SSP City News. what s happening in. What s Inside? An update of City News and Community Events

SOUTH ST. PAUL CITY HALL 125 3rd Avenue North South St. Paul, MN 55075 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (M-F) www.southstpaul.org CITY OF SOUTH ST. PAUL MAYOR Beth...
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SOUTH ST. PAUL CITY HALL 125 3rd Avenue North South St. Paul, MN 55075 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (M-F) www.southstpaul.org

CITY OF SOUTH ST. PAUL

MAYOR Beth A. Baumann

CITY HALL 651-554-3200

COUNCIL MEMBERS William Flatley, Lori Hansen, Dan Niederkorn, Todd Podgorski Marilyn Rothecker, Tom Seaberg

POLICE DEPARTMENT 911 OR 651.554.3300 FIRE DEPARTMENT 911 OR 651.554.3250

VOLUME 10, ISSUE 1

SSP City News JANUARY—MARCH 2016

what’s happening in

An update of City News and Community Events

What’s Inside? Page 2 & 3: City News Message from the Mayor—Opportunities to Give Back 300 Books Before Kindergarten Online Utility Bills Qualification for Reduced Water/Sewer Rates Prevention Tips for Freezing Pipes

Pages 4: City Development News Development Update

Page 5 & 6: Good Info to Know Winter Salt—How much is too much? Put your Emergency Contacts on ICE Carbon Monoxide Dangers Code Corner Q & A Landscaping for Clear Water Workshops

Pages 7: Recycling News Five ways to get organized and reduce waste The Recycling Zone

Page 8: City Council Upcoming Community Events Meeting Dates Contact Information

CITY NEWS

PAGE 2

Message from the Mayor—

Opportunities to Give Back As the winter drags on, you may be looking for things to do outside of your home. How about volunteering? There are many opportunities across our community to give of your time and talents. Here are a few ideas for you: ▪ City of South St. Paul Boards and Commissions. We have openings on our existing boards

▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

and commissions and are adding a new Economic Development Advisory Board. This board will give some citizens and business owners the opportunity to advise the new Economic Development Authority about attracting new business and other business activities; Police Reserves. The Police Reserves are some of our hardest working volunteers at Mayor Beth A. Baumann community celebrations and other events where crowd control is needed; Community Gardeners. If you’ve got a green thumb, adopt a City garden in your neighborhood and plant and maintain it through the seasons; Mayor’s Youth Task Force. The Task Force is looking for 5th – 12th grade students to volunteer to create and implement volunteer events for youth and the community; Read Across SSP. We are looking for readers the first Friday of the month during school at both elementary schools.

These are just a few volunteer ideas – there are many more opportunities to give back in South St. Paul. If you would like to volunteer, need more information about these opportunities, or have ideas about another volunteer activity you want to do, call the South St. Paul City Hall at 651-554-3200 or the Community Affairs Liaison, Deb Griffith at 651-554-3230, or visit the City’s website at www.southstpaul.org.

Volunteering is another way to make South St. Paul a great place to live, work and play!

300 Books Before Kindergarten South St. Paul Public Library is partnering with South St. Paul Special District 6 to introduce the program 300 Books Before Kindergarten to preschoolers at Kaposia Education Center and Lincoln Center. The program encourages parents and caregivers to read to their preschool children to instill a lifelong love of learning and to prepare them for academic success. Youth Services Librarian Amy Commers will be visiting preschool classes from January through May, presenting storytimes and highlighting one of five literacy practices each month. Each child in class will receive a tote bag with a copy of Rosemary Wells’ Read to Your Bunny, a reading record, various literacy materials, and a letter to parents. Materials will be in English and Spanish. In May, the library will host a family literacy event for all who participated in the program. In addition, tote bags will be provided to a nurse that screens children for school readiness at Neighbors, Inc. 300 Books Before Kindergarten, a project of Libraries Supporting World’s Best Workforce, was made possible in part by funding from the Minnesota Department of Education through a Library Services and Technology Act [LS-00-15-0024-15] grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

CITY NEWS

PAGE 3

UTILITY E-BILLS AND PAYMENTS Simple Online Enrollment

Pay your Utility Bill online beginning in February 2016

Starting in February 2016, the City of South St. Paul utility customers will be able to view and pay their utility bills online. Our new online bill presentment and payment solution will provide residents with the following benefits: ▪ No signup cost ▪ Access, view and pay your utility bill online, at your convenience. You will be able to sign up for e-bills, review and compare

previous bills.

