Some things just take time. There is complexity. There is size. There is financing. There are parties that need to be involved. There are sales that have to occur. There are a host of miscellaneous tasks associated with anything to get it done right.
Whitebirch, Inc developed a project known as Whitebirch Estates. Approval was given by the city on February 7, 2000. This is a planned community of 75 timeshare units adjacent to the Whitebirch Golf Course and Antler’s Restaurant. The complex contains a pool and meeting room facility which has been a wonderful complement to the community.
With construction that has been finished this year the final units were built. This development has seen continued progress over the course of many years with 5 supplemental plats being accomplished along the way. The 5th Supplemental Plat of Whitebirch Estates was approved by the Breezy Point City Council at their December 5th, 2011 meeting bringing to a close the final actions, from the city perspective, for this development.
Whitebirch should be congratulated for bringing to a close this development. I wish them continued success with this development.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Master Park and Trail Plan
After about two years work the Park and Recreation Committee have completed the Master Park and Trail Plan for the city. The plan takes a look at the park facilities we have, classifies them as to the type of park and does an inventory of what amenities and equipment are available in each. Trails have also been identified within the plan.
Various aspects of maintenance, operations, fiscal resources as well as the strategic, public relations and marketing plans were also identified. An appendix includes resources of maps, and figures identifying the parks and their location. Finally a Capital Improvement Plan is included.
The plan is visionary in nature. It identifies those improvements which are proposed both on a long and short term basis for each park. It also identifies trail linkages that would improve pedestrian circulation and safety. The Capital Improvement Plan provides for scheduled improvements over the next five years. The plan is however budget and resource driven. If the funds are not available proposed improvements will not be accomplished. The plan is reviewed on an annual basis to update and adjust as needs and funding provide.
The Park and Recreation Committee did a very complete and meticulous job. The Planning Commission was pleased with the plan and recommended approval. The City Council adopted the plan on December 20th. The Chair, Wini Kristufek, did the great majority of the work in compiling the plan and the process towards completion. I, along with the City Council, want to extend “Thank You’s” to her and the Park and Recreation Committee for a job well done. The outcome was great!
Various aspects of maintenance, operations, fiscal resources as well as the strategic, public relations and marketing plans were also identified. An appendix includes resources of maps, and figures identifying the parks and their location. Finally a Capital Improvement Plan is included.
The plan is visionary in nature. It identifies those improvements which are proposed both on a long and short term basis for each park. It also identifies trail linkages that would improve pedestrian circulation and safety. The Capital Improvement Plan provides for scheduled improvements over the next five years. The plan is however budget and resource driven. If the funds are not available proposed improvements will not be accomplished. The plan is reviewed on an annual basis to update and adjust as needs and funding provide.
The Park and Recreation Committee did a very complete and meticulous job. The Planning Commission was pleased with the plan and recommended approval. The City Council adopted the plan on December 20th. The Chair, Wini Kristufek, did the great majority of the work in compiling the plan and the process towards completion. I, along with the City Council, want to extend “Thank You’s” to her and the Park and Recreation Committee for a job well done. The outcome was great!
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Final Tax Levy
The final levy was adopted by the Breezy Point City Council at their December 5th meeting. The levy is the same amount as that of last year, a zero percent increase. However with that being said the majority of taxpayers are seeing an increase in their taxes for several reasons. Some of these are more obvious than others so let me explain.
The city levy remians the same as last year but other jurisdictions also raise revenue with taxes. The county and the school district are the major ones. There is also a small levy associated with the Regional Development Commission and some properties within the 50 Lakes Watershed District.
Another factor in raising taxes is that of referendums. Pequot Lakes Schools added a levy for a school building project that will taxes that start in 2012. There are also excess levy referendums that show up on the tax bill.
With changes in the market value of your property, changes occur to your tax bill. Properties can increase and decrease in value affecting taxes. A change in the market value this year which was new was the Market Value Homestead Exclusion. This program reduced “taxable market value” of homesteaded properties on a sliding scale with the most benefit going to homestead properties with a market value of $76,000 and no benefit to properties with a market value in excess of $413,800. The effects of this are lower valued homestead properties see a reduction in value for tax purposes and higher valued homestead properties get smaller or no reduction in taxable market value. Overall this change leads to a reduction in the total tax capacity for a jurisdiction. It also leads to a shifting of tax burden from lower value homestead properties to all other taxpayers.
Changes in the taxing jurisdictions total value can have an effect on your tax. In Breezy Point we saw a reduction in total taxable value of 14.7%. These reductions came from general declines in property valuation, the market value homestead exclusion, tax appeals and other downward adjustments.
