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Home My WebLink About2024-0304 March-April24Volume 27, Issue 2 March/April 2024 GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION IDENTIFIED WITHIN TWO ANDOVER NEIGHBORHOODS The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is investigating groundwater contamination identified within two neighborhoods in Andover, Minnesota. The Red Oaks and Eastbrook Terrace neighborhoods are being investigated for potential groundwater contamination impacting private drinking water wells. The primary contaminants of concern are 1,4-dioxane and Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). If you own a property that is within the MPCA investigation areas, you will receive a request letter in the mail from the MPCA to sample your private residential water supply well. Please review, sign and return the access request form from the letter to MPCA in the stamped envelope provided and an MPCA contractor will then contact you to coordinate the well sampling. The Red Oaks neighborhood currently includes a mitigation area and a monitoring area. The mitigation area has a significant number of properties with well impacts above health-based guidance values established by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Properties with well exceedances are being provided an alternative drinking water supply as an interim measure. The City of Andover is currently in the process of connecting the mitigation area to the municipal water supply, with construction set to begin in the spring of 2024. The MPCA will continue to sample selected wells in the Red Oaks neighborhood to evaluate the stability of the groundwater contamination and monitor concentrations in wells that were not previously above MDH’s health-based guidance values. For additional information regarding the Red Oaks investigation, please visit www.pca.state.mn.us/local-sites-and- projects/andover-red-oaks-neighborhood-groundwater-contamination The Eastbrook Terrace neighborhood investigation is ongoing and sampling will continue until the area of contamination is fully delineated. The MPCA is currently providing alternative drinking water to homes with well impacts above the MDH’s health-based guidance values. If the investigation area in Eastbrook Terrace expands, the MPCA will be reaching out to additional properties with a private well sampling request and will provide an alternative drinking water supply to properties where MPCA’s sampling results identify well impacts above the MDH’s health-based guidance values. For additional information regarding the Eastbrook Terrace investigation, please visit https://www.pca.state.mn.us/ local-sites-and-projects/andover-eastbrook-terrace-neighborhood-groundwater-contamination It is important to note that this does not impact the City’s municipal water system which meets all Minnesota Department of Health requirements. If you have any questions regarding either of these investigation areas, or the investigation in general, please reach out to the MPCA Project Manager, Drew Bahl, at drew.bahl@state.mn.us or (651) 757-2187. TREE GIVEAWAY The City will once again have some larger, bare root saplings available this spring. There are limited quantities available. An order form and details will be available in early March on the website under the link: TREE GIVEAWAY. Please note this is separate from the seedling giveaway at the Arbor Day Event, which is combined with the Spring Recycling Day, on Saturday, May 11th. Questions, contact Kameron, Natural Resources at (763) 767-5137. Page 2 AndoverToday Now that the largest Mill and Overlay project in Andover history has been completed last summer (17.1 miles) our focus turns to the 2024-2028 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Every year the City prepares a five year CIP which includes the annual Street Improvement/Reconstruction programs. It has been my goal to provide exemplary financial stewardship to our City, including setting yearly and capital budgets and monitoring funds for infrastructure street projects like these. I wrote my first Council Member article on Mill & Overlay projects three years ago and this time of year I’m frequently asked those same questions concerning our CIP. I will answer the top questions in brief. What is the purpose of a CIP? The purpose of a Capital Improvement Plan is to identify, prioritize and address our City’s infrastructure needs and equipment replacements/additions by planning and budgeting over a five year period. What is a CIP? A Capital Improvement Plan is a planning tool used to ensure that funding is both used and sourced appropriately for large