The Citizen

Local vet meets urgent need with Twin Cities 1st stand-alone clinic

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

Local veterinarian

Dr. Liz Sitter is hoping she can fill a need in the north metro.

The Marine on St. Croix resident recently opened Aurora Urgent Veterinary Clinic in White Bear Lake, which is likely the first stand-alone pet urgent care in the Twin Cities.

“There’s a high demand. It is hard to get into your regular vet, and a lot of times you have to wait for weeks, and the emergency clinics are at capacity,” Sitter explained. “I saw a big need in the

market for urgent care. It’s kind of a newer thing.”

Before the pandemic, general practices could generally carve out time for both regular visits in addition to urgent care, but now

Seed libraries set to open in Washington County

BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER

Wildwood Library in Mahtomedi and Hardwood Creek Library in Forest Lake have something special planned for gardeners and plant lovers. Both locations will unveil two newly developed seed libraries in April.

“So far, it’s been a lot of excitement,” said Wildwood Library Branch Manager Lara Frese of the public response.

“There’s already so much support for Wildwood Library, and now there’s more from this, too.”

If at all possible yet at this late hour, it would be nice to separate the LEBENSCAPE logo in it's own box and not have it in the same box as the verbiage in pink. That way the

A patron suggested the seed libraries last May. In an email, the patron said that they were interested

in seeing seed libraries developed at both libraries. Librarians Kara Sundin and Cristina de Sobrino, from Wildwood and Hardwood Creek, respectively, responded enthusiastically to the proposal.

Sobrino noted that her love for gardening and Sundin’s knowledge of seed library development helped the project prog-

info about the landscaping is separate and the Garden Center info is separate as well. Just put some green between the 2. Or, what may be better visually, is put the logo up next to the white writing

ress. “I’m excited we were able to move this forward in just under a year,” Sobrino said. Sobrino said the goal of the seed libraries is to encourage people to reuse what they plant. “We hope people will borrow seeds from our library and grow them in the

City feels the bulldozer

BY LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER

CENTERVILLE — The city has been down this road before, according to Centerville City Administrator/Engineer Mark Statz.

That road is the one on which higher government, such as the state Legislature or unelected agencies, try to take power away from municipalities and counties.

Recently, the power creep has turned into the power leap, following an illuminating day on Capitol Hill.

City officials, including Junior Council Member Avery Sauber, had an eye-opening experience during City Day on the Hill. In addition to meeting their representatives at the state Capitol, the delegation from Centerville were gob-smacked to find that the Legislature had put forth bills to preempt local zoning control.

In a stated attempt to solve the state’s housing crisis, both chambers of

the Legislature are working on passing HF4009, SF3964 and SF3980 to eliminate the ability of municipalities to zone for single-family housing exclusively. If they are passed and signed by the governor, the bills would take effect in July.

The bills currently working their way through the process will tell cities they must allow duplexes, triplexes and even octoplexes in all residential areas of the city, regardless of whether there is enough parking or infrastructure to serve the high density brought on by these multifamily dwellings.

Sewer, water and storm sewer systems may be overwhelmed, public schools may be beyond capacity, traffic patterns could be disrupted, home values could plummet and pedestrian safety might be impacted — and there may be nowhere to park a car, opponents say, if the bills become law. While purporting to be

SHANNON GRAHNOLM } PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Aurora Urgent Veterinary Clinic is likely the first stand-alone pet urgent care in the Twin Cities. Pictured (from left) are Dr. Liz Sitter and Technicians Anny Yang and Riley Jorissen.

Community development: Activity in Hugo down slightly

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

HUGO — Currently, there are 133 single-family lots available within the city. The city is growing by approximately 350 residents per year. According to Metropolitan Council projections, Hugo’s population is likely just breaking 17,000.

Although the population continues to rise, it seems that building activity is dropping slightly.

Max Gort, associate planner, says 2023 saw a “fairly average” number of planning applications (41) compared to 59 in 2022. Planning applications include things like site plans, preliminary and final plats, conditional use/interim use permits, encroachment agreements, easement vacations, minor subdivisions and variances.

Approved projects/ projects in motion

• Shores of Oneka Lake (1st and 2nd additions)

• Oneka Prairie

• Watercrest of Hugo (Formerly known as Goodview Estates)

• Hugo Estates expansion

• Premier Banks new location

• Xcel Training Center expansion

• City-owned property downtown (Egg Lake property)

CONTRIBUTED

The total number of planning applications submitted to the city of Hugo last year remains high, although not as high as in 2022.

COUNTY BRIEFS

Public hearing on revised parks rules set for April 23

“We are seeing a higher number of minor subdivisions compared to previous years,” Gort explained. “A lot of people in rural Hugo are looking to subdivide their land before they sell.” In 2023, there were five minor subdivisions compared to three in 2022, and one each year in 2019-2021.

The city of Hugo did see a slight uptick in single-family residential permits: there were 121 permits in 2023 compared to 107 in 2022.

The building inspection

department continues to be busy. There were 3,797 inspections conducted within the city of Hugo in 2023, compared to 4,385 in 2022. The department also completed 527 contract inspections for the city of Scandia, compared to 577 in 2022.

Heading into 2024, Gort says two important topics of discussion for the city’s Planning Commission will be residential apartment projects, mixed-use zoning districts and cannabis regulations.

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or citziennews@ presspubs.com.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners has scheduled a public hearing for April 23 to review proposed changes to parks ordinance No. 213, which provides the rules and regulations for county parks, at its March 19 meeting.  County staff will share the revised ordinance (park ordinance No. 218) with the public at the hearing before it goes to the county board for a vote.  Park ordinance No. 213 was adopted in September 2020. It provides the current rules and regulations necessary to provide for the safe and peaceful use of park lands by everyone. County staff, including representatives from public works, the county attorney's office and the county sheriff's office, reviewed the original ordinance. This review considered recent state legislative changes impacting public spaces and included an evaluation of certain park rules and regulations needing updates or modifications based on park user and staff feedback. This review process recommended changes to the current ordinance, including:

• Prohibiting cannabis use in county parks.

• Allowing e-bikes on approved bike trails.

• Updates to foraging in county parks.

• Updates to winter trail uses.

County board approves contracts for agencies to work with those with disabilities

AXIS Healthcare LLC and Handy Help LLC will work with Washington County residents with intellectual/ developmental disabilities. The contracts are for a term of April 1 through Dec. 31, 2025, and an amount not to exceed $30,000.  The county is responsible for providing case management services to more than 1,500 children and adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities. The case management for these individuals is performed by county social workers or contracted through private agencies.