▪ Options on how to pay your bill: You will be able to pay your bill by phone; pay online using an electronic check, ACH

debit; or credit/debit card.

▪ Options on when to pay your bill: You will be able to pay our bill immediately, schedule a payment or payment(s), or sign up

for Auto-pay.

▪ Your utility bill will be available 24/7 from anywhere you have access to the Internet.

The City wants to support the environment in every way possible. So we are asking residents to “Go Paperless” and receive and pay their bills online. Look for more information with your quarterly utility bill beginning in February 2016 and on the City’s website at www.southstpaul.org.

Do you qualify for reduced water and sewer rates? South St. Paul residents who qualify as elderly, blind, or disabled and who meet income qualifications may apply to the City for a reduced rate for metered water and sewer. The application for reduced rates can be found on the City’s website under Departments & Services/Finance/Water Utility Billing. The form is titled “Utility Billing Discount Form”. You can also contact the City at 651-554-3209 to have a form sent to you.

Prevention Tips for Freezing Pipes If you have not already done so, you may want to follow these easy and inexpensive steps to prevent your pipes and meters from freezing. ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪

Leave a cold tap running at a steady stream of about 1/3 inch* Do not turn your furnace below 55 F Shut off and drain the pipes leading to outside faucets Keep your basement warm enough to keep the meter and pipes from freezing Install storm windows or cover basement windows with weather insulation kits Wrap foam insulation around pipes most susceptible to freezing

If you plan to be away from your home for an extended period of time during the winter months make sure you take the necessary steps to winterize your home. Have someone check your home regularly. *PLEASE NOTE: Running water to keep your pipes from freezing will likely result in increased water usage and thus an increased water bill. The city is not responsible for frozen water lines, or for increased water usage as a result of running water. Questions regarding water service/repairs or assistance call the Public Works Department at 651-554-3225. For billing questions call 651-554-3200.

CITY DEVELOPMENT NEWS

PAGE 4

Development Update The landscape of Bridgepoint Business Park is changing with the addition of the following developments: ▪ Kwik Trip celebrated the opening of the 7,100 s.f. convenience store/gas station/car wash at 455 South Concord Street

with a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 17th. Speakers included the Kwik Trip owners and employees, Mayor Baumann, HRA Chairperson Joyce Grannis and Chamber of Commerce President Kelton Glewwe. Fifty employees work at the facility and residents have a brand new destination to bring them back to Concord Street.

▪ Bridgepoint Building #3 (108,000 s.f.) located at 201 Armour Avenue is officially complete. Developer Interstate

Partners has signed a lease with a 20,000 s.f. user and another 20,000 s.f. user is in the process of signing.

▪ Under construction is Schadegg Mechanical’s 60,000 s.f. office/warehouse facility at 150 Bridgepoint Drive. Schadegg

is an existing South St. Paul business that outgrew their current building. The company plans to occupy 30,000 s.f. and lease the remaining space. They anticipate hiring 10-12 additional employees.

▪ New to South St. Paul is Bonfe Plumbing, Heating and Air Service. The Bonfe site at 455 Hardman Avenue is being

surcharged for a 40,000 s.f. building. The company employs 78 with 30 in the office and the remainder in the field.

Kwik Trip 455 S. Concord St.

BridgePoint Building #3 201 Armour Ave.

