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FISHING FUN: Hugo Lions tournament slated for Feb. 11. PAGE 8
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an appreciation for the people who have put a ton of time into this,” Christopherson said. He added that pulling off the logistics for such a large-scale, public-private event is challenging but that Hockey Day 2023 has momentum behind it and people who are completely dedicated to making it a success. Corey Roberts, who’s on the Hockey Day Minnesota 2023 volunteer committee, praised the committee members who have devoted countless hours and resources to making Hockey Day a reality. The committee is chaired by Jon Anderson and Nick Guzzo. “Most of us started as strangers, and came together as a team to pull this off,” Roberts said. He also noted how the tagline for the event is “more than a game.” “This sport is so rooted in the community that it
BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER
WHITE BEAR TOWNSHIP — The biggest event to occur this year in White Bear Township is here. The first puck of Hockey Day Minnesota 2023 drops Thursday evening, and the weekend-long athletic extravaganza will last through Sunday. All the action will take place at Polar Lakes Park, located at 1280 Hammond Road. An estimated 10,000 people are expected to attend the annual hockey event based on ticket sales as of last week. Preparing for Hockey Day has therefore been a massive undertaking, according to White Bear Township Administrator Pat Christopherson. “We’re coordinating our staff and the whole volunteer group that’s been working on this to pull this off. We have
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Downtown Hugo project stalls due to DNR objections BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
HUGO — The developer for the Downtown Hugo project was hopeful construction would be in full swing by now, but things have not gone as planned. Dennis Properties LLC proposes five buildings totaling approximately 63,000 square feet on the 4.2acre property, located on the east side of Highway 61 in downtown Hugo along Egg Lake. The development got the necessary approvals it needed from the city and the watershed district, but then things came to a halt. “In early 2023 the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) started objecting pretty strongly,” said developer Denny Trooien, a longtime resident of
White Bear Lake. “They have become an obstacle to starting of construction and doing the development.” Community Development Director Rachel Juba says that the DNR sent the city a letter, stating it had objections to both the building setbacks and the decking setbacks from Egg Lake. Trooien, and the city, are continuing to make tweaks to the plan in hopes that it will please the DNR. “Denny has been working with the DNR on a plan that will result in better water quality for Egg Lake and make enhancements to the shoreline,” Juba explained. “We are hoping to have a resolution to that soon. I think we are getting close … Once we get SEE DOWNTOWN HUGO, PAGE 13
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Dennis Properties LLC is proposing five buildings totaling approximately 63,000 square feet on the 4.2-acre property in downtown Hugo.
Corridor study plans for future of 20th Avenue
Snowmobilers will trade paint at BeaterCross mobile race. Only sleds ages 20 and older are allowed to compete in this event, which will be hosted Jan. 28 by the Hugo Knight Riders Snowmobile Club. The day will feature a series of races in a delightful multitude of classes, in
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up a notch and open the fun to all members of the community. Event coordinator Andy Michels is a member of the Knight Riders and is involved in coordinating snowmobile
addition to food and entertainment. Snowmobiles built in 2002 or earlier are eligible to race. The event hosts, Grant and Erika Whitaker, have previously held informal snowmobile events at their home, but this year’s BeaterCross will take it
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HUGO — Twenty years is a good, respectable age for a snowmobile. It’s broken in and reliable, and can handle a dent here and there. And it’s perfect for the first official BeaterCross snow-
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studying the CSAH 54 corridor (20th Avenue) between 73rd Street and Birch Street (CSAH 34), as well as the Main Street (CSAH 14) and 21st Avenue intersection. The county is working with Transportation Collaborative &
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Hugo veteran hopes to impact veteran suicide rate SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
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Residents voice their opinions on priorities by placing marbles in jars. Priorities include: improvements to mobility, safety, or multimodal facilities; minimizing environmental impacts or property impacts; or adding landscaping.
Students in the Centennial School District go back to school this week. Pictured is Mack Morris, a third grader at Centerville Elementary School.
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a certain type of reputation about them.” Arcand enlisted as an infantryman and actually left high school early to head to boot camp. During his 20year military career he was deployed six times. Back in 2010, while he was in between deployments, Arcand launched a nonprofit called American Spartan to help veterans who were wounded in action. That nonprofit ran until 2017. Arcand explained that the nonprofit wasn’t
Marines, at the age of 3. His father, Scott Arcand, served in the Marines for three years. Several other family members have also served in the military. He recalled when he was in preschool and his preschool teacher asked him, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and he responded, “A Marine.” “I’m 100% certain a lot of it had to do with seeing pictures of my dad in the uniform, him talking about it,” Arcand said. “I mean there’s something appealing about a challenge, they have
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Dan Arcand, of Hugo, is a 20-year veteran. As a Marine who was deployed six times, he has been to a lot of funerals. “The reality is that with multiple combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, I’ve lost more friends to suicide than I have to combat,” he said. “My second chapter is trying to make an impact on the veterans suicide rate.” Arcand, 38, says he knew he wanted to be in the military, specifically the
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May 25 will mark 15 years since an EF-3 tornado hit Hugo, destroying houses, businesses, trees, barns and silos. In addition to the damage, the tornado took a life. Two-year-old Nathaniel, son of Hugo residents Gerard and Christina Prindle, was killed and his 5-year-old sister Annika also suffered severe brain damage. See more on page 2.
Former gambling manager plays discrimination card
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The Hugo Fire Department (HFD) will host an open house from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. The event will include a Kids Fun Run at noon. There will be visits from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, M Health Ambulance and the Department of Natural Resources. Enter a fire prevention poster contest as well as a raffle for a birthday party, which includes riding to school in a HFD engine.
Residents speak-up on County Road J, 35E interchange BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
decision that you never know exactly when the right time is… I certainly want to be on the side of history of doing it when it is a little early rather than too late.” Fire Chief Jim Compton Jr. said that he is the fourth fire chief to bring the need of a full-time chief forward to the council. Back in March, the city created a subcommittee to discuss organizational changes within the Hugo Fire Department and whether there was a need to hire a full-time chief. Currently, the fire department operates as a part-time, paid-on-call department with no full-time staff. The subcommittee consisted of Mayor Weidt, Council Member Mike Miron and five representatives from the fire
Come 2025, the County Road J and I-35E interchange could look drastically different than it does today. County Road J from Centerville Road to Otter Lake Road – including the interchange with I-35E – is scheduled for reconstruction in 2025. Ramsey County is leading the project in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Anoka County, White Bear Township, North Oaks and Lino Lakes. Two watershed districts, the Rice Creek Watershed District and the Vadnais Lake Water Management Organization are also involved. The existing I-35E and County Road J interchange –and the surrounding area – has safety, congestion, and access issues that impact pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. Additional development is expected near the interchange in the next five years, which will increase traffic and worsen safety issues. Three areas are targeted for improvement include: • The I-35E and County Road J interchange. • County Road J from Centerville Road to Otter Lake Road. • Centerville Road from County Road J to North Ash Street. “A major reason for the project was we wanted to make that a full interchange and then also provide better pedestrian accommodations crossing the
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CENTERVILLE — Around the new year, residents/taxpayers who live along Centerville Lake will have the opportunity to weigh in on a proposal to establish a water management district. Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) Lake and Stream Program Manager Matt Kocian explained that the watershed district, along with the Centerville Lake Association (CLA), have been talking about water quality issues on Centerville Lake for the
past couple of years, as conditions continue to deteriorate. “(According to our) water quality monitoring data, things have been getting a bit worse over the past couple of years,” Kocain said. “That’s concerning to us, obviously, it’s concerning to the residents who live on Centerville Lake, the Centerville Lake Association, Anoka County Parks and everybody who uses the Rice Creek Regional Park there.” The main problem is algae blooms, which are driven by excess nutrients in the water, primarily phosphorus. The beach at the adjacent Rice Creek Chain of Lakes regional park is regularly
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The 2024 street project is proposed to include roadway pavement reclamation and paving of 125th Street, and complete roadway reconstruction and stormwater improvements in the Dellwood Ridge neighborhood area.
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the project is approximately $3.93 million. Funding for the project will be provided through assessments (6%) to benefiting properties, county funds and city street funds. Total assessments are proposed to equal $258,500. Property owners will be charged $5,200 for complete reconstruction and $3,400 for roadway reclamation, per the city’s assessment policy. City Engineer Mark Erichson said they have
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in the Dellwood Ridge neighborhood area. The roadway reclamation and paving will include 125th Street North from Goodview Avenue North to 122nd Street North (CSAH 7). Work on Upper Heather Avenue North from 125th Avenue North to Heather Avenue North and Heather Avenue North from 125th Avenue North to 120th Street North (CSAH 7) will involve complete reconstruction and stormwater improvements. The total estimated cost for
Residents who live along 125th Street and in the Dellwood Ridge neighborhood are hoping the city will reconsider keeping the width of the rural residential street the same. The project is slated for construction in 2024. It consists of roadway pavement reclamation and paving of 125th Street, and complete roadway reconstruction and stormwater improvements
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Centennial High School will take on “The Hound of the Baskervilles” Nov. 30 through Dec. 3. The show, adapted by Kent R. Brown and inspired by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, is about Sherlock Holmes and his faithful sidekick, Dr. John Watson, who have left on an extended holiday throughout Europe, leaving their nieces—Shirley Holmes and Jennie Watson—to keep an eye on the famous flat at 221B Baker Street. Shirley and Jennie are busy preparing for upcoming exams when there’s a knock on the door. It’s Dr. Maxine Mortimer and Sir Henry Baskerville, who’ve
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Stuff the Truck
The Hugo Fire Department will host its annual Stuff the Truck food and toy drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at the fire station, located at 5323 140th St. N, or at Festival Foods, located at 14775 Victor Hugo Blvd. N. The drive will benefit the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf. See page 5 for more information.
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closed due to health concerns from blue-green algae. “We want to get an (alum) treatment because it is so bad. It’s not safe for dogs, it’s not safe for kids,” said CLA President Barry Stoffel. Kocian said that RCWD has performed several diagnostic studies to try to determine where the excess phosphorus is coming from. “These studies are saying that a good portion of the excess phosphorus is just being recycled inside the lake. So, the sediments or the mud at the bottom of the
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time commitment. There was a concern the department could handle nonemergencies that were administrative in nature. “We have done a good job over the years spreading out the work to 11 different positions on the department. All of our fire officers are doers, and give it their all until they can’t. Then unfortunately the time comes and something has to give, and we typically loose good people due to the amount of work they are tasked with,” Compton Jr. explained. He added, “Our department does a great job at responding to emergency calls, and the scheduled things we do. It’s the unexpected things that come up that
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department. A couple of firefighters assisted with surveying the firefighters and gathering research for the committee. Bear explained the subcommittee considered five options: • Keeping things as they are • Sharing services (with neighboring departments/cities) • Hiring a full-time chief • Doing more (adding more services) • Improving response time by converting to a full-time department. The committee spent the most time on the keeping things as they are option or hiring a full-time chief, Bear said. Some concerns raised by firefighters for keeping the department the way it is revolved around availability and
Before we say goodbye to 2023 and hello to 2024, it is a tradition of The Citizen to look back at some of the most memorable stories of the year. In 2023, pages were filled with a variety of news, including stories about crimes, events, schools, churches, sports, businesses, city government and more. Perhaps some of the most memorable stories are the ones that feature local residents—like Hugo resident Carolyn Wiger, who competed for the $1 million prize on “Survivor,” or when residents stepped up to save the old Hopkins Schoolhouse. 2023 was also a sad year, as Centerville lost Council Member Steve King and Larry Giles Jr., also known as “Chef Hot Hands.”
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Hugo takes ‘big step’ toward full-time fire chief BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
HUGO — The City Council included funds in the 2023 budget to allow for a full-time fire chief, and that may just happen. The council has directed city staff to move forward with creating a job description, position profile and salary structure for the position, which will ultimately need to be approved by the council. “This has been a discussion that we have been having now for quite some time,” said City Administrator Bryan Bear. Mayor Tom Weidt added, “This is a big decision that we have been wrestling with for quite a while. It is a
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In addition to its weekly flower farm market on Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. this summer, T and Nae have launched “gentle yoga” at the Hugo farm Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 29. The 60-minute class of gentle movements is designed for all skill levels. The farm is located at 15815 Elmcrest Ave. For more information, visit tandnae.com.
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City limits can get a bit complicated around here. Perhaps that’s why a Lino Lakes business won the Best Place to Work in The Citizen’s Best Of Contest, while a Hugo business won the Best Place to Work in the Quad area’s Best Of Contest. Each year, Press Publications hosts its Reader’s Choice Best of the Press Contest, asking locals to pick their favorites, ranging from breweries to area businesses and everything in between. All in all, the Best Of Contest (in all markets) saw 28,920 nominations for the ballot in 2023 compared to 14,744 in 2022, an increase of 96%. In 2023, 332,539 votes were cast compared to 294,616 in 2022, an increase of 12.8%. Rising to the top in the Best Place to Work category for the Quad contest is Heartland Credit Union, while Associated Eye Care took top spot in The Citizen contest.
