Spring Sports Teams Hope Cabin Fever Lifts
Southern Valley Fund-raiser Tops Last Year
Ryan Dungey Feeds Off Energy of Home Crowd Page 15
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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, APRIL 17, 2013
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 16
City Council Approves Loans for New Downtown Business
Let the Digging Begin Work began Monday on Belle Plaine’s 2013 street and utility improvement project, including at the 100 block of West Main Street, resulting in the closure of that street for an indefinite period of time. When finished, that stretch of road will remain the same width but much of the rest of West Main Street (between Willow and Buffalo streets) will be reduced by up to 20 feet to the city’s state-aid standard of 44 feet. The boulevards on both sides of the street will be widened accordingly. This year’s project also includes street reconstruction and utility improvements at Eagle Street between Park and West Main Street and the 100 block of North Buffalo Street. Chard Tiling and Excavating was awarded the contract for this year’s project with a low bid of $1,304,218. An assessment public hearing will be held this fall, shortly after the bulk of the project has been completed.
B.P. Police, Crime Stoppers Accepting Anonymous Tips
The Belle Plaine Police Department has joined with Crime Stoppers of Minnesota to increase the ways citizens can pass on information about crimes while remaining anonymous. People giving tips may be eligible to collect up to a $1,000 reward. The additional ways citizens can turn in tips through this partnership may save thousands of dollars of investigators’ time, speed of solving crimes and help bring comfort to the victims. Tips may be turned in at a toll-free phone number, using the Internet, through SMS text messaging from a cell phone or using a smart phone APP, all managed and maintained by Crime Stoppers of Minnesota. Through this partnership, the Belle Plaine Police Department will receive tips Crime Stoppers collects through its systems because citizens may be reluctant to get involved directly with the authorities but who still want to do the right thing. The Belle Plaine Police Department will have the ability to put a Crime Stoppers link on its Web site as an additional means
to anonymously collect tips and will be able to include Crime Stoppers contact information when discussing or publicizing cases and the need for information. People with knowledge of a crime or a fugitive can provide information to Crime Stoppers by calling (1-800-222-TIPS 8477), going online at its Web site -- www.crimestoppersmn. org -- by texting on a cell phone TIP674, plus the message then sending it to CRIMES (274637) or by adding the free APP submit a tip to a Smartphone. If the tip leads to an arrest or charging the tipster may receive a reward of up to $1,000 and still remain anonymous. Crime Stoppers of Minnesota is a non-profit organization separate and independent of law enforcement. It is funded by tax-deductible donations. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors and has been in Minnesota since 1979. Today, there are over 500 Crime Stoppers programs around the United States and another 700 in other countries that offer the same commitment to anonymity and a reward to help solve
by Dan Ruud The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night unanimously approved the terms for a loan to Main Street Donuts and Deli from the city’s economic development authority’s (EDA) revolving loan fund program. Tim and Linda Heng of Main Street Donuts and Deli, who plan to open for business within the next several weeks at 108 West Main Street (the former Duets facility), applied for and will receive $21,600 for kitchen improvements related to the reopening of a business at that site. “The proposed project is consistent with the EDA’s revolving loan fund purpose statement to provide capacity and incentive to upgrade operating efficiency of businesses,” states a report from Municipal Development Group, which assisted owners Tim and Linda Heng with the application process for the loan. The report adds that the project also addresses the city’s goal to provide more eat-
ing establishments in the community. The loan is for a term of seven years at 1.25 percent interest, “contingent upon the execution of the loan agreement, promissory note and a second mortgage as collateral.” The Hengs also applied for and will receive a facade improvement loan from the city for new signage in the amount of $763.75. The Hengs will provide a 1:1 match, resulting in a forgivable loan of $763.75 to be paid to the contractor, Dahlen Sign Company. Under the city’s policy and loan agreement, the loan will be forgiven if the Hengs stay in business on that property for at least one year or transfer ownership of the business to another entity that maintains the business in the improved building for at least one year. Following staff’s report, the council approved the loans to the Hengs with no discussion. The Hengs recently purchased the former Duets building from
