Fall 2022 Hometown Messenger

Messenger Hometown Destination: Entertainment 19,000-seat amphitheater proposed

A PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE | FALL 2022

Election Day is coming What you need to know

‘What’s going there?’ Your construction questions answered

INSIDE: PARKS & RECREATION FALL ACTIVITIES BROCHURE PROGRAM REGISTRATION OPENS AUG. 30

SHOW OFF SHAKOPEE PHOTO CONTEST

2022

Submit your photos to the City of Shakopee’s 2022 Show O Shakopee Photo Contest! This year’s categories are: Nostalgia | Hometown Pride | the Great Outdoors

Submit your photos at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/showoffshakopee from September 1–30, 2022

GRAND PRIZE: $100 | CATEGORYWINNERS 3 : $50

See the full contest rules and info on the city website: www.ShakopeeMN.gov/showoffshakopee

Messenger Hometown

News from the City of Shakopee | Fall 2022

CITY NEWSLETTER Destination: Entertainment. . . . . . . 3 City Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 The View fromMars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 TAP 2022 Brew Fest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ShowOff Shakopee Photo Contest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Ask the City. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 A Look Back. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 YardWaste Service Ending. . . . . . . . 7 Parks & Recreation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Development News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 PublicWorks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Chief's Notes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Public Safety. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11–12 Photo Gallery: Night to Unite . . . . 13

Cover Photo: Architectural rendering of a proposed 19,000-seat outdoor amphi theater at Canterbury Park

Destination: Entertainment New outdoor music and events venue proposed

A proposed 19,000-seat outdoor amphitheater at Canter bury Park could soon be the new centerpiece of Canterbury Commons, a $400 million development that’s been experi encing growth near the racetrack in recent years The proposed amphitheater is subject to approvals by the Sha kopee Planning Commission and Shakopee City Council, both of which are expected to take place before the end of summer “This amphitheater would be a game changer for the music and entertainment climate in the southwest metro and beyond,” said City of Shakopee Planning Director Michael Kerski “We are fortunate to live in a city that is alive with eco nomic development opportunities and growth”

"We are fortunate to live in a city that is alivewith economic development opportunities and growth."

Michael Kerski Planning Director

FIND US ONLINE AT: www.ShakopeeMN.gov

The amphitheater project is proposed by Minneapolis-based Swervo Development Corporation, which also redeveloped the 1930s era Armory building in Minneapolis as a music and entertain ment venue If approved, the amphitheater will be built on 40 acres near Canterbury Road and Unbridled Ave nue, east of the racetrack itself The site is currently occupied by vacant land, horse barns, and a small industrial building

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THEVIEWFROMMARS A message from the Mayor of Shakopee

CITY CALENDAR

AUGUST 21 SandVenture Closing for Season SEPTEMBER 5 Labor Day: City offices closed 17 Movie in the Park: 7 p m (Dusk), Huber Park, free OCTOBER 1 Movie in the Park: 7 p m (Dusk), Huber Park, free 10 Fire Department Open House: 5–7 p m , Station #1 22 Fall Clean Up Day: 29 Boo Bash (21+ event): 7–9 p m , Huber Park, registration required NOVEMBER 8 Election Day: 7 a m –8 p m 11 Veterans Day: City offices closed, Community Center remains open 24 Thanksgiving: City offices and Community Center closed 25 Day After Thanksgiving: City offices closed, Community Center remains open DECEMBER 6 City Budget Hearing: 7 p m , City Hall Please note, events are subject to cancellation or changes due to the current public health guidelines by the CDC and Minnesota Department of Health Find the latest city calendar at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/calendar 7:30–11:30 a m , Shakopee Public Works parking lot 29 Spooky Family Fun: 2:30–4 p m and 4:30–6 p m , Huber Park, registration required

Hello, Shakopee! Another summer has come and gone, and amidst the sunshine our great City has been growing and thriving We had a busy City Council season with a number of housing

