July - August, 2012
Volume 27, Number 4
Published by the City of Ham Lake, Minnesota
You might be in a different precinct…
How to get ready to vote this year
he 2012 elections are rapidly approaching. As always, it’s important to carefully consider whom to
vote for. However, there are quite a few
other things to think about too.
T
Can I vote?
To register and vote, you must be at
least 18 on election day, a citizen of the
U.S., have lived in Minnesota for 20
days prior to election day, and not be
ineligible because of court order for being incompetent, under sentence for
felony, etc. You will need to register
again any time that you move or
change your name.
If you are not yet registered to vote at
your current address, you can pre-register until July 10 at 5:00 p.m. To
pre-register, you can pick up a form at
Ham Lake City Hall (763-434- 9555),
at Anoka County Elections, 325 Main
Street, Anoka (763-323-5275) or
download one at www.co.anoka. mn.us.
You may also register at the polling
place on election day, with acceptable
identification as allowed by state law.
Several forms of ID may be used, including a current Minnesota Driver License, learner permit or state
identification card, or a current utility
bill due within 30 days of the election.
Someone who is registered in the precinct where you live can also vouch for
you.
Where do I vote?
There are six precincts in Ham Lake.
• Precinct one: Glen Cary Lutheran
Church, 15531 Central Ave. NE
• Precinct two: Ham Lake Senior
Center, 15544 Central Ave. NE
• Precinct three: Oak Haven Church,
1555 Constance Boulevard NE
• Precinct four: Horizons Community
Church, 1503 157 th Ave. NE
• Precinct five: Spirit of Christ
Lutheran Church, 2749 Bunker
Lake Blvd. NE
• Precinct six: St. Paul’s Catholic
Church, 1740 Bunker Lake Blvd.
NE
It’s important to know that even if you
voted in the last election, you might be
in a different precinct now because of
redistricting due to the census.
You can check the precinct boundaries
by visiting the City’s web site at
www.ci.ham-lake.mn.us, then clicking
on “maps” and then “voting precincts
map.” Anoka County will also mail a
card to all registered voters by July 20th
informing them of their polling locations for this fall.
When do I vote?
This year’s primary election is August
14th and the general election is November 6th. If you are unable to go to
your polling place on those dates, you
may cast an absentee ballot during the
46 days prior to the election. Download
an absentee ballot application at
www.anokacounty.us/absenteevoting or
call (763) 323-5275 to have an absentee ballot sent to you. You can cast your
absentee ballot by mail, or in person at
the Ham Lake City Hall (15544 Central
Ave. NE).
At the City Council meeting on
June 18, Mayor Mike Van Kirk presented a certificate of appreciation to John Weber, who is retiring
after serving on the Planning Commission since 1990 and on the
Charter Commission since 2000.
Currently he is chairman of both
committees.
Celebrate the 4th of July
in Ham Lake's Lions Park
H
am Lake residents will once
again be able to celebrate the
Fourth of July close to home in Lions
Park. The Don Hansen VFW Post will
sponsor its 11th annual celebration in
honor of area veterans. Partying begins
at 3:00 p.m. on the 4th with many fun
activities. Bingo begins at 4:00.
The VFW Men’s Auxiliary will offer
their famous pork chops as well as burgers, hot dogs, and other refreshments.
There will be a fireworks display at
dusk. The Ham Lake Area Chamber of
Commerce made a major contribution
toward financing this year’s fireworks.
Articles and photos that appear in
the Ham Laker, together with useful
information about the City, can also
be found on the Ham Lake web site:
www.ci.ham-lake.mn.us
Wanted: leaders to serve on 2 commissions
Time to file for Council:
July 31 to August 14
T
I
he City of Ham Lake currently has
vacancies on two important Commissions.
CHARTER COMMISSION: The
Charter Commission is required to
meet at least once a year. Meetings are
usually held the fourth Wednesday of
any given month, at the Ham Lake City
Hall. This is not a paid position. The
City Charter, approved by the voters
and issued by the State of Minnesota in
1982, sets rules on how the City government operates, how it’s organized
and how it’s financed. The advantage
of having a charter is that a city can tailor its form of government to the desire
of its citizens and establish greater
powers or more stringent limitations
than state statutes call for.
