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ILLEGaL TOBACCO
<br />SALES TO MINORS
<br />December has brought the end of the Ramsey Police Department's
<br />Youth Access to Tobacco grant - and a story of success. Over the last 12
<br />months, we have conducted a total of 249 tobacco compliance checks on all
<br />tobacco retailers in the City of Ramsey. We reduced our illegal sales to
<br />minors from last year by 31.5 %. Although we hoped to have a 0% failure
<br />rate, we are pleased with our results, while recognizing that we still have on-
<br />going work to do.
<br />On December 6, the remaining of all tobacco licensees attended the
<br />final mandatory tobacco education session for the year (Ordinance 98 -02,
<br />Section 3, Subd.9. Education Requirements). At this time, information was
<br />distributed regarding state and local tobacco laws and penalties, second-
<br />hand smoke, compliance check procedures, and appropriate training of
<br />employees.
<br />We are happy to report that we have some businesses that have
<br />PASSED all tobacco compliance checks during the 2001 year. They are:
<br />Holiday # 323 (Xkimo), Links at Northfork, McDuffs, Rum River Wine &
<br />Spirits, SuperAmerica, Super Bowl, and Vintage Wine & Spirits.
<br />Congratulations for a very successful year!
<br />If you have any questions or would like more information regarding
<br />the grant or the results, please feel free to contact Chandra Kreyer, Crime
<br />Prevention Specialist at 763 - 427 -6812.
<br />CRIME PREVENTION
<br />ON THE WEB!
<br />www.ci.ramsey.mn.us
<br />The Ramsey Police Department has a new look on the web. Although
<br />the "city's" web site is still under construction, there is an active link to the
<br />"police department" and a wonderful crime prevention tool available to all
<br />Ramsey Residents for FREE.
<br />This new tool is called CitizenObserver.com and is sponsored by
<br />two of our local banks, Landmark Community Bank and Community First
<br />National Bank. Registration is easy, just go to www.ci.ramsey.mn.us and
<br />follow the police department links to CitizenObserver.com or go directly to
<br />www.citizenobserver.com.
<br />Some of the tools available to you are crime alerts and statistics,
<br />Crime Prevention Tips, and information on local missing persons and unsolved
<br />crimes. Additionally this is where you will find information regarding car
<br />seat inspections, child fingerprinting, Operation ID, National Night Out and
<br />Crime Watch. If you are already part of a crime watch group, your
<br />neighborhood can even create their own web site through this service to
<br />share with others your strategies for keeping your neighborhood safe. Lastly,
<br />you have access to a message board to discuss important issues with other
<br />crime watch groups.
<br />Registration is FREE! Please contact Chandra Kreyer at 763-427-
<br />6812 if you would like more information or assistance in setting up your
<br />account.
<br />RAMSEY CITY COUNCIL
<br />ADOPTS 2002 GENERAL
<br />���tr FUND BUDGET
<br />The City of Ramsey adopted the
<br />2002 Operating Budget for the General
<br />Fund on Tuesday, November 27, 2001.
<br />The City continues to be
<br />committed to providing citizens and
<br />property owners outstanding City services,
<br />while emphasizing cost efficiency and
<br />effectiveness. These services enhance the
<br />quality of our lives and also ensure that
<br />Ramsey home values continue to grow.
<br />A few of the services provided by the City
<br />include:
<br />Snow plowing, street cleaning and
<br />maintenance
<br />Police and fire protection
<br />Use of City parks and trails
<br />Compliance monitoring of City
<br />Codes
<br />Community planning and zoning
<br />Economic Development
<br />The General Fund
<br />The General Fund accounts for the
<br />main operating expenditures for the City
<br />of Ramsey. Total expenditures increased
<br />23.31% from $5,557,928 (adopted 2001)
<br />to $6,853,756 (adopted 2002). The
<br />increase in General Fund resulted from
<br />additional personnel and funding for an
<br />aerial - ladder fire truck.
<br />The General Fund includes
<br />General Government, Public Safety, Public
<br />Works, and Parks and Recreation.
<br />General Government
<br />Even when the experts all agree, they may well be mistaken. — Bertrand Russell
<br />3
<br />General Government consists
<br />of the following functions: Mayor and
<br />Council, Administration, Elections, Finance,
<br />Assessing, Legal, Data Processing,
<br />Newsletter, and General Government
<br />Buildings. Descriptions of the major
<br />functions follow:
<br />Mayor and Council is the policy
<br />making body of the City. It is the
<br />responsibility of the Mayor and Council to
<br />implement the power of the City as
<br />Continued on Page 5
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