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Home My WebLink About2009-08 -- Summer12 NORTH HENNEPIN PIONEER SOCIETY Annual Fundraiser Summer Join us on Sunday, August 9 Fest th, at the Burschville School House, located 4½ miles west of Corcoran on County Road 10, from noon to 4:30 p.m. for live music, entertainment, pork chops, flea market and raffles. The Pioneer Society is a group that meets each month at the Corcoran Civic Center to share and gather historical information and maintains this 115-year-old school house. The Pioneer Society is continuously seeking historical documents, photographs of buildings, family farms and area residents, and any stories you may have associated with them. To help with the grounds upkeep and building maintenance expenses, donations are greatly appreciated. For information, assistance or charitable contributions, contact Verneal Klersey at 763- 498-8677. YYOOUURR HHEELLPP IISS NNEEEEDDEEDD FFOORR LLOOCCAALL FFOOOODD SSHHEELLFF Cross Services is a non-profit organization established in 1977 to provide food and clothing to those in temporary need. They service Corcoran, Dayton, Hassan, Rogers, Champlin, Maple Grove and Osseo. 400 - plus families are helped monthly. More than 1000 families in NW Hennepin County are registered for CROSS services. They are always seeking donations of non perishable foods and personal and health care items. Other items include gently used household items, clean in season clothing and shoes, equipment and financial donations. Your donations will be greatly appreciated and can be dropped off at 12915 Weinand Circle in Rogers. Hours are: M & F 9:30 am to 4 pm W 9:30 am to 7:00 pm (Closed from 11:00 – 12:30 for lunch) View their website for directions or more details at www.crossfoodshelf.org Also needed is volunteer time to help sort, fill orders, provide office assistance and participate in projects and fundraisers. Call 763-425-1050 to schedule a time and date. REPLACEMENT OF HEATING SYSTEM AT CITY HALL WILL BEGIN SOON The City is currently in the process of updating/r eating system. The current system has reached the end of its useful life and upgr es have also been made in geothermal technology since the first City Hall installation. We hope to be constructing the new system in August and September. Geothermal heating and cooling systems have b o decades. City Hall has had one for 15 years. What's so compelling abo y? Energy efficiency In a technology defined 's a fact that everyone will understand: With a geothermal system a reasonably tight 2000-sq.heated and cooled for about $1 a day. Heating City Hall is estimated to cost less than $5 a day re conventional systems. Yes, geothermal costs significantly more up front, but payback is able. One contractor has calculated the payback to be nine years for City Hall when comparing ge The system consists of sever nd coils that take advantage of a typical ground temperature of 55 degrees F. Therefore, in winter the system st the heat a mere 15 to 20 degrees to reach a comfortable indoor temperature. Compare thi e differentials expected of standard furnaces, and the logic comes into focus pretty quickly. The geothermal principle works about as well for air conditioning. Instead of an outdoor compressor laboring against the heat of the day, havin edium, a ground-source heat pump operates indoors, using 55-degree ground temperatu starting point. The result is a 20 to 40 percent savings over conventional heat eplacing the City Hall h ades are required. Certain strid een around for almost tw ut geothermal technolog by numbers, here -ft. home can be versus $22 a day with mo certainly achiev othermal to traditional gas heating. al undergrou needs to boo s to huge temperatur g to use hot air as its heat-shedding m re as its pumps and air conditioners. 1 FREQUENTLY REQUESTED NUMBERS CITY HALL STAFF - 763-420-2288 Administrator - Dan Donahue Ext. 13 Clerk - Ext. 15 Office Manager - Jill Smith-Arens Ext. 10 Receptionist - Tim Carlson Ext. 20 CONTRACTED STAFF Planner – Kendra Lindahl 612-252-9070 Engineer – Kent Torve 763-479-4209 Building Inspector – MNSPECT 952-442-7520 City Assessor – Ann Risch 763-473-3978 PUBLIC WORKS - 763-420-2652 Superintendent – Pat Meister ELECTED OFFICIALS Mayor – Ken Guenthner 763-478-6699 Councilor – Roz Milbrandt 763-416-4396 Councilor – George Gmach 763-498-7366 Councilor – Chris Hudok 612-363-5025 Councilor – Ron Thomas 763-478-2472 POLICE EMERGENCY 911 Administrative – Paula Steelman 763-420-8966 Non Emergency Dispatch 763-525-6220 RECYCLING MISSED PICKUPS Waste Management (Dan Rogers) 320-485-4065 Questions 1- 800-450-9378 OTHER Athletic Association 763-923-4154 Corcoran Jaycees (Chad Robran) 763-478-0167 Corcoran Lions (Russ Poppler) 763-494-9166 Corcoran Soccer 763-478-3086 Cross Food Shelf Services 763-425-1050 Crow River Newspaper 763-424-7359 Henn. Co. Recycling Center 612-348-3777 Henn. Co. Environmental Control (Septic Information) 612-543-5200 NW Trails Association (Voicemail) 952-882-6770 This newsletter has been designed by staff and a volunteer group to improve our communications about the City’s activities, and educate you on environmental and safety concerns. If you have an idea for an article or would like to volunteer for a specific area or project at City Hall please call 763-420-2288x10. CITY OFFICE INFO 8200 - County Road 116 Corcoran, MN 55340 Phone 763-420-2288 Fax 