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“Dedicated to Preserving our Township”
Community Newsletter Issue #83 February, 2016
Message from Kathy Ballot…
We have a New Year upon us and with that will come some changes. This February
newsletter issue will be our last.
The Baytown Newsletter has been published for 16 years, giving the residents 83 issues.
Back in the day, we had 20+ volunteers that would hand-deliver each issue despite the wind,
cold, rain, sleet and snow. For many years I could count on a dedicated group of volunteers
to stop by my home and pick up their bag of newsletters. To make sure all neighbors knew
about our annual picnic, the volunteers would also hand-deliver the picnic flyer.
We advanced with technology to the present day e-mail system. I am happy to report that many of the residents received the newsletter in that format. For those who did not have e-mail, I would mail them a copy. Copies were also available at the Community Center.
Through the newsletter, we kept each of you up to date on the club’s and organization’s
activities, always encouraging you to join. We listed phone numbers to contact the Town
Board and other agencies that would apply to Baytown Township. We had advertising by
local businesses, historical articles, recipes, animal control and environmental information
and so much more provided by residents.
I would like to list everyone who has volunteered for the many activities that Baytown
Neighbors was involved in, but I would not want to miss anyone’s name. Also, the volunteers
did their work while not looking for recognition. They volunteered because they were
“Baytown Neighbors”.
We have a wonderful community here and should feel very fortunate.
On Behalf of the Baytown Neighbors board and the Officers, Thank you to everyone.
Kathy Ballot, Bonnie Beecroft, Bill Keefer, Mary Keefer, Pete Miller
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Chairperson Kent Grandlienard 651-430-1142
Supervisors
Richard Weyrauch Ron Fredkove John Hall John Fellegy
651-430-8006 651-439-6048 651-439-8988 612-275-2200
Township Attorney David T. Magnuson 651-439-9464
Clerk Kim Zitzman 651-430-4992
Treasurer Marsha Olson 651-998-9178
Building Inspector Mick Kaehler 651-755-6165
Baytown Township Clerk
Kim Zitzman 4020 McDonald Drive N Stillwater, MN 55082 Email: [email protected]
Phone: 651-430-4992
BAYTOWN TOWN BOARD
President Kathy Ballot 651-351-7919
Vice President Pete Miller
Secretary Mary Keefer 651-439-8286
Treasurer Mary Keefer 651-439-8286
Baytown Neighbors Officers
Recycling Information
Want to learn more about recycling and the items you can put out for pickup and those you can’t? Check out this website for full information: http://www.swmcb.org/tool-kits
Things you should know…
Town Board Meetings are held the first Monday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Baytown Community Center located at the corner of 40th St. N and McDonald Drive N. (Occasionally meeting dates may change due to holiday observations. Please check with the Baytown Town Clerk if there are any questions.)
Recycle Pickups are every other Monday in Baytown Township. New residents who have not yet received a recycling container please call Maroney’s Sanitation at 651-439-7279. An average of just over 50% of our residents participates—we’d like to increase that number.
Burning Permits—Minnesota’s Open Burning Law requires that burning permits are required for any non-recreational fire that is larger than 3 feet in diameter. Burning permits may be obtained by contacting the Bayport Fire Dept. at 651-275-4401. Permits require an on-site inspection and cost $20 (same as Lake Elmo and Oak Park Heights), so requests should be made a few days in advance of any burning.
House Number Identifications—The Bayport Fire Dept. suggests that residents put LARGE address numbers on each side of their mailbox (or other prominent position) to assist the Fire Department, Sheriff and/or Ambulance to find their location quickly in the event of an emergency.
Building Permits—Building permits are required for all construction. Permits are good only for one year from the issue date, at which time the project is expected to be completed. If not completed, a new permit must be requested. Inspections during construction try to insure that state building codes are being followed, but are not a guarantee of the quality of work being done. That responsibility ultimately lies with the homeowners and/or the contractor they hire. Inspection services are provided by Valley Inspections at: 651-777-6165. If you need a permit or have questions about obtaining one, please contact them. Some information also is available through the Baytown Town Clerk at 651-439-4992.