GOOD INFO TO KNOW

PAGE 5

Winter Salt—How much is too much? Adding too much salt to an icy surface is a waste of money and can only increase damage to concrete, metal, drinking water, and vegetation. It is a good rule of thumb to use deicers sparingly. Deciding how much to use depends on the deicer. A successful rate for rock salt is about a handful per square yard. If using calcium chloride, the amount needed is less—about a handful for every three square yards. Here are some precautionary steps you can take to decrease the amount of deicer you’ll need. 1. Shovel the snow early and often. If the temperature drops after a snowstorm, the snow can turn icy and be harder to remove. 2. The more scraping and removal of ice that you can do, the less deicer you will need to use. Deicers work best on a thin layer of ice. 3. After you remove all of the snow and ice, sprinkle salt sparingly. 4. As the sun comes out or the temperature rises, the deicer will make a slushy mixture of water and ice. Remove this before the temperature drops again and you should have an ice-free surface until the next storm.

Put your Emergency Contacts on ICE! Add an ICE (“In Case of Emergency”) contact to your phone to help emergency personnel locate a friend or family member if you become unconscious or incapacitated. With school back in session, now is a good time to have your kids put emergency contact information on ICE. Three easy steps to ICE your phone: 1. Identify your “In Case of Emergency” (ICE) contact person. Choose someone who knows about any allergies or medical conditions that you may have, and who knows how to contact your family. Be sure to notify the person that they are your emergency contact. 2. Add an ICE contact to your address book. Open the address book or contacts section on your cell phone and create a new entry with the name “ICE”. Enter the contact information and be sure to include a note about their relationship to you. Consider listing more than one emergency contact in case the first person called is not immediately available. Prioritize the contacts by naming the entries “ICE 1”, “ICE 2”, etc. 3. Add an ICE app to a password-protected phone. If your phone is password protected, consider adding an app that adds emergency contact information to your lock screen. Search for “ICE” or “ICE lock screen” in your app store to find one for your phone. This abbreviated article is courtesy of Dakota County E-News. For the full article visit co.dakota.mn.us.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Dangers Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, tasteless, poisonous gas. CO is produced when fuels such as natural gas, wood, or charcoal do not burn effectively. CO levels can accumulate in the home from various sources, including furnaces, water heaters, gas boilers, gas ranges and ovens, or gas dryers. Fireplaces and wood stoves are also a possible source of CO inside the home. CO can enter in your home when fuel burning appliances are not vented properly or malfunction. This poisonous gas can migrate into the home from the garage if a car is left running, or a gas or charcoal grill is used inside the garage. Exposure to low level CO gas can cause flu-like symptoms – nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, general weakness, intense headaches and shortness of breath. Higher levels can result in unconsciousness or death. To protect you and your family, a UL-listed CO alarm should be installed within 10 feet of every area used for sleeping. Your CO alarm should be tested once a month and if required the battery replaced once a year. CO alarms should be replaced after seven (7) years or per manufactures recommendations. If a CO alarm sounds you should exit your home and call 911. If a CO alarm chirps the battery may be low or the alarm unit is out of date. Check the back or base of the detector for the manufactures instructions. If there is any doubt about the reason the alarm is sounding, err on the side of caution, exit the home and call 911. The fire department has monitors to measure CO gas levels and is available to assist you when needed.

GOOD INFO TO KNOW

PAGE 6

Code Corner Q & A Q. After a snowfall, how soon does the sidewalk need to be shoveled? A. For the safety of pedestrians removal of snow on a sidewalk should occur within 12 hours of its deposit. Q. Can I shovel the snow into the street? A. No, depositing snow into a public street or alley is not allowed. Q. Can I park my vehicle on my yard in the winter? A. Yes, but only from Nov. 15 to April 1. Up to three vehicles may be parked in the rear yard area as long as they are registered to the property owner or occupant. Q. Can I park my recreational vehicle on my yard? A. No, parking or storage of recreational vehicles, including campers, tent trailers, and motor homes must be on approved parking pads. Over sized recreational vehicles (over 23 feet in length, or over 9,000 lbs gross vehicle

property must be in good, operable condition and properly licensed.

weight) must be parked in a driveway or parking area constructed of asphalt or concrete, and not less than five feet from the property line. In addition, all vehicles must be registered in the name of the property owner or occupant.