763-420-6056 Email - general@ci.corcoran.mn.us Website - www.ci.corcoran.mn.us City Hall Office Hours Monday – Friday 8am to 4pm City Council Meetings Second & Fourth Thursday of each month at 7:00pm Planning Commission Meetings First Thursday of each month at 7:00pm Parks & Trail Meetings Third Tuesday of each month at 7:00pm “Let your voice be heard” August 2009 SUMMER NEWSLETTER From the Mayor 2 ents, Activities and Misc. Information 10 1 und Ra ser 12 Planning Commission / Assessor Updates 2 Parks & Trail Commission / Comp Plan Updates 3 Public Works / Police 4 Police Continued 5 Safety / Useful Tips 6 Septic System Facts 7 Environmental and Weed Control 8-9 vE Businesses in Corcoran 1 Pioneer Society Annual F i Inside This Issue: CITY OF CORCORAN 2 FROM THE MAYOR On behalf of the elected Council members, volunteer commission members, and City employees, greetings to all of our Corcoran neighbors. I am confident you will find this newsletter to be informative and I want to thank Council Member Roz Milbrandt and staffers Jill Smith-Arens, Paula Steelman and Tim Carlson along with other volunteers for their work in putting it together. I’m struck by the similarity between operating the city government and operating a household. Whether it’s dealing with unexpected repairs or financial challenges, maintaining equipment in good working order, resolving conflicts and working together to achieve a common goal, or planning for an uncertain future, it takes the same patience, commitment to understanding problems, acceptance of others’ views, and openness to compromise that allows both “communities” to succeed. I am gratified to have the opportunity to work with all our dedicated employees and the many community members who volunteer their time to help Corcoran succeed. None of us gets it right all the time, but we all have a common commitment – to make this City a great place to live, work, and raise our families. I encourage you to take a minute a chat with one of our police officers or public works crew, stop in at City Hall to meet the staff, or call a commission or council member to simply ask how things are going. We’re all here to serve you and welcome the chance to hear your thoughts. PLANNING COMMISSION Just recently the Commission members have reviewed 5 Land Applications submitted to the City from residents. They include a Rezoning and PUD, Interim Use Permit & Variance for an Accessory Structure and 3 Preliminary and Final Plats. Should you be interested in any of this information you can review the minutes on the City’s website or stop by City Hall. All Planning Commission meetings are open to the public and are held on the first Thursday of each month at 7:00 pm. WWeellccoommee OOuurr NNeeww AAddmmiinniissttrraattoorr In April, Corcoran hired Daniel Donahue as City Administrator. Dan has 25 years of experience as City Manager in New Hope. He holds a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University. Corcoran plans to make use of that education and experience as Dan gets his arms around the task of organizing the administrative and financial functions that have suffered from staff turnover in recent years. One of Dan’s first activities was to hold a visioning and goal-setting session with the City Council. This effort resulted in prioritization of efforts for his first months in the office. As City Administrator, Dan is responsible for administration, finance, public works, managing consultants and supporting the City Council and for collaborating with Sean Gormley, Director of Public Safety, on police and fire budget and personnel matters. FROM THE CITY ASSESSOR’S OFFICE Property owners can expect a visit from the Assessor once every five years. This year the area of revaluation is sections 1-6. (Properties with P.I.D. numbers beginning with 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 or 06- the northern tier of the city). In addition, properties with building permits in progress will also be visited. In order to obtain the most accurate information for an equitable assessment, it is desirable to inspect both the exterior and interior of the property. Your cooperation in allowing access to the interior is appreciated. PARKS & TRAILS SEEK COMMISSION MEMBERS The Parks and Trails are currently seeking three applicants to fill a commissioner and alternate seat and one high school student to serve on the board. If you are interested an application can be downloaded from our website or picked up at City Hall. 11 KNOW YOUR BUSINESSES IN CORCORAN Business Name Type of Business Number Street Phone Corcoran Bottle Shop Retail Liquor Store 19905 75th Avenue 420-3114 Ballistic Products Inc. Retail 20015 75th Avenue 494-9237 Miller Brothers Excavating Residential Excavation 20170 75th Avenue 420-9170 W.W. Constructors, Inc. Industrial Construction 20095 75th Avenue 420-4177 Gazelle Marketing Distr Industrial hoses/specialty products. 