HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 1977free skateboard area, with no
would love it:
Published by the Arden Association
No. 113
December 1977
"The wheels of justice grind exceeding slow."
Does anyone know the origin of the above quotation?
It came to me one evening at a Council meeting, but
my copy of Partlett does not carry it. The Rosevil]e
library helped me hunt also, but we could not chase
it down. The librarian there recalled the phrase
as being "exceeding slow and fine", but could go no
further. Anybody know?
At a meeting of the Parks and Recreation committee,
one of the members suggested to John Bucklef that
we find out how much it would cost to put in a
skateboard area at a park in Arden Hills. Poor John
turned sort of green and muttered something about
insurance. After watching my three boys careen
down the driveway all summer on our skateboard, I
can well understand his panic. Can you imagine a
supervision, and no protective gear required? I bet the kids
Press Releases The Northwest Suburban Youth Service Bureau, 2174 North Snelling Avenue
in Roseville, has just opened a Youth Employment Project (Y.E.P.) designed to help match
interested young people with available permanent, temporary, or odd jobs. Staffed by
Charles Lichtenberg and Carolyn Dhaemers, Y.E.P. is now looking for job openings at area
businesses and for temporary or odd jobs from area residents. The project - is geared for
job seekers between the ages of 12 and 18 and will be open to interview youngsters begin- y,
ning Octher 3, 1977. There will be no fee for the service to either employee or employers.
Editor's notes I called Y.E.P. (636-2634) and got, hold of this Charles Lichtenberg
who is incredibly charming and helpful. He said the main aim of this program is to match "
up kids with special interests with the right job. Many teen-agers don't care to work
in the food service industry, and that's about all that is obviously available. Y.E.P.
will try to find something else. Yr. Lichtenberg also said the main problem is getting
a list of job opportunities from local employers, so any of you businessmen that read this,
do give this agency a call.
A bulletin board of job openings is posted in the Y.E.P. office. There is also inform-
ation available there about Vo Tech and the Minnesota Labor Pool. In the "odd" job and
babysitting categories, a list of interested youth will be kept on file. Only persons who
have completed a Red Cross Child Care Clinic will be listed for babysitting jobs. Help
will also be offered to young persons who don't know how to fill out a job application or
interview for a position.
Knowing how to fill out a job application is not an inborn thing. I heard about one
teen-age boy who, when filling out his first job application form, came to the word "spouse".
Since he didn't know what that meant, he wrote, "No." Thank goodness.
Received the following letter from Ann Locey about shopping in Arden Hills, and it
really made me feel good just to read its "lay I applaud St. Paul Book and Stationery on
County Road E for their catering to the handicapped of Arden Hills. It is a rare pleasure
to encounter while shopping with my daughter Allison, who is in a wheelchair, handicapped
parking close to the store's entrance and a ramp from the parking lot to the sidewalk. To ,
the average person these two items may be insignificant, but to Allison and me they make
the difference between a positive experience and one of difficulty for both of us, especialLS'r
in the winter time. Wheelchairs seem to have a mind of their own while trying to negotiate
the snow. May other concerned businesses in Arden Hills make this a better place to live." P.
-
Charlotte McNeish, our Clerk -Administrator, pointed out to me that our Village Hall �
also now has handicapped parking and a ramp to the building. Somehow the St. Paul Book and ,
Stationery sounds like more fun though, especially with a child in torr.
From the Minutes of Regular Council Meeting, October 31, 1977= "Mayor Crepeau sub-
mitted a check in the amount of $5.00 from Eugene Vorpahl to reimburse the City for postage '
for the Town Crier which he requests to be mailed to him at his California address.
Council authorized the mailing of the Town Crier to Mr. Vorpahl for*the ensuing year."
Editor's notes 4ell, bow about that; Somebody really cares about Arden Hills. j
Eugene Vorpahl (whoever ,you are), I love you: I
The Special Planning Commission meeting on October 18 was truly unusual. Is the first
place, it was held in the lunchroom of the Public Works Building which was obviously rot
decorated for the Stadium Site Selection Committee. There were barely enough fvldlag-ehairs
to go around and the surroundings were less than luxurious. However, the very small room
did seem to lend itself to a more informal, let -your -hair down type of discussion than can
be held in the more elegant Council Chambers.