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Terry Sweeny will join the City Council Nov. 8. He served as a council member from 1999-2000 and mayor from 2003-2004.
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BY THE NUMBERS • Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. • Rates of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone, which includes fentanyl and fentanyl analogs, increased over 22% from 2020 to 2021.
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Ahlbeck, to a fentanyl overdose Aug. 16, 2022, while he was in the Stillwater prison. He was serving his fifth year of a seven-year sentence. He leaves behind three children, ages 12, 9 and 6. “I got a phone call from the prison saying that he had passed away. I was in shock,” she recalled. “At first, they couldn’t tell me what had happened, and then about two weeks later, they finally told me that he had passed from a fentanyl overdose… How does fentanyl get in a prison?” Eventually she was told that
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Laura Cowles, Heather Johnson and Zach Zacho all belong to a club they never wanted to join. They all outlived their children, who were victims of a fentanyl overdose. “It’s an empty feeling, because it isn’t like they were sick or had cancer or an illness that you could kind of mentally prepare yourself for. It a sudden death,” Cowles said. “I never expected to outlive my children.” Cowles, a Circle Pines resident, lost her 30-year-old son, Castle
The Centerville City Council will be made whole next week when the council appoints Terry Sweeney to fill the shoes of late Council Member Steve King. This most recent appointment process went a lot faster than the arduous search to replace retiring Council Member Michelle Lakso. Dr. Raye Taylor now serves in Lakso’s former seat. Council officially declared the vacancy of King’s seat in September, and by October it had already received five applications. After the application deadline, council set up a work session prior to a regula meeting to interview the candidates. Due to the
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ST. PAUL — The White Bear Lake Area Hockey Association’s ex-gambling manager has filed a countersuit in district court against her former employer. Among the counterclaims in a complaint filed exactly a month after Christine Olson, 54, was sued by the hockey association: She claims she was bullied and
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alleged, that “they altered the terms of her employment and created a hostile work environment,” forcing her to quit. These allegations come from an employee making $129,000 at the time she resigned March 28, 2023. The White Bear nonprofit filed a lawsuit April 3 against Olson (“White Bear hockey association sues former gambling manager,”
harassed as a result of her gender and age; that she was forced to resign because the association was not following its own bylaws and not following the Minnesota Gambling Control Board’s rules, statutes and regulations; and that the association “constructively discharged” Olson. In fact, the actions of the White Bear Lake Area Hockey Association (WBLAHA) against her became so severe, Olson
Faces of fentanyl: Commemorating the lives lost
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The Drug Enforcement Administration has a special exhibit, the Faces of Fentanyl, at its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, which commemorates the lives lost from fentanyl poisoning.
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Out of 540 nominations, one has risen to the top. Mark Domschot, a social studies and Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher at North Campus, is the 2023-2024 White Bear Lake Area Educators (WBLAE) Teacher of the Year. “I’m unbelievably humbled … It’s the greatest profession in the world. I couldn’t be more proud to be a teacher,” Domschot said. “There are so many great teachers in White Bear.” Domschot always knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps by becoming a teacher. He has been a teacher for 28 years. He has been in the district for five years. Prior to that, he was at Centennial Schools. In addition to his teaching role at North Campus, he is also the assistant girls hockey coach and assistant football coach. Hannah Hensley, who works with Domschot at North Campus, described him as a B.E.A.R, which stands for brave, energetic, advocate and real. “In Mark’s classes his students know him as a real person, as a dad, a coach, a brother and a person they can trust and who cares about them,” Hensley explained. “Mark builds and promotes community through relationship building, engaging in his students’ relevant lives and promoting action. He builds relationships beyond the classroom by being present and involved within our community in White Bear Lake,” said Mae Haley, the 2022-2023 WBLAE Teacher of the Year. “Mark also makes history relevant to today’s learners by learning from all perspectives, all while supporting students who are called to action.” “I live in White Bear, I coach in White Bear, I have
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Court-ordered permit conditions criticized as counterproductive and fundamentally inequitable,” said city attorney Dave Snyder in his opening remarks to the judge. Originally scheduled for Oct. 17 (five years after appeals were filed), the hearings were postponed due to an illness after several days of expert testimony, and the date pushed back to Dec. 11. The city of Hugo was first to testify. It should be noted that permit amendments have not been activated during the contested case process.
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This graphic was exhibited at the hearing to illustrate that the only way North Star Elementary can expand and remain in compliance with the gallons per capita per day rule is to build a 150-unit apartment complex on school property. A complex would fit in the white outlined area, according to city staff, and would meet per capita per day restrictions. Such a project would also result in significantly more water pumped from the aquifer.
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ST. PAUL — Highdensity housing will likely dot Hugo’s expanding skyline if court-ordered restrictions aren’t lifted on its water appropriations permit. City Administrator Bryan Bear drove home that point again and again during daylong testimony before Administrative Law Judge Eric Lipman earlier this month. The city is contesting amendments to its DNR permit that restrict residential irrigation
and per capita water use, as mandated in the 2017 court order resulting from the lake level lawsuit. Hugo is particularly focused on two of the four permit changes: That a residential irrigation ban be imposed when White Bear Lake drops below 923.5 feet and a phasedown of daily per capita residential water use to 75 gallons and total use to 90 gallons. The city of Hugo views the directives as “dramatically punitive, arbitrary in scope, ultimately ineffective
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BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER
2 THE CITIZEN
DECEMBER 28, 2023
www.readthecitizen.com
PERMIT CONDITIONS: Hugo argues restrictions are ‘dramatically punitive’ FROM PAGE 1
The amendment regarding per capita use is particularly problematic for the city. As Bear explained, the condition “demands the city develop plans that can be enforceable to reduce per capita ratios down to 90 gallons per day total and 75 gallons for residential uses. “The amendment is not reasonable in any regard,” Bear stated. “It will pull the city’s water use up instead of down. It is backwards and it is damaging.” The city administrator said the regulation will result in land use decisions that would otherwise not be made in order to comply with the ratio. “Certain land uses score very well in gallons per capita per day and certain ones score poorly,” Bear said. “That will dramatically affect decisions that are made. The city will understand quickly which uses will help us lower the per capita number. The clear winner are apartment projects. They solve the formula. Uses that score well will be the ones that tend to get approved, and they are the very uses that require a lot of water.” On average, apartment dwellers use 30 gallons per capita per day, according to Bear. “That sounds low,” attorney Snyder noted, “but the fundamental question about how much water is pumped overall from the aquifer is never asked.” Bear offered a “real world” example in eastern Hugo regarding a proposed project. The city has an application for a three-story, 90-unit apartment complex on vacant land currently zoned for office space. At this time, 90 units is the most the city allows on the site, but the Planning Commission has instructed staff to evaluate rezoning and higher density. Again, assuming 30 gallons per capita per day, the 90 units will use more than a tenfold increase of water than a medical office building once proposed on the same parcel. “On a gallons-per-capita basis, apartments on this site help the city meet this regulation,” Bear said. “This becomes the driving land-use decision, as the city does not want to exceed 90 gallons. But it will increase pumping, not lower pumping.” Attorney Snyder asked Bear whether if the conditions are violated, by irrigating during a ban or surpassing per capita water use, could the city’s permit be revoked? “It’s a possibility,” Bear replied. Next to question Bear was attorney Dick Allyn, who represents the White Bear Restoration Association, plaintiff in the lake lawsuit. He asked Bear several times if Hugo citizens will refuse to comply with the court’s conditions.
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A line graph created by the city shows summer versus winter use. The blue line represents 2022, which was a drought year. The orange line reflects usage in 2012, also a dry year, before implementing stormwater conservation. The graphic shows less water was used in summer months than expected. The gray line is an extrapolation of the orange line with a 27% population increase figured in. Despite the increase, the gray and blue line are nearly the same. The city pumped 438 million gallons in 2012 and 427 million in 2022.
“Did Hugo notify the DNR that it is not feasible to comply with 75 gallons?” asked Allyn, who continues to defend the 2017 decision pro bono. “I don’t HUGOTX02127 think they ever asked us,” Bear replied. Allyn repeated the question, asking if Hugo citizens have a different standard than the rest of the cities involved. “The city of Hugo believes it can and will comply with the numbers, but not in a way you expected,” Bear said. “The real result is more water will get used through pumping due to unfortunate land-use decisions. I wouldn’t be surprised if other cities come to the same conclusion.” According to Allyn, who labels Hugo a major water user, the statewide average is 52 gallons per capita per day. According to Bear, the city’s residents average 64 gallons. Regarding an irrigation ban Banning residential irrigation if water levels drop below 923.5 feet is another sore point for the city. Such a ban means no outside watering if White Bear Lake drops below that trigger point. By definition, the ban would apply to some properties and not others. Attorney Snyder maintains that neither side understood what was truly meant by a residential irrigation ban and its implications. “Have you ever heard of an irrigation ban on one class of property where people are likely to have green things growing?” Snyder asked Bear. “No,” he said. “There is a lack of clarity and that is unusual. There is also inequity. Residents will see others irrigating from a stormwater pond and won’t understand why someone can water while others can’t. “There is a major fundamental problem with fairness,” Bear
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continued. “Can non-residential property be irrigated? The use of the term ‘residential’ is a bomb. “People also understand that certain classes of residents don’t have a ban. Properties close to the lake, like Dellwood for example, aren’t served by municipal water. They have wells. They can irrigate.” The ban will also be unenforceable, the city administrator said. “The public will not agree with it because they will see it as unfair. They will see that an irrigation ban is not effective at restoring lake level, and they will not comply. Residents can powerwash a driveway or fill a swimming pool, but they can’t irrigate. That isn’t restricted.” Fines will not be effective, he added. Noted during Bear’s testimony was a calculation from a U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) expert who figured a residential irrigation ban in Hugo would have an impact on the lake of a tenth to a third of an inch over 10 years. Any entity owning a well within a 5-mile radius of White Bear Lake was impacted by the court order. Of the 17 permit holders, including 10 municipalities, three country clubs and several businesses contesting the amendments, six cities remain in the fight. White Bear Township, North St. Paul and three golf courses, White Bear Yacht Club, Dellwood and Indian Hills, recently settled. District Court Judge Margaret Marrinan (retired) agreed in May 2022, that Saputo Foods, H.B. Fuller and Whirlpool were exempt from DNR permit amendments as conditioned in her original court order. Hugo’s city attorney took issue with the golf courses’ settlement during testimony, mentioning the yacht club’s
“unrestricted” water use several times. (See separate story). “The plaintiff intervenors demand conditions of residents of Hugo but when the time came for them to impose regulations on their own golf courses, like the White Bear Yacht Club, they will continue pumping regardless of lake level,” Snyder remarked. “You can suggest there is a watering restriction on golf courses (per the settlement),” he scoffed. “The reality is that nonessential use takes a higher priority in this scenario than the watering of gardens, trees or lawns.” Snyder asked Bear: “Even if the lake drops below 922 feet, they (the three golf courses) will continue to irrigate with drinking water because that is what the settlement provides, is that right?” “That is correct,” the city administrator replied. “I don’t think there’s any point where they will stop irrigating.” Hugo’s pioneering water reuse program, first implemented in 2012 before the lawsuit was filed, was also brought to the judge’s attention. A third court-ordered permit requirement is to implement a contingency plan to convert to surface water. Since starting the reuse program 11 years ago at Hugo’s Oneka Ridge Golf Course, 25% of the city’s annual water consumption, or 100 million gallons, has been converted to surface water used for irrigation. “Citizens are using stormwater to irrigate rather than drinking water,” Bear pointed out, “which means water we didn’t pump out of the ground stayed in the ground.” He’s puzzled, he said, why the amendment was added to Hugo’s permit when a program is already in place. “We are managing water in an admirable way,” Bear maintained. “An irrigation ban would replace our reuse systems and, as a result, we will use more water.” Snyder asked him to explain: “The city will find it impossible to predict when a ban will be in place and when it won’t,” Bear said. “You better plan on needing water for times when the ban is not in place. If that is true, the water reuse program as we know it would not continue.” “An irrigation ban is a bad idea,” concluded Bear. “A responsible discussion about water demand reduction measures and responsible use of resources is something we’d love to do. But this regulation, this rule, is not the right answer.” The deadline for final briefs is midFebruary for all parties involved in the contested cases. Judge Lipman has 90 days to issue a decision, which should be out mid-May.
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WHAT’S HAPPENING • WHAT’S HAPPENING ST. PAUL HIKING CLUB
When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 Where: Rice Lake Elementary School, 575 Birch St., Lino Lakes Details: Hike paved trails and neighborhood streets. Wear appropriate shoes and clothing. Contact: stpaulhike.com
THE CITIZEN
BUSINESS BRIEF
Kings Pizza opens in former Red’s Savoy Pizza As of Jan. 1, there will be a new owner of Red’s Savoy Pizza, located at 14755 Victor Hugo Boulevard. Keith Morrisette, owner of Kings Pizza Inc.,
will purchase the business and has applied for a wine license and a 3.2 malt liquor license with a provision for strong beer, which is allowed by city code as along as 60% of the sales comes from food. The City Council has approved those licenses.
