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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-1112 Nov-Dec24Volume 27, Issue 6 November/December 2024 MEET YOUR CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR & COUNCIL All candidates were requested to provide a 100 word statement to City Hall by October 1st. JAMIE BARTHEL 16535 Wintergreen St. NW MA Y O R - V O T E F O R O N E Second term council member: Vice Mayor, EDA Vice President, and QCTV Cable Commission Board Chair. Married for 18 years with three active children. My strengths have been listening, understanding the impacts, and making decisions that improve our community during my tenure. As Mayor, my focus will be the road project and its completion, strategic development of residential areas, investment in core city services, clean water, and low-density housing. I support Andover Fire, the Sheriff’s contract, improved pedestrian crossings, and business expansion. I have met with many residents to address their concerns and will continue to listen as your mayor. www.JamieBarthel.com. JOHN HEDGES 757 - 143rd Ave. NW We have been Andover residents since January 1999. Pam and I were married in 1981 and we have two sons, Alex (wife Katie), and Chase. We have two grandchildren in the Andover Public School system, Hudson and Lillie. I am running to give Andover residents a chance for true transparency, a chance to be heard on what they want Andover to look like, and the continued safety for our residents. As a successful businessman with national and international experiences, I look forward to bringing that knowledge to the Mayors position. Learn more about me at www.Hedges4Mayor.com. Happily married for 26 years with two grown daughters raised in Andover. As a member of the city’s Economic Development Authority, I am running to bring disciplined, transparent, and driven leadership to the City Council. The Council must encourage private investment, expand the tax base, reduce property taxes, and support public safety. Police, fire and EMT are required to keep our community safe. A community that is not safe will not flourish. Progress for all work must be measured in years and not decades. I am looking forward to the opportunity to serve the needs of the residents of Andover. GREG MUELLER 14035 Palm St. NW JEFF SIMS 16526 Sycamore St. NW My wife and I moved to Andover in 2006 along with our two children. We have been pleased with the schools and the safety of Andover as well as its small-town feel. I served for four years as a Planning and Zoning commissioner from 2015 through 2019. I have 30+ years of strategic planning from my career in finance and IT. I intend to use my experience from Planning and Zoning along with my strategic planning skills to create a more proactive approach to solving current issues and future planning for Andover. Find more details at www.simsforandover.com. JONATHAN SHAFTO 15961 Vintage St. NW A proven leader and CPA with over 15+ years of finance experience. Married 16 years with 3 children. I was drawn to Andover for its unique blend of rural and urban life, parks, nature preserves, and other amenities. I serve on the Andover Planning & Zoning Commission and am the President of the Andover Athletic Association. I strongly support the Sheriff’s contract and the Andover Fire Department. With your support, I will prioritize fiscal responsibility, road/trail/park improvements, safer pedestrian crossings, and preserving Andover’s unique appeal. I value your ideas. Reach me at ShaftoForAndover@gmail.com or learn more at www.ShaftoForAndover.com. ANDOVER TODAY NEWSLETTER GENERAL ELECTION CI T Y C O U N C I L C A N D I D A T E S - V O T E F O R T W O SCOTT SCHUE 13876 Evergreen St. NW Since 2000, Andover has been our home, and I want others to enjoy the benefits of our wonderful community. I’m happily married for 35 years and raised our 4 children here. I have public/private sector leadership experience having served in various leadership positions in the Army & Air Force, including multiple combat deployments to the Middle East. I was a corporate executive, owned my own business, and started a veteran owned consulting company. I will bring a fresh perspective to the council. I will advocate for fiscal restraint, prioritizing public safety, sensible infrastructure, economic development, and natural resource conservation. ANDOVER CITY OFFICIALS MAYOR Sheri Bukkila .................(763) 757-4808 cm.bukkila@andovermn.gov 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 ...............(763) 755-5100 Fax Number ...................(763) 755-8923 1685 Crosstown Boulevard NW COMMUNITY CENTER Main Phone: (763) 755-3238 Email: accinfo@andovermn.gov POLICE & FIRE All Emergencies....911 Police....(763) 427-1212 Fire....