Hugo Bits & Pieces
Creager Announces Retirement
Four months after celebrating her 30th year on the job, Hugo City Clerk Mary Ann Creager has announced her retirement, effective at the end of 2007.
City Administrator Mike Ericson confi rmed Creager's plans at the City Council's January meeting, and her retirement letter was accepted on a unanimous voice vote as part of the council's consent agenda. Creager's letter mentions a December 31, 2007 effective date, but Mayor Fran Miron indicated that might not be the end of her City Hall service. "I know I've talked to her about tabling this item, and she said no - although she was receptive to continuing to serve the community in some way," Miron commented shortly before the council's vote.
Commission Chairs, Vice Chairs Named
The leadership of Hugo's Planning and Parks and Recreation commissions also was set by the council January 2.
By a unanimous voice vote as part of the council's consent agenda, Roger Clarke will be the new chair of the Parks and Recreation Committee, replacing long-time chair Kitty Cheesebrow, who resigned late last year, citing new work responsibilities.
Clarke "has provided an excellent level of leadership" on the commission over the last few months in the wake of Cheesebrow's resignation, according to an agenda-item summary. He has also served on two key city committees, the rural and open space preservation committee and the park projects funding committee.
Current Parks Commission Vice Chair Pete Pedersen was reappointed by the council for 2007.
Re-appointed by unanimous consent-agenda vote were long-time Planning Commission Chair Dave Schumann and Vice Chair Bronwen Kleissler, with City Hall staff saying of Schumann, "He has worked hard over the past year to build a strong cohesiveness within the Planning Commission. He always treats persons appearing before (the commission) with respect and dignity."
Playground Donation Approved
Hugo's Withrow Elementary School's plans to upgrade its playground equipment got a $8,700 boost from the Hugo City Council last week.
The school's current playground does not meet safety requirements, and the Withrow PTA is seeking $40,000 in improvements from the Stillwater school district, May Township, Stillwater Township and the city of Hugo, according to a council agenda-item summary.
Hugo's donation had previously been endorsed by the city's Parks and Recreation Commission as a proportional share similar that for Oneka Elementary School and Hugo Elementary School in the past. Pending other proportional donations, the new playground equipment is scheduled to be installed at Withrow Elementary School this spring.
Simone Named Associate Planner
Rachel Simone, who has served as a Hugo community development intern since February 2006, has been named a City Hall associate planner.
"Rachel's written and communication skills improved greatly, and she demonstrates an excellent work ethic in her contributions to the community development department," notes a City Council agenda-item summary on her appointment.
Since her internship began, Simone has worked under Community Development Director Bryan Bear "on a variety of duties, including staff reports for the Planning Commission, agenda and staff reports for city Economic Development Authority meetings and all research and preparation work for creation of the city's TIF district."
Simone's new position, approved unanimously by the council, will be for a temporary, one-year term, with an evaluation after six months to determine whether it should become a permanent, full-time appointment.
Leroux Honored For Watershed Service
Former Hugo City Council member Jim Leroux was formally honored by the council January for his 30 years of service, most recently his six-year term on the Rice Creek Watershed District Board.
"Jim has worked hard to solve problems and provide solutions for citizens who have wetland, storm water and flooding problems . (which) culminated with the development of a memorandum of agreement for the long-term maintenance of Judicial Ditch No. ," noted a council agenda-item summary.
"He worked hard to establish a level of trust and respect between the watershed district, the state Department of Natural Resources and the city."
After receiving a plaque of appreciation and personal congratulations from council members, Leroux, who recently resigned from the watershed district board, read from a poem he'd been given on the value of public service.
He then told the council members, "I've known most of you. I've worked with some of you. And I've appreciated the capabilities of all of you."
Highway 8 Landscaper Chosen
The Chisago City-based Peterson Companies has been picked to do more than $350,000 in landscaping and irrigation work on the newly-reconstructed County Highway 8.
The Peterson Companies' $363, 96.50 bid for the project was the lowest among nine competitors, City Public Works Director Chris Petree noted before the City Council.
The city engineer's estimate for the project was $447,131.11, Petree added.
"We're comfortable with the Peterson bid," he said. "We're confi dent we'll be able to get the installation and quality we have been looking for."
Work on the project is scheduled to begin in early May, with completion eyed by July 1, Petree noted.
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