Mayor Bill Mars

and economic developments gaining approval for construction in the near future Check out page 9 to read more about some of the new housing options being built around town From single family homes and townhomes to apartment complexes and senior housing co-ops, Shakopee is booming with options for every phase of life Of course, there’s also the 19,000-seat outdoor amphitheater proposed for Canterbury Commons, which you can read about on pages 3 and 6 By the time you read this, the amphitheater proposal will have already come before the council for a vote I’m so excited about this project and hope to see it become a reality What a great asset to our community and a testament to the amazing amenities we can bring to town through public-private partnerships The amphitheater, which will be built and funded by a private developer, will solidify Shakopee even more as an entertainment destination in the Twin Cities metro We’ve had multiple restaurants open this summer in the downtown area and Southbridge, with more to come at Canterbury Commons, which has become a vital and exciting part of our community I invite you to join me in supporting all these great businesses that call Shakopee home! This fall, I’m looking forward to supporting our local Fire Department in October during Fire Prevention Week If you’ve never had the pleasure of attending one of our Fire Department’s open houses, I recommend checking it out this year Bring the whole family! Our firefighters will be demonstrating various fire control techniques, and they’ll have activities for kids of all ages If your children have ever wanted to see the inside of a fire truck, now is your chance! Read more about this fun (and educational) event on page 11 Our Parks and Recreation Department will host several signature fall events, including the fan favorite Spooky Family Fun in October Find out how to register and secure your spot on the Brochure side of this book We always have so many fantastic things happening in Shakopee, it’s impossible for me to choose my favorites Thank you for playing a role in making our community a welcoming, fun, family-friendly place to live, work, and play Bill Mars Mayor of Shakopee wmars@ShakopeeMN.gov

CONTACT US MAYOR Bill Mars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . wmars@ShakopeeMN.gov COUNCIL MEMBERS Jody Brennan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jbrennan@ShakopeeMN.gov Angelica Contreras. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . acontreras@ShakopeeMN.gov Matt Lehman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . mattlehmansr@comcast.net Jay Whiting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . jaywhtng@aol.com CITY ADMINISTRATOR William Reynolds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . breynolds@ShakopeeMN.gov

CITY HALL 485 Gorman St , Shakopee, MN 55379

Phone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-233-9300 TTY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952-233-3837 Email. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . administration@ShakopeeMN.gov Website. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.ShakopeeMN.gov The Hometown Messenger is produced four times a year by the City of Shakopee. Comments or suggestions can be directed to the editor, Amanda McKnight, at amcknight@ShakopeeMN.gov .

4 Hometown Messenger

The City of Shakopee will host an inaugural beer tasting and innovation event on Saturday, September 10, in the downtown Shakopee Lewis Street parking lot. Where Innovation Meets Brewing

Attendees will have opportunities to: Taste over 40 brewers’ agship beers Try TAP 2022 exclusive innovative beers Vote for your favorite beer Take home a keepsake tasting glass Listen to live music The event opens at noon for VIP ticket holders, $50 per person, who get in an hour early to spend time talking with the brewers. General admission tickets are $40 per person from 1–4 p.m.

Join us for a unique beer tasting event featuring these breweries: 09.10.22 Downtown Shakopee, MN V.I.P. Event: Noon–1 p.m. General Admission: 1–4 p.m.

How Can I Help You? Meet PublicWorks Park Supervisor Keith Raines Q: What do you do for the city? A: I work as the Park Supervisor for the City of Shakopee Q: How long have you worked for the city? A: I’ve worked over 22 years for the City of Shakopee Q: What do you enjoy about working for the city? A: I enjoy working with different groups within the city, such as the sporting association, volunteer organizations, and the residents of Shakopee Q: What’s the best part of your job? The best part of my job is working with like-minded people that share the goal of wanting to build a community for the City of Shakopee We all want Shakopee to be a great place to live, play, and work I also enjoy the variety of work; no day looks the same! Most of all, I enjoy being able to get out and see the people of Shakopee, whether at the parks or community events

Scan for tickets!

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit tap2022.org This event is brought to you by the City of Shakopee in partnership with Shakopee Public Utilities.

NEWS & NOTES

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTOS! Submit your photos to the 2022 Show Off Shakopee photo contest from September 1–30 to win cash prizes The grand prize winner will receive $100, and each category winner will receive $50 This year’s categories are: Nostalgia Hometown Pride the Great Outdoors Visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/showoffshakopee to read submission guidelines and enter your photos We can’t wait to see what you have to show us!

