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CITY NEWSLETTER ~ THE CITY OF ~RAMSEYWELCOMES :::-- . VISION-EASELENS SEPT/OCT 1996, VOLUME 11, NO.6 ~ ELECTION PLANNING UNDERWAY WITH HELP OF FAMILIAR FACES The City of Ramsey ,in conjunction with the Anoka Electric Cooperative (AEC), is pleased to announce the approval of a 149,000 square foot facility for Vision-Ease Lens-Polycarbonate Lens Division. "It was the uniqueRamseyj AEC combined partnership which offered Vision-Ease Lens the most comprehensive opportunity to fIll our needs" stated Barbara Arnold, Vice President Domestic Operations "We decided that the optimum location for our new state-of-the art manufacturing operation is the AEC Energy Park in the City of Ramsey ." The new facility will be located within the AEC Energy Park and will encompass a total of 18.1 acres within the park. Facility construction will begin in September 1996, with completion currently slated for early summer 1997. The facility will house the division of Vision-Ease Lens which produces polycarbonate lenses, the fastest growing type of prescription lenses. Vision-Ease is currently the second largest producer of polycarbonate lens and has invested over one million dollars in the last few years to improve its market position. The new facility represents an additional seven million dollar investment in the fast growing fIeld of polycarbonate lenses. The AEC Energy Park was developed to provide the opportunity for high- tech businesses to take advantage of the amenities the City of Ramsey has to offer. "The development of the Vision-Ease site is the type of business that we, at AEC, had in mind when the park was planned" stated Doug Uhrhammer, Vice President of Community Development & Public Affairs at AEC. "We look forward to working with our new neighbors and the development of a long term relationship with Vision-Ease as our companies continue to grow." Mayor Glen Hardin noted that, "The Vision-Ease facility will complement the AEC Corporate Headquarters currently under construction in the northern portion of the industrial park. The long term stability of Ramsey's tax base is further strengthened by these types of developments which will provide for an improved standard of living for all residents of Ramsey. We look forward to Vision-Ease Lens becoming a member of our business community and being involved in the future growth of the City." FILING DATE FOR MAYOR, COUNCIL NEARS Ramsey residents who are registered voters are eligible to flle to run in the 1996 election for the mayor's seat and two councilmember seats. Applications can be obtained and flledat the Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Blvd. NW between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. from August 27,1996 through September 10, 1996. There is a $5 fIling fee. The mayor's term of offIce is two years; councilmembers serve for four years. This year's election days will arrive with much hoopla on September 10 for the primary and November 5 for the general elections. Voters will make a minimal time commitment to stop by the polls that day but, in order to be ready for them, the City's Elections Coordinator Jo Thieling, started planning in May. One of her most important tasks was recruiting about fIfty people to serve as election judges at the City's fIve voting precincts. To serve as an election judge, one must be a Ramsey resident and a registered voter. People who are at least age sixteen can serve as election judge trainees. Judges are paid $6 per hour. The two head judges for each precinct, one Republican and one Democrat, are paid $6.50 per hour. Each time they are selected to serve, election judges are required to attend a two and one-half hour training session. The day of the election, their work begins at 6:00 a.m., an hour before the polls open. During that fIrst hour they assem ble the materials they'll need to provide continuous service until the polls close at 8:00 p.m. Among their duties while the polls are open: registering people to vote, signing in voters, referring people to the correct precinct, monitoring to ensure that no campaign materials, such as buttons, etc. are evident (even on voters), and assisting voters with disabilities. When the last person has voted, the judges count and record the votes, which are reported to the county by phone, then delivered to the Elections Coordinator. She in turn hand delivers the results from all precincts to the County. Ramsey is fortunate to haveanumberofhighly qualifIed election judges who agree to serve year after year. Two of the longest serving are Phyllis Barstow, with 31 years of service, and Lora Hamilton with 28 years of service. When Phyllis Bartstow fIrst served as an election judge, there was only one precinct in the City, at the old Town Hall. In those days, two teams of el/'~tionjudges were recruited. One team served citizens throughout the day. At 8 p.m. they were excused and the second team arrived to count the paper ballots. If Continued on Page 3