20115 Auger Ave. 550-9292 Pro Dry Wall Construction Residential 20125 Auger Ave. 424-3314 Stitch-It Computerize Embroid. & Laser Engraving 7575 Commerce Street 494-3669 Phil’s Quality Automotive Automotive Repair and Service/ Tires 7590 Commerce Street 420-2059 Pro-Tech Auto Repair Automotive Repair 7591 Commerce Street 420-3060 Commercial Door Systems Inc. Distributor for Doors, Lock Snipping 7670 Commerce Street 494-9533 A-1 Outdoor Power Power Equipment Part/Sales/Service 7630 Commerce Street 420-2748 Napa Auto / RJ’s Corner Store Wholesale and Retail Auto part sales 19905 County Road 10 420-2321 St. Thomas The Apostle Church 20000 County Road 10 420-2385 Frank’s Stanchion Bar Bar-Liquor 20037 County Road 10 420-2582 10-50 Club Bar- Restaurant 20115 County Road 10 420-3606 Corcoran Locker Plant Meat Market 20121 County Road 10 420-2555 Ebert Construction General Contractor 23350 County Road 10 498-7844 Step by Step Montessori School Montessori School/Child Care 23610 County Road 10 498-5437 Storman’s Food and Fuel Convenience Store 9350 County Road 19 498-8331 Doboszenski & Sons Excavation Business 9520 County Road 19 478-6945 St. John’s Lutheran Church Church & K-8 School 9141 County Road 101 420-2426 Mama G’s Bar/Restaurant 9705 County Road 101 420-2588 Immanuel United Methodist Church 10025 County Road 101 420-2585 Custom Filtration Manufacture Filters/ Wire Mesh 7219 County Road 116 478-4748 Cowboy Concrete Concrete Contractors 7241 County Road 116 478-8008 Lawn King Retail 7555 County Road 116 420-2909 Farmers State Bank Bank 7559 County Road 116 420-2025 Country Pizza Parlor Restaurant 7565 County Road 116 420-5755 Corcoran Pet Care Center Pet Care 7569 County Road 116 420-3930 Corcoran Crossroads Convenience Store/Gas Station 7625 County Road 116 420-2888 Pheasant Run Golf Club Golf Course 10705 County Road 116 428-8244 Broman’s Greenhouse Greenhouse/ Bedding Plants 10720 County Road 116 420-2146 Medina Electric Electrical Contractor 22510 Highway 55 478-6828 Ess Bros. Real Estate Distributer & Manufacturer 9350 County Road 19 478-2027 Laurent Motor Café Used Car Sales 23030 Highway 55 478-9802 Lano Equipment Light Construction Equipment 23580 Highway 55 479-4342 Lakeland Auto Body Auto Body 23596 Highway 55 479-1747 Peterson Motorworks Sell Cars & Repair 23600 Highway 55 479-2084 National Sales & Leasing Used Vehicles 23600 Highway 55 479-2404 Dick’s Auto Reconditioning Auto Detailing 23600 Highway 55 479-4037 Shamrock Golf Course Golf Course 19625 Larkin Road 478-9977 Good Shepherd Luth. Church Church / School 7675 Maple Hill Road 494-9568 Rush Creek Golf Course Golf Course/Club House 7990 Maple Hill Road 494-8844 Hope Community Church Church 19951 Oswald Farm Rd. 494-4673 Grove Nursery Wholesale Nursery 9650 Trail Haven Road 420-4202 All Seasons Canine Country Club Boarding Kennel 10800 Trail Haven Road 420-1002 Snowmobile Training Offered by Northwest Trails in Corcoran The Northwest Trails Association will sponsor a Youth Snowmobile Safety Training program for NW Hennepin County. Classes will b ty Road 116 in Corcoran: (Please note e held at the Corcoran Civic Center, 8200 Coun this activity is not handled through the City) Corcoran Training Thursday, December 3 – Classroom - 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Tuesday, December 8 – Classroom - 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm Thursday, December 10 – Classroo Saturday, December 12 – Outdoor Practical – ited, so register your youth now. St years of age or older (sorry, no exceptions) by 1 s of training and pass both the written and outdoor est to receive their Snowmobile Safety Certificate. m - 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm 9:00 am - noon Classes fill quickly and space is lim udents must be 11 2/3/2009. Students must complete all hour practical t Students may register at the Northwest Trails website, www.nwtrails.net. Click the link for the specific Safety Training to download the registration form and registration instructions. Cost for the class is $10.00. The goal of Northwest Trails and our volunteer instructors is to train young people to become safe and responsible snowmobilers. By learning and following the laws and regulations, and the basics of safe riding, it is our hope that our students will have many enjoyable experiences while snowmobiling. Volunteers are welcome. If you are interested in assisting NWT with this year’s program, please contact the club at 952-882-6770 or via e-mail at nwtrails@nwtrails.net. Attention Corcoran and NW Hennepin County Landowners Northwest Trails (NWT), the local snowmobile club that’s been marking and maintaining snowmobile trails in our area since 1973, is asking any land owners that are interested in having a snowmobile trail on their property to please contact them ASAP. They may be able to work something out with you depending on where you are located. NWT can answer any questions you may have. Voicemail: 952.882.6770 Address: P.O. Box 444, Osseo, MN 55369 Email: nwtrails@nwtrails.net Website: http://www.nwtrails.net/ The Corcoran Jaycees was founded in 1980, and have been a part of this community for over 25 years serving and giving back to the public in which they live. The organization consists of people ages 21-40 who are dedicated to providing individual development and leadership training through community work. The Corcoran Jaycees are a not-for-profit community organization that volunteers its time to raise money through community projects, fundraisers, and charitable gambling for the needs of the community and its people. It brings them great joy to serve others and make new friends and connections along the way. To become a member go to their website at www.corcoranjaycees.org Reminder – You do not have to be a resident of Corcoran to join the Corcoran Jaycees. They serve the communities around Corcoran and have members from surrounding cities that is part of the reason they are called the Corcoran Area JC’s. Invite a friend to join with you! A special “Thank You” goes out to the Corcoran JC’s for donating funds to sponsor the summer edition of the City’s newsletter. 