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When: Through Jan. 17 Where: White Bear Center for the Arts Details: View the Members’ Exhibition,visit with artists, and listen to live music. Free with registration. Contact: whitebeararts.org
KIDS NEWS YEARS EVE BASH
When: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 Where: Rudy’s Redeye Grill, 1940 Highway 61 N., White Bear Lake Details: Families can ring in the new year with dinner and a disco with a DJ. Bear drop at 8 p.m. Contact: rudysredeye.com
NEWS YEAR’S EVE COMEDY SHOW
When: 6:30 & 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 31 Where: Running Ace’s Laugh Your Ace Off Comedy Club, 15201 Running Aces Blvd., Forest Lake Details: Performance by Headliner Larry Reeb aka Uncle Lar, with Elise Cole and Sarah McPeck. Dinner optional. Ticket information online. Contact: runaaces.com
When: 5-6:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5 Where: Mahtomedi District Education Center, 1520 Mahtomedi Ave. Details: Take a stroll along the newly lighted trail segment, north to Streetcart Park and the decorated covered bridge, followed by hot beverages, snacks, and a drawing for a fat tire bike. Contact: lakelinks.net/post/holidaystroll-open-house When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 10 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 When: 12:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 Where: New Life Church, 600 N. 148th St., Hugo Details: Register in advance ar redcrossblood.org.
LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS MEETING
When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11 Where: online Details: Nora Slawik, Century College Foundation Executive Director, leads webinar that includes discussion with mayors from Mahtomedi, Shoreview, Stillwater, and Vadnais Heights, and the city council chair from White Bear Lake on the greatest challenges facing local leaders. Contact: lwv-wbla.org
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OPINION
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How my first semester went
recently graduated from the University of St. Thomas in May of 2023. I had made the bold, and very ambitious, decision to apply for Graduate School right at the end of March. A few of my professors were a bit worried about me getting in, considering applications were due by the start of April. Nonetheless, I was determined to get in somewhere. I skipped past the schools with hard deadlines that had already passed for Fall 2023 and put my focus on schools that accepted rolling admissions. I applied to the University of St. Thomas, and only the University of St. Thomas. After meeting with the graduate coordinator, he believed that I would be a good fit for the Creative Writing, Editing and Publishing program they offered to Graduate Students. My dream career is to become an editor at the publishing house. I want to work with my own authors, have an office in the cities, and be surrounded Madeline’s by books till I retire. After applying, it took two weeks for Mail them to review my application. I got the Madeline Dolby acceptance email from the graduate coordinator on a Wednesday night. My eyes were as big as saucers as I read the “Congratulations” at the top of the page. I took two classes for the Fall semester. One was documentary Poetics and the other was an Introductory course to English Studies. They were both three hours long from 6-9 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays. After work, I would drive down to campus, go to class, drive back and do it all over again. If I am going to be honest, balancing school, a full-time job and a social life has been almost impossible. Most of my weekends are spent in my bedroom, hunched over my desk, writing yet another 500–750-word paper about the poetry book I had read for my Documentary Poetics class, or writing a research paper regarding different literary lenses for my Introduction class. As the semester ramped up, so did my coursework and I began to question if I was doing the right thing. I never saw my friends, I spent my whole weekend writing, and I felt the burnout slowly approaching. The end of the semester came quickly, and I found myself faced with two 50page final papers. You could only imagine the stress I was feeling. I spent the majority of my lunch breaks during the months of November and December writing as much as I could in the time that I had. Luckily, I finished both papers without a glitch. Thankfully, I have the month of January off to decompress. Next semester, which starts in February, I am taking two classes again. One is a Writing Fiction workshop and the other is a diversity in literature class. I am excited for more opportunities to expand my knowledge of the literature world, and myself as a writer. I felt the pressure of graduate school those last two months. My laptop keys are slowly wearing down, a few letters are evening popping off from all the writing I have been doing. But I wouldn’t change it for anything. I have a goal and I am determined to achieve it. It has been wonderful being able to balance school and working full-time. I have been allowed to get to know multiple communities, one of them being North Oaks. Since starting as a staff writer, I have had the chance to sit in on a few North Oaks News meetings and learn about the community. For this edition of the North Oaks News, I got to contribute a story about the new golf pro at the North Oaks Country Club. I am excited to get to know the North Oaks community over the years and contribute to the North Oaks News. Madeline Dolby is a staff writer at Press Publications. She can be reached at 651-407-1226 or lowdownnews@ presspubs.com.
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Important, exciting work being done
or more than four years, we have been discussing, dreaming, and planning a transformation in high school education. With hundreds of people engaged in our Strategic Planning process and Facilities Master Planning over the last decade, we set out to rethink our spaces to inspire transformational student learning.
Movers & Shakers
Today, we are finished with most of the updates that Wayne are happening Kazmierczak throughout the district, with every building benefiting from the community’s support of the bond referendum. And after four decades with a unique two-campus high school, we are only months away from the grand opening of our White Bear Lake Area High School that will serve students in grades 9 through 12. We are in the home stretch of planning, and the excitement is palpable. This fall, a group of district leaders and I had the opportunity to meet with our local Chamber of Commerce and provide an update. We reviewed our District’s Strategic Plan,
the Foundations of Success for every student and graduate, the importance of partnerships, and our progress toward our goals. I was also honored to introduce Principal Russ Reetz, who will serve as the WBLAHS principal. He shared his vision for cultivating a high-challenge and high-care culture around four core values: Relationships, Ownership, Awareness and Respect. We see these principles paralleled in the positive interactions we have with the Chamber and other local organizations, which is notable and is not the case in all communities. At the heart of a successful school is the question of ownership for learning. When my classmates and I were in school (decades ago), teachers were responsible for transmitting knowledge, and students were responsible for learning and remembering facts and theories; however, today, with information at our fingertips 24/7, student ownership of learning is more important than ever. For effective learning, teachers must tap students' intrinsic motivation and inspire them to be agents of their learning. This work is grounded in the belief that every student can shape their destiny. Today, we aspire for our students to "Design your future. Create your success."
While students are the drivers of their learning, the transformation of learning also requires a collective effort among our educators, students, families and community members to create a culture of strong relationships and high expectations. Our community stepped up in 2019 and approved a referendum to renovate our schools. Today, our district is nationally recognized for the spaces we have created and, more importantly, how those spaces are transforming learning — just as we envisioned. By replacing square classrooms with open spaces and cinder blocks with glass walls, we have inspired a collaborative culture where teachers have a team of support and learning observations are welcomed. We’ve created nurturing spaces where no one is alone. We spark curiosity, see learning happening, and ensure students feel supported and challenged to reach their fullest potential. As we continue to transform every facet of our organization, we are committed to redefining excellence and engaging our community. Thank you for being a part of this important, exciting work! Dr. Wayne Kazmierczak is Superintendent at the White Bear Lake Area Schools
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HUGO POLICE REPORTS The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents:
• A suspicious vehicle reported at 5:05 a.m. Nov. 13 in the 6000 block of 135th Street N. turned out to belong to a Hugo resident.
• A license plate was reported stolen at 10:06 a.m. Nov. 13 in the 7000 block of 137th Street Court N. • A resident in the 4000 block of 126th Street N. at 12:04 p.m. Nov. 13 reported a camper truck abandoned on her property. Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies assisted the complainant with its removal. • A motorist on 170th Street N. and Henna Avenue N. received a citation for speeding at 1:22 p.m. Nov. 13. Deputies conducted another traffic stop at 6:33 p.m. Nov. 13 on Forest Blvd. N. and 159th Street N. and issued a citation to the motorist for unrevealed violations. Later that day, at 9:29 p.m., deputies conducted a third traffic stop on Frenchman Road and Everton Avenue N. that resulted in the driver’s arrest. • Deputies cited a motorist at 11:46 p.m. Nov. 13 on Forest Blvd. N. and 148th Street N. for failure to provide proof of insurance and for displaying an expired temporary license plate tag, after they pulled the motorist over for an obstructed license plate. • A Minnesota motorist was cited at 7:14 a.m. Nov. 14 in the 4000 block of Frenchman Road for failure to display current registration, following a traffic stop for the tardy tabs. Less than an hour later, at 7:46 a.m. deputies issued another ticket for expired tabs in the 4000 block of Heritage Parkway N. • Deputies were dispatched out to the scene of vandalism at Hugo Elementary School in the 14000 block of Francesca Avenue N. at 10:00 a.m.
Nov. 14. It was undetermined when the east wall of the school was damaged. • A Wisconsin man was cited at 12:25 p.m. Nov. 14 on northbound Forest Blvd. N. and 130th Street N. for failure to provide proof of insurance and for being on the phone while driving, after deputies on patrol observed his vehicle roll by while its driver was otherwise focused on the electronic device in his right hand. • The Kwik Trip on Victor Hugo Blvd reported an abandoned license plate on the premises at 12:27 p.m. Nov. 14, which deputies dropped by to pick up. They then returned it to its owner in the 7000 block of 137th Street Court N. • A resident in the 4000 block of 170th Street N. at 4:14 p.m. Nov. 14 reported that occupants of an unknown model of pickup truck had dumped a deer carcass in their garbage can at the end of the driveway. The dumpers had already taken all the meat off the deer before dumping and continuing eastbound on 170th Street. • Theft was reported at 1:38 p.m. Nov. 15 in the 5000 block of Fenson Court N. • A Jeffrey Avenue resident at 8:21 a.m. Nov. 16 reported her ex-husband for coming to her home to pick up their sick child and care for him, after she had sent a copious number of text messages for him to do just that. The complainant said she was upset that her ex came to the residence to pick up their child instead of meeting in a public place with the sick child. When the ex-husband turned up at her home, the complainant said she would stay home with their sick child after all, and the husband was to leave. When deputies turned up, the ex-husband did just that. • Deputies conducted a traffic stop at 9:50 p.m. Nov. 16 on Rosemary Way N. and Victor Hugo Blvd. N. and issued a citation to the motorist.
• Deputies played catch-and-release with a motorist who had a Washington County warrant out on him at 5:52 p.m. Nov. 16 on Frenchman Road and Victor Hugo Blvd. N. They pulled the driver over, identified him and let him go. • A resident in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 9:55 a.m. Nov. 17 reported the neighbor for spreading rumors about him, causing other people to harass him. When deputies spoke to the offending neighbor, she said there was only one incident during the past summer when she said something to the complainant and has been avoiding him ever since.
She denied spreading rumors and said she doesn’t even go to the gas station where he works, in her efforts to avoid him. • Unknown suspects were reported for dumping nails and screws in the middle of the roadway near 130th Street N. and Goodview Avenue N. at 4:19 p.m. Nov. 17. The complainant said he personally cleaned up the area. • A motorist of undisclosed identity was cited at 6:24 a.m. Nov. 18 on Victor Hugo Blvd. N. and Frenchman Road for driving after revocation and for failure to provide proof of insurance, after deputies conducted a random license plate check on a vehicle and pulled it over for DAR. As the driver had a history of failing to appear in court or pay fines, he was arrested and issued his citations at jail.