City projects. Roads, bridges, parks and facilities are examples of these projects. What qualifies as a CIP? Projects that are over $5000 are given the Capital Improvement Plan designation. The Andover City Council will vote to approve or deny once this CIP is applied and that will advance Andover’s Strategic Plan. Where does CIP funding come from? Funding for the City of Andover’s Capital Improvement Plan projects comes from many different funding sources available to our City. Andover residents who want to learn more about how their tax dollars are being utilized should attend the City, School District and Anoka County Truth and Taxation meetings. Identified in the City’s 2024-2028 CIP for street reconstruction during the spring and summer of 2024 are in a variety of different locations this year. Located on the West side of Andover is Dehn’s 1st and 2nd Additions, the southern portion of Johnson’s Oakmount Terrace, the 7th Avenue Frontage Road, Andover West, Lund’s Round Lake Estates and Indian Meadow’s 3rd Addition neighborhoods. This project would include reclaiming the existing bituminous roadway, replacing existing bituminous curb and gutter (where exists) with concrete curb and gutter, minor storm sewer/ culvert repairs and paving with new bituminous surface. Both Meadows of Round Lake cul-de-sacs and Hills of Bunker Lake, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Addition neighborhoods would include Full Depth Reclamation. These projects would include reclaiming the existing bituminous roadway, minor concrete curb & gutter replacement and paving with new bituminous. The Bunker Lake Village neighborhood would be a Mill & Overlay project. The project would include reclaiming the existing bituminous roadway, paving with new bituminous, and replacing pedestrian curb ramps not meeting Americans with Disability Act (ADA) standards. The Bunker Lake Boulevard NW Service Road/ from Rose Street NW to Heather Street NW and Bunker Lake Boulevard NW Service Road/ Grouse Street NW from Jay Street NW to Station Parkway NW would be a Mill & Overlay project. The project would include milling off the top surface of the existing bituminous roadway, paving with new top layer of bituminous, limited curb and gutter repairs, storm sewer structure maintenance and pedestrian curb ramp improvements to meet ADA standards. Seventy-five percent (75%) of the total street related project costs would be funded by the City’s Road & Bridge funds. Our City’s Road & Bridge funding source comes from State Aid (gas tax), Grants (County, State, Federal, Met Council), Assessments and Tax Levy. Twenty-five (25%) of the total street related project costs would be assessed to the benefiting property fronting the street improvements as identified in the City’s Roadway Improvement/ Reconstruction Assessment Policy. This program maintains the integrity and value of our community’s road infrastructure. It is anticipated that Mill and Overlay projects will extend the life of a roadway another 15+ years while Full Depth Reclamation projects 30+ years before full reconstruction. Mill & Overlay and Full Depth Reconstruction are a cost-effective alternative to Total Reconstruction roadways. Refer to the following link for location and more information regarding the projects: https://www.andovermn.gov/148/Project- Updates. If you have any questions, contact David Berkowitz, Director of Public Works/City Engineer at (763) 767-5133 or Jason Law, Assistant City Engineer at (763) 767-5130. COUNCIL MEMBERS REPORT RANDY NELSON ANDOVER CITY OFFICIALS MAYOR Sheri Bukkila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(763) 757-4808 cm .bukkila@andovermn .gov POLICE & FIRE All Emergencies . . . .911 Police . . . .(763) 427-1212 Fire . . . .(763) 755-9825 COUNCIL MEMBERS Jamie Barthel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(612) 669-7512 cm .barthel@andovermn .gov Ted Butler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(763) 712-0277 cm .butler@andovermn .gov Rick Engelhardt . . . . . . . . . . . . (612) 889-8097 cm .engelhardt@andovermn .gov Randy Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(763) 862-8878 cm .nelson@andovermn .gov CITY HALL 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW Phone: (763) 755-5100 Fax: (763) 755-8923 COMMUNITY CENTER Main Phone: (763) 755-3238 Email: accinfo@andovermn .gov 2024 STREET RECONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ANOKA COUNTY SHERIFF’S REPORT Anoka County Sheriff’s Office • 13301 Hanson Blvd. NW • Andover, MN 55304 COMMUNITY GARDEN UPDATE By the time you receive this newsletter, more than half of the plots will most likely have been sold for the upcoming