The largest expense category for most cities is public safety. Spring Park is no different and allocates approximately 48% of our annual budget for public safety, which encompasses both police and fire. Spring Park contracts with the City of Orono for Police Services. It has been an arrangement that has served our city very well over the past few decades.    

Recently the City of Mound has also chosen to outsource their police service to Orono. While we welcome Mound into our police district, rest assured Spring Park's contract with Orono Police is not changing and will not be affected. The natural patrol pattern in our area will be more fluid as the police district expands to include Mound. We receive excellent police service from Orono and do not expect that to change. It is our expectation that the economy of scale gained by having a larger police force is an arrangement that will benefit all of the contract cities. 

In our local news media, the drug heroin has been getting a lot of press. It is alarming to everyone in our community when drug trends significantly change or increase. On November 1, from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., a community awareness meeting will be held at the Gillespie Center in Mound to discuss current trends in drug abuse, focusing on heroin. It should be a very informative meeting and I hope many of our residents can attend.  

See more details   

Over 30 of our public safety personnel from various agencies were recently given the prestigious life-saving award for their heroic efforts in saving the life a 4-year-old boy who had fallen from a third-story window in the Lakeview Lofts Condos in early August. We are so fortunate to have such topnotch first responders in our area. While our police officers and fire fighters don't expect special recognition for just doing their jobs, they deserve it. Thank you to all who serve and protect us every day.

High Water Usage?   

If you experience higher than normal water use on any particular month, you can do some checking at home. An easy thing to do is simply watch your meter. If you see the dial spinning while you watch, water is running somewhere.  

You can also read the meter at night before you go to bed and then once again first thing in the morning. If the meter registers more than 10 gallons over night, something is leaking. You can use food coloring to check your toilet. Simply remove the cover of the tank, place a couple of drops of food coloring in, wait about ten minutes (do not flush the toilet) and check the water in the toilet bowl. If the water in the bowl is colored, the flapper in the tank is letting water through and causing higher use. If you have a manual dial/timer on your water softener, check it periodically to see if it is functioning correctly.

Yard Waste Drop-off Continues 

From the Police Department

Home Security 101    

The garage door is closed, what can happen? Simply closing your garage door may not keep your home safe. Many people leave the door between the garage and the house (where they are connected) unlocked for their convenience, however the only convenience it really provides is for the burglar who now only has to get into the garage to gain access to the whole house. Make it inconvenient for the burglar by locking the door and keeping them out and your home secure. Keep unattached garages secured as well.     

On September 14, 2012 at 0252 hours, an Orono Police Officer pulled into the police squad lot and found two squad cars fully engulfed in flames. Long Lake Fire Department responded and quickly put out the flames. The two Orono Police squads had extensive damage and a third had minor damage.   

A reward of up to $4,000.00 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible. Read more 

Seeking Your Input      

The Spring Park Post Office was among the offices evaluated under the POST Plan criteria. They are soliciting community input to determine the best course of action for providing postal services to our community. The Postal Service will hold a meeting at Spring Park City Hall at 4349 Warren Ave, Spring Park, MN 55384 on October 17, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. to answer questions and provide additional information about POST plan. Local management will share the results of the survey previously mailed to Spring Park postal customers, answer questions and solicit input. Stay tuned for further information on this probable change. 

Reminders

Fall Clean-Up   

Saturday, November 10. (Spring Park Residents Only). Items for pickup must be bagged, boxed or bundled and curbside no later than 7 a.m.  

Emerald Ash Borer Prevention

The City of Spring Park is once again preparing to use a preventative treatment method for the publicly owned ash trees in Spring Park.

In the interest of preserving as many ash trees throughout the community as possible the City has asked the specialist carrying out the treatments to give private residents the opportunity to voluntarily contract with them for treatment of privately owned trees at the same reduced cost the City has been guaranteed. The specialist has agreed to this request, although they have noted that in order to keep costs down for residents it must be done at the same time as the City's treatment in late October.

If you are a resident in Spring Park and interested in treating your ash tree(s) at this reduced price please contact Rainbow Treecare at 952-922-3810 and reference the Spring Park Emerald Ash Borer Prevention Plan by October 15.

School has Started  

It's back to school for our students. Students are often times waiting at bus stops in the darkness. Drivers, please be extra watchful of children who may be waiting roadside. No traffic may pass a school bus in either direction when the stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing. Flashing amber lights are a warning that the bus is preparing to stop. Be alert to children crossing the street in front of the bus to board and leave. Please stop at least 20 feet from the bus.  

Truth and Taxation

If you would like to learn more about what how city tax dollars are spent, we encourage you to attend our annual budget hearing. It will be held on December 3 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall. The city council welcomes your input.

Watch Council meetings online:

Watch your council in action online @www.lmcc-tv.org/spring-park.html 

John Ericson

Steve Erickson

Michael Mason

Doug Sippel

Sarah Struck

E-mail: cityofspringpark@

ci.spring-park.mn.us