Loretta Harding
HUGO BITS & PIECES • Matt Drew will resign from his position of lieutenant on the fire department but plans to remain on the department as a regular firefighter. Drew has served on the department since December 2015 and as a lieutenant since April 2019. After over 20 years on the fire department, Mark Koll plans to retire Jan. 5. • Jodie Guareschi plans to transition from full-time to parttime Jan. 1. She has been the city’s utility billing clerk since June 2002. Over the last year, she has been training Jennifer Compton on the utility billing process and now Compton is able to handle most of the day-today activities of utility billing. Guareschi’s expertise is still needed on the more complex areas of utility billing and to provide clerical support in other areas of the Finance Department. Her hourly rate of pay will be $35.50, for 15 hours a week, maximum. • The city will make an amendment to its personnel police and earned safe and sick time. A new law passed during the 2023 legislative session requires employers to provide employees with earned sick and safe time (ESST). The new law becomes effective Jan. 1, 2024, and applies to any employer with one or more employees and covers all employees including full-time, part-time, temporary and paid on-call firefighters. Under the law, employees earn, at a minimum, one hour of ESST for every 30 hours worked. If an employee currently earns that amount or more under other paid leave, no additional time is required. Staff has reviewed the
law and the options to meet the requirements and has found the city’s current personal leave for full-time employees exceeds the minimum standards. Part-time and temporary employees and paid on-call firefighters will need to earn one hour to be used as ESST for every 30 hours worked. • Steve Andress will be reappointed to the Planning Commission for another four-year term. Mathew Rauschendorfer, Emily McGinnity and alternate member Jim Compton Sr. will all be reappointed to the Parks Commission for another threeyear term. Kathy Brevig and Craig Moen will be reappointed to the Historical Commission for another three-year term. • The city will opt to not waive the statutory limits through the League of Minnesota Insurance Trust (LMCIT). In the late 1990s, the LMCIT required that each city which obtained LMCIT liability coverage to decide whether to waive the statutory tort liability limits to the extent of coverage purchased. Currently, these limits are $500,000 per claimant and $1,500,000 per occurrence. LMCIT requires each member city to reaffirm its position on an annual basis. • $166,995.54 in delinquent utility bills will be certified to the county to be included on property tax rolls. That amount represents 4.4% of the total amount billed in the last four calendar quarters, and is a slight decrease from the 4.6% that was subject to assessments the prior year. • City fees have been set for 2024. Some of the changes include increases for fees related to
public works and utilities. A new addition will be a service charge fee for disputed credit card transactions. • Salaries and reimbursement levels have been set for 2024. At the mid-year budget review workshop, the council indicated its willingness to adjust the city’s salary matrix by 4.5% and to grant step increases to those employees who had not yet reached their pay grade maximums. The 2024 budget includes these adjustments. Thirteen of the city’s 26 fulltime employees will receive step increases. The net aggregate dollar increase is $138,644, and the overall budget for employee wages will increase by 5.33%. • The city will continue its partnership with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO). The new two-year agreement is for seven deputies, one sergeant and one detective for the city of Hugo. • The city will receive $824 from the Secretary of State thanks to the Voting Operations, Technology, and Election Resources Account, which was established in 2023. The funds can be used for any purpose that is directly related to election administration, including equipment. • Forest Lake Ducks Unlimited will host a banquet Jan. 14 at Sal’s Angus Grill. The banquet will include bingo and raffles. • The city has made its final payment of $259,004 to North Valley Inc. for last year’s street project on Oneka Parkway. The city also recently made a payment of $116,513 to Arnt Construction Company for work
certified through November on the Highway 61 and 159th Street roundabout project. • The city’s public work’s department will purchase a Bearcat debris loader for approximately $9,000. The piece of equipment assists crews in the cleanup of leaves and soft vegetation debris from the landscaped areas of city-owned property. • The city’s agreement with the county for the Hugo Yard Waste Collection Site has been extended through 2024. The city entered into an agreement with Washington County in July 2019 for the waste collection site located at 5527 170th St. N. The agreement was amended in April 2022 to extend the timeline of the agreement to the end of 2023 while the northern hazardous environmental center and yard waste collection site was under construction. It has been determined by the county the site will not be able to open until the fall 2024. • The Hugo Fire Department’s annual banquet is scheduled for Feb. 17 at the Hugo American Legion. • The Local Board of Appeal and Equalization has been scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 4, in the Oneka Room at City Hall. This is where residents can appeal their property tax valuation or classification. The next City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at City Hall. Shannon Granholm
6 THE CITIZEN
COPS&COURTS www.readthecitizen.com
DECEMBER 28, 2023
TIS THE SEASON FOR THE REASON 2023 Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies hear plenty of reasons (excuses) for unlawful behavior, none of which have any influence at all. In their incident reports, deputies have a check box describing the subject’s behavior. Candor usually earns the cited person a “good attitude” consideration. Listed below are some examples of excuse-making in Hugo, along with the occasional admission, according to the WCSO in 2023. • A Minnesota motorist was cited at 7:40 a.m. Jan 5 in the area of Oneka Parkway N. and Ethan Trail N. for displaying license plate tabs that expired in June 2022. The driver said she didn’t know the tabs had expired. • A northbound motorist was cited at 10:52 a.m. Jan. 10 on Isleton Avenue N. and 136th Street N. for speeding 64 mph in a 55 mph zone by southbound deputies in their marked squad, who clocked the vehicle on radar at 71 mph after they noticed its high rate of speed. The driver, who admitted to going too fast, said he was late for a meeting with his boss. • A westbound motorist was cited at 6:16 a.m. Jan. 10 on 170th Street N. and Ingersoll Avenue N. for speeding 64 mph in a 55 mph zone by east-facing deputies on stationary patrol in their marked squad, who clocked the vehicle on radar at 79 mph. The driver admitted to going too fast. • A Minnesota motorist was cited at 6:14 p.m. Feb. 16 in the area of Everton Avenue N. and Frenchman Road for displaying tabs that expired in April 2022 and failure to provide proof of insurance, following a traffic stop for the tardy tabs. The driver told deputies
that the vehicle was recently purchased from a family member and offered an expired insurance card. Deputies released the driver, but not the vehicle, which was to remain parked until insurance on the vehicle was made up to date. • A Minnesota motorist was cited at 4:31 p.m. Feb. 20 in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for failing to yield the right of way, after deputies stopped at the red light at 147th Street and Forest Blvd. N. observed her accelerating through the intersection to turn without the green arrow and almost hit another vehicle who had the right of way to go straight through the intersection. Although the driver initially stated she slid through her turn due to the snowy road conditions, she later admitted to accelerating and later realizing she didn’t have the right of way. • A Minnesota motorist was cited at 3:29 p.m. April 7 in the area of Frenchman Road and Oneka Parkway N. for driving after revocation, after being pulled over for displaying license plate tabs that expired in February. The driver told deputies he had just bought the vehicle and provided identifying information. When deputies checked on their mobile computer, they confirmed the tabs were late, but also that the driver was revoked. A valid driver on board slid over to take the wheel. • A Minnesota motorist was cited at 5:03 p.m. May 8 in the area of Forest Blvd. N. and 170th Street N. for failure to provide proof of insurance and for displaying registration that expired in August 2022, after being pulled over for the tardy tabs. The driver claimed that he did pay for the registration
and for the insurance. However, deputies did a fact check of the driver’s statements on their mobile computer and learned that there was no receipt of registration renewal with the DVS. A quick check with the driver’s claimed insurance company of choice showed his insurance had expired more than six months earlier. • A Minnesota motorist was cited at 5:53 p.m. June 2 in the area of Frenchman Road and Oneka Parkway N. for displaying tabs that had expired longer than six months prior, after deputies on patrol saw a vehicle with tabs that expired in December 2020. The registered owner and driver claimed no knowledge of the expired registration. • The driver of a gray sedan was cited for tint violation by deputies on tint patrol at 6:47 p.m. June 17 on Highway 61 at 140th Street, following a traffic stop for tint on the front windshield and side windows that was so dark that the occupants could not be seen. Even the rear windshield and license plate cover were heavily tinted. Deputies’ tint-o-meter registered the light emission at 10%, where 50% is the required standard. The driver and registered owner told deputies he had bought the vehicle already in that condition. The driver also received a verbal warning for the dark plate cover and object suspended from the rearview mirror. • A Minnesota motorist was cited at 6:30 a.m. June 27 in the area of Goodview Avenue N. and Oneka Lake Blvd. N. for speeding 35 mph in a 30 mph zone by east-facing deputies on stationary patrol, who clocked the vehicle on radar at 41
mph. The driver said he didn’t know he was going that fast. • Another Minnesota motorist was cited at 7:15 a.m. June 28 in the 6000 block of Oneka Lake Blvd. N. for speeding 35 mph in a 30 mph zone by east-facing deputies on stationary patrol, who clocked the vehicle on radar at 38 mph. This driver said she thought the speed limit was 35 mph. • A Minnesota motorist was cited at 8:01 a.m. Sept. 16 in the 7000 block of eastbound Oneka Lake Blvd. N. for speeding 47 mph in a 30 mph zone by westbound deputies on stationary patrol, who clocked the vehicle on radar at 47 mph. The driver told deputies he was late. Deputies described the driver’s attitude as “fair”. • An Oklahoma motorist was cited at 1:31 p.m. Sept. 18 on Frenchman Road and Forest Blvd. N. for hands-free cell phone violation after deputies on patrol observed her waiting at a stoplight while holding her cell phone and moving her finger on the screen. The driver admitted to looking for a McDonald’s app. • A westbound motorist was cited at 7:49 a.m. Sept. 19 in the 5000 block of Oneka Lake Blvd. N. for speeding 35 mph in a 30 mph zone by eastbound deputies, who clocked the vehicle on radar at 43 mph. The driver told deputies she thought the speed limit was 40 mph. • A motorist was cited at 10:49 a.m. Sept. 25 in the 17000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for violation of the handsfree cell phone law. During the traffic stop, the driver admitted to using the phone to make a call to her doctor’s office.
observed kneeling near the side of the road in the 13000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 6:12 p.m. Jan. 31 turned out to be a juvenile having just gotten off a school bus and waiting for a ride from parents. Deputies transported the juvenile home without issue. • A suspicious vehicle parked outside Grundhofers Meats in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 1:01 a.m. Feb. 1 turned out to be the owner of the business moving some equipment around. • A burglary in progress reported at 9:41 p.m. Feb. 2 in a house under construction in the 5000 block of 131st Street N. turned out to be workers from the drywall company building the house. • A possible burglary report from a business in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 8:53 p.m. Feb. 26 was downgraded to suspicious activity after the business owner saw an individual on Ring camera who was merely passing the building to go around to the back. The individual was no longer on scene at the time of the report, nor was there any damage indicating an attempted break-in. • A suspicious occupied vehicle reported at 12:53 a.m. March 2 for an extended period of time in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. turned out to be a woman just hanging out and smoking, since her residence does not allow smoking on the property. • Deputies responded to two suspicious vehicle reports March 3, at 8:56 a.m. in the 10000 block of 122nd Street N. and at 10:17 a.m. in the 12000 block of Keller Avenue N., both associated with a private
investigator working in the area. • A suspicious woman claiming to be from the Minnesota Department of Health was reported at 12:47 p.m. March 6 in the 14000 block of Geneva Avenue N. for showing up at a residence and asking a neighbor why the complainant’s driveway wasn’t plowed. The suspicious woman turned out to be conducting a survey with PATH (Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health), whose inquiries apparently included the health of driveways. • Suspicious activity reported at 7:06 a.m. March 8 in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. turned out to be nothing. • A suspicious male reported at 1:01 a.m. March 17 at North Star Elementary School in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N. turned out to be a motorist just taking pictures of his vehicle (with the ambiance that only a school building backdrop in the wee hours could provide). • A suspicious male reported at 7:43 a.m. March 18 in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N. turnd out to be an aspiring nature photographer setting up a place to take pictures of deer. The photographer lived within the park and was not committing any violations. • A father in the 5000 block of 157th Street N. at 4:39 p.m. March 20 reported his daughter for accidentally pocket-dialing 911 while she walked home from the school bus. After the father said his daughter was scared about being in trouble, deputies reassured her father that no one was in trouble at all. Deputies then explained their policy of addressing abandoned 911 calls.
Deputies usually call back on the number for a welfare check, because attackers often interrupt their victims trying to call 911 for help during domestic violence episodes. • Residents in the 12000 block of Everton Avenue N. who reported theft from a motor vehicle at 4:08 p.m. March 24 turned out to have really locked their vehicle and lost the keys. Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies provided the complainants with various options. • A suspicious male reported lurking around a neighboring home in the 5000 block of 131st Street N. at 1:42 p.m. April 4 turned out to be a home inspector the neighbors had hired, after deputies approached the male to ask what he was doing there. The information was relayed to the reporter. • Suspicious activity reported in the back seat of a resident’s car in the 13000 block of Geneva Avenue N. at 9:27 p.m. April 7 turned out to be an app crying “wolf” after the residents, who were away from home, dispatched deputies out to check the back seat of their locked car. The complainants received a message from a phone app used to lock the car remotely that advised to “check your back seat.” After deputies checked the vehicle’s back seat and saw nothing, they advised the complainants that the “check your back seat” notice is now commonly received by users of that app.
