HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 2001 E
The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents _ June 2001
Charlotte McNiesh-
Former clerk-administrator played important role in community's growth
er name may not be familiar The result was that for 25 years,whether Highway 96(which had formerly served
to recent Arden Hills resi- as accountant or as clerk-administrator, Mounds View Township)consisted
fents or those dating back only Charlotte McNiesh was Arden Hills for primarily of the council chamber.Office
through the 1990s,but is significant to many people--residents,employees, additions were constructed later to house
many others.Charlotte McNiesh was part committee chairs,councilmembers and support services for the police,public
of the Arden Hills village staff for almost even mayors. Bob Woodburn,mayor works,parks and other village functions
half of the life of Arden Hills as an from 1981 to 1988,rates her the best as well as those of accounting,zoning
incorporated entity.She headed it as thing there could have been for Arden and council records.Charlotte remembers
clerk-administrator from 1973 through Hills during his tenure as a that when the adjacent Arden Hills North
1986.(Arden Hills was first a village councilmember and then as mayor. Homes Association townhouse develop-
before,along with all other former Unlike many other past employees and ment was built in 1976,it apparently
Minnesota villages,it became a city in village/city officials,both he and she still disturbed a snake habitat,and the village
1973.)She first joined the village staff in reside in their longtime Arden Hills hall would be invaded from time to
1962 as a part-time accounting assistant homes,he on Ingerson Court and she on time by garter snakes! (The hall was
to then clerk-administrator Lorraine Siems Court. demolished in
Stromquist.Her time on the job 1998 when the
increased significantly over the next 11 He remembers not For 25 years, Charlotte staff had been
years as accounting needs grew in only that she was a McNiesh was Arden Hills moved to the
volume and complexity beyond the time capable staff present temporary
that a part-time treasurer could devote to administrator but for many people. city hall location
them. also that there was in the Round Lake
a lot of contact Business Center.)
An able and versatile public servant with council
When Lorraine resigned her position in members and other volunteer officials, Significant developments
early 1973,Charlotte became her and she always had the answers they Among significant developments during
successor,continuing as clerk-administra- needed to do their jobs. her tenure,Charlotte remembers that
for and later managing a growing village when Control Data built and occupied
hall staff until resigning in 1986. She Arden Hills'population was significantly what is now the Arden Technology
served until the year-end appointment of smaller then than now,but the village hall Center at Lexington and County F, it
her first successor,Patricia Morrison, functions included most of the present doubled the village's assessed property
who stayed only a little over one year. In ones,plus a six-person police force and valuation! (The Center was recently
April, 1988,Charlotte was called back to two justices of the peace to handle the purchased by.neighboring Guidant
fill in on an acting basis until the July resulting court cases.The police function Corporation.) Councilmembers wanted
appointment of Gary Berger.(The was subsequently contracted to the to attract corporate headquarters like
equivalent position today is that held by county sheriff. those of Land O'Lakes,MSI,and
our present city administrator,Joe Guidant to support our primarily single-
Lynch.) Memories from a career of service family residential housing, and early on
In 1962,the then village hall on continued on page 2
f
A Golden Celebration-Arden Hills' 50th anniversary
Stop by for cake at Tony Schmidt Park at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 23,
following the park grand opening ceremony. �. '%•tt`T
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City of
Arden Hills SOUND
Service Directory the TOWN
City Hall
LJAJ,.0rk651-634-5120 r M m a
(http://www.ci.ardeni ills.mnxs)
A"C�/ �-kM_s i Community meetings planned
Fire(non-emergency)
651-633-2404 Sessions to discuss Comprehensive Park Plan process
Parks and Recreation ates,times and locations have been confirmed for community meetings
651-634-5120 which are part of Phase Two of the Parks,Trails and Recreation Comprehen-
sive Park Plan process.Meetings are set for:
Police(non-emergency) Monday, July 9 Wednesday July 11
651-484-3366 7-9 p.m. 7-9 p.m.
Police and Fire Emergency Presbyterian Church of the Way Arden Hills City Hall
911 3382 Lexington Avenue North 4364 West Round Lake Road
Arden Hills City Hall Tuesday, July 10 Thursday, July 12
4364 West Round Lake Rd 7-9 p.m. 7-9 p.m.
Arden Hills,MN 55112 Presbyterian Homes Arden Hills City Hall
3220 Lake Johanna Boulevard 4364 West Round Lake Road
Summer office hours
8 a.m.m r p.m.ours The Parks,Trails, and Recreation Committee (PTRC) is seeking community input
8 a.m.-noon Friday and feedback on the current status of the City's Parks,Trails and Recreational
Programs.
