City of Ham Lake
15544 Central Avenue NE
Ham Lake, Minnesota 55304
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ANOKA, MN 55303
PERMIT NO. 289
ECRWSS
Postal Patron
Ham Lake, MN 55304
Published by the City of Ham Lake, Minnesota
October, 2014 – Volume 29, Number 10
Your input sought on Rum River Mgmt.
Ham Lake's rules on hunting,
discharge of weapons in city
A
T
he City of Ham Lake would like to remind residents of rules governing the discharge of firearms
within city limits.
n effort is underway to protect and improve water quality in the almost one million acre Rum
River watershed. The Rum River Watershed Restoration and Protection Project (WRAP) will create a management plan for the entire watershed, including each
lake, stream and the river. Public input is being sought
through an online survey.
The discharge of bows and arrows, pistols, revolvers,
shotguns, pellet guns, BB guns and all other devices
which propel a projectile is prohibited within 500 feet
of any residential structure, school or church, the outside perimeter of all City or County parks, the traveled
portion of any public road or on any private land unless written permission of the owner has been
obtained.
The survey allows respondents to tell managers what
issues are important to them, suspected sources of
problems and preferred management. It can also address how to keep good quality waterbodies in good
condition.
The discharge of firearms within any land area inside a
Shore Impact Zone or upon or over the normal high
water mark of Ham Lake, Coon Lake, Lake Netta or
Little Coon Lake is prohibited.
Comments can pertain to lakes, wetlands, streams or
the Rum River itself. The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. It is posted at www.URRWMO.org.
Please contact City Hall if you have questions or
would like a copy of the city code regulating firearm
use.
With its beginning at Lake Mille Lacs, most of the
Rum River is a State Scenic and Recreational WaterWatershed survey
(continued on page 3)
Where to vote in 2014 election;
Pre-registration closes Oct. 14
Precautions you should take
to prevent damage to mailbox
M
ailboxes can be especially vulnerable to damage from snow removal operations. The City
assumes liability for mailboxes damaged during plowing if it is determined that the plow made direct contact with a mailbox that was properly placed and in the
standard style.
To be properly placed, a mailbox should be installed
so its bottom edge is 41" to 45" above street level with
the post 36" back from the curb and the front of the
box 6" to 8" back from the curb. That amount of clearance is needed to keep the plow’s wing from hitting
the box. If there are any plastic newspaper tubes attached to the mailbox, they must be above the 41"
height requirement.
The box’s post should be securely in the ground. If it
is wobbly, the base may be rotten. If mailboxes are not
installed with the clearances mentioned above, the responsibility for repairing the damage lies with the
homeowner, not the Public Works Department. The
Department will replace the standard metal mailboxes
on 4 x 4 poles but will not replace decorative
mailboxes.
Correction
The August edition of the Ham Laker contained an article about a low-interest loan program to help homeowners with failing septic systems. The article stated
that the interest rate is 1.5%. This was in error. The actual interest rate is 3%. Information about this program
can be obtained from Anoka County Community
Development at (763) 323-5764 or www.anokacounty.us/cd.
T
his fall’s general election will be held on November 4th. Polling places will be open from 7:00 a.m.
to 8:00 p.m.
Grade school students: Show
your Snowbowl button talent
S
tudents from McKinley and Johnsville Elementary
Schools are encouraged to participate in the
Snowbowl Button Competition again this year. Contest forms on which to draw your colorful Snowbowl
Button will be distributed at both schools. The contest
ends October 20th.
The winning entry will be used as the official 9th Annual Snowbowl Button design. The Snowbowl button
($3 each) is the entry ticket to all the fun next February 7th on Ham Lake, including the medallion hunt, ice
fishing contest, dogsled rides, snow sculpture contests,
and more! Questions? Contact the Chamber office at
(763) 434-3011.
City issues 40 Building Permits
Ham Lake has six polling places:
• Precinct 1: Glen Cary Lutheran Church, 15531
Central Ave.
• Precinct 2: Ham Lake Senior Center, 15544 Central
Ave.
• Precinct 3A: Oak Haven Church, 1555 Constance
Blvd.
• Precinct 4A: Horizon Community Church, 1503
157th Ave.
• Precinct 5: Spirit of Christ Lutheran Church, 2749
Bunker Lake Blvd.
• Precinct 6A: St. Paul’s Catholic Church, 1740
Bunker Lake Blvd.
Ham Lake voters can also cast their in-person absentee
ballots at City Hall; this began September 19 th.