season. On March 25th, we will be offering to our current Andover residents that have a garden plot this year a chance to purchase 1 or 2 additional plots (no more than 2). The fee for each plot is $50. Plots will be ready for planting May 6th. weather permitting. If you have questions about the Community Garden Plot, feel free to stop by City Hall or contact us at (763) 755-5100. AndoverToday Page 3 Online scams continue to victimize members of our community participating in innocent activities such as selling items, interviewing for jobs, etc. Below are some recent scams that have been reported to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office. Our hope is that by sharing examples, you will be better prepared to spot potential scams that may come your way. BUYING/SELLING SCAMS A victim was planning to purchase a $95 chair off Facebook Marketplace that was to be delivered. After paying for the item, no delivery was made, which resulted in the victim searching the provided address for the company claiming to sell the item. Their search showed that the business address was for a storage facility and not the business. Individuals selling items can also become victims. For example, an individual sold a chair on Craigslist for $950. Another person agreed to purchase the chair and mailed a check for $2,950. The buyer instructed the seller to deposit the check in her account and then go to Forest Lake where he would give her more instructions on what to do. Thankfully, this person did not do this and called law enforcement for advice first. What likely would have happened is that the person would have been told to send the $2,000 difference to the scammer. Shortly after, the original check would not clear the bank and the victim would be out the $2,000 of their own money. EMPLOYMENT SCAMS A victim had received a text from a company telling him they liked his resume and wanted to interview him for a position. An interview was set up later in the day and conducted via Microsoft Teams and was a text only interview with no phone call or video. A few days later, the victim received a check for $2,100 and told it was for equipment purchases. The scammers instructed him to deposit the check and purchase Apple and Visa gift cards with the money, take pictures of the cards and receipts, and email them back to the scammer. After completing this task, the scammers then sent a $1,500 check claiming it to be for software purchases. They once again instructed the victim to make the deposit, purchase gift cards and email pictures of the card and receipts back to them. The scammers then asked him to provide his social security number. The victim discovered the proposed company is not real and the two checks he received would not clear his bank, resulting in him losing $3,600 of his own money. FALSE WARRANT SCAMS Law enforcement will never contact you and ask for payments of fines over the phone. Recently, a victim received a call from two different individuals claiming to be ACSO deputies. They told him he failed to show up for jury duty, and now has a warrant out for his arrest. Additionally, they told him he could “settle” his warrant by paying a fine over the phone. Remember, if something ever sounds suspicious on a call from someone claiming to be from law enforcement, you can always hang up, call the official number of the law enforcement agency and request to speak with a licensed peace officer for confirmation. Sadly, these are not the only types of scams that people fall victim to. Always stay vigilant when you are online or receive a phone call from someone you do not know. If something feels wrong or doesn’t make sense, end the communication. If you are concerned about possibly being a victim of a scam, or have questions about a suspicious communication you received, please contact non-emergency dispatch at (763) 427-1212 and ask to speak to a deputy. We are always available to offer guidance to protect you and your resources from scammers. CALL BEFORE YOU DIG! Contact Gopher State One Call (GSOC) before starting any excavation project. Whether the project is large or small, if you are using machine-powered equipment or just a shovel and rake to plant a garden, get your work area marked. Contacting GSOC in advance helps you and your loved ones dig safely while avoiding costly damages to underground facilities. For more information about types of tickets and ticket response codes, please visit the ticketing page at www.gopherstateonecall.org/ticketing. The City of Andover and the YMCA collaborated in 2005 to provide the community the Andover YMCA Community Center. The City of Andover operates the indoor