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July 1997 Shore ReportCITY OF SHOREWOOD T he City has an opportunity to work jointly with the Minnesota Department of Transportation on projects intended to improve safety at a number of Highway 7 intersections. In 1995 a Task Force of representatives from cities adjacent to Highway 7, between Shorewood and Hutchinson undertook a Study which addressed the future upgrading of Highway 7, including highway access closures and consolidations. It is to Shorewood's financial advantage to work in coordination with the State at this time. It is important for the nearby neighborhoods to know what is proposed, and to have an opportunity to offer input to City Council, Staff and Planning Commis- sion members. The proposals are intended to improve safety but may have an impact on your daily travel patterns. The locations of the improvements being considered are identified on the map on the back of this newsletter: • Reconstruct Highway 7 and Highway 41 intersection to correct align- ment problems. • Close right - on/right -off at Lake Linden. • Close Wood Drive access /egress to Highway 7. • Improve turning movements at Pleasant. • Close Seamans Drive — extend Yellowstone Trail to Eureka Road. • Close south entrance to Freeman Park, reroute to Eureka Road. Two informal meetings at Shorewood City Hall, 5755 Country Club Road, have been scheduled: Tuesday, July 8 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 15 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The public is invited to look at maps and visit with City Council and Commission members, Staff' and neighbors any time during these information sessions. If you are unable to attend either of these sessions, please stop in at City Hall any weekday between 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to review the proposals, visit with Staff and offer written comments. T he Public Hearing to consider a Conditional Use Permit for installation of antennas on the City's newest water tower was held on June 17 at the Minnewashta School. Ap- proximately 30 residents attended along with members of the Planning Commission, Mayor Dahlberg (sitting in as Council Liaison), Planning Director Brad Nielsen, City Engineer Larry Brown, James Strommen from the City Attorney's office, and Dr. John DuBois, a communications consultant for the City. Representatives of Sprint Corporation gave a presentation explaining that they would like to locate antennas on the water tower primarily to complete their coverage of cellular phone service within the South Lake area. Mr. Strommen then described the impact of the Telecommunications Act on such companies and the rules that govern cities, obligating them to allow installation of communication anten- nas somewhere within the city. Dr. DuBois covered information about interference and possible health concerns related to Electro Magnetic Frequencies (EMF's). See Antenna - back page Park Commissioner Introduction ............. 2 Trail Talk ................... ............................... 2 Early Shorewood ...... ............................... 2 Shoreline ........... ............................... I nsert Steamboat Story .............................. Insert Independence Days . ............................... 3 Mayor's Summit ....... ............................... 3 Senior Center ........... ............................... 3 7/1 7:00 Planning Commission mtg. 1 2 3 4 5 7/4 Holiday City Offices Closed �. 7/8 5:00 Hwy 7 Information Meeting .J >__ 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 7/8 7:30 City Council Wk. Session 16 7/9 7:30 Park Commission mtg. 13 14 )5 17 18 19 (no 7/22 meeting) 7/14 7:30 City Council Meeting 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 7/15 5:00 Hwy 7 Information Meeting 7/15 7:00 Plann. Comm. Wk. Session 27 28 291 30 31 7/28 7:30 City Council mtg. T he Public Hearing to consider a Conditional Use Permit for installation of antennas on the City's newest water tower was held on June 17 at the Minnewashta School. Ap- proximately 30 residents attended along with members of the Planning Commission, Mayor Dahlberg (sitting in as Council Liaison), Planning Director Brad Nielsen, City Engineer Larry Brown, James Strommen from the City Attorney's office, and Dr. John DuBois, a communications consultant for the City. Representatives of Sprint Corporation gave a presentation explaining that they would like to locate antennas on the water tower primarily to complete their coverage of cellular phone service within the South Lake area. Mr. Strommen then described the impact of the Telecommunications Act on such companies and the rules that govern cities, obligating them to allow installation of communication anten- nas somewhere within the city. Dr. DuBois covered information about interference and possible health concerns related to Electro Magnetic Frequencies (EMF's). See Antenna - back page Park Commissioner Introduction ............. 