PLANNING COMMISSION: The
Planning Commission reviews, holds
hearings, and makes recommendations
to the City Council on matters relating
to growth and development in the City
and conformance to City ordinances.
The Commission meets at the City Hall
at 6:00 p.m. on the second and fourth
Mondays of each month, or as needed.
Commissioners receive $30 for each
Planning Commission meeting attended.
If you are interested in serving on either of these commissions, please
send a letter to the Ham lake City
Hall, 15544 Central Ave. NE, Ham
Lake, MN. Letters must be received
by 4:30 p.m. on July 31 st.
n the General Election on November
6, 2012, Ham Lake voters will elect
two Councilmembers for four year
terms.
The filing period for these offices begins at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 31,
and ends at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 14. The filing fee is $25.00. Candidates are to file for office with the
Administrator of the City of Ham Lake
at 15544 Central Ave. NE, Ham Lake,
MN.
Don't led Fido run free
lest he be impounded
D
ogs in Ham Lake need more than
a license – they also need some
restrictions on their activity.
Spring Recycling Day on May 5
cleared a lot of TVs, flourescent
bulbs, scrap metal, and appliances
out of Ham Lake homes.
No dog is permitted to run at large
within the City. A dog can appear on
streets, on public property, or on property whose owner gives permission,
only if it is on a leash or under the immediate control of a competent person
charged with its care.
Dogs running around uncontrolled may
be impounded by police or animal control officers. (See Article 5 of the Ham
Lake City Code.)
Sept. – Oct. Issue Deadline:
Wednesday, August 8
Please send all Ham Laker
correspondence, articles & ideas
to Wayne or Mickey Adams at:
WordMagic Communications
5335 180th Avenue NW
Ramsey, MN 55303-3386
Phone: (763)753-3929
E-mail: [email protected]
For advertising information,
please contact City Hall at (763)
434-9555.
Printed on
recycled
paper
PAGE 2
20% postconsumer
waste
Keep our storm runoff clean…
Properly dispose of yard clippings
T
here are a lot of things you can do
with your grass clippings, fallen
leaves, and other kinds of yard waste.
You can chip them up and use them for
mulch. You can turn them into rich soil
in a compost bin. You can drop them
off at one of Anoka County’s two compost sites. You can weave them into
gift baskets or wreathes if you like. But
there’s one thing you must definitely
NOT do: leave them in the street.
First off, yard waste can plug up our
City’s storm drains and cause flooding
as well as an expensive cleaning. But
there are other bad effects as well.
• Always follow the manufacturer’s
instructions when using pesticides,
herbicides, or fertilizers. Use them
sparingly.
• Pick up after your pet.
• Take your car to a car wash instead
of washing it in your driveway. The
runoff from home car washing can
contain detergents that are harmful
to aquatic life.
• Make sure you dispose of such
things as motor oil, anti-freeze, and
paint thinner at designated drop-off
locations.
• Control soil erosion around your
house.
Unlike water in sanitary sewer systems,
storm water does not go through a
treatment plant. Storm drains are like
highways that directly convey the water
through streams, rivers, lakes, and
eventually to the ocean.
In addition to keeping your grass clippings and leaves out of the street, here
are some other steps you can take to
help keep our storm water runoff clean:
Ham Lake Contacts
City Hall: (763) 434-9555
(To report emergencies after office
hours, please call 911)
City Hall Hours:
Mon.-Thurs. 7:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Fri. 7:00 a.m.–12:00 noon
Mike Van Kirk (Mayor)
(763) 434-6176
[email protected]
Julie Braastad (Council)
(763) 434-8985
[email protected]
Tom Johnson (Council)
(763) 434-8573
[email protected]
Gary Kirkeide (Council)
(763) 434-9762
[email protected]
Jim Doyle (Council)
(612) 850-1698
[email protected]
Rick Braastad, Chad Landas, and
Mike Baermann from the VFW
Men’s Auxiliary provided the delicious pork chops served at the
Ham Lake Chamber’s barbecue on
June 13th.
