2007-12-07 Friday NewsThe Friday News
December 7, 2007
NDC4
Council Member Duggan reported to me this week that the former NDC4 chair had to step down
and George Tourville (IGH Mayor) was promoted from vice chair to that position. Our own
Mickey Kieffer was then selected to be the new vice chair. Congrats to Mickey (I think?).
FIRST SNOWFALL
Last weekend was the City’s first significant snowfall of 2007. The snow did affect the holiday
tree lighting ceremony because the horses could not make it, and Santa was late, but by all other
reports, everything else went well. The Mayor told me that he thought that moving the event to
be on a weekend was better than during the week. I attended with three of my grandsons,
promising them rides on a horse drawn hay ride, and when the horses were a no show, they all
wanted to leave. We all did get our blue stars provided by Gateway Bank before we left, it was
“cool” seeing all those glowing stars on everyone.
The snowfall was cleared by Public Works with very few glitches. Sue reported a couple of
“interesting” complaints though: One man called to tell us to quit salting the streets, “because
the salt hurt his dog’s feet” and another called to say that we had damaged his sod for the first
time in the thirty years that he has lived here, and he wanted it fixed “now”, he could not wait
until the spring. The Police Department only handed out 8 parking tickets to snowbirds, and did
not tow anyone.
2008 BUDGET
Kristen Schabacker, Finance Director did her “dog and pony” show for the State mandated
“Truth in Taxation” Public Hearing Monday evening and again on Tuesday at the regular City
Council Meeting, after which the City Council adopted the 2008 Budget. The City’s tax base
expanded more than normal this year because our TIF District will be decertified at the end of
2007. That means for our property owners that, even with the Par 3 bond referendum, their taxes
will all stay about the same as 2007. Kristen has received no complaints about 2008 taxes and
no one attended either of the public hearings.
PARKS COMMISSIONERS
There will be a couple vacancies on the Parks Commission next year, and so far there are no
applicants to fill them. If anyone knows any good candidates, please have them give me a call.
There are already two good applicants to fill the vacancies on the ARC.
DECEMBER DATES TO REMEMBER
Park & Rec Commission Mtg No meeting in December
NOC Mtg No meeting in December
ARC Mtg No meeting in December
DCC Board of Directors Mtg December 20
City Council Meeting December 18
Planning Commission Mtg No meeting in December
Respectfully submitted,
James Danielson
City Administrator
Attachments: Just the Facts, Pipeline, MNSUN Article “Still ticking: After a heart attack,
Mendota Heights man survives by changing his life”, Villager Article “E’s Cheese ages
beautifully in Village at Mendota Hts”.