2 Trail Talk ................... ............................... 2 Early Shorewood ...... ............................... 2 Shoreline ........... ............................... I nsert Steamboat Story .............................. Insert Independence Days . ............................... 3 Mayor's Summit ....... ............................... 3 Senior Center ........... ............................... 3 Shorewood Events Map .......................... 4 Dial Us About Dial -a -Ride A s always, the Shoreline is ready and available for taking continents and suggestions on City - related topics.. With the newly added service of "Dial -a- Ride ", we are especially interested in hearing from residents about their experiences with the transportation options it provides. What is work- ing well? Will the service take you where you want to go? If there is interest expressed in adjusting the service, we want the Metropolitan Council Transit office to know about it. We would like to "customize" the program to meet the needs of as many people as possible. Call the Shoreline 474 -3236, Ext. #1 and let us know what will work for you. Trail Talk T he Park Commission is beginning work on a review of Shorewood's Trail Plan. The Commission feels it is important to communicate each step of the review process which will be very comprehensive and will include the follow- ing: • Needs assessment • A clear mission for trails in Shorewood • Communication of the vision • Translation of the vision into an overall trail plan • Citizen involvement in each step of the process Each issue of the newsletter will include an update on the Commission's progress. Stay tuned! Early Shorewood A Call to Local Historians ach month this newsletter includes an article on the history of the Shorewood area or Lake Minnetonka. It is important that we know the history of the community which we call `.`home ". This is a call to local historians to share your recollections about places, people and events ... or even about how the various streets in Shorewood received their names. Please consider submitting a brief article if you know local history, or pass on names of individuals with records or memories of past events whom you feel should be contacted. Articles can be submitted to: Shorewood City Hall 5755 Country Club Road Shorewood, MN 55331 If you would prefer to be interviewed, please call 474 -3236 to schedule a time. T he June newsletter invited you to call City Hall for reservation details and costs for the use of the new Freeman Park Picnic Shelter. A further explanation is necessary. As with other park facilities, there is no charge for usage unless you want the picnic shelter reserved. If you want to be assured it is available for a specific time period, resident and non- resident fees have been established. So if you are the lucky person coordinating a family reunion or other gathering, please call City Hall (474 -3236) for reservation costs to guarantee use for your event. Other- wise, for an impromptu picnic or break between games, feel free to pack a snack or meal and enjoy the shade under the new roof at Freeman (unless, of course, it has been reserved by others). The picnic shelter will be under construction this summer. � s C all Shorewood City Hall at 474 -3236. We have two sets of unclaimed keys that were found in Freeman and Cathcart Parks during the month of April. M wm T he City Council, at their May 27 meeting, appointed Ann Packard to the Park Commission. Ann has been a Shorewood resident since 1980, when she and her husband, Clay Atkinson moved here from Massachusetts. Some of the recreational activities that Ann enjoys are biking, cross - country skiing, and boating. The children have grown, leaving Ann time for her work as Director of Client Services for a marketing services company in Burnsville, and her new position on the Shorewood Park Commission. Ann brings a commitment to keep an open mind, and to listen and evaluate all aspects of a park issue in order to make well thought -out recommenda- tions. As quoted in her letter of application to the Park Commission, she believes she "can bring a balanced, unbiased perspective to the Park Commission and [is] willing to work hard to help make Shorewood's parks among the best in the area ". Welcome, Ann! K Independence Days T he 4th of July is going to last for THREE days in Excelsior this year. The Chamber of Commerce has planned activities that folks of all ages can enjoy for the entire weekend. All Three Days In the Commons: Food Vendors and a Petting Zoo from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. At Lyman Park: Carnival organized by the Excelsior Park and Recreation Department. Discount tickets are avail- able in advance at Excelsior City Hall until noon on July 3. Friday, July 4 Throughout the day there will be varieties of live music along Water Street. 