennepin County Road 10) Time: 12:00—4:30 pm All alumni, family and friends are welcome to celebrate Summerfest again at the annual fundraising event at Corcoran’s Burschville School! North Hennepin Pioneer Society hosts the event with support from area businesses. Join in the fun, including entertainment by the Jolly Jammers, face painting, kids games, door prizes, a raftfe for Twins tickets, a flea market, the famous “Those Pork Chops,” and more! Funds raised focus on supporting the last remaining schoolhouse in Corcoran. The images at right depict two brothers, Randy and Dough Manthei, in a Burschville School classroom photo from 1962-63 (bottom photo). Fast forward fifly-five years later (top photo), as the two brothers recreate the photo at Summerfest 2017. For any further information or an appointment to see the school, please contact: Verneal Klersy 763-498-8677 Betty Lange 763-286-0877 Bonnie Maue 763-420-3440 Email: corcoranschool1894@gmail.com St. Thomas the Apostle Church, located at the intersection of County Roads 10 and 116 in Corcoran, will again celebrate their Parish Festival on Sunday, August 19, 2018. Come enjoy a fabulous turkey dinner from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. The festival also includes: Cash bingo, garage sale, kids’ games, farmers’ market, crafl sale, silent auction, cake walk, country music and a grand prize raftfe drawing (you do not need to be present to win). Come enjoy a fun filled aflernoon! St. Thomas the Apostle Annual Parish Festival Sponsored by St. Thomas the Apostle Church Date: August 19, 2018 Location: St. Thomas the Apostle Church 20000 County Road 10 Corcoran, MN 55340  page 15 Summer/Fall 2018 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Save the Date — Huge Garage Sale! Where: St. Thomas the Apostle Church 20000 County Road 10, Corcoran, MN 55340 When: October 3-5, 2018 Oct 3 — 1:00 pm to 9:00 pm Oct 4 — 8:00 am to 8:00 pm – 50% off from 4 pm to 8 pm Oct 5 – 8:00 am to 1:30 pm – bag day all day - $4/bag and unlimited bags. Questions? Please contact Elaine Kramer at 763-494-4332 Date: September 15, 2018 Time: Noon to 8:00 pm Cost: No admission fee; Donations are appreciated Visit website for parking information at www.shoubf.com Early in 2011, Judy Shoulak of Corcoran was diagnosed with breast cancer. In the fall of that year, Judy, her husband Jim, and children Jake, Sarah and Joe began hosting an annual outdoor music festival to raise money for breast cancer awareness, research and education, support, treatment, and a cure. Today, Judy and her family are celebrating her being cancer-free for seven years, but the Shoulak BreastFest™ Music Festival continues. Now in its eighth year, the casual backyard festival has raised over $250,000 for various local charities. The seven local charity partners include: Breast Cancer Education Association (BCEA), The Firefly Sisterhood, The Hope Chest, Park Nicollet Foundation, Piper Breast Cancer Emergency Fund, The Angel Foundation, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Minnesota. The day features a Survivor’s Ceremony, and food and beverages from Buffalo Wild Wings and other vendors. Past silent auction items have included limited-edition bicycles and guitars, signed sports memorabilia, grills, tickets to pro sports events, and handcrafled items. Over the years, timeshare vacations, trips to the NFL Pro Bowl and other NFL games, and autographed footballs and helmets have been auctioned off in the live auction. This year, Minnesota musicians will again provide live music; bands include Consolation Champ, and The Sevilles. For complete information visit: www.shoubf.com Sponsored by Shoulak family and various other charity partners  page 16 Summer/Fall 2018 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Corcoran Happenings Corcoran Lions Scholarship Awards Ceremony The Corcoran Lions Scholarship Awards Ceremony was held on Tuesday May 15, 2018, at the Corcoran City Hall. The event on May 15, celebrates the 30th Corcoran Lions Scholarship program. Since the first ceremony in 1989, over 903 scholarships totaling $538,200. have been issued to Corcoran students within the public school districts serving the Corcoran area. The 2017-18 school year included 12 recipients who attend school at, Buffalo High School (3), Delano High School (3), Rockford High School (2), Perpich Arts High School (1), Heritage Christian Academy (1), Home School (1) and Providence Academy (1). The Scholarship Committee members included Jerry and Dee Cain, Ryan Schlegel and John Anderson. The award process includes five categories: academics/school and extra- curricular activities, community activities, leadership, employment, and other relevant circumstances. Each category is scored 0-5 to arrive at a total score. Profits from events at Lion’s Park makes the Corcoran Lions scholarship program possible. Bill and Charlotte Schalo Memorial Community Service Scholarship The 9th Annual Bill and Charlotte Schalo Memorial Community Service Scholarship was established 2010. The 2018 recipient of the Bill and Charlotte Schalo Memorial Community Service Scholarship is Buffalo High School Senior Grace Edin of