The main item of business was to be a general discussion of "downtown Arden Hills".
I went to this meeting so that I could tell you all just what the Planning Commission had
in mind for this business area along County Road E; I was quite surprised to find that the
Planning Commission didn't have anything in mind -- yet. The meeting opened with, "Nell, ,
what does anybody think should be done here?"
The six Commission members present stumbled around f or a while, throwing out random
ideas until Maury Johnson summed up the concerns of the area into the following lists traf-
fic, visual impact, retail access, and safety. Apparently the County thinks that E can
handle up to 20,000 oars per day the way things stand now. (Wo wondered if that included
the two-lane bridge over Highway 51. The rest of County Road E is four -lane.) Right now,
city ordinance requires a 50' setback from the road for all businesses, with 20' of this ,
as green area. Whatever is done has to be done in conjunction with Ramsey County because
it is a County road. Visual impact also includes signs.
The Commissioners, after only an hour, came to a general agreement that regularly ,
planted trees illuminated with some sort of indirect lighting (& la Palm Springs) would be
lovely. They thoueht maybe evergreens instead of palm trees though. As a result of this
meeting, the City Council has commissioned Orlyn Miller (our City Planner) to do a proposed
site plan for Downtown Arden Hills.
Editor's notes One of my kids wondered just what difference it makes what downtown
Arden Hills looks like. I told him it is a matter of Civic Pride, and that the Planning
Commission really cares about what our town looks like, both for ourselves and for outsiders
The feeling of the Planning Commission was that most of the businesses along E want to
look sharp too. A good image undoubtedly helps business. At any rate, we've made a start.
Arden dills received two cash gifts this month, much to everyone's surprise and delight, i
One was t200 from the Minnesota Baptist Conference; the other was $150 from tha Arden Hills'
Community Service Club.' This last amount was directed for site improvement at Floral Park,
and John Buckley says it will probably go for playground equipment. It's really neat to
get these unexpected presents; makes you think Arden dills must be doing something right. '
Further note on dogs -- Arden Hills has hired a Community Service Officer (dog catcher) to
enforce the new Dog Ordinance, effective immediately. His name is Robert Perry and, just to
eep everybody honest, he will work random hours. However, he does drive a red station wagon
hich is clearly marked.
And while we're discussing dogs, I received the following anonymous letter addressed to
pveryone in Arden Hills which deserves attentions "Dear Neighbor, Forgive me for not coming
ersonally to you, but I didn't want to risk a friendship. We love animals -- including yours.
'put we are becoming weary of cleaning•up 'dail? after your dog. Please try to be more obser
want as to where your dog goes when you let it out. Thank you. Your Neighbor."
'Nuff said.
Potpourri -- Plumbing Inspector West is in the hospital; he's such a lovely gentleman, let's
11 wish him well...... The City Council has approved the opening up of 105 more lots in the
Arden Manor Mobile Home Court...... A Finance Sub -Committee is currently studying our sewer and
ater rates; bet I can guess which way things will go. (Up.)..... On November 28 the Council
iscussed a new Snowmobile Ordinance. More on that later...... The latest news on the North-
western College controversy is that it comes up December 12 in Ramsey County District Court.....
A new development is being planned for the area at the south end of that chunk of Snelling that
eats Highway 96 near the Village Hall. Forty-three new lots....... The Parks and Recreation
apartment is going to buy same baby trees and start a nursery in Cummings Park. In 3-5 years,
the trees can be transplanted to other parks in AH. We hax�a also authorized two University
students majoring in landscape architecture to work on plans for two pedestrian trails in the
illage. They will lay out trees, benches, etc. for the new trail in Chatham and for the exist-
ing trail that runs from Cleveland to Schmidt Park..... Strange situation in the voting precincts
in Arden Hillss Senator Milton of State Senate District 49 has resigned, and a special election
is being held on December 3 to replace him. District 49 includes parts of Anoka and Ramsey
Counties, but only the 5th precinct of Arden Hills. So the 170 registered voters of Preeinst 5
get to vote while the rest of us don't.
On Monday, November 14, Mutual Service Insurance held a ground breaking ceremony for the
now home office building on the southeast corner of Snelling and County Road E.
