Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutNovember 1977Published by the .Arden Association I have another interest in trees this months both the 7th grader and the 10th grader need leaf collections for school. The 10th grader can use only native Minnesota trees, so we're all learning a lot. Is a black walnut tree really native? It sounds tropical. But our whole family has become more tree conscious, and even the poor removed Dutch elm stump has yielded up a few mangy leaves in the name of Science. Does anyone want to be on one of Arden Hills' several advisory am mittees? Appointments are usually made the first of the year, so if you're interested or have a special knowledge, please call the Village Hall with your name and specialty. Some of our committees ares Human Rights, Board of Appeals, Finance, Parks and Recreation, Planning Commission] Public Safety, and Public Works. The appointments are generally for one year, but of course there is no guarantee that you'll get on. Since.t he Planning Commission carries so much responsibility, it is generally helpful if a volunteer for this committee has served on at least one other committee before getting on the Planning Commission. And although the Planning Commission doesn't have all engineers and architects, it does help if a person can read a diagram or plaa. There are also openings for Junior Volunteers (Senior High students). if anyone is really interested in a certain area and is willing to give the time. Just call the Hall at 633-5676. • There was a special Planning Commission meeting on October 18 to discuss general plans for downtown Arden Hills. In case you're wondering just where that is, it's County Road E, between Lexington and the Highway 51 ramps. (I still laugh every time I hear "downtown Arden Hills".) Flaherty's wants to add 12 more bowling lanes, which means shifting doors and park- ing places, so that's still being worked on. And Northwestern National Bank wants to build a branch office where the miniature golf course is located. More about all this when I find out. I wonder if the Planning Commission is aware that a real downtown should have a porno- graphic book store, a few saunas, and an Adults -only theatre? No. 112 November 1977 "I think that I shall never see A poem lovely as a tree. A tree whose hungry mouth is prest TAgainst the earth's sweet flowing breast. O Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree." IV--Joyce Kilmer, 1886-1918 CN And the trees in Arden Hills deserve special R attention again is these autumn months. The sun . shining on the reds and oranges is almost unreal, Iand even the gray rainy days have a certain lovli- nese. My husband the actuary pointed out to me E that with a life expectancy of 72 or so, I have only 30 more seasons in which to enjoy this spec - I& tacle, so I'd better look hard. Think about it. (Although, the 12 -year-old figured that 60 more • autumns for him sounded near eternity and he wasn't impressed with the idea at all.) I have another interest in trees this months both the 7th grader and the 10th grader need leaf collections for school. The 10th grader can use only native Minnesota trees, so we're all learning a lot. Is a black walnut tree really native? It sounds tropical. But our whole family has become more tree conscious, and even the poor removed Dutch elm stump has yielded up a few mangy leaves in the name of Science. Does anyone want to be on one of Arden Hills' several advisory am mittees? Appointments are usually made the first of the year, so if you're interested or have a special knowledge, please call the Village Hall with your name and specialty. Some of our committees ares Human Rights, Board of Appeals, Finance, Parks and Recreation, Planning Commission] Public Safety, and Public Works. The appointments are generally for one year, but of course there is no guarantee that you'll get on. Since.t he Planning Commission carries so much responsibility, it is generally helpful if a volunteer for this committee has served on at least one other committee before getting on the Planning Commission. And although the Planning Commission doesn't have all engineers and architects, it does help if a person can read a diagram or plaa. There are also openings for Junior Volunteers (Senior High students). if anyone is really interested in a certain area and is willing to give the time. Just call the Hall at 633-5676. • There was a special Planning Commission meeting on October 18 to discuss general plans for downtown Arden Hills. In case you're wondering just where that is, it's County Road E, between Lexington and the Highway 51 ramps. (I still laugh every time I hear "downtown Arden Hills".) Flaherty's wants to add 12 more bowling lanes, which means shifting doors and park- ing places, so that's still being worked on. And Northwestern National Bank wants to build a branch office where the miniature golf course is located. More about all this when I find out. I wonder if the Planning Commission is aware that a real downtown should have a porno- graphic