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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 APRIL NL 2022 (PDF)The Official City Newsletter for Arden Hills Residents April 2022 Around Arden Hills: St. Katherine Ukrainian Orthodox Church CPC Facilities Expansion to Arden Hills On March 3rd, 2022, Colder Products Company (CPC) hosted a tour of their new 168,000-square- foot facility on Round Lake Road West. The facility is currently under construction, with plans to begin operations by fall of this year. Mayor David Grant, City Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, and Steve Scott, along with City staff joined CPC staff plus the project contractors to commemorate the exciting new construction. The facility will focus on the innovation of liquid Councilmembers Steve Scott and Brenda Holden, CPC President Janel Wittmayer, Mayor David Grant, and Councilmember Fran Holmes cooling for high-performance computers, housing production, warehouse, and office space for more than 500 employees. The site adds to the company’s existing Minnesota locations in Roseville and Minneapolis. CPC is a leading provider of quick disconnect couplings, fittings, and connectors for the life sciences, biopharma, and chemical handling markets. Internationally, CPC employs nearly 1,200 people including operations in the United Tucked away on Highway 96 West near Snelling Avenue North, five cross-topped domes belonging to St. Katherine’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church peek over the tree line. Established in St. Paul in the 1950's, the parish operated as the Saints Volodymyr and Olga Ukrainian Orthodox Church until it moved to Arden Hills in 1995 and changed its name to St. Katherine's. Prior to the move, parishioner Oleg Gregoret designed and oversaw the construction of the building. The iconic black domes are indication of the 17th-century Ukrainian Baroque architectural style, which is known for its geometric and cylindrical elements. Not long after St. Katherine’s opened its doors in Arden Hills, they also opened a small museum in the same building celebrating Ukrainian culture. The exhibits feature traditional textiles, centuries old ceramics, paintings, garments, and instruments, all of which are considered family heirlooms by the congregants who donated them. Every spring, the church hosts an annual Ukrainian Dinner and Painted Egg sale that all are welcome to join. The event features traditional baked goods and a silent auction. Additionally, the local parish is partnering with St. Michael and St. George’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Minneapolis to host humanitarian aid fundraising luncheons. Thus far, the churches estimate that $50,000 has been raised in addition to the hundreds of boxes of medical and other supplies already donated to assist Ukrainian refugees. More information about upcoming community and fundraising events can be found at katherine.church/ donate.php and on their Facebook page (facebook.com/saint. katherine.church). States, Germany, and China, sales offices in 14 countries, and nearly 200 distributor partners around the world. 1 Arden Hills Service Directory Arden Hills City Hall 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills, MN 55112-5734 cityofardenhills.org 651-792-7800 Office Hours Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Sheriff and Fire 911 Water and Sewer Problems (During non-business hours) 651-767-0640 Mayor David Grant ● 651-538-0747 dgrant@cityofardenhills.org Councilmembers Brenda Holden ● 651-636-2987 bholden@cityofardenhills.org Fran Holmes ● 612-599-2457 fholmes@cityofardenhills.org Steve Scott ● 651-604-0919 sscott@cityofardenhills.org David Radziej ● 651-356-5928 dradziej@cityofardenhills.org City Administrator Dave Perrault ● 651-792-7824 dperrault@cityofardenhills.org Communications Coordinator Grace Arel ● 651-792-7817 garel@cityofardenhills.org City Council Liasons Fran Holmes and David Radziej Council meetings are held at City Hall on the second and fourth Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. Meetings are televised live on Cable Channel 16. Planning Commission meetings are also televised. Please visit cityofardenhills.org for information about archived meeting playbacks. Arden Hills Notes is the official newsletter of the City of Arden Hills, an equal- opportunity employer. City News Upcoming 2022 Election and Redistricting Measures Following the 2020 Census and subsequent redistricting by the MN State Legislature in mid-February, local governments were responsible for either redrawing precinct boundaries or reaffirming current boundaries if no changes were needed. While Arden Hills’ legislative districts, MN House and MN Senate, changed respectively from 42A to 40A and 42 to 40, no legislative boundaries within city limits were split. The City Council adopted Resolution 2022-009 on March 14, 2022 reestablishing our three polling place locations (P1 at North Heights Lutheran Church, P2 at Bethel’s Anderson Center and P3 at Presbyterian Church of the Way). Four seats will be up for election in fall 2022. This includes the Mayor and two City Councilmember