Corcoran. Both Bill and Charlotte Schalo were exceptional Lions members, and were always giving back to the community in many ways. Bill and Charlotte were always present at Lions and community events, they were active in church activities, assisted and visited homebound seniors, and volunteered for Meals on Wheels, just to name a few of the volunteer contributions they made to the Corcoran community. In 2010, Bill passed away, and the Schalo family gave the Corcoran Lions a donation. In honor of Bill and Charlotte’s many years of service, the Corcoran Lions initiated a scholarship for individuals who exemplify excellent community service in the City of Corcoran. July 5-8, 2018: Hamel Rodeo http://hamelrodeo.org August 25, 2018: NTPA Tractor Pull Gates open at 5:00 pm/Starts at 7:00 pm September 8, 2018: Demo Derby Gates open 5:00 pm/Starts at 7:00 pm October 2018: Haunted Acres (Specific date to be announced) Left to right: Lion Chair Jerry Cain, Kamryn Friedrich from Perpich Arts High School, Debby Lehtola from Buffalo High School, Bridget Murphy from Providence Academy, Jordyn Wentzel from Delano High School, Emily Westrich was home schooled, Corcoran City Councilmember Jonathan Bottema , Corcoran Lions President Dave Poppler, and Jack Schalo, son of Bill and Charlotte Schalo. Not present: Kayla Calder and Tyler Gearin from Rockford High School, Grace Eiden and Sarah Hudson from Buffalo High School, Kylie Galloway from Heritage Christian Academy, David Gerecke and Jacob Gerecke of Delano High School. Future Corcoran Lions Events All events at Lions Park — visit www.corcoranlions.org for more info Celebrating the 21st Anniversary of Hope Community Church! Please join Hope Com- munity Church for these FREE all the fun in one day activities! Great Hope Get Together Activities Free Corn Feed 11:30 am Afternoon Activities Hayrides Inflatables Petting Zoo Face Painting & More! Free Hot Dogs and Brats 4:30 pm Hope’s Got Talent! Hope’s Got Talent begins at 5:15 pm Corcoran Happenings NW Area Jaycees Scholarship Awards Ceremony Congratulations to all graduates that reside in the city of Corcoran! It is so wonderful that the city is full of talented individuals who have dedicated themselves to school, and will continue on their journey to college, career, or travel. The Northwest Area Jaycees are especially honored to congratulate the recipients of the Northwest Area Jaycees Scholarships. Each year the Northwest Area Jaycees award Corcoran residents up to $20,000 in scholarship funds. Throughout the past decade, the organization has donated over $300,000 to students furthering their education. Scholarship awards are based on four categories: Leadership, Community Involvement, Financial Need, and Academics. All of the scholarship recipients this year have excelled in their leadership, have a passion to serve our community and are truly academic all-stars. We are honored to announce our support to 10 Corcoran residents, all listed in the picture above. You will all make us proud as you continue on to higher education and share your leadership skills with your fellow classmates. Be bold, have fun, and don't forget to give back to the community. Wherever you end up, community is an absolute crucial component to developing safe and welcoming cities. Pictured at right: Left to right: Alyssa Loven, Samantha Newstrom, Debby Lehtola, Hyrum Smith, Grace Eiden, Aydin Schreber, and Maddison Haeger. Not present: Kamryn Friedrich, Maddy Tharp, and Sarah Hudson. CROSS Meals on Wheels What is Meals on Wheels? CROSS Meals on Wheels offers delivery of hot, ready-to-eat meals to elderly, disabled, and homebound individuals living in Corcoran, Maple Grove, Osseo, Rogers, and Dayton. When are meals delivered? Meals are delivered between 11 am to 12:30 pm Monday through Friday. What type of food is served? Meals are a main entrée, vegetable, bread, dessert, fruit, and milk. Can relatives sign up their loved ones? Family members are encouraged to contact CROSS to obtain information about enrolling loved ones. How much does it cost? With the new sliding fee program, the home delivered meal program is now open to more community members, the meal price determined on eligibility to pay and need. Do you need volunteers? As our program grows, so does the need for volunteer drivers. Whether once a month or once a week, CROSS will work around your schedule. Drivers must have their own vehicle, driver’s license and insurance. Based in Rogers, CROSS Services in a nonprofit organization serving families and individuals for 38 years. For more information, contact CROSS at 763- 425-1050, info@CROSSservices.org, or visit www.CROSSservices.org.  page 17 Summer/Fall 2018 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Date: August 12, 2018 Location: Hope Community Church 19951 Oswald Farm Road Corcoran, MN 55374 For more information please visit: www.myhopecommunity.com/Ghgt  page 18 Summer/Fall 2018 Corcoran Happenings This is a fun mud or grass volleyball tournament in memory of a beautiful and talented woman who loved to play volleyball with her friends and family. When: Saturday August 18, 2018 Check in: 8:00 am Where: Corcoran City