Loretta Harding
SUSPICIOUS 2023 Criminals and bad actors around town should be on alert that Hugo residents have a phone and will use it. Many of the suspicious calls WCSO deputies receive turn out to be a giant nothing. That is good news for three reasons: The good citizens of Hugo are paying attention and are serious about the advice, “if you see something, say something”. Secondly, sometimes the report of a suspicious person or vehicle is real, and a criminal is caught. And finally, what is so wrong about that the big sigh of relief when something sinister turns out to be nothing? • Suspicious material reported being dumped into a dumpster in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 6:12 a.m. Jan. 13 turned out to be just garbage. • Suspicious gunshots reported at 2:48 a.m. Jan 15 in the 9000 block of 130th Street N. turned out to be deputies themselves having just dispatched an injured deer with two rounds in front of the complainant’s house. • A suspicious vehicle pulled over at 12:12 a.m. Jan. 24 in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for the equipment violation of not displaying any license plates turned out to be an employee driving a work vehicle belonging to a Wisconsin company that delivers vehicle parts. • Two suspicious vehicles reported parked in the complainant’s driveway in the 5000 block of Fairpoint Drive N. at 1:33 a.m. Jan. 26 turned out to belong to visitors to a neighboring townhome who thought they were using the visitors’ parking lot. • A suspicious underdressed person
Loretta Harding
DECEMBER 28, 2023 www.readthecitizen.com
THE CITIZEN
7
BAD BEHAVIOR 2023 Can’t we all just get along in the New Year? When we talk about the “best of” reports from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office during 2023, sometimes we really mean “worst of”. Hugo hasn’t really been a hotbed of theft or carjackings during the past year, but there have been plenty of reports about people just not getting along, whether it’s a neighbor or a family member. Listed below are some of the most notable examples of what we can call “bad ex-behavior” that were reported in Hugo during 2023. • A resident in the 5000 block of 130th Lane N. at 11:01 a.m. Jan. 22 reported an ex-boyfriend for his threatening behavior. • A resident in the 14000 block of Finale Avenue N. at 10:38 a.m. March 5 reported his ex-wife for not transferring a vehicle title over to him. Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies advised the complainant that this was a civil matter and that he should speak to his attorney. • A resident in the 12000 block of Keller Avenue N. at 7:36 p.m. March 6 reported his roommate for beginning the process of moving out and acting strangely as she did so. The complainant asked for extra patrols until the roommate completely moved out on March 8. • The genesis and culmination of a breakup were all fulfilled while deputies were en route to a dispute call in the 12000 block of Keller Avenue at 3:10 p.m. March 7. While deputies were speeding to the scene, the parties started to escalate their
argument. When deputies arrived on scene, the parties had separated and a plan was set in place for one of the parties to move out that day. • Deputies took a report of drugs and child pornography at 3:51 p.m. March 9 in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N. and later learned that the caller was in the process of breaking up with her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend and wanted to report his criminal activity. • An ex-girlfriend in the 4000 block of Evergreen Drive N. was reported at 12:38 p.m. March 10 for changing the locks of a townhouse with all the ex-boyfriend’s property inside. Deputies advised the complainant to get in touch with the homeowners’ association to get his property back. Attempts to contact the ex-girlfriend were unsuccessful. • After receiving information from an ex-wife that her ex-husband was driving around on a revoked license, deputies went on a mission to locate the subject and found him traveling westbound in the 9000 block of 170th Street N. at 9:09 a.m. April 19. A mobile data computer check confirmed the subject’s revoked status, and he was cited. • A male in the 14000 block of Geneva Avenue N.at 7:48 a.m. April 29 was reported for trying to throw a female’s belongings out onto the street and kick her out of the home, after they had had an argument about cheating. The male himself left before deputies arrived on scene. • Two Roku cameras were reported found at 5:56 p.m. April 29 in a yard in the 15000 block of Ethan Avenue
N. Deputies were able to return the property to the owner as soon as they were made aware of the circumstances. It turns out that the cameras were thrown out of a car by a disgruntled ex-boyfriend following a breakup. • A business in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 6:03 a.m. May 31 reported an unwanted disgruntled employee at the business and asked deputies to trespass the individual. Deputies then notified the person he had been banned. • A male at an undisclosed location within the city at 10:32 a.m. May 31 reported his wife, who has a harassment restraining order (HRO) out against him, for driving erratically toward his work truck as he was on his way to deliver a load for his employer. • A woman and her ex-boyfriend were reported for being involved in a verbal dispute at an undisclosed address over their court-ordered visitation and parenting styles at 4:05 p.m. June 3. • A resident in the 15000 block of Farnham Avenue N. at 10:36 a.m. June 7 reported her daughter’s exboyfriend for threatening her via video games. • A resident in the 12000 block of Hilo Avenue N. at 6:10 p.m. June 11 reported a friend of her soonto-be ex-husband driving past her residence as part of ongoing issues involving custody of a vehicle. Deputies advised the complainant that her case was a civil matter and instructed her on the HRO process should the male continue with this
behavior. • A manager at the Speedway station in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 7:11 a.m. June 14 reported being harassed by a former employee. Deputies advised the complainant about the procedure to take out an HRO. • Deputies assisted a man moving out of his home in the 13000 block of Europa Trail N. at 11:06 a.m. June 22 after his wife would not let him retrieve his belongings. While on scene, deputies oversaw the wellbeing of everyone involved as the husband got some of his property out of his home so that he could stay elsewhere. • A resident in the 4000 block of Rosemary Way N. at 4:00 p.m. Sept. 15 reported having several phone calls and conversations with her ex-boyfriend, during which he accused her of calling him a racial epithet, when she did no such thing. According to the complainant’s account, the ex-boyfriend, in turn, called her a long list of racial epithets, as well as all the rude names pertaining to a certain profession. When he used colloquialisms linking her to certain deviant sexual behaviors, use of chemical recreation and other character flaws, she’d had enough and wanted all of the recent incidents documented. Deputies advised her to take out an HRO for all of the incidents that had happened recently.
contact the youth’s mother, and the youth became belligerent toward them. Therefore, the youth was transported and booked at the law enforcement center. • A unoccupied vehicle left running for more than an hour was reported at 4:30 a.m. Jan. 29 in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. After the vehicle cleared the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database as not stolen, deputies rummaged around for the key fob and managed to turn the vehicle off following the prolonged fob search. • A random male was arrested on a warrant at 6:46 p.m. Jan. 31 in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. after deputies on routine patrol observed the male, who was known to law enforcement authorities, and decided to check up on him. • The driver of a silver Malibu was cited at 10:17 p.m. Jan. 31 in the area of Forest Blvd. N. and 130th Street N. for failure to transfer a vehicle title in a timely manner and for displaying plates belonging to another vehicle, following a traffic stop for dark window tint and object suspended from the rearview mirror. Although the driver claimed to be the owner, his license plates showed up on computer as belonging to a gold Impala, suggesting that the vehicle may have been stolen. The driver claimed to own both vehicles and presented two titles that were unsigned by him, but were signed months earlier by previous owners. The vehicle and license plate cleared the NCIC as not stolen, and the driver received a citation for creating paperwork confusion. • The driver of a dark sedan with even darker windows was cited at 8:53 p.m. Feb. 1 in the 5000 block of 147th Street N. for driving on a limitation interlock, after being pulled over for the equipment violation. Deputies described the driver as cooperative, honest, sober and actively working. Not only that, but he even provided valid proof of insurance. • A resident in the 5000 block of 147th
Street N. at 7:13 p.m. Feb. 3 reported seeing an unknown person on camera inside his house. The complainant returned home before deputies arrived on scene and cleared his own house. Nothing is reported missing. • Another complainant pitched an entirely different attitude at 2:15 p.m. Feb. 4 in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N. after deputies advised him that his missing/late vehicle was not a criminal stolen vehicle case, but a civil matter. When the complainant started yelling and swearing at deputies, they hung up on him. • A garbage truck was reported stuck in a snowbank in the 8000 block of 157th Street N. at 9:14 a.m. Feb. 20. Deputies blocked traffic while an industrial tow truck pulled out the stuck truck. • A resident in the 5000 block of 146th Street N. at 6:55 p.m. Feb. 23 reported having a verbal altercation with snow removal contractors plowing snow from the neighboring nursing home and placing it in his yard. Deputies arriving on scene observed the plow marks, snow pile and resulting traffic hazard, before trying to contact the nursing home and snow removal contractor. Deputies asked the nursing home to keep their snow on nursing home property to prevent a traffic hazard and escalation of the dispute. • An intoxicated Hugo resident at an undisclosed location at 6:39 p.m. Feb. 25 reported that the relationship with his wife was not going well and requested information on how to separate. Deputies advised the complainant that divorce was a civil matter and gave him the Washington County crisis hotline number. • A caller in the 14000 block of Glenbrook Avenue N. at 3:27 p.m. Feb. 26 delivered a preemptive report that one of his family members was going to report him and that the claims would be false. The complainant stated this family member had a history of falsely reporting family members and asked for ad-
vice about how to stop it. Deputies advised the complainant on how to start the harassment restraining order (HRO) process. • A semi driver reported his vehicle broken down in the right lane in the 4000 block of Frenchman Road at 7:25 a.m. March 2, so that deputies could be there to provide emergency lights to detour rush hour traffic until the semi could leave the scene. • Deputies were dispatched out to the scene of a disturbance at 6:08 p.m. March 6 at a church in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. Deputies arrived on scene to offer assistance during the confrontation between church staff and a person camping in their lot. With deputies standing by, church staff asked the male to leave, which he did willingly after being not so willing. • Deputies rescinded a citation issued to a motorist at 7:49 p.m. March 7 in the 13000 block of Forest Blvd. N. after they discovered the liquor bottle they found during a vehicle search turned out not to be open after all. But the citation was already in the system, so deputies needed to file a cancellation citation. • A suspicious semi was reported parked in the Kwik Trip parking lot in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 7:26 a.m. March 5 and asked to leave because it was clearly not there to make a potato chip delivery. • A complainant from an unknown Hugo address at 3:28 p.m. March 13 reported buying a truck from a dealer without coming away with the title or the truck. The complainant also couldn’t remember the plate number of the truck and didn’t know where the truck went. After the complainant suggested the vehicle had been taken by the dealership, deputies advised him that the matter was civil between him and the dealership.
Loretta Harding
BEST INCIDENT REPORTS FOR 2023 Citizens see their public safety personnel serenely patrolling the street each day or racing through town on a mission. Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies respond to hundreds of calls each week. Some of those calls turn out to be false alarms, while others are real headshakers. Listed below is a selection of reported incidents in Hugo that may have had deputies talking over coffee in 2023. • A resident in the 5000 block of 138th Street N. at 2:43 p.m. Jan. 5 reported her homeowner’s association for not plowing her driveway and street. When deputies drove by the residence, they observed that the driveway had been plowed, except for 3 inches that had accumulated on its surface after nearly a foot of snow had fallen over a three-day period. The complainant told deputies that she needed to go out and pick up a prescription, and that if she were to get a blood clot and die, she would sue the association. • A resident in the 14000 block of Fenway Avenue N. at 10:20 p.m. Jan. 22 reported dump trucks dumping snow. An additional noise complaint came through to dispatch at 11:16 p.m. Jan. 22 about construction trucks making noise in the 14000 block of Oneka Parkway N. Deputies researched the source of the noise and determined that the dump trucks were dropping snow off at HD Sod. Deputies, who received multiple complaints during the first few hours of their shift, advised the complainants that although Hugo city ordinance prohibits unnecessary noise, it does not ban noise caused for business purposes. Deputies referred the complainants to the City Council about the possibility of changing the ordinance. • A juvenile male was arrested at 1:44 a.m. Jan. 29 in the 4000 block of 132nd Way N. for disorderly conduct and for underage drinking after he carried on and pounded on doors of other residents in a multiple-family dwelling. Deputies had had enough after they couldn’t
Loretta Harding
8 THE CITIZEN
DECEMBER 28, 2023
www.readthecitizen.com
JANUARY
Year in Review 2023
Thinking outside the blocks: Local companies talk snow cube creation
Snow doesn’t fall from the sky in 10-foot cubes — not even in Minnesota. While that’s fortunate for the general public, it also means considerable work goes into preparing the massive blocks for participants in the World Snow Sculpting Championship in Stillwater. A dozen, 1,000-cubic-foot slabs of the white stuff will await the 12 sculpting teams for the artistic extravaganza set for Jan. 18-22 in Lowell Park.
Atlas Villas takes a compassionate approach to memory care
Hospitals may be essential to the function of our society, but no one wants to feel like they live in one. That’s why Rick and Amber Gonion created Atlas Villas, a new 16-resident memory care facility located on Main Street in Centerville. This residential center, which had a few setbacks during construction due to supply chain issues, is set to open in February.
Classes will start soon at WBLAHS North Campus addition
The last Monday of this month will be the start of a new era at White Bear Lake Area High School’s North Campus.
That day, Jan. 30, is when students, faculty and staff at the grades 9-10 building will begin their first day of classes in the newly built addition. The transition into the new space is the culmination of more than a year of construction work on the addition, which began in summer 2021. The project was one of several the district OK’d in its 2019 “Building Our Future” bond referendum. The three-story, 250,000-square-foot classroom addition is arranged into nine “studios,” one of which contains temporary office space and another which holds the media center. The remaining seven studios are learning pods that include six classrooms, conference rooms, individual and group workspaces, teacher workspaces and intervention space.
FILE
Centerville skate and sled night
Area residents participated in a variety of family-friendly winter activities including skating, sledding, hot cocoa and treats, and gathered around a warming bonfire during the recent Skate Night/Sled Night event at Laurie Lamotte Memorial Park.
FEBRUARY Year in Review 2023
Students lead the way during Black History Month and beyond
For students in the Centennial Students for Change club, Black History Month is more than looking back at great achievements in history: it’s recognizing that great achievements can also be made between homework, choir practice and extracurriculars. This group of students has gone above and beyond to promote equity, community outreach and mental wellness within the Centennial School District.
WBLAS approves new high school social studies course
A new social studies elective is coming to White Bear Lake Area High School South Campus in the 2023-24 academic year in response to the popularity of its North Campus counterpart. The course, Ethnic Studies World History, will be an optional, full-year class in which students learn about global history through a lens of racial equity and social justice.
Hugo resident competes for $1 million prize on ‘Survivor’
A Hugo resident will soon be in the national media spotlight as a contestant on the 44th season of the CBS game show “Survivor.” Thirty-five-year-old Carolyn Wiger of Hugo was recently announced as one of 18 cast members on the long-running competitive reality series. Wiger works as a drug counselor with Washington County and is the daughter of former Minnesota Sen. Chuck Wiger.