Pre-registration for the general election closes on October 14th. Detailed information is available
atwww.ci.ham-lake.mn.us or by calling City Hall at
(763) 434-9555.
Election (continued on page 4)
H
City's winter parking rules
Commercial permits included two remodels, two
roofs, and three temporary signs.
R
Residential permits included one three-season porch,
one addition, one basement finish, five decks, two
fences, one garage addition, six new homes, three remodels, 11 roofs, and two siding replacements.
In addition, no parking is allowed in the daytime hours
during or after a two-inch snowstorm or until the
streets are plowed.
am Lake issued 40 Building Permits during
August, with a total valuation of $1,750.176.
emember, from October 1st through April 30th, no
parking is allowed on Ham Lake streets between
the hours of midnight and 6:00 a.m.
Burglaries
44xx 161st Lane – Power tools and
misc. items taken via unlocked garage service door.
165xx Hwy. 65 – Windows were shot
with a pellet gun causing damage at a
business.
174xx Lexington Ave. – motorcycle
stolen from unsecured detached garage.
IT'S PUMPKIN SEASON! Anoka County Farms opened for its eighth
Halloween season on September 20th. The farm, located off Bunker Lake
Blvd. in Ham Lake, offers a large assortment of pumpkins, vintage farm
equipment, pony and hay rides, pumpkin painting, a jumping castle, big
slide, farm animals, pumpkin bowling and a variety of pumpkin contests.
The farm is open to the general public daily through October 31st.
Website: www.anokacountyfarms.com.
Thefts & Property Damage
9xx 159th Ave. – damage to mailbox.
22xx 146th Ave. – tabs were stolen off
two vehicles in a driveway.
14xx 147th Ave. – snowmobiles stolen.
30xx 166 Ave NE – air let out of all
four tires on a vehicle.
164xx Aberdeen St NE – windows broken on work vehicles and credit card
stolen at a business.
Bunker/VanBuren St – vehicle window
broken; the suspect was arrested.
162xx Davenport St. – battery and gas
stolen out of a boat.
Free to Be's new name
is "Cars for Neighbors"
F
or more than a decade, the nonprofit Free to Be has provided
low-income Anoka County residents
with free car repair or replacement – but
no longer.
Chamber President Al Stauffacher addressed the September meeting of
the Ham Lake Chamber, hosted by Ham Lake Physical Therapy.
F
ollowing is a brief recap of some
of the actions taken recently by
the Ham Lake City Council and Economic Development Authority.
At a special workshop on Monday,
August 11, the Council:
• Appointed Mark Jones as Building
Inspector/Code Enforcement Officer.
At its regular meeting on Monday,
August 18, the Council:
• Approved amendments to the
Employee Handbook regarding
health insurance.
• Approved an amendment to the
Development Agreement for the
custom lot grading extension for
Lot3, Block 1, Lake Netta Preserve.
• Scheduled a public hearing to vacate
a portion of the drainage and utility
easement at 14149 Guadalcanal St.
• Approved re-roofing the Lions Park
concession stand building.
• Approved purchasing a one-ton
truck snowplow.
• Scheduled a budget workshop
meeting September 8 at 5:00 p.m.
• Approved accepting the 2014
bituminous overlay project and
commencing the one-year warranty.
• Approved a license agreement
allowing the parking lot for Voice of
Hope Church to extend into the
drainage and utility easement.
• Held the first reading of an
ordinance relating to setback
requirements in mercantile districts.
• Directed the City Attorney to begin
the process of eminent domain to
acquire easements from three
property owners on Ulysses St.
• Directed the City Engineer to
prepare a feasibility study for the
improvement of Kenyon St. between
Crosstown Blvd. and 171 st Ave.,
and between Goodhue St. and
Nassau St.
At its regular meeting on Tuesday,
September 2, the Council:
• Accepted a $4,000 donation from
the Ham Lake Chamber of
Commerce. Approved a low quote to
replace a driveway at 3640 140 th
Ave. NE.
• Approved an ordinance relating to
setbacks in mercantile districts.
• Approved a HGACBuy Interlocal
Contract for Cooperative Purchasing.
• Approved a driveway license
agreement for 2553 177th Ave. NE.
• Approved a first reading regarding
sketch plan deposits.
• Approved an amendment to the
Development Agreement for
Harmony Estates to include the
installation of a monument sign.
At a Budget Workshop meeting on
September 8, the Council:
• Discussed expected income and
proposed expenditures for the 2015
budget. The budget was then placed
on the agenda for the September 15 th
Council meeting.