NEW EMPLOYEES JOIN CITY STAFF Join us in welcoming these new employees to the City of Shakopee:

■ Alex McCarvel , Engineering Intern ■ Hunter Lagro , Engineering Intern ■ Amanda Handt , Engineering Intern ■ Sarah Thuriot , Ice Arena Specialist ■ Madeline Reckmeye r, Engineering Intern ■ James Gillum , Police Officer ■ JonWiseman , Police Officer ■ Janelle Nordtvedt , Police Records Technician ■ Kaylin Smith , Investigative Assistant ■ Jackson Gieseke , Part-time Firefighter

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the state-of-the-art sound system, sound will have limited leakage outside of the immediate amphitheater site” The developer envisions the amphitheater would hold as many as 40 to 60 events a year, with about 10-12 of those operating at maxi mum seating capacity Canterbury Commons has been blossom ing since its groundbreaking in 2018 Sev eral housing developments have been con structed in the neighborhood since then, with thousands of residents now calling the Com mons their home Additionally, the City Coun cil recently approved the construction of an 11,000 square foot building to house Badger Hill Brewing’s tap room and Bravis Modern Street Food’s new restaurant location The plans for the tap room include 121 indoor seats and 66 patio seats Bravis is planning to have 95 indoor seats and 34 patio seats “When we first started looking at developing Canterbury Commons, we knew this area had potential to be a thriving residential and com mercial entertainment destination,”City Admin istrator Bill Reynolds said “Seeing that come to fruitionmakesme proud of our City, our private sector partnerships, and the public infrastruc ture investments theCity hasmade in that area”

This rendering, courtesy Shea Design, shows an overhead view of the proposed amphitheater, with parking seen in the distance

River, so the amphitheater is designed to face toward an industrial area with a large awning type roof covering the stage “The environmental impacts of the proposal, including how far sound carries, have been reviewed extensively as part of a 700-page Envi ronmental Assessment Worksheet,” Kerski said “The developer has incorporated external sound mitigation in the design plans Combined with

The vision for the venue includes a covered seat ing area, beer lawn, various plaza areas, back stage loading area, and on-site parking with access to nearby Canterbury Park parking lots Noise concerns are being taken into consid eration with the design of the amphitheater, Kerski said Noise fromconcertsheld in-fieldat Canterbury Park has been known to travel as far as neighborhoods beyond the Minnesota

#AsktheCity

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT VOTING

WHERE CAN I VOTE? You can go to the Secretary of State poll finder at https://pollfinder. sos.state.mn.us , which will show you maps of your city’s precincts and where your polling place is located During election years, you can also view a sample ballot for the upcoming election HOW DOES THE POLLING PLACE WORK? The polling place opens at 7 a m on Election Day When you enter, go to the first available person with a green poll pad They will ask for your name and how to spell it Once they find your name, they will ask you a question to confirm they have the right person’s informa tion You will have to sign your name on the screen confirming that the information is correct The election judge will then give you a bal lot receipt that you will take to the ballot judge The ballot judge will give you a ballot and instructions on how to fill out your ballot Please listen carefully to the instructions Then you take your ballot to the voting booth and make your selections When you are finished vot ing, take your ballot to the election judge by the tabulator and put your ballot into the machine Please wait until you hear the ding and see the number change on the screen Follow the instructions of the election judge If there are no errors and your ballot is accepted, take an “I voted” sticker, and exit the polling location WHEN IS ABSENTEE VOTING? General Election Absentee Voting In Person for Shakopee and Louis ville and Jackson Townships is happening from Sep 23 until Nov 7, 2022 at City Hall, 485 Gorman St Voting hours are from Monday–Fri day 8 a m –4:30 p m ; Saturday, Nov 5 from 10 a m –3 p m ; and Mon day, Nov 7 from 8 a m –5 p m

WHERE CAN I VOTE? Everyone in the County can also vote in person at the Scott County Public Works building located at 600 Country Trail E in Jordan from Monday–Friday 8 a m –4:30 p m ; Saturday, Nov 5 from10 a m –3 p m ; and Monday, Nov 7 from 8 a m –5 p m WE NEED YOUR HELP! We are still in need of election judges This is a paid volunteer posi tion If you are interested in serving, please visit our website at www ShakopeeMN gov/elections and click on the red “Become an Election Judge” button