A request for proposal (RFP) process was completed for case management services in December 2023 and six vendors were awarded a contract. A second solicitation of the RFP for case management services was issued in January 2024 and has resulted in the approval of the two additional contracts. The services will be billed directly to the state of Minnesota or paid for with county levy dollars.

ONGOING EVENTS

HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY ‘500’

When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday, April 4; and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Games begin at 12:45 p.m. Refreshments and coffee served. All senior citizens from the area invited.

Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com

HUGO SENIOR CLUB MEETING

When: 1:00 p.m. Monday April 15, and every 3rd Monday of each month.

Where: Rice Lake Centre in Hugo, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: The club relies upon its members to help provide ideas for services and activities for seniors. The meeting will include planning activities for future months. Coffee and refreshments will be served. Games will be played after the meeting.

Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com

CURRENT EVENTS

LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST: MAPLE SYRUPING

When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, April 3

Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes

Details: Bring a lunch and hear a naturalist-led presentation for all ages. May include optional hike or outdoor component. Registration not required; equipment provided.

Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

INHERITED STORIES WITH DIETRICH NISSEN

When: 2 p.m. Thursday, April 4

Where: Gable Pines, 1260 East County Rd. E, Vadnais Heights

Details: Learn how to create a legacy video documentary with the founder of Inherited Stories. RSVP by April 1.

Contact: 651-350-1703 or gablepineslife@gablepines.com

COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR

When: 3-6 p.m. Thursday, April 4

Where: Vadnais Heights Commons

Saturday at 4:30 pm Parish Community Center  6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville

Sunday at 8:30 am St. John’s Site  14383 Forest Blvd N, Hugo

Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Community Center  6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville  www.stgens.org 651‐429‐7937 761757

Details: Free screenings and information from local healthcare providers.

Contact: 651-401-3211 or vhedc.com

‘PINOCCHIO’

When: 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Thursday, April 4 and Friday, April 5; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday, April 6; 1 & 4 p.m. Sunday, April 7

Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave. White Bear Lake

Details: Storu within a story version of the classic tale. See ticket information online.

Contact: lakeshoreplayers.org

‘I AM MY OWN WIFE’

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 5 & 12; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 6; 7 p.m. Sunday, April 7; 2 & 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13; and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 14

Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave. White Bear Lake

Details: Lakeshore Players performs the true story od a transgender woman who survived the Nazis and East German Communist regime. Ticket information online.

Contact: lakeshoreplayers.org

SPIRIT OF WHITE BEAR LAKE

When: 9 a.m. Saturday, April 6

Where: Boatworks Commons,

Details: 5K and 5-mile run out and back on a paved trail along White Bear Lake. Proceeds support the Strive program at WBLAHS and Area Learning Center. Register online.

Contact: midwestevents.com/mwe-event/spirit-of-whitebear-lake-5k-5-mile-2

WILDWOOD SEED LIBRARY GRAND OPENING

When: noon-2 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Where: Wildwood Library, Mahtomedi

Details: Learn about the new seed library with a seed swap, workshops with Washington County Master Gardeners, and crafts. Guest speaker Diane Wilson, author of “The Seed Keeper” will discuss the traditions of seed stewartship at 2 p.m.

Contact: washcolib.org

A CAPPELLA SHOWCASE

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 6

Where: Chautauqua Fine Arts Center, Mahtomedi

Details: Concert features A Cappella groups from Mahtomedi Public Schools, the community, local colleges, and universities. Ticket information online.

Contact: wildwoodartistseries.com

BE SMART

When: 6:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 9

Where: Online

Details: Online presentation about the program designed to promote responsible gun ownership to reduce child gun deaths. Registration required.

Contact: mahtomedi.ce.eleyo.com

FUTURES IN BLOOM

When: 7:45-8:45 a.m. Tuesday, April 9

Where: Century College, East Lincoln Mall

Details: John Century College leaders for a complimentary breakfast and hear student testimonials.

Contact: 651-779-3219 or century.edu

THE HEALTHY

BRAIN

When: 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, April 10

Where: Living Waters Church, 865 Birch St., Lino Lakes

Details: Join Lyngblomsten Community Services for a free presentation with strategies to help ensure a healthier brain, based on four things that can be done now for mental fitness. Register by April 2.

Contact: 651-632-5330 or lyngblomsten.org/communityservices

ZEPHYR GALA

When: 5-9:30 p.m. Friday, April 12

Where: JX Event Venue, Stillwater

Details: Fundraiser for Mahtomedi Area Education Foundation to support and enrich learning experienced for students at Mahtomedi Public Schools.

EAST VS. WEST SHOWDOWN

When: Saturday, April 13

Where: White Bear Lake High School North Campus

Details: High school eams from throughout the Twin Cities compete in 27 lacrosse games.

Contact:

HOME LANDSCAPE AND GARDEN FAIR

When: 7:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Saturday, April 13

Where: Bunker Hills Activities Center, 550 Bunker Lake Blvd. NW, Andover

Details: Get ready for spring with the Anoka County Extension Master Gardeners at the Home Landscaping and Garden Fair. Choose from over a dozen educational classes, browse creative vendor booths and talk with local organizations in our resource room. For more information, or to register, visit https://extension.umn. edu/event/home-landscaping-and-garden-fair.

Contact: anokamastergardeners.org

CAEF EBONY & IVORY GALA

When: 6 p.m. Saturday, April 13

Where: Majestic Oaks Golf Club, 701 Bunker Lake Blvd., Ham Lake

Details: Annual Fundraiser for the Centennial Area Education Foundation includes live entertainment from Rock It Man Entertainment's Dueling Pianos, dinner, auction, games, and more. Tickets on sale through March 30.

Contact: caefoundation.org/gala

Local connections

If you’ve taken the time to read this (in print or online), I offer my sincere thanks. If you are a Press subscriber, I need to let you know that your support is genuinely appreciated. The fact that you’re connecting with a local source for information is also a tangible and valid indication that you are curious and care about what’s going on in your community. I help oversee the operation and flow of content on our combined websites, so I see the variety of local content that is researched and created by members of our dedicated staff on a daily and weekly basis. These articles cover a range that includes human interest features, in depth stories originating from city hall meetings, sports and breaking news.

Angle of View

Dols

Starting with a rudimentary website in the early 2000s, I’ve been involved in at least four generations of news website evolution, logging years of experience working on setup, management, content creation and troubleshooting. Over the years I’ve looked at the website fundamentally as a tool to work in tandem with our print products, a way to reach an expanded audience while also providing opportunities to present stories with additional space for photos and video presentations.