FILE
Lions fishing tournament makes a splash
Hugo Lions had great weather for its annual ice fishing contest Feb. 11 on Big Marine Lake. The event drew about 170 participants.
Centerville looks to fill vacant council seat
The city of Centerville needs to fill an empty seat on the City Council. Michelle Lakso, who ran unopposed during the 2022 election, has resigned her position on the council, and the city has opted to appoint an interim member to serve out her term until the next election can be held.
New nonprofit will handle restoration of historic schoolhouse
City officials have given their word they don’t plan to tear down the historic Hopkins Schoolhouse—for now. If all goes according to plan, a newly formed nonprofit will be taking the reins on the Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center as part history museum, part community gathering space.
FILE PHOTOS
BeaterCross brings whirlwind to Hugo
The Knight Riders Snowmobile Club likes to keep things interesting—and put on a fantastic show at the “BeaterCross” snowmobile race Jan. 28. Here are a few snapshots of the day’s fun. Learn more about local snowmobiling at the Washington Star Trail Association website at www.startrail.org.
MARCH
Year in Review 2023
Taylor completes Centerville council The Centerville City Council is whole again, after her new fellow council members voted 2-1 to appoint Dr. Raye Taylor to the seat left vacant by Michelle Lakso. She assumed office on March 9 and will serve through 2024, unless council holds a special election prior to the November 2024 election.
FILE PHOTOS
Shake Your Shamrock 5K brings out March greenery
Runners dress in their best greens for the Centerville 5K and 7K.
DECEMBER 28, 2023 www.readthecitizen.com
APRIL
fewer people decide to pursue careers in education. The 2023 Teacher Supply and Demand Report shows the ongoing trend of district struggles to retain current educators and recruit new individuals to the profession in Minnesota. A majority of districts reported being “somewhat significantly” or “very significantly” impacted by the teacher shortage (84%) and substitute teacher shortage (89%). The report also states that nearly one-third of new teachers leave teaching within their first five years in the profession.
Year in Review 2023
Quad chamber scholarship to honor late chef
The Quad Area Chamber of Commerce hopes to fund a scholarship for years to come in memory of Larry Giles Jr., also known as Chef Hot Hands. Jiles was one of two people killed in a shooting on Dale Street in St. Paul Feb. 25. The well-loved businessman and community personality operated his restaurant and catering business, Chef Hot Hands, in downtown Centerville.
Lino Lakes skater Myers holds 3 U.S. records after world tour
North metro school districts see fewer applicants
Greta Myers, speed skater from Lino Lakes, emerged as one of the top-ranked junior skaters in the world and as America’s best with three national records, after the 2022-23 Senior and Junior World Cup Tours. As the youngest of 14 skaters (seven men, seven women) on the American senior team,
One thing most school districts can agree on is how difficult it has become to find teachers. Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, districts across the nation are still feeling the effects. Many districts are facing teacher shortages, as
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Myers competed in Norway, Netherlands, Canada, Poland and U.S. events in Milwaukee in January and the finale, the American Cup Finals in March in Salt Lake City.
Residents weigh in on Highway 61 corridor
Washington County, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) and the city of Hugo have teamed up and are in the middle of a yearlong study for the Highway 61 corridor through Hugo. The study encompasses that portion of Highway 61 lying between 120th Street N., Hugo’s southern border, to 180th Street N., its northern border with Forest Lake. The study kicked off in January and is scheduled to be complete in January 2024. Currently, the parties are in the first phase of the study, or the “explore” stage, which is focused on understanding the corridor to identify issues and/ or opportunities that need to be addressed for the overall vision of the corridor.
FILE
Celebrating a happy 100th birthday
Maria Geneva Niemczyk claps along with some of the more than 50 family members who participated in a group happy 100th birthday singalong during a recent gathering at the Forest Lake American Legion. According to family members, she is still active and living independently. She had six children and her extended family includes 16 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren and a 3-month-old great-great-grandchild named Maria. Find more photos online at presspubs.com.
MAY
Year in Review 2023
FILE
Tiffany Dittrich, WBLAE president, congratulates Teacher of the Year Mark Domschot. FILE
Russ Hanes, left, and Greg Freeman hold a challenge coin flag made in a woodworking class.
Working with wood helps traumatized cope
When someone is hurting and in a dark place, ex-cop Greg Freeman shows them how to make a pen from wood. He then instructs them to use the pen to sign all their important papers. “It’s very therapeutic,” said Freeman, who retired with a medical disability after serving 31 years with the Minneapolis Police Department. His disability was diagnosed as post-traumaticstress-disorder, or PTSD. And he’s decided it’s his mission in life to help others significantly touched by trauma by teaching them woodworking.
Teacher of the Year: ‘Greatest profession in the world’ Out of 540 nominations, one has risen to the top. Mark Domschot, a social studies and Advance- ment via Individual Determination (AVID) teacher at North Campus, is the 2023-2024 White Bear Lake Area Educators (WBLAE) Teacher of the Year.
North metro school districts see fewer applicants
One thing most school districts can agree on is how difficult it has become to find teachers. Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, districts across the nation are still feeling the effects. Many districts are facing teacher shortages, as fewer people decide to pursue careers in education. The 2023 Teacher Supply and Demand Report shows the ongoing trend of district struggles to retain current educators and recruit new individuals to the profession in Minnesota. A majority of districts reported being “somewhat significantly” or “very significantly” impacted by the teacher shortage (84%) and substitute teacher shortage (89%). The report also states that nearly one-third of new teachers leave teaching within their first five years in the profession.
JUNE
TEAM USA: Sled hockey player shares importance of cancer research
Year in Review 2023
CONTRIBUTED
Hugo resident Hanna Jorgenson pictured with her husband Jake and German shepherd Frankie.
At the age of 16, Hanna Jorgenson was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a bone cancer. After 27 rounds of chemotherapy, she was finally cancer-free. Now, at the age of 29, Jorgenson serves as an ambassador for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization that creates funding priorities to make the greatest impact for children with cancer and works
Remembering the tornado 15 years later
FILE
May 25 will mark 15 years since an EF-3 tornado hit Hugo, destroying houses, businesses, trees, barns and silos. In addition to the damage , the tornado took a life. Two-year-old Nathaniel, son of Hugo residen ts Gerard and Christina Prindle, was killed and his 5-year-old sister Annika also suffered severe brain damage.
closely with leading pediatric oncologists to determine the most promising research to fund.
4 local school districts boast a total of 47 National Merit Scholars During the fall of each school year, roughly 1.5 million students across the country take the PSAT or NMSQT test, entering into the running to be recognized as a National Merit Scholar. Of the 1.5 million students who take the test, 50,000 — or about 3% — of the students
are recognized as National Merit Scholars. These students qualify as either a “commended” student or, for those scoring even higher (in the top 1%), qualify as a “semifinalist.” A large number (15,000 of 16,000) of these semifinalists are then recognized as “finalists,” who are eligible for National Merit Scholarships that will help them pay for their future education. Students from Mounds View, Mahtomedi, White Bear Lake and Centennial school districts scored high on their exams and earned honors for this award.
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DECEMBER 28, 2023
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JULY
Centerville community warriors are the 2023 grand marshals
Year in Review 2023
Leading this year’s “Blast from the Past” Fete de Lacs parade will be former Centerville mayor Tom Wilharber and his wife, MaryLou Wilharber. The Wilharbers have resided in the city of Centerville for 56 years. MaryLou remembers what the city’s population was when she moved there with Tom: 534.
Residents speak up on County Road J, I-35E interchange
FILE
‘Blast from the past’
And just like that — Another Fete des Lacs celebration is in the books. This year’s festival featured fireworks, a parade, car show, Paddle des Lacs and more. Now the planning will begin for 2024.
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
Year in Review 2023
Year in Review 2023
Corridor study plans for future of 20th Avenue
Anoka County, in partnership with the cities of Centerville and Lino Lakes, is studying the CSAH 54 corridor (20th Avenue) between 73rd Street and Birch Street (CSAH 34), as well as the Main Street (CSAH 14) and 21st Avenue intersection. The county is working with Transportation Collaborative & Consultants (TC2). The area has seen a spur of development lately. Amazon, Sutton Transport and Kwik Trip have all built new facilities, and Watermark, the residential development west of I-35E, continues to add new homes. The primary goal of the study is to identify the future vision for the corridor that addresses known issues, while providing safe and efficient mobility for all users.
CONTRIBUTED
Centennial Lakes Police Chief James Mork poses for a photo with corporal Jon Krueger. Krueger was selected as the Legion outstanding officer of the year.
Legion awards Officer of the Year
American Legion Post 566 is honoring one individual who is making a difference in the community through police work. The Legion recently visited the Centennial Lakes Police Governing Board meeting to present the Outstanding Police Officer of the Year Award to Cpl. Jon Krueger. Each year, the American Legion recognizes local police officers and firefighters from the Lino Lakes Public Safety Department, Centennial Lakes Police Department (CLPD) and Centennial Fire District. The candidates then have the chance to compete at the state and, potentially, at the national level.
Little Hot Hands carries on late husband’s legacy
Many people in the north metro are familiar with the name “Chef Hot Hands,” but they might not have heard of “Little Hot Hands” just yet. Esmeralda Jiles is the wife of Larry Jiles Jr., who was also known as Chef Hot Hands. He was one of two people killed in a shooting on Dale Street in St. Paul in February. Before his death, Chef Hot Hands had been operating a restaurant and catering business in downtown Centerville. That business has since closed its doors and a salon now resides there, but Chef Hot Hands’ name continues, thanks to his wife, who lives in Stillwater. For the past couple of months, Esmeralda has been operating Little Hot Hands, inspired by both Larry and their 6-year-old daughter, Brialee.
Come 2025, the County Road J and I-35E interchange could look drastically different than it does today. County Road J from Centerville Road to Otter
Lake Road – including the interchange with I-35E – is scheduled for reconstruction in 2025. Ramsey County is leading the project in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Anoka County, White Bear Township, North Oaks and Lino Lakes. Two watershed districts, the Rice Creek Watershed District and the Vadnais Lake Water Management Organization are also involved. The existing I-35E and County Road J interchange—and the surrounding area—has safety, congestion and access issues that impact pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists. Additional development is expected near the interchange in the next five years, which will increase traffic and worsen safety issues.
Centerville remembers people’s council member
Council Member Steve King, who died on Aug. 20 after serving for 10 years on the Centerville City Council, was a public servant who questioned just about everything.
Watershed district looks to establish new tax district
Around the new year, residents/taxpayers who live along Centerville Lake will have the opportunity to weigh in on a proposal to establish a water management district. Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) Lake and Stream Program Manager Matt Kocian explained that the watershed district, along with the Centerville Lake Association (CLA), have been talking about water quality issues on Centerville Lake for the past couple of years as lake conditions continue to deteriorate. The RCWD and CLA propose the establishment of a water management district. Although the exact details are yet to be determined, Kocian said the district would likely run about 10 years, and people who live on the lake or have deeded access would then have to contribute a yearly amount that could range anywhere from $150 up to $600.
Top 10 MOST read stories at PressPubs.com for 2023 1. white_bear/news - Mahtomedi student dies from accident-related injuries
6. white_bear/news - White Bear Hockey association sues former gambling manager
2. white_bear/news - ‘Survivor’ contestant brings addiction recovery into spotlight
7. white_bear/news - Construction underway at Big Wood Brewery’s future home
3. white_bear/news - Missing man’s body found in Bald Eagle Lake
8. citizen/news - 2023 Hunt for the Golden Spike
4. white_bear/news - Local falconer rescues baby eagle on White Bear Lake 5. white_bear/news - White Bear Lake Area School District sets 2024-25 calendar, course changes
9. Lowdown/news - From pop-up pizzeria to permanent place: Melt Pizza Company opens soon 10. quad/news - Blaine family overwhelmed by support PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Esmeralda Jiles continues her husband’s legacy with her little pink food truck known as Little Hot Hands.
DECEMBER 28, 2023 www.readthecitizen.com
OCTOBER
Year in Review 2023
Credit union, eye clinic win Best Place to Work
City limits can get a bit complicated around here. Perhaps that’s why a Lino Lakes business won the Best Place to Work in The Citizen’s Best Of Contest, while a Hugo business won the Best Place to Work in the Quad area’s Best Of Contest. Each year, Press Publications hosts its Reader’s Choice Best of the Press Contest, asking locals to pick their favorites, ranging from breweries to area businesses and everything in between. All in all, the Best Of Contest (in all markets) saw 28,920 nominations for the ballot in 2023 compared to 14,744 in 2022, an increase of 96%. In 2023, 332,539 votes were cast compared to
294,616 in 2022, an increase of 12.8%. Rising to the top in the Best Place to Work category for the Quad contest is Heartland Credit Union, while Associated Eye Care took top spot in The Citizen contest.
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Centerville City Council now complete The Centerville City Council has now been made whole, after council appointed Terry Sweeney during a work session to fill the shoes of late Council Member Steve King.