book store, a few saunas, and an Adults -only theatre? Only two Letters -to -the -Editor this month, one plus and one minus. (That's a rotten ' { average.) Mrs. J. McClung said the Town Crier is "fun to read and still very informative", while F. Nordley wondered why in the August issue I had taken an "unkind swipe at the U,S. Post Office". To answer Mr. Nordley, each of the 5 or 6 times that -I've mailed the Town Crier, the Post Office has complained about something. Now, I'm really trying to follow their i directions, but they seem to add a new one each month. I now have my own perso4al "customer representative" who is completely charming and understanding, but I'm almost to the point , 1 where I expect to mail it wrong again. And to answer another question of Mr. Nordley, the reason I spenT the postage to have a copy of the Town Crier mailed to myself, is to see just � how long it takes the Post Office to get it delivere . , Mrs. McClung's letter I keep and re -read when things get tough. As most of you probably know by now, the City of Arden Hills has decided to dissolve its own independent police force and contract as soon as possible with the Ramsey County Sher- iff's Office for police protection. At the September 26 meeting, the Arden Hills City Council approved a 1978 police budget of the exact amount that it will cost us to go with Ramsey County Approximately a dozen people stayed at this meeting until past midnight to argue for oontinu- anoe of Arden Hills' own independent police force. Later the same evening the actual motion was made to contract with the County, but since it was felt that this decision had not been ' sufficiently publicized, the vote was postponed until the October 11 Council meeting. A few concerned citizens, aware of the problem, had spent the week preceding the Sept. 26 meeting getting 450 signatures on a petition asking to retain our own force. And between the Sept. 26 and Oct. 11 meetings, Bob Witt and Doug Barthany had printed up and distributed 3600 flyers telling Arden Hills residents to come to the next Council meeting. The flyer really got results. The October 11 Council meeting was absolutely fascinating. For the two or three of you who weren't there (well, it seemed that orowdedl), here are your editor's views of that meetings I arrived at the Village Hall five or ten minutes early to be sure and get a seat„ Ha ha. People were already standing in the hallway and office area, all seats in the Council chambers having been long gone. Due to the power of the press, Charlotte (our clerk -administrator) added a folding chair at the front table so that I could sit, guilt dripping from my shoulders. The meeting began on time, and the police question was introduced shortly thereafter. When the petition from the Sept. 26 meeting was mentioned, someone asked just what it had said, so Mayor Crepeau read it. Next there were several remarks in favor of Arden Hills' current Police Department and some questions about changing over. At this point a large gentleman shouted in from the hallway that the people out there couldn't hear. There is a speaker loeatei in the office area to project the voices of the Council members, each of whom has his own microphone. However, the members of the questioning audience were inaudible over this system. Rather than change the meeting to a larger auditorium, perhaps on a different night, to acoom- modate the large crowd, a compromise was made. All of us who were seated folded up our chairs to make standing -room -only for more bodies in the Council chambers. And anyone who wanted to speak had to come up to the main microphones so that those still squeezed into the hall and office could at least hear, even if they couldn't see. , By this time, it was nearly 8%00 p.m. And according to law, it was time for Arden Hills to let bids for #1,765,000 of General Obligation Improvement Bonds: I would expect there have never been so many citizens present to witness Arden Hills selling bonds. But in quick order ' it was back to the police problem. For the next hour and a half, various citizens spoke according to their convictions. Of the several hundred people there, I would estimate the pro -AH Police Department outnumbered , the pro -Ramsey County Sheriffs about 2 to 1, at least judging from the applause after the re- marks. Although, this applause could have been misleading. After each and every speaker, my 17 -year-old clapped loudly and shouted, "Arright, yah, yaht " I finally asked hia which side he was on. He said he wasn't sure yet, but that he was enjoying himself. Everyone that wanted to speak or ask a question was allowed at least one opportunity to do so. Since most people were standing, the length of the debate was probably shortened, and by 1Os00 p.m. or so the vote was taken. ffoodburn, Crepeau, and Hanson voted for Ramsey County; ' Crichton voted for Arden Hills Police. The wisest councilman was undoubtedly Wingert, who was out of town on business. I see that the Highway Department has closed off the left turns in to and