Q. Can I store other materials in my off-street parking area? A. No, parking areas should be utilized for the parking of vehicles only.

Q. What about utility trailers? A. Parking or storage of two noncommercial utility trailers (under 20 feet in length and less than 9,000 lbs gross vehicle weight) is allowed in the rear area, as long as they are registered in the name of the property owner or occupant.

Q. Who do I contact if I have more questions? A. Contact the City Code Enforcement Office at 651-554-3216 or 651-5543220. Code information can also be found on the City website under Departments & Services/City Code Enforcement.

Q. Can I park my commercial vehicle in my residential neighborhood? A. No, parking or storage of commercial vehicles and/or trailers in a residential district is not allowed.

Q. If I am not driving my vehicle, does it have to be licensed? A. Yes, all vehicles and/or trailers that are parked or stored on your

We’re skipping winter and jumping to spring! Landscaping for Clean Water workshops in Dakota County start in February when the snow blower is broken and the plow dumps a foot of snow on the end of your driveway. Wouldn’t it be nice to skip winter and plan for spring – you can! Landscaping for Clean Water workshops will begin in February and will teach residents how to create their own rain garden, native plant garden or a garden to stabilize shoreland. Last year, over 300 homeowners attended Landscaping for Clean Water workshops. Register for a workshop and you can have plans for your spring project before the snow melts. Introductory workshops are free. Garden design courses, which will be offered one to three weeks after the initial workshop, cost $25. Preregistration is required. The design course helps you create a garden that’s perfect for your yard. The program will even help you install the garden, and if funds are available, may even help with the cost. For workshop dates, additional information or to register, visit www.dakotaswcd.org or call 651-480-7777. Last year, 44 raingardens and native shoreline gardens were planted. Each one benefits lakes, streams and wetlands, while adding a beautiful landscape feature to your yard.

RECYCLING NEWS

PAGE 7

Reduce & Recycle: A New Year’s resolution you can keep Each year, many of us resolve to lose weight, floss more, and better ourselves in some way. This year, why not resolve to be kinder and gentler to our planet? You may find it’s much easier (and more sustainable) than other resolutions you might make. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, paper, plastics, and organics are still the top three components of our garbage in Minnesota. Paper makes up a quarter of what goes in the trash, 18% are materials made of plastic, 31% is organics. Reducing and recycling means less waste in landfills and more resources to make new products. Five ways to get organized and reduce waste. Regain control of your surroundings and stuff by following these five easy and practical steps to reduce waste: 1. Stop unwanted advertising mail. RethinkRecycling.com tells you how to do it! 2. Buy in bulk to avoid excess packaging. For example, buy juice, snacks and other lunch items in bulk and use reusable containers to bring them to school or work. 3. Buy smaller quantities of perishable foods. It saves rotten tomatoes from the landfill and saves you money! 4. Shop with reusable bags beyond the grocery store. Remember to bring bags with you when you go to department and hardware stores, clothing retailers and everywhere else you shop! 5. Reduce waste by purchasing durable goods and reusing, repairing, sharing, and donating items instead of throwing them away. Top items to recycle consistently. How many of us have made a New Year's resolution only to realize we bit off more than we can chew? Keep your resolution simple to be successful by focusing on being better at recycling one or two more items. Once you’ve mastered those, challenge yourself to keep recycling more! Here in the South St. Paul, everyone gets curbside recycling, but some things are not always accepted for recycling by your hauler. Remember to recycle these items that all haulers take: ▪ Aluminum and metal food and beverage cans; ▪ Glass food and beverage bottles and jars; ▪ Paper (including magazines, newspapers, cardboard and cereal boxes); ▪ Plastic bottles and jugs (including milk and juice jugs, water and ketchup bottles) and containers (including yogurt and clear produce containers); ▪ Cartons (including milk cartons and juice boxes but not egg cartons). When you start with these standard items, it's easy to keep a New Year's recycling resolution. Remember to collect recyclables throughout your house; not just in the kitchen! Collect recyclables from the bathroom, laundry room and office as well. Keep yourself accountable by letting all your friends and family know your new goal. You might even be able to save money by downsizing your trash bin.