6 Hometown Messenger

A Look Back

In pictures of early Shakopee, it is not unusual to see the distinct stee ple of St Mark’s Catholic Church The church has been a long-stand ing fixture in Shakopee and is a part of the city’s significant history When early German settlers arrived in Shakopee in the mid-1800s, they wanted to establish a German Catholic parish The Diocese of St Paul helped them form a parish and encouraged them to build a church In 1856 the original church was built A year later, Benedictine priests arrived to run the young parish Inter estingly, this benediction association led the church to be a temporary site of St John’s University when a legal land dispute occurred in Col legeville, MN The foundation of the college and abbey was laid, and with it, six feet of walls; however, when the land dispute was won by the Benedictines in Collegeville, the temporary site was abandoned

Later, with the outbreak of the Dakota War of 1862, the vacant site was used by settlers as a refuge Armed with only a canon, the settlers were preparedbut endedupnot using it; the conflict never reachedShakopee Having outgrown the original church, parishioners decided to build a bigger one on the foundation left from the temporary abbey site In 1868, the St Mark’s Catholic Church used today was constructed on the corner of Atwood and Fourth Street The steeple was added twenty years later in 1888 St Mark’s is most noted for its beautiful stained glass windows com missioned by Australian Emperor Franz Josef in 1922 and ornate altars carved by local woodworker Franz Xavier Hirscher, one of the town’s original settlers who arrived in Shakopee in 1855 Franz Xavier worked on the altars from 1888 to 1890, and having lost his eyesight from cataracts, he finished carving the altars by touch In August 2005, a fire broke out in the center of the church The fire was caused by spontaneous combustion of rags used to refinish the wood pews during a renovation The church suffered $3 5 million in damages The fire was contained and damaged the wood floor in front of the main altar and a crawl space below it However, the smoke damage was significant Luckily, the stained glass windows were saved and one of the side altars that was damaged was rebuilt by local carpenter Mike Menke In 2013, and after much debate, St Mark’s merged with St Mary’s Catholic Church and Saint Mary of the Purification (Marystown) and became Saints Joachim and Anne

The view of St Marks Church from Atwood Street Photos courtesy of Shakopee Heritage Society

An overhead view of St Marks Church and its steeple in 1888

Yard waste service ending in November Yard waste service offered by the city’s garbage hauler, Dick’s Sanita tion (DSI), will end in mid-November, weather permitting

When in doubt, visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/garbageandrecycling for answers to common questions To stay up to date on service updates, holiday schedules, billing and more, download the Dick’s Sanitation app in the Google Play store or App Store

City of Shakopee residents have the option of paying an additional fee for DSI’s seasonal yard waste service frommid-April to mid-November For those who don’t use the seasonal service, on-call yard waste ser vice is also available until November for $3 50 per compostable bag up to five bags per week DSI also offers Christmas tree removal during the first two full weeks of January Christmas tree removal is not included in the seasonal yard waste base rate Residents must call DSI at 952-469-2239 or email Shakopee@dickssanitation.com one day prior to their regular service day to schedule a tree pickup

Fall 2022 7

PARKS & RECREATION Eagle Scout to-be fixes up Tahpah Park flag pole plaque

The Tahpah Park flag pole and the dedication plaque below it are looking clean and spruced up after Shakopee High School senior Michael Peck chose to beautify his community for his Eagle Scout project “I emailed the baseball coach for something I could do (for my proj ect),” Peck said “He told me about this plaque at Tahpah Park, and we just went from there” The plaque lists the local organizations that originally donated and dedicated the flag pole years ago, but over time it had become dirty and partially buried beneath gravel Peck has been in Boy Scouts since he was a small child, and complet ing a service project is the final requirement for him to become an Eagle Scout After choosing his project focus, obtaining the neces sary permissions from the Scouts, and connecting with the city for approval, he and a group of his Scout counterparts were able to dig up the plaque from its bed of gravel and get to work

"We washed it down and covered it up and put pavers around the sides so it would stand out,” Peck explained “I think it turned out really nice” From figuring out logistics to gathering supplies and doing the heavy lifting, the project was more involved than Peck expected

"These types of projects benefit not just the city, but all the residents and visitors whowill visit Tahpah Park and see the flag pole and plaque." Bill Mars Mayor