Oh, they’ll still be doing their great
work, providing low-income people
with the reliable transportation necessary to find and keep a job, take children to day care and doctor appointments, or shop for food and clothing.
But now they’ll do it under the name
“Cars for Neighbors.” The Board of Directors changed the nonprofit’s name to
make its mission clearer to the public.
Extension classes can
solve septic problems
A
noka County Extension offers a
class to teach you how to keep
your septic system operating properly –
when to pump, how to protect it from
freezing, and more. Cost is just $10 per
family.
Classes are held from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
on Monday, November 17, and Tuesday,
March 10, 2015, at Bunker Hills Activities Center in Andover.
Registration is due by November 3 rd for
the November class and February 25th,
2015, for the March class.
Information and registration forms are
available at www.extension.umn.edu/
county/anoka.
Right-of-way is wrong
way to store your things
G
ot a trailer, old car, or basketball
backboard camped out at the end
of your driveway? You may be officially classified by City Ordinance as a
public nuisance affecting peace and
safety. Storing things in the street
right-of-way is illegal and can be hazardous. If you have anything sitting
within 33 feet of the street’s center,
please move it to another storage place.
170xx Eveleth St. – theft of items from
a boat in a driveway
148xx Naples St NE – door locks
punched on vehicle; copper spools
and wire stolen.
156xx Yalta St. – mail taken from the
mailbox and thrown on lawn.
172xx Rockney St. – attempt to steal a
vehicle; window broken, ignition
damaged.
xxxxx Van Buren St. – resident was a
victim of the Grandparent Scam;
$1,000 sent via MoneyGram.
157xx Xylite St NE – scooter was stolen.
Arrests/Incidents
Aug. 21: DWI; a deputy stopped a
driver for poor driving conduct. He
was arrested after field sobriety tests
were conducted and failed.
Aug. 21: Warrant Arrest, Disorderly
Conduct; deputies responded to a report of a male selling stuff
door-to-door. He did not have a solicitation permit, had two warrants out
of Ramsey and Hennepin County,
was disrespectful, drunk and disorderly. He was arrested.
Aug. 29: 4th Degree DWI; a deputy
stopped a driver for poor driving conduct. He appeared intoxicated, failed
field sobriety tests, and was arrested.
Sept. 6: Crosstown Blvd NE/Hwy 65
NE – Cancelled –IPS, Warrant Arrest; a deputy stopped a vehicle that
an Attempt to Locate was issued on.
The female driver did not have a
valid driver’s license and had five
confirmed warrants. The female was
arrested.
Sept. 6: 14xx Lombardy Dr NE – 5th
Degree Domestic Assault; deputies
responded to a boyfriend/girlfriend
domestic. The male was arrested.
Fire Department Calls
The Ham Lake Fire Department responded to 37 calls during August – 27
during the day and 10 at night. These
included 4 structure calls (two fire
alarms, water flow alarm, one electrical
fire) six rescue calls, 25 medical calls,
one wildland call, and one Mutual Aid
call. The Department spent 20 hours on
calls with total personnel time adding
up to 196 hours. Year-to-date, the Department has answered 279 calls, compared with 289 calls at the same time
last year.
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]
Jim Doyle (Council)
(612) 850-1698
[email protected]
Tom Johnson (Council)
(763) 434-8573
[email protected]
Gary Kirkeide (Council)
(763) 434-9762
[email protected]
Al Parranto (Council)
(651) 775-7174
[email protected]
Continued from page 1:
Rum River Survey
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.
Weekly events
Each week there is Senior Dining at
noon on Mondays & Wednesdays (note:
the cost of the meal is $4.00), fitness
class, pinochle, cribbage, wood carving,
bingo, “500” cards, and “Hand and
Foot” card game. Plus each month there
H
am Lake Physical Therapy was
founded by Mark Netzinger in
1995. Over the years, Mark’s firm,
Physical Therapy Consultants, added
four other branches – in North Branch,
St. Francis, Andover, and Isanti. Last
April, the Ham Lake office moved to its
new location at 16210 Aberdeen St.
“We treat a wide
range of conditions,”
said Bill Tessman, a
Physical Therapist at
the Ham Lake branch.
“Most are orthopedic
conditions – joint
pain, low back pain,
neck pain. We also
see people for neurological conditions
such as Parkinson’s
disease or multiple
sclerosis. We treat
children with conditions like cerebral
palsy, and geriatric
patients with issues of
balance and
deconditioning.
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:
“Our main approach is through therapeutic exercise, but we also do some
manual therapy, using alignment techniques and soft tissue mobilization.”
