Preliminary levy for Howard Lake set for a 4 percent increase, may be less

HOWARD LAKE, MN – The city council approved the preliminary levy of $663,524 for taxes payable in 2010, which is a 4.08 percent increase from the 2009 levy.
However, many council members and the city administrator said that they would like the levy to be less, if not possibly a 0 percent increase because of today’s economy.
City Administrator Kelly Hinnenkamp explained that the final levy amount can be reduced before it is certified in December, but it can’t be increased above the preliminary amount.
Gilmer said he thought there was some “pork” that could be cut out of next year’s budget, and that the city needed to keep in mind that a lot of people are laid off right now.
Hinnenkamp agreed, and said she will figure out how much they would need to cut out of the preliminary budget to bring the amount to a 0 percent change.

More information about this matter will be in Monday’s Herald Journal.

Urdahl gives Howard Lake heads up on possible commuter rail project

HOWARD LAKE, MN – State Rep. Dean Urdahl made a visit to Howard Lake Tuesday to inform the city council about a possible Highway 12 transit system.
Urdahl is a member of the state’s transportation policy committee, and said that the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) doesn’t, at this time, have any more improvements planned for the Highway 12 corridor into Minneapolis, other than the recently completed turn lanes and bypass around Long Lake.
He also said that the planned four-lane corridor from Marshall to St. Cloud doesn’t answer the east-west traffic through west central Minnesota.
“There are no four-lane plans on the books,” for the Highway 12 corridor, Urdahl said. “Forty percent of workers in Wright County work in Hennepin County.”
“We’re looking at what would make economic sense. A bus line? Future use of rail?” Urdahl said.
If existing rail were used in a transit way from west-central Minnesota to Minneapolis, Howard Lake would be the midway point on a map that has been preliminarily drawn up.

More information about this matter will be in Monday’s Herald Journal.

Trees in Howard Lake parks to receive treatments beginning Monday

HOWARD LAKE, MN – Weather permitting, ash, birch, oak, and maple trees in Howard Lake’s Memorial Park and Lions Park will receive insecticide treatments beginning Monday, Aug. 24.
The treatment entails a soil injection of a low-level nitrogen fertilizer and a systemic insecticide. The treatment will reduce and help trees recover from damage due to boring insects such as clear-wing borer and round-headed apple borer, which are known to damage maple trees; as well as bronze birch borer, according to Certified Arborist Red Colwill of Tri-County Tree Service.
Treatments will also prevent damage to ash trees due to infestations of emerald ash borer and other invading insects, Colwill added.
“Our soil injection process leaves all insecticide underground, away from pets and children,” Colwill said. “We administer in such a way to prevent leaching and ground water contamination. Also, we are careful to comply with EPA, MDA, and all governing bodies in the application of all chemicals.”

Howard Lake road work to begin Tuesday

HOWARD LAKE, MN – Due to inclement weather, the final lift of bituminous was not applied to Wright County Road 6 in Howard Lake last week as expected, according to City Engineer Barry Glienke.
Weather permitting, work will begin Tuesday, Aug. 25 on Wright County Road 6 (Eighth Avenue) between Highway 12 and 10th Street.
Travelers will be able to use local roads to bypass the area.

Wright County Fair gives commodore award to Waverly woman

WRIGHT COUNTY, MN – Carol Hayner of Waverly was shocked as she sat in her seat during the Wright County Fair’s Fairest of the Fair coronation and heard her name announced as the recipient of the Aquatennial Commodore Award Aug. 16.
As the announcer was describing the person who was to receive the award, some key descriptions clued her in that she was to be the recipient.
About three weeks before the fair, Hayner was asked to embroider umbrellas for local royalty. Hayner owns C & C Embroidery, and when the announcer said, “She can even embroider umbrellas,” she looked around at her friends in disbelief.
“I wasn’t even dressed up. I had my fair clothes on and my baseball cap,” Hayner laughed.
Hayner was chosen for all the embroidery work she does for the fair.
“I just do the work and make sure they (fair board members) look nice,” Hayner said.
“I was just shocked,” she added. “There are so many people who are deserving of that award.”

Dura Supreme lays off more than 100 employees

HOWARD LAKE, MN – Dura Supreme in Howard Lake laid off more than 100 employees Aug. 13 due to decreased cabinet sales, according to Dura Supreme Manager Steve Michel.
“For the foreseeable future, we’ve eliminated the second shift,” Michel said.
Nationwide, the cabinet industry is down more than 50 percent, Michel explained. “Our business is off less than that, but still down substantially.”
“We’re working hard to bring it back, but it depends on the housing market, and the housing market is most affected by employment, which are two things we’re watching closely,” Michel added.
Additionally, Dura Supreme is projecting 2010 to be a “flat sales year,” which means sales are expected to be similar to 2009 sales.

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