“It’s not just digging and washing stuff down,” he said “Finding something for everyone to do can be difficult I think it turned out really nice” Service projects like the one Peck completed make a big impact on the look and feel of the city, said Mayor Bill Mars “We very much appreciate and welcome volunteerism in Shakopee,” Mars said “These types of projects benefit not just the city, but all the residents and visitors who will visit Tahpah Park and see the flag pole and plaque”

Shakopee High School senior Michael Peck led the charge to clean up a buried flag pole plaque to complete his quest to become an Eagle Scout

The City of Shakopee has a volunteer program through Parks and Recreation If you or a business or organization you belong to is interested in getting involved, visit www.ShakopeeMN. gov/volunteer.

8 Hometown Messenger

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

‘What’s going there?’ City Council approves new housing developments The past several months have been bustling with construction projects popping up all around Shakopee Naturally, we all want an answer to the burning question, “What’s going there?” Here’s a rundown of some of the latest projects to receive City Council approval:

WHISPERINGWATERS SECOND ADDITION City Council approved the final plat for the last addition of the WhisperingWaters development, located near Eagle Creek Ele mentary School between Pike Lake Road and 22nd Avenue The final phase includes 59 single family lots and the extension of 22nd Avenue to connect to Pike Lake Road, providing resi dents an alternate route to Foothill Trail A trail will be constructed along the Prior Lake Outlet Chan nel in this development, similar to existing trails north of Eagle Creek Boulevard

CANTERBURY CROSSING City Council approved 108 townhouse units and a 56-unit senior housing co-op called Artessa, located along Shenan doah Drive near Canterbury Park The first phase of 63 townhouse units is almost complete, and the developer, Pulte Homes Minnesota, plans to construct the remaining 45 units in phase two The Artessa will have a shared outdoor patio area and a pick leball court The townhouses are designed in two styles: three level walk-up units with rear loading garages and two-level units with front loading garages The townhome community will also have a playground and a common fire pit area

ARASAN APARTMENTS City Council approved the second phase of the Arasan Apart ments, located near Jackson Elementary School at the south east corner of Marystown Road and Lusitano Street This apartment complex will include 112 units, with 95 surface parking spaces and 110 underground parking spaces The first phase, which is complete, consisted of 138 units and the adja cent V A Clinic The developer, Trident Shakopee West LLC, has dedicated land to the city for a park and will construct a dog park with an agil ity course

SOUTHBRIDGE CROSSINGS FIFTH ADDITION City Council approved the final plat for Southbridge Crossings Fifth Addition, which includes the construction of a Take 5 Car Wash on the west side of County Road 21 The car wash will join an existing office building, Sherwin Wil liams, and Texas Roadhouse within the fifth addition Three vacant lots remain to be developed in the future

Fall 2022 9

PUBLIC WORKS

Mark your calendars Fall Clean Up Day is Oct 22 Shakopee residents are invited to recycle old appliances, electron ics, yard waste, tires, car batteries, scrap metal and more during the annual Fall Clean Up Day event on Saturday, Oct 22 This event is a chance for residents to properly dispose of unwanted items in a convenient, drop-off location that promotes safe disposal This event is funded in part through grants received from Scott County and Shakopee's Recycling Rebate Program “We want to build a safe community by properly disposing of unwanted waste,” said Public Works Superintendent Bill Egan “We know lines can get long, but we appreciate our residents’ patience and strive to make the event run as smoothly as possible" Residents can drop off items between 7:30 a m and 11:30 a m behind the Public Works building, 400 Gorman St As the winter season is just around the corner, help protect your lawn from damage by installing markers on your property Markers will act as a visual guide day and night when the grass becomes covered in snow or blizzard conditions Residents should install these markers 12 inches from the edge of the sidewalk and along your property about 15 feet apart where a snowplow could potentially damage your sod It is recommended that residents install themarkers as soon as possible before the groundbecomes frozen Sidewalk markers can be purchased at any hardware store Markers need to be flexible, bright, and reflective and be made of materials such as fiberglass to prevent damage if hit by a snowplow Residents can help the snow removal efforts in several ways: Clear the sidewalks adjacent to your home. Property owners are responsible for clearing snow/ice on sidewalks adjacent to residential properties within 36 hours and commercial properties within 24 hours Please note: During extreme snow events, please be patient as it might take a while longer to plow sidewalks and trails along collector streets and county roads that the city plows Do not put snow on roadways. Minnesota statute and Shakopee ordinance prohibit plowing, shoveling, blowing, or placing snow onto public roadways Shovel around hydrants and mailboxes. Shovel a three-foot path from the road to the hydrant and a minimum of three feet on all sides of the hydrant Install sturdy mailboxes. Mailboxes should be sturdy enough to withstand snow coming off the end of the plow If damage occurs due to snow hitting a box, the city is not responsible for repairs The city will repair or replace mailboxes and turf only in those instances where direct impact by a plow truck causes the damage Consider shoveling a path for meter readers or mail carriers in your yard or between yards Keep neighborhood storm drains free of snow and ice to allow snow melt to drain properly