"Night to Unite" coming
to your area August 7
O
ur Night to Unite is coming up on
August 7th. The Anoka County
Sheriff’s Office is asking residents to
turn on their outside lights and spend
the evening getting acquainted with
others in their neighborhood.
The purpose of Night to Unite is to
bring residents together and encourage
them to organize a Neighborhood
Crime Watch Group. NCW groups play
an important part in crime detection
and prevention, in partnership with local law enforcement. If you would like
to host a Night to Unite party in your
neighborhood, log on to www.
AnokaCounty.us/crimewatch for details
or contact Laura Landes, Crime Prevention Coordinator, at (763) 767-4664
or [email protected]. mn.us.
No Night to Unite in your neighborhood? You can join the party on August 7th at Oak Haven Church from
5:30 to 8:00 p.m. There will be music,
children’s games, food and refreshments along with visits from the fire
and sheriff’s departments. Oak Haven
Church is located at 1555 Constance
Blvd. in Ham Lake. For information ,
contact www.oakhavenchurch.org or
call (763) 434-6013.
27th Annual Community Dance
Co-sponsored by the
Ham Lake Fire Department,
Ham Lake Fire Department Relief Assn.,
and the Ham Lake Lions
Saturday, August 18, 2012
8:00 p.m. to midnight
Location: Lions Park,
½ mile west of Highway 65 on 157th Avenue NE (just west of City Hall)
Food and beverages
will be served. All
proceeds go back
to the community
Tickets available from
members of the Ham
Lake Fire Department
and Ham Lake Lions,
or at City Hall. Please
make your check out
to the Ham Lake Fire
Relief Association.
Admission:
$5.00 donation
Music by
Train Rex
PAGE 3
Burglaries
20xx 149 Ave. – A lawn mower was
stolen.
21xx 169th Ave. – When victim returned from vacation, all her gaming
systems were missing; no signs of
forced entry.
10xx 173rd Lane – Armed burglary;
cash and belongings taken at gunpoint late at night.
13xx Andover Blvd. – Theft from a
business.
13xx Andover Blvd. – Trolling motor
stolen from a boat parked inside a
secured area.
162xx Lexington Ave. – Firearms stolen from a home; No forced entry
found
171xx Lincoln St. – Tools taken from a
business.
12xx Lombardy Dr. – Entry through
unsecured bedroom window; prescription meds, tablet, and laptop
taken.
Thefts & Property Damage
37xx 133rd Lane – An overhead garage
door was vandalized.
20xx 135th Lane – Lock popped on a
work van; copper and tools stolen.
19xx 136th Lane – A welder and tools
stolen from a vehicle.
15xx 143rd Ave. – An unsecured bike
stolen from a yard overnight.
17xx 143 Ave. – Theft from three vehicles – one was locked and a forced
entry was made.
14xx 143rd Lane – Theft from vehicle
(Two incidents).
14xx 147th Ave. – Tires and rims
stolen off vehicle parked at a business.
1xx 148th Lane – Battery stolen from
camper parked in yard.
6xx 150th Ave. – Vehicle window broken.
43xx 153rd Ave. – Vandalism to a
home.
43xx 155th Ave. – Mailbox damaged,
light poles vandalized.
15xx 157th Ave. – Theft from a
church; three juveniles arrested
38xx 164th Ave. – Damage to mailbox.
17xx 171st Ave. – identity theft using
credit card.
27xx 174th Ave. – Theft from an unlocked vehicle overnight.
27xx 174th Ave. – Ipod cable and
charger stolen from unlocked vehicles.
29xx 174th Ave. – ID theft; victim’s
credit card was used in Texas.
28xx 176th Ave. – ID theft on a debit
card.
5xx Andover Blvd. – Three semi batteries stolen off vehicles at a business.
13xx Andover Blvd. – Tools stolen
from vehicle.
7xx Bunker Lake Blvd. – Vehicle window broken.
7xx Bunker Lake Blvd. – Laptop and
backpack stolen from vehicle; window broken.
24xx Bunker Lake Blvd. – Three unsecured Bobcat attachments stolen
from the property.
