I-35E Improvements - Meetings

Next month there will be some public meetings to present information on the improvement projects planned for I-35E between Pennsylvania Avenue and Little Canada Road. One project will reconstruct the interstate from University Avenue to Maryland with a new interchange at Cayuga. Another will construct a new bridge at Maryland Avenue. The third is a MnPASS project to provide an additional lane from Pennsylvania to Little Canada Road. The meetings will cover the construction details and schedules.

The first meeting is Feb. 9 from 4-7p at Vadnais Hts. City Hall (800 E. County Road E) - the presentation will be at 6p.

The second meeting is Feb. 16 from 4-7p at Headwaters Service Center, 19955 Forest Road N. in Forest Lake with the presentation at 6p.

The third meeting will be Feb. 16 from 11a - 1p at Securian, 401 N. Robert St. in St. Paul with the presentation at noon - (not sure why Saint Paul gets such a short window in the middle of the day for its meeting, since such a large portion of the work is taking place in St. Paul... [editorial comment])


For more information visit http://www.dot.state.mn.us/cayugamnpass/index.html or contact Kent Barnard at 651.234.7504 or kent.barnard@state.mn.us. To request interpretive services call 651.366.4720.

Submitted by MnDOT (with editorial comments from D1)

Tax Prep Help at Conway and SunRay Library

Once again this year, you can receive free help with filing your taxes at Conway Rec Center and the Sun Ray Library. This event is sponsored by the AARP with volunteer tax preparers.

At Conway, the help starts Wednesday, February 8 and runs every Wednesday through April 11 from 4 to 8p. For these sessions, there are no set appointments - it is first come, first served.

At Sun Ray Library, the help is by appointment only (call 651.501.6300) and starts Monday, February 6 and runs every Monday and Friday until April 13. On Mondays the appointments are between 10a and 1:30p. On Fridays, they are from 10a to 3p.

Here is what you need to bring with you...

• A valid state-issued picture ID or a passport
• Social security card for self and all dependents
• Date of birth for self and all dependents
• All government assistance info - social security, unemployment, SSDI and SSI payments
• W2 form
• Last year's return, if you have it

If you are claiming the Minnesota Renters Rebate you must also have a certificate of rent paid.

If you are itemizing taxes you need to bring the following:

• 1099-D dividend statement
• 1099 INT interest income statement
• 1098 mortgage interest statement
• all info on home improvement loans
• all info on student loans
• receipts for medical costs, school costs and supplies, and charity donations

Non-English speakers must bring their own interpreters. These services will only do 1 year of returns per visit. And all taxes are filed electronically.

Emerald Ash Borer Meeting

On Monday, February 6 from 6-8p at the Conway Rec Center, there will be a community meeting about the removal of more ash trees from our area and around the eastside during the next year.

Here is a map to show where they will be removing trees this year.

Remember that after the trees are removed, they will be replaced by alternative species and homeowners will be instructed how to care for them. Since it has been so dry, keeping the trees well watered will be especially important this year - not just for these new ones but for the ones planted last year, too.

Home Ownership Classes to Prepare for those Responsibilities

The Community Neighborhood Housing Services of Saint Paul is offering a series of classes in both English and Hmong about how to prepare for home ownership. These are homebuyer education classes that include how to prepare financially, how credit affects becoming a homeowner, understanding mortgage programs, shopping for a home, home inspections, the closing process, home maintenance, and understanding predatory lending practices. There is also discussion of how to avoid foreclosure.

These classes cost $35 but scholarships are available. To register call 651.292.8710 or go to www.communitynhs.org. There are scholarships available. Classes are available starting in January and going into June. Dates are listed on the D1 web calendar

Message from State Representative Sheldon Johnson

With the 2012 legislative session set to start on January 24th,  I'd like to provide you with a preview of topics expected to come up this year. 

Jobs and the economy: While there are signs that Minnesota is slowly pulling out of the recession there are still 175,000 Minnesotans out of work and middle class families are struggling to make ends meet.   This is why job growth is my top priority for the 2012 legislative session. 

The budget: The December 1st budget forecast showed an unexpected $876 million surplus.  It is unclear if the surplus will still exist when the forecast is updated in February.  If we have surplus, state law directs that it be used to replenish the state's budget reserve and its cash flow account.

Bonding for public works: A primary focus of each even-year legislative sessions is to pass a bonding for construction projects, such as repairs and improvements to roads and bridges, wastewater systems, flood mitigation, and fixing buildings on college campuses.  I am advocating for a much-needed Science building at Metro State University.

Property tax relief/reform:  Soaring local property taxes have placed property taxes high on the agenda.  Homeowners are reeling from property tax increases that resulted from the elimination of the Market Value Homestead Credit (I strongly opposed getting rid of the Homestead Credit.)

Constitutional amendments: A constitutional amendment to prohibit same sex marriage has already been put on the ballot for November 2012.  This issue may come up again in the 2012 session.  A proposal to require a photo ID to vote will also likely be proposed as a constitutional amendment this session.

