July 1999 Shore Report1
Trail (and Park) Talk ..... 2
Communications Corner . 2
New Park Commissioner. 2
Fire False Alarm Fees ... 2
Early Shorewood....... 3
Community Events ..... 3
Senior Corner ......... 3
Spring Clean -up Report 3
Eureka Open Space .... 4
Shorewood Map ....... 4
HOREWOOD IS FORTUNATE to have some
long -term employees on the Public
Works' team and Dennis Johnson is one
of its more senior members. On July 1, 1999
he will celebrate 25 years as a full time em-
ployee of Shorewood. Dennis actually started
with the City that previous winter, on a part
time basis as a plow assistant in the
days when it took 2 people to run a
snow plow —one to drive and the
other to operate the plow mechanism
and sanding equipment. He was one
of a 4 -man crew who took care of all
of Shorewood's streets, parks and
newly installed sewer system.
Over the years, Dennis has taken
on most every role in the Public Works De-
partment: snow removal, street maintenance
and repair, sewer / water system operations,
weed and tree inspector, and park and rinks
maintenance. He likes the variety. As if he
hasn't had enough time with trucks, tractors
and heavy equipment, Dennis uses some of
his off-the-job hours doing more of the same.
He will build a boulder wall, deliver black
dirt or dig a hole with his own bobcat, as part
of a small business. For recreation, after all
that, Dennis does enjoy a little hunting, ice
fishing and baking cookies. Yes, if you're out
on the ice on a winter afternoon and smell
cookies baking, that's Dennis keeping his fish
house warm with an oven and
some ready -mixed cookie dough.
Ingenious!
Since Dennis began working,
the population in Shorewood has
more than doubled, the volume of
streets and park land has grown,
and the level of service to resi-
dents has escalated. The Public
Works facility, which was once in Neil
Randall's back yard with a couple of trucks,
has changed as well. As a native of the
Shorewood area, and 25 -year employee of the
City, Dennis has witnessed a lot of change. It
was a long time ago that seems like yester-
day. Congratulations Dennis ...and thank
you for your long and loyal service!
A THEIR ,JUNE, 14 MEETING, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO ESTABLISH a Land Conservation /
Environment Committee. As was reported in the June Shore Report, this Committee will
be charged with implementation of the Land Conservation Committee recommendations and
will serve as advisors to the City in the areas of environmental issues.
Five residents of the City will be appointed to serve on this Committee, along with a member
from both the Park and Planning Commissions. The terms of membership will be staggered for one
to three years. The Committee will cease to exist as of
June 30, 2002, unless extended by Council action.
Ifyou have an interest in environmental issues, land lx The recycling
conservation and/or land development, and would like
to be considered for appointment to the Land Conserva- schedule will stay as
tion / Environment Committee, please send a letter of usual for the week of
interest and a resume to City Hall. Applications must the July 41;, holiday.
be received byJuly 19, 1999 at 4:30 P.m.
0
C:a
HOLIDAY --CITY OFFICES CLOSED
1
2
3
C
7:00 Planning Commission Meeting
4
a.„
6
cv
8
9
10
7/12
7:00 City Council Meeting
7/13
7:30 Park Commission Meeting
11
1
13
14
15
10
17'
7/20
7:00 Planning Commission Meeting
18
19
20
21
1
Trail (and Park) Talk ..... 2
Communications Corner . 2
New Park Commissioner. 2
Fire False Alarm Fees ... 2
Early Shorewood....... 3
Community Events ..... 3
Senior Corner ......... 3
Spring Clean -up Report 3
Eureka Open Space .... 4
Shorewood Map ....... 4
HOREWOOD IS FORTUNATE to have some
long -term employees on the Public
Works' team and Dennis Johnson is one
of its more senior members. On July 1, 1999
he will celebrate 25 years as a full time em-
ployee of Shorewood. Dennis actually started
with the City that previous winter, on a part
time basis as a plow assistant in the
days when it took 2 people to run a
snow plow —one to drive and the
other to operate the plow mechanism
and sanding equipment. He was one
of a 4 -man crew who took care of all
of Shorewood's streets, parks and
newly installed sewer system.
Over the years, Dennis has taken
on most every role in the Public Works De-
partment: snow removal, street maintenance
and repair, sewer / water system operations,
weed and tree inspector, and park and rinks
maintenance. He likes the variety. As if he
hasn't had enough time with trucks, tractors
and heavy equipment, Dennis uses some of
his off-the-job hours doing more of the same.
He will build a boulder wall, deliver black
dirt or dig a hole with his own bobcat, as part
of a small business. For recreation, after all
that, Dennis does enjoy a little hunting, ice
fishing and baking cookies. Yes, if you're out
on the ice on a winter afternoon and smell
cookies baking, that's Dennis keeping his fish
house warm with an oven and
some ready -mixed cookie dough.