seats, which are four-year seats with terms running 2023-2026, and also one, special two-year seat with a term running 2023-2024. The special seat is as a result of the unfortunate passing of Councilmember Dave McClung. Those interested in running for a seat must file an Affidavit of Candidacy. Candidate filing packets will be made available online and paper packets can be picked up at City Hall in July or at the Ramsey County Elections Office (90 West Plato Blvd, Suite 160, St. Paul). The filing period opens August 2 and will close on August 16 at 5 pm. The cost to file is $2.00. Contact the City Clerk at 651-792- 7811 with questions. Spring Lake Park Lions Club Donation The Spring Lake Park Lion’s Club donated $10,000 to the City of Arden Hills earmarked for park related improvements. The club’s mission is to help those in need within their communities through fundraising and charitable gambling. To learn more about the organization, visit their website at slplions.com. The City Council will be deciding how to best spend this money in the upcoming months. We are grateful for the Lion’s Club support of our beautiful park system here in Arden Hills! Permits Required for Many Remodeling Projects Whenever you’re preparing to tackle your next home improvement project, keep in mind you may be required to obtain a permit through the City before starting construction. Exterior additions such as a deck, shed, and fencing require a zoning permit; interior projects such as basement finishing and replacing windows will require a building permit; and replacement of a water heater, furnace, or AC system will need a mechanical permit. This is only a partial list: for a full list of the projects that require permits, visit the City’s Building & Permits webpage at cityofardenhills.org/154/Building-Permits. Upon approval of the permit, construction must begin within 180 days or a new permit will be required. Upon finishing work, please make sure to contact the City so an inspection can be conducted. A minimum notice of 24 hours is required for all inspections. For any questions about permits or inspections, contact Building Official Steve Thorp at 651-792-7813.2 Are you excited by the idea of growing your own flowers, herbs, and produce but don’t have adequate conditions for a garden? The City offers residents the opportunity to rent a garden plot at the City’s shared site located on Old Highway 10. To reserve a plot, please complete the Garden Plot Sublease form online or print and mail it to City Hall. There is a $55.00/plot fee for the cost of garden preparation. April 30th is the final day to apply for a plot before other applicants can request a second. There is a $25 fee for the rental of a second plot. For more information, call 651-792- 7848 or visit cityofardenhills. org/210/Garden-Plot-Rental. Calling All Gardeners! Garden Plots Available Benchmarks - A Review of Recent Council Action March 14, 2022 City Council Meeting All items were approved unanimously by a 5–0 vote. • Approved Resolution designating 2022 polling places for the State Primary and State General Election, which will remain the same as they are currently. • Approved a Motion to upgrade the current City Clerk position, and promote Julie Hanson to the position of Assistant to the City Administrator. • Approved Resolution accepting a donation from the Spring Lake Park Lions Club in the amount of $10,000.00. • Approved Resolution accepting a donation from the Arden Buckthorn Removal and Disposal Buckthorn is an invasive species that is pervasive in Arden Hills. It spreads quickly through its roots and berries, overtaking all other native plants. The City encourages residents to remove buckthorn from their own property. It's important to be familiar with the removal process before attempting it, since the process will change depending on the size of the plant. Small seedlings can be removed by hand, while large shrubs must be cut with a handsaw as close to the ground as possible and then sprayed with a powerful herbicide containing glyphosate or triclopyr. Fall is the best season to remove buckthorn as the plants retain leaves longer others, making them easier to identify. Arden Hills residents can reserve a buckthorn removal tool (weed wrench) that can be used for one week at a time. City staff will confirm your reservation and availability upon receipt of the request. There is no fee for use of this tool. The City offers a pickup service for buckthorn branches, leaves, and root waste on Fridays from May to October. To utilize this service, submit the Buckthorn Pickup Request online form by 12pm on Thursdays the week of pickup. Buckthorn waste can also be disposed of at the Ramsey County Compost Site located at 3530 Hudson Avenue. More information can be found at cityofardenhills. org/1172/Buckthorn Hills Foundation in the amount of $500.00 for “Angel Fund” scholarships to provide for residents in need of assistance to participate in city Parks and Recreation programs. • Approved Resolution appointing Mark Kelliher to the Parks, Trails and Recreation Committee (PTRC). • Tabled to March 21, 2022 Resolution to declare costs to be assessed, to