FLAG DAY: Etiquette

such as on a single staff or lanyard, the U.S. flag should be above all other flags. If flags are displayed in a row, the U.S. flag goes to the observer's left.

• State and local flags are traditionally flown lower than the American flag.

• During marching ceremonies or parades with other flags, the U.S. flag should be to the observer's left.

• The flag should be displayed at every public institution and at schools during school days.

• When displayed vertically and not on a staff, the union should be on the left when observed. It should be suspended so its folds fall freely as though the flag were staffed.

• The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

• The flag is often displayed at half-staff on days of mourning, including Memorial Day. The flag should first be hoisted to the peak for an instant, then lowered to half-staff position, which is half the distance between the top and bottom of the staff.

• On a vehicle, the U.S. flag should be displayed from a staff firmly fixed to the chassis. It should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle.

• The flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water or merchandise. It also should never have anything placed on it.

• A flag in poor condition should be destroyed with dignity, preferably by burning. Most American Legion posts and local Scout troops will have the resources to retire flags accordingly. Many will host annual flag retirement ceremonies on Flag Day.

Lakes City Council Snippets

• The City Council is expected to accept the 2022 audit report at its June 12 meeting (after press deadline). As it typically does, the city received a clean, or unmodified opinion, on its financial statements. The audit didn’t have any internal control findings or findings related to federal compliance, but there was one finding related to legal compliance.

The auditing firm Redpath and Company found the city failed to comply with provisions of the claims and disbursements section of the Minnesota Legal Compliance Audit Guide for Cities, promulgated by the state auditor pursuant to Minnesota Statute § 6.65. The statute requires bills to be paid within 35 days of receipt. During the audit, Redpath noted one instance where the city failed to pay an invoice within that 35day time frame.

City Administrator Sarah Cotton explained that all of the department heads have been instructed to record the date of when an invoice is received. If a particular department head is not able to pay bills in a timely fashion, their authority to spend city funds may be taken away.

• MEP Lino Lakes has applied for a preliminary plat and conditional use permit (CUP) to plat a 1.86-acre lot for the purpose of constructing a 16,941-square-foot day care facility to be known as Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center. The site is located south of Apollo Drive and north of Lilac Street. The day care will be constructed on Lot 1; Outlot A will be reserved for future commercial development, explained City Planner Katie Larsen. The City Council

CONTRIBUTED still needs to approve the final plat for the project.

MEP Lino Lakes has applied for a preliminary plat and conditional use permit to construct a 16,941-squarefoot day care facility to be known as Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center. The site is located south of Apollo Drive and north of Lilac Street.

• The city of Lino Lakes plans to apply for $1.5 million in funding from the state for the purpose of creating a destination, all-inclusive playground somewhere in the city. Community Development Director Michael Grochala explained that every two years, the state of Minnesota provides an opportunity for local communities to submit funding requests for possible inclusion in the governor’s capital budget. These projects are typically considered in even-numbered years as part of the state’s bonding bill.

Mayor Rob Rafferty said, “If we don’t try for it, we are never going to get it. Let’s start the community engagement process and get support for the project.”

Public Services Director Rick DeGardner added, “This is a great opportunity to make this a regional draw … This is some- thing that could put Lino Lakes on the map. Not too many cities can boast that they have got something like this.”

If the city received the funding, it would require a 50% match from the city.

• The city will likely step up its enforcement of residents who are not following the odd/even and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. irrigation rules. The city of Lino Lakes is currently in the process of appealing amendments made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) appropriation permit as a result of a court issued judgment regarding the groundwater management of White Bear Lake and the Prairie Du Chien-Jordan Aquifer.

The city of Lino Lakes participated in the first round of mediation last month; another is scheduled for this week (June 13). “We are trying to come out with a settlement that makes sense for all of the communities involved,” Grochala said.

• Every two years, the city reviews the salaries of the City Council. Beginning Jan. 1, 2024, the mayor and council members will see a 6.1% increase. The salary of the mayor would increase to $11,298 and the salary of each council member would increase to $9,497.

Cotton explained that the increase is consistent with the total wage adjustment for city employees for 2022-23. The first reading of the ordinance was scheduled for June 12, after press deadline. A second reading will be held June 26.

The Lino Lakes Police Department reported the following incidents:

• While on patrol, an officer attempted to stop a vehicle for several traffic violations in the 8100 block of Diane Street when it fled May 30. The vehicle was located a short time later stopped on a dead-end road, and the driver was arrested and booked into jail.

• A community service officer responded to a call regarding an injured animal in the 7700 block of Town Center Parkway May 30.

• Officers responded to a report of trespassing in the 6500 block of Ware Road May 30. The male suspect was arrested and booked into t he Anoka County Jail.

• An officer responded to a call for a theft of gasoline at a business in the 7000 block of 21st Avenue South May 30. The license plate given by the employee did not match the description of the vehicle. The incident is under investigation.

• A n officer stopped a vehicle for a license violation in the 7500 block of 20th Avenue May 30. The driver was cited for multiple offenses and had their license plates removed because the license plates had been revoked.

• Officers responded to a report of a personal injury crash in the 6900 block of Lake Drive May 31. Officers rendered aid to a victim until a n ambulance arrived to transport the patient. The incident is under investigation for DUI.

• Officers responded to a local business in the 700 block of Apollo Drive on a report of a group of disorderly juveniles May 31. Officers m ade contact with juveniles and advised them to relocate for the evening.

