Centerville Street Maintenance: U-Turns Allowed

CENTERVILLE - Centerville leaders are thinking about executing a U-turn on the city’s street maintenance program. One option being considered would dispense with seal coating altogether and introduce a “thin overlay” approach to extending the useful life of pavements included within the city’s 16-mile street network.
The Centerville City Council met at a special work session May 25 to discuss financial issues as they affect the preparation of the city’s 2012 budget.
Among the discussion items was a proposal by Public Works Director Paul Palzer to abandon the 25-year street replacement program contained in the city’s Pavement Management Program.
“With the current budget constraints, it is not feasible to continue this program,” Palzer’s memorandum to council stated.
Currently, the city is spending about $600,000 each year in annual debt service to fund its outstanding bond obligations, Finance Director Mike Jeziorski said. Those debt obligations include the 2004 and 2009 Street and Utility Reconstruction Projects, as well as the city’s share of the Centennial Police Department building in Circle Pines.
Fully funding the city’s Pavement Management Program alone would require an estimated annualized cost of $1.7 million, Jeziorski
A thin overlay would be applied less often—say, on a 15-year interval, or more infrequently, Palzer said.
For the city’s collector streets that carry more traffic, the thin overlay could be applied every 12 to 15 years, he said. For other streets, an interval of 17 to 18 years could be used.
“It’s twice as much as a seal coat but half as often,” said City Engineer Mark Statz at the meeting. “It’s a substitute for a seal coat program.”
“It could mean tough decisions, but tough decisions need to be made,” said Fehrenbacher.
Though cheaper, thin overlays have to be paid for, too. Short of raising the tax levy to cover the expense— Jeziorski said the tax levy would have to be increased by 10 to 12 percent to cover all costs of the thin overlay program—council members have the option of charging benefiting property owners.
“I guess I just can’t see raising the levy amount,” said Mayor Tom Wilharber.
“If my street were being improved, I would expect to pay for it,” Councilmember Ben Fehrenbacher said.

Full Story Here
Deb Barnes
The Citizen

City Loses Assessment Suit in Court and Appeals

Link Court Docs Here

This is what complaint based ordinance enforcement gets us...

During the hearing, Essex told the judge that a watershed district permit is required to remove the walls. “I’m caught in the middle (if) they don’t give me the permits I need,” she said.
In that case, Essex “can certainly move the court to vacate the 10 days,” the judge told the defendant’s attorney, Jon Erickson.
Glaser told the judge that the watershed district had no objection to issuing a permit.
A call to RCWD Administrator Phil Belfiori the following week, however, called Glaser’s comment into question. “If we haven’t received an application, it would be premature to make that statement,” he told The Citizen. “I’m not sure where (Glaser) got that.
“Our Board has not acted in that regard. We can’t, as staff, make that kind of comment.”
Belfiori said that once Essex submits her application to remove the walls, the district engineer would consider the land disturbance and erosion that could occur as a result of the work.
“The rules specifically talk about disturbance or construction within 300 feet of a watercourse,” Belfiori said. “The main issue would be the stabilization of the disturbance area.”
Essex said she had complied with Palzer’s request last summer that she consult with qualified professionals to obtain an evaluation of the walls: a landscape designer from Goetz Landscape recommended against their removal, as did Rice Creek Watershed District’s (RCWD) water resource specialist.
“There is no one in the city who is a professional in this area,” Essex told the judge. “And I have to get a permit (from RCWD) to take the wall down.”
“Is that correct?” the judge asked Glaser.
“The watershed district has no objection to issuing a permit,” he replied.
And although newly elected Mayor Tom Wilharber and Councilmember Steve King have expressed an interest in taking another look at the matter, they are in the minority.
A call to the city attorney was not returned by press time.Full story here
Deb Barnes
The Citizen

This story just refuses to die!  Our Public Works director has stated this is a political matter and he is just following orders from his boss.  The fact remains, as long as Centerville enforces the ordinances on a complaint basis, you better be sure to get along with your neighbors. 

Contentious Curb Stop Repair

This story not posted online with The Citizen so we created a separate page for it. 
First, the Centerville City Council told the homeowner tough luck.  Then it offered to pay half.  Eventually, Council knuckled under and agreed to pay for the entire repair of a broken curb stop and associated expenses at its April 13 meeting.
As council members mulled changing the code or adding a small fee to utility bills to help homeowners pay for curb stop repairs, it came to light that the city had already paid a broken curb stop repair bill for another homeowner this winter.
"It's the same situation.  We've got to pay this one," Council member D. Love said.  "we had rules in place and we didn't follow the rules."
The city voted to pay up to $10,000 in costs associated with the curb stop failure and driveway repair.
Story by Loretta Harding
The Citizen
4/28/2001 Link Entire Story Here

Centerville Home Likely ‘Total Loss’

Halogen lamp likely cause.

The Citizen/Deb Barnes

Deb Barnes
The Citizen

CENTERVILLE - An unoccupied home in Centerville caught fire Thursday morning and will likely be a total loss, according to the Centennial Fire Department.
Because of a lack of fire hydrants in the area, Centennial, Lexington, Hugo and Forest Lake fire departments were all called to assist, Streich said. White Bear Fire provided backup to the Hugo Fire Department while its firefighters were in Centerville.
Full Story Here

4/13 Council Session Sound Issues

Update for our conspiracy theorists!
We have received word from a City official that the lack of audio was an issue with North Metro Cable, not the City of Centerville.  The reruns will include sound.  The issue was a simple fix according to staff with the cable channel.
View Council Sessions Here

Survey Request by Councilmember Fehrenbacher

We realize this is short notice!  The Council is having a work session to discuss the 2012 budget after the Wednesday meeting.  The public is welcome to attend.
LINK HERE FOR CENTERVILLE SURVEY

Another Citizen Email Posting Request

When does the city plan on sweeping the streets? I'm watching kids on the streets trying not to fall on their bikes and roller blades because they are skidding all over the place.  Unless that's the plan, wait until a child loses traction and slides into a car and then our tax dollars can be spent on another lawsuit.   Also, with the rain lately the runoff of winter salt will not be good for the ponds-which cost us residents approximately $400,000.00 to dredge the ponds two years ago!!  What's the hold up?