There was a period of time when I was frustrated and sometimes impatient with some of the user complaints we were receiving and concluded that I needed to change my approach — or else be resigned to remaining in a perpetual cycle of intermittent irritation. Once it finally dawned on me that the readers who contacted us with concerns and complaints cared enough about their local newspaper to make the effort to let us know when something wasn’t working, my perspective changed, and a more collaborative point of view emerged. Now when we receive messages from readers concerning various website issues, I try to work with them as troubleshooting partners. With a little patience we’ve managed to work together through most issues we’ve encountered. I believe one of the most valuable skills I’ve learned through accumulated experience — that is also transferrable into daily life — is troubleshooting. Learning how to effectively trouble-shoot a problem is all about pragmatically gathering information, not to support a preconceived notion, but to reveal the truth so that the underlying problem can be solved. Coincidentally, this is among the fundamental principles that also guides ethical journalism. I’ve been wary and skeptical of social media since the mid 2000s, when Facebook and other platforms started to gain mass followings. I accept that there might be some good things that can be attributed to social media but, in my opinion, the harm and disfunction that has been unleashed far outweighs the positive aspects that appear to only benefit small, singularly focused minority interests.

In his column last week, Press Publications Publisher Emeritus Gene Johnson shared his perspective on some of challenges of competing with social media and also stressed the continued importance of a trusted local newspaper as part of a healthy community. All I can add is that coverage and information shared by respected media organizations like the Poynter Institute and the American Journalism Project agree with his perspective. A recent article on the Poynter Institute website described the local coverage readers missed following the decline of a family-owned newspaper in Indiana after control switched to a private equity company and a passage from the American Journalism Project website reads “Local news bridges divides in communities, showcases opportunities for community connection, highlights community perspectives, and sheds light on how policy issues affect readers and their neighbors.”

Thanks again for partnering with us as we navigate through some challenging and uncharted territory.

Paul Dols is photojournalist/website editor for Press Publications. He can be reached at 651-407-1238

YSpring is all about planning

ou’re likely familiar with the Benjamin Franklin quote “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”

Movers & Shakers

Michelle Koch

Many of us seem so busy trying to get through today, planning for the future almost doesn’t feel manageable. Whether planning for our children’s future or our own golden years, planning ahead is important. Preparation makes the most of opportunities and resources, saves time, and reduces stress. Recently, I’ve sat in on an input session for Centennial School District’s longrange plan and worked on putting together the Quad Area Chamber’s 3rd annual Senior Expo and Wellness Fair, covering both ends of the generational spectrum. Any thriving community consists of people of all ages. It comes as no surprise that different stages of life come with different needs. Regardless of the phase, prior planning is key to making the most of the stage. The work the district is putting into a 10-year plan will benefit children that aren’t yet born and the seniors who will attend the expo will

leave better prepared for the years ahead.

When we aren’t sure what lies ahead it is tempting to not think about it. As if ignoring the future delays it’s reality.

The chamber’s March Lunch & Learn was a workshop focused on AI. A hot topic that feels overwhelming. It is new, constantly changing, and we don’t know what we don’t know. The consensus amongst attendees seemed to be that we all were a little nervous about AI and also wanted to gain better understanding. We all knew that burying our heads in the sand wasn’t the wisest option.

The future is coming and we should prepare ourselves, our businesses, and our communities as best we can. We won’t all see things the same or want the same out of the future but we benefit of collectively coming together to share ideas and perspectives.

Spring is all about planning. We plan gardens, projects, trips and more. It may be my favorite season because it feels full of anticipation. There are sunny days and events to look forward to!

Some of the nonprofits in our area are hosting their big fundraisers of the year. The Centennial Area Education Foundation will host its Ebony & Ivory Gala on April 13 and the Chain of Lakes Rotary will host its Chain of Giving

Pre-Derby Party on May 3. These events require a lot of planning. While they are fun to attend, their purpose is to raise money for future needs. Money raised will be used to better life in our community and beyond. Without the work put into pre-planning the events wouldn’t be successful and the organizations wouldn’t be able to serve the worthy causes.

Please visit the chamber’s website QuadAreaChamber.org to check out the community calendar. There you will find our events and happenings around our area. You are also able to submit your own event! Add the Senior Expo & Wellness Fair to your calendar! It will take place on May 16 from 9 a.m. to noon at St. Genevieve’s Parish Community Center in Centerville. There will be local vendors, eye-glass collection, sharps collection, wellness checks and more. Sponsorship opportunities and vendor space is still available. This free to attend event is full of resources for aging well in the Quad Area, perfect for seniors and those who care about and for them.

Happy Spring, Quad community!

Michelle Koch, Quad Area Chamber President

Paul

Veteran community is reclaiming that sense of purpose

Iwant to take a moment to share some of my personal insights from Peace for Warriors’ recent mission to the Philippines.

I recall when we touched down in Manila, there was a very nervous energy I could feel running through my body. My previous experiences with international travel were always with a weapon in my hand and in much larger groups.

As our small group of volunteers went through customs in the Philippines, my anxiety spiked, given my past experiences. Exiting the airport, however, our host family greeted us warmly, embracing us with open arms. The matriarch of the family was even in tears, overwhelmed with happiness to see us. Once we got in the van, we drove 3 hours to the house which would act as our “base of operations” for our upcoming mission.

The host family had prepared a meal for us, featuring various local dishes, urging us to indulge in the delicious food. Their hospitality was remarkable, but my mind couldn’t help but wander to potential threats in this foreign land. Despite the warmth of our hosts, the anxiety lingered as we settled in for our first night’s sleep.

The next day, we transitioned right into work mode. Meeting at the school, surveying the needs of the students and faculty, and finding pricing for materials needed. It was a full operational planning session, and that work brought me right back to the sense of purpose I felt so strongly during the war on terror. We were putting military planning and efficiency to use to feed the children, improve the buildings, upgrade facilities, and provide supplies. It was incredibly rewarding to witness the immediate impacts of our efforts taking shape.

Word of our efforts traveled through the town quickly. As we ventured out to visit the areas where most of our students resided, many of the elders and even the local tribal chief came to join us. They introduced us to the families of the homes along our path through the town and then up into the neighboring mountains and farm fields. As the day passed it became apparent to us how strongly our values aligned with the individuals we met. Regardless of backgrounds or languages spoken, the universal desire for a better life for the next generation resonated deeply. As the elders who guided us expressed their appreciation and gratitude for our efforts, I began to feel a sense of purpose reminiscent of my prior deployments during the War on Terror.