Mayor:
Dennis Probst "We want and need your help in the planning process," says Park and Recreation
Councilmembers: Director Tom Moore. "You will have the opportunity to shape the future of Arden
Beverly Aplikowski, Hills parks,trails and recreational programs for the next 20 years. The PTRC values
David Grant,Gregg Larson resident opinion and encourages everyone to attend one of the meetings."
Lois Rem
City Administrator:Joe Lynch The four meetings will be conducted by Ingraham and Associates,Inc. and members
of the PTRC. Members are Chairman Jim Johnson, Don Messerly,Rich Straumann,
Council meetings are held at Don Tix,Jennie Michaels,Jim Crassweller, Louis Speggen,Roberta Thompson,
City Hall,4364 West Round Lake Steve Zilmer and Patrick Krenn.
Road,the second and last Monday
of the month at 7:30 p.m.The McNiesh continued from page 1
public is welcome. Please call the developed a comprehensive plan that is Among other things Charlotte brought
City Administrator(651-634-5120) still largely in effect.There had been to Arden Hills, in addition to her
if you have topics for the agenda. pressure from the Metropolitan Council to interest in keeping it a fine place in
The meetings are televised,tape build more multifamily and lower-income which to live and bring up a family,
delayed,on Cable Channel 16 on housing than called for in the plan. were her ability to bring people together
the following Wednesday at in the common interest and her keen
11a.m. and 7 p.m. Other major items of discussion and mind,backed by her university degree
Communications Committee: dissension included the installation of in mathematics and statistics and
Chairperson Sue Schroeder(651- water and sewer systems,conversion to subsequent training in accounting. Her
636-8954),Elwood Caldwell,Fran county sheriff policing,conversion of a home on Lake Johanna remains a family
Holmes,Mary Nosek. Council former farm barn on Highway 96 to the rendezvous for her son's family who
Liaison: Lois Rem Staff Joe present(and now inadequate)public reside in nearby Shoreview.
Lynch,Sheila Stowell. works facility and concern about the fate
Desktop Publisher: Mary Nosek of the TCAAP(Arsenal)property. Parts of Arden Hills is not the same as it was
the latter now contain the Army Reserve when she first joined the staff in 1962,or
Arden Hills Notes is the official Center,the new city hall building ap- even when she finally left it in 1988,but
newsletter of the City of Arden
Hills,an equal opportuniy proaching completion, and some acreage there is agreement among longtime 1
employer. that's in negotiation for a possible joint residents that it's much the better because
city-county public works facility. of her efforts between those years!
A review of recent Council actions
Benchmarks
April 30 Council Meeting •Discussed resident(3191 Lake Lane) May 14 Council meeting
•Approved payment to Architectural request to pave Lake Lane.
Alliance for professional services •Approved pay request#4 to Gridor
through March 23, 2001. • Discussed Operations and Finance Construction for continuing work on
Committee's recommendation concern- Lift Station #8.
• Approved pay request#7 to Rochon ing Lake Johanna buoys and enforce-
Corporation for City Hall construction ment of Ordinance 181. • Conducted reading of Right-of-Way
in the amount of$284,946. ordinance (planning case #00-39).
•Approved disposition of 2000 general
• Authorized advertisement for bids for fund operating surplus. •Awarded bid for City Hall furnishings to
2001 street seal coating project(bud- six separate item vendors.
geted 2001 maintenance item.) •Approved plan nor city staff reorganiza-
tion. •Awarded bid for 2001 water tower
• Awarded bid for 2001 water tower
maintenance project to Champion
maintenance project(budgeted 2001 .Approved increase from$350 to$400 Coatings (budgeted 2001 maintenance
maintenance item.) per month in city reimbursement of item).
• Approved planned unit development health and dental insurance for non-
(PUD) amendment and site plan review bargaining unit employees consistent •Tabled until May 20 meeting request
for Guidant Corporation, 4100 Hamline with L U. O. E. Local 49 contract from 1-35W Corridor Coalition to
Avenue North (Planning case #01-02). renewal(effective 1/l/01). participate in creation of Housing
Resource Center.
•Tabled variance request(lakeshore •Approved Resolution#01-10 regarding
setback) for 1164 Amble Drive. meeting ending time for City-related Awarded bid for 2001 street seal
meetings (to end at 10 p.m. unless a coating project to Allied Blacktop Co.