3 PARKS AND TRAILS UPDATE Philosophy: Corcoran’s parks, trails and open space system are an important element of the community’s life. The system offers residents desired recreational opportunities, while it preserves and makes accessible unique natural and historic resources that are part of the City’s identity. The Parks Commission believes that the parks and trails system can be designed to help to unify the City’s neighborhoods and build a sense of common identity and interest among current and new residents. Goals: 1. To promote park development that will best encourage and support use by the public. 2. To provide a balanced park system that provides for active recreation, passive recreation, and natural resource protection. 3. To implement the Parks and Trails Plan based on the needs and demands of Corcoran residents and park and trail users. 4. To work cooperatively with neighboring communities, Hennepin County, Three Rivers Parks, the State of Minnesota and the others in planning, developing, and financing the local park system. Parks and Trails continue to meet on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm. A main topic on the agenda has been discussion about adding two additional T-ball fields. Your views and ideas are greatly appreciated. All meetings are open to the public and are held in the Civic Center. You are invited to visit the Parks and Trails booth at Corcoran Country Daze for further information on the Memorial Park and T-ball projects. COMP - PLAN REVIEW IS NOW ACCESSIBLE IN A DRAFT STAGE Over the past six months, a subcommittee, Planning Commission and City Council prepared and provided preliminary approval of the draft Comprehensive Plan to guide development in Corcoran for the next 10 years. A Comprehensive Plan is a long-range planning document for the entire City. The document identifies the vision, goals, and strategies for growth and development in the City. The Comprehensive Plan is an opportunity to set strategies for not only where development will occur and what type but how it will develop, including design objectives. This includes a focused effort on new planning techniques to preserve and protect natural resources while still allowing for appropriate development. The Comprehensive Plan serves as a guideline for the City Council, Commissions and City staff for use in decision-making relating to land use, park development, transportation, public facility planning and other topics. How can I get involved? The draft Comprehensive Plan, including all maps and text, are ready for review by local jurisdictions and residents of Corcoran. This review time will extend through the summer, concluding with a public open house and public hearing in the fall. Public participation is essential in preparing a Comprehensive Plan as this is a plan for the community of Corcoran. The City wants to hear and receive resident input into the plan and is providing multiple ways for the residents to review the plan. A few events will take place this summer and fall including: • Corcoran Country Daze: A City booth with Comprehensive Plan materials will be available to review and provide comments. Maps and summary information will be provided in addition to comment forms for residents to complete. These comments will be reviewed by the City prior to any final decision on the Comprehensive Plan. “Let Your Voice Be Heard” • Comprehensive Plan Open House Event: An open house will be held in the fall to provide opportunities for residents to review the plans and draft chapters. A post card will be mailed to all residents in Corcoran notifying you of this Open House. • Public Hearing: At the conclusion of the open house, a public hearing will be held to receive public comments on the plan. No action will be taken during this meeting by the Planning Commission or City Council. This is an opportunity for you to provide your input. • Draft Plan Approval: The Planning Commission and City Council will make any recommendations for changes and approve the draft plan for formal submittal by December 29, 2009. This meeting date will be advertised at the Public Hearing and on the City’s website. Draft plans, chapters, comment form and meeting information is available on the City’s website at www.ci.corcoran.mn.us. 10 POLICE ASSIST WITH CHILD PROTECTION The Corcoran Police Department has implemented a new process for their child identification program. The department received an anonymous donation which was used to purchase a limited supply of AMBER Sticks™. These will be distributed to residents wanting to input their family’s personal information, digital photos and more on a portable, secure programmed software flash drive to take with them wherever they go. The Police Department has given residents AMBER Sticks™ at the Hamel Rodeo and will also be giving them out FREE at the Corcoran Country Daze. Look for the Police Command Trailer and a representative from the police department will assist you. More AMBER Sticks™ will be available at our Police Administrative office for a small fee. Call 763-420-8966 to set up an appointment to get your AMBER Stick™. PUBLIC WORKS