Here at Peace for Warriors, we have developed the ability to format these volunteer missions in a military-style format that our veterans are accustomed to, creating a humble, yet safe environment without the threats of combat. Each morning, we start with a mission brief to ensure everyone knows what must be accomplished. We debrief at the end of each day. We break bread together and talk about our experiences in the presence of those we know share our pain. We have bled together, and now we heal together.

Moral injuries suffered during combat, watching friends die, having to take life, and seeing so much suffering can destroy a person over time. We are balancing those experiences with feeding children, repairing schools, and other such positive experiences the best way we know how. Consider this proper nutrition for the soul. When military members are asked why they enlisted, the desire to make a positive

difference in the world is the primary motivation for joining. The experiences many face on combat deployments, unfortunately, highlight the reality of evil and suffering in our world today. It can often be soul-crushing.

Since we’ve been back from our trip, our social media posts have gotten an overwhelming response from veterans across the country, all expressing a heartfelt desire to get involved. These responses underscored the underlying need within the veteran community to reclaim that sense of purpose—to once again be a force for good in the world, despite the challenges they’ve faced.

As inquiries from future participants come in, we plan to continue developing our program and expanding our destinations for outreach. We also continue our fundraising efforts; we ask that you please consider giving to our growing foundation. These donations fund not only our veterans but also the support staff and materials necessary to complete our mission which provides the proper environment to heal. We greatly appreciate your consideration as we are nothing without your support. With every donation, we come one step closer to changing the world for our veterans and those they serve.

I want to thank you all for following us, supporting us, and changing the lives of our veterans. It cannot be overstated that you are truly changing the world.

Daniel Arcand is the president of Peace for Warriors, a nonprofit organization that aims to help veterans recover from PTSD and moral injury symptoms by providing international outreach opportunities. For more information, visit www.peace4warriors.org. He can be reached at 253-338-9366

WEEKLY WAG

Alana is a mature, middle-aged girl with a heart of gold. She arrived at Ruff Start Rescue from a high-kill shelter in Texas. Alana may be initially timid around new people, but after slow, patient introductions, she is full of affection and companionship.

Alana is a Labrador retriever/black mouth cur mix and weighs about 60 pounds. It is estimated she is about 8 years old. Alana is house-trained, cratetrained and leashtrained, and knows her basic commands. She is quiet and has a mild energy level. Once Alana gets to know you and trust is built, she is affectionate and eager to please. She will seek attention and an occasional treat.

Alana is social with large dogs her size but may not do well in a

POLITICAL BRIEFS

home with small dogs or cats. Alana will do well with a patient, loving family who will give her the time she needs to adapt and become part of the family. If you are interested in learning more about Alana or adopting her, please fill out an application at www.ruffstartrescue. org. Once your application is received, Ruff Start Rescue will contact you as soon as possible.

Emmer announces 2024 Congressional Art Competition

The Office of Congressman Tom Emmer (MNDistrict 6) has begun accepting applications for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition.

“The Congressional Art Competition gives the Sixth District’s young artists an opportunity to showcase their impressive work,” Emmer said. “We look forward to the competition every year and are excited to put our local students’ talent on display in the Capitol!”

The Congressional Art Competition is an annual competition for high school students across the United States. The winner from each district wins the chance to travel to Washington, D.C., to visit with their representative and see their artwork displayed in the Halls of Congress.

Sixth District students from grade 9-12 are encouraged to participate, and should deliver all submissions to Emmer’s district office in Otsego by 5 p.m. Friday, April 19. More information on the competition is available online at www.house. gov/educators-and-students/congressional-artcompetition.

Get ready for 2024 elections

The League of Women Voters – White Bear Lake will host a meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in the social hall at the White Bear Unitarian Universalist church, 328 Maple St., Mahtomedi.

Secretary of State Steve Simon will join via Zoom to provide a preview of the election calendar, share his thoughts on key issues and challenges, discuss voter demographics and highlight any new legislation affecting voting and the elections process.

Three more speakers will discuss topics of general interest before the attendees break into small groups to explore topics of VOTE 411, insights from White Bear Lake Area High School students and nonpartisan policy. Reservations are not required.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED Dani Bare and Daniel Arcand sit with tribal elders and share fresh coconut and discuss what work needs to be done on Peace for Warriors next trip.

Peace for Warriors founder Daniel Arcand, of Hugo, and Vice President Danie Bare pictured with some students from a school Peace for Warriors is sponsoring.

Pictrued is a group of students who Peace for Warriors fed during the trip. The organization was able to provide food for 622 students during the trip. Many of these students do not have the money to eat more than once a day.

Movers & Shakers

Daniel Arcand

COPS&COURTS

HUGO POLICE REPORTS

The Washington County Sheriff's Office reported the following incidents:

• A resident at an undisclosed location at 2:46 p.m. Feb. 18 reported a vehicle as unstolen, after the vehicle he previously reported as stolen turned out to have been towed instead.

The complainant asked Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies to remove the vehicle from the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.

• A garage door and interior door reported left open for several hours at 8:01 p.m. Feb. 18 at the address of an elderly person in the 14000 block of Finale Avenue N. turned out to have been left open by a roommate.

• An unidentified motorist was arrested for DWI at 10:03 p.m. Feb. 19 on Frenchman Road and Oneka Parkway N., following a complaint about poor driving conduct that may have included running into and destroying mailboxes.

• The homeowner's association at a multifamily dwelling in the 14000 block of Evergreen Avenue N. at 10:11 p.m. Feb. 19 reported a mailbox damaged by a drunk driver.

• A resident in the 9000 block of 140th Street N. at 8:52 a.m. Feb. 20 reported a potential scam.

• Deputies conducted two traffic stops during the late evening of Feb. 20 to issue citations to the motorists. The first stop occurred at 9:07 p.m. on Frenchman Road and Oneka Parkway N., and the second at 9:33 p.m. on 140th Street N. and Fondant Avenue N. A third traffic stop, at 10:00 p.m. in the 5000 block of 120th Street N., resulted in the driver requesting a reexamination.

• A Minnesota motorist was issued a verbal warning at 10:07 a.m. Feb. 21 on Farnham Avenue N. and French Drive N. for driving with-

Hugo man sentenced for drugs charge

Cory Allen Wuollet, 42, of Hugo, had to spend 120 days in jail and will do three years of probation after being convicted of a fifth-degree drugs charge. According to the criminal complaint, a Washington County deputy was on routine patrol in the area of 15000 block of Forest Boulevard North in the city of Hugo when he observed a male known to him, Wuollet, standing near a trailer home. The deputy confirmed that Wuollet was trespassed from the area until June 2023.

