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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJune 1977n Published by the Arden Association <do. 108 June 1977 e t 11 II Did anyone notice (or care) that 4 out of the 5 candidates running; for the Mounds View School board were involved in education one way or another in their regular line of work? It seems to me that we already have enough educators in the District Service Center and need people with some broader experience on the School Board. Let's have some more candidates that know something about finance and about what's important in the real work -world outside of the classroom. Roseville did a lot better than Mounds View in this respect. None of their 5 candidates was an educator, although I can't say that their district is much better off than Mounds View because of it. The closed gas station on County Road D and Cleveland is causing a lot of interest. One enterprising soul set up a flower stand there with no one's approval and had to be asked to leave. Several legitimate businesses are eyeing the corner, but there have been no decisions yet. The place is zoned commercial. Well, the Planning Commission meeting on June 7th sounds like a swinging affair: Three interesting public hearings will be coming up at that time. The Town Crier Pancake House (no relation) that wants to build across the street to the north from the Blue Fox will be heard, as will the Minnesota Baptist Conferenoe, located by the AH library. The Baptist Conference wants to build an addition, and since this means changing their Special Use Permit plans, they need to go through another hearing. The funniest one though is the public hearing for a special use permit for Ramsey Further note on trees--- Mark Peterson, Arden Hills Inspector, has been busy hunting out diseased 'Tree woodpiles in the city and has found quite a few. He and I both appreciated the letter received from O Peter Morris, Jr., on Arden View Court concerning ' Dutch Elm disease. It's most rewarding to hear Town directly from readers of the Crier. CN ' RFurther note on deer--- Ken Boss called me after I the last issue of the Crier came out to say that ' he sees deer quite regularly around his place. He said a few years ago one was hit by a car on Highway E 31 and killed. Apparently they like to go into. ' eche Bethel oampus. I think it's super to live • " • where the deer are so close. Mr. Boss also remarked • on the ducks and pheasants that abound around here. Even after eight years in Arden Hills, I can't get used to that raucous quacking and Backing at night. Donna -Reynolds also called to say she had seen some deer, and she lives 'tivay south on Shorewood Drive. There was a deer in her yard the first weekend in May. 'Ne figure they run between the Presbyterian Home and North- western Bible College property. I'm surprised the creatures have been seen so far in. e t 11 II Did anyone notice (or care) that 4 out of the 5 candidates running; for the Mounds View School board were involved in education one way or another in their regular line of work? It seems to me that we already have enough educators in the District Service Center and need people with some broader experience on the School Board. Let's have some more candidates that know something about finance and about what's important in the real work -world outside of the classroom. Roseville did a lot better than Mounds View in this respect. None of their 5 candidates was an educator, although I can't say that their district is much better off than Mounds View because of it. The closed gas station on County Road D and Cleveland is causing a lot of interest. One enterprising soul set up a flower stand there with no one's approval and had to be asked to leave. Several legitimate businesses are eyeing the corner, but there have been no decisions yet. The place is zoned commercial. Well, the Planning Commission meeting on June 7th sounds like a swinging affair: Three interesting public hearings will be coming up at that time. The Town Crier Pancake House (no relation) that wants to build across the street to the north from the Blue Fox will be heard, as will the Minnesota Baptist Conferenoe, located by the AH library. The Baptist Conference wants to build an addition, and since this means changing their Special Use Permit plans, they need to go through another hearing. The funniest one though is the public hearing for a special use permit for Ramsey County to build a new outbuillin; (a toilet actually) in Schmidt park. The reason a public hearing is necessary is that there are only three kinds of zoned areas in Arden Hills s oom- meroial, industrial, and residential. The park is neither of the first two, so it must be regarded as residential, and such a building needs a permit. Notices will be sent to all residents within 350 feet of tho park boundary. Everyone agrees the building is desireable and necessary, but the law says the hearing is required. Strange. , * * * * * * * * * * Did you all catch my glaring error in last month's newsletter? My abject apologies to the .Arden Hills Community Service Club, whom I confused with the Arden Association. I did not realize that there were two separate groups. It is the Arden Hills Community Service Club that is responsible for the neat Memorial Day activities we have in Arden Hills. This year they are planning (or did plan, depending on when you get this paper) another Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 30. It will have (or did have) an American West theme and starts (started?) at 9s15 A.M. at Johanna Elementary School. They would really like any kids that want to ride in the parade to decorate their bikes Western -like, and come along. There will be an invocation at 9s45, the Girl Scouts will present the colors, and the parade will begin at 10s00. If you have any major units that want to march,.