A list of accepted items and pricing is available at www.ShakopeeMN. gov/cleanupday Residents will be charged a flat fee (check or credit card preferred) based on the type of vehicle hauling the load This is a first-come, first-served event The line to enter may be cut off prior to 11:30 to ensure vehicles already in line are processed Please note, Shakopee Rotary will not be collecting donations for Bridging, Inc during the fall event Clean Up Day is for residents of Shakopee, Jackson Township and Louisville Township (IDs required) Questions can be directed to the Public Works Department at 952-233-9550 or publicworks@Shako peeMN.gov You can also find information about alternative disposal options at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/garbageandrecycling

Get ready for winter before it sneaks up Protect your lawn by installing markers

Put trash cans on the curb. When they are put in the street, they can create an obstacle for snowplows. Keep carts three feet apart The trash cart must not be obstructed at any time on the day of the residential garbage collection Allow a minimum of three feet of clearance on all sides of the cart from any objects such as trees, fences, mailboxes, street lights, and other carts Keep all carts at least six feet from cars Do not park any vehicles in front of the cart Make sure your cart is facing the street

Don’t forget about your fall opportunity to control broadleaf weeds They’re out there, beginning to make their annual appearance They are not plainly visible until spring flowering when it will be too late to eradicate them But if one looks closely, these weeds can be seen in

the fall These little lawn gremlins are peren nial weeds just waiting for spring’s arrival to emerge in lawns, add ing their undesirable color and texture Fall is the ideal time to control many lawn weeds with an herbicide treatment

10 Hometown Messenger

PUBLIC SAFETY

Fire Department Open House is Oct. 10

CHIEF’S NOTES

Fire prevention The Shakopee Fire Depart ment is workingwith the National Fire Protec tion Association (NFPA) to promote the 2022 campaign: FireWon’t Wait Plan Your Escape Why is it even more important now than it was 100 years ago? Because today’s homes burn faster than ever Youmay have as little as two minutes or less to safely escape a home fire from the time the smoke alarm sounds Your ability to get out of a home during a fire depends on early warning from smoke alarms and advanced planning We at Shakopee Fire are here to help, not just when disaster strikes but also to prevent disaster from striking at all We hope you join us on Oct 10 for a night of education and fun!

The Shakopee Fire Department will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fire PreventionWeek by holding its annual open house onMonday, Oct 10 from5–7 pm at Station 1, 2700Vierling Drive East The technical rescue team will be highlight ing some abilities of high and low-angle res cue Have you ever considered how firefight ers would work with Valleyfair to remove someone off the Power Tower if needed? We have! Come and see the demonstrations, pick up some free fire prevention materials that help you make a plan to escape a home fire, and see some new equipment that’s been purchased since last year The fire service has changed a lot in the last 100 years, but one thing remains the same:

I enjoy being able to write these Chief ’s Notes It’s my opportunity to share the latest Fire

