Ramsey Resident - 2001 - May/June

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RAMSEY LIONS PRESIDENT MESSAGE 5 COMMERCIAL VEHICLES IN RESIDENTAL AREAS Spring in finally here and our Club geared up for the biggest event we sponsor for the year. That was our annual Ramsey Picnic, which was held on Saturday June 2nd at Central Parl<. Lots of activities were planned and most were free. Headlining the entertainment this year was the Lamont Cranston Band. A great time was had by all. Our Club is proud to announce we have purchased the first Compu- Kid Laser Identification Kit for the Ramsey Police Force. This device scans fingerprints and then tal<es a picture of the child and enters it onto a disc. It is the latest technology used by police department to help identify and locate missing children. The information on the disc is not retained by the police department, but is given to every parent to l<eep this information if ever needed. We spent close to $10,000 to purchase this devise and this service will be offered free to the parents of every Ramsey Child. The police department will be at our local schools and special events with this device. Another community service our club in involved in is the collection of unwanted eyeglasses. There are millions of glasses in need of recycling, millions of glasses with unfinished stories stashed in drawers and dressers and in attics. According to the World Health Organization, the eyesight of more than one forth of the world's population can be improved through the use of corrective lenses. Unfortunately for many, a pair of eyeglasses is both unaffordable and inaccessible. In many developing countries, an eye exam costs as much as a month's wages and a single eye doctor may serve a community of thousands of people. For more than 70 years, Lions Clubs have been collecting and distributing unwanted eyeglasses for people in need in developing countries. During 1999-2000, the nine official Lions Eyeglasses Recycling Centers collected approximately 4 million pairs of eyeglasses and distributed more than 2 million pairs. These recycled glasses cost only about .08 cents each to process, but their value to people in need is priceless. They give adults the opportunity to earn a living and children the chance to learn in school. They allow grandparents to see their grandchildren, maybe for the first time. May is "Lions recycle for Sight Month", a unique opportunity for the Lions Clubs across the United States and Canada to participate in a large scale effort to collect used eyeglasses and raise awareness in their communities. Our club has collection boxes marl<ed "Lion Recycle for Sight" placed in businesses around Ramsey and in City Hall to drop these unwanted glasses. Or if you would lil<e to bring your unwanted glasses to our club meeting, we meet at Super Bowl the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. Stop in and stay for our meeting to see what we are doing in our community. Your donation will be very much appreciated. President Bill Weiss Ramsey's off-street parking ordinance restricts the outside storage of commercial vehicles and equipment in residential districts. The three l(ey requirement of City Code include ownership, screening and parl(ing surface pad. All vehicles and equipment must be owned or leased by the homeowner, or owned or leased by the employer of the homeowner. The commercial vehicles or equipment must be stored in the side or rear yard of the property and screened from the street and all neighboring properties by 75% from ground level view. This is usually accomplished by installing wood privacy fencing that is 6 to 8 feet high. The Code also has a minimum parking surface requirement. In the urban areas of Ramsey - the area within the Metropolitan Urban Services Area boundary (MUSA) - the Code requires bituminous pavement or concrete. In the rural areas outside the M.U.S.A. boundary; the Code requires a con-bit or prepared gravel surface. No commercial vehicles and equipment may be stored outside in a residential district if it does not meet the above standards. Violation of the City Code is a misdemeanor criminal offense. If you have questions regarding the City Code requirements regarding off-street parking, please call the Community Development Department at 427-1410. The Ramsey Women's Tennis League is lool<ing for new players for competition this spring and summer. All Levels are welcome. Scheduled matches each weel<. Call Debbie LaBraie for more information, 763-323-3969 Home or 612-325-2412 Direct. To handle yourself, use your head; To handle others, use your heart.