(horses, drum & bugle corps, etc.), please check with the Service Club for directions. There will be Winter Carni-, val royalty pre -sent, and three of our illustrious councilmen will drive City vehicles. The parade will conclude at Schmidt park, and neighborhoods are encouraged to picnic after"rds. The latest on the Northwestern Bible College controversy is that Arden Hills and the Council are being sued for making an "arbitrary and capricious" decision in turning down the College's proposal for a new fine arts building. The problem is to figure out what is legally permitted under ren Hills' current zoning ordinance. Nobody seems panic-stricken over th (except axes t ma)because apparently they do occur occasionally. One recent instance _I McDonald Is. who sued after Arden Hills said they couldn't build there on County Road E. And we can all see how that turned out. From the Police Department--- Could you please have your house numbers easily visible by both day and night to assist emergency vehicles? Some numbers are falling off and some are covered by leaves. I personally like those new foot -high numbers that look more decora- tive than useful. As these 40 -year-old eyes grow older, bigger is better. Also, as vacation time comes and people take orf for a few weeks, there will be many empty houses. Please notify the police and your neighbors if you will be gone so that they can watch your house. Many eyes can help deter crime in Arden Hills. And a quick reminder about no liquor allowed in our parks. It's nice weather again, and the gangs in Schmidt Park are accumulating. Has everyone seen the article in the May Reader's Digest titled "Confessions of a Town Councilman"? If you get a chance, give it a louk-�"hro-u-g'h. It certainly gives a different perspective to the job. From the Parks and Recreation Department--- Thanks to the Arden Hills Community Service Club for the $50 donation for general park beautification. Also, many thanks to Cub Scout Den 3 from St. John's and Den 1 from Valentine Hills for some general park clean-up. And Den 8 from Lake Johanna Elementary donated and planted shrubs. It's great to see people taking such an active interest. I received an anonymous phone call the first Saturday evening in May. I don't generally respect anonymous callers, but this lady seemed quite reasonable. Her question concerned motorcycles and mini -bikes in Arden Hills. Apparently on her street there were several of them zippitgup and down all hours of the day and night, particularly on week -ends. She and I agreed that we hate to bother the police with such things; we want our Police Force to be rescuing kidnap victims with the S.W.A.Te team and breaking up International Drug rings in- stead. However, motoreyoles CAN be a nuisance. Lieutenant McCall of the Arden Hills Police Department says they've received many calls this spring on the same subject. So here are a few reminders from him: Schoolgrounds, Ramsey County Open Spaces, and 'Honda Hills' are all closed to cycles. In Schmidt Park, it's O.S. to drive your cycle on the paved portions, but NOT on the foot trails. Stay off private property. Motorcycles and mini -bikes can use any public road if the vehicle is properly licensed. The driver must be 16 and have a valid operator's license also. The cycle must have a state -approved muffler. Although you no longer need wear a helmet while driving a motorcycle, you must have some sort of eye protection. It bothers me though that this lady is being disturbed by noise pollution, and yet it appears to be legal. Isn't there some compromise solution? Can't she call the cyclists, who apparently live close, and discuss the problem? Perhaps they could find a non-residential area in which to ride. I guess that's why there are lawst to decide what is most fair to the greatest number. Along the same line comes Arden Hills' proposed new dog ordinance. Currently in AH, you must have yoxr dog under "effective control" at all times, but it's very difficult to define just what this means. In order to clarify the situation, a new dog ordinance has been proposed. It is very similar to New Brighton's ardinance because both villages want, to use the same dog catcher. In essence, a dog will be legal onl when he is in his house, in his fenced yard, or on a leash (not to exceed 8 feet in length. A complaint about a noisy dog must be made by two people of different households. A lifetime dog license will be is- sued (rather than a yearly one) and rabies vaccinations will be required. All feces must be picked up and disposed of in a sanitary fashion (not defined). At the April 25th Council meeting, the dog lovers turned out in force, and I must say I have seldom heard such eloquent and well -thought-out arguments. It was suggested that such a restrictive ordinance would reduce the number of dogs in Arden Hills, and thus the number of 'poor man's burglar alarms' and crime would increase. One man wanted to know how the police were going to enforce the part about cleaning up feces, especially at night. The Council referred the ordinance over to the May 5 Public Safety Committee meeting for a recommendation. At the Public Safety meeting, the dog haters arrived. They were less restrained than the first group, maybe with just cause. One man said he was afraid to complain about a neighboring barking dog to its owner because of fear of retaliation. (I really became a little upset that this type of situation occurs in our community.) Several other speakers agreed however.Amthw problem occurs when people walk their dogs off -leash in an open area and then do not see to it that the dogs stay out of surrounding landscaped yards. The Council hopes to make a final decision on the ordinance at their June 27th meeting, so if you have strong feelings on the matter, please call, write or come. Remember, it's YOUR council. r,2. "You realize it's very difficult for us to be completely objective about the new dog ordinance." Z961 'ON Iiwaad uuiVy 'fined *IS Giv4d awlsod 'S 'n aau,% - 34% Ssdx x11ns The Fire Board met on May 18th, and the latest is that the Lake Johanna Fire Depart- ment wants to remain a strictly volunteer operation with no salaries. They would like Arden Hills to pay them a percentage of the mill rate (somewhere between .8 and 1.2%) for operating expenses. Thus their income would fluctuate along with that of the City. Tho Fireman will have a contract proposal to present soon. Or * * * * CALENDAR FOR JUNE June 6 Public Safety Committee 7:30 p.m. Village Hall 7 Planning Commission 7s30 p.m. Village Hall 8 Rice Creek Natershed 7:30 p.m. Village Hall Public Forks 7t30 p.m. Public Works Building 9 Finance 7s30 p.m. Village Hall 13 City 'Council 7130 p.m. Village Hall 14 Parks and Recreation 7t00 p.m. Cummings Park 8100 p.m. Village Hall 22 Rice Creek Watershed 7:30 p.m. Village Ball ' 27 City Council (dog ordinance) 7130 p.m. Village Hall Next deadline for the Town Criers June 17. Keep those calls and letters cocain' in, ' folks. Don't forget the number to call is 484-0773. And send your news immediately tot Diane McAllister, 1200 Ingerson Road, 55112.