Park Fee: $60 per team Visit www.corcorancountrydaze.org to register. Registration due Wednesday, August 15. DETAILS:  Coed teams of four  Minimum of two women on the court at all times  Guaranteed four matches  “Call-your-own” tournament with officiated playoffs  Players must be 18 years or older Prizes:  Swag bags for each team with drink tickets  1st Place $90 Cash, T-shirts & Traveling Trophy  2nd Place $60 Cash  3rd Place $30 Cash Event proceeds go to the Jessica Lynn LaFave Foundation Please contact Jessica C. Buck with any questions at jchristensenbuck@ci.corcoran.mn.us www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Purchase Tickets Early! Visit www.corcorancountrydaze.org or visit the NW Area Jaycees Facebook event page for more details. Corcoran Country Daze is hosted by the NW Area Jaycees and sponsored by local businesses. Thanks to all for helping to make this event possible each year. All proceeds go back to the surrounding communities through the many events the NW Area Jaycees support, including hardship donations, children’s events, scholarships, food shelf donations, etc. Please join us for Minnesota’s largest backyard festival! Corcoran Country Daze Information provided by Northwest Area Jaycees (NW Area Jaycees) Welcome to Minnesota’s Largest Backyard Festival Corcoran Country Daze is celebrating its 15th year with more exciting, national entertainment on August 17 and 18, 2018! A quick reminder that Corcoran County Daze is now located at Corcoran Lions Park, at Bass Lake Road and County Road 101! Corcoran Country Daze is one of the best weekends of the summer! Friday, August 17 (Corcoran Lions Park unless location listed separately) 6:00 pm: Men’s soflball tournament at the Corcoran City Park ball fields 4:00 pm: Gates open 6:00 pm—12:00 am: Hometown Heroes Event featuring Church of Cash, Canaan Smith and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (two free tickets for police, fire, EMT, and Military members) Fireworks show at dusk honoring our Veterans! Saturday, August 18 (Corcoran Lions Park) 8:00 am: Soflball and Grass Volleyball Tournament (Corcoran City Park) 10:00 am: Free Kid’s Day 10:00 am: Classic Car Show 10:00 am: 2nd Annual Waterball Tournament 6:00 pm: Gates open 6:00 pm —12:00 am: Southern Express, Night Ranger and Dennis De Young Fireworks show at dusk! Corcoran Country Daze Grass Volleyball Tournament Sponsored by Corcoran Parks & Recreation Corcoran Athletic Association This summer the Corcoran Athletic Association officially transitioned into the Parks and Recreation program now offered through the City of Corcoran. New this fall, t-ball and coach pitch (near ball) will be offered through the Corcoran Parks and Recreation department! The fall season will last approximately 4 weeks starting at the end of August. Bats, game balls, and helmets will be provided. Kids should bring their own gloves and water bottles. T-ball will take place on Mondays and Wednesdays. Coach pitch will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays. **Volunteer Coaches Needed! If you’re interested, please be sure to mark that on you registration form. Coaches will be reimbursed for one child registration.** Register online at http://www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Registration opened on June 22, and will remain open until August 8 (or until filled). Contact Recreation Coordinator Jessica Christensen Buck with any questions at jchristensenbuck@ci.corcoran.mn.us. Fast Fact: Source: http://www.mnopedia.org/person/sibley-henry-h-1811-1891 Henry H. Sibley was elected the first governor in a statewide election held on October 13, 1857 and took office following Minnesota's entry into the Union as the 32nd state on May 11, 1858. Are you Registered to Vote? Voter Registration is required prior to casting your ballot. Voter registration applications can be completed online at https://mnvotes.sos.state.mn.us/ VoterRegistration/ VoterRegistrationStep1.aspx, by clicking here to printout the voter registration application, or by applying in-person on election day (includes in-person absentee voting). To register, you must be:  A U.S. citizen  At least 18 years old on Election 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 years, you must update your registration by completing a new registration application. Elections Information on the City of Corcoran Website Elections information is available on the City’s website to provide additional information on elections. You can find this section under the ‘Government’ tab on the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us. Election Information Absentee Voting and Direct Balloting Absentee Vote Via Mail If you are unable to vote in person at City Hall, visit the mnvotes.org to complete the absentee ballot application process online. If you’re unable to complete the application online, you can pick up an application at Corcoran City Hall (8200 County Road 116) or call 763-400-7029 to request that an absentee ballot application be sent to you. Upon receipt of completed and signed application, your absentee ballot will be sent to you. Vote Absentee in Person Corcoran residents can No-Excuse Absentee