Ingenious!
Since Dennis began working,
the population in Shorewood has
more than doubled, the volume of
streets and park land has grown,
and the level of service to resi-
dents has escalated. The Public
Works facility, which was once in Neil
Randall's back yard with a couple of trucks,
has changed as well. As a native of the
Shorewood area, and 25 -year employee of the
City, Dennis has witnessed a lot of change. It
was a long time ago that seems like yester-
day. Congratulations Dennis ...and thank
you for your long and loyal service!
A THEIR ,JUNE, 14 MEETING, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO ESTABLISH a Land Conservation /
Environment Committee. As was reported in the June Shore Report, this Committee will
be charged with implementation of the Land Conservation Committee recommendations and
will serve as advisors to the City in the areas of environmental issues.
Five residents of the City will be appointed to serve on this Committee, along with a member
from both the Park and Planning Commissions. The terms of membership will be staggered for one
to three years. The Committee will cease to exist as of
June 30, 2002, unless extended by Council action.
Ifyou have an interest in environmental issues, land lx The recycling
conservation and/or land development, and would like
to be considered for appointment to the Land Conserva- schedule will stay as
tion / Environment Committee, please send a letter of usual for the week of
interest and a resume to City Hall. Applications must the July 41;, holiday.
be received byJuly 19, 1999 at 4:30 P.m.
7/26 7:00 City Council Meeting 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Underlining indicates cablecast of Council meetings —see schedule on page 3.
7/5
HOLIDAY --CITY OFFICES CLOSED
1
2
3
7/6
7:00 Planning Commission Meeting
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
7/12
7:00 City Council Meeting
7/13
7:30 Park Commission Meeting
11
1
13
14
15
10
17'
7/20
7:00 Planning Commission Meeting
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
7/26 7:00 City Council Meeting 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Underlining indicates cablecast of Council meetings —see schedule on page 3.
T l R t'
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Mai Descr Eureka Open Space Project Telecomm
The following items are on the July 6
Planning Commission Agenda:
1 The Planning Commission will
hold a public hearing at 7:00 P.M. for a
request by the owner of 5640
Covington Road for a conditional use
permit to allow him to construct a home
that contains over 1200 sq. ft. of ac-
cessory (garage / storage) space. His
new home will include a two -level at-
tached garage.
2 At a 7:15 P.M. public hearing the
Commission will consider a request for
a conditional use permit to install a PCS
antenna on the water tower located on
the Minnewashta Elementary School
property at 26352 Smithtown Road.
(See related article on this page.)
A t the beginning of this year, the Eu-
reka Neighborhood Association
purchased a parcel of land adjacent to
their properties. The property was
deeded to the Minnesota Land Trust,
who in turn conveyed its interest in the
property to the City for the long -term
preservation of the property as wood-
lands, wetlands and open space.
Recently the City has erected a sign
on the property identifying it as open
space and explaining how it was ac-
quired. This type of donation is what the
Land Conservation Committee had rec-
ognized as a viable option for local resi-
dents who wished to ensure the protec-
tion of open space in the future. If you
want to know more about different pro-
grams available, contact City Hall.
Facilities Proposed for
West End Water Tower
S
he Shorewood Planning Commis-
sion will conduct a public hearing on
Tuesday, July 6 to consider a request by
American Portable Telecom to locate com-
munications antennas on Shorewood's
west end water tower. A small utility
building is also proposed to house the
equipment associated with the antennas.
The proposal will be evaluated based
upon new zoning regulations adopted by
the City last year in compliance with
Federal laws relating to telecommuni-
cations facilities. Anyone with questions
regarding this proposal may call the
Shorewood Planning Department during
normal busines hours at 474 -3236.
CITY OF SHOREWOOD
5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD
BULK RATE
0
CRECOt3, 5J1
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
t i
(612)474.3236 N FAX (612)474.0128
PERMIT #128
EXCELSIOR, MN 55331
Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. to 4,30 r
DEJAVVR TO:
Council Members
Woody Love, Mayor
Kristi Mover
John Garfunkel
Christine Lizde
Scott Zerby
Administrator
James C. Hurrrt
Newsletter Editor: Connie Bestyr
Th news is printed on recycled gaper.
THE SHORE REPORT I J ULY 1 999
COMMUnications Corner
Sign In, Please
T he Shorewood web site now has a Guest Book for visitors and we have
already had some response. It's great to see that people are finding
Shorewood on the Internet! Log on to www.ci.shorewood.mn.us and see who
else has signed in. Kindly leave your comments about the site or other
Shorewood features you have enjoyed!
s s
}
FM
A opt-a-Garden is a growing pro-
gram! In addition to those listed
in last month's newsletter, Silverwood
Park has now been adopted by Council
member Scott Zerby and his family.