order the preparation of the Proposed Assessments and to call for a Public Hearing on the Proposed Assessments for the Arden Oaks Street Improvement Project. • Approved Resolution declaring costs to be assessed and ordering the preparation of the Proposed Assessments and calling for a Public Hearing on the Proposed Assessments for the Snelling Avenue North Street and Utility Improvement Project. March 21, 2022 Special City Council Meeting Approved unanimously by a 5–0 vote. • Approved Resolution declaring costs to be assessed and ordering the preparation of the Proposed Assessments and calling for a Public Hearing on the Proposed Assessments for the Arden Oaks Street Improvement Project. For a complete listing of recent City Council actions, visit cityofardenhills.org and click on “View Agendas and Minutes.” 3 Upcoming 2022 Street Construction Projects The City of Arden Hills will undergo a number of construction projects in upcoming months. For more information about each listed project, please visit the City website at cityofardenhills.org/216/ Construction-Projects. Snelling Avenue PMP Snelling Ave North is being reconstructed from County Road E to Highway 51, including Cummings Lane. The project's assessment hearing was April 11th, 2022. The assessment rate was approved, the construction contract was awarded to T.A. Schifsky & Sons. Construction will include an asphalt trail on the West side of the road and is scheduled to begin in late spring of this year. A forthcoming schedule detailing important information for affected residents will be sent to them after a preconstruction meeting with the contractor. Arden Oaks PMP "Arden Oaks" refers to Arden Oaks Drive and Arden Oaks Court, which includes approximately 40 single family homes. The area will undergo street and utility improvements in 2022 following approval at the assessment hearing on April 25th, 2022. Once approved, the construction contract will be awarded to ASTECH Corporation. More details are forthcoming, including a detailed schedule that will be sent to the affected residents after meeting with the contractor. MVHS Pedestrian Safety Project on Lake Valentine Road Pedestrian safety is of the utmost importance to Arden Hills' leaders. The goal of the project on Lake Valentine Road in front of Mounds View High School is to make the street safer for students. Construction is scheduled for summer 2022 after school is out and will be completed before the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year. A main feature of the new design is the inclusion of center concrete medians that enhance the effectiveness of the signalized crosswalk. Spring Pothole Patching The Spring Pothole Patching Project began on March 28th, focusing on the most-traveled and problematic areas of city roads first. Overall, the project prioritizes the abatement of some potholes but not necessarily that of larger potholes or delamination (shallow fractures in the surface of the road). The City’s street maintenance program will likely address delamination, large potholes, cracks, and other street deformities later this summer. To report a pothole or other road quality concerns, please submit a request using the City's RequestTracker. Lexington Avenue Reconstruction Ramsey County is leading a reconstruction project of 4 Lexington Avenue from County Road E to I-694. This project will take place in the cities of Arden Hills and Shoreview to improve traffic flow and safety. Construction began the first week of April, when construction signage was first set up along the project corridor. For up to date information, please visit Ramsey County’s project webpage at cityofardenhills.org/lexington- reconstruction-2022. 2022 Street Maintenance Project Each year, the City performs street and trail preservation activities in different parts of the city as part of a long-term program. Pavement preservation work for the 2022 construction season will include seal coating, crack sealing, and fog sealing. Details about the project scope and timeline are forthcoming. Employee Recognition International Connections: The Shepard's Foundation Scoops for Troops is Back May 22 The past year marked significant milestones of public service for several staff members. • Jolene Trauba, Deputy City Clerk, 5 Years of Service • Britt Pease, Office Support Specialist, 5 Years of Service • Joe Mooney, Public Works, 35 Years of Service The City applauds each staffmember's committment to service and extends its gratitude for their work on behalf of the community! We also would like to welcome one of our newest staff members, Brandon Patterson, as our Residential Building/Code Enforcement Inspector (pictured). Patterson brings 21 years of experience in HVAC installation as well as a supervisory and project management background to the role. In addition to his Associate's Degree in Computer Science, Patterson graduated with a certificate in Building and Inspection Technology from North Hennepin Community College in 2021. In his freetime, he enjoys car shows (vintage and otherwise), his 1978 John Deere snow mobile, and spending time with his wife and three boys in Ham Lake. A Scoops for Troops