Editor's notes On the Mutual Service van ride from the Steak Inn parking, lot to the
ground breaking site, I found out that the invited Guests were a rather assorted crew. There
were Mutual Service big -wigs, Arden Hills Planning Commission and Council members, local business -
Fn, and close neighbors of the n,!! r building. Only the close neighbors had sense enough to
ar boots. The mud was disaster. In. fact, one van !;ot stuck. I can see where the weather
becomes a factor for those heavy earth -moving machines. The company hopes to be in the new
office by Summer, 1979.
The Open House at the Village Hall on October 27 was rather sparsely attended, although
those that did come seemed to enjoy it. The League of 'Nomen Voters sponsors this event on non -
lection years. The difference in attendance from 1975 was probably because the Presbyterian
ome did not send a bus this time.
My 12 -year-old loved the Open House though. With the plows and trucks all shined up and on
1display, plus a police car and a fire engine, he said it was like Machinery Hill. The free
orange drink and cookies probably didn't discourage him any either. Many thanks to the League
for the time and effort they put into this venture.
* e # * * * e
4 Is it a Rank or is it a Drive-in? That's the question that was asked at the November 1
E lanning Commission meeting. The Roseville State Bank wants to build a branch on two acres of
land at the southwest corner of Lexington and County Road F. This is called a "detached facility"
toffice.
ank and comes under the new law of Minnesota which allows a branch within 25 miles of the main
The Roseville Bank is proposing a small office with four tellers and three drive-in lanes.
The question was asked about the possibility of cars stacking up in the drive-in lanes.
IApparently anyone who has driven past the North Star Bank in Roseville on Friday evening knows
what can happens they have to have a policeman there to direct traffic. Then someone else
asked if this didn't sound more like a drive-in than a bank-- and drive-ins in AH are against
city ordinance: Tom Lynch read the ordinance, and a drive-in is defined as a place where the
city
can transact business without walking into the main building. (APaeDonald's is of
ourse not a drive-in by this"definition.
Z961 'ON PwJad
•uuiW 11ned 'iS
QIdd
39VlsOd 's 'n
19sdar x7ne
ia�t� w�rl8 a�
Then came up some basic philisophieal questions, as often do at the Planning Commission j
Nobody wants County Road F (or E) to turn into another Snelling Avenue with donut shops, 1.'
drive-ins, and what not. Put can we morally forbid drive-ins in our suburban, automobile h
centered society? barge Erickson suggested that one of the nice things about AH is that
we haven't yet ,yielded to the pressure and have kept drive-ins out. ,
The most ironic thing about the entire discussion was that one of the spokesmen for
the Bank lives in Arden Hills, and was in fact on the Planning Commission when the anti -
drive -in ordinance was written. But is a Bank a Drive -In??? ■
The Arden Association is a non-profit organization existing for the purpose of in-
forming
n forming residents of Arden Hills of Village activities and business. The Town Crier
expresses opinions of the editor on these matters and attempts to maks Sts eonte�s '
informative and interesting. Readers' a - ant on anything is wncouraged. Deadline for
the next issuet December 17. Seoretary-Fd itors Diane NoAllister 484-0773
1200 Ingerson Road 55112 ,
DECEMBER CALKTIDAR
December 1
Hiunan Rights
7c30 p.m.
13
Parks and Recreation
8100 p.m.
5
Public Safety
7130 p.m.
(at the home of Councilman
Crichton)
6
Planning Commission
7130 p.m.
14
Rice Creek Watershed
7:30 p.zt.
7
Public Norks
7130 P.M.
26
Council
7130 p.m.
8
Finance Sub -Committee 7:30 p.m.
28
Rice Creek Watershed
7130 p*m.
12
Council
700 p.m.
All of
thele meetings, with
the exception
of Parks
and Recreation, are to be
held at
the Village
Rall. Please call there (633-5676)
for more
information.
The Arden Association is a non-profit organization existing for the purpose of in-
forming
n forming residents of Arden Hills of Village activities and business. The Town Crier
expresses opinions of the editor on these matters and attempts to maks Sts eonte�s '
informative and interesting. Readers' a - ant on anything is wncouraged. Deadline for
the next issuet December 17. Seoretary-Fd itors Diane NoAllister 484-0773
1200 Ingerson Road 55112 ,