Community Center Use—For information, please contact Gerry Ballot at 651-351-7919.
Animal Control—Please contact the Baytown Town Clerk (651-430-4992) to report lost and found dogs.
Water Quality Contacts:
GAC Filter Installation & Monitoring: Rich Baxter, MPCA—651-297-8471
Sampling: Kurt Schroeder, MPCA—651-297-8471 or email: [email protected]
Health concerns: Jim Kelly, MDH—651-296-4910 or email: [email protected]
Baytown Township Website is: baytowntwpmn.govoffice2.com
The Baytown Community Center is located at: 4020 McDonald Drive N, Stillwater, MN 55082
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Farewell to Baytown Neighbors
Baytown Neighbors was organized as a nonprofit corporation back in 1999, after the residents of Baytown determined that they did not want to merge with the city of Lake Elmo. Its purpose was to enhance the township form of government and to promote community spirit. In August of 1999, Baytown Neighbors hosted a community potluck picnic for the Baytown residents. It was held at the Bingo pavilion at the Washington County Fairgrounds. It was a success and started an annual tradition. To promote community spirit and communication, Baytown Neighbors launched what was then a bi-monthly newsletter and installed signage at various entrances to the township. The bluebird, like our township, was once almost extinct, and was chosen as a symbol by Baytown Neighbors to represent Baytown’s comeback. The only thing missing was a building to call “home” for the township! Until then, the town board met at various rented locations, including the fairgrounds and the Lake Elmo Airport. Through the efforts and generosity of many in Baytown, a community center was built and opened in 2002. In addition to a place in which to hold town board meetings, the community center also created a place for other groups to meet over the years. Two 4-H groups, a quilting group, book club, scrapbooking club, various homeowners associations and others meet regularly at the building. It is our assigned election location. There are over 200 uses each year! The Baytown Community Center has been owned and operated by Baytown Neighbors since 2002, with the Town of Baytown as its primary, nonexclusive tenant. As part of the original agreement to allow for the construction of such a building, Baytown Neighbors agreed to transfer the title to the land and buildings on the property to the Town of Baytown on December 31, 2015. This past fall, there was some thought to maybe extending the agreement for an additional period of time, but all parties agreed that it would be in the best interests of the township and Baytown Neighbors to complete the transaction as initially agreed. The property was deeded to the township on December 31, 2015. Since the only asset of Baytown Neighbors was the community center, there is really no purpose to continuing the nonprofit corporation and it will be dissolved. We have to complete a final income tax return and final corporate filings, and after all expenses have been completed, any remaining funds in the checkbook will be transferred to Baytown Township. None of the officers or directors of Baytown Neighbors have ever received a salary or any compensation. Your membership dues and donations over the years have gone directly to the support of the building. Many of the groups using the building have given generous donations and future donations should be made directly to Baytown Township. Gerry and Kathy Ballot will continue to do the scheduling for the use of the building and you should contact them as you have in the past with any requests. Several of us have been involved in the Baytown Neighbors adventure since the beginning! It is truly remarkable that we are now 16 years later! We appreciate all the support and hard work of the Baytown residents over the years! And we look forward to seeing you at the community center soon! ~ Baytown Neighbors
Kathy Ballot Bonnie Beecroft Bill Keefer Mary Keefer Pete Miller
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BAYTOWN NEIGHBORS
TREASURER’S REPORT
BALANCE 12/31/14 $3,529.90
INCOME:
Donations $ 5,983.00
Donations, Picnic 175.00
Membership Dues-current 38.00
Membership Dues-prepaid 105.00
Newsletter Ads 105.00
Raffle Sales 361.00
TOTAL INCOME: $ 6,767.00
EXPENSE:
Xcel Energy $ 203.62
Grass Cut/Fertilize/Irrigate 1,467.12
Fertilization Prepay 2015 777.69
Fertilization Prepay 2016 738.02
Plants/Landscape Maintenance 750.00
Plants purchased 98.35
Weed Control- Round Up 43.91
Building Maintenance
Sewer Repairs 885.00
Pinky’s Sewer Service 322.00
Anderson Heating 294.00
Replace refrigerator 1,138.74
Picnic Expense – gift cards 175.00
Newsletter Preparation 120.00
Insurance 581.00
Tax Preparation 210.00
MN Filing Fee 75.00
TOTAL EXPENSE: $ 7,879.45
Beginning Checkbook Balance $ 3,529.90
Income + 6,767.00
$10,296.90
Expense - 7,879.45
ENDING BALANCE 12/31/15 $ 2,417.45
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Keefer, Treasurer
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2016 Monthly Board Meeting Schedule