Each property sees different changes based on the whole as well as individual characteristics. Each city has a different shift in tax burden as a result of these types of dynamics. If your homestead property has a value of $150,000 or less you probably saw a reduction in city taxes. If your homestead property exceeds that amount your city taxes likely increased. All other taxable property saw increases in taxes as a result of these changes.
The city levy remians the same as last year but other jurisdictions also raise revenue with taxes. The county and the school district are the major ones. There is also a small levy associated with the Regional Development Commission and some properties within the 50 Lakes Watershed District.
Another factor in raising taxes is that of referendums. Pequot Lakes Schools added a levy for a school building project that will taxes that start in 2012. There are also excess levy referendums that show up on the tax bill.
With changes in the market value of your property, changes occur to your tax bill. Properties can increase and decrease in value affecting taxes. A change in the market value this year which was new was the Market Value Homestead Exclusion. This program reduced “taxable market value” of homesteaded properties on a sliding scale with the most benefit going to homestead properties with a market value of $76,000 and no benefit to properties with a market value in excess of $413,800. The effects of this are lower valued homestead properties see a reduction in value for tax purposes and higher valued homestead properties get smaller or no reduction in taxable market value. Overall this change leads to a reduction in the total tax capacity for a jurisdiction. It also leads to a shifting of tax burden from lower value homestead properties to all other taxpayers.
Changes in the taxing jurisdictions total value can have an effect on your tax. In Breezy Point we saw a reduction in total taxable value of 14.7%. These reductions came from general declines in property valuation, the market value homestead exclusion, tax appeals and other downward adjustments.
Each property sees different changes based on the whole as well as individual characteristics. Each city has a different shift in tax burden as a result of these types of dynamics. If your homestead property has a value of $150,000 or less you probably saw a reduction in city taxes. If your homestead property exceeds that amount your city taxes likely increased. All other taxable property saw increases in taxes as a result of these changes.
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Automatic CPR?
Have you ever heard of an automated CPR machine? Until recently I didn’t know they existed but leave it to those with a need and someone will develop it. An automated machine that does CPR heart compressions does in fact exist! It is known as the Lucas Chest Compression System. This is an interesting device. It runs pneumatically under a compressed air using a cylinder or wall outlet so an electrical source isn’t needed. This makes it portable and can be used at first response, in an ambulance, any transport vehicle and the hospital.
Through the efforts of our Paramedic Jason Rieber a grant was written to pay for the purchase of one of these units. The grant request was for $10,000 and was awarded to Breezy Point to be used in our Paramedic Program. We do have good staff, thank you Jason!
The grant was awarded from the MN Resuscitation Consortium which was founded by the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. The consortium is part of a program through Medtronic Foundation Heart Rescue grant to improve outcomes from Sudden Cardiac Arrests. The paramedics using this system will also collect data on successes with this program for duplication in other regions.
We will very soon being using a new form of life saving equipment in our paramedic program and assisting research in saving lives due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
Through the efforts of our Paramedic Jason Rieber a grant was written to pay for the purchase of one of these units. The grant request was for $10,000 and was awarded to Breezy Point to be used in our Paramedic Program. We do have good staff, thank you Jason!
The grant was awarded from the MN Resuscitation Consortium which was founded by the University of Minnesota, School of Medicine. The consortium is part of a program through Medtronic Foundation Heart Rescue grant to improve outcomes from Sudden Cardiac Arrests. The paramedics using this system will also collect data on successes with this program for duplication in other regions.
We will very soon being using a new form of life saving equipment in our paramedic program and assisting research in saving lives due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Proposed County Road 11 Improvements - Open House
A while ago I wrote about the efforts of Crow Wing County Highway Department to look at County Road 11 between Pequot Lakes and Breezy Point. The point of the effort was to be proactive in looking at future needs for this corridor and address safety issues as much as the budget will provide.
Through that discussion there surfaced four study areas, three of them in Breezy Point. These include the roadway section by the Eagleview Elementary School, the area near the Ice Arena including Ranchette and lastly Whitebirch Drive. The county is seeking grant funds for improvements to these areas and a recent discussion with the city council that concurred with the need for improvements to these areas.
What is being considered would be a right and left turn lanes in both directions at the school entrance intersection. The east bound right turn is proposed to be detached somewhat south allowing for sight lines to be open to traffic exiting the school. This is similar to what was done in the commercial stretch on 371 in Baxter. Having right and left turn lanes here provide for more efficient traffic flow. It is also hoped that a left turn lane can be done at the school bus driveway.
In the area of the Ice Arena the existing two access points to County Road 11 would be closed in favor of one slightly to the west. Ranchette would also see right and left turn lanes in both directions. This will improve traffic flow here and also address the volume of traffic used by this intersection.