7:00 p.m. until the fireworks begin, in the Commons: "Mick Sterling and the Stud Brothers" band. Fireworks start sometime between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. Saturday, July 5 During the day there will be a variety of bands in the Commons, including strolling Mariachi music from 2:00 to 4:30. There will also be free firetruck rides at the Fire Hall from 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 6 There will be more live music from 12:30 to 3:00. Bring the family and a picnic to close this full weekend of entertainment and fun. Donations to help fund all of these events and the fireworks display are still being accepted by: Excelsior Chamber, PO Box 32, Excelsior, MN 55331. Southshore Center Progress Report D uring June curbs, gutters, parking lots and sidewalks were installed. New tables and chairs were assembled by volunteers from the Lake Minnetonka — Excelsior Rotary Club, and Senior Community Services has begun moving into the facility. The Lake Area Dial -a -Ride service is now being conducted from the building. Senior programs will be all run out of the building in July. Be sure to stop in and take a look through your new facility. Enter through the City Hall / Badger Park entrance, 5755 Country Club Road, and drive past the football field to the Center. Announcements for Grand Opening festivities will come later in the summer. Recycling News R ecycling pickup dates will remain on schedule for the month of July. The 4th of July holiday weekend will not affect pickup days for Shorewood residents. .Buy recycled. Pv ed Per Did you know`: The Minnesota rmy ding rate grew from 9%r in 1989 to the HIGHEST k in (he natioii in 1996 'at 46 S hop for products or packages with recycled content. Products packaged in glass, aluminum and steel containers usually have a high percentage of recycled .. materials. More than 50 percent of a new aluminum can is made from recycled aluminum. A recycled aluminum pop can may be back on the grocer's shelf in as little as 90 days. It takes 1,050 recycled milk jugs to make a six -foot plastic park bench. Southshore Mayors Continue Meetings 0 n May 19 the Mayors of the South Lake Minnetonka area cities met for the second time at the Shorewood City Hall to discuss cooperative efforts. A main topic was joint storm water manage- ment planning. State Senator Ed Oliver and Hennepin County Commissioner Penny Steele joined the mayors at the meeting. Senator Oliver updated those present on the legislative session which had just ended and the resulting tax legislation which affects each city. Commissioner Steele indicated she will work with the cities in reviewing the alignment of the intersection of Country Club Road and County Road 19 which is one of the more unsafe intersections in the area. The mayors intend to meet again at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, July 31 at the Shorewood City Hall. The public iw welcome to attend. Senior Coy ric S � u ��II�IQ �IVI��N' 474 -7441 ast month the new features of the "transit redesign" for the Southshore area were announced in this newsletter. As part of the program announcement we also explained that a "Stored Value Card" can be obtained free of charge at City Hall. This card is good for up to $15 worth of free rides on the transit system. Several parents called and requested cards for their children to get them to activities during the summer months. We still have cards available through July 3. If you are interested call 474 -3236 and request your free card. During evenings and weekends you can leave your message on the Shoreline, 474 -3236, Ext. 1. Whenever possible, arrange your ride the day before travel. Southshore Center Fundraising Cruise 0 n Tuesday, July 8, board a cruise boat at 11:15 a.m. at Excelsior Park Restau rant for a two hour ride on one of the state's most beautiful lakes, Lake Minnetonka. The Park Restaurant is located at 685 Excelsior Boulevard, Excelsior. Park at the restaurant or take the Center van which will be available to provide transportation. A box lunch will be served on the boat. Cost for the lunch and ride is $7 and reservations must be made by July 3. Call 474 -7635 to make a reservation or obtain more information. 