Thanks again to the garden volunteers
for adding color and life to our City sites!
:;
Tree U
S horewood has been
named a Tree City
USA by The National Ar-
bor Day Foundation. It is
the third year Shorewood has
received this national recognition. The
Tree City USA program is sponsored by
The National Arbor Day Foundation in
cooperation with the National Associa-
tion of State Foresters and the USDA
Forest Service.
To become a Tree City USA, a com-
munity must have the following: a tree
board or department, a tree care ordi-
nance, a comprehensive community for-
estry program, and an Arbor Day obser-
vance. This year's observance of Arbor
Day was celebrated on Saturday, May 1,
with the planting of a tree at Manor Park.
S mce 1986 the City of Shorewood has
had an ordinance regarding alarm
systems. This ordinance requires alarm
users upon the third false police alarm
or second false fire alarm within a 12
month period to obtain a permit for each
incident thereafter.
The regulation of alarms is necessary in
order to reduce the increasing frequency
of false alarms in the City. The great
number of and increasing frequency of
these false alarms requires intensive,
time- consuming efforts by the Public
Safety Department and thereby distracts
from and reduces the level of services
available to the rest of the community.
- SHOREWOOD MUNICIPAL CODE, SECTION 601
Upon the recommendation of a spe-
cial Excelsior Fire Department Review
Committee, the Shorewood City Coun-
cil has increased the amount for a false
fire alarm permit from $150.00 per inci-
dent after the first in 12 months, to
$200.00 per incident.
If your home has an alarm system, make
sure it is in proper working order to avoid
unnecessary alarms and permit require-
ments. Remember, your system should
also be checked by your vendor to insure
its compliance on into the year 2000.
r. f ,
A t a June 14 special meeting, the City Council inter -
viewed three candidates for the vacancy on the
Shorewood Park Commission. They appointed Paula Berndt,
a Shorewood native who has recently "returned to her roots"
when she and her family moved back to this community in
November 1997. As a Park Commissioner, Paula looks for-
ward to being part of a group that shares her interest in park
land, the environment and open space. She is excited about
encouraging more opportunities for family events at the parks.
Paula's enthusiasm for parks goes beyond their sports
amenities —to the environmental treasure that our parks represent. She has an ex-
tensive background in gardening and planting and has been involved in the Spring
Peeper Meadow Restoration project at the Landscape Arboretum. She is also inter-
ested in working on the idea of developing a composting program within the City.
We welcome Paula who brings new energy and fresh ideas to the Commission.
Moving Along on Trails
/� t their June 8 meeting, the Park
v Commission reviewed preliminary
drawings and cost estimates for trail seg-
ments which are being considered for
two areas of Shorewood. The projects —
one along portions of Vine Hill Road and
Covington Road, and the other along
Smithtown Road, west of Strawberry
Lane —are both considered to be feasible
and cost effective. Both are areas where
neighbors have been very supportive of
the proposed trails for safety, as well as
recreational benefits.
As part of the trail process, the Park
Commission will hold another open
house meeting in July with residents of
the Vine Hill / Covington area to review
final plans for that segment. The Com-
mission would then recommend to
Council to put the plan out for bids with
hopes of fall construction.
The Commission is equally commit-
ted to the Smithtown segment and will
continue to work with the consultant to
clarify cost and design information and
to prepare for a meeting with those
neighbors. The City is also-exploring
the option of other funding sources
which may be available to the
Smithtown segment.
Looking Ahead
At a joint meeting with City Council
on June 22, progress was made toward
two other projects which have been un-
der consideration for a long time. The
Commission:
♦ directed staff to proceed with
preliminary plans for a structure to serve
as a concession stand / picnic shelter /
rest room facility at Freeman Park.
♦ took action to ask the City
Council to help organize and focus the
energy of the Council, Commissions,
and City staff in working toward the
Freeman structure, the two proposed trail
segments and a possible skate park for
area youth. Commissioner Puzak, who
has been working closely with the Youth
Coalition —to help with their vision and
strong commitment to a skate park —said
that it is an important recognition of the
younger segment of the population. He
added that the youth have been orga- nized and patient, and have held up their df end of the task. The Commission agreed.
THE SHORE REPORT / JULY 1 999 2
Minnetonka Reminiscences
by George Day (1845 -1937)
Reprinted courtesy of the Excelsior -Lake
Minnetonka Historical Society
Peter Gideon Loved Apple Trees,
Hated Slavery
O ur claim joined the one owned by
Peter M. Gideon, the pioneer fruit -
grower and the originator of the Wealthy
apple. Mr. Gideon was very enthusias-
tic in his experiments and denied him-
self many comforts in order to carry
them out. This country owes him a debt
of gratitude for his perseverance, which
was finally crowned with success.
When I was a boy I used to work for Mr.