(763) 755-9825 COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORT RICK ENGELHARDT Page 2 AndoverToday CITY OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY, NOVEMBER 11TH THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28TH FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29TH WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25TH Ever Vigilant What’s summer in Minnesota without some sort of weather event, which got a little more serious this past month as a tornado made its way through part of the City. Fortunately, there was no loss of life. City resources were quickly mobilized and spread throughout all areas of the City in conjunction with the County. Resources were quickly identified, and fortunately damage and injuries were limited. Every year throughout the country there are several efforts for preparedness and emergency readiness. Simple tips such as having food, water and emergency supplies in a designated area of your house. Contact lists and action plans are part of summer storm awareness and winter emergencies. Visit the Minnesota Department of Public Safety webpage for helpful tips and information www.dps.mn.gov/divisions/hsem/ emergency-preparedness/Pages/personal-preparedness.aspx Community Additions There has been quite a buzz around the activities at Clocktower Commons located at Hanson Blvd. and Crosstown Blvd. The start of construction is two new businesses, Starbucks Coffee Shop and Chipotle Restaurant. The efforts to bring in new businesses, specifically dining options, has always been a question I am asked. The Community Development team and advisory committees worked diligently to find what appear to be a couple of well-desired occupants, which found a fit in our City. Roads and Bridges 2025 will bring many changes to how we get around the City with the addition of at least two roundabouts located at Crosstown Blvd. and Nightingale St. as well as Nightingale St. and Veterans Memorial Blvd. From 2020-2024, 48.4 miles of roads have been either fully reconstructed, full depth reclamation or mill & overlay. If plans move forward as the City Council proposes 96.7 miles of road work will be completed in the next 8 years (2025-2032). SOLICITORS Solicitors, peddlers, transient merchants and food trucks are required to carry a permit approved by the City. If someone approaches you at your home or if someone is selling at a location (parking lot, street corner), you can ask if they have a permit from the City. If they do not, call the non-emergency police number at (763) 427-1212 to report them. Each approved solicitor is issued a City badge with the following information on the badge: license number, expiration date, company they are representing and their name. A current list of licensed solicitors is located on the City’s website at www. andovermn.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3423/Licensed-Solicitor-List. HOMESTEAD FILING New homeowners are reminded that December 15, 2024 is the deadline to file for Homestead Classification. You can file at the Anoka County Government Center. A copy of the deed and Certificate of Real Estate Value is needed to file. If you have any questions, contact Anoka County at (763) 323-5400. Many law enforcement agencies throughout the country have been made aware of a trending scam called “brushing.” Brushing is when an individual receives an unexpected package delivery that contains the recipient’s address but does not include the sender’s information or appears to be from a known retailer. When opened, the package will include an item and a QR code to scan to “find out who sent the gift.” Once the QR code is scanned by a phone, the scammer will have access to all the data on that device. This includes all personal and financial information, which leads to banking accounts being drained and private information being obtained. It is important that if you receive any packages that appear to match this description, immediately discard any QR code documents and NEVER scan anything with your phone that you do not know and trust. Brushing scams are just one of the thousands of scams honest people fall victim to every year. In addition to staying alert to avoid becoming a victim of a brushing scam, keep the following tips in mind to hopefully avoid other scams as well. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the best ways to avoid being a victim of a scam are: 1. Block unwanted calls and text messages. 2. Don’t give your personal information or financial information in response to a request that you didn’t expect. 3. Resist the pressure to act immediately. 