Crosstown/Polk – Road rage; person
threw items from a moving vehicle
and broke another vehicle’s windshield.
152xx Davenport St. – a battery was
stolen from a camper parked outside.
149xx Durant St – a resident was burning stumps without a burn permit
and the fire got out of control.
154xx Hwy. 54 – Two cable boxes
were stolen from a home by a friend.
136xx Hwy. 65 – a purse was taken
from an unlocked vehicle while the
owner was in the gas station.
144xx Hwy 65 – Two unlocked vehicles on a sales lot were vandalized.
35xx Interlachen Dr. – A purse was stolen at a party.
175xx Isanti St. – Resident called in a
suspicious vehicle parked in the
area. It turns out it was reported stolen in Blaine.
163xx Kenyon St. – Theft from two unlocked vehicles (GPS, wallet).
19xx Mankato Circle – Purse stolen
from unlocked vehicle.
167xx Shenandoah St. – A battery was
stolen from a camper parked outside.
134xx Vickers St. – Thefts from five
unlocked vehicles in driveway overnight.
157xx Xylite St. – Damage to mailbox.
147xx Yancy St. – Three marine batteries stolen from a boat parked overnight in a driveway.
Arrests/Incidents
April 17: 4th degree DWI.
April 19: Driving After Cancelation.
April 21: 4th degree DWI, Speeding.
April 26: Terroristic Threats.
May 3: Deputies assisted the Ramsey
County Drug Task Force with a traffic stop and arrest.
Sheriff & Fire Reports (to page 5)
The Minnesota Patriot Guard filled Lions Park on June 16 with 3,000 motorcycles at the beginning and end of their
seventh annual 60-mile Patriot's Ride. The group is dedicated to honoring those who have served their country.
PAGE 4
95 Building Permits
issued in April & May
A
T
nytime Fitness in Ham Lake recently celebrated their reopening
after extensive remodeling. In addition
to a new look, the facility has added
some new equipment including a TRX
exercise system, which was developed
by the Navy.
Brenda and Tim Jewell had been customers of Anytime Fitness for some
time and had become friends with
many of the members. When they
heard it was for sale 1½ years ago, they
took the leap and bought it.
Anytime Fitness lives up to its name, in
that members have key fobs they can
use to enter the building at any hour.
Video cameras provide security. There
he City of Ham Lake issued 95
Building Permits during April and
May, with a total valuation of
$2,213,466.
Anytime Fitness celebrated their
reopening with a ribbon cutting.
Commercial permits included three accessory buildings, two remodels, one
siding replacement, one sign, seven
temporary signs, and two temporary
building/tents.
are all sorts of cardio and weight machines as well as private showers.
Membership also provides free access
to more than 1,800 Anytime Fitness
centers throughout the world. Ham
Lake’s Anytime Fitness club is located
at 1321 Andover Blvd NE. Phone:
(763) 413-9348.
Residential permits included five
three-season porches, seven accessory
buildings, three additions, 15 decks,
seven fences, one garage, seven new
homes, four remodels, one repair/replacement, 16 roofs, one above-ground
pool, one in-ground pool, ten siding replacements, and one miscellaneous.
Sheriff and Fire Reports (continued from page 4)
May 5: 3rd degree DWI, 3rd degree Refusal, Underage Consumption,
Seatbelt Violation,
Failure to Use Lights, No Proof of Insurance, Driving After Revocation.
May 9: Driving After Revocation, Violation of a No Contact Order.
May 9: 5th degree Assault.
May 5: 2nd degree DWI.
May 12: Mother/daughter Domestic
Assault
May 12: Domestic Assault, 5th degree
Assault.
May 5: Domestic Assault between
brothers.
May 14: Trespass.
May 16: Felony Possession of Stolen
Property, Driving After Revocation,
Texting while Driving.
May 23: Domestic Assault.
May 24: Civil Dispute, Carrying of a
Weapon Without a Permit and while
under the influence.
May 24: 3rd degree DWI.
May 24: 3rd degree DWI, no-use restriction.
May 27: 4th degree DWI
May 31: 2nd degree DUI.
May 31: 4th degree DWI, fleeing on
foot, underage consumption, felony
warrant.
