Spring 2023 Hometown Messenger

Messenger Hometown

A PUBLICATION OF THE CITY OF SHAKOPEE | SPRING/SUMMER 2023

A national treasure Schroeder House makes National Register

‘What’s going there?’ Find out what’s new to town

Got trees? Annual tree sale coming soon

Keep the kids busy Parks & Rec offers wide variety of summer fun

INSIDE: PARKS & RECREATION SPRING/SUMMER ACTIVITIES BROCHURE PROGRAM REGISTRATION OPENS MARCH 28 AT 6 A.M.

2023

FREE, FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT ALONG THE RIVERFRONT!

May 31

7 p.m. Shakopee High School Wind Ensemble High School Band

June 1

5 p.m. Wheelies Event

Shakopee Police Department Surplus Bike Silent Auction

June 8

7 p.m. The Castaways Classic Rock

June 15

7 p.m. Minnesota Symphonic Winds Orchestra

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June 17

All Day Big Taste of Fun

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Featuring the Minnesota Ironman Bike Ride

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June 22

7 p.m. Sawyer’s Dream

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Americana, Pop, Rock, and Soul

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June 29

7 p.m. Minnesota Valley Community Band Orchestra

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July 13

7 p.m. Dirty Shorts Brass Band Jazz

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July 20

7 p.m. Tuxedo Band Cover Band

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July 27

7 p.m. Chmielesksi Funtime Band Polka

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August 3 7 p.m. Gus Sent Me Country Rock August 10 7 p.m. Pan-Handlers Steel Drum Tropical Sound August 17 7 p.m. Bluedog Blues August 19 Dusk Movie in the Park Movie to be Determined August 25 7 p.m. Concert Rain Date

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Huber Park, 150 Fillmore St. N. www.ShakopeeMN.gov | 952-233-9500 Schedule subject to change | Weather Hotline 952-233-9502

Messenger Hometown

News from the City of Shakopee | Spring 2023

CITY NEWSLETTER A national treasure: Schroeder House makes National Register.. . 3 CityCalendar...................... 4 InLehman’sTerms.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Meet the city’s 2022 employee honorees.......................... 5 Subscribe to the ShakopeeDigest.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Construction Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Green Thumbs Wanted . . . . . . . . . . . 8 AsktheCity....................... 8 Parks&Recreation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Development News.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 PublicWorks..................... 11 PublicSafety................. 12–13 Chief'sNotes..................... 13

Cover Photo: Camp Little O’s participant, Claire

A national treasure Schroeder House makes National Register of Historic Places The two-story brick house was built in 1880 and owned by Her man Schroeder, a prominent Shakopee resident and the owner of the Schroeder Brick and Lime Manufacturing Company, which was the most successful of the Shakopee brickyards and contrib uted heavily to the local economy Schroeder lived in the house until his death in 1922 “We have a lot of rich history in our city,” Planning and Develop ment Director Michael Kerski said “Herman Schroeder’s bricks helped build this town, and we want to preserve that legacy and his unique brick architecture designs and craftsmanship” Schroeder’s bricks are distinct in their red color, which differed from the bricks crafted in nearby towns because of the varying soil conditions at different points in the Minnesota River His brick business grew significantly from manufacturing 500,000 bricks per year in 1881 to 3 million bricks in 1906 “We have a lot of rich history in our city.” Michael Kerski Planning and Development Director A historical photograph of the Herman Schroeder House, with the livery to the rear left Photo credit: Mike Huber Collection The Herman Schroeder House and Livery at 717 Bluff Avenue East is the latest piece of Shakopee history to be approved for listing on the National Register of Historic Places

