Meet candidates for City Council
Blaze wins section title
Profiles outline community involvement, goals for city
Soccer team earns first state berth in 15 years
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2011
SAVAGE
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PACER Delinquent utility bills down 20% Over $258,000 still outstanding BY AMY LYON editor@savagepacer.com
The Savage City Council authorized the levy of special assessments at its Monday, Oct. 17 meeting for the collection of delinquent utility bills totaling more than $258,000. Administrative fees of $100 are also attached to each property bringing the total to collect to just under $300,000. “It’s been our past city practice to use this method rather than shutting off the water,” said City Administrator Barry Stock. According to Finance Director Shelly Kolling, the number of delinquent utility accounts is down 20 percent this year – from 494 properties last year to 391 properties this year. Dollar-wise, that equates to approximately 23 percent less than what was levied for the 2010 assessments. “That is good news,” said Kolling. “We have notified the preliminary people and some have paid.” Certified letters alerting property owners to delinquent utility bills were sent out last month and a reminder letter was sent out this week by “regular mail,” according to Kolling. Individuals have until Nov. 16 to pay delinquent utility bills to avoid the $100 penalty charge. If bills aren’t paid, the delinquent amount plus the $100 administrative fee will be assessed in one lump sum to taxes for calendar year 2012. “Also, I should mention that with the list, we use the best information we have on fi le,” said Stock. “So if a property owner has moved or if a property has gone into foreclosure, the assessment goes with the property.” Counci lwoman Jane Victorey asked how many repeat customers wind up on the list year after year. “There are some accounts that typically let it get to this point and they
SUBMITTED RENDERING
The proposed memorial would be designed by Leo A. Daly architects.
Firefighter memorial gains momentum Local firefighters raise funds to move memorial to a more fitting location BY FORREST ADAMS fadams@swpub.com
It may not look like much now, but if Minnesota’s 20,000 firefighters raise enough money by the end of the year, an area of the Capitol Mall known as Parking Lot H could be transformed into a new memorial by October 2012. Fire departments in the state are trying to raise $600,000 for the construction of an interactive fi refighter memorial. The purpose of the new project would be to honor fallen Minnesota fi refighters and provide a new home for a current fi refi ghter memorial that stands near the baggage claim at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The initial phase of the fundrais-
ing campaign began in July. Each of the state’s fi refighters was asked to contribute $30 or more to cover the costs. However, so far the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation only has about $205,000 in the bank for the project. Eden Prairie Fire Chief George Esbensen, president of the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation, said commitments to donate from fire departments and organizations associated with the fi re service bring that amount closer to $350,000. But still, the fi re service could use help from the general public and business community to push closer to the fundraising goal. At the low end, fi refighters need to raise $250,000 more before the
Memorial to page 16 ®
PHOTO BY FORREST ADAMS
Eden Prairie Fire Chief George Esbensen and Fire Chief Joel McColl from Savage say they are both confident that firefighters and the public will help the Minnesota Fire Service Foundation raise enough money by the end of the year to construct a memorial on the State Capitol Mall honoring fallen Minnesota firefighters.
Bills to page 3 ®
Out of work? Project Community Connect aims to help BY KRISTIN HOLTZ kholtz@swpub.com
You might not see them, but even here in the southwest metro, thousands of families are struggling to get by. The Minnesota Housing Partnership (MHP) reports that 36 percent of available jobs in Scott and Carver counties pay less than the wage necessary to afford basic needs. “Just because you have a job doesn’t mean you can afford everything you need for your family,” said Patricia Pettit, coordinator of Project
Community Connect. Local service agencies and community volunteers are coming together from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 to help area residents “living on little” as part of the second annual Scott Carver Project Community Connect. More than 80 providers will offer free services, including housing, education, medical care, youth, legal assistance, haircuts, benefits help, family services, dental, veterans’ services and more. The event has moved to Minnesota School of Business, which offers ad-
ditional professional space, such as doctor exam rooms, laboratory and more computers for legal volunteers, Pettit said. Also new are voter registration and transportation to the Scott County Government Center so attendees can renew their driver’s license or get a copy of their birth certificates. While Scott and Carver counties are often listed among the state’s wealthiest counties, the recent economic downturn has impacted this corner of the metro area, too, Pettit
If you go… What: Scott Carver Project Community Connect, a one-day event where services and information are available for those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28 Where: Minnesota School of Business, 1200 Shakopee Town Square, Shakopee Transportation: Shakopee Circulator will provide free rides if you mention Project Community Connect; people living outside of Shakopee should call SmartLink at (952) 496-8341 by Oct. 26 to arrange a ride. Info: scottcarverpcc.org
Project to page 2 ®
INSIDE OPINION/4 OBITUARIES/6 LET’S GO/11-12 POLICE/14 SPORTS/17-19 CLASSIFIEDS/26-28 TO REACH US SUBSCRIBE: (952) 345-6683 EDITOR: (952) 345-6376 OR E-MAIL EDITOR@SAVAGEPACER.COM.
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