Update on street sweeping....
Hugo will be performing this for us this year. They will use their vacuum (as opposed to Lino's sweeper). Since we did not use sand on the roads last winter (we only used salt), a vacuum should do a better job.
It should be done in the near future (next week or so).
Ben Fehrenbacher 
Thanks Ben!

RE: Spending, Lets Get Serious

I'm not going to go on and on about the outrageous spending habits of the City of Centerville.  Anybody can go on line and dig up facts and figures that would turn your face blue.   I would like to address the attitude of those who respond about all the things that have happened with a previous Mayor and a previous Council.     I do know Tom Wilharber, personally.   I did vote for Tom  and do not regret it for a moment. 
Is the view pretty good from the cheap seats?
Donna King went on and on about "their current financial situation" and Steve having to quit a third job.    She states "It can be dangerous to a community when only people with self interest or comfortable financial means are in charge of your future".   I'm sorry Donna, aren't you in charge of your own financial future?  Maybe that's part of the problem as well.  If our Mayor is in a comfortable position, he may have planned better than the rest of us.  He has served his country, his family and his community the whole time.   Like most people do when they retire; they travel, they spend time with friends and family.  Tom Whilharber chose to support and lead his community.   He has spent his days meeting every business owner in town since taking the office.  He visits residents on a regular basis.   Tom is not about the popular vote, Tom won't support something if it's not right for Centerville.   It may be right for you, for today, but that's how we got into these dire financial situations.
Where were all of you when the reckless spending was going on?  At council meetings voicing your opinion?  Possibly writing or  talking to your City Government, with the concerns for your future?    Now, because it's affecting you personally, you want to be an armchair quarterback.
The $5,500 Fete de Lacs money is not just for a day long party.  It is a chance for residents such as yourself, to get out of your house and possibly meet your community.   Children love the parade, it's a small price to pay for them.   I don't see many people signing up to help with that?  Possibly helping to make the community better would do everyone some good.
I am married to a Centerville Lion and we work very hard with things like Fete de Lacs to raise money.   In case you are unaware, this money goes back to the community of Centerville.   We give countless gift baskets at Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  These baskets go to the families who seem to be struggling and need a little help.  We collect food for the food shelves, and do every bit of the labor.   The one and only Easter Egg Hunt that is free to everyone, every year, is 100% sponsored by the Lions for residents. Lion's  events such as Fete, Ice Fishing Contests and Haunted Houses, bring people from all over the state to our little town.  Which in turn brings business.   Tom Wilharber is also a Centerville Lion!
Maybe it's time everyone stood up, talked to the Council about fixing the problems, not just repeating them.  Let your Mayor know in a civilized manner what your visions are.   Ask how you can help; get involved to make the future better than what we have had to deal with in the past.  
Nancy Johnson
Centerville

Kelly's Korner to Reopen April 15th

Lino Lakes siblings doing serious renovation of 100-year-old building
by Nicholas Backus Quad Press
Oldie but goodie downtown standby Kelly's Korner is coming back.
Siblings Jeff Schultz and Victoria Byrne teamed up to resurrect the more than 100-year-old bar, an establishment that is purported to have acquired Anoka County's first liquor license.
It was licensing issues that shut down the bar Jan. 1 after the city reported former owners were behind on tax payments. With that issue settled, Kelly's new owners are slating an April 15 reopening, just in time for spring volleyball leagues.
Link Full Story Here

Congratulations to the new owners!  Wishing you many years of success in your new venture!  

Controversial Colored Concrete Chronicles

There is an article regarding the colored concrete on the front page of The Citizen today.

Failed Concrete: City at Crossroads for Solution 
By Loretta B. Harding,
Contributing Writer
The Centerville City Council is trying to solve the mystery of damaged colored concrete pavement panels at the intersection of Main Street (CSAH 14) and Centerville Road. Earlier this month, members of the Public Works Department noticed damaged joints on the colored concrete installed downtown in the summer of 2008 as part of Anoka County’s Main Street Reconstruction Project.
Link Full Story Here. 

Previous news account on the history of the additional $517,000  past council approved for street-scaping.  Colored concrete, decorative lights...
Link Here

Additional Engineering fees in excess of $72,000 associated with "overseeing" County workers  complete construction on COUNTY ROAD 14.
Link Here

Further inspection and fee discussions.
Link Here  

Controversial resolution.
Link Here

Please note that previous council voted to add the colored concrete on County 14.  They debated the five different colors during the 7/23/2008 session.  Jeff Paar is quoted in the approved minutes stating "The color draws attention to the crosswalk".  Statz, Bonestroo engineer stated "The color coming into the downtown area makes traffic calmer and drivers aware they are coming into a downtown area."  A fair amount of time (15-20 minutes) was spent viewing concrete samples and debating the various shades of color to be chosen.

Another Resident Heard in the Mailbag

 Input and Output
“If your input doesn’t exceed your output, the upkeep will be your downfall.”  Be careful not to construe this phrase as meaning, “Tax more to continue lavish spending.” Centerville consistently ranks in the top taxed cities in Minnesota since 2004.  Dean Luxenburg’s letter to the editor in The Citizen’s March 3 issue has it right. Costs must be trimmed.
Is the city’s “output” of colored concrete, 43 street lamps within two blocks, six city parks in a two-mile-wide city (additional parks forecasted), added bike trails, development of a “downtown,” and 10 employees justification enough for consistent tax increases?
These things—most of them implemented since 2004—are nice, but are they needed?
Government’s role is to uphold, protect and secure individual sovereignty and the right of private property, not to serve the collective good over the individual by giving us nice things. Consider this: Centerville’s debt in 2004 was over $5 million and, by the end of 2010, an arduous $11 million. This is a reckless extension of debt in only six years. Cuts in spending must occur. If not, the “upkeep” will be Centerville’s downfall.
LyNae Marshall
Centerville
Link Here

SPENDING. LET’S GET SERIOUS.