Household Recyclables, Electronics, Chemicals and Hazardous Waste Drop-off Hours Sunday-Tuesday: Closed Wednesday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday: noon-8 p.m. Friday: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Holidays: Closed From fluorescent light bulbs to plastic bags and cleaning supplies to lawnmowers, The Recycling Zone in Dakota County is your destination for proper disposal and recycling. For a full list of materials accepted, visit www.dakota.mn.us and search Recycling Zone or call 651-905-4520. Partially funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Dakota County Board of Commissioners

Upcoming Community Events

City Meeting Calendar

The calendar on the City’s website provides information on scheduled events in the community. Here is a sampling of events happening soon:

CITY COUNCIL City Council meets on the 1st and 3rd Monday of each month at 7:15 PM at City Hall. In the event of a holiday, the meeting is moved to Tuesday. Meeting dates are: Jan. 4 & 19, Feb. 1 & 16, and Mar. 7 & 21

Events held at Central Square Community Center: ▪ Fare for All Food Program—January 5, February 2, and March 1 from 4-6 PM

Mayor/Council Worksession meets on the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at City Hall. In the event of a holiday, the meeting is moved to Tuesday. Meeting dates are: Jan. 11 & 25, Feb. 8 & 22, and Mar. 14 & 28

BOARDS & COMMISSIONS

Events held at the Library: ▪ Finger Weave a Scarf—January 25, 6-8 PM ▪ Image Editing on the Cheap with Picasa, Flickr & More—February 22, 6-8 PM ▪ Meditation for Healthy Living— March 19, 10:30 AM—12 PM ▪ iPad Basics—March 28, 6-8 PM

Airport Advisory Commission meets at 6:00 PM at Fleming Field Airport on: Tuesday—Jan. 12 and Mar. 8 Central Square Advisory Board meets at 6:00 PM at Central Square Community Center on: Thursday—Jan. 14 and Mar. 17 Civil Service Commission meets at 10:00 AM at City Hall on: Monday—Jan. 4, Feb. 1, and Mar. 7 HRA Board meets at 5:00 PM at City Hall on: Tuesday, Jan. 12 Library Board meets at 7:00 PM at Library on: Monday—Jan. 11, Feb. 8, and Mar. 14 Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission meets at 6:00 PM at Central Square Community Center on: Tuesday—Jan. 12, Feb. 9, and Mar. 8 Planning Commission meets at 7:00 PM at City Hall on: Wednesday—Jan. 6, Feb. 10, and Mar. 2 SMFD Board of Directors meets at 4:30 PM at West St. Paul City Hall: Wednesday—Jan. 20, Feb. 17, and Mar. 16

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PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. Postage Paid So. St. Paul, MN PERMIT NO. 115

125 3RD AVENUE NORTH SOUTH ST. PAUL, MN 55075 South St. Paul: A great place to live, work and play. This newsletter is published quarterly and is mailed, one copy per residence, to all residential and postal customers in the City of South St. Paul. WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU If you have any comments, give us a call at (651) 554-3284. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS Beth A. Baumann, Mayor William Flatley Lori Hansen Dan Niederkorn Todd Podgorski Marilyn Rothecker Tom Seaberg

651-451-7588 651-554-3284 651-450-6729 651-459-2091 651-554-3284 651-451-6007 651-999-9784

CITY ADMINISTRATOR Stephen P. King

651-554-3202

POSTAL PATRON South St. Paul, MN 55075