Wuollet was arrested for trespassing. During a search, the deputy located a syringe loaded with a clear liquid in his front right pocket. Wuollet was transported to the Washington County Jail. During a postMiranda statement, he stated that he uses methamphetamine; however, he denied knowing

out wearing her seatbelt and for driving a motor vehicle without a driver's license in her possession.

• Residents in the 9000 block of 170th Street N. at 2:24 p.m. Feb. 21 reported that someone had accessed their financial accounts and had transferred money out of them.

• Deputies reported junk in the road to the Hugo Public Works Department at 6:15 a.m. Feb. 22 and asked them to clear the debris that blocked the southbound lane of traffic on Goodview Avenue N. and Egg Lake Road N.

• A set of keys accompanied by a lock were reported found at 3:41 p.m. Feb. 22 in the middle of an intersection of 145th Circle N. and 145th Street N.

• A resident in the 14000 block of Geneva Avenue N. at 9:53 p.m. Feb. 21 reported her ex-boyfriend for refusing to leave her residence, despite being asked to do so.

• Continuing in their roles to flush unwanted persons from residences, deputies responded to the 14000 block of Fountain Avenue N. at 11:14 p.m. Feb. 22 and made contact with the male in question.

• Deputies were dispatched out to a residence at an undisclosed location in town on a civil issue at 8:27 p.m. Feb. 23. The complainant and father of a child involved in custody issues reported the mother for abusing their shared child. When deputies arrived on scene, however, the child was the one who volunteered that the father's antics had become tiresome and annoying.

• Washington County Sheriff's Office deputes were dispatched out to the scene of two females arguing in the entryway of an apartment building in the 4000 block of Rosemary Way N. at 5:38 p.m. Feb. 25. Deputies had a chat with both parties involved and confirmed that no crime, such as assault or

what was in the syringe. On Feb. 3, 2023, the contents of the syringe field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Wuollet will need to pay a $50 fine and comply with a long list of conditions.

Sheriff’s Office receives $11K from Operation Underground Railroad

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will receive an $11,000 donation from Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.).

The nonprofit organization works with law enforcement agencies to protect children from sex trafficking and sexual exploitation. O.U.R. is committed to empowering domestic law enforcement agencies by providing tools, training and technology to enhance their abilities to combat child exploitation. The $11,000 donated to the

theft, had taken place and advised the women to just stay away from one another.

• A suspicious vehicle reported at 6:45 p.m. Feb. 26 in the 7000 block of 125th Street N. turned out to belong to an individual known by the complainant. Noting that it was a small world after all, deputies cleared the scene.

• A suspicious vehicle reported at 1:46 p.m. Feb. 26 in the 7000 block of 147th Street N. turned out to be the county surveyor on the job surveying property.

• A resident in the 14000 block of Generation Avenue N. at 2:45 p.m. Feb. 26 reported losing money to electronic fraud.

• Deputies took a call from a 911only phone at 4:52 p.m. Feb. 26 in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N., reporting that a domestic was occurring at a nearby residence and involved a child screaming. On arrival, deputies spoke with the father at the residence, who was at home with his sleeping child. Deputies concluded that no crime had occurred. However, this report was just one of a long series of ongoing neighbor dispute reports among multiple nearby properties.

• Suspicious vehicles reported at 9:44 p.m. Feb. 26 in the 17000 block of Forest Blvd. N. turned out to be two parties meeting in a public place to conduct a Facebook Marketplace sale.

• A motorist was cited at 10:56 a.m. Feb. 27 near the intersection of Forest Blvd. N. and 170th Street N. for speeding 77 mph in a 55 mph zone.

• A tree was reported blocking the road on Harrow Avenue N. and

Sheriff’s Office is to purchase Graykey software, a forensic access tool designed for sameday, lawful access and extraction of encrypted data from mobile devices. This powerful tool unlocks actionable intelligence to solve cases faster, reduce crime within the community and maximize investment in mobile forensic technology.

No burn permits will be issued

The city of Hugo Fire Department will not issue regular burn permits for open burning of brush or yard waste until restrictions are lifted. Restrictions are usually lifted in early May when vegetation greens up. (Restricted burning means that only variance burning is allowed as weather conditions permit.)

165th Street N. at 4:12 p.m. Feb. 27. The public works department was called out to remove the tree.

• A female was reported at 11:17 a.m. Feb. 28 for causing issues at a residence in the 6000 block of Egg Lake Road N., after the complainant allowed her to stay for two nights. The female kept returning to the residence after the two nights were up and after the complainant told her not to come back. At 3:00 a.m. the previous night, the subject showed up to cause a disturbance and to make vague threatening remarks. The complainant wanted the incident documented in case it escalated or became an ongoing issue.

• A Kwik Trip customer in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 3:45 p.m. Feb. 28 reported disorderly conduct out at the pumps.

• Possible employee theft was reported at 6:44 p.m. Feb. 28 by a business in the 5000 block of 165th Street N.

• At 9:42 p.m. Feb. 28, deputies conducted a traffic stop in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. and issued a citation.

• Juveniles were reported for being on private property in the 5000 block of 135th Street N. at 6:22 p.m. Feb. 29 and throwing rocks into a pond.

Deputies spoke to the juveniles and let them know they were on a person's property without permission. Deputies also let the kids know that they were happy the youths were outside enjoying a healthy activity and not inside playing video games.

Loretta Harding

AURORA CLINIC: New urgent care sees pets in a timely fashion

there are so many pets in the market that they are having a tough time accommodating them all. Some emergency clinics in the Twin Cities also provide urgent care, but as far as Sitter knows, she is the first vet to open a stand-alone urgent care.

Sitter, who is originally from New Jersey, went to vet school in Oklahoma. She moved to Minnesota about 11 years ago to be close to her sister. She has been in general practice for 10 years; she formerly worked at Stillwater Veterinary Clinic and Century Animal Clinic in Maplewood.

It was that need she saw while working in general practice that prompted her to open Aurora Urgent Care.

“After the pandemic, I just saw we were turning so many people away every day, especially new clients that didn’t have a clinic, because we were barely being able to fit our current clients,” Sitter recalled. “I thought it really stunk that their only option was the emergency clinic, which is really expensive, and you have to wait for hours and hours.”

The urgent care offers same-day appointments only from Monday through Friday. It offers in-house blood work and diagnostics, imaging via X-rays and ultrasounds, minor surgeries, end-of-life care and an in-house pharmacy.

The clinic does not offer vaccinations or elective procedures, but can help when it comes to things like vomiting or diarrhea, coughing or sneezing, minor wounds, skin rashes and more. (See pullout box for more information.)

The clinic is designed to feel more like a home, rather than a pet hospital.