June 1: 2nd degree DWI, 3rd degree refusal.
June 2: 5th degree possession of a controlled substance, warrant arrest.
June 3: 5th degree possession of a controlled substance, false information
to police, driving after revocation.
June 5: Felony warrant arrest.
June 11: Felony theft from store.
June 15: 4th degree DWI, possession of
marijuana.
Fire Department Calls
The Ham Lake Fire Department responded to 52 calls during April and
May – 34 during the day and 18 at
night. These included 8 structure calls
(six fire alarms, one CO alarm, one gas
small) three rescue calls, 23 medical
calls, five wildland calls, three Mutual
Aid calls, and ten miscellaneous calls.
The Department spent 25 hours on calls
with total personnel time adding up to
321 hours. Year-to-date, the Department answered 143 calls, the same
number as at the end of May last year.
PAGE 5
Ode to a Septic System
Brought to you by the Sunrise River Watershed
Management Organization (SRWMO).
A magical thing happens right under my lawn
I flush the toilet, it goes there, then gone!
That wonderful septic takes all that we do
Every drop is digested, even numbers one & two
Sounds like my job, perhaps you might say
Then you understand TLC can brighten the day
Attention and maintenance is not merely a perk
So let’s take a look at how that septic system works
Because of the baffles, the tank keeps the poo
Which needs to be pumped every 3rd year or two
The liquids pass on to the drainfield with ease
Its pipes have holes, just like Swiss cheese
Speaking of doo, here’s what you should
Using less water is wonderfully good
Don’t do the laundry many loads in a row
Overloading could cause the system to blow
The ‘don’t’ list is longer and cannot be rushed
A whole lot of things just shouldn’t be flushed
Kleenex, solvents, paints, and antifreeze
Foods like fat, oil, coffee grounds, and veggies
Poison, cigarettes, and anti-bacterials too
Old meds and even feminine products are taboo
Don’t drive on the drainfield or it will get crushed
Light a match near the tank and explode in a rush
Inside the tank is icky, and no place to play
If you smell yuck in your home call for help right away
When will I know there’s a problem you think?
How about when your basement is flooded with stink
If your drains won’t dry even after you plunge
The yard becomes soggy like a big poopy sponge
So for the sake of our lakes, streams, and your piggy bank
Please have someone regularly pump your septic tank
P
P
P
The Sunrise River Watershed Management Organization
(SRWMO) is considering establishing a low interest loan
program to help homeowners with septic system upgrade or
replacement, particularly in shoreland areas. If interested,
please contact Jamie Schurbon at (763) 434-2030 ext. 12 or
[email protected]. For more information
about the SRWMO, visit www.AnokaNaturalResources
.com\srwm.
PAGE 6
HAM LAKE
33rd Annual
Ham Lake Open
Golf Tournament
Thursday, August 16
Majestic Oaks
This year’s tournament features a
“Back to the 50’s” theme and vintage
car show. Register as a foursome or
individual to play 18 holes at Majestic
Oaks. Trophies are awarded for 1st
& 2nd place men’s and women’s/mixed
teams. You could also win $20,000 in
the Hole-in-One contest (one of our
players did in 2010!). Every entrant
gets a free round of golf at Majestic
Oaks through July, 2013.
There are also prizes for the longest
drive, closest to the pin, and best
Back-to-the-50’s-dressed foursome.
Dinner, awards, and a reception are
included in your registration fee.
Check-in begins at noon. Shotgun
start: 1:00. Vintage car show: 4:00
to 6:00. Dinner: 6:00. To register,
contact the Ham Lake Area Chamber
of Commerce: (763) 434-3011 or
[email protected].
Senior Center phone: (763) 434-0455
Senior Center hours: Open Monday –
Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,
Friday from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m.
• Friday, August 10th will feature
Jerry Bierschback
Come to dance or just to listen to the
music!
City is forced to close
1/2 of disk golf course
T
he City has had to shut down nine
of the eighteen holes in Ham Lake
Park’s Disk Golf Course.