Vote for the Primary Election at: Corcoran City Hall (8200 County Road 116, Corcoran, MN 55340) starting Friday, June 29th, 2018 for the Primary Election. Hours for voting are 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday through Friday and closed Saturday and Sunday. City Hall will be open extended hours for absentee voting for the primary election 10:00 am to 3:00 pm on Saturday, August 11, 2018. City hall will remain open Monday, August 13, 2018, until 5:00 pm. Direct Balloting Corcoran voters can directly place their ballots into a ballot counter when voting in person starting: Tuesday, August 7 through Monday, August 13, 2018 for the Primary Election. Candidate Filing The City of Corcoran’s next municipal election will be held on November 6, 2018. Corcoran will have three positions on the General Election ballot for City offices: Mayor (two-year term) and two City Councilmember positions (four-year terms). Interested Corcoran residents can file for these offices at Corcoran City Hall, 8200 County Road 116, Corcoran, MN 55340. The filing period opens July 31, and closes at 5:00 pm on August 14. City Hall will be open regular office hours (Monday—Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm) during the filing period with extended hours on August 11, from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm, and August 13, until 5:00 pm. Requirements for those individuals seeking public office:  Candidate must be an eligible voter.  Candidate is, or will be on assuming the office, 21 years of age or older.  Candidate has maintained residence in the district from which the candidate seeks election for 30 days before the general election. The filing fee is $10.00 and is payable upon filing. For more information on candidate filing contact Jessica Beise, City Clerk/Administrative Services Coordinator via email at jbeise@ci.corcoran.mn.us or via phone at 763-400-7029. Candidate Forum Hosted by the League of Women Voters Save the date for the City Council Candidate Forum on October 10 (time TBD), at Corcoran City Hall, 8200 County Road 116, Corcoran, MN 55340. For more information visit www.ci.corcoran.mn.us.  page 19 Summer/Fall 2018 Election Links Ways to Register https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections- voting/register-to-vote/ Where Do I Vote? https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections- voting/election-day-voting/ Other Ways to Vote https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections- voting/other-ways-to-vote/ What’s On My Ballot? https://www.sos.state.mn.us/elections- voting/whats-on-my-ballot/ www.ci.corcoran.mn.us PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID ROGERS, MN PERMIT NO. 98 City of Corcoran 8200 County Road 116 Corcoran, MN 55340 Election Dates Primary Election Dates June 29: Absentee Voting for Primary Begins July 24: Last Day to Pre-Register to Vote for the Primary (Registration on Election Day Available) Aug 7: Direct Balloting Begins Aug 10: Last Day for Direct Balloting Aug 11: City Hall is Open for Absentee Voting from 10:00 am-3:00 pm Aug 13: Absentee Voting Ends at 5:00 pm Aug 14: Primary Election Day Candidate Filing Ends City Council Candidates July 31: Filing Opens for Candidates for General Aug 16: Candidate Withdrawal Closes at 5:00 pm General Election Dates Sept 21: Absentee Voting for General Begins Oct 10: Candidate forum Hosted by League of Women Voters Oct 16: Last Day to Pre-Register to Vote for the Election (Registration on Election Day Available) Oct 30: Direct Balloting Begins Nov 3: City Hall is Open for Absentee Voting from 10:00 am-3:00 pm Nov 5: In-Person Absentee Voting Ends at 5:00 pm Nov 6: General Election Day Nov TBD — Canvassing Election Results For more information on elections, contact Jessica Beise, City Clerk / Administrative Ser- vices Coordinator via email at jbeise@ci.corcoran.mn.us. Recycling News General Information Visit or click on the link below for more information: Refrigerator Insider: Save Food http://bit.ly/2tSh3s1 City of Corcoran Main Office — 763-420-2288 Monday-Friday 8:00 am — 4:00 pm City of Corcoran meetings can be viewed via video links at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Upcoming Meetings Planning Commission Meetings Aug 2, Sept 6, & Oct 4 7:00 pm Parks & Trails Commission Meetings Aug 21, & Sept 18 7:00 pm Corcoran City Council Meetings Jul 12 & Jul 26, Aug 9 & Aug 23, Sept 13 & Set 27 7:00 pm City Website www.ci.corcoran.mn.us  page 20 www.ci.corcoran.mn.us Summer/Fall 2018 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 Tonya LaFave, Councilor tlafave@ci.corcoran.mn.us City Administrator Brad Martens 763-400-7030 bmartens@ci.corcoran.mn.us Water Quality Report Consumer Confidence Report Water Quality Southeast Corcoran now has municipal water services. Annually the City must publish a report on its water quality called the Consumer Confidence Report. To learn more about the City’s water supply and to view the 2017 report on the City’s website visit: https://www.ci.corcoran.mn.us/vertical/ sites/%7BA13DB5FF-43A9-4A27-A5A0- 44E78D9C28BC%7D/uploads/ City_of_Corcoran_-_2017_ Consumer_ Confidence_Reporting.pdf