D1 residents with Septic Systems Beware...

It’s beginning to look a lot like potential problems for rural septic systems this holiday season.

“It may not be such a happy new year for some households if we don’t get snow cover before temperatures really start to drop,” Dan Olson, public information officer with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), said.  “Snow helps to insulate septic systems and keep them from freezing.  Fortunately, temperatures across the state have remained relatively mild so far, but that could change any time.”

The University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program provides tips for homeowners on how to prevent septic system freeze-ups and how to deal with them should they occur:
• Place a layer of mulch eight to 12 inches thick over the pipes, tank and soil treatment system to provide extra insulation.  This can be straw, leaves, hay or other loose material that will stay in place and not become compacted.  This is particularly important for new systems that were installed so late in the year that vegetative cover could not be established.  However, if the system is currently frozen, don’t add mulch now; it will delay thawing in the spring.
• Let the grass or native vegetation growing over the tank and soil treatment area get a little taller in the late summer and fall to provide insulation and help hold snow.
• Use water ― the warmer the better ― if you’re worried that your system is starting to freeze.  Spread out your laundry schedule so you run one warm/hot load a day.  Use the dishwasher and take hot baths.  However, DO NOT leave water running all the time, as this will hydraulically overload the septic system.
• Going away for an extended period?  Plan accordingly.  Have someone use warm water in your home regularly while you are gone or have your septic tank pumped out before you leave.  If a shallow tank is left full for several winter months, the sewage will become very cold and can freeze.
• Fix any leaky plumbing fixtures or appliances in your home.  This will help prevent freezing problems and help your system perform better all year long.
• If you have appliances that generate very low flows, such as high-efficiency furnaces, you can put heat tape in the pipe, and have someone come by and run warm water for a while you are on vacation.  Alternatively, install a small condensate pump that holds and discharges two gallons per cycle.
• Keep all vehicle, animal and human traffic off the system.  This is a good rule to follow all year long as compacted snow and soils cause frost to go down deeper and faster.  Pay special attention to the area between the house and the septic tank.
• Make sure all risers; inspection pipes and manholes have covers.  Sealing them and adding insulation is a good idea.  Insulation may be added during construction particularly if the top of the septic tank is within two feet of the surface.
• Keep an eye on your system.  If any seeping or ponding occurs, contact a septic systems professional to help determine the cause and remedy.
• Add more insulation to your system.  This could include replacing pipe with insulated pipe, installing expanded foam panels over the septic tank, or adding more soil cover.

A common cause of freeze-ups are pipes that are not installed with the proper slant or that have settled, resulting in dips in the line.  Where a dip or flat spot occurs, sewage can collect and freeze.  Pump lines can develop a dip right next to or above the septic tank as a result of soil backfilled during tank installation settling.

If your septic system freezes, call a septic system professional.  The MPCA website includes a search tool for finding certified professionals in your area.  Search the Internet for "MPCA SSTS licensed business search."  The pros have steamers and high-pressure jetters for thawing pipes.

Other methods used to fix a freezing problem include adding heat tape and tank heaters.  Cameras can be sent down pipes to determine where freezing is occurring.  If the soil treatment system is full of ice, or there is evidence of leaking, skip trying to thaw the lines leading to the treatment area as it cannot accept liquid until the area thaws in spring.

If it’s not feasible to correct a problem, the only option is using the septic tank as a holding tank until the system thaws naturally.  Have a pumper empty the tank when it starts to fill up.  In this situation, reduce water use by limiting the number of toilet flushes, taking short showers, and using the dishwasher at full capacity.

There are some things you should NEVER do to try to fix a frozen system:
•DO NOT introduce antifreeze, salt or a septic system additive into the system.
•DO NOT pump sewage onto the ground surface.
•DO NOT start a fire over the system to attempt to thaw it out.
•DO NOT run water continually to try to thaw the system.  This can overload the system.

For information on keeping your system healthy all year, visit the University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program website.

Reporting Suspicious Activity

The police cannot function effectively without the assistance of responsible citizens. We need your help in reporting suspicious activity. Some people fail to call because they are not aware of what is considered suspicious. Others notice suspicious activity and assume someone else will call. Still, others fail to call because they feel it may not be important enough or they are bothering the police.

We encourage everyone to call police IMMEDIATELY if they feel a situation or a circumstance is suspicious. DO NOT think you are bothering the police; this is why we are here! DO NOT be embarrassed if your suspicions prove unfounded. If police question someone who has legitimate reason to be where they are, they and the neighbors will be thankful that you are watching out for them and their property – “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”.

IF IN DOUBT, CALL! It is better to err on the side of safety rather than regret having not called after an incident occurs.

The following is an example of incidents that should be reported to the police by dialing 911. This list is not intended to be complete. Use your judgment when calling the police.  Remember, if it seems suspicious, you should call.

ü    Person loitering in your neighborhood that you don’t recognize

ü    Persons loitering around cars, peering into them, or checking doors

ü    Alarms sounding or glass being broken

ü    Apparent “business transactions/drug deals” being conducted between people

ü    Someone going into a neighbor’s yard, looking into windows, checking doors of the house or garage

ü    Abandoned vehicle parked in your neighborhood

ü    Someone seen with a weapon

While some, if not all, of the above situations could have innocent explanations, the police would rather check beforehand on suspicious activity than be called to investigate a crime after it is committed.

Please remember, timely reporting is important. Dial 911 as soon as you witness suspicious activity!  Do not yell at or chase the suspect away.  Call 911, and give suspect and vehicle description to help the police respond appropriately or even catch a suspect.

Submitted by the St. Paul Police Crime Prevention unit.

December Health Tips from Anytime Fitness

Question: My 6-year old son wants to eat hot lunch every day because his friends do, but I know I could make him some healthier options here at home. Any advice?