Vikings stadium:  Based on the amount of media coverage this issue receives, I believe a stadium debate will take up some of the 2012 legislature's time but I am unsure if it will be resolved.

Health insurance marketplace:  There is a proposal to set up an exchange where small businesses and individuals can shop for health insurance. 

K-12 school payment shift: Undoing an unpopular accounting shift that was used to address a portion of the state budget deficit last year could be attempted.

Redistricting:  Following each census, legislative districts are redrawn.  The new district maps being formed by a judicial panel are to be made public in late February.

As I prepare for the upcoming session, I welcome your input on these or any other legislative issues.  Feel free to email me at rep.sheldon.johnson@house.mn, call me at (651) 296-4201.

January is Radon Awareness Month

Do you know that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.? Ramsey County lies in a region of the country considered to be a “hot” area for radon. This naturally occurring gas enters through the bottom level of homes and other buildings and has the ability to permeate the entire structure.

Ramsey County actively promotes radon awareness through print materials, a website, and a telephone information line (651.266.1133). The County urges all residents to test the radon level in their homes and businesses. You can buy a kit though Ramsey County ($9 and $13) or at a local home improvement store. Call 651.266.1199 to order a radon test kit and 651.266.1127 to speak to Lisa Marshall, the radon program coordinator.

Submitted by Ramsey County Environmental Health

Ramsey County Looking for Election Judges

The county runs our elections. They are always looking for qualified, enthusiastic people to serve as election judges. The 2012 election will have a large voter turnout, and the county will need a lot of election judges to help make it a great year. If you have friends and neighbors who would also like to serve their community, please have them contact the county at the address below.

Training in person or online is available and REQUIRED!! A small stipend is paid for those people who serve as judges.

Contact Ramsey County Elections
90 W. Plato Blvd.
P.O. Box 64098
St. Paul, MN 55164-0098
651.266.2171
elections@co.ramsey.mn.us

Interesting news from St. Paul Smart-Trips

Check out this link for a story about someone adopting a bus shelter to assure that everyone has access to transit during (normal) Minnesota winters....

St. Paul Smart Trips

Submitted by St. Paul Smart Trips...

Creating Business Plans - Library Workshop; Library News

The Saint Paul Public Library is holding a series of workshops for people interested in starting their own business. They are doing this in partnership with WomenVenture - a nonprofit dedicated to helping women achieve economic success and prosperity.

The first workshop will be January 31 at the Sun Ray Library at 10:30a and will cover how to write a positive, succinct and distinctive business plan. For more information on this workshop and the others in the series, call 651.501.6300 or visit www.sppl.org.

In other library news - Did you know that Sun Ray Library will close starting at 8p soon? This is a part of the budget cutting plan that keeps libraries across the city open by having more limited hours for all the libraries.

Also, the city has been awarded a grant to bring a solar charging station to Sun Ray Library to power any electric cars out there. This grant is independent of the regular budget and is from a pool of money designated for energy reduction measures across the country. The charging station should be up and running by May of 2012.

Submitted by SPPL and the Department of Planning and Economic Development.

Suburban Car Lot Development

So... the development on Suburban Avenue has morphed from what we discussed last year -- but not in any substantial way.

MaXit Pawn is no longer in the mix. The property is owned by Peter Remes, a developer who has been doing several projects in Minneapolis. There will be some tenants who were in the original proposal - Dairy Queen, for instance, but MaXit Pawn is replaced by Pawn America at a slightly smaller footprint than what was originally proposed.

They are also looking at a mix of larger and smaller tenants including a pet food store, hair salon, resale outlet, auto supply/repair place, dry cleaners and so on. Some of the buildings are fully leased, other buildings still have the leases under negotiation.

They expect to start renovations of the existing building as soon as the site plans can get through the city process, and construction of the other buildings should begin in the spring.

The new developer is abiding by all the conditions placed on the site during our earlier community process, but the completed site plan still needs city approval. This will give us one more chance for input.

The developer's representatives will be meeting with our Land Use Committee on Tuesday, January 10 at 5:30p at Conway Rec Center to present the modified overall plan.

Fitness Club at Local Parks and Rec Locations

If you live or work in Saint Paul, you can get a fitness membership for $30 for the YEAR! That's less than $3/month and it gets you access to indoor fitness rooms at either Conway Rec Center or Battle Creek Rec. A series of free fitness room Open Houses will be hosted throughout January.

These open houses are for adults and teens ages 16 years and up. Activities include:

• demonstration of available fitness equipment
• healthy snacks
• demonstration of a fitness class in session.

For the public to participate in the activities, they must bring tennis shoes (no street shoes allowed in fitness rooms or gymnasiums.

The Battle Creek Open House is Saturday January 7 from 9a - noon.

The Conway Open House is Wednesday January 27 from 6 - 8p.

Both of these locations have fitness rooms and showers available. You can sign up in person at either center. Non-city resident fitness package is $60/year...

For answers to your questions, contact ParksCustomerService@ci.stpaul.mn.us