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Residents say price tag too high for assessment Kevin Watson said the city tries to stay above the market when it comes VADNAIS HEIGHTS — to interest rates. “Our goal is for people Residents are expressing to go and find a loan from concerns about home the market where we assessments for the 2024 Street Improvement Proj- are, Watson said. “We don't have the ability to ect in the Woodbridge bank roll everybody's neighborhood. assessment, unfortunateThe project includes Woodbridge Drive, Wood- ly. Especially year after year because we do this bridge Court, Woodand over. bridge Circle, “We have families over I mean, we're Woodview with three kids that happy to do Drive and Woodview are going to daycare. it but it is Court. There Where do you think not ideal. We that are 79 homes they're going to prefer people pay in in the neighborhood and come up with $5,400 full or go find to repair stuff that their own each one is being aswe've been paying means to pay sessed $5,475. taxes for our whole for this.” Resident The total cost life?” Joe Janssen of the project spoke during is approxiJoe Janssen a public mately $1.5 hearing on million. Resident the assessments. He said “The city's contribuhe believed costs were tion is $1,146,775 with the too high. assessable cost remain“This whole neighboring of $432,525,” said Jim hood is flipped over from Hauth, director of public older people,” Janssen works. said. “We have families According to Hauth, with three kids that are residents have the option going to daycare. Where to pay that in full withdo you think they're in 60 days of the City going to come up with Council meeting. If they $5,400 to repair stuff that pay within 60 days, there we've been paying taxes is no interest accrued. for our whole life? I've If residents do not pay been living there for 30 within 60 days, they years and they haven't have the option to pay done anything to our before Oct. 1, 2024, in full street and I've been paywithout it being assessed ing 30 years of taxes.” to their property taxes. Hauth said the estimatIf no payment is made ed bituminous replaceby Oct.1, 2024, then it ment with curb work and would be assessed to the excavation is $850,000. property taxes over 10 The estimated storm years with an interest sewer work is $107,000, rate of 9%. The city does the estimated water main have a hardship deferral work is $136,000 and the policy based on income for seniors, disabled and active military people. SEE HOME ASSESSMENTS, City Administrator PAGE 7A BY NOELLE OLSON EDITOR
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(From left) White Bear Lake Rotarian Carol Nelson, Colin Greene, Rylee Baltzer, J.T. Baltzer and Scoutmaster Rick Koskie. The Rotary Club of White Bear Lake has sponsored Scout Troop 494 since it began in 1994. The Rotary Community Service team gave the Troop a donation to help them continue and grow in the years to come.
Rotary continues to support Scout Troop 494 Scout Troop 494 of White Bear Lake is having a banner year. “We have 23 registered Scouts which is the same number as last year,” said Senior Patrol Leader J.T. Baltzer, at a White Bear Lake Rotary meeting. “We also have 22 adult leaders which is quite unusual for a Troop. Usually, they have 10 ... maybe more. They offer a lot of time and knowledge for us.” J.T. said 16 of the adult volunteers are also Merit badge counselors. They cover 80 of the 137 Merit badges offered in Scouting. “A Merit badge is an award earned by completing a list in a certain area of study,” J.T. said. “Like potential jobs, careers
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rate was 13% and the year prior it was 20%.” The Troop took a trip to the Black Hills this summer. They had a tire blowout on I-90. “We're not sure what happened, but it sent me and my buddy Ethan searching for our missing fender,” J.T. laughed. “If we were anywhere but the shoulder of I-90, it would have been a great opportunity for the automotive Merit badge.” J.T. said an aspect of Scouting that makes Troop 494 unique is it is trying to build a coed program. His sister Rylee Baltzer, assistant patrol leader said Scouting has always been a part of her life for as long as she can remember. “All of my big brothers were in Scouting from Cub Up to Scouts $40.00 OFF
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or just a zoomed-in study on a certain area.” J.T. said to become an Eagle Scout, people need to take 24 to 40 hours of classroom time compared to eight to 12 hours to earn a Merit badge. “Our troop has completed 2,400 hours of just classroom time and merit badges,” J.T. said. “To earn the rank of Eagle Scout you need to complete 14 Eagle required merit badges, plus another seven merit badges of his or her choice. They commonly require us to study a topic and then apply the knowledge over a three months.” Recently, three Scouts got the rank of Eagle Scout — Logan Baltzer, Sean Koskie and Lucas Younce. “Only 6% of all Scouts nationwide obtain the rank of Eagle,” J.T. said. “In 2023 our
BY NOELLE OLSON EDITOR