ice arena, sports complex and the fieldhouse, which requires no membership. The YMCA leases a portion of the building providing members use of the aquatics and fitness center. Listed below are Andover Community Center activities and programs. Visit www.AndoverMN.Gov/ACC for more information. ADULT HOCKEY Weekday Adult Open Hockey 16+. Gloves and helmets are required. Goalies skate FREE. BASKETBALL All ages shoot hoops. No full court games, team practices or training equipment allowed. ½ court games allowed if space allows. OPEN SKATE All ages welcome. Skate rental available for $4 per pair, sizes available youth 8 – adult 13. Skate sharpening available $6 per pair. PICKLEBALL Drop-in open pickleball times include weekday, evening and weekend hours. Final Instructional lessons and Skills & Drills programs will be offered in March. Programs will resume this Fall. Visit website for details. TOT TIME OPEN GYM A non-structured indoor playtime for youth ages 6 & under. No need to pre-register, attend when it works for you! Meet new friends, socialize, and let the kids play with age appropriate toys and sports equipment. Tot Time is held most Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30 am - 11:30 am in the Andover Community Center Field House, Court #4. The cost is $5 per child. Tot Time will end April 29th and will resume in October. VOLLEYBALL Volleyball is for participants who are 14 years of age or older. WALKING TRACK The indoor walking/jogging track is open daily from 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Admission is free for Andover residents, however, those utilizing the track between the hours of 6:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday must check in at the information desk to show proof of residency. Create your household account at www.AndoverMN.Gov/ACC for easy check-in. Individuals using the track evenings and weekends are not required to check-in. Non-resident admission fees are $2 per person, Monday – Friday, 6:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. ACTIVE OLDER ADULTS - FOREVERWELL A number of activities are available for active older adults to participate in while at the Andover YMCA Community Center. The Foreverwell Newsletter link can be found on the Community Center’s website under Older Adult Activities or contact Rewa at the Andover YMCA (612) 465-0515. You do not need to be a member of the YMCA to participate in many of these activities. GROUP EVENTS, PARTY PACKAGES & FIELD TRIPS The Andover Community Center is a great place to host your next group event, field trip, birthday party or bridal/baby showers. ACTIVITIES Monthly activity calendars provide specific dates and times of ACC activities listed below. These activities are open to the public, no pre-registration required. Admission is $7 per person. Calendars available on the website. Cash, credit, ACC Punch Cards and Free Andover Resident Passes accepted for activity admission fees. Page 4 AndoverToday The City of Andover has an Adopt-A-City Street Program which allows residents/groups to adopt and clean up a two-mile stretch of road on one of our City Streets. Cleanup involves a two-year commitment, and cleanup is done twice a year, spring and fall. A sign will be placed on the street with your name or group name of who is responsible for cleaning that street. If you are interested in adopting one of the available streets, please contact the Public Works Administrative Assistant at (763) 767-5175 or d.lenzmeier@andovermn.gov. Thank you for helping us keep the City of Andover looking great! ADOPT-A-STREET PROGRAM The City of Andover has an Adopt-A-Park Program which allows individuals or community groups to adopt a park and keep it litter free for a two or four-year commitment. A sign will be placed in the park recognizing your contribution to the park system. If you are interested in adopting one of the available parks, please contact the Public Works Administrative Assistant at (763) 767-5175 or d.lenzmeier@ andovermn.gov. ANDOVER SPRING RECYCLING DAY & ARBOR DAY EVENT* SATURDAY, MAY 11th 9:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. AndoverToday Page 5 ADOPT-A-PARK PROGRAM CELEBRATE EARTH DAY • Clean up a neighborhood, park, street or plant something between April 10th - May 12th. • Submit pictures and description to: s.morgan@andovermn.gov • Participants will be entered into a drawing to win an outdoor bench made of recycled plastic! Open to Andover Residents Only! Cash or make checks to: City of Andover • APPLIANCES: Most - $10 each • ELECTRONICS: Charge is determined by item/size • FLUORESCENT LAMPS: First 5 free per household for Andover residents • MATTRESSES & BOX SPRINGS - Dry and not moldy. $25 each For a complete list of items accepted and their charges, please visit www.andovermn.gov Cash or make checks to: First State Tire • TIRES: Price depends on size Materials that are FREE: • BATTERIES: ONLY Lead acid car, boat and motorcycle rechargeable batteries - The Knights of Columbus collect these batteries • BICYCLES: Any condition. They are repaired and given away • DOCUMENT SHREDDING • PROPANE TANKS • SCRAP METAL: All metals must be free from other materials • USED EYE GLASSES: The Andover Lions collects these items. Do not bring Household Hazardous Waste. Contact Anoka County HHW Facility at (763) 324-3400. We can NOT accept any furniture. Call (763) 767-5114 with Recycling questions *ARBOR DAY EVENT DETAILS WILL BE PROVIDED IN THE MAY/JUNE ISSUE OF THE ANDOVER TODAY Page 6 AndoverToday REMINDERS FROM PUBLIC WORKS Snowplowing – This winter has seen little plowable snow, but conditions have created multiple opportunities for freezing rain, frost, and multiple days of potential icy conditions. City of Andover uses best management practices for responsible salt usage while attempting to maintain safe travel conditions on our roadways. Often you will see city staff using anti- icing tactics prior to a weather event. Anti-icing can provide significant cost, safety and environmental benefits. By applying chemical materials (salt) that lower the freezing point before an event, you can prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement, optimizing chemical usage. This is often done as a salt brine that is sprayed directly onto the pavement prior to a weather event when conditions are right. Another way we accomplish this is applying a small amount of granular rock salt to the roadway ahead of freezing rain or when the wet roadways are expected to freeze. Weather is unpredictable, but we attempt to use the data we have to take the best possible proactive approach to safely and responsibly maintain over 200 miles of Andover roadways. When we do have to plow snow, snowplowing operations will start as close to the end of the snow event as possible. Most plowing operations start between midnight and 4:00 a.m. due to reduced traffic on the roadways. This makes operations much safer and allows crews to clear the streets as effectively and quickly as possible. During periods of heavy snow during the day, attempts are made to plow main routes to keep them open, then return overnight to do a full plow. Parking On Streets – Ordinance No. 218 – It shall be unlawful for any person to park on any City street or right- of-way or on the traveled portion of the road or to obstruct the flow of traffic, unless for an emergency between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., November 1st to April 15th, except as provided by this ordinance. It is also unlawful to park on any City street after a 2 inch or more snowfall until such time the snow has been plowed from said street. Please refrain from parking on the street until plowing is finished. Plows frequently need to make multiple passes to clear a street, and we often see cars pulled out of the driveway and parked on the street after the first pass, creating a safety issue. What do I do if my mailbox gets hit by the plow? Care is taken to not damage mailboxes while plowing, but it does happen occasionally. If your mailbox is hit by the plow, please contact Public Works Street Department at 763-755- 5100 and someone will contact you to follow up with your situation as soon as possible. Winter Pothole Patching – Crews do repair the larger potholes with a Cold Mix Asphalt through the winter months. This works good in the deeper, damage causing potholes but not the shallower nuisance type potholes so not all potholes can be filled in the winter. To report a pothole, please use the Submit a Request tab from the City of Andover’s Website www. andpvermn.gov, or call Public Works at (763) 755-5100. Street Sweeping – Spring street sweeping will start as soon as weather and temperatures allow. Temperatures need to be consistently above freezing and curb-lines thaw out before we start sweeping for the year. SIGN UP TO ADOPT A STORM DRAIN! Keep your neighborhood clean and protect local waterways. Sign up today! Sign up at www.mn.adopt- a-drain.org which includes a map of adoptable drains in your neighborhood. Help the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organization (LRRWMO) achieve clean lakes & rivers. The LRRWMO is a special purpose unit of government made up of three Cities: Andover, Anoka and Ramsey. Its purpose is to manage the area’s waters, partciluarly those that flow across City boundaries. Now