Answer:  This is probably an issue that a lot of parents deal with. Sadly, the nutritional guidelines for public schools are terrible, which gives them a license to serve cheap, processed food. That being said, some schools make more of an effort in the area of nutrition than others. Therefore, it really depends on what your son has available to him at his school. Some schools actually offer salad bars and fresh fruit as staples, which is a good thing, but many don’t even go this far. My recommendation would be to pack him a cold lunch as the standard, but then look at the school lunch menu with him and pick out a few days that both of you approve of. This gives him a little control over his own food choices, but also lets you lay the ground rules for lunchtime eating. Ideally, the focus should be on healthful food options, and with careful planning, I think this can be accomplished with a combination of both cold and hot lunches.

Question: Is it wise to include supersets in my workouts and, if so, what are the advantages?

Answer: Supersets involve performing two exercises back to back with little or no rest in between. And if you’re looking to change up your workouts a bit, they’re definitely worth a try. There are numerous superset variations, but the most common types would be same muscle supersetting or antagonistic supersetting. As the name implies, same muscle supersetting incorporates two different exercises for the same muscle group. For example, one set of dumbbell chest presses could be followed by barbell incline press. Antagonistic supersetting involves opposing muscle groups, so you might combine biceps curls with triceps extensions, again with no rest in between sets. No matter what type of supersetting you engage in, there are three obvious advantages to utilizing this method of training. First of all, doing supersets saves time, which is clearly advantageous when people want to get in and get out. It also allows an individual to train at a higher intensity, which can produce better results in the long run. And lastly, because supersetting allows for increased workout intensity without using very heavy weights, the likelihood of injury decreases significantly. Give ‘em a try and see what you think!

Question: A couple of my friends have recently started juicing. What are your thoughts?

Answer: Juicers are quite popular these days, but here’s my take on the whole juicing phenomenon. Occasionally, I’ll meet people that just hate fruit and vegetables. They pretty much avoid them altogether. But interestingly, a few of these individuals have said that juicing seems to work for them. They don’t seem to have a problem drinking their fruits and veggies. If this is the case for you or someone you know, I say “go for it.” However, we need to remember that most juicers remove virtually all of the fiber as the fruits and vegetables are processed. If you add in the research that shows that fiber may provide much of the health benefits attributed to fruits and vegetables, we have a problem here. I would argue it’s much better to eat fruits and vegetables intact—the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. Plus, most folks consume far too little fiber anyway, so juicing is just going to exacerbate this problem. Bottom line—save your money and stick with whole fruits and vegetables whenever possible.   

Submitted by David Tenner, the District 1 Anytime Fitness

Scam targeting elders...

We've had reports from local residents that an old scam is still in play. This phone scam targets elders, so if you or someone you know gets such a call, beware. Spread the word on this...

A caller responds to a "Hello" with "Hi Grandpa/Grandma, it's me." Without identifying themselves, they then try to figure out who they can impersonate and then launch into a story that they are stuck somewhere out of the city with friends and have been in an accident. They are trying to get people to wire them money to either "get back home" or "pay for doctor's bills" or something else.

Needless to say, you should just hang up. Do not ask, "Is this ____ (insert the name of a grandkid)?" If you don't recognize the voice, just hang up. If you or someone you know has had an experience with this, let us know. If you have caller id, check to see if a number comes up and report that to the police.

This is a similar scam to one in which folks may approach you in parking lots and say that their car has broken down on the freeway and need money for repairs, or they have just been robbed and need to get home or whatever. If you are approached in this way at a parking lot around here, walk away and report it to the store. Such solicitation is usually against the law.

Don't become a victim.

Shoveling and Accessibility

Keeping Sidewalks clear is always a concern, but here is a message from the City's Human Rights Department that we should all keep in mind...

With temperatures dropping and the snow starting to fall, the Mayor’s Advisory Committee for People with Disabilities would like to remind Saint Paul residents and businesses to keep sidewalks clear. Un-shoveled or poorly shoveled sidewalks and curb ramps make it dangerous and next to impossible for people with mobility and/or vision impairments to get around. 

Please make sure to fully shovel your sidewalk and curb ramps. There are resources available for seniors or individuals with disabilities who need help with shoveling. For assistance, seniors can call, 1-800-333-2433 (M-F 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), and people with disabilities are directed to call, 1-866-333-2466 (M-F 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.). Some resources may come with a cost associated.  Additional helpful information on snow emergencies and plowing at the Department of Public Works. 

St. Paul Parks Lottery begins Jan 3

City of Saint Paul residents and businesses can apply for park picnic permits beginning Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. The Parks Permit Office will open at 6 a.m. with lottery numbers issued from 6 to 6:30 a.m. (Numbers cannot be transferred to other customers) and permits beginning to be issued at 6:31 a.m. Customers arriving after 6:30 a.m. will be issued permits on a first-come, first-served basis and will be issued permits after all the lottery customers have been served. Only one reservation may be made per day by an individual, group, or organization, and no phone reservations will be accepted until January 4.

Verification of a Saint Paul address will be required to obtain a lottery ticket and to make a reservation. Customers applying for a private event will be required to show a valid driver's license for proof of Saint Paul residency. For business reservations, documentation such as letterhead, stationery or business card must be provided prior to a lottery ticket being issued.

To be eligible for the permit lottery on Jan. 3, residents or businesses must arrive in person at the Park Permit Office, 1100 North Hamline Ave. On Jan. 4, permit applications will be accepted from residents and businesses of Saint Paul over the telephone, 651-632-5111 (TTY: 651-266-6378) with credit card payment only (American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa). Park Permit Office hours are 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Non-residents may apply for permits beginning Feb. 1, 2012.

For additional information visit www.stpaul.gov/parks