•Discussed/approved Ramsey County road majority votes to continue.)
recycling project for County Road E-2. • Learned that City Planner Jennifer
•Approved roof repairs to Lake Johanna Chaput will be leaving the city on May
Full minutes are available at Arden Hills Volunteer Fire Department's Fire Station 25, 2001, to take a position with the
Library, City Hall, and on the city web No. 1 (adjustment of capital improve- Minnesota Department of Transporta-
site, wwwci.arden-hills.mn.us. ment plan projected expenditures). tion.
City to begin seal coating project Water tower repairs planned
Crews will begin crack-sealing,patching and seal coating streets in the neighborhoods west The city will begin work to repair
of Karth Lake, in the Wyncrest area and the Shorewood Hills area.The city will use trap and paint the north water tower
rock which has been used previously with satisfactory results.Three days to one week after beginning on June 4.
application,the city will clean up the excess trap rock and recycle it for use on trails.The
contractor is Allied Blacktop. Streets to be seal coated are: During that time, the entire city
West of Karth Lake Wyncrest Neighborhood: Shorewood Hills: will be served by the south
Amble Circle Amble Road Crystal Avenue water tower.
Amble Drive Dellwood Street Dellview Avenue
Karth Lake Drive Nursery Hill Lane Fairview Arenue North Residents north of 1-694 will
Pleasant Circle Nursery Hill Court Glenview Avenue notice some decrease in water
Pleasant Drive Wyncrest Court Glenview Court pressure, but pressure will be
Wyncrest Lane Gramsie Road maintained above state-required
Wynridge Drive Janet Court minimum levels.
Karth Lake Circle Valentine Avenue
Valentine Court
Valentine Crest Road Call Tom Moore, interim public
Rolling Hills Road works director, 651-634-5133
Venus Avenue with questions.
External and internal factors impact city 2002 budget planning
Preliminary budget due September 15
A s contrasted with previous years adversely affected due to receiving the Hall on Highway 96,scheduled for
at this time(late May),several "to same share of a smaller tax bill.Other occupancy in August and dedication in
be determined"factors complicate suburban cities have many more TIF September.However,community use of
the preliminary budget planning process. projects than Arden Hills.The make up the new facilities,not feasible at the
Principal among these at press time were of our state aid,from Homestead and present location,could change this and
actions of the 2001 regular state legislative Agriculture Credit Aid(HACA)and involve budget considerations that may be
session not taken prior to mandatory Legislative Government Aid(LGA)funds, difficult to predict,since no direct prece-
adjournment.Other factors within Arden might also change. dent exists.
Hills include:
Pavement management: Staff reorganization:
1) what action,if any,the Council A major tax levy factor is how street A staff reorganization for efficiency and
decides to take on pavement manage- maintenance and restoration are handled. improved public service has been recom-
ment, A plan for more comprehensive restoration mended by City Administrator Joe Lynch
or improvement of entire neighborhoods and approved in principle by the council.
2) what balance is predicted between in even years and minimal seal coating in It would involve the future addition of
savings on using owned,rather than odd years between one and two
rented,council chamber and staff had been full-time-equivalent
office facilities in terms of additional scheduled to positions,although
usage of the new city hall building not commence
As contrasted with previous no incremental
feasible in the present rented quarters, in 2000,but years at this time, several expense this year
and was "to be determined" factors because of current
postponed staff vacancies.
3) the projected impact of a proposed in favor of complicate the preliminary However,budget
reorganization of city hall staff. seal coating planning process. implications for
as a result 2002 and beyond
Legislative action: of contro- must be quantified.
Some property tax relief could result from versy over
State assumption of certain K-12 educa- plans for the Ingerson neighborhood.The Development of a 2002 budget and tax
tion expenses.This proposed action was plan for 2002,not yet decided by Council, levy will be chronicled in these pages
not adopted prior to adjournment but will may have significant budget and tax levy again in early fall,as current unknowns
likely be a special session action.Al- implications. become closer to being known.The
though residents would see lower gross Council must propose a preliminary
tax bills as a result of it,this would not City Hall occupancy: budget and tax levy by September 15,
affect City revenue except possibly a Rent of the current council chambers and and typically is able to do so with time
minor decrease that might result if offices in the Round Lake Business Center to spare.
revenue from our two remaining Tax exceeds the anticipated utility and routine
Increment Financing(TIF)projects were maintenance expenses of the new City
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City of Arden Hills•4364 West Round Lake Road Permit #1962
Arden Hills,MN• 55112-5794
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• Charlotte McNiesh
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• Budget plans underway
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