Cities agree on police formula change
Faces of fentanyl: Commemorating the lives lost
For the first time in approximately 20 years, the funding formula that determines what each city pays for police services provided by the Centennial Lakes Police Department (CLPD) will change. Circle Pines City Council Member Dean Goldberg, who serves as the chair of the Police Governing Board operations committee, says the board has been talking about a possible funding formula change for a year or so.
Laura Cowles, Heather Johnson and Zach Zacho all belong to a club they never wanted to join. They all outlived their children, who were victims of a fentanyl overdose. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE | CONTRIBUTED
The Drug Enforcement Administration has a special exhibit, the Faces of Fentanyl, at its headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, which commemorates the lives lost from fentanyl poisoning.
NOVEMBER Year in Review 2023
Veteran hopes to impact veteran suicide rate
Dan Arcand, of Hugo, is a 20- year veteran. As a Marine who was deployed six times, he has been to a lot of funerals. “The reality is that with multiple combat deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, I’ve lost more friends to suicide than I have to combat,” he said. “My second chapter is trying to make an impact on the veterans’ suicide rate.”
CONTRIBUTED
Twenty-year veteran Dan Arcand hopes to stop attending funerals for veterans. He knows more veterans who have died by suicide than combat.
DECEMBER Year in Review 2023
Local resident a key ingredient in Betty Crocker musical “Did you know that WCCO originally stood for the Washburn-Crosby Company? That’s the radio station they bought to have Betty Crocker sell Gold Medal Flour!” reveals Hugo resident Jennifer Grimm. Her expression sours a little. “Yeah, that was an awkward fact to bring up when Fox 9 interviewed me.” Grimm can rattle off a fair bit of Betty Crocker trivia these days; she’s part of the cast for “I Am Betty,” a musical currently in its debut run at the History Theater in St. Paul.
PHOTOS BY JON NAMYST | CONTRIBUTED
Santa and friends come to town
The Centennial Fire District, along with Santa (and even the Grinch) visited neighborhoods in Centerville to collect toy and food donations for the Centennial Community Food Shelf.
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Gov. Walz, Sen. Gustafson visit north metro to talk public safety aid
PHOTOS BY SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Gov. Tim Walz, Senator Heather Gustafson (District 36, DFL), and public safety officials visit a fire station in Lino Lakes to highlight how local cities are planning to use the public safety aid they will receive from the state. This year, Gov. Walz signed $300 million into law to help communities meet their local police, fire and emergency management needs. The Department of Revenue will send the funds to local governments this week. Of the $300 million, $17 million will come to the northeast metro. Washington County will receive $3.3 million. The money will be used for employee mental health checks, annual event for sheriff’s office staff, Community Service Officer programs, deputy sheriff training, patrol operation vehicles replacement and hearing protection equipment.
SPORTS
ZEPHYRS SPORTS BRIEFS WRESTLING
Mahtomedi defeated North St. Paul 52-21. Winning by pin for the Zephyrs (2-7) were Aidan Carlson, Shelby McFetridge, Mac Schultz, Isaac Opitz, Samuel White, Alex Lavalle, Wyatt Herschbach and Evan McGuire, while Aiden Boex won 12-4.
AND OUTDOORS
CENTENNIAL SPORTS BRIEFS
for the Cougars (4-3-1). Will Dosan netted two goals for the Cadets (4-3-1), and Peter Murray, Luke McPherson and Jimmy Zavoral one each. The Cadets had a 46-24 shots advantage.
BOYS HOCKEY
BOYS BASKETBALL
Centennial lost at North St. Paul 74-65 on Monday evening. Ty Burgoon sank 26 points for the Cougars (2-6). Jackson Driessen was next with 11. Dale King tallied 24 points and Brevin Conway 16 to lead the Polars (1-3). JON NAMYST | CONTRIBUTED
Veteran goalie Kaitlin Groess is the anchor for the 8-1-2 Centennial/Spring Lake Park hockey team.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Centennial/Spring Lake Park had an 8-1-2 record at press time for this edition. Points leaders are Grace Laager (six goals, 13 assists, 19 points), Teagan Kulenkamp (7-10-17), Alexis Larsen (4-9-13), Noelle Hemr (9-3-12) and Mia Sutch (6-5-1). Fourth-year goalie Kaitlin Groess has a sparkling .946 save percentage and 1.41 goals-againstaverage.
BOYS HOCKEY
Centennial lost to St. Thomas Academy 5-2 at home Monday evening. Joey Hemr and Harper Searles scored
GIRLS HOCKEY
Roseville/Mahtomedi defeated Mounds View/Irondale 8-2 at National Sports Center, outshooting MVI 58-18. Victoria Nelson and Addison Andre knocked in two goals apiece. Ruby Eskin, Lauren Eggleston, Olivia Hartman and Rylee Bogren had a goal each. Kylie Jones assisted on four goals. The Marauders are 6-7 overall and 5-4 in the Suburban East. MVI is 2-8-1 overall. Bruce Strand
COLLEGE HOCKEY
Lauren O’Hara, freshman from Centennial on the Minnesota Gophers hockey team, has appeared in 16 of the 18 games, notching two goals and one assists. O’Hara, the first Cougar to play for the Gophers, tallied her first two collegiate goals during a 9-2 win over Bemidji State on Dec. 1. The Gophers are 14-3-1 and ranked No. 2 in the nation behind Colgate. Editor’s note: Due to an early printing deadline because of the holidays, Thursday through Saturday sports are not included in this week’s edition. They will be included next week. Bruce Strand
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Mahtomedi lost to Delano 2-1 in overtime as Tiger goalie Evan Geyen stopped 32 of 33 Zephyr shots. Ryan Lipovitz scored for Mahtomedi in the first period. Scoring for Delano (6-2) were Daniel Halonen and Bryce Peterson, the latter on a power play in OT. Zephyr
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CHURCH BRIEF
PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEF
Sheriff’s Office will receive grant to fight sex trafficking
The Sheriff’s Office was awarded a sex trafficking investigations grant of $580,000 from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Justice Programs that
was effective Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2023. The amendment extends the $580,000 funding and expiration date to June 30, 2024, while adding an additional $146,000 for July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, for a total grant of $726,000. There is no match required for this
New Life Lutheran Church in Hugo will host a Red Cross blood drive from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11. The church is located at 600 N. 148th St. in Hugo. To make an appointment, visit www. redcrossblood.org.
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SUMMARY ORDINANCE 2023-529 ADOPTING THE 2024 CITY OF HUGO FEE SCHEDULE NOTICE: THIS PUBLISHED MATERIAL IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF HUGO. THE FULL TEXT OF THE ORDINANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT THE HUGO CITY HALL DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS. The City of Hugo City Council does ordain the following: Section 1. Findings. Pursuant to Minnesota Law, the City of Hugo City Code, and upon a review of a study conducted by City staff, a fee schedule for City services and licensing is hereby adopted for the following: 2024 FEE SCHEDULE Businesses Licenses Non-Business Licenses & Permits Building Permits Building Related Demolition Related Development Fees Local Government Unit (LGU) Fees Planning and Zoning Related Publications Public Works Related Roadway Reconstruction/Rehab Utility Related Rentals Miscellaneous Charges Section 2. Effective Date of Ordinance. This ordinance shall be effective on January 1, 2024. This is a summary of the adopted ordinance. A full printed copy of the ordinance is available at City Hall; a full listing of the city’s fees is available on the City Website. Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Hugo this 18th day of December, 2023. Tom Weidt, Mayor Attest: Michele Lindau, City Clerk Published one time in The Citizen on December 28, 2023.
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THE CITIZEN
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Arts Culture and
2023
hen Ada Limón, the Poet Laureate of the United States, visited the University of Minnesota last month to read from her latest collection, she drew a crowd of 600 people. Opening for her was White Bear Lake Senior Jordan Humphrey, winner of the Walter Nathan Poetry Contest. “Poetry is important because it unites us,” explains Humphrey, “Poems can express big ideas and feelings in relatively few words. There are so many different kinds of poetry which makes it a great way to communicate.” Expression and communication are particularly important in Jordan’s case because, just 18 months ago, he felt voiceless. “In June 2022, I experienced a hate crime motivated by homophobia,” Jordan recounts, “I struggled for many months after that. I felt like nobody understood what it's like to be me.” Reading works from LGBT+ writers during this time kindled
M
Jordan’s burning desire to speak out. Humphrey shares, “Authors such as Elliot Page and David Levithan gave me confidence in my identity as a young bisexual and transgender man. The profound impact that LGBT+ role models have had on my life encourages me to share my story, and I hope to inspire others to share their voices.”
“Poetry is important because it unites us.” Jordan Humphrey Emerging Artist Discovering one’s voice essential for any writer—but it’s not easy. To forward this process, Jordan uses a tried-and-true piece of advice: write every day. “I find that the more I write, the better my writing is. I like how pushing myself to write every day gives me new perspectives,” Humphrey tells. This maxim,
THE STEWARDS OF OLD STEWART
any in White Bear Lake consider the church building on Stewart Avenue and 6th Street a local icon. Originally built in 1889 as the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, most current residents likely remember the building as the old site of Lakeshore Players. In 2020, however, the building became slated for demolition—that is, until Kelly Clement and Steve Bucher bought the site and remodeled it. “The back windows were in bad shape,” recalls Clement, “Everything ended up having to be totally gutted—down to the stud walls!” Though the remodel took place during COVID, the building seemed busier than ever. “We had three-to-four groups of people a day just watching the work happen,” Clement laughs. These onlookers saw the culmination of Clement and Bucher’s dreams. “We’ve always been interested in…building something new on an old foundation,” explains Steve. In keeping with this reclamation theme, Kelly and Steve transplanted late1800s stained-glass windows from a demolished church in Minneapolis. Then, they needed to figure out how to fill the space with their other passion: music. “That’s where the stage came in,” Bucher chuckles. Finished with the restoration, Kelly and Steve hosted an open house. “We had over 400 local residents come,” Clement exclaims, “Then, we did another open house, and
“T
conversely, does not extend to his writing environment. “For me, writing in a new location or at an unusual time of the day is the best way to get past writer's block,” Humphrey continues, “Some of my favorite places to write are the study rooms at the WBL library and at home with my guinea pig.” Home is where Jordan has figured out that his voice is kid-friendly. “I've written and illustrated over a dozen books for my little brother, and my dream would be to one day publish a children's book professionally,”Humphrey beams. That doesn’t mean, however, that his writing is childish. “In my eyes, children's books and poetry are some of the most important types of writing,” Jordan imparts, “When a kid learns to read, countless opportunities become available to them.” Besides authoring books, Jordan has another plan to help kids read—by teaching them! “I'm going to become an elementary school teacher,” Jordan
another 400 people came!” This is when the couple realized their predicament. “This building longs for community gathering…” Bucher states, “people feel historical and emotional ownership of the space.” Kelly points out the other side of that coin: “To be clear, Old Stewart is not a venue. This is our house. But how do we continue that community tradition?” The stage presented a novel solution. “We discovered that we can do large private parties and fundraisers,” Kelly declares, “We don’t charge for the events we host, but we require reservations and rely on free-will donations. Then, we choose a non-profit each year to give the proceeds to.” Fascinating in the best way, this original path forward seems to please the site’s inhabitants, their neighborhood, and even the building itself. So why the name “Old Stewart”? “In Ireland,” Bucher extolls, “it’s tradition to give every house a name…no matter what. We wanted to use that custom here, too.” “It’s on Stewart Avenue and it’s the oldest church in White Bear Lake,” Kelly laughs, “Old Stewart’s pretty selfexplanatory.” For information on future events, as well as reservation details, visit oldstewart.com
COMMUNITY DAY AT WBCA
his will be our third time since COVID, but it was a long tradition before that,” says Sara Nephew. She’s referring to the White Bear Center for the Arts’ (WBCA) annual Community Day, held on Saturday, January 13th, 2024 from 1-3pm. “It’s an opportunity for people to gather, have conversations, and see what Minnesota has to offer in winter,” Nephew continues. That offering, it turns out, is higher than January’s snowbanks. First, the 2023 Members’ Exhibition is in full swing, with over 200 locally made pieces featured. Second, just outside the west doors, is an outdoor augmented reality exhibit, experienced via a smartphone’s camera, by visionary artist Marlena Myles. Third, visitors can explore a
wheelchair-accessible labyrinth— assuming conditions aren’t too icy. “The dress code is very casual,” Nephew assures, “but, obviously, bundle up if you’re doing the outside portions.” In addition to installations and exhibits, WBCA has plenty of winter activities planned for the open house. “We’ll have sled dogs, hot cocoa, and a snowflake project,” Nephew reports. When asked more about the snowflake project, Nephew explains, “It’s a demonstration run by H2O for Life, a local non-profit dedicated to water conservation—of all kinds, mind you, not just lakes.” Those looking to warm up inside will find face painting, artist demos, live music, and even a make-and-take art experience! With so much to do, Sara recommends getting to the event early because, while free parking is offered, it might be difficult to find. 500 people
attended last year. In the next breath, she especially encourages new visitors to attend—or those who haven’t been since before COVID. “We love to bring new people in the door,” Nephew emphasizes, “I strongly encourage people to visit the new portion of the building.” That’s right— WBCA added the Ford Family Gallery, Exhibition Hall, and Atrium in 2021, so visitors can experience the Members’ Exhibition in a brand-new space! With so much to explore, visitors may feel inspired to visit WBCA on a regular basis. To that demographic, Nephew suggests, “Check out the full class schedule while you’re here!” To learn more about WBCA’s Community Day along with their other events, go to whitebeararts.org
proclaims, "The most influential people in my life have been teachers.” This path makes sense for Jordan because, now that he’s using writing to speak about his experience, he’s discovered his passion: “helping others share their voices.”