4. Know how scammers tell you to pay [gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer service, payment app, etc.] 5. Before you do anything, stop, and talk to someone you trust. For more information about how to avoid a scam, go to: consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam 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. AndoverToday Page 3 SHERIFF'S REPORT COMMISSION VACANCIES Planning & Zoning Commission - The City is seeking individuals to serve 3-year terms on the Planning & Zoning Commission. The Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council and reviews matters concerning City planning and development issues. The Planning & Zoning Commission meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month in the evening. For more information, please contact Joe Janish, Community Development Director at (763) 767-5140. Nature Preserve Commission - The City is seeking individuals to serve 3-year terms on the Nature Preserve Commission. The Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council and reviews matters concerning preservation of “open space” issues. Commission members are compensated and meetings are held on the second Wednesday of selected months in the evenings. For more information, please contact Kameron Kytonen, Natural Resources Technician at (763) 767-5137. Park & Recreation Commission - The City is seeking individuals to serve 3-year terms on the Park & Recreation Commission. The Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the City Council and reviews matters concerning park and recreation programs, park dedication requirements for new developments and proposed new park construction projects. Individuals seeking to fill the vacancies must have interest in public policies, willingness to learn, problem solving and communication skills and be able to contribute to positive decision making. The Commission members are compensated and meetings are held the first and third Thursday of each month in the evenings. For more information, please contact Jason Baumunk, Parks & Streets Operations Manager at (763) 767-5178. Individuals seeking to fill the vacancies must have interest in public policies, willingness to learn, problem solving and communication skills and be able to contribute to positive decision making. Commission members are compensated. Advisory Commission applications may be obtained at City Hall or on the City website at www.andovermn.gov. Deadline is 4:30 p.m., Friday, December 13, 2024. Applicants will be interviewed by the City Council in January. APPLY NOW! Sheriff Brad Wise • Anoka County Sheriff’s Office • 13301 Hanson Blvd. NW • Andover, MN 55304 • (763) 324-5000 Page 4 AndoverToday HOLIDAY RECYCLING As the holiday season quickly approaches, some of our frequently asked questions regarding recycling are answered as follows: HOLIDAY WREATHS AND TREES: Can be brought to the Anoka County Compost Site, please call (763) 324-3400 for details. HOLIDAY LIGHT STRINGS: Drop them off at Andover City Hall (1685 Crosstown Blvd. NW) Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Accepted year-round for recycling. GIFT WRAP AND CARDS: Can be recycled, however anything that has glitter, foil, ribbon or bows degrades the value of the paper and cannot be recycled. CARDBOARD BOXES: Remove all packing materials and recycle at the Andover Recycling Center. ELECTRONICS: Are in a special recycling category. Anything that has a cord or lithium battery should not be placed in the recycle bin and needs to go to a center that processes e-waste. The City of Andover offers monthly recycling events for the disposal of electronics and other items, for varying fees. OLD PLASTIC TOYS, LAUNDRY BASKETS, PLASTIC STORAGE TOTES/TUBS AND OTHER BULKY PLASTICS: Are not recyclable, place them in your garbage can. As you move your clocks back an hour, don't forget to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and other home safety devices. Having a working smoke detector can mean the difference between life and death. On Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 2:00 a.m. clocks are turned backward one hour to Sunday, November 3, 2024, 1:00 a.m. local standard time. Saturday, November 16, 2024 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Andover City Hall - 1685 Crosstown Blvd. N.W. Puzzles must be complete and in good condition. Drop off puzzles between November 6th - 15th at Andover City Hall Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Questions call (763) 767-5114. AndoverToday Page 5 15200 Hanson Blvd. NW, Andover, MN 55304 www.AndoverMN.Gov/ACC eMAIL: ACCINFO@ANDOVERMN.GOV (763) 755-3238 Monthly activity calendars provide specific dates, times and fees of ACC activities. These activities are open to the public, no pre-registration required. Calendars available on the website. Cash, credit, ACC Punch Cards and Free Andover Resident Passes accepted for activity admission fees. ADULT HOCKEY - 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. Graphite paddle rental available $3 ea. Lessons and Skills & Drills info on website. TOT TIME OPEN GYM - Tot-Time is 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 meets most