Weekly events
Defensive Driving Courses
Each week there is Senior Dining at
noon (Mondays & Wednesdays), line
dancing, pinochle, cribbage, wood
carving, bingo, “500” cards, and Enhanced Fitness classes. Plus each
month there are Casino Trips (Open to
the Public), Jam Sessions (Open to the
Public) during the day and evening,
health insurance counseling, scheduled
shopping trips for those who need
transportation, free blood pressure
checks, foot care, and a birthday dinner.
Call the Senior Center at the number
listed above to find out about the
date, time and details of these and
other special events!
Special upcoming events
that are open to the public
Jam Sessions – Thursday, July 12th
and August 9th – 7:00 p.m.
Jam Sessions – Tuesday, July 17th and
August 21st – 1:00 p.m.
Senior Dance – On the second Friday
of every month there is a Senior Dance
with live music and refreshments.
• Friday, July 13th will feature
Michael James
(Open to the public for those 55 and
older) Registration required. Send
your name, address, date of class,
phone number, and the registration fee
to the Ham Lake Senior Center, 15544
Central Ave. NE, Ham Lake, MN
55304. Classes fill fast, so call (763)
434-0455 for availability.
Four-Hour Refresher Course (you
need to take this every three years and
time flies, so make sure you are current!) All four- hour classes are $14
for members and $18 for non-members.
• Tuesday, July 24th, 12:30 p.m.
Eight-Hour Course (required for
“first timers”) All eight-hour classes
are $18 for members and $22 for
non-members. Watch for an eighthour class to be scheduled this fall.
Did you know that if you are 55 years
or older, state law requires your insurance company to give you a 10% discount if you take an eight-hour
Defensive Driving Course and attend a
four-hour refresher course every three
years?
Some users of the Disk Golf Course
caused problems through spray painting and vandalism. However, the big
reason for the closure was damage to
the oak trees in the park.
“Some disk golfers are tempted to
break off a tree limb if it obstructs their
view of where they want to throw their
disk,” said Public Works Superintendent Tom Reiner. “We’ve seen some
limbs snipped off that were as big as
four inches around.”
As most Ham Lake citizens should
know, breaking off oak branches in the
summer greatly encourages the spread
of oak wilt.
“We’re very concerned about protecting the oak trees in our park area for
the rest of the citizens in Ham Lake,”
said Reiner.
If you see anyone defacing park property or breaking off oak branches,
you’re asked to notify the Public Works
Department or Sheriff’s Office.
Is it legal to shoot off fireworks in Minnesota?
N
o, they are illegal
in Minnesota! At
least, all the fun kinds
are. In 2002, the law was
changed to allow the
sale of non-explosive,
non-aerial fireworks,
meaning that things like
sparklers and party
poppers that don’t
launch or go bang are legal in Minnesota. You
can’t use even these kinds of fireworks
in a public place, like a road or park.
You’ll need to be 18 with
a photo ID to buy them.
Explosive and aerial fireworks are prohibited for
public sale, possession,
and use. These include
firecrackers, bottle rockets, missiles, roman candles, mortars, and shells.
So remember that anything designed to explode
or go airborne is likely to bring you the
kind of attention you don’t want.
PAGE 7
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ANOKA, MN 55303
PERMIT NO. 289
City of Ham Lake
15544 Central Avenue NE
Ham Lake, Minnesota 55304
ECRWSS
Postal Patron
Ham Lake, MN 55304
JULY
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July 4: Independence Day celebration, Lions Park. City Offices
closed.
July 2 & 16: City Council mtg., City Hall, 6 p.m.
July 9 & 23: Planning Commission mtg., City Hall, 6 p.m.
July 18: Park & Tree Commission mtg., City Hall, 6 p.m.
August 6 & 20: City Council mtg., City Hall, 6 p.m.
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August 6 & 20: City Council mtg., City Hall, 6 p.m.
August 7: "Night to Unite," various locations
August 8: Ham Laker deadline for September-October
August 13 & 27: Planning Commission mtg., City Hall, 6 p.m.
August 15: Park & Tree Commission mtg., City Hall, 6 p.m.
August 16: Ham Lake Chamber Golf Tournament
August 18: Community Dance, 8 p.m., Lions Park