Posted per email request.
As we watch and read about the price of gas and food on the rise, the media not giving you the true numbers of unemployment which is really at 22%, cities and states fighting to keep their heads above water, the Federal Reserve advising our government to raise the debt ceiling. How much more can the taxpayer absorb? However, all I hear from our Mayor is he wants to reduce the pay of the Council for laptops. Where is the rest of his proposed reduced spending list?
It was obvious in the recent election that spending was at the top of most people’s list. While many of us have had to already tighten our belts the city continues to act as if we will not be affected by this economy. When are we going to plan for the bumps in the road? When are we going to trim some fat?
One of the issues the Mayor campaigned on and proceeded to recommend, at the January meeting, to cut the Council’s pay by 25%. We heard the Council’s arguments and then the Mayor claimed he wanted to use it for laptops. Laptops! The motion was not seconded. I voted for him because I thought he was serious about reduced spending. In February he brought it up again because Councilmember King said at the January meeting, which the Mayor did not hear, he would agree to a 10% reduction in 2011 and another 10% in 2012 if it paid down City debt and not for additional spending. According to Dallas Larson this amount would not pay down any significant debt. It was then suggested to do a cost comparison of laptops vs. paper copies. If the numbers come back that laptops are more cost effective, would this not become an annual operating cost? Why wasn’t this looked at as a cost-cutting factor in the first place? However, don’t we still have to retain a copier for other document copying?
The Mayor thinks our Council is getting paid too much according to other cities. I feel many councils are getting paid too much because they don’t represent the people anymore. He also commented that years ago some members of committees and council members did not get paid and if they did, it was very little. He claimed they wanted to serve the community. Well, we have heard that line before. I seem to remember that we called those the “good old boys”. Weren’t some of these owners of rather large parcels of land and were rewarded in the end because of the input on how this City was developed to their advantage? Isn’t this part of the reason our taxes are so high because they concentrated too much on houses rather than attracting more businesses to relieve us of this tax burden we have had for years? It can be dangerous to a community when only people with self-interests or comfortable financial means are in charge of your future. Their visions can be totally different than that of the hard-working citizens that they are supposed to represent. Isn’t this the same thing that has been going on in this city in the last few years? People in office with no financial worries. Only their visions. History repeats itself.
I knew Steve would have to quit a 3^rd job if he was elected and possibly even have to take that 25% reduction. Our budget is tight now, but we were willing to take that hit because we felt the need for him to run so finally the people had a voice at City Hall. However, I resent the fact that the Mayor wants to reduce his pay and then turn around and vote for $5,500 for Fete de Lacs. Are you serious? If there is to be a reduction in pay, I want my tax dollars to go back to the community in the form of education such as a constitutional seminar or community gardens (we certainly have enough parks for gardens) not laptops. We may be looking at rough times ahead and I want my tax dollars to be used that will give a lasting affect on the citizens of this city not some one-day party. If food prices keep going up, there may be some elderly or families in this community that are going to need the extra help. Mayor you took an oath to the Constitution and you are supposed to spend the taxpayer money wisely. If you want a laptop, then buy it yourself. Better yet donate your pay for Fete de Lacs since you think you are being overpaid. 
By Donna King

Trim City Costs with Innovation

Letter to the Editor March 3, 2011

The Citizen
I have listed the 2011 base salaries of the 10 Centerville city employees, provided at my request.
Employee 1: $96,564
Employee 2: $67,163
Employee 3: $83,952
Employee 4: $63,461
Employee 5: $51,085
Employee 6: $47,299
Employee 7: $55,162
Employee 8: $55,162
Employee 9: $55,162
Employee 10: $50,752
The salaries total about $626,000. When you add in 35 percent for pension benefits, health care, payroll taxes, workers compensation and liability insurance; the total cost to the taxpayers is approximately $845,000. When overtime earnings, part-time employee pay, and mayor and council members’ salaries are taken into account, the total approaches $1 million, about half the city’s yearly budget.
The city’s Personnel Policies handbook indicates that employees enjoy 11 paid holidays plus one l oating holiday. Work on holidays is paid at 2.5 times the hourly rate of pay. Paid personal time of accrues based on years of service: after 10 years, for example, employees accrue 9.85 hours paid time off per 2-week pay period.
City employees belong to a PERA “defined benefit plan,” which is in addition to Social Security retirement benefits. No matter what the economy does, they can count on a guaranteed retirement benefit based on salary and years of service. Most private sector employees are not so fortunate; as their pensions (if they have one) are subject to gains/losses that more closely mirror the economy. Private pension plans are not guaranteed.
I believe our Mayor and Council could reduce some of these costs. It seems excessive to have five full-time employees at City Hall. It doesn’t take very long to do payroll every other week; they certainly aren’t busy issuing building permits.
With all the advances in information technology, the administrative work could be done more efficiently than it is at present. If there is not enough work to keep everyone busy full time, perhaps hours should be cut.
Also, Public Works could contract out some of their work and reduce the work force. The City of Oak Park Heights, for instance, contracts out all their snow removal. It saves them money.
With some innovation I think personnel costs could be trimmed by 10 percent or more. It should be up to our Mayor and Council to explore some of these ideas— and possibly others. We are simply paying too much for city services.
Dean Luxenburg
Centerville

Editor’s note: A call to Centerville City Hall clarifies that exempt employees—such as the City Administrator and Public Works Director—do not receive extra pay for working weekends or holidays. The rate of pay for working on a holiday (2.5) includes holiday pay in addition to time-and-a-half. Also, according to the City Administrator, the State of Minnesota mandates that city employees pay into both PERA and Social Security

How Many Lawsuits Must We Endure Before The Insanity Stops?

Capra leaves office with no regrets.   
Link Here
Recent Letters to The Editor of The Citizen. 
Link Here

Your Tax Dollars Hard At Work

Photo by Deb Barnes The Citizen November 2010

 Judge Orders Retaining Walls Removed in Centerville Criminal Case


CENTERVILLE - It took 76-year-old Norma Essex 14 years to build the block landscaping walls in her back yard on Old Mill Roadone block at a time. But unless those walls are completely removed by June 8, an Anoka County judge will order her to jail for 10 days.