PPuubblliicc WWoorrkkss PPrroovviiddeess CCiittyy--WWiiddee SSeerrvviiccee Corcoran’s Public Works Department is responsible for many City services. Corcoran is approximately 36 square miles, and the Public Works Department repairs and maintains 63 miles of gravel and paved roads and public parking areas. Public Works grades our roads, repairs potholes, rebuilds shoulders, and manages dust control. They patch our streets, clean, and manage seal coating. The clearing of trees and brush from right-of-ways, cleaning ditches, repairing culverts, and all the removing of snow on our roads and streets are also responsibilities performed by the Public Works Department. The Department mows, trims, and maintains our City Parks and all City property, including buildings and grounds. Our ball fields are dragged daily, and our play equipment is inspected weekly for the safety of our children. Our City parks are open to the public all year, and the department maintains the ice rink, the shelter, and the required snow removal in the parking area. The Public Works Department maintains all City vehicles and manages the repair and life cycle of all maintenance equipment. They also maintain the heating and cooling system in the City Hall and City Center building, the lighting, windows, and “set up” for events in the City Center. The Department also assists the Police Department with city events, such as “Spring Clean Up Day” and Country Daze. All of these City services are provided by a staff of five fulltime and one seasonal, managed by Pat Meister. The goal of the Public Works Department is to provide the highest quality of service to the citizens of Corcoran for the best economic value. If you have questions, suggestions, or need help, please call the Public Works Dept. at 763- 420-2652. POLICE DEPARTMENT POLICE ESTABLISH A NEW COMMUNITY PROGRAM The Corcoran Police Department along with Maple Hills Estates, Lord of Life Lutheran Church and Corcoran Jaycees, are partnering to sponsor the first “Community Outreach” program. This type of program gives these organizations a chance to reach out to the community. Chief Gormley’s idea is to give underprivileged children in the community an opportunity to participate in an activity or event. Our first event is to take a child from the Maple Hills Estates community to a MN Twins game. The winners not only get a ticket to the Saturday, September 19th game, but they also receive transportation, as well as a concession coupon for a free hot dog and beverage. There will be representatives from each organization attending the game along with the winning ticket holders. Entries for the drawing were received during the Wooddale Church Bible Camp graduation celebration that took place in Maple Hills Estates on Thursday, July 23rd. We anticipate sponsoring more events in the future. Watch for them to be posted on our website or in the Crow River News. 9 Recommended Native Trees for the Home Landscape If y wh o uropean set ate and are b ndi T ’s i e h Borer ha (he sed by i or pl p e h B Pr ( R DDoo II HHaavvee EEmmeerraalldd AAsshh BBoorree ou’re thinking of planting a tree in your landscape but you’re not sure this area. Native species—those that were growing in this region before E at to choose, consider selecting a species that is native t tlement—are adapted to the local clim est able to tough out our winters and handle typical summer growing co he choices are many. Which selection you make will depend on your site mportant to consider the space you have available to accommodate the tr variety into your landscape. As the recent battle with Emerald As tions. growing conditions, including light and moisture. It’s also e when it reaches its mature size. Also, try to incorporate s shown, it’s wise not to overplant any particular species. landscape, the less extensive the damage cauSee related article in this newsletter.) The greater the variety of trees in t ntroduced pests and diseases. With those considerations in mind, here are a few of the native trees recom anting in the home landscape. Check with a nursery to learn about the s eight and fall color. asswood, also called American Linden (Tilia americana), Black Cherry ( Prunus virginiana), Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), Sugar Maple (Acer sac ed Oak (Quercus rubra), Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) mended by the University of Minnesota Extension Service f ecific growing conditions each requires, as well as its matur unus serotina), Butternut (Juglans cinerea), Chokecherry charum) rr?? Bark On mature trees the bark is tight with distinct patterns of diamond- shaped ridges. On young trees bark is relatively smooth. Leaves Leaves are compound and Leaflets may be smooth or has 3-5 leaflets. composed of 5-11 leaflets. toothed. The only other oppositely branched tree with compound leaves is the Boxelder, which almost always Seeds When present on trees, seeds are dry, oar-shaped samaras. They usually occur in clusters and typically hang on the tree until late fall, early winter. SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF THE EA Canopy Die Back – begins in top and progresses until the tree is b Epicormic Shoots – sprout grow roots and trunk leaves often large normal. Bark Splitting – vertical fissures on due to callous tissue formation. Galleries exposed under bark split. activity and damage. B 1/3 of tree are. th