Meetings are the first Monday of the month starting at 7:00 pm, unless the first
Monday is a holiday. Meetings are held at the Baytown Township Community Center,
4020 McDonald Dr. N, Stillwater, MN.
January 4th
February 1st
March 7th
March 8th (Annual Organization Meeting-time to be determined)
April 4th
May 2nd
June 6th
July 11 (first Monday is July 4th, Independence Holiday)
August 1
September 12 (first Monday is September 5th, Labor Day Holiday)
October 3rd
November 7th
December 5th
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Agenda
2016 Baytown Township
Annual Meeting Annual Meeting
March 8 at 7:00 PM
Location:
Baytown Community Building
4020 McDonald Drive N.
Stillwater, MN 55082
1. Call to Order (Clerk)
2. Reading the 2015 Annual Meeting Minutes (Clerk)
3. Reading of Treasurer’s Report
4. Road report
5. Setting Levies for taxes. Road and Bridge, fire, general etc., 2016
6. Select a depository (Bank or Banks to keep funds in)
7. Select a paper for publishing and posting places
8. Set time for next Annual Meeting (March 14, 2017 second Tuesday in March)
9. Conduct any other business pertinent to Township business
Adjourn
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Middle St. Croix Water Management Organization (MSCWMO)
Meeting Dates
Meetings will occur on the second Thursday of each month as needed at the Bayport
Public Library- 582 4th St. N., Bayport at 6:00 pm. At the request of the Board of
Managers the April, July and October meetings are listed as tentative, since agendas
are typically very light those months.
January 14th, 2016
February 11th, 2016
March 10th, 2016
April 14th, 2016- Tentative
May 12th, 2016
June 9th, 2016
July 14th, 2016 -Tentative
August 11th, 2016
September 8th, 2016
October 13th, 2016 -Tentative
November 10th, 2016
December 8th, 2016
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KEEPING BAYTOWN TOWNSHIP BEAUTIFUL
Just a reminder … We are fortunate to enjoy a neighborhood where residents look out for one another in many ways, one of which is keeping our township free of debris. Many of you take on the responsibility of carrying trash bags on walks — we THANK YOU for this service to our community. It has been asked that we place a REMINDER to all pet owners, which includes horses, that they clean up after their animals while on their rides or walks. This is a responsibility that each person should own when out and about for their walks and not rely on the kindness of your neighbors to clean up after you have passed by their homes. Thank you for keeping our neighborhoods clean and enjoyable for all of its residents. Baytown Township Ordinance No. 44 According to the above listed ordinance it is unlawful to place obstructions on the traveled portion of any street in the Township. Baytown Township Ordinance No. 44 provides that obstructions, “include, but are not limited to, retaining structures, rip rap, posts, trees, shrubs and other such items”. It is the residents’ responsibility to keep the street free of any debris that my be placed in the road by them.
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The Community Center
The mission statement of Baytown Neighbors requires that the groups using the building have a public service purpose, such as Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H and any other type of organization that provides a benefit to the Baytown community. Are you involved in a group that offers a public service to the benefit of residents of Baytown? If the answer is yes and would like to use the building, please read the rules and either fill out our online form (link below) or send your written request to: Gerry Ballot, 13340 51st Street Ct. N., Stillwater, MN 55082, indicating the name of your organization, approximate number of people that would meet in the building and meeting times that you would like. RULES: Respect all personal property and equipment located in the building.