Essex’s parole violation hearing on Jan. 26 was the latest in a series of hearings related to criminal charges filed by the City of Centerville Oct. 2, 2008. “I have a hard time putting my hands around this mess,” District Court Judge Jenny Walker Jasper said.

The city’s actions stemmed from complaints received from one of Essex’s neighbors along Clearwater Creek, City Administrator Dallas Larson told The Citizen in an interview last year. City Attorney Kurt Glaser said two of the walls, which are each under 4 feet in height, were constructed too close together to be considered separate structures, and when their heights are added together, the cumulative height invokes the requirement for a permit. Although Essex has made application, the city has thus far declined to issue the permit

The Experts Weigh In
Essex has said she never placed fill within the floodplain, a statement corroborated by a letter dated July 9, 2010 from Rice Creek Watershed District’s Water Resource Specialist Kyle Axtell. “Our review of the project site (as of Oct. 22, 2008) confirmed that no fill has been placed below the 100-year flood elevation,” Axtell said. “My suggestion would be to leave the retaining walls as they currently exist unless a substantial failure is expected … Disturbance of the embankment to rebuild the wall would undoubtedly cause much more harm to the resource than leaving it alone,” Axtell stated.

In response to Palzer’s (Public Works Director) request that she work with a certified design professional, Essex also obtained an opinion from landscape designer Alan Strohbehn of Goetz Landscape, Inc. “…I strongly believe (the walls) should be left alone,” Strohbehn said. They are in incredibly good shape for being built (14) years ago.” “There is no access for equipment,” Strohbehn added. “The steepness of the bank itself and existing tree roots will make it nearly impossible for crews to get a foothold to dig trenches and handle heavy blocks.”

Complaint-Driven Enforcement
The complaints against Essex were reportedly initiated at Centerville City Hall by her next-door neighbors, Timothy and Lori Glasow. Essex has had an ongoing feud with her neighbors. Last August, she obtained a Restraining Order following a series of incidents that a judge deemed to be harassment. Lori Glasow declined to comment when contacted for this story.

Like many other cities, the City of Centerville—lacking the funds to hire a full-time code enforcement officer—pursues code violations on a complaint basis. Essex and her attorney believe the city’s action was discriminatory. Erickson wrote in one court document, “The filing of the charges against Norma Essex is an exercise in discriminatory prosecution/selective prosecution in that over 30 different residences have been identified as having easement violations (of a similar nature to the bricks), none of which have been prosecuted.” As it stands now, Judge Walker Jasper ordered Essex to remove the walls by June 8 in what she called a “phased” plan. If the walls are not removed, Essex will spend 10 days in jail.
To read the entire story which has far greater detail, please follow this link
By Deb Barnes, Citizen Editor 

Update 3/5/2011

I would like to thank everyone for their support and those who volunteered to spend a night in jail for me. I doubt the court would let you, but many thanks.

The City seems to want to punish me as hard as they can.

The bottom line is, I never needed a permit from the City for the retaining wall because it is under 4 feet. The city is using a 2006 code to justify their venture. The wall was built 10 years before the 2006 code was adopted.

You draw your own conclusion.

Norma

Update Request

We have received several requests to update the blog. Thank you to those out there that are still interested in what's happening around Centerville. Here we go!

Follow Centerville Via Twitter?

Also at the Sept. 8 meeting Mayor Mary Capra announced the city’s second online undertaking: Centerville has joined the social networking site Twitter. This means that residents can now receive short – 140 characters or less – news updates directly from the city. “It’s a way of getting a message out to people in rapid fashion [and] it’s free,” Capra said. Twitter also allows users to get updates sent directly to their cell phones. To join, Twitter fans can sign up at Twitter. com and follow CentervilleMN.
The Citizen
9/15/2010

This is an interesting development coming from a Mayor that states she doesn't blog. Mary Capra is now going to support Twitter? Really?
So far there are two followers to the City Twitter account CentervilleMN . Council Member Ben Fehrenbacher and CentervilleBlog. That's right... We just opened a Twitter account today to keep an eye on them.
Remember to play nice everyone!

Resident Looking For Hope and Change

Email; Friday, August 20, 2010 2:42 PM

Hello,
(I hope I can get the word out to your viewers) I was recently told by Tom Wilharber himself that he has had enough and is running for mayor this fall. Tom was the mayor when I moved to Centerville about 16 years ago. Centerville , back then, had the small town charm and friendly people young couples look for when buying their first home. The city council was focused on keeping Centerville a happy place to live. Tom Wilharber was a strong leader and helped keep Centerville the place we all loved. As the years passed I saw the small town start to slowly erode. Taxes, spending, etc. all were on the rise. The new members of the city council did not continue on with the city character we all moved here for. Things need to start turning back around and Tom Wilharber can help us do that.
Thank you,
Mike Schweitzer
Centerville, MN

One Resident Questions Why

Her property was assessed $90,000 while the street in front of her driveway was dropped approximately 5 ft due to the Clear Water Creek Development.
Centerville City officials are on record stating the assessment payments would not have to be paid until the driveway was fully corrected. Payments came due last December, ironically the same time this homeowner was hit by a following vehicle while entering the unsafe drive. Prior to the Clear Water Creek Development start this driveway was level with the street and there were no safety issues.
The real question may be who is responsible for repairing the collapsed drive? The City of Centerville or the Developer?