from r than bark Holes In Bark - One-eighth - inch diameter D-shaped exit holes in ash tree bark and serpentine tunnels packed with sawdust under the bark and increased woodpecker Th City is urging residents to help keep a watchful eye out for Emerald Ash Borers. The EAB is an invasive beetle that attacks and kills ash trees. Its larvae kill ash trees by tunneling into the wood and blocking the flow of nutrients and water. The metall s are the most i i der FAQs for more pictures Branch and Bud Arrangement rectly n trees, please consider that buds or Branches and buds are die across from each other and not staggered. When looking for opposite branching i limbs may die; hence not every single branch will have an opposite mate. ic-green adult beetles are a half inch long with purple abdominal segments beneath wing covers and are active from May to September. Green and hite ash treeW commonly found ash species in the Midwest. While other woody plants, such as Mountain Ash and Prickly Ash, have “ash” n their names, they are not true ashes. Only true ash are susceptible to attack by the EAB. Contact the U of M Forest Resources at 612-624-3020 if you think you may have an EAB nfested tree, or visit our website un and information. ASH TREE IDENTIFICATION 4 Purple Loosestrife Canada Thistle Canada T se A well owner plays an important part in assuring safe drinking water. While a well requires a surprisingly are som ou should e of: • he well, maintenance, wate ple test results, ll the oth t your property. • damage by bei mp the we la snowpl Keep the we M well ha ap or cover an • ckflow by making ac r s. D rge hoses in any liquids • stem in goo • with chlorine followin ent, repair w syst • ll for cracks, su he , e c proble This information has been gat e MN Department of e Co uld be on the da Thistle ur tw as weeds by the Minne f Agricultur a s he r pose a threat ck, histle- eds Water Well Basic Maintenance small amount of maintenance, here e of the things y be awar Keep records of t r sam and we sealing with er important papers abou m Protect the well fro t. ng careful not to bu ll with wn mowers, he ows, or other equipmen well c ll and plumbing connections wa d keep tertight. ake sure t s an approved Prevent ba it on tight. sure that hoses and faucets have b . kflow p evention device o not subme Keep the septic sy d condition. Disinfect the well g pump replacem of the ell or plumbing em, or if flooding has occurred. Inspect your we bsidence of the ground around t casing a missing or loos over, or other problems. Have the ms corrected. hered from th Health w bsite. Two Noxious Weeds to Look for This Summer rcoran property owners sho lookout for Cana and P ple Loosestrife, o plants listed prohibited noxious sota Department o e. Bec use these plant can harm public alth or the environment o to crops or livesto State statute and Corcoran city code require tha eradicated by ner.t they be controlled or th we property o While o son,k for perty. Both flower in te summer a e he . Ca es, in fiel other open areas, Ca um arv ple flo arly flo y masses of easily pla in dense sta roots and se her plants. Pu Pu m salicaria) is an tic plant tha nv nds, sho nd roa are 4 to 10 feet ta ped with spik a ers th Like Canada Thistle estrife sprea dl nse pat exc Ca le Loosestrife ca ariety of an hod t de e stand. Check with th of Minneso n (htt n.edu/ you’re nd ar utdoors this sea easy to identify w then, loo n in bloomthese plants on your pro mid- and la nada Thistle Common along roadsid ds and in nada Thistle (Cirsi ense) has pale pur wers that bloom from e July through August. The wers are followed b plumed seeds that are carried by wind. This prickly nt often grows nds that spread via oteds and displace rple Loosestrife rple Loosestrife (Lythru dside ditches. Its stem a uaggressive aq l t has i es of m aded wetla genta flow re land, a at bloom from s July through September. l and are top , sPurple Loo ds rapi y to form de ches that lude other species. nada Thistle and Purp n be controlled in a v ways, d the best met o use pends on the size of th nsion.um e University ta Exte sion Service p://www.exte ) to learn m To er of these plant re informati ut visit the MN Department of Agriculture’s web page at www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/badplants/noxiouslist.htm ore. see color photographs of eith s or for mo on abo Minnesota’s noxious weeds, . 5 POLICE DEPARTMENT PRESENTS AWARDS OF RECOGNITION The Corcoran Police Department recognized Corporal John Hamilton, Officer Ryan Burns and Reserve Sergeant John Kieffer with awards at the Corcoran City Council Meeting on Thursday, June 25, 2009. Corporal John Hamilton received an award for his 20 years of dedicated service to the City of Corcoran. Corporal Hamilton began his career with the Corcoran Police Department on May 1, 1989. In addition to his regular officer duties he assists the police chief with various management tasks. He currently lives in Corcoran with his wife, Mary. Reserve Sergeant John Kieffer received his award for his 25-plus years of dedicated service to the City of Corcoran. John began with the Corcoran Police Department on April 14, 1983. He is currently employed fulltime with Land O’ Lakes, Inc. in the Project and Processing Accounting Department. John resides in Maple Grove and is married to his wife Betsy and has a grown son, Phillip. Officer Ryan Burns received two