“I wanted a warm, welcoming, homey atmosphere and not so sterile and ‘doctory,’” she explained. “I wanted it to look a bit more like a house versus a hospital.”

For clients who are forced to make one of the toughest decisions they will ever have to make, they will find a room that looks just like a living room, rather than a doctor’s office. They can sit on a couch, or the floor with their pup while they lay on a comfortable bed rather than a cold metal table.

In addition to the health of the pets, Sitter also cares about the health of her staff.

“A lot of people in this field struggle with mental health issues,” she said. “One thing I wanted to do is to open a space that has a positive company culture, (values) lots of open communication and puts staff first.” She added, “I want to help as many pets get seen in a timely, more cost-effective matter, but also while balancing and maintaining like mental health of the staff.”

Dr. Sitter currently has two technicians, Riley Jorissen and Anny Yang. Jorissen, of Fridley, has been in the field for 26 years, 14 of those serving as a certified veterinary technician.

“During COVID, the veterinary field changed a lot; it changed for the worse. A lot of technicians are leaving the field,” she explained. Jorissen left the field herself for a year and was trying

to figure out what she was going to do next. She stumbled across what Dr. Sitter was doing and applied to be the receptionist.

“During the interview, I was impressed with her wanting to keep everything local and just helping the people around us,” Jorissen explained. “I was excited to work with Dr. Liz because

she’s offering something that is so new to this field. I am super excited to like be at the beginning of this. Twenty-six years in this field, and this is probably the coolest thing I’ve done.”

Yang, of St. Paul, has been in the field for 3 1/2 years. She said she is looking forward to the opportunity to continue to grow her skill set in the field.

“I think with this clinic being here, it will help a lot of the clients that come in,” she said. “We are open to seeing anybody.”

The clinic is located at 4874 Highway 61 in White Bear Lake. For more information about Aurora Urgent Veterinary Clinic, visit www.auroraurgentvet.com. To make a same-day appointment, call the clinic at 651-422PETS (7387).

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or citizennews@presspubs.com.

When should you go to urgent care versus an emergency clinic?

Urgent Care

• Ear infections

• Skin rashes and itching

• Vomiting or diarrhea

• Coughing or sneezing

• Not eating

• Losing weight

• Broken toenail

• Minor wounds

• Limping

• Red, gunky or squinty eyes

• New or irritated lumps and bumps

• End-of-life appointments

Emergency Clinic

• Labored breathing

• Pale or white gums

• Hit by a car or large/extensive wounds

• Bloated belly with nonproductive retching

• Actively bleeding, more than just a slow drip

• Toxin ingestion

• Collapsed/unable to rise and walk

• A seizure lasting more than 5 minutes or multiple seizures in a 24-hour period

• A very rapid and steep decline in health

Aurora Urgent Veterinary Clinic is located at 4874 Highway 61 in White Bear Lake.

SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

The urgent care has a special room designed for pet parents who are forced to make one of the toughest decisions they will ever have to make – euthanasia.

CENTERVILLE TIDBITS HUGO BITS & PIECES

• At its March 27 meeting, the Centerville City Council conducted the second reading of zoning code changes to Chapter 156 – Table of Allowed Uses to clear up some confusing language. Recently, questions came up regarding the interpretation of the city’s zoning code that showed ambiguity, incorrect statements and typographical errors. For example, the letter “P”, designating “single-family attached dwellings with up to two dwelling units per building” was in the R2 District, where it should not have been and missing in the R2A District where it should have been. Another change involved “Eating and Drinking Establishments” that doesn’t indicate they are allowed in Mixed Use Districts, where the city would like them to be.

• Now that it is suddenly very cold this spring, the topic of replacing the boiler at the public works building has become timely. At the Jan. 24 meeting, staff presented three options to replace the facility’s failed boiler, which included a boiler on eBay (now gone) and a geothermal option, which was too costly. Staff is now left with Option 1, a new high-efficiency boiler ($14,445 for the unit alone). The replacement boiler would operate with a 97% efficiency. The new boiler project, estimated at $20,000 will be financed using money from the capital equipment replacement fund.

• City Administrator/Engineer Mark Statz estimated that approximately 20% of the city’s homeowners have a sprinkler system. Rainy day watering causes the city to waste thousands of gallons of water annually. Council gave city staff approval to apply for $5,000 in grant funding through the Metropolitan Council Water Efficiency Grant Program and to execute a smart irrigation controller rebate program. The smart irrigation controllers could reduce annual water usage by 15,000 gallons per participant. The Met Council would cover 80% of the grant. The $5,000 would cover 75% of the cost of a replacement smart irrigation controller, and the homeowner would cover anything

more than $150. The grant is for replacement, not for new installation. The application deadline is March 29, with an implementation date of early July 2024.

• Council approved a cost share agreement with the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) for alum treatment. The RCWD received a $1.1 million grant from the Minnesota Clean Water Fund for the project, which is estimated to cost around $954,000. The grant requires a local match in the amount of 10% of the grant award. The RCWD sought a small percentage of the needed matching funds from stakeholders, such as the Anoka County Parks Department and the cities of Lino Lakes and Centerville. All of these entities have territory on the lake and constituents who enjoy the lake. The maximum contribution from each partner has been set at $35,000, with the RCWD contributing $50,000. Centerville has enough funds in its stormwater fund to pay for its entire share. If all parties contribute, the first of two treatments will take place this May, and the next in May 2026. The treatment will drastically improve the water quality in the lake and should last about 20 years. The Centerville Lake Cleanup and public meeting will be held on April 11 at the Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes. Matt Kocian of RCWD Lake and Stream Management will present. For more information, visit the city’s website at www.centervillemn.com.

• In his administrator’s report, Statz noted recent two open houses that took place earlier in the week. Council members and city staff were on hand to review upcoming projects and answer questions. Citizens also gave their input on the LaLonde proposal, tax increment financing, parking, the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, projects, the parks capital improvement plan, unfunded projects and street improvement projects.

• During the March 25 Town Hall Open House, council surveyed its residents on municipal issues. Attendees voted on their priorities

in descending order of preference: a community center, memorial for veterans and first responders, warming house/concession stand, pickleball courts, entrance monuments, hockey rink upgrade, high-quality restaurant, playground equipment, splash pad, drainage and storm water management, trailside park seating, park signage, affordable housing and more.

• The CSAH 54/20th Avenue Corridor Study Open House No. 2 on March 26 was the second open house of the week and was hosted by Anoka County, Lino Lakes and Centerville. The study outlines how the roadway will look within the next five to 10 years. As businesses and residents flow into the area, this important route has outgrown its current configuration. Roundabouts are a prominent option in the planning. Citizens were invited to be part of designing the upgrade by attending the open house to study maps and layouts and offer their opinions via Post-it note. Citizen input will help determine the mix and match configuration of where those roundabouts would be, among other things, Statz said.