A Little History Review
Per The Citizen July 10, 2008
Fruth had appeared before Centerville City Council at a previous meeting, at which she claimed her drive had been left four feet above street level since the road improvements had been made.
She was offered two options to remedy the situation by the city engineer at the July 10 meeting, but explained she would need further time to decide which course of action she wished to pursue. The City Council voted to delay the passing of a resolution on Old Mill Road residents’ special assessments until a later meeting when Fruth’s situation had been resolved.
The Citizen

Ms. Fruth questions why the City of Centerville is insisting her property is potentially worth over one million dollars while the Anoka County property tax statement shows her property value has dropped approximately $50,000 and Zillow.com estimates a value of $272,500. Ms. Fruth is willing to sell to any developer willing to pay the price (One Million) the current council claims the property is worth.
Why do Council members continue to insist they know everything? We see every day how their pretending to be decorators influenced the colored concrete and street lights on Main Street!

As you can see the driveway issue has still not been resolved by the City of Centerville yet the resident has already been assessed $90,000. Curiously, the Developer (previous member of Planning and Zoning history) has had his assessments deferred.
Additional history Here

Are Downtown Redevelopment Plans “Holding Property Hostage”?

“We are taking this input,” Commission Vice Chair Tom Wood said, “so we can sit down and make a decision based on what our constituents are looking for.”
It wasn’t a public hearing— or at least, that’s what several city council members in attendance kept reminding Wood, who ran the meeting.
But it certainly looked, walked and quacked like a public hearing: council chambers were filled by citizens, many of whom took the opportunity to speak.
The zoning changes were made in anticipation of immediate purchase off ers from the Beard Group, the development company working with the City of Centerville on its downtown redevelopment project.
As the economy slowed, however, the purchase offers never materialized, and homeowners who welcomed the opportunity to sell their homes—as well as those who had no intention of moving— have been left in a holding pattern for well over three years.
Olaf Lee, who with his wife Margaret owns a home at 1724 Heritage Street, said that he wanted to add onto his garage, add another bedroom, and possibly build a sunroom. “To date,” Lee said, “I’ve been told [by the city] that there is no possibility of ever [making improvements to] that house.”
Randy Gnadke, 1751 Main Street, said that he would add on to his home, possibly up to 20% of its existing square footage.
Patricia Camp, 7121 Centerville Road, said she was surprised to find out that her home is a nonconforming use. “I’ve been a resident of this community for 31 years,” she said. Although she has no current plans to expand her home, she objected to limitations posed by the rezoning restrictions.
Wendy Brilowski, who in 2004 purchased the 150-yearold residence at 7124 Main Street “with the intention of making a lot of changes,” said that she wasn’t sure whether her home was included in the rezoned area, but has a number of long-term plans, including bumping out a wall in the kitchen and adding a porch. With market conditions the way they are, and with the added penalty of being a non-conforming use, Brilowski said, selling is likely not an option. “I honestly don’t think I could get fair market value,” she said.
Bryce Wasiloski said that although he has a “pretty decent” understanding of what the downtown redevelopment plan is, “it looks a little diff erent when you’ve been rezoned.” He said, “It’s a very uncertain feeling; it’s like you’re living on borrowed time.”Resident Lenae Marshall, who resides outside the rezoned area, referred to what she called the city’s desire to make Centerville a destination town as “a want, and not a need.” She said, “It is unethical to take what is not theirs and redistribute it to another … it is not the mayor’s role to elevate the collective good.”
City Attorney Kurt Glaser advised, “We cannot take people’s property for redevelopment [purposes]—we can’t. It’s not legal.”
But Olaf Lee asked, “Isn’t indefi nitely holding our property hostage, ‘condemnation’? Where we have to maintain it, with no future? Otherwise, you don’t buy a fixer-upper. Why bother?”
Mayor Mary Capra, who last month said that allowing nonconforming uses to expand would cost city residents money in the long run, reminded attendees that the downtown redevelopment plan was “reviewed by the entire community.”

Deb Barnes
The Citizen
3/17/2010
Link Here

Development Not Likely Anytime Soon

We are concerned over the proposed current Comprehensive Plan situation facing residents of Centerville. When we moved into the City of Centerville seven years ago there was no talk of zoning changes or development issues. Over the next few years we attended several meetings to discuss a Comprehensive Plan for Centerville. Many residents raised valid concerns over the plan.
In the end, the council did decide that the 2006 plan was in the best interest of the city. The 2006 Comprehensive Plan has not accomplished its proposed intent and is nowhere close to being implemented. Under the 2006 plan the ability of current residents to improve their properties is severely restricted. The City Council is placing an unfair and undue hardship on many of the residents. Over the past years we have been told that this Comprehensive Plan is looking towards the future.
We firmly believe that this future development is not likely any time soon. If the city council is to continue with these restrictions it needs to prove that the current comprehensive plan, which was very unpopular with many, is viable. Given the current economic conditions it does not appear to be so. We agree with Council Member Broussard Vickers who is quoted as saying “I think this is a big deal, and it’s having a significant impact on people who live in downtown.” We also agree with the City Attorney, who is quoted as saying “The best thing to do is to listen to the public as to what they want.” We do not want a City Council and Zoning Board that severely limit our ability to improve our property without a good reason. We agree with Council Member Broussard Vickers, “It could be ten years before we see the downtown develop.”
Mark & Wendy Brilowski
Letter to the Editor
The Citizen
03/03/2010

Who Has The Right to Decide What One Can Do With Their Private Property?

CENTERVILLE’S DEBT

2004 $5,710,000
2009 $ 11,272,000
A 97% INCREASE IN FIVE YEARS!
What do we have to show for it?

As the current Mayor & Council continue to push forward a downtown redevelopment vision, they have delegated the Planning & Zoning Board to have a Public Hearing in regards to recently rezoned “nonconforming” downtown resident’s property. Even though the City can no longer legally eminent domain private property (exception being roads, bridges, parking lots and trails ) they are currently holding hostage many residents in the downtown area. The nonconforming designation stops the citizens from making improvements to their property which might increase its value as these homes wait to be purchased by a developer. Although The Beard Group has backed out of the Downtown Redevelopment citing the poor economy and there are STILL NO OFFERS on the table to purchase these properties our four members of Council and the Mayor continue to hold these fellow Citizens at their mercy.
In their glorious wisdom, they have voted to punt the nonconforming issue to the Planning and Zoning Board for a decision. Could it be that the Mayor and Council believe this board is more qualified to make that decision or is it a duck and cover move?
This push is exploding our debt, property taxes and we ALL are paying the price!