awards. The first award was for his 15 years of dedicated service to the City of Corcoran. Officer Burns began his career with the Corcoran Police Department on May 15, 1994. Officer Burns received the first Medal of Merit Award that the Corcoran Police Department has given. This was presented to him for his excellent dedication to the Corcoran Firearm Safety Program. Officer Burns resides in Ramsey with his wife, Lori, and two small boys Kyan & Logan. Chief Gormley stated, “These Officers are leaders who have worked hard for many years to make the Corcoran Police Department what it is today. Officer Burns has worked diligently to make the Firearm Safety Program so successful.” L to R – Chief Sean Gormley, Corporal John Hamilton, Reserve Sergeant John Kieffer, Officer Ryan Burns, Mayor Ken Guenthner L to R - Ryan Burns, Chief Sean Gormley BACK TO SCHOOL SAFETY TIPS A big safety concern for parents is how to protect "latchkey" kids who are home alone after school. The favorite rule uttered by parents and experts alike is: Don't let a stranger inside the house. It's a good rule, but ineffective. Stranger is a terrible word; kids expect strangers to be scary, and they're not. There are really only two rules parents need to give their latchkey kids: •Keep Doors Shut: Instead of telling kids not to let a stranger in, the real rule needs to be: Keep the door shut and locked at all times. Don't fill your child's head with "don'ts"; simply tell them to keep all doors closed. If someone comes to the door, your child can communicate with this person through the door. • Set Check-In Time: Another thing parents should ask their child to do is call and let Mom or Dad know that she is home safe. Set a consistent time for the child to call each day. Give her 10 minutes plus or minus to allow for a slow bus, etc ... then start to worry if she doesn't meet this deadline. Also, find a close neighbor who is usually home around this time. If the parent can't be reached, the child knows to call this person. Parents need to remember that kids who are home alone are much more likely to encounter dangers such as fire from burning popcorn or falling down the stairs than being abducted by a stranger. Parents need to consider some of these issues facing their families and deal with them accordingly. • Corcoran Police Department is urging families to have discussions with their children and ask motorists to pay attention to current bus safety laws. Children who know the procedure of where they can wait and how to walk around the bus have a better chance at beating the odds of becoming the victim of an accident. Motorists who become more aware also can help with school bus safety. Often families are so focused about what book needs to get into the backpack, or what’s the school lunch that day, that distractions come easily in the midst of traffic or to any riders waiting at bus stops. 8 SAFETY AND USEFUL TIPS Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulb SAFETY WARNING There’s an old joke about how many people it takes to screw in a light bulb, but with CFLs you really should read the directions before buying and installing them. Some high tech, energy efficient light bulbs contain a computer chip that is installed facing up or down depending on if the bulb is to be facing up or hanging from a fixture. There are also bulbs special designed for areas that are subject to vibration such as ceiling fan fixtures and garage door lights. Although these bulbs use up to 75% less energy than regular bulbs, you must still use caution. In at least on case a bulb similar to the one shown above had been installed hanging from a ceiling fan. The bulb was designed to be installed in an upright position and was not designed to withstand the vibration of the fan. The position and vibration caused the bulb to start to smoke and melt down. Fire departments have responded to several calls to these types of light bulbs starting on fire. If you have these bulbs at home, check the labeling to make sure that they are designed for use in the location you have them installed in. If you are purchasing a new bulb, read the label or ask the store clerk for information on the different types of bulbs available. HELP SUPPORT OUR LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS Some of you may be wondering where our local fire department is located. Currently Corcoran is serviced by four fire departments. The City is divided into quarters: in 2008 Hanover serviced the northwestern area, responding to 30 calls; Rogers serviced the northeastern area, responding to 19 calls; Loretto serviced the southwestern area, responding to 24 calls; and Hamel serviced the southeastern, area responding to 42 calls. These fire departments are all volunteer organizations. You as a resident of Corcoran can help support them by participating in their annual fundraising activities. All proceeds go to the fire departments to help purchase fire and medical equipment for your safety and protection. If you or anyone you know is interested in joining one of these departments please give them a call. These departments do not use phone solicitations for fund raising. If you receive such a call it is likely a scam. ROGERS FIRE DEPARTMENT FUND RAISER October Fest - September 26th, 2009 Join in for live music, waterball, business expo and BBQ chicken wings Website - www.ci.rogers.mn.us HANOVER FIRE DEPARTMENT