out of Bethel from Highway 51. You can still turn right there, but depending upon which way you come, it might require a little planning ahead to do so. The other entrance, from Old Snelling on 'the other side of the campus, remains the same. That entrance on 51 really was dangerous; I've been frightened there a couple of times myself. This should prevent quite a few accidents. And speaking of accidents, where is the most dangerous intersection in Arden Hills? Lt. McCall of the Police Department leans towards the point where Highway 51 and Old Snelling cross. He says its probably because of the weird angle at which the streets meet. Since I live very close to that spot and can hear the sirens each time there is an accident, I must agree with him. But there must be some other neat corners too. It's always interesting to drive on Highway 51 to Highway 10 (or back) and cross over several high-speed lanes of 694 in a very short distance. Let me hear your favorite spot. The Northwestern Bible College case hasn't come to court yet, although a few depositions have been taken. Nobody's forgotten about it though. Unfortunately. And a 5 -year contract has been approved with the Lake Johanna Volunteer Fire Department, hooray, hooray. Did you think you'd ever live to see the day? I'm sure our Council liason person sometimes wondered too. The budget for the Fire protection for 1978 is $33,180. This is up around $3,000 from last year, but then what isn't? It went up $4,000 the year before. Gloria Kuehn of the League of Women Voters called me to say that my article last month about the League's Open House at the Village Hall on October 27 was great, but that the start- 'ing time was 7s30 p.m., not 8100 as I had stated. Although it's an Open House, and you can come anytime, maybe the earlier hour is better if the kids want to come. So, anytime after 7130 p.m. is fine. Of course, if you don't get this in the mail until after the 27th, the whole discussion is useless anyway. On the lighter side of the Planning Commissions 2+'innesota Diversified Products (they make insulation) wants to build a new factory employing around 30 people on the northeast corner of 35 and 694. The Planning Commissioners were concerned about the looks of the build- ing and about possible ways to plant trees and shrubbery to make it look nicer. Our City Planner, Orlyn Miller, referred to "volunteer vegetation", which he defined as living things that were "not of good quality but do the job". Commissioner Dick Ericson said that must be sort of like the volunteer Planning Commission. But Minnesota Diversified (and Arden Hills) has really run into trouble with this project. We all want to see this building built in this completely industrial area, but what seemed so simple has turned into a real mess. The land there used to belong to New Brighton, and the 'location of the storm sewers (if any) is a little hazy. The best landscape screening is questionable, as is the water supply. The drainage is also weird. As -far as the City Engineer can tell, all the water from the land purchased by Minnesota Diversified would drain off in two directions onto someone else's property. Nobody seemed to have a solution for this. The Council realizes that if Arden Hills wants to develop this entire area, we'd better find something to do with this excess water. And, in order for this building to be built, either Arden Hills or the developer has to come up with a solution. (One thought was to get an easement for water run-off from the adjacent property owner.) Of course, like most other building requests, Minnesota Diversified would like to get started as soon as possible. I can talk about dog leash -laws in Arden Hills again now; After the death of our collie in July, we waited until after our vacation to replace him, and we have now acquired a 6 -month- old female cross -breed of some sort (golden lab??). She is hooked on wastebaskets and shoes. ho keep her on an 8 -foot leash, and definitely pick up all fecal matter (mainly because it's ,usually in the living room.) Z961 'ON ;iwJad uuiW 'fined '3S QIVd awlSod 'S *n 211da x11118 t 2f you want to know exactly what will be discussed at any of these meetings, the Village Hall (633-5676) generally has the agenda a day or so in advance of the meeting. October 27 League of Women Voters 7130 November 9 Rice Creek Watershed 7130 ' Open House 10 Finance 700 31 Council 7130 11 Holiday November 1 Planning Commission 7130 14 Council 2 Public Works 7130 23 Bice Creek 3 Hunan Rights 700 24 Holiday 7 Public Safety 7130 28 Council 8 Parks and Recreation 8100 7,30 11 7130 11 7130 11 The Arden Association is a non-profit organisation existing for the purpose of int forming residents of Arden Hills of Village activities and business. The Town Crier expresses opinions of the editor on these matters and attempts to make its Conten— informative and interesting. Readers' comment on atyrthing is mncouraged. Deadline for the next issues November 18. Seorstary-Fd itors Diane McAllister 484-0773 1200 ingerson Road 55112 11