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May 23, 2012 Edition
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Belle Plaine Herald 113 East Main Street, Belle Plaine, Minnesota 56011 | Phone: 952-873-2261
Bid for Street Improvement Project $150,000 Over Estimate
Council Okays CUP for Auto Repair Business
by Dan Ruud
The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night approved the final plans and specifications and authorized the advertisement of bids for the city’s 2012 street improvement project.
But it wasn’t quite what the council was expecting. In fact, a major portion of the project has had to be omitted for the time being.
Chard Tiling and Excavating of Belle Plaine, which was the only bidder, submitted a bid of $1,599,900, which was some $150,000 over the city engineer’s estimate of $1,450,000.
In response to questioning from council members regarding the bid, City Engineer Joe Duncan said a number of factors are responsible for the bid coming in 10 percent higher than estimated, including “many contractors presently having full workloads.”
Duncan also said he inquired with heads of other potential contractors and stated that another reason they didn’t bid is because of Chard Tiling’s long history of being the low bidder for Belle Plaine projects. Chard Tiling’s proximity to Belle Plaine is often too much of an advantage for other bidders to overcome in that the transportation costs for trucks and other equipment is less costly for Chard Tiling than contractors elsewhere in the region.
Library Closed Indefinitely
The Belle Plaine Public Library closed last Wednesday and will remain so for an indefinite period of time, perhaps several weeks. According to Belle Plaine City Administrator David Murphy, some of the soffits in the ceiling came loose from the trusses, resulting in significant damage to portions of the ceiling area. There are still no cost estimates for repairs at this time. Murphy said even if repairs can’t be completed within the next month, it’s possible at least a portion of the library can reopen sooner. He said those details will need to be worked out with the Scott County Library System. If you have any questions, you can call the Scott County Library Administrative Office from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 952-707-1760. Information can also be obtained on the Scott County Library System website.
All Three Incumbents for City
Offices to Seek Re-election
Belle Plaine City Council Member Cary Coop was the first to file to keep his seat on the council. He did so just as the two-week filing period opened Tuesday morning.
Mayor Tim Lies and Council Member Gary Trost, whose seats are also up for election this year, both said they also planned to file on Tuesday.
A busy election season is upcoming, which will include a number of municipal, county, state and national races, the latter of which will feature the presidential election on Nov. 6.
Due to redistricting, all 201 Minnesota legislative seats (House and Senate) will be up for election, as will all five Scott County Board seats.
The filing period for these and other offices will end 5 p.m. June 5.
If more than two candidates file for the mayor’s seat and/or more than four candidates file for the two council seats, a municipal primary election will be held in Belle Plaine on Aug. 14 in order to narrow the number of candidates to no more than two for each position.
For more information on filing for the 2012 election season, visit the city of Belle Plaine, Scott County or Minnesota Secretary of State web sites.
City, Township to Hold Joint
Meeting About Road Thursday
The Belle Plaine City Council and Belle Plaine Township Board will hold a joint meeting starting at 6 p.m. this Thursday at the Belle Plaine Government Center, 218 North Meridian Street downtown. The topic will be the proposed improvements to Belle Plaine Trail.
On May 7, the council unanimously authorized the preparation of final plans and specifications for the resurfacing of the approximately one-mile long road. The council unanimously authorized the advertisement of bids for the project at this past Monday night’s regular meeting.
City Administrator David Murphy, City Engineer Joe Duncan and Public Works Superintendent Al Fahey had recently met with Belle Plaine Township officials, and two options for a 15- to 20-year fix were discussed, both of which would cost approximately $150,000. The only major sticking point two weeks ago seemed to be who would pay for how much, since a portion of the road is in Belle Plaine Township’s jurisdiction.
Belle Plaine Shows Its Support
(Above) Heidi Ess, center, visited with friends and supporters during the Ess Family Fun Event Saturday at Belle Plaine High School. (Below) About 400 people were served in a pork sandwich dinner and approximately $20,000 raised in support of the family. Tony Ess, Heidi’s husband and father of four, was killed in a two-vehicle crash Sept. 12 in Jordan.
City Bringing Christmas
to Belle Plaine in July
Aiming to improve older homes through minor improvement jobs that help people stay in their homes as long as possible, the Belle Plaine City Council recently OK’d the arrival of Christmas in July.
The program will use Belle Plaine Housing & Redevelopment Authority (HRA) money – up to $5,000 overall – to pay for materials for minor housing improvements. Volunteers from service organizations, available contractors and the community at large will be welcomed to perform the work.
The city is accepting applications for the program through June 25. Projects will be selected based on an applicant’s needs, geographic location and income.
“We’re always looking for projects to stimulate activity, preserve and beautify the community,” said Belle Plaine Mayor Tim Lies.
Based on a similar program in Chaska, Christmas in July projects could be as simple as helping with lawn care, a fresh coat of paint, or improving the front steps to a person’s house, minor jobs for people who physically can’t perform the work or can’t afford to have it done for them.
The date in July has not yet been established. The city is looking for the weekend where it will enjoy the benefits of the greatest number of volunteers, said Trisha Rosenfeld, Belle Plaine’s community development director.
The project was unanimously OK’d by the city earlier this spring. Councilor Cary Coop, chairperson of the HRA committee, said support was unanimous and enthusiastic. Funding comes from the money the city levies each year on behalf of the HRA. He said the city’s allocation to the program could be increased if the program is successful and attracts many worthy projects.
Fritz Flicek to Speak at
Memorial Day Program
Francis “Fritz” Flicek of Elko New Market will be the guest speaker at next Monday’s Memorial Day Program at Veterans Park in Belle Plaine. Flicek is a native of the Webster and Lonsdale area.