The Planning & Zoning meetings are no longer televised. Ironically, in the interest of "saving money" the Council voted to discontinue this important public service last year.
UPDATE 03/03/2010
The entire Council (excluding Jeff Paar) sat in on the Public Hearing/Input Meeting last night. City Attorney Kurt Glaser and City Administrator Dallas Larson were also in attendance. More information to follow soon.

Here We Go Again!

Downtown bike trail to feature two new parks
Two new city parks are planned for summer construction that will coincide with completion of a downtown bike trail along Main Street. The parks were officially named “Cornerstone” and “Trailside” at a Feb. 10 City Council meeting. The names were recommended by the city’s parks and recreation committee.

Centerville collects a park dedication fee from every new development within the city. Although the funding has run dry, City Administrator Dallas Larson said the parks are moving forward thanks to federal funding dollars totaling around $800,000. That money will help pay for both the bike trail and the parks, which Larson described as trail “rest stops.” The city is committing around $400,000 for the project, money that had to be borrowed against future development dedication fees, Larson said.
“Those fees will be reimbursed when development moves forward again,” he noted.

Cornerstone Park will sit just west of St. Genevieve Church in downtown Centerville. It will be anchored by a water feature containing a monument that will likely read “May peace prevail on earth” in various languages, according to city engineers. Plans aren’t cemented, but the words could appear in English, French, German and Lakota.
Nicholas Backus
Quad Editor
LINK FULL STORY HERE

Does the Mayor's "Vision" Trump Reality?

Building Activity Continues to Stagnate Through 2009
According to recently released figures, new building activity in Centerville, Hugo and Lino Lakes continued to stagnate through 2009, continuing a trend that has been evident since building activity dramatically declined in all three cities from 2005 to 2006.
In Centerville three permits for new residential units were issued last year, a three fold increase from the single permit issued in 2008. However, no permits for commercial or industrial uses were pulled in 2009.
The Citizen 2/17/2010
Aaron Ruper
No Available Link
Read the City News Section for Full Story.

Three years ago, Mayor Mary Capra envisioned “the biggest change to the community in the past 150 years”
Link Full Story Here
Was she correct?

Should Centerville Spend $800,000 On a Vision? D. Love Thinks Maybe Not!

City turns attention to storm water drainage.

With spring thaw months away, the City Council mulled over a project designed to disperse storm water at the Feb. 10 regular meeting and work session.
The time to get moving on the project is now, City Engineer Mark Statz said.
A new pond south of Laurie LaMotte Park would receive water from the east and from the new downtown development, according to Statz. Water that would normally drain into Centerville Lake would drain into the new pond, helping the city meet Rice Creek Watershed District requirements for runoff water volume control. The water that runs into the new pond would provide irrigation for ball fields at Laurie LaMotte Park.
The system, which Statz called “very green”, has already received approximately $300,000 in grant funding and is expected to cost approximately $1.1 million. He asked council members whether they were ready to commit the remaining $800,000 to move the project forward.
Mayor Mary Capra and City Administrator Dallas Larson were worried that delays may cause the city to lose the grant funding. “We have a nucleus for a good project; let’s see if agencies will let us downsize,” Larson said. “This gives basis for something that would be good for downtown – it would be a shame to throw away those dollars.”
Full Story Here

02/10/2010
Council discussed the status of the new trail project. Glaser said that two property acquisitions remain unresolved with the city expected to achieve acquisition by March 1.
Statz said that plans and specifications are ready, the bidding process will soon start and that construction will start in 2010. Statz said that grant monies of $791,280 might be available to the city in 2010, rather than 2012. Capra recommended that Statz attend a Parks and Recreation Committee meeting to receive requests and suggestions. Larson said that city staff would prepare a budget and other items for council to start taking official action at an upcoming meeting. The project is estimated to cost $1.2 million.
Unresolved property acquisitions mean pending litigation and hourly fees paid to the City Attorney No mention of Centerville's obligation for the trail grant. See above Pond Grant.
Exit question, what will Statz charge the City for sitting in on the Parks and Rec. meeting?