• An officer was dispatched to a delayed report of disorderly conduct

Public Safety Briefs

Android update causes problems for emergency communications

The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office and Anoka County Emergency Communications-911 is asking individuals with Android phones to check their Emergency SOS settings after a recent update. According to the ACSO, deputies have been dispatched to an extremely high volume of accidental 911 calls, which were likely caused by the new Android software feature that automatically calls 911 when the power button is pressed five times in a row.

Between May 5 and June 5, Anoka County Emergency Communications received approximately 2,000 more open line/hang-up calls than in March and April of 2023. Law enforcement responds to all calls to ensure that those at the location are safe.

i n the 600 block of Town Center Parkway May 31. The officer documented the incident. One of the p arties involved was not identified. The incident is under investigation.

• A n officer was dispatched to a call of a possible drunk driver in the 2200 block of Main Street June 1. Another agency also responded and subsequently arrested the driver for DWI.

• Officers responded to a report of possible gunshots in the 6600 block of Centerville Road June 1. The officers checked the area and located spent firearm casings. The investigation is ongoing.

• An officer was dispatched to a phone call report regarding a fraud in the 6400 block of Fox Road June 2. The investigation is ongoing.

• A n officer responded to a call of a fawn that was stuck in the caller's fenced-in yard in the 100 block of Woodridge Lane June 2. The officer freed the fawn from the fenced yard.

• An officer was dispatched on a call of a felony theft in the 700 block of Apollo Drive June 2. The juvenile suspect will be charged out of c ustody.

• Officers received a report of a group of teenagers that rang a doorbell and ran away in the 6500 block of Clearwater Creek June 3. Officers located the group nearby and the group fled on foot. One individual was stopped, questioned and was later released. The investigation is ongoing.

• A n officer received a report of fireworks being set off in a park in the 2 200 block of Tart Lake Road June

3. The officer located a group of juveniles in the park who were not involved with the fireworks. The

The feature can be turned off by going to your settings and selecting the “Emergency SOS” feature. From there you can select or toggle the option to off. The exact method used to turn off this feature may vary slightly by Android phone.

Time to register for Night to Unite parties

Night to Unite falls on Tuesday, Aug. 1, this year. Night to Unite is sponsored by the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association and local law enforcement agencies. The night aims to celebrate and strengthen neighborhood and community partnerships. To find a list of parties, or register a party, contact your local law enforcement agency.

juveniles were sent home, since the park was closed.

• An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that was swerving on I-35E near Lake Drive June 4. The male driver was arrested and later charged with fourth-degree DWI.

• An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for speeding in the 8000 block of I-35E June 5. The male driver showed signs of impairment and was arrested and booked into the Anoka County Jail for third-degree DWI.

• An officer received a school bus stop arm violation report in the 800 block of Main Street June 5. The investigation is ongoing.

• An officer responded to the area of Jasper Court and Ada Drive June 5 for a property damage crash involving a vehicle that left the roadway and struck an unoccupied parked vehicle. The incident was documented and the involved parties exchanged information.

• A n officer contacted a resident regarding a possible injured snapping turtle in their yard in the 400 block of Birch Street June 5. It was found that the turtle was going to lay eggs and the caller, who was concerned it would bite someone, was advised to call the next day if it was still there.

The Centennial Lakes Police Department reported the following incidents:

• Police responded to the 9300 block of Lexington Avenue in Lexington June 1 for a delayed property damage accident. The caller advised t hat a blue SUV crashed into his car in the parking lot of a business.

• S uspicious activity was reported in the area of Lovell Road and Syndicate Avenue in Lexington June 1.

City Brief

Watershed district provides update on ditch project

CIRCLE PINES — The Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) repair of the Anoka County Ditch (ACD) 53-62 main trunk has been on hold since late April due to an accident with the contractor’s equipment. Work is expected to start back up this month. The repair work restores the system’s capacity and efficiency, and helps to ensure more predictable and long-term drainage, flood control and stormwater management. Construction is anticipated to be completed this summer, with some additional work needed in the fall. For updates, subscribe to the email list by contacted RCWD staff Ashlee Ricci at aricci@ ricecreek.org or 763-398-3082. For more details on the project, visit www.ricecreek.org. pr esspubs.com or call

• O fficers were dispatched to the 9000 block of Jackson Avenue in Lexington June 1 on report of a transformer that was on fire. Upon arrival, officers determined the fire was already out.

• Police were dispatched to West Golden Lake Road in Circle Pines June 1 regarding a cockatiel in the area. Officers attempted to catch the bird but were unsuccessful.

• While on the scene of another call in the 6700 block of Centerville Road in Centerville June 2, a d river approached an officer. The officer suspected the driver was significantly impaired. The driver cooperated with the officer’s i nvestigation, and the driver was ultimately arrested for fourth-degree DWI.

• O fficers responded to the 2000 block of Main Street in Centerville June 2 on a report of theft. The manager requested payment of $8.21 for the theft. The suspects paid and then were trespassed from the business.

• Damage to property was reported in the 9000 block of North Highway Drive in Lexington June 3.

• Officers responded to a noise complaint in the 9300 block of Griggs Avenue in Lexington June 6. Officers made contact with a renter, who was told to turn down her music.

• Officers observed a driver make a traffic violation at the intersection of Restwood Road and Lake Drive in Lexington June 6. The vehicle then attempted to flee from the officer but was ultimately stopped in a parking lot in the 4100 block of Lovell Road. The driver was arrested for DWI and fleeing in a motor vehicle.

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