Ham Lake Physical Therapy can be
contacted at the address above, at (763)
413-0880, or www.physicaltherapyptc
.com.
way. The Rum is known for canoeing,
smallmouth bass fishing, and high water
quality.
Senior Dance:
On the second Friday of every month
there is a senior dance with live music
and refreshments. Note: the cost to attend the dance is $6.00.
Friday, October 10th, will feature Jim
Armstrong from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Come to dance or just listen to the music!
Many of the watershed’s tributaries and
lakes, including lakes George and East
Twin, are also of high quality.
Defensive Driving Courses
(Open to the public for those 55 and
older.) Registration required. Send
your name, address, phone number,
date of class, 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
Tuesday, October 14th — 6:00 p.m.
(You need to take this every three
years and time flies, so make sure you
are current!). All four-hour classes are
$17 for members and $22 for
non-members.
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?
Ghost tours in Anoka
offered thru Halloween
The friendly staff at Ham Lake Physical Therapy
includes Rhonda Barnes (Clinic Coordinator),
Kylie Aufderheide (Physical Therapist), Emily
Wardock ( Physical Therapy Assistant), Britta
Bones (extreme fashion model), and Bill Tessman,
(Physical Therapist).
Walkathon supports area's homeless young people
O
Jam Sessions – Thursday, October 9th
at 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, October 21st
at 1:00 p.m.
ctober is Physical Therapy month!
In honor of this, Physical Therapy
Consultants is hosting the 1st Annual
Halloween 5k walk/run. The event will
support a local, non-profit organization,
HOPE 4 Youth, which is dedicated to assisting over 721 students experiencing
homelessness in Anoka County.
Join in the fun and support the cause on
October 26th at 11 a.m. at Lions Park in
Ham Lake.
If you’re interested in participating in
this event or becoming a sponsor, contact Kayla Groess at (763) 269-8051or
visit physicaltherapyptc.com.
E
xplore the Halloween Capital of
the World on the Ghosts of Anoka
Walking Tour in the spookiest month
of the year. Join the Anoka County
Historical Society for history and mystery as you venture through downtown
Anoka with a costumed tour guide.
Hear about the history and the unexplained stories of homes and businesses in this historic neighborhood.
Tours run Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays throughout October week. See
the Anoka County Historical Society
website, AnokaCountyHistory.org for
exact dates and times. Advanced reservations required. Cost: $7 Adults, $5
Youth, $5 ACHS Members.
The Rum River WRAP project began in
2013 and will be completed in 2016. It
will include:
• Water quality monitoring (2013-14).
• Special investigations of water
quality problems (2014).
• Computer modeling to answer “what
if” questions (2013-15).
• Total Maximum Daily Load
(TMDL) planning for waterbodies
not meeting state water quality
standards (2015-16).
• A WRAP report that prescribes
future management approaches
(2015-16).
After completion of the WRAP, local
agencies will implement projects to protect and improve water quality. State
funding, including the State Clean Water Fund from the Clean Water, Land
and Legacy Amendment, will ensure financial support exists for these projects.
At the local level, the Upper Rum River
Watershed Management Organization
(URRWMO) will be working for the
Rum River and our lakes.
The URRWMO is a joint powers organization of the Cities of Bethel, East
Bethel, Ham Lake, Nowthen, Oak
Grove and St. Francis. Learn more at
www. URRWMO.org.
The WRAP is funded and overseen by
the Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency, and the Anoka Conservation
District is the project lead.
Nine other counties in the watershed are
also involved.
For more information on the Rum River
WRAP project visit
www.pca.state.mn.us and search for
“Rum River WRAP” or call Jamie
Schurbon at the Anoka Conservation
District, (763) 434-2030, ext. 12.
City's Website contains
Help fighting Oak Wilt
Glen Cary's annual Harvest Festival Oct. 25th
ak Wilt disease in red and white
oak trees is an issue Ham Lake
residents have been battling for several
years.
O
O
In an effort to continue to assist residents in dealing with the disease and
preserve tree resources, the City has
created a new page on its website. The
page provides information on what
causes the disease, how it spreads, how
to deal with trees once they are infected,
and more.
Dinner is served from 5-7:30 p.m., and it
consists of turkey, meatballs, mashed
potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, coleslaw,
buns and pie! Dinner is $9.00 for adults,
$5.00 for youth and free if five and
under. You can also bring in a
non-perishable food item that will be
donated to the NACE food shelf for
$1.00 off your ticket price.
The information can be found at
http://www.ci.ham-lake.mn.us/?q=page/
oak-wilt.