Shakopee Fire Chief Rick Coleman

Department topics with many people in the community at one time There are so many things happening or in the works to share with you The Fire Department enjoys assisting the Police Department with their Night to Unite event, which will have already happened by the time you read this We’ve also helped the Parks and Recreation Department with their events, such as pop-up splash pads We also provide fire station tours, firefighter/fire truck visits, and other public education outreach upon request These are great opportunities for firefighters to get out and interact in the community and vice versa for the people in the community to share things with us In this issue of the Hometown Messenger, you will read about Fire Prevention Week and our Open House Please plan to attend with your family We have plenty of activities and fun planned for the kids! You will also read about the importance of smoke alarms There’s so much information out there that it can be confusing, so if you need assistance, please contact us And as always, the Shakopee Fire Department strives to be innovative We have recently purchased a blanket that assists with keeping electric vehicle fires in check This is not a new technology, but we feel strongly they will be used frequently To get more information, please visit our website at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/fire and “like” the Shakopee Fire Department Facebook page For questions or concerns, call us at 952-233-9570 or email us at firesafety@ShakopeeMN.gov

Fall 2022 11

PUBLIC SAFETY

Fire won’t wait; plan your escape Fire Prevention Week is Oct 9–15

Imagine it's 3 a m and you are sound asleep A fire starts in your home, but as the flames spread and smoke begins to fill the rooms, will you wake up and escape safely? If you have a smoke alarm, the device's warning signal can wake you from your sleep and alert you and others in the home to the danger so you can escape The members of the Shakopee Fire Department feel strongly about the importance of working smoke alarms The department is teaming up with the nonprofit organization, National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), and other firefighters across North America in promoting Fire Pre ventionWeek, Oct 9-15 The theme for this year's campaign is: "Fire won’t wait Plan your escape" NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Preven tionWeek since 1922 A fire can grow and spread throughout a home quickly In fact, you may have as little as two minutes to get out safely once the alarm sounds With close to 80% of all fire deaths occurring in the home, it's easy to see why smoke alarms are essential in every household People have been using smoke alarms since the 1970s, when they first became available in stores Since then, they've helped to cut the risk of dying in a fire by nearly half Every firefighter’s wish is that everyone has a smoke alarm, but that's not the case Roughly 70%of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms Last year in Minnesota, 41 people died in home fires NFPA recommends that at least one smoke alarm be installed on each level of a home—including the basement—and outside every

separate sleeping area They should be tested once a month using the test button The batteries on smoke alarms should be replaced once a year or sooner if the alarm "chirps," meaning that the battery is low Replace all smoke alarms after 10 years, even those that are hard-wired or smoke alarms with long-life (10-year) batteries Smoke alarms with long-life batteries should also be replaced when the alarm chirps or fails to respond to periodic testing The batteries in these units can not be replaced To learn more about Fire PreventionWeek, visit NFPA at www.firepre ventionweek.org For any fire safety questions or concerns, please contact the Shakopee Fire Department at 952-233-9570

Fire blankets making a comeback The fire service is looking to its past and using old technology for a new issue Electric Vehicle (EV) fires have become a concern for the nation’s fire service due to the increase in the number of these vehi cles on the road It’s just a matter of time before we have one start on fire in our response area We are using old, but very effective, technol ogy to prepare for this occurrence

This old technology may be very useful in Shakopee where under ground parking is becoming the norm when constructing commer cial and apartment buildings Think about an EV parked in the under ground ramp and the battery starts on fire These fires produce a lot of heat, toxic smoke, and fumes The fire blanket can be deployed quickly by the first two firefighters on scene, blocking new air from getting to the fire and blocking some of the smoke so it doesn’t bil low into the building A demonstration video can be found at https://bit.ly/3BdkZZu

Remember the basic science of how fire burns Fire needs something to burn (fuel), the heat to get the fuel to a burning temperature, and air to keep feeding the flames If you take one of those elements away, the fire can’t survive We are using this science to remove air from a vehicle fire by using something that’s been common in factories and farms for years We will soon deploy a fire blanket over the burning vehicle to remove the air from the fire This action basically snuffs out the fire by not allowing air to get to the fire The blanket is deployed by two firefighters and pulled over the burn ing vehicle Another firefighter will use a water mist to cool the blan ket and keep it from moving or blowing around The length of time the blanket must be draped over a vehicle depends on the type of vehicle, EV vs combustion engine, the location of the fire in the vehi cle and the size of the fire We suspect that an EV with a battery fire may have to stay covered for hours or even days We don’t want the fuel (battery) to reignite over and over, which has been an issue with thermal runaway in battery fires where the fire department just uses water to cool the outside of it

This fire blanket reduces a fire’s access to air, essentially snuffing it out

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