is the time to mark your calendars to celebrate our great community at our 29th Annual Andover Family Fun Fest (AFFF)! Our committee is already working on another weekend full of great food, music, and activities for the whole family to enjoy. As a committee of all volunteers, we are in need of 5-10 more volunteers to help to ensure we are able to include all events in this year’s AFFF. We’re dedicated to providing the community with a great weekend, but we need your help! If interested, please message us on our Facebook page or email us at: AFFFcoordinator@outlook.com. SAVE THE DATE: July 12th & 13th Andover Family Fun Fest Lauren Bertilson, AFFF Committee Member AndoverToday Page 7 A Presidential Nomination Primary Election will be held in the City of Andover on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. WHAT IS THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION PRIMARY ELECTION? • Legislation was passed in 2016 to establish a presidential nomination primary to award delegates as part of each major political party’s presidential nomination process. • Only major political parties are eligible to participate in the presidential primary. Each party will have a separate ballot, the voter must indicate which party’s ballot they wish to receive and sign an oath affirming “I am in general agreement with the principles of the party for whose candidate I intend to vote.” • Your party selection is considered private data. However, each voter’s party selection is recorded and shared with the chairs of each major political party. • More information on the presidential nomination primary is available on the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos. state.mn.us ANDOVER POLLING LOCATIONS The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Precinct #1 Hope Lutheran Church 16180 Round Lake Boulevard NW Precinct #2* Riverdale Assembly of God Church 3210 Bunker Lake Boulevard NW Precinct #3 Riverdale Assembly of God Church 3210 Bunker Lake Boulevard NW Precinct #4 Crooked Lake Elementary School 2939 Bunker Lake Boulevard NW Precinct #5 Andover Christian Church 16045 Nightingale Street NW Precinct #6 Transform Church 1657 - 161st Avenue NW Precinct #7 Andover Community Center 15200 Hanson Boulevard NW Precinct #8 Andover Community Center 15200 Hanson Boulevard NW Precinct #9 Bunker Hills Activity Center 550 Bunker Lake Boulevard NW Precinct #10 Andover Elementary School 14950 Hanson Boulevard NW * NOTE: PRECINCT #2 HAS CHANGED LOCATION FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION PRIMARY ONLY. WHERE SHOULD YOU VOTE? Access the Secretary of State’s website at www.sos.state.mn.us to find your correct polling place or call City Hall at (763) 755-5100. For more information about elections, go to the City’s website or www. anokacounty.us/elections WHAT IF I’VE NEVER VOTED IN ANDOVER OR IF I’VE MOVED? If you have not voted in Andover or have moved, you must first register before voting. A valid driver’s license with your new address will allow you to register and vote. Please take care of this before Election Day. Minnesota State Law requires you to update your license within 30 days of moving. PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION PRIMARY ELECTION ANIMAL CONTROL No person shall own, keep, harbor or have custody of any dog over six (6) months of age without first obtaining a city dog license, (City Code 5-1A-2). Licenses are issued upon presentation of a current rabies certificate and the license fee of $6 per year. Licenses are available at the front desk at City Hall. Dogs or cats may not run at large and must be under effective control (City Code 5-1A-6). Owners are required to clean up and dispose of their pet’s excrement (City Code 5-1A-1). It shall be considered a nuisance for any animal to habitually or frequently bark or cry (City Code 5-1A-1). ECRWSS RESIDENT Andover, MN 55304 POSTMASTER: TIME SENSITIVE MAIL 1685 Crosstown Blvd . N .W . Andover, MN 55304 DATED MATERIAL PRSRT STD U .S . PostagePAID Permit No . 26 Anoka, MN Andover TodAyAndover TodAy ANDOVER’S ANNUAL CITY WIDE GARAGE SALE May 9th - 11th (Thursday – Saturday) Sale hours: 9:00 a .m . – 5:00 p .m . Registration deadline is May 3rd. Maps will be available on the City’s website and at City Hall by May 8th . There is no cost to participate . Advertising will be on the City’s Website, Craigslist and other free sites . 2024 CITY WIDE GARAGE SALE REGISTRATION FORM Name: Address: Phone: Email address: Items for sale (list up to 5 items): Days of Sale: (Please circle all that apply) Thursday Friday Saturday Please return completed form to: City Hall, 1685 Crosstown Blvd, NW, Andover, MN 55304