Rick and Mary Krant. They also operate Broadway Market in Jordan. Main Street Donuts and Deli will offer breakfast pastries, sandwiches, hamburgers, soups and more. Meanwhile, the council Monday also unanimously approved the terms of a forgivable facade improvement loan to Dr. Todd Meeker and Connie Meeker of Belle Plaine Chiropractic. The Meekers applied for $1,500 from the city’s facade improvement loan program to help finance signage at the their new building at 200 West Main Street downtown. In other business Monday night, the council called for a public hearing on a proposed ordinance amendment pertaining to projecting signage. On March 18, the council addressed at length an after-the-fact variance request by Canopy Group to be allowed to keep a twomonth-old projecting banner
City Council
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Recent Snow, Rain Softens Drought
crimes. Citizens can visit its Web site -- www.crimestop- The cloudy, wet and cool weather has not made it feel permn.org -- to learn more. much like spring in Minnesota, but the slushy snow and rain in March and April have helped reduce the drought conditions that have persisted since last fall. Especially now that the ground is thawed and seeding is perThe open house for the re- haps only a few weeks away, cently approved seasonal city the above normal precipitation dog park will take place on of recent weeks is all the more Monday, April 22 at the hockey beneficial to the state’s farmers, rink across the street from the including the Belle Plaine area. Belle Plaine Junior/Senior High According to the county rain School building. It will begin at gauge on the Ewald and Adella 6 p.m. Gruetzmacher farm in Belle A joint facility agreement was Plaine, 12.75 inches of snow/ recently reached between the rain has fallen in Belle Plaine city and school district to fa- since April 1, which (after the cilitate the dog park. The rink, snow is melted) computes to which will function as a dog 3.46 inches of rain. That’s on park during the spring and sum- top of the 12.50 inches of snow mer months, will be furnished in March, which is equivalent with dog waste receptacles and to 2.2 inches of rain. picnic tables. “That’s quite a lot (of moisCoborn’s will provide food ture),” said Adella Gruetzmfor the open house and all busi- acher when comparing this nesses that cater to dogs and spring’s total moisture so far to dog owners have been invited many other years. to set up display tables. The The Gruetzmacher gauge has public is invited to attend. been an official measuring stick for Scott County for many years. State climatologist Greg Spoden said that while many Minnesotans have been waiting a long time for warm, dry weather, there’s a bright side to the gloomy conditions. “The long spell of cloudy, dreary and rainy weather will be worth it when we won’t be springing right into a serious drought situation in southern Minnesota,” he said.
Dog Park Open House Next Monday
Weldon said the flood stage at about 12 feet. for Jordan is 25 feet, and as of “I’m pretty optimistic we’re this week, the river there is only going to be okay,” Weldon said.
Snow Day Ethan Laing, 9, and his sister Vienne, 6, took advantage of sticky snow and mild temperatures to build a snow fort and snow men in their front yard on East Shea Street. The children enjoyed an unscheduled snow day Thursday (April 11) when several inches of the slippery white stuff kept school buses safely parked in the garage.
Flood Risk Low
Snow Not Stopping This Sale A half-foot or so of wet, sticky snow did not keep Cindy Kruschke from holding a garage sale at her home at 104 Oakwood Drive on Friday (April 12). She said her husband Dave told her if she’s going to go through all the trouble of setting up the sale, you might as well have it for two weekends, which will also include this week’s City-Wide Garage Sale that takes place Friday and Saturday.
Despite the snow, rain and recent ground thaw, Scott County Emergency Management Director Chris Weldon said that barring any widespread heavy rains along the Minnesota River Valley anytime soon, the risk for major spring flooding this spring is minimal. The cold nights have helped reduce the rapidity of moisture from snow melt and ground thaw entering the river, giving what water does make it in more time to flow downstream before more follows.
Winter Still Standing Tall The creator of this snowman on East Main Street had some fun with this year’s extended winter. Now that it’s past the middle of April, most people would like to see this symbol of winter gone sooner than later. But chances are he’ll be around (or recognizable) for at least another few days.