fundraiser will be held on Sunday, May 22, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Arden Hills Army Training Site, 4761 Hamline Ave N., in honor of those who serve. The family-friendly event brings together civilians, veterans, and military families featuring a 5K run, 3K walk, silent auction, and ice cream and food social to raise money for The Fallen Heroes Children's Education Fund through Tribute to the Troops. While the event is free of charge, the registration fee for the races is $20/person through May 10 and $25/person thereafter, including the day-of. Military members are $15/person and children 10 and under are free. T-shirts are also available for purchase. Register at scoopsfortroops.net/2017-5k-3k-social. The Shepard’s Foundation is a non-profit that began in the home of a long-time Arden Hills family and has strong connections in Ukraine. Over the past 30 years, the organization has partnered with Ukrainian organizations in the city of Zolonotosha to do a variety of community outreach work with the assistance of Bethel University students and other Arden Hills organizations. In 2006, a youth center was established in Zolotonosha called Camp Maximum. It was inspired by the American concept of summer camps, offering athletics, crafting, and faith-based programming for youth and adults. In the midst of the current humanitarian crisis, the Shepard’s Foundation is raising funds and providing direct support Unsure how to begin recycling? Ramsey County Recycling Guide now available! Each year, Ramsey County releases their updated Recycling Guide with details on how to properly dispose of many common materials. Plastic items with the numbers 1, 2 and 5, such as milk jugs, yogurt cups and shampoo bottles, can be recycled. However, large plastic items like laundry baskets, crates, or buckets and black plastic containers cannot be recycled. To access the Guide and learn more, visit cityofardenhills.org/1115/Recycling underneath the "Resources" column. For more information from Ramsey County, contact 651-633-EASY (3279) or RamseyRecycles.com. 5 to Ukrainian Refugee Families. Since the beginning of the 2022 conflict in Ukraine, the Shepard’s Foundation has been working with Camp Maximum staff to support refugees. Camp Maximum CEO Vitaliy Sobko has "built a system of vans and trucks in Ukraine that are going into the combat areas or as close as they can get, to evacuate [those in need]," says Shepard’s Foundation Chair of the Board Dr. Marshall Wade. The Foundation is raising support in the U.S. that is directly used to house, feed, and otherwise aid Ukrainian refugees. More information about the organization and how you can get involved can be found at shepherdsfoundation.org. Inside Around Arden Hills: St. Katherine Ukrainian Orthodox Church Spring Lake Park Lions donate to Arden Hills Upcoming 2022 Street Construction Projects Scoops for Troops is Back! Made in Arden Hills: Siam Thai Arden Hills, MN . 55112-5734 Siam Thai is a new locally-owned restaurant located in Arden Plaza at 3547 Lexington Avenue North. They offer a range of specialty Thai dishes, including Paneng Curry, Pepper Steak, and Sesame Chicken, among others. What are three menu items that reflect the heart of the restaurant? Although the Pad Thai, Drunken Noodles, and Curry dishes are our top three sellers, we feel our hearts are reflected by our more authentic soups such as the Khoa Poon, Tom Yum, and the Pho Noodle soup. When did you open? Our very first day of opening was Monday, January 10th. Surprisingly, we were able to open quickly- in a month's time! Although our very first customer appeared to have a bad day and gave us a 1-star rating, we’re confident it wasn't because of our delicious food. Since then we've had almost all excellent reviews with a consistent 4.9+ star rating and great community feedback overall! What inspired you to open? Don, our owner, has a passion to share quality, authentic Thai dishes. Since the late 1990’s, he has been traveling to Thailand to train at intensive culinary camps in the mountains. Sharing authentic Thai recipes and traditional cooking practices is important to us. What are three important things to know about Siam Thai? 1.Our name originates from the former name the country of Thailand: Siam. Siam Thai means the "Kingdom of Thailand,” which honors the cultural background of the food we serve as well as Thailand’s own history. 2.The idea of opening came to us during the time of the Dragon Boat Festival last year, which is held on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar. Although our logo may look like a crown at first glance, if you take a closer look it's actually a boat modeled after the boats used in the festival. See the photo for the restaurant logo! 3.All of our dishes are made fresh and from scratch. Because of this, we've had tremendous success in such a short amount of time. We want to express our sincere appreciation of the community's support and want all to know that we plan to be here for a very long time! For more information and the full menu, visit Siam Thai’s website at www.siamthaimn.com. Pickup, take out, or dine-in your next meal!6