Three Years Later: Centerville Rezoning Still Causing Ripples

Thank you Deb Barnes, for bringing this to the attention of the Citizens!
Three years ago, Mayor Mary Capra envisioned “the biggest change to the community in the past 150 years” as the city adopted its Master Plan and Development Guidelines for the city’s Downtown Redevelopment Plan.
City officials worked closely with Anoka County on the reconstruction of Main Street. And then the economy went belly up. When the recession comes to an end, Centerville leaders are hopeful that their planning may yet bear fruit in the realization of the city’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which established a goal of “sustaining a population above 5,000.”
But in the meantime?
When the recession comes to an end, Centerville leaders are hopeful that their planning may yet bear fruit in the realization of the city’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan, which established a goal of “sustaining a population above 5,000.” But in the meantime? Most of the grant money has had to be returned, unspent. Bond payments for the Main Street improvements will be paid out of the tax levy for the foreseeable future instead of from TIF District proceeds. For the owners of the 40 or so nonconforming residences in that area, the plans they may have had to expand their homes to meet the needs of their growing families are now prohibited under zoning rules.
One family...
That dream came true in 2006. It wasn’t long, however, before they heard about the city’s plans to build townhouses where their home, originally built by the La-Motte family in 1953, now stands. “I just sat on the steps and cried,” Wasiloski, who received her first communion at St. Genevieve’s one block away, told The Citizen. “We want to put a full front porch on the front of our house, maybe a 3- season porch on the back,” she said. “We have blueprints that my dad drew up before he passed. A house is a house: [but] it takes a family and many years to create a home.” Her husband, Bryce, concurs. “This whole idea of tearing our property down and building something else makes no sense to us,” he said.
Another family...
Lewellen said he was surprised to find that the new design guidelines for his block, guided for multifamily units, limited him to a 100-square-foot deck. “I would have liked it to be bigger,” he said. Lewellen’s sales job may soon require him to put his home at 1721 Heritage Street on the market. He is concerned that the city’s zoning rules will make his property less attractive to buyers. That may be: the last “arms-length” sale—that is, a sale between two disinterested parties—of residential property to occur in the rezoned area occurred on July 20, 2007.
Another family...
Tom Neisius is disappointed that nothing is happening in his neighborhood: he was poised to sell his property to Beard Group with the intention of rebuilding in the area. If forced to stay in his 94- year-old home, Neisius said, he would like to reconstruct his garage and move it back away from the road.
Another family...
Richard (Dick) Kinning, 79, has lived at 7059 Progress Road for 53 years. Kinning saw the downtown project as an opportunity for him to continue to live in Centerville while downsizing to “something easier to care for.”
Another family...
Together, the Lees’ blended family numbered seven. The couple needed more elbow room, and they considered selling. In consulting a realtor, the news wasn’t good: the recommended sale price wouldn’t begin to pay off the mortgage, Margaret, now 40, said. “How am I supposed to sell my property, when [the city] is telling the community that this area is blighted?” she asked. The couple then hoped to add on a great room, where the family could all be together. But the city’s newly zoning code will no longer allow the Lees to expand the use of their home.
When cities adopt new zoning rules for an area, City Administrator Dallas Larson told The Citizen, it doesn’t make sense for the city to allow the nonconforming uses within that area to grow. New decks, swimming pools, tool sheds and fences are now allowed “to a limited degree,” Larson said. And maintenance of nonconforming structures can continue. “They can put on new siding, a new roof.” But there is a limit. “Specifically,” Larson said, “you can’t expand the nonconformity, so if you had a three bedroom home, you can’t add a fourth bedroom, you can’t add a story.”
“They’re cheating us out of time,” Margaret Lee said. “Where we want to spend our money, we can’t. Is it the role of government to control your standard of living?” But Mayor Mary Capra doesn’t see it that way. She said allowing nonconforming uses to expand would cost taxpayers money in the long run. “We also need to look out for the rest of the community, and that’s my role,” she said. “We’re not trying to push anybody out. I understand the hardship this causes.

Three years later, Beard Group has yet to complete a property purchase. The city, however, has acquired additional land adjacent to the old public works site west of Centerville Road. Capra reports that the city is “still progressing” with the project, and is now focused on building affordable housing. “We’re still looking for additional funding to make that happen,” she said.

Meanwhile, City Council Member Linda Broussard Vickers admits that she is thinking about the rezoning impacts on area residents. “There was a good plan or a vision,” she said. “[But] the vision was always bigger than I thought we could achieve in our town in a short time.”

Full story here

Amended 2009 Budget Includes Cost Of State Audit

Council members also amended the city’s 2009 City Budget from $2,042,320 to $2,013,016.

The move formally addresses the loss in Market Value Homestead Credits this year as well as a $40,000 decrease in building activity from that anticipated when the budget was set a year ago. Financial Administration expenses were adjusted by $15,000 to include the charges levied by the Minnesota State Auditor’s Office for the petitioned city audit.

Funds remaining in three inactive debt service funds, closed by council approval later in the meeting, resulted in income to the general fund of $72,935. Overall, Finance Director Mike Jeziorski reported, a net loss of $35,242 for fiscal year 2009 was realized.

Deb Barnes
The Citizen Link Full Article Here

Happy New Year!

New Fee Schedule Reflects Water Rate Changes

At its regular meeting of Dec. 9, the Centerville City Council approved an ordinance updating the city’s fee schedule for 2010.
Under the new fee schedule, water usage rates will vary depending on the amount used.
For residential users, to a quarterly fee of $21 will be added a charge per thousand gallons used. For up to a total of 90,000 gallons used, the rate per thousand is $2.00; for the increment of water used in excess of that amount up to 150,000 gallons, a rate per thousand of $2.20 will apply; and for the amount used in excess of 150,001 gallons, a charge of $2.50 per thousand will apply.
For commercial users, to a quarterly fee of $21 will be added a charge per thousand gallons of $2.00 for up to 500,000 gallons used. For more than 500,001 gallons, the rate per thousand gallons will be $2.50.

Centerville Property Tax Levy Up 9%

Despite cuts in the City of Centerville’s operating budget for 2010, many residents will see increases in their city taxes once the city’s bond payments are added in to the 2010 tax levy, City Finance Director Mike Jeziorski advised council members at their Dec. 9 meeting.
Like other cities, Centerville has had to cope with challenges posed by the current economy, not the least of which was a shortfall dealt by the State of Minnesota when it again withheld the city’s Market Value Homestead Credit (MVHC) of $66,231 in 2009; the city is projected to lose $68,783 in 2010, Jeziorski said.
In his memorandum, Jeziorski stated that to achieve a budget reduction, employee salaries were frozen, as were city contributions to employee insurance plans; “significant” cutbacks in Fête des Lacs funding were made; equipment purchases were deferred; and some interfund loans were restructured.
City officials chose not to levy for the loss of the city’s MVHC, although the 2009 legislature would have allowed that cost to be passed on to citizens in a “one-time” make-up levy.
As it is, the city’s tax rate—a formula for allocating the share of the city’s tax levy to each parcel—will is influenced by not only the amount being levied,” Jeziorski explained, “but by the [city’s] tax capacity.
“Because valuations decreased, the tax rate is higher to just generate the same revenue,” he said, adding that an additional bump to the tax rate comes as a result of the increase in the levy.
What will be the effect of the tax levy on residential properties in Centerville?
Jeziorski provided several examples: a home with an assessed value in 2009 of $208,500 would likely see a reduction in value to $183,500 in 2010, he said; its city taxes would increase from $964.34 in 2009 to $997.33 in 2010, an increase of 3.42%.
A home valued at $366,500 in 2009 would likely see a decrease in its assessed value to $342,600 in 2010; city taxes would increase from $1,695.11 to $1,862.04, an increase of 9.85%.
But not everybody will see a decrease in property value, Jeziorski cautioned. “Lake[front] property values went up,” he said. “They’re holding their value very well.”
Resident Eric Marshall took the opportunity to address council members during the public hearing. Marshall said that taxes on his lake shore property on La Valle Drive increased from $4,200 in 2007 to $5,600 in 2009.
“I wondered why [taxes are] increasing when my business revenue is decreasing,” he said. “It’s driving me out of here.”
Larson stressed that Marshall’s taxes include taxes levied by the county, the school district, and other taxation authorities as well as the city, adding that an increase in the school levy in 2005-06 “bit everybody.”
Deb Barnes
The Citizen Link Full Story Here

Merry Christmas, Neighbors of Centerville!