3 474 -32iG £xt. The Shorewood Hall number to cail when y w ant y i q ues t i ons or • `> to , • in the right place. Do you have an idea for the City that you would like to see launched? Would you like to leave your name and address for some information that you want to have mailed to your home? Are there questions about local government or current plans or perhaps a park issue floating around in your head? Is there a comment or opinion that you would like to be heard by the person or department that can best respond? Or is there just something you want to say which requires no The City Council, Commissions and Staff would like to hear from you. And to make it more convenient for you to pass on your thoughts, we have initiated a phone line which you can access at any time. Just call 474 -3236, Ext. #1 day or night to leave a recorded message and indicate whether you would like a response. Your message can be a request, complaint, suggestion or even a compliment on any city - related topic. We hope to hear from you soon ...and often! response at all? Steamboats of Lake Minnetonka by Darel Leipold Author of "Minnetonka Memories" S teamboats on Lake Minnetonka started with the Governor Ramsey in 1860 and continued into the 1920's. The Hopkins Express Boat, renamed the Minnetonka, was probably the last of the old steamboats to operate with its original engine. The steam engine was used until about 1939, when it was replaced with the gasoline engine. The Minnetonka was scuttled in 1949. It has been estimated that there were 97 different steamboats on Lake Minnetonka at one time or another over a 90 year span. There was much overlapping of hulls and equipment. It may well be that at least 20 of these boats shared a common history. Many names were reused. There were two Minnehahas, two Excelsiors, two Minnetonkas, (and one Tonka) and three with the name of Mary. One of the fi k, .oats the ov�rn r Ramsey, was built by a ship carpenter named Shaw for the Pev §rend Charles Galpin of Excelsior 1t alt It w a a fifty i ot, flat bottom sidewheeler. This boat was re naxrte : Thi , l rtcl3 or the Lake in 1867 when it was owned by the Paul 1'acafic R tlw y C€arxapany Laf r stw r model d by 0 S. C „ite of Exc elsior who added eight feet to its 114th a xe�ttd zt �ittp�Z T� 1f37' tote laB of IrJ �tverte�j into a fare and named the ...... The Sue gar ?, btalt ui7etroit, tiv<<s brought to Lake lVl�ttnetonka in 1868 by Chat °1e Ga rdi ?zer. It ry as5 feet in length and propellerdhven. It was said to john W. Manzi, of FxceisiorTownship and they #o F:. A I „. milk . moved it to Lake Pepin. Two big l idewheeler , � were probably the most famous of the steamboats ort Lzke Minnetonka, One av�as a former river boat, the Ph# .. mean. i his boat, renamed the Belle ol' Minnetonka, proved a;bit large and a bit long for genets al use on the lake. The otherW s the 0 J,?F St. ' or 5. These be }ats Came to Lake kz ause of two large rival hotels of the shores of Lake Mil;n The 1? Ilc o1 yl^ i,; n, wl)s launched on Lake lVliiinetonka in 1832, �vztlt� �ttil? taking I?Iace cn: Trtiv 788. The pe ?!> was assor ted w* the I Iotel Lafavett � at %11iaanc tott, Be ch. This craft was.t W .;t .?n�Lo at �t t r c>z� ke Minnetonka. Jt was 300 feet in length and had a capacity of 2,500 passengers. As the Ph?1'Slz . larz it , ati built in (: ztc auaati in 1866. It was last used as a riverboat in 1879. As a former:riverboat, it had accommodations riot- usually:found oxz Minnesota lakes. Forty sleeping cabins, a restaurant and a dining room were featured. It had been dismantled at LaCrosse, Wisconsin and shipped, much in large usable sections, to Wayzata. It is estimated that the cost of buying, moving the boat to Lake Minnetonka and rebuilding it was $45,000. The Belle was retired from service in 1892 and was sold to Captain John R. Johnson in 1896 and was dismantled on the shores of St. Alban's Bay in 1898. The engine and boiler were removed and shipped to Alaska where they were installed in a river boat for use on the Lower Yukon Delta. The bell was purchased in 1899 by the school board and used as a school bell at the Excelsior school for 63 years. It is now on exhibit in front of the Excelsior Library. The City of St. Louis was constructed in Wayzata in 1881 and was 160 feet long. The hull was