Gideon, generally hoeing weeds among his
young apple trees. He used to work with me
and he often passed the time reciting his ad-
ventures "by flood and field" and his some-
times marvelous escapes from death. One
particularly thrilling story was as follows:
Peter Gideon was a strong anti -sla-
very man and was lecturing down in
southern Illinois where the people were
strong pro - slavery. He was billed to
speak in a certain town and on his ar-
rival he repaired to a hotel. The land-
lord warned him that he was in great peril
as a mob was gathering to lynch him.
"I retired to my room," Mr. Gideon
said, "and a mob of forty men gathered
in the hall and was.abwt to break down
the door to my room, when the landlord
told them to be careful for Gideon was a
desperate character. Upon receiving this
information they hesitated and finally
dispersed; and it was well for them that
they did for I was armed with an enor-
mous corn- slasher and a pistol loaded to
the muzzle with slugs, and there wouldn't
have been a man left to tell the tale."
Mr. Gideon, with all his peculiarities,
was a true friend, a good neighbor and
an honest man.
In Other Park Business:
The Park Commission has just corn
pleted its annual tour of the parks, and
overall, the report was very favorable
The Commissioners were pleased to see
the parks being enjoyed by many. The
Shorewood Public Works crew is to be
commended for an excellent job of main-
taining our parks!
Excelsior Fire Department 15'*
Annual Fund Raising Dance
Join your friends and neighbors at the
Excelsior Fire Station on Friday, July 16
at 5:00 P.M. to Midnight!
♦ Food and drink— Brats, Hot Dogs,
Chicken Sandwiches, Pop and Beer!
♦ Entertainment for the kids!
♦ "The White Sidewalls Rock `n Roll
Review " — 8:00 to Midnight
♦ Door prizes and more!
Excelsior Farmer's Market
Thursdays, 2 to 6:30 P.M. at Lyman Park
Excelsior Area Chamber of
Commerce General Meeting
Thursday, July 15 at 7:15 A.M.
Maynard's Restaurant
Waterford Townhomes Association
Board of Director's Meeting
Thursday, July 15 7:00 P.M.
Contact: Harold C. Pierce 470 -1566
Call City Hall (474 -3236) if you would
like your community meeting or event
dates included in our next publication.
elebrate the 4th in Excelsior!
Events are planned for the entire
day. Check the Excelsior Bay Times or
call the Excelsior Area Chamber of
Commerce at 474 -6461 for details.
The Firecracker Run begins at 8 A.M.
The day continues with: Kid's Ice Cream
Social, parade & games, and a fishing
contest; food and souvenirs; and music
by The Sevilles. The grand finale is at
dusk with the Fireworks over the lake!
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII IF
T here have been mixed reviews on
the 1999 Spring Clean -up Day ex-
perience from residents in Shorewood.
A new hauler took on the project, which
turned out to be a much larger project
than anticipated. In fact, an additional
40,000 lbs was collected over last year's
total. The hauler was very responsive
and tried to resolve any complaints even
into the next week.
The story goes on ...but suffice to say
that the contractor worked hard and we
made it through another Spring Clean-up.
The City Council has reviewed the diffi-
culties with providing a curb side pick-
up service and feels that its value still out-
weighs the inherent (and even unex-
pected) problems. Staff is looking into
plans for spring 2000 and has hopes of
overcoming the challenges faced this year.
Again, we would like to thank the Boy
Scouts, Troop 424, for working all day
to load Goodwill donations onto the
truck at our drop -off site. They were a
bright spot in the day!
City Council meetings can be seen on
Cable Channel 8 at the following times:
June 28 Meeting
Tuesday, July 6 at 5:30 P.M.
July 12 Meeting
Tuesday, July 13 at 5:30 P.M.
Tuesday, July 20 at 5:30 P.M.
Saturday, July 24 at 9:00 A.M.
July 26 Meeting
Thursday, July 29 at 1:30 P.M.
Call the Southshore Center (474 -7635) for more information on these
and any of the other many activities and opportunities for Seniors.
Red, White and Blue Day-- Celebrate the 4 by wearing red, white or blue
to a special event at the Center on Friday, July 2. There will be a showing of the
video "Portrait of America," at 10:00 A.M. A special lunch will be served at noon
followed by a trivia contest with prizes. Make reservations by Tuesday, June 29.
Ice Cream Social —Join the fun on Monday, July 19 at an old fashioned so-
cial after noon lunch. There will be musical entertainment. Enjoy a bowl of ice
cream with toppings for only $1.00. Make your dining & van reservations early.
Dance - Dance - Dance -- Senior dances are held at the Southshore Center
on the second Friday of each month from 1:00 to 3:30 P.M. Come on July 9 and
dance or just listen to the music. The cost is $3.00, which includes refreshments.
3 THE SHORE REPORT/ JULY 1999