Lino Lakes Poised To Cut City Budget By $500,000

Roughly $300,000 of that half-million dollars in budget cuts will come from a proposed reduction in city staff of 5.0 FTE (full-time equivalent) employee positions, half the reduction initially discussed at an August workshop.

Under that earlier scenario, 10.0 FTEs, or approximately 13% of the city’s 80 staff positions, would have been cut. However, council directed City Finance Director Al Rolek to explore other options such as mandatory two-week employee furloughs and the elimination of wage increases, steps that Reinert has termed “temporary solutions.”

Urging fellow council members at the workshop to deal with budget issues in ways “that can help us longterm,” Reinert requested that the group work together to define an overriding budget goal and implement solutions that can be counted on when the process begins again in 2010. Elimination of city staff positions is “something we only want to do once,” he said.

Referring to the current budget proposal as a “box of Band-Aids,” Reinert continued, “To continue to do things the way we do things with the current outlook and then expect different results is the definition of insanity,” he said. “What a sad situation to know that the problems aren’t solved and that we have to go through this again next year.”
Full Story Here
Deb Barnes, The Citizen

Outdoor Decorating

Monday, November 30, 2009

Outside the home of Centerville Mayor Mary Capra, Sara and Lucie Fehrenbacher, Simon and Julie Berger and Ben Fehrenbacher help put lights and bows on some of the 25 wreaths that will decorate light posts along Main Street. The wreaths were purchased from local boy scouts with private donations.
- Photo by Paul Dols
The Quad Press Link Here

Trivia:
How many new light posts have been erected along main street?

Does This Current Council Have The Best Interest of Citizens and Local Business at Heart?

CSAH 14 Speed Study Issue Deferred
Council also decided to defer action on the decision whether or not to request a speed study on CSAH 14 through town until next spring. A letter signed by five local businesses dated Sept. 23, 2009 requested that the speed study be conducted so as to reduce the speeds between Centerville Road and I-35E. The letter stated that the posted speed of 45 m.p.h. is unsafe due to proximity of homes and bus stops; it also stated that current speeds made crossing the roadway “difficult” and reduced the likelihood that drivers will patronize local businesses.
Link Full Article Here
How Does Mn/DOT Determine the Regulatory Speed Limit? Link Here

Welcome Newest Council Member, D. (Darion) Love

Is it not interesting that the current Centerville City Council chose to fill the seat vacated by Tom Lee with a person that did not run (D Love) during the last election? According to the buzz around town, Neale Rawlings should have been appointed, hands down. Instead, our elected officials chose someone with the exact same right of way violation (photo above) they are currently prosecuting a senior citizen (photo below) on criminal charges with?
Is the will of the people being ignored in Centerville?
What are they spending our tax dollars on?

2008 City Council Election results;
Neale Rawlings - 502
Thomas Fairbrother - 490
Ben Fehrenbacher - 522
Jeff Paar - 706
Stephanie Blomseth - 460
David H. Cochran - 368
Tom Wood - 348

FYI
Former Mayor Tom Wilharber also completed a letter of interest to fill the vacant seat and was shunned by Council.

The Citizen
Legal name?
Even ask?

City Council Meeting 9/23/2009

For those involved citizens that have been asking about the last Council session;

North Metro Cable has confirmed an error on their part regarding the re-airing of the 9/23 Council meeting. They are working on the issue and state that the Council session will resume it's regularly scheduled programming tomorrow.
The schedule is as follows;
Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday @ 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday @ noon.

We have also confirmed via the City website that the Council minutes for this date have not yet been posted online.

From the City website
Upcoming Meetings Here

A Blast From The Past - May 2008

An online post from our soon to be past Council member Tom Lee regarding mandatory water/sewer hook up and current Council member Linda Vickers.

Question from citizen.
"Does everybody have to hook up to city water/sewer right away or can they wait? Does the word everybody mean everybody or just the unfortunate people selected?"

Answer from Tom Lee.
Every one that has city water available will be required to hook up to city water. If you are referring to Council Member Vickers, she will not be included in this project as she lives on a COUNTY road, which is not part of this project. BUT, when the County road is done, the city SHOULD make water available to her property and since she owns…..140 plus acres, she WILL pay an incredible amount. Unfortunately, I will not be on Council to to weigh in on the matter. (though I suspect she may)
Link Here

News From Our Centerville City Website

The City Council currently has a vacant seat. Tom Lee has resigned.
The remaining term of this seat is slightly over one (1) year Council, per MN State Statute 412 will be filling this seat by accepting letters of interest from eligible citizens until October 21, 2009at 4:00 p.m.
You may submit your letter of interest to City Hall
Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m.4:00p.m. (during regular business hours), mail or place in the City's drop-box.
Please ensure ample time for mailing or placement in the drop-box to meet the deadline. Click here for information regarding what the position entails. Click here for an application for appointment.

How about contacting Mr. Neale Rawlings? He was only 20 votes from being elected Council member last year! Speak out people, before the Council "selects" a replacement for us based on a letter of interest!
Neale Rawlings BLOG HERE

2009 Minnesota Statutes
412.02 CITY ELECTIONS; OFFICERS, TERMS, VACANCIES.
Subd. 2a. Vacancy.
Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 2b, a vacancy in an office shall be filled by council appointment until an election is held as provided in this subdivision. In case of a tie vote in the council, the mayor shall make the appointment