• City staff will review and interview the 10 or so qualified applicants that applied for seasonal public works and parks maintenance positions.

• The Minnesota Department of Health completed its annual inspection of the city’s water system operation, usage, licenses and yearly reports on March 14. The city has submitted the Lead Service Line Assessment Program to the department. Samples for analysis were taken for the well entry points and tower. A follow-up report detailing the visit, sample results and recommendations will be sent to the city in four weeks, Statz said.

The council next meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, at City Hall, 1880 Main St.

Loretta Harding

• The Hugo American Legion Auxiliary plan to host a Family Day Saturday, April 27. The event will include a BBQ contest, raffles, and games for children and adults. The event will begin at 6 a.m. for the BBQ teams to set up, and will end at 6 p.m.

• The Chain of Lakes Rotary will host its Chain of Giving event from 5 to 8 p.m.

Friday, May 3, at the Peder Pedersen Pavilion at Lions Volunteer Park. For more information, visit https://chainoflakesrotary.com/event/2024-chain-of-giving.

• Property owners Daniel Teich and Molly Moe can now construct a fence and rock pathway within a drainage and utility easement on property located at 4702 Fable Hill Parkway North. The senior engineering technician reviewed the location of the fence and rock pathway and is comfortable with the request.

• The city has agreed to vacate a portion of a drainage and utility easement located over a portion of Raj Alexander’s property located at 12796 Ethan Avenue North. The city maintains drainage and utility easements over wetlands on site. Alexander had a wetland delineation completed in 2023 that revealed upland in an area indicated in a previous delineation to be wetland. The requested vacation is to remove the easement over the upland to allow for the construction of an accessory building. Staff was comfortable with his request.

• The Local Board of Appeal and Equalization is scheduled for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, in the Oneka Room at City Hall.

The next City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, April 15, at City Hall.

Shannon Granholm

Property owner of 12796 Ethan Ave. N can now construct an acessory building.

Washington County Community Corrections Supervisor Molly Hakko received the 2024 Minnesota Association of Community Corrections Act Counties (MACCAC) Outstanding Supervisor Award. The Outstanding Supervisor Award was established in 2017 and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills as supervisors in community corrections agencies. The award seeks to recognize high-quality work as supervisors of probation agents and other staff and leadership and commitment to developing staff competency and skills in evidence-based practices. Hakko is the first Washington County supervisor to receive this honor.

Washington County Surveyor Sam Gibson was named “Surveyor of the Year” for 2023 by the Minnesota Society of Professional Surveyors (MSPS) at its annual meeting in Rochester. The award recognizes Gibson for his dedicated service to the land surveying profession and MSPS.

A North Star Elementary student recently planned and led a “Morgan Wallen and Country Music Camp” for his peers. Students learned a few fun facts about Morgan Wallen, listened to Kidz Bop Country Music and enjoyed a dance party to end the camp.

Fish fry reels in the dough for food shelves

The St. John’s Don Schoeller Memorial Fish Fry held at St. John the Baptist Church served 3,349 meals over the six Fridays during Lent. It beats the previous 2019 record by 190 meals. The Men’s Club donates $1,000 to the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf. The money was raised via a 50/50 raffle. The Men’s Club also donated $1,000 to the Centennial Community Food Shelf in Circle Pines. As it does every year, the club gave new bikes to one boy and one girl in a drawing. The winners were Grayson DeWiit, age 7, and Lily Forsythe, age 9.

83.3% of Minnesota's Class of 2023 graduated

The Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) has released the class of 2023’s graduation rate data. The 2023 graduation rate was 83.3%, or 58,293 graduates, which represents a 0.3 percentage point decrease in the four-year graduation rate compared to the class of 2022.

In 2023, 3,874 students from earlier classes also earned their diplomas, graduating five, six or seven years after beginning high school.

“I am proud of the students in the Class of 2023,” said MDE Commissioner Willie Jett. “Every student has a unique story, and their effort and commitment deserve celebration. I am also grateful for the hard work our educators, families and communities invest into supporting our students.”

The small decrease in the total graduation rate is driven, in part, by a 0.4 percentage point increase in the unknown rate, which tracks students who were either incorrectly reported or were not reported as enrolled elsewhere. This reemphasizes the need for schools to keep track of — and report — every single student during their high school career.

For more information, visit https:// rc.education.mn.gov/#mySchool/p--3.

Minnesota Department of Education

• Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Tim Wald and Shelby McQuay, senior municipal advisor and managing director at Ehlers Public Finance Advisors, presented a presale report at the school board’s April 3 meeting related to the district’s upcoming issuance of facilities and maintenance bonds.

To fund maintenance projects included in the district’s 10-year facility plan, voters approved a referendum on Nov. 5, 2019, to authorize ISD 624 to issue $326 million in school building bonds. The district has already issued $313 million of this amount.

On Aug. 14, 2023, the school board approved the sale of the remaining $13 million in school building bonds as well as $29,835,000 in facilities maintenance bonds.

“We are combining these bond amounts for efficiency in cost of issuance …” McQuay said. “As you get these bigger block sizes, those bigger amounts, a bigger payoff of principal each year, you have more interest from the market.”

McQuay explained that this amount has not yet been issued because the principal and interest payments are secured from the tax levy increase in 2019 and cannot exceed an amount that would cause interest and principal payments to go beyond the agreed-upon rate by the voters. “We’ve been targeting that level tax over time,” McQuay said.

The bonds have a call date written into the terms so the district can finish paying off the amount early, if need be. “We may be back here in a number of years to refinance the loans if the market is appropriate,” McQuay noted.

The credit rating process of these bonds has already begun. “I think we’ve got everything over to (Standard & Poor) for their assessment on the district’s underline rating,” reported McQuay, before adding, “You’ll also carry that AAA-enhanced rating from the state.”

“We anticipate an interest rate, given current market conditions, of 3.39%,” McQuay predicted. “We are also anticipating a premium, so the market would pay (the district) additional for the purchase of your bond. We’ll be back on April 8, which is the day of sale, when we’ll know the actual results.”

• Wald and Director of Finance Andi Johnson proposed budget cuts that will achieve an 8% fund balance for the 2024-2025 school fiscal year.

“At the Feb. 12 school board meeting, the board approved the revised ’23-’24 school year budget and the projected ’24-’25 school year budget,” Wald said. “A key budget goal we have is to get to and maintain an 8% fund balance.”