No alcohol in the premises.
No smoking.
Do not adjust thermostats.
Restore room and return tables and chairs to original location.
Clean and restore kitchen to original condition.
Clean coffee maker, if used.
Take all garbage, trash and recycling with you when you leave.
Report any damage or broken items to the person re-locking the doors at your departure or to Gerry Ballot at 651-351-7919.
Vacate the building no later than 9:00 pm
Pick up key and return to designated person.
Be a good neighbor to adjacent homes — No loud noises either outside or inside if windows are open.
Close any windows you open and make sure air conditioning is not on before opening windows.
These rules are subject to revision at any time. At the present time, no deposit or charge is required for use of the building. However, this policy is subject change at any time.
Interested in using the Community Center? Please contact: Gerry Ballot at 651-351-7919 or by email at: [email protected]
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Baytown Neighbors Club News
Baytown Book Club — The Baytown Book Club has been enjoying a wide selection of books and
authors. The following will be discussed in the coming month:
February 22—The Silver Star by Jeanette Walls
The Baytown Book Club meets the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 pm at the Baytown Community Center, unless otherwise noted. Anyone interested in discussing books in an informal setting is welcome to join us.
For more information, contact Karen Bechtold at 651-275-3947 or [email protected]
Baytown Quilters — The Baytown Quilters meet the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from
9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Baytown Community Center. Our meetings are casual gatherings where we work on personal or group projects, have "show & tell" of current projects, and enjoy the company of other quilters. We also embroider, crochet and knit. So come join us, new members of all levels are always welcome. You do not have to stay the whole time. Some of our members stop by for only an hour or so. At one of our June meetings we stepped away from fabric for the day and made greeting cards. Our young member, Sarah Symalla lead a class in Iris card making. It was a fun enjoyable day
For more information about Baytown Quilters, contact Jenny Powell at 651-439-0821 or [email protected]
Baytown Craft Club — The Baytown Scrapbook and Stamp Club has changed its name to the
BAYTOWN CRAFT CLUB. We are a group of scrap bookers, card makers, crafters, knitters, and sewers that meet monthly for workshop time. Join us on a Friday evening and leave your materials set up overnight. Come back and craft with us for the day on Saturday. Some extended hours are scheduled throughout the year. Workshops are FREE, but we ask for a $1 donation per day to cover expenses at the Community Center. To be included on our schedule, please contact our Co-Coordinators: Merrily Karel [email protected] or Heidi Vlasak [email protected]. You may also contact Merrily at (612) 618-5846. Guests are welcome. RSVP in order to reserve a table space. Friday evening hours are: 5pm-9pm, Saturday hours are: 9am-5pm. We look forward to creating some fun with you!
2016 Workshop Schedule: February 19, 20 & 21 (all day Saturday and 9am-3pm on Sunday) March 18 & 19 April 15 & 16 May 20 & 21
Genealogy Club — Baytown neighbors who are interested in Genealogy may wish to consult their
District 834 Schools “Community Education” catalog for upcoming classes.
For club information, contact Ray Erwin at 651-439-8689.
Girl Scouts Troop #56677 — Contact Kirsty Kargel at 651-351-0822 or [email protected]
Lucky Aces 4-H Club — The Lucky Aces 4-H Club meets the 3rd Monday of the month (except
August) at 7:00 pm at the Baytown Community Center. The members are enrolled in a wide variety of project areas. All age groups are represented in our club from Cloverbuds to 1st year college students. We have a Cloverbud program that meets during our regular business meeting.
For more information, contact Ellen Rademacher at 651-773-0387.