FUND RAISERS Spaghetti Dinner October 3rd, 2009 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM Poultry Social December 18th, 2009 7:00PM start LORETTO FIRE DEPARTMENT Open House Fire Prevention Week October 10, 2009 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM HAMEL FIRE DEPARTMENT Open House Fire Prevention Week October 4, 2009 1:00 – 4:00 PM Website - www.hamelfire.org 7 Septic Systems Fact SheetBasic for Homeowners nts surface and groundwater contamination. Many synthetic cleaning products and other chemicals used in the house can be toxic to humans, pets, and wildlife. Additives, particularly degreasers, er-causing agents) that flow directly into the groundwater along with m, these products may reach groundwater, near How does it work? – T mbing to collect and deliver wastewater to a s. The total amount of water and the pattern of water use affect how the septic system works. Every time water is used, wastewater enters ppropriate products, and making avoid major problems. Large volumes of water entering the system in a short time may agitate and re-suspend sludge and scum into the liquid contents. If this res and preventing adequate About 60% of that water is used in the bathroom. One mily of four. es used in paper are difficult for bacteria to break down. • Fill basin to wash hands or dishes instead of washing under running water. soap neces or dispose d em. nly throughout th as infreque m latex paint on brushes or rollers go down the drain into the septic system. g as a quick fi ves must not sludge from aterial. It does n cts are effective at what they claim to do. Starters, s are he tank? –ry c tank a size, use, and operating condition. A typical uency 18-30 months. If either floating scum or sludge is allowed to enter the ill cause yellow pag unty to notify the residents when ounty Human Services Department at 612-5 s have to be insp cted before a property transfer? - The law requires that prior to agree ansfer real pr on in writing. Local government ordinances, especially in requirement. e city’s w rde m design, maintenance and other topics. The septic system is designed to treat wastewater for a specific site. Proper treatment of wastewater reduces health risks to humans and animals and preve may contain carcinogens (canc the treated sewage. If allowed to enter a failing septic syste by surface water, or the ground surface. h u septic tank, a water-tight chamber where solids are separated from liquid ere are many types of septic systems, but in general each uses pl the septic tank and an equal amount of water leaves the tank for the drainfield. Improving Your Septic System Performance – By controlling water use, selecting a wise disposal decisions, you can improve performance of the system and happens, suspended solids are carried into the soil treatment system, clogging soil po treatment. A typical Minnesotan uses about 110 gallons of water per day. of the best ways to reduce the amount of water treated by the septic is to replace old water-using appliances. Reducing water use conserves the water resources and helps the septic system. If your shower can fill a one-gallon bucket in less than 20 seconds, replace it with a water-efficient showerhead and save up to 750 gallons a month. Don’t run water while brushing your teeth and save 4 gallons a minute, or 200 gallons a week for a fa • Do not use “every flush” toilet bowl disinfectants that are placed in the toilet bowl. • Use moderate amounts of “white” toilet paper. Some dy • Use the minimum amount of • Do not use garbage disposal products in the septic syst • Distribute wash loads eve less water. sary to clean the dishes or while bathing. of vegetables, meat, fat, oil, coffee grounds and other undigested foo e week. Select a front-loading washing machine, which uses 40% ntly as possible or system. It does • Recharge the water softener not need to be treated. • Never let wash water fro • There is no such thin 7080 specifies that additi and removal of scum and contain no hazardous m feeders, additives and cleaner How often should I pump my septic three years. How often to clean a septi household will calculate a cleaning freq soil treatment system (drainfield) it w system professional from the local Hennepin Co reroute water outside the septic x or safe and effective septic system additive. Minn. Rules Chapter be used as a means of reducing the frequency of proper maintenance the septic tank. EPA or USDA approval means only that the products ot mean the produ avily promoted to homeowners. Don’t be misled! State law requires that septic tanks be measured and/or pumped eve lso depends on its of expensive and often irreparable damage. Contact a qualified septic es for additional advice. The City has transferred all records over to their septic system is due to be cleaned. Please contact Hennepin 43-5220 for further questions or concerns. C o septic and well systemD e signing an ment to sell or tr septic syste . The seller must disclo operty, a seller must disclose to a buyer the status and location of the m se this inf rmati shoreland areas, may require inspections prior o to property transfer. Currently Corcoran has no disclosure ordinance ebsite or go to the University of MN Extension Service at r the Septic System Owner’s Guide or find fact sheets about septic syste If you have further questions, view th http://septic.umn.edu. There you can o 6