To achieve this goal, the district will have to cut $1.4 million in expenses. After a thorough review, Wald and Johnson found that anticipated special education funding, lowered utility expenses and healthier market conditions for investment revenue covered $635,000 of this amount. The remainder will be met by relying more on in-house busing services, aligning staffing to projected enrollment and canceling a planned clerical position at the high school. “This is not actually a person whose position is being cut,” Wald noted. “We had approved an addition of a clerical position and had built that into our budget … we’re just not going to add that.”

Logan Gion

SEED LIBRARIES:

Encourages people to use and share what they plant

spring,” Sobrino said. “In the fall, we hope they will save seeds from some of those plants and donate them back to the library.”

Sobrino hopes the seeds will spread more widely among Forest Lake and Mahtomedi residents as the libraries develop. The seed libraries have also received support from the Washington County Master Gardener Association. The organization has donated several native perennial seeds to Wildwood and Hardwood Creek. “This is very exciting for us,” said Sundin. “These seeds will support our local pollinators. Many of our local gardeners have planted for us ahead of time, too.” Sundin said that Wildwood has received dona-

tions from organic seed companies that carry non-GMO seeds. Sobrino said patrons will also be able to choose from a variety of vegetables, such as lettuce, tomatoes and peppers, and different herbs. Wildwood will open its seed library to the public on April 6. The opening will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Author Diane Wilson will speak at the event to discuss her novel, “The Seed Keeper,” which was awarded the 2022 Minnesota Book Award for fiction. Hardwood Creek will open its seed library on April 20.

Erik Suchy is a staff writer at Press Publications. To reach him, contact him at 651-407-1229, or email at whitebearnews@ presspubs.com

Housing in Hugo: ‘The market is strong’

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

HUGO — The city continues to see a lot of activity when it comes to new construction and market values.

“Hugo has a ton going on. It’s great. The city is growing,” said Tyson Terry, a residential property appraiser with Washington County. “A lot of people are still buying new homes here and it makes up a good portion of the sales that are going on.”

It’s a yearly tradition for the county assessor to visit the City Council to recap some of the key findings for the assessment year (AY). Terry recently shared findings for AY 2024, which are based upon actual real estate market trends of Washington County properties from Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023.

Although each property in the county is reassessed every year based on market conditions, individual properties are viewed by the assessor every five years. The reviews begin in March and must be completed by Oct. 30. As a part of AY 2024, 1,536 reviews were completed in Hugo alone, and 1,123 properties will be up for review in AY 2025.

By now, all residents should have received their valuations in the mail. Residents who wish to appeal their home’s value will need to plan to attend the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization April 4 or submit an appeal in writing. Terry noted the appeal period process runs from March through June.

In 2023, the city of Hugo had 219 arms-length (sales not involving foreclosure or bank mediations) residential sales compared to 315 in 2022 and 316 in 2021.

“The trend right now is the volume of sales has been much lower,” Terry said.

The average sales price for a residential home in the city of Hugo was $403,800 in 2023, compared to $392,000 in 2022 and $449,900 in 2021. “One of the things we are seeing in the market is toward the end of 2022, there was definitely a lull. Things started lowering a little,” Terry explained.

Terry noted that as of February 2024, the median sale price in Hugo was $406,000 compared to $410,000 in Washington County and $372,000 metrowide. “We are starting to see it pick up … It has stopped slowing down. We will see if that continues,” he said.

The city of Hugo continues to see a low number of lender-mediated sales. In 2023, there were no lender-mediated sales in Hugo, while the county saw 35 compared to one in the city of Hugo in 2022 and six in Washington County in 2022.

“The market is strong here,” Terry noted.

When it comes to new construction, the city of Hugo saw 113 single-family homes in 2023 (three fewer than 2022), six townhouses/condos, and one commercial building (Premier Bank). Countywide, there were 4,218 new construction starts.

“(New construction starts) have followed interest rates. As the interest rates were going down, we saw more new construction,” Terry said. “I know a lot of builders are getting creative with financing incentives and deals with people who are buying.”

Terry said homeowners who are not looking to sell may be happy to note that the median home value ($389,400) is down by 4.7% in Hugo in 2023 compared to $408,700 in 2022.

According to MLS data, new construction makes up 12.9% of total sales in the Twin Cities region as of January 2024, up 3.7% from 2022. In Hugo, new construction makes up 25.6% of sales, down by 2.4% from 2022.

Other highlights include:

• New listings are down 19.8% from 2022 for the Twin Cities region; new listings in Hugo are down 12.1% from 2022.

• Closed sales are down 32.8% from 2022 for the Twin Cities region compared to 36.7% in Hugo.

• Sale prices are up 7.9% in the Twin Cities region from 2022 and up 2% for Hugo.

• The median home value in the Twin Cities region is $370,000 in January 2024 compared to $400,000 in Hugo.

“Values and sales prices have been consistent in the Twin Cities, Washington County and Hugo,” Terry said. “Perception of the housing market is largely based on sales volume … The general perception of the public is that the market is down, but what we have seen is that people are still getting 100% of asking prices.”

To view the full assessment report, visit https:// washington.minnesotaassessors.com.

Both Wildwood and Hardwood Creek libraries will open their seed libraries in April.

Larry

enjoys

and being around dogs. If Larry could plan a day of fun, he would want to go to the movie theater. He said “It Is not about the movie. It is more of just the experience of going to the theater”. He would order popcorn and Orange Fanta. According to Larry, he would like to join a family that is not going to put pressure on him, a family that is not going to try and change who he is, a family that is going to take him to try new foods, and someone that will support his relationships with his siblings and birth relatives that live out of state. Following adoption, Larry will need to maintain contact with his siblings. Only Minnesota families are being considered at this time.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

The Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) plans to host a community meeting from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 11, at the Wargo Nature Center in Lino Lakes about the upcoming alum treatment project on Centerville Lake. Matt Kocian, RCWD lake and stream manager, will talk about the project and give community members an update on the treatment that will be take place this spring/summer. There is no need to register. The Wargo Nature Center is located at 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes. For more information on the project, visit www.ricecreek.org/project/ centerville-lake-alum-treatment.

Sons of American Legion to host rib contest

The Hugo Sons of the American Legion Squadron 620 will host a rib contest Saturday, April 27, at the Legion. The deadline to enter is April 13. The maximum number of teams allowed to enter is 14. The competition will open for public tasting at 4 p.m. and voting will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. Awards will be at 5:30 p.m. Registration cost covers 10 racks of ribs. The top three teams will be awarded cash prizes, trophies and bragging rights. Contact Bill at mnsalhugo620@outlook.com to register.