JANUARY EVENTS
Explore upcoming Avenue of the Arts events with CPA, LPT and WBCA LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE: THE MUSICAL Location: The Hanifil Performing Arts Center
Date: Jan. 26 - Feb. 10
The timeless story of Laura’s real childhood offers a unique glimpse of life on the American frontier and tells the heartwarming, unforgettable story of a loving family. As the Ingalls family journeys westward and settles in South Dakota, Laura grows from a wild child who loves to run free into a woman who embraces the responsibilities of her own future while remaining true to herself. Having since swept the nation, come see this hit musical that originated in Minnesota.
PINOCCHIO
Location: The Hanifil Performing Arts Center
Date: Jan. 8, 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m.
COMMUNITY DAY AT WBC
Location: White Bear Center for the Arts Date: Jan. 13 from 1-3 p.m.
BEYOND THE BASICS: WHEEL THROWING
Location: White Bear Center for the Arts Date: Jan. 2 - Jan. 30 (Tuesdays), 10 a.m.
- 12:30 p.m. Take your throwing skills to the next level. Explore different forms, while learning new throwing techniques. Perfect for those ready to go beyond the fundamentals to unlock their pottery potential.
BLOOMING CREATIVITY: LEARNING THE ART OF HOME GARDEN DESIGN
Location: White Bear Center for the Arts Date: Jan. 3 - 17 (Wednesdays), 10 a.m. -
12 p.m. This class is designed to provide students with an understanding of the principles and techniques of designing gardens. The class covers a range of topics from site analysis and plant selection to garden design concepts and principles. Students will learn how to create beautiful and functional outdoor spaces, incorporating elements of design and horticulture to create a unique and personal garden.
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EMERGING ARTIST JORDAN HUMPHREY
18 THE CITIZEN
DECEMBER 28, 2023
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Veterans are honored with quilts and medals Veterans Ray Zeitlow, Keith Forstrom, Kevin George, Lowell Marsolek and Henry D. Woeltge pose with the Quilts of Valor and medals they received from Jayne Knowles and historian Alan Anderson during a ceremony at Keystone Place in Hugo.
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1-2. The Hugo Lions hosted their annual Christmas dinner at American Legion Post 620. Pictured are the winners of the ugly sweater contest. — Contributed 3. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office participated in the annual Shop with a Cop. The event, which is sponsored by the Hugo Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network, aims to bring holiday cheer to children of military families who have a parent deployed oversees. — Contributed 4-5. The Hugo Knightriders Snowmobile Club teamed up with the Forest Lake and Stillwater snowmobile clubs to offer two youth snowmobile training courses at Blacksmith Lounge & Broaster. Despite having no snow, they figure out a way to modify the sleds with wheels so the youth could take their field test. — Contributed 6. The Centerville Lions teamed up with Centerville Parks and Recreation to host Christmas in the Park at LaMotte Park. The event included pictures with Santa, S’mores, bonfire and horse drawn trolly rides. — Contributed
Send us your photos for possible inclusion in Spotted Around Town. Please email your best shot to citizennews@ presspubs.com. Please include information about when and where it was taken and who is in the photo.
DECEMBER 28, 2023 www.readthecitizen.com
THE CITIZEN
19
Dellwood Ridge neighbors given deadline to come to consensus BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
HUGO — Residents who live in the Dellwood Ridge Neighborhood have been given a deadline for when they need to come to a consensus about the proposed 2024 street project. At the City Council’s next meeting on Jan. 8, the council will decide whether or not it wants to move forward with the street project or hold off and pursue a project in another area. The project is slated for construction in 2024. It consists of roadway pavement reclamation and paving of 125th Street, and complete roadway reconstruction and stormwater improvements in the Dellwood Ridge neighborhood area. The roadway reclamation and paving will include 125th Street North from Goodview Avenue North to 122nd Street North (CSAH 7). Work on Upper Heather Avenue North from 125th Avenue North to Heather Avenue North and Heather Avenue North from 125th Avenue North to 120th Street North (CSAH 7) will involve complete reconstruction and stormwater improvements. The total estimated cost for the project is approximately $3.93 million. Funding for the project will be provided through county funds, city street funds, and assessments (6%) to benefiting properties. Total assessments are
proposed to equal $258,500. Property owners will be charged $5,200 for complete reconstruction and $3,400 for roadway reclamation, per the city’s assessment policy. Prompted by public comment at the public hearing, the city scheduled an additional neighborhood meeting for further discussion, particularly around the roadway width and curb type. City Engineer Mark Erichson said city staff is recommending the new roadway (Heather Avenue) be constructed at the city standard of 28 feet compared to its current 32 feet. There is also a recommendation to change the curb type to a surmountable curb. “Whenever we do a road project as a city, we want to make sure that the outcome is of value to the residents. We want to improve the city’s infrastructure and improve the quality of what exists,” Council Member Mike Miron said. “I don’t want to get into something where we approve a project, spend all kinds of resources and then have a bunch of folks who are frustrated with what the outcome of the project is. I want to make sure that if we deliver on this project that it is something that everyone feels was valuable and has improved the appearance and the road worthiness of the neighborhood.” Miron said he was okay with the curb type, but that he would struggle to use city
dollars on a project type that “goes over and above” what the city standard is in terms of roadway width. (Erichson explained that it would likely cost each resident an additional $2,500 to $3,000 to cover the costs of keeping the current roadway width.) Council Member Phil Klein added, “I think that we have standards within the community that we adhere to when we build these road projects as well as from a safety standpoint. It’s been proven that when you reduce the width of the road, traffic slows down.” Klein suggested putting a hold on the project, and moving forward with another project where neighbors are more supportive of a project. Council Member Becky Petryk wondered if someone from the neighborhood would be willing to do a survey to find out “what people really want.” She added that she was comfortable with the recommendations for width and curb. “To me, that sounds like a great compromise.” Council Member Dave Strub said if the city did decide to keep the roadway width, that extra cost should be borne by the residents who live on the street. Heather Avenue resident Aaron Zellmer said he felt the neighborhood was supportive of the project. “I don’t think anyone in our neighborhood would want the road project delayed. I think based on the condition of the
CONTRIBUTED
The street project that is proposed for 2024 might be changing. Right now, the project is proposed to consist of roadway pavement reclamation and paving of 125th Street, and complete roadway reconstruction and stormwater improvements in the Dellwood Ridge neighborhood area.
road … the road is in pretty rough shape and it needs to be repaired. I think the main objective of the conversation was just to talk about safety and security,” Zellmer said. He said the residents want the surmountable curb. “We have a lot of young kids riding their bikes. If the road does get narrowed, we want to make sure that they have the option to quickly get off the road into the grassway so that they are not getting run over by vehicles.” He added, “We wanted to hopefully keep the road the same width it was when we moved into the neighborhood; however, we understand the need for consistency, financial restraints. I don’t think anyone in the neighborhood would
want to come up with an additional $2,500 to $3,000 to pay for the project.” City Administrator Bryan Bear explained that in the past when there has been a difference of opinion among neighbors regarding a street project, it was helpful to have a neighborhood “representative” or “liaison” to help figure out what the consensus is and report back to the city. “That would be helpful for the council,” Bear said. “This project is at the top of our list for a reason. We would very much like to see it repaired as part of the 2024 street project.” Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or citizennews@ presspubs.com.
Public safety main reason for high price tag of 2024 budget BY NOELLE OLSON WHITE BEAR PRESS EDITOR
The city of White Bear Lake worked to get the tax levy down from $12,245,000 to $12,003,000 for its 2024 budget. “We started with an increase of 22.55% and through additional analysis, we got that down to 20.82%,” said City Manager Lindy Crawford. “We now have that down to 20.57%. So, that reflects a 15.04% increase for operations with 4.67% of that increase for ambulance services, and 5.53% of the increase due to the public safety facility debt service.” According to Crawford, 18 cents of every property tax dollar paid goes to the city of White Bear Lake. “The remainder is then divvied up among Ramsey and Washington counties, the school district and other agencies, which include various watershed districts and the Metropolitan Council,” she said. Crawford said significant expenditure changes in the 2024 budget are as follows: • Ambulance operations moved from an enterprise fund to the general fund. - Federal laws limit the fees ambulance service providers can collect from patients who have Medicare or Medicaid insurance coverage. Approximately 75% of the fire department’s patients have these coverages, which significantly reduces the revenues collected to support operations. Ambulance revenues can offset operating costs for the fire department. However, they are not sufficient to support the ambulance service on its own. • Two full-time firefighters/paramedics were added. • One facility maintenance technician position was added. • Costs related to the emerald ash borer (EAB) diseased and dying tree removal program. - The city has been managing EAB by treating public trees, promoting treatment of private trees and selectively removing trees as necessary since 2018. The council will continue to devote resources to minimize the impacts of EAB in the community. During the truth-in-taxation hearing, White Bear Lake resident Andrea McKee said she was confused about the levy increase. “I’m a senior, and in 2022 you increase them by
37.8% and that amount was $4,780 property taxes per year,” McKee said. “Then you increased it 6.4%. So last year I paid $5,100 and now you’re telling me it’s $825 a year. Are you serious? I am complaining about your overzealous spending of my money. I have gas, electricity, utilities, property taxes, insurances on homes, cars and there’s inflation and gas prices.” McKee continued, “I went to the Ramsey County forum also, because this is getting out of touch. I don’t think I’m going to be living in White Bear Lake. You are driving me out, and I am a senior. I think it’s unfair.” Council Member Dan Jones said that it has been difficult to explain large increases in the 2024 budget. “They’re not fun for us and they’re not fun for staff, but there has been a significant change in health care ambulance costs,” Jones said. “When I first came onto the council, we had about 2,500 ambulance runs 16 years ago with a paid on-call, part-time volunteer staff. That’s not sustainable. We don’t have volunteer paramedics anymore. They’re not there. This year we have over 5,000 runs.” Also, Jones noted ambulance rates have not increased in 16 years. “So every ambulance costs $1,000, and we only get back $300,” Jones said. “We have a lot of seniors, thank goodness, in our community because it’s seniors like you that make our community what it is.” Jones continued, “I don’t see how city staff can come up with a skinnier budget with the services that we want. I would say it’s easy to criticize and I hope there’s some understanding,” he said. “It really comes down to this budget is about public safety.” Mayor Dan Louismet wanted to clarify to the public that Ramsey County does property value assessments, not the city. “We had zero say over what Ramsey County did, and that’s not us,” Louismet said. “That’s the second biggest piece of the pie. We had zero say over the independent school district. That’s not us, and that’s the biggest piece of the pie. So what Council Member Jones is saying and how I can sit here and defend this budget — although there’ll be some nuances — is we are effectively the smallest entity in terms of how many dollars we’re collecting of that $5,100 that we’re providing for very, very expensive services of which
our costs are going up. We are hemorrhaging staff left and right because we need to pay them a working salary; otherwise the firefighters, the police officers and the paramedics are gonna go elsewhere.” Council Member Kevin Edberg said from 2008 to 2018 the city had no increases to the tax levy. “We held that for 10 years, and we held it too long,” Edberg said. “So for example, the other item that hasn’t been mentioned we are going to pay a whole bunch of money for interest and for expenses on a new public safety building next door that is going to replace the last facility that we had that was 60 years old. We could no longer accommodate the nature and size of the firefighting equipment that we have. The doors were too small, and a whole variety of things.” Edberg also noted 911 calls are increasing. “Folks expect, I think reasonably, that they will receive a response and trained qualified people at their doorstep in a reasonable period of time,” Edberg said. “Right now, that’s under seven minutes. So those are the kinds of decisions that we wrestle with. We had five council meetings and work study sessions this year going over all of those issues. Those conversations have been held in good faith by people who are asking many of the same kinds of questions and concerns that you have.” Council Member Bill Walsh wanted to amend the budget to save money. He asked to get rid of the the communication specialist position. “It doesn’t answer a 911 call and doesn’t go out on a fire call and that doesn’t fix a street,” Walsh said. “So it’s getting us away from four services that we do as a city.” The council agreed to take the communications specialist position out of the 2024 budget. “Maybe we’ll just put it off for one more year,” Council Member Heidi Hughes added. “What happens if there’s no communication specialist? The ambulance still goes out. The street still gets fixed. People still find out about the water main break. Maybe it’s 15 minutes later or half an hour later, but I’m not sure that rises to the level of having to fix it right now. So I guess I’m a bit struggling.” To view the White Bear Lake 2024 budget, go to https://bit.ly/47UWu0I.
20 THE CITIZEN
DECEMBER 28, 2023
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