Although grant funding is limited it is hoped that a right turn lane and westbound bypass lane is available for Whitebirch Drive. Road construction is an expensive proposition and with only $500,000 available, assuming grant funding is received, it can only go so far.
An open house is scheduled at Eagleview Elementary School for December 15, between 5-7 pm. Maps and costs will be available for review. Come early as the school has a Christmas concert that night starting at 7:00 pm. We would appreciate your feedback on the proposals under discussion.
Assuming funding is available these improvements will be accomplished this summer. These would be installed along with the mill and overlay project that is planned between Breezy Point and Pequot Lakes. Here’s hoping it all comes together.
Through that discussion there surfaced four study areas, three of them in Breezy Point. These include the roadway section by the Eagleview Elementary School, the area near the Ice Arena including Ranchette and lastly Whitebirch Drive. The county is seeking grant funds for improvements to these areas and a recent discussion with the city council that concurred with the need for improvements to these areas.
What is being considered would be a right and left turn lanes in both directions at the school entrance intersection. The east bound right turn is proposed to be detached somewhat south allowing for sight lines to be open to traffic exiting the school. This is similar to what was done in the commercial stretch on 371 in Baxter. Having right and left turn lanes here provide for more efficient traffic flow. It is also hoped that a left turn lane can be done at the school bus driveway.
In the area of the Ice Arena the existing two access points to County Road 11 would be closed in favor of one slightly to the west. Ranchette would also see right and left turn lanes in both directions. This will improve traffic flow here and also address the volume of traffic used by this intersection.
Although grant funding is limited it is hoped that a right turn lane and westbound bypass lane is available for Whitebirch Drive. Road construction is an expensive proposition and with only $500,000 available, assuming grant funding is received, it can only go so far.
An open house is scheduled at Eagleview Elementary School for December 15, between 5-7 pm. Maps and costs will be available for review. Come early as the school has a Christmas concert that night starting at 7:00 pm. We would appreciate your feedback on the proposals under discussion.
Assuming funding is available these improvements will be accomplished this summer. These would be installed along with the mill and overlay project that is planned between Breezy Point and Pequot Lakes. Here’s hoping it all comes together.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Accessory Building Height
An issue that crept into the zoning arena this summer was that of accessory structure height. There were some parties that wanted to build larger structures with roofs that matched that of the home but the rules provided for a lower height than what was allowed. There were a few issues that needed to be addressed to deal with this issue.
The first dealt with the code not having a definition for accessory structure height. There was a definition for building height but all references to accessory structure height did not deal with that definition. On the surface building height for accessory structures was held to 15 feet at the highest point of the structure. Another approach was needed.
Using the building height, as the standard, was considered but the definition was almost impossible to understand. After one Planning Commission member drew a picture of what it stated, the light bulb came on, but definitions shouldn’t be that complicated. A new definition was needed that was less complicated and a picture in the code would be helpful.
With current forms of building and larger accessory structures, steeper roofs for accessory structures were requested to match that the principle structure. The code didn’t provide for this so with a new definition some additional height could be accomplished. The definition basically used the average of the roof portion of the building to determine building height, rather than the peak. This still didn’t meet needs however.
The sticking point was there are some areas that have one story principle structures with flatter roofs. Allowing a taller accessory building in these areas would look out of place. A solution was found to allow up to a 20 foot tall accessory structure but if the principle structure was less than 15 feet tall the maximum accessory structure height could be only 15 feet.
Although this took some time and effort to work through I believe we found a satisfactory solution to the needs of homeowners who wish to building an accessory structure that more closely meets their needs.
The first dealt with the code not having a definition for accessory structure height. There was a definition for building height but all references to accessory structure height did not deal with that definition. On the surface building height for accessory structures was held to 15 feet at the highest point of the structure. Another approach was needed.
Using the building height, as the standard, was considered but the definition was almost impossible to understand. After one Planning Commission member drew a picture of what it stated, the light bulb came on, but definitions shouldn’t be that complicated. A new definition was needed that was less complicated and a picture in the code would be helpful.
With current forms of building and larger accessory structures, steeper roofs for accessory structures were requested to match that the principle structure. The code didn’t provide for this so with a new definition some additional height could be accomplished. The definition basically used the average of the roof portion of the building to determine building height, rather than the peak. This still didn’t meet needs however.
The sticking point was there are some areas that have one story principle structures with flatter roofs. Allowing a taller accessory building in these areas would look out of place. A solution was found to allow up to a 20 foot tall accessory structure but if the principle structure was less than 15 feet tall the maximum accessory structure height could be only 15 feet.
Although this took some time and effort to work through I believe we found a satisfactory solution to the needs of homeowners who wish to building an accessory structure that more closely meets their needs.
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