The St. Croix Clovers 4-H Club — Our monthly 4-H meetings are usually held the first Friday of
the month. If anyone is interested in more information about joining the great 4-H experience, please contact Katie Kaari at 651-275-1385 or email at [email protected]
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Recycling Information
Environmental Recycling Center New Hours
Tue: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thu: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Fri: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm
Sat: 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Address:
4039 Cottage Grove Drive
Woodbury, MN 55129
What can I recycle flyer - http://www.maroneysinc.com/images/Single_Stream_Recycling_Flyer_2014.pdf
Please think about Backyard Composting
Food and yard waste accounts for about 11 percent of the garbage thrown away in the
Twin Cities metro area. That's over two pounds per person per week! Much of this
waste can be put to better use. Many types of food scraps, along with leaves and yard
trimmings, can be combined in your backyard compost bin to create a valuable soil
additive for your lawn and garden. That's recycling at its best! Go to http://
www.rethinkrecycling.com for more information.
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Changes to County Septic System Ordinance Benefit Township Residents
From Sherri Buss, [email protected], Township Planner
Washington County has recently made changes to its ordinance that regulates septic systems. The changes will be positive ones for Township residents whose systems have problems.
Some of the key changes include:
Systems that have major problems, such as seeping onto the ground or backing up into a home, will have a longer time for replacement than under the current ordinance. The systems must be taken out of service within 10 days if such public health threats occur, but owners will have up to 90 days to replace the system after the immediate issues are resolved. The current ordinance requires replacement within 30 days.
Owners of systems that are classified as “failing to protect ground water” but are not imminent health threats will have up to 6 months to replace the system, with the potential for extension if needed. The current ordinance requires replacement within 90 days.
The new ordinance creates a dispute resolution system for systems that do not comply with the ordinance, as long as they did comply at the time of installation. This provides an alternative to legal action.
The new ordinance includes some changes in reporting to make the process simpler.
The changes recognize that some owners have required variances or had specific issues that made it difficult to replace systems within the short time frames allowed under the old ordinance.
The entire updated ordinance is available at www.co.washington.mn.us, under the Ordinance section, Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Regulations, Ordinance 196. The County’s ordinance governs all private septic systems in the Township.
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Obstructions in Baytown Township Roads and Right of Way
It’s unlawful to place obstructions on the traveled portion of any streets in Baytown Township, per Ordinance No. 44 “No obstructions shall be constructed or planted in the Town right of way. Obstructions include, but are not limited to, retaining structures, rip rap, posts, trees, shrubs and other such items. Mailboxes and support posts may be located within the Town right of way; however, the Town is not responsible for damage to mailboxes or posts during maintenance or snowplowing of the right of way. All mailbox supports must comply with Federal Highway Administration guidelines. Stone, masonry or other non-breakaway mailbox supports are not allowed within the Town right of way.“
Residents are reminded that the Township basically owns the property 33’ on either side of the centerline of most of our roads. This right of way allows the Township to push snow off the road surface, run utility lines, etc. without having to get permission from each adjoining property owner whenever work is done. Therefore, if you choose to landscape, put sprinkler heads, reflective markers, etc. in the right of way, please be aware that the Township is not responsible for any damage that may occur during snowplowing, or by other equipment employed in Township business. Snowplowing can be an especially difficult task, so we are fortunate to have a contractor within our community that provides us with cost effective, timely, and quality service.
Volunteers Needed
NEWSLETTER Baytown needs volunteers to continue the Newsletter. The Board of Supervisors would like to continue the Newsletter if new volunteers can be found. If you are interested in helping please contact, Kim Zitzmann, Clerk at 651-430-4992. (Kim also extends her thanks to Kathy Ballot and Mary Keefer for their many years of creating and editing the Baytown Neighbors Newsletter.) ELECTION JUDGES Election Judges will be needed for the November Elections. If you have worked as a judge in previous elections, I will be contacting you. The township can always use more judges. You can work the full day or a partial day. You must complete a two hour training prior to Election Day (you are paid for training). Did you know – high school students 16 years old and older may serve as trainee election judges (great for college apps). For more information – contact Kim Zitzmann, Clerk at 651-430-4992 or go to Washington County Website (https://www.co.washington.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/223) Wage - $10 hour