Flicek, 73, served in the U.S. Army for two years (1960-62) in Korea as a missile launcher crewman during the Vietnam War. He has given Memorial Day addresses in other area communities, including Morristown, Webster, Montgomery and Lonsdale.
“Whoever asks me,” said Flicek, adding that he’s looking forward to his speaking engagement in Belle Plaine.
Flicek is a past American Legion post and district commander and is currently serving as post sergeant-at-arms. He has held numerous other posts through his many years of service to area veterans.
Flicek said his wife, Mary Ellen, will not be able to join him in Belle Plaine. That’s because she will be visiting their daughter, LuAnn Gaylor, in Arizona, where Gaylor is currently stationed in the active Air Force. Gaylor, an E-9, is in her 29th year in the Air Force and plans to retire in 2014 after 30 years.
Monday’s program will begin at 11 a.m. with the introduction by Roger Delgehausen, which will be followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem, the latter of which will be sung by Erika Schneider. The Invocation will be provided by St. John’s Church Pastor Mark Johnson.
Young Boy, Family to be Farmers
Market Regulars for Good Cause
Even though he may take some playground breaks from time to time, you can expect to see a lot of 7-year-old Collin Lemke at the Belle Plaine Farmers Market this season.
Collin and his family will be selling an assortment of crafts they have made from scratch and hobby kits. One-hundred percent of all proceeds from the sales will go to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). The Lemkes plan to have a table at the market most Wednesdays through October.
Collin, the son of Erick and Rosalee Lemke, has been diagnosed with having several types of mental health disorders, including anxiety and disruptive behavior, that have led on occasion to hospitalization. In fact, Collin, who is a second-grader at Chatfield Elementary School, missed the start of school this year because he was in the hospital.
“We decided we wanted to raise money for mental health research and awareness,” said Rosalee. “There’s not enough research for children with mental illness and they tell us it’s because there’s not enough funding. It’s pretty sad.”
According to NAMI, more than half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14. Decreasing the time between the onset of symptoms and moment of intervention is extremely important.
NAMI reports that many states, in response to unprecedented budget deficits, have recently made significant cuts to their mental health programs. These cuts have resulted in elimination of vital services for youth and adults with mental illnesses.
Seven-year-old Collin Lemke plans to attend plenty of Belle Plaine Farmers Markets this year.
Carpenter Taking Positive
Message to Milwaukee
by John Mueller
He could spend the summer working for paychecks to reduce the debt incurred as a college student. But Patrick Steven Carpenter has bigger plans for next 11 weeks.
Carpenter is part of a team of missionaries from Next Step Ministries who will spend the summer working in impoverished, gang-afflicted streets of Milwaukee, Wis. He’s expecting a challenging summer, one he hopes will strengthen his belief in the power of helping those in need, sharing life experiences and spreading a message of faith in God.
Carpenter leaves for a week of training in Madison, Wis. next Wednesday (May 30). He and the people he’ll work with will arrive in Milwaukee, Wis. June 5 and work through the first week of August. They’ll stay at an Evangelical Assembly church in the city’s downtown warehouse district.
The training in Madison is intended to build camaraderie within teams of workers and help them adapt to the city and its neighborhoods. Next Step Ministries says accepting people and their surroundings while offering a positive alternative is the best way to achieve success. Next Step Ministries discourages volunteers like Carpenter from making passing judgment on the neighborhood’s residents.
“We want them to come into the city humbly and be part of what’s already there,” said Angela Vail, an area projects coordinator with Next Step Ministries.
The son of Angela and Mike Carpenter, Patrick headed for Milwaukee working on construction projects in parts of town where the improvements are needed most. The team will work eight-plus hour days four days a week. When he’s not working with a hammer or power tools, Carpenter will be working with youth in the area on Bible lessons and offering a positive message to young people who are open to an alternative to the many gangs operating openly in the city.
Daddy and A Princess
Dallas Giles and his daughters Addisyn, 5, and (not pictured) Morgan, 3, enjoyed frosted pretzels and an evening of dressed-up dancing, games and crafts at the Cinderella’s Daddy & Daughter Princess Ball May 11 at Oak Crest Elementary. The event was offered through Belle Plaine Community Education.
German Days Activities Expanded
The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night gave the Belle Plaine German Days Committee the green light to expand this year’s German Days festivities downtown.
The council approved additional road closures for the annual celebration, which this year will take place Friday night and most of Saturday afternoon and night (June 15-16). However, the council stopped short of approving a proposed carnival on the 200 block of North Meridian Street for both nights, citing too much of a tie up of downtown streets.
Some of the highlights of this year’s celebration will include:
– Downtown Community Cookout from 5-8 p.m.
– Classic Car Roll-in on the 100 block of East Main Street Friday from 5-9 p.m.
– Whitesidewalls band concert on the 100 block of North Meridian Street on Friday from 8 p.m. to midnight.
– Mini-Rods on the 100 block of West Main Street on Saturday from 3-6 p.m.
– Professional wrestling on the 100 block of North Meridian Street on Saturday from 6-8 p.m.
– Captain May I band concert on Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight.
The traditional motorcycle ride, parade, queen coronation and sauerkraut eating contest will also be held this year, all on Saturday.
Concert in the Park Tonight
Tonight (Wednesday) the Belle Plaine Junior and Senior High School band students will put on a year-end concert at Union Square Park (behind the high school) beginning at 5 p.m.
This concert will showcase the seventh- and eighth-grade bands performing songs such as “Veggie Tales Theme Song” and “Sassafras Tea”.
The high school concert band will perform a selection of the seniors’ favorite songs since their seventh-grade year in band.
This concert is a time to recognize the years of dedication the seniors have given to this program.
There will be sales of those famous milk shakes from Bar-B-Q Days. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and join us for a great evening of music in the park.