Ramsey Resident - 1989 - January

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MEETING CALENDAR February 1989 February 1 Wednesday Fire Department City Hall February 2 Thursday Landfill Commission City Hall February 6 Monday Keep America Beautiful Committee City Hall February 7 Tuesday Planning and Zoning Commission City Hall February 8 Wednesday Economic Development Commission City Hall February 8 Wednesday Fire Department City Hall February 8 Wednesday Airport Commission City Hall February 9 Thursday Park and Recreation Commission City Hall February 14 Tuesday City Council City Hall February 15 Wednesday Fire Department City Hall February 16 Thursday Landfill Commission City Hall February 22 Wednesday Fire Department City Hall February 23 Thursday Board of Adjustment City Hall February 28 Tuesday City Council City Hall Ramsey City offices will be closed on Monday, February 20, 1989 in observance of President's Day. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 a.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. ATTENTION The City of Ramsey is currently seeking candidates to fill a vacancy on the Airport Commission. The posi- tion requires a minimum of one evening meeting per month; familiarity with Ramsey City Ordinances is desired. Ramsey residents interested in serving on the Commission are requested to submit a letter of application to the Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Blvd. N.W., Ramsey, Minnesota 55303, no later than 5:00 P.M. on February 8, 1989. The letter should contain the applicant's name, address, telephone number, work experience, education and any experience in municipal affairs. In addition, ap- plicants should include a statement listing their reasons for seeking appointment to the Airport Com- mission. The position is not salaried. COMMISSION MEETING NEWS The Planning and Zoning Commission met on January 3rd and directed the Community Develop- ment Director to schedule a workshop with City Council to discuss development issues, particularly those relating to transportation and MSA routes. Staff is to prepare a proposed alignment and con- struction schedule for an MSA connection between County Road No. 5 and Sunfish Lake Blvd. The Commission accepted the sketch plan for Wildwood Estates which consists of 80 acres located between Countryside Estates and Deerwood to be developed with 24 single family residential lots. The concept plan for Chestnut Hills may proceed to preliminary plat stage provided streets are drawn at 66 foot widths; the proposed plat is northwest of Ramsey Terrace and consists of approximately 100 lots pro- posed to be served by city sewer and water. The Commission recommended that City Council require a joint environmental assessment worksheet for the proposed plats of Chestnut Hills, Cedar Hills and Windemere Woods. City Staff was directed to research standards and costs for installing street lighting in existing and newly developing areas. The Commission recommended that City Council make formal application to the Metro Council for a Com- prehensive Plan to amend Ramsey's 2000 Year MUSA boundary. The Commission also directed City Staff to initiate a public hearing to rezone certain parcels in order that they will be in accordance with proposed amendments to the MUSA boundary. The Commission recommended that City Council adopt an ordinance placing a 6 month moratorium on com- mercial incineration in Ramsey. BEING STRANDED IN A WINTER STORM 1. STAY IN YOUR VEHICLE: Walking away in a storm is very dangerous. You can lose your way, wander out of reach, become exhausted, collapse and even die. Your vehicle is your best shelter. 2. KEEP CALM: Calm down and think. Remember the storm will end and you will be found. You~ main concern should be to conserve body energy and heat. You will not starve to death! Don't at- tempt to push your car or shovel in extreme storm conditions. It is too dangerous due to injury from tools, a slipping vehicle, exhaustion, heart attack or overexetion. 3 KEEP FRESH AIR IN YOUR VEHICLE: It is bet- ter to be chilly and awake than to be comfortably warm and be overcome with carbon monoxide fumes. Keep your exhaust pipe free to snow and run your engine only for short period of time. 4. KEEP WARM WITHOUT FUEL: Keep your blood circulating freely. Loosen tight clothing and change positions frequently. Move your arms and legs, massage fingers and toes, tuck your hands between your legs or under your armpits. WINTER SURVIVAL KIT LARGE COFFEE CAN with plastic cover (use for storing food, to melt snow for cooking instant foods or as a lavatory). PACK INSIDE: · Candle stubs and matches · Small, sharp knife · Red neckscarf or cloth · Plastic spoon · Large plastic garbage bag · First Aid items SNACKS: · Semi-sweet chocolate bars · Wrapped hard candies · Raisins (in small packets) · Food bars . Chewing gum · Packets of dry soup, instant . Miniature candy bars oatmeal or hot chocolate OUTSIDE THE CAN tie about 30 feet of cord that becomes a homing line for anyone who must check outside the vehicle. Wrap a pair of warm mittens around the outside of the can with a orange or red scarf and put a bright (yellow) stocking cap over the whole thing. In addition to your survival kit, equip your vehicle with a first aid kit, road flares, booster cables, shovel, snowmobile suit and boots, and a sleeping bag or blankets. · Plastic whistle · Flashlight and batteries · Safety pins · Pencil stub · Tape coins inside cover for emergency phone calls STATEWIDE ROAD INFORMATION NUMBERS Road Condition Reports are available for specific areas of the State. Motorists are encouraged to call Mn/DOT numbers listed below for a recorded road report: Metro Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (612) 296-3076 Windom. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (507) 831-2740 Bemidji. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (218) 755-3816 Brainerd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (218) 828-2570 Croo~ston . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (218) 281-5641 DetrOit Lakes................................ (218) 847-2111 Duluth. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (218) 723-4866 Mankato. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (507) 345-8900 Marshall. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (507) 537 -6133 Morris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (612) 589-2001 Owatonna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (507) 285-7404 Rochester. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (507) 285-7404 St. Cloud. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (612) 255-4265 Virginia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (218) 749-8090 Willmar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (612) 235-9230 FOR A GENERAL STATEWIDE REPORT, CALL: Toll Free................................... .1-800-542-0220 WHAT'S HAPPENING AT CITY HALL City Council met on December 27, 1988 and specified that all amusement center licenses will specify a 1 :00 a.m. closing time. Council directed Staff to prepare an ordinance establishing criteria for issuance of an off-sale liquor license based on the resolution presented and amended as follows: eliminate the requirement that the facility be served by public sewer and water; that there be a minimum of 4,000, rather than 5,000, square feet of merchan dise floor space; that the facility be of new construc tion (new construction defined as never having previously been occupied). Council approved Oxbow Properties request for a minor subdivision to resub- divide Lot 4, Block 1 of River's Bend Plaza Addition to Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4, Block 1, River's Bend Plaza 3rd Addition. Staff was directed to communicate to Metro Council and EQB, Ramsey's proposal for the Mississippi Trail Corridor. Council appointed Bruce Hoeke as Fire Chief; awarded bid for fire pumper and fire tanker to General Safety Products; awarded bid for slide-in unit to Fire Safety Products; awarded bid for breathing apparatus to Eddy Brothers. Council adopted a resolution approving the MSAS 5 year construction program for Ramsey which focuses on extending 153rd in an east/west direction across the city. It was reported that the funding for the Rum River Bridge is in place and construction should be complete by September, 1990. Council approved a rate increase for the City Administrator. City Council met on January 9, 1989 and establish- ed the Council organization for 1989 (see Page 1). Council approved the proposed expansion to the 2000 Year MUSA Boundary and authorized City Staff to make formal application to Metro Council for an amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. Coun- cil tabled action on the proposed oridnance amend- ment regulating the licensing of on-sale liquor establishments. Council ordered preparation of a joint Environmental Assessment Worksheet for Cedar Hills, Windemere Woods and Chestnut Hills. Final plat approval was granted to Green Valley Estates 2nd Addition. Council recommended that 1989 CDBG funds be used to upgrade handicap ac- cessibility to City Hall and Central Park Activities Center. Council adopted an ordinance establishing a 6 month moratorium on commercial incineration. The Mayor was authorized to issue a letter to the Anoka County Chief Judge, Anoka County Clerk of Court and County Commissioner Steffen express- ing displeasure with the recent ruling that all municipal court trials will be held in Columbia Heights. City Staff was directed to have an ordinance amendment available for introduction at the next Council meeting that would revise the Fire Board structure to include an at-large position representing the citizenry. CARBON MONOXIDE IS POISON Carbon monoxide poisoning is a serious winter- time hazard in Minnesota homes and other indoor spaces. Furnaces, space heaters, fireplaces, stoves and kitchen ranges consume oxygen when fuel burns. Ideally the burning process will completely consume the fuel, yielding water and carbon diox- ide along with heat. When oxygen is in short supp- ly, burning is incomplete and produces carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that poisons by depriving the body of needed oxygen. Infants, young children and the elderly are more susceptible to carbon monoxide poisoning. Headaches, depression, fatigue, short- ness of breath and a pale skin color are symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, but they are so sub- tle they are often missed until the poisoning is critical. Preventing carbon monoxide poisoning involves s~veral steps. You must be especially careful to pro- Vide adequate fresh air to combustion appliances, and to provide for exhaust of combustion fumes. Supply fresh air equal to or greater than the volume of combined exhaust from both combustion and ven- tilation appliances running in the building so com- bustion fumes move freely out of the building. Fresh air can be warmed by running it through a heat recovery ventilator (air to air heat exchanger) or it can be introduced into areas, such as a hall, where it is least apt to create an uncomfortable draft. Have furnaces cleaned and chimneys inspected. Also, keep exhausts from feeding into fresh air in- takes. For example, a fresh air intake should not be placed next to a furnace exhaust or clothes dryer vent. Ne~t, pre~ent car exhaust from entering the home. Finally, If you use non-vented combustion heaters (such as kerosene heaters) do so STRICT- L Y according to manufacturer's directions. Many public officials strongly discourage use of non-vented combustion heaters in occupied spaces. You can prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home. For more information on this topic call the Anoka County Extension Office (755-1280) for a free brochure titled "Home Indoor Air Quality Assess- ment. "