If you have specific questions about
Oak Wilt, please contact the City Forester at (763) 235-1669.
Continued from page 1
2014 Elections Nov. 4
Three of Ham Lake's city officers are up
for reelection this year – Mayor Mike
Van Kirk, Councilmember Al
Parranto, and
Councilmember
Jim Doyle.
All three have
terms that end in
2014, but all three
are unopposed in
this year's election.
Al Parranto
Mike Van Kirk
Jim Doyle
n Saturday, October 25th, Glen
Cary Lutheran Church, 15531 Central Avenue NE, Ham Lake, will be holding their annual Harvest Festival.
Boy Scout troop 509 will also be holding
their “Trunk or Treat” event in the parking lot for youth. All proceeds from the
dinner will be used for youth attending
the ELCA Youth Gathering in Detroit,
July 2015.
Every ISTS must be
pumped, inspected
E
very Individual Sewage Treatment
System (ISTS) in Ham Lake must
be inspected at least every three years
and pumped if needed. It's important to
complete this before freeze-up this winter. The pumper must complete a pumping report on forms supplied by the City
and turn them in to the Building Dept.
Forms are available at City Hall and
also online. The City of Ham Lake
does not require a permit or charge a
fee for maintaining pumping records.
An improperly maintained ISTS can
have very serious health consequences
for the entire neighborhood. For this
reason, failure or refusal to inspect,
pump, and maintain an ISTS constitutes
a misdemeanor. More information about
proper maintenance of your septic system is available from the Minnesota Extension Service, www.extension.umn.
edu or call City Hall.
Oct. 1: Winter parking rules go into effect.
Oct. 5: Fire Department Open House, Fire Station #1,
11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Oct. 6: City Council Meeting, City Hall, 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 8: Chamber Network Meeting, 11:30 a.m., (see
www.hamlakecc.org for location)
Oct. 8: Ham Laker deadline for November issue.
Oct. 13:Planning Commission Meeting, City Hall,
6:00 p.m.
Oct. 14: Pre-registration ends for 2014 election.
Oct. 15: Park & Tree Commission Meeting, City
Hall, 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 20: City Council Meeting, City Hall, 6:00 p.m.
Oct. 20: Snowbowl button contest ends.
Oct. 26: Hope 4 Youth Walkathon, Lions Park, 11:00
a.m.
Church of St. Paul's
boutique & bake sale
Clean Water Tip #7:
Leaves, leaves, leaves!
T
he annual boutique at the Church
of St. Paul will be held on Saturday, October 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30
p.m. The church is located 1/4 mile east
of Highway 65 on Bunker Lake Blvd.
I
A large variety of fall and Christmas
items plus everyday home decor will be
available. In addition, purses, jewelry,
scarves and knit/crocheted pieces will
be featured. Baked goods will be in ample abundance. Something for
everyone!
But, what to do with those leaf piles after the kids or grandkids have jumped in
them? Recycle them another way. Take
them to a County Compost site: one is
near Bunker Hills and one is near
Wargo Nature Center.
Oak Haven Church's
annual Harvest Fest
O
ak Haven Church invites families
to its annual Harvest Festival on
Sunday, October 26, from 4:00 to 6:00
p.m. Families and kids of all ages will
enjoy lots of fun and food including a
chili feed, inflatables, carnival games,
crafts, prizes, and, of course, lots of
candy! It’s all FREE!
Oak Haven Church is located at 1555
Constance Blvd NE (just east of SA off
Hwy. 65). Questions: call (763)
434-6013.
f you’re not into leaving it up to nature to break down all those leaves,
help out by mulching them with a
mower. Your lawn can use the nutrients
and you'll save $$ on fertilizer.
You can find more details by calling
(763) 323-5730 or check out the County
website: www.anokacounty.us/361/
brush-tree-yard-waste.
There is a fee of $5 per four cubic
yards, and you need to take your bags
home with you.
Please keep leaves out of the street
since they can clog storm drains. And
please keep them out of the creeks and
ditches (even along the banks) or they
can add phosphorus to our creeks,
ponds, and lakes. That can lead to algae
blooms which can cause fish die-offs.
You can make a positive impact on our
water quality.
If you need a service project or want to
organize a Community Cleanup to rake
around storm drains, contact Dawn at
Coon Creek Watershed District, (763)
755-0975 or email ddoering@
cooncreekwd.org.
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
November Issue Deadline:
Wednesday, October 8
Oct. 27: Planning Commission Meeting, City Hall, 6:00
p.m.