Mondays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Admission is $5 per child. See monthly calendars for specific activity dates. Tot Time does not meet on days district #11 is not in session. VOLLEYBALL - Volleyball is for participants who are 14 years of age or older. WALKING TRACK - 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 - Activities 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. PROGRAMS & LESSONSACTIVITIES INDOOR SOCCER PROGRAM The Winter Indoor Soccer Program will be held Saturday mornings, January 11th – March 1st (7 weeks) $95 per player. This recreational program is for youth ages 4 – 9 and focuses on individual skill development and having fun. Players will be organized into age-appropriate teams with each player receiving a team t-shirt and an award. Teams will practice skills for the first 30 minutes then scrimmage against another team for the remaining 30 minutes of the program. This program is a great start for beginners and fun for those who have already played organized soccer. INTRODUCTION TO ICE SKATING - AGES 3 - 5 Introduces the sport of ice skating to youth ages 3 - 5 who have little to no skating experience. Classes held Sunday evenings, 30 minutes in length and features age appropriate, off and on-ice activities. Program meets for 3-weeks, and cost is $54 per skater. Winter Session I begins January 5th and Session II begins January 26th. ICE SKATING LESSONS - AGES 3 - 15 Winter Lessons for youth ages 3 - 15 will be held Sunday evenings, January 5th - February 9th (6 sessions) $94 per skater. Lessons include 30 minutes of instruction and 30 minutes of optional on-ice practice. Page 6 AndoverToday SNOWPLOW OPERATIONS – The City of Andover follows the Snow Removal and Ice Control Policy as closely as possible. This policy can be found on the City of Andover website www.andovermn.gov Snow accumulations of 2” or more will warrant full snowplowing operations. This includes all streets, cul-de-sacs and trails. There are times when plows will be sent out for snow falls less than 2” if there is a potential of drifting or icing that could create hazardous driving conditions. Commencement of Snow and Ice operations will normally start as close to the end of the snow event when possible. Typically, this is in the early morning hours when traffic is at a minimum. At times, main heavily traveled streets will be plowed daytime hours during the storm to keep them passable with a full plow to follow overnight. For the safety of everyone, we do not typically plow between 5:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. due to the heavy traffic on the roadways. This also allows us to utilize limited staffing most efficiently to ensure we have enough drivers to do a full plow in a timely, safe manner. MAILBOX REQUIREMENTS - The base of the box should be 48-50” above street level. The post should be 20” back from the curb. The face of the mailbox should line up with the curb. The snowplow wing needs the 48” height clearance to avoid hitting the box and the 20” from the curb to clear the post. The City does NOT assume liability for mailboxes damaged during plowing operations, unless it is determined the plow made direct contact with a mailbox that is properly installed using the standard 4 x 4 post and metal box requirements. Decorative mailboxes are not within the requirements and will not be replaced if damaged. The mailbox should be secured to the base and post and the post securely in the ground, no rotting wood. There should not be any plastic newspaper tubes or attachments to the mailbox below the 44” minimum height requirement. (See mailbox placement diagram on the City website at www. andovermn.gov). TRAILS are plowed during the regular scheduled working shift except for trails within a 2-mile radius of a school. These trails are plowed as soon as possible during regular plowing operations. CUL-DE-SACS are plowed by smaller snow removal vehicles. You may notice the large plow truck will clear one path while turning around in the cul-de-sac, but the smaller plows will clear the street curb to curb. Plow operators try to evenly distribute snow throughout the cul-de-sac, but limited space makes it difficult. Reminder to keep cul-de-sacs clear of all sports equipment such as hockey nets and basketball hoops. Plow operators cannot leave the vehicle to move objects left in the road. DO NOT plow, shovel or blow snow ONTO or ACROSS any public roadway. The Minnesota Department of Transportation reminds everyone it is against state law to deposit snow onto a public roadway. Dumping or plowing snow onto a roadway can create a slippery area, frozen rut or bump, which has the potential to contribute to a motor vehicle or pedestrian accident. MN Statue 160.27 and many local ordinances prohibit the plowing, blowing, shoveling, or otherwise placing of snow from sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots onto public roadways. The public is cautioned that violations are misdemeanors and civil liability can extend to both the property owner and the person/company who placed the snow improperly. GARBAGE CANS/recycle bins should be placed approximately 2 feet behind the curb IN the driveway. Plow operators cannot leave the vehicle to move objects left in the road. SPRINKLER SYSTEMS placed in the curb right-of-way are not the responsibility of the City if damaged during snowplowing operations. NO PARKING on any City street after 2 inches or more snowfall until the streets have been plowed curb to curb. The City of Andover observes a parking ordinance during the winter months, which is NO PARKING on any City street between the hours of 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. from November 1st to April 15th. Cars parked or left unattended in a City street during plowing operations will be tagged and towed. CITY PARK parking lots that are NOT required to stay open during winter months and most will not be plowed. STAKING CURBS FOR SNOWPLOWING – During the first couple snowfalls it can be very difficult for the plow drivers to determine where the edge of the road is. Placing wooden stakes along the edge of the curb helps guide the plow operator to establish where the edge of the street is. Stakes should be wood with the top 4 inches painted orange. (NO STEEL POSTS) Place stakes no more than 6 inches behind the curb, approximately 25 feet apart. The City is not responsible for damage to items placed in the right-of-way including, but not limited to, sod, landscaping, irrigation systems and other such items. The right-of-way is there to place snow as it is plowed off the street. OUTDOOR ICE RINKS are cleared and maintained as quickly as possible after a snow event. Plowing streets and trails is our priority before we clear the outdoor rinks. During heavy snow, or multiple day events rinks will often remain closed. Please help us maintain them easier by not shoveling piles of snow against the boards. The piles freeze into place making it difficult to clear them in an efficient and timely manner. Check the City of Andover website for up-to-date information on the status of the ice rinks and warming houses. www.andovermn.gov WINTER REMINDERS FROM PUBLIC WORKS AndoverToday Page 7 • Monday, Tuesday & Thursday - (Andover Huskies Youth Hockey Association), 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. • Wednesday – 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. • Friday – 4:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. • Saturday – 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. • Sunday – 1:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. PARK LOCATION WARMING HOUSE HOCKEY RINK SKATING RINK Prairie Knoll 595 - 146th Lane X X X Crooked Lake School 2939 Bunker Lake Boulevard X X X Hawkridge 18001 Verdin Street X X X City Complex East/West 1885 Crosstown Boulevard X X X Nordeens 15535 Juniper Street X Hidden Creek North 2620 Bunker Lake Boulevard X SLIDING HILL Andover Station North 1823 - 139th Lane Lighted Prairie Knoll 595 - 146th Lane Lighted 2024-2025 ICE SKATING RINKS AND SLIDING HILLS Listed below are park ice rinks that will be maintained by the Public Works Parks Department throughout the skating season. Holidays and District #11 school breaks warming house hours are: Monday-Friday 1:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m. WARMING HOUSE HOURS OF OPERATION AND RINK ATTENDANTS CLEAN WATER STARTS AT HOME Do your dog doo duty; always pick up your dog’s waste and put it in the trash. Dog waste, like other animal waste, contains bacteria that can end up in our ponds, creeks and rivers when washed away with the rain. Dog waste also adds phosphorus pollution! In fact, Coon Creek and the Mississippi River are exceeding State bacteria standards. While large-scale practices like retention ponds help keep pollutants out of our waters, your help at home is also needed and helps keep taxes down by reducing pollution in the first place. Please do your dog doo duty. Future generations will thank you (so will your family and neighbors). Information provided by Coon Creek Watershed District. Page 8 AndoverToday ECRWSSRESIDENTAndover, MN 55304 POSTMASTER: TIME SENSITIVE MAIL 1685 Crosstown Blvd. N.W. Andover, MN 55304 DATED MATERIAL PRSRT STDU.S. PostagePAIDPermit No. 26 Anoka, MN Andover TodAyAndover TodAy Precinct #1 Hope Lutheran Church 16180 Round Lake Boulevard NW Precinct #2 Grace Lutheran Church 13655 Round 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 If you are unsure of where you vote, you can 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. 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. GENERAL ELECTION A General Election will be held in the City of Andover on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.