What a wet start to our summer.  High water levels on Lake Minnetonka led to two months of no wake zones and restrictions that were finally lifted on June 13.  Amidst the anomaly of the 102 degree day in early June, we hope July brings us a real Lake Minnetonka Summer.                

The Council is pleased to announce our selection of Dan Tolsma as our new City Administrator.  Dan has served as the City Administrator for the past two years in Tyler (population 1,200) in southwestern Minnesota.  Dan also worked in the city of Vermillion, South Dakota as an intern for the City Manager while he was attending graduate school.  Dan has his Master Degree in Public Administration from the University of South Dakota.  Dan enjoys working in a small town and is excited to come to Spring Park.  The city council and staff are delighted to bring him on board as our City Administrator.  Dan will be a wonderful asset to our city.  He starts on August 1.

The redevelopment project at Lake Minnetonka Shores (formerly Presbyterian Homes) is on the home stretch.  The town center and assisted living buildings are now complete and residents started moving in mid-June. The demolition of the Chateau building is anticipated for late June, early July.The entire project should be done this fall.

Earlier this spring, a group of Westonka and Orono high school students in partnership with the Tobacco Free Youth Recreation Group presented to the city council.  The city council approved a resolution declaring our city parks Tobacco Free.  Signs have been installed at Thor Thompson and Wilkes Park indicating the Tobacco Free designation.

Planning Commission Vacancy

Are you interested in what is happening in your city and want to contribute your time and talents?   

The Planning Commission is a board of Spring Park residents who serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and the City Council.  The Planning Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Council.  They hold public hearings, review and make recommendations on Comprehensive Plan Amendments, Rezoning, Subdivisions, Conditional Use Permits, Variances, Sign Permits and other areas of interest to the city.  

Planning Commissioners are appointed and serve four year terms.  Citizens who are  interested in serving on the Planning Commission should contact city hall. The Planning Commission meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.

Recreational Fires

Know the Lingo   

· The service line is the sewer line

from an individual property to the

street, where it meets the mainline.

· The mainline is the main sewer

line in the street where service lines meet.

Sewer back-ups occur, despite the best of maintenance programs. If the city is negligent, the city's insurance will reimburse for your clean-up costs. However, almost all sewer back-ups occur from circumstances beyond the control of the city or the property owner.   

Here's what you can do:

· Talk to the agent who writes your homeowner's policy. Ask if you have coverage for sewer back-up occurrences. This coverage is automatic in some policies, but in other cases you need to get special or additional coverage. The premium is usually not too significant, and the coverage may be just what you need to clean up the mess.

Dominik Arena,  

Shirley Hills 3rd Grader   

Shirley Hill Primary School third grader, Dominik Arena, was sworn in as Mayor of the Day for the city of Spring Park before the city council's June 6 session, by City Administrator Jim Brimeyer, right, while Mayor Sarah Reinhardt looks on. Arena garnered the honor as the successful bidder for the opportunity from the silent auction conducted during the Shirley Hills Spring Carnival.

Reminders

Dog Licenses Available at City Hall

Please stop by City Hall to license your furry friend.  License fees did increase ($25 for two years per dog) but licenses prove invaluable when locating pet owners.

Brush Site Drop-Off  

The City Council of Spring Park is pleased to announce the approval of an agreement with Specialized Environmental Technologies, Inc (SET) that permits city residents (non commercial ) to dispose of yard waste beginning April 15, 2011. Yard waste can include grass/lawn clippings, weeds, garden waste, milfoil, leaves and tree branches. Any branches over 10 inches in diameter must be cut into lengths of less than 8 feet. The site is located in St Bonifacius at 4250 Creekview Circle, just off Hwy # 7.

Recycling: Year-Round HHW Drop-Off Sites

Residents may bring household hazardous waste (HHW) to either of Hennepin County's permanent drop-off facilities:

• 1400 W. 96th St., Bloomington 
• 8100 Jefferson Hwy., Brooklyn Park

Facilities are open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Facilities are closed Sundays, Mondays, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.  

There is no charge to drop off residential HHW, but there is a limit to the annual quantities of materials dropped off or picked up. For more information visit www.hennepin.us  or call Hennepin County at  

(612) 348-3777.

National Night Out
Tuesday, August 2.  Call Orono PD at 952-249-4700 for more information.