constructed in Jeffonsonville, Indiana, and shipped to Wayzata to be completed. This vessel was the first on inland waters to have electric lights. It was owned by W. D. Washburn of the Minneapolis & St. Louis Railroad. Washburn was from Orono, Maine and a boyhood friend of the Bracket Brothers. This boat is often associated with the fine hotel of the same name, the St. Louis Hotel on St. Louis Bay, of which Washburn had a financial interest. The City of St. Louis was launched in July of 1881. It was a sidewheeler with a capacity of about 1,000 passengers. It cost $57,000. Captain John R. Johnson was captain of this boat from 1882 until it was retired from service in the 1890's. Captain Johnson and his family lived on the St. Louis much of the time each season. Several of his children were born on the boat. It was in use for the 1894 season as evidenced by an advertisement for a special 4th of July run. It was overhauled in 1895 for the 1896 season. The St. Louis, along with most of the larger steamboats on the lake, came to be owned by the Lake Minnetonka Navigation Company. Captain Johnson bought the entire fleet of the Lake Minnetonka Navigation Company for $3,000 in 1896. The City of St. Louis was dismantled in 1898 and 1899. The forward portion of the hull was made into the barge Priscilla (the first one by this name). This barge was about out of service by 1906, as reported in 1933 by Randolph Edgar in A Record of Old Boats. Anson Mase, Captain Johnson's grandson, who operated the dredging company founded by Captain Johnson, often hosted dancing parties in later years on a similar barge named the S.S. Priscilla. This craft was pulled by the tug, Priscilla, built in 1906. The S.S. Priscilla was a World War II surplus U.S. Navy barge. The history of Shorewood is closely linked with that of the Excelsior Township and the Village of Excelsior. Many of the steamboats of Lake Minnetonka operated out of the Port - of Excelsior. Ports of call included Birch Bluff, Edgewood, Woodside and Shady Island, all now a part of Shorewood. For information about tickets and scheduled excursions, call 474 -4801. Ticket office hours are Wednesday to Fri- day, 1:00 to 5.:00 pm., Saturday and Sunday 8:00 am. to 6:00 pm. Call the Minnehaha- Ticket Office for Information on Special Events this summer on the Minnehaha. What's Happening in the City? n Map Descriptions The following items are on the July 1st Planning Commission Agenda: 1 A public hearing will be held at 7:15 P.M. to consider a request for a Conditional Use Permit to allow accessory space over 1200 square feet. The owners of 5840 Eureka Road would like to build a detached garage behind their house, which already has an attached garage. 2 Tabled at the meeting of 6/3/97, the applicants seek approval of a Conditional Use Permit to allow a drive- through bank facility at 23780 Highway 7. They are attempting to obtain an easement for additional parking necessary for their site. 3 The owner of 6020 Galpin Lake Road is requesting approval of a simple subdivision to create one new lot from the property. 4 A public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 P.M. to hear a request for a preliminary plat which would simplify legal descriptions, eliminate the need for driveway easements, and improve lot line configurations affecting four properties located on Christmas Lake Point. No new lots would be created from this process. 5 The preliminary plat known as Ironwood Hills, located at 4905 Suburban Drive, which has been tabled pending revisions since 4/1/97 has now been reduced to a two -lot simple subdivision request. Highway 7Intersections Proposed for Improvement A Highway 7 and Highway 41 B Lake Linden Drive C Wood Drive access /egress D Pleasant Avenue E Seamans Drive F Entrance to Freeman Park rerouted to Eureka Road Antenna - from page 1 A number of people in the audience expressed concerns about the potential health risks of antennas because of the tower's close proximity to a school. Following discussion by the Planning Commission, it was decided to table the issue until the July 15 Planning Commission Work Session which will be held at the City Hall at 7:00 p.m. CITY OF SHOREWnO" DELIVER TO: BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #128 EXCELSIOR, MN 55331 5755 COUNTRY CLUB ROAD SHOREWOOD, MN 55331 (612)474.3236 FAX 474.0128 City of Shorewood Council Members Tom Dahlberg, Mayor Kristi Stover Jennifer McCarty ° Jerry O'Neill _ John Garfunkel 4 i1. RAJ Administrator James C. Hurm DELIVER TO: BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #128 EXCELSIOR, MN 55331