FIND US ONLINE AT: www.ShakopeeMN.gov

SIGN UP FOR NEWS AND UPDATES AT: www.ShakopeeMN.gov/subscribe

Continued on page 6

Spring 2023 3

IN LEHMAN’S TERMS A message from the Mayor of Shakopee

CITY CALENDAR

MARCH 28 Parks and Rec program registration opens APRIL 1 Winter parking regulations end 17–21 Severe Weather Awareness Week: Tornado drill on April 20 29 Clean Up Day: 7:30-11:30 a m , Shakopee Public Works MAY 20 Bark in the Park: 10 a m –Noon, Lions Park, registration required 29 Memorial Day: City offices and Community Center closed 31 Huber Park Performance and Event Series begins JUNE 1 Wheelies Family Bike Event: 5–7 pm , Huber Park 5 Night to Unite registration opens: See city website 9 Sail Into Summer: 11 a m –2 pm , SandVenture Aquatic Park 14 Picnic with Police: 5–8 pm , Lions Park 17 Big Taste of Fun: All day, Huber Park 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

Hello, Shakopee! I have lived in Shakopee my whole life and spent 20 years as a councilor on the Shakopee City Council, and now, as of January, it is my honor to serve as your mayor I love this city of ours, especially as we approach the warmer months when we can take advantage of all our river valley has to offer Registration for spring and summer Parks and Recreation programming opens Tuesday, March 28 Be sure to sign up yourself and the family for some summer fun! Check out the story on page 7 to get a feel for what some of the programs entail On May 20, bring your favorite dog to the annual Bark in the Park event at Lions Park Our Parks and Recreation and Police Departments co-host this free event that features dog-friendly activities, vendors and resources for your pets On June 9, kick off summer at SandVenture Aquatic Park with the Sail into Summer event There will be games, giveaways and activities for the whole family On June 14, join the Police Department and local non-profit organizations at Lions Park for our iconic Picnic with Police This free event has been a huge success in recent years, and there’s almost a guarantee it will turn into a dance party (There is no guarantee that I will dance, though We’ll see on that!) Of course, the city is also hosting the annual Huber Park Performance and Event Series every Thursday night all summer long—and it’s free! There will be ongoing construction in the Huber Park playground area, but don’t let that deter you A large portion of the parking lot will still be open, and the playground construction will not impact the pavilion area of the park As we head into this beautiful time of year, I hope you’ll take advantage of all we have to offer in Shakopee—whether that’s a walk on one of our beautiful trails or attending one of our many great programs or events If you see me out and about, feel free to introduce yourself and tell me what you love about Shakopee, or what you think we could improve It is my honor to serve you! Matt Lehman Mayor of Shakopee mlehman@ShakopeeMN.gov

Mayor Matt Lehman

CONTACT US MAYOR MattLehman......................... mlehman@ShakopeeMN.gov COUNCIL MEMBERS AngelicaContreras.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . acontreras@ShakopeeMN.gov JimDuLaney.......................... jdulaney@ShakopeeMN.gov JayWhiting..................................... jaywhtng@aol.com A fifth council member will be chosen in an April 2023 special election. CITY ADMINISTRATOR WilliamReynolds..................... 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 .

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Police Captain Chris Dellwo

Aquatics Supervisor Katelyn Meyer

Permit Coordinator Gia Eley

Permit Coordinator Kelly Buska

Meet the city’s 2022 employee honorees Congratulations to four outstanding City of Shakopee employees who recently earned the following annual honors:

Year Eley has been with the city for six years, previously working as a permit technician for the city of Westminster, Colo Buska has been with the city for four and a half years, previ ously working as a project manager at a fam ily-owned architecture firm in Hopkins Planning and Development Director Michael Kerski, Eley and Buska’s supervisor, said they are both fair, consistent and hard-working “They resolve issues before they become problems I always receive compliments from users about how helpful and positive they are,” Kerski said “Even during covid, some how, they kept all the city the permits mov ing without any issues” Eley’s favorite part of her job is working with such a supportive department “Truly the best coworkers anyone could ever ask for!” she said “But my favorite part of my job duties is being able to help with and help change different processes to make them more efficient internally and for our customers” Buska echoed Eley’s sentiments about their coworkers “They are a great bunch and the main reason I enjoy coming to work every day,”Buska said “I also love being part of a team that allows us to engage in new technologies that are use ful not only for the city but for the citizens”

Meyer, who received the Manager of the Year Award, has worked for the city at least part time since the age of 15 when she first became a lifeguard She’s been a full-time employee for four and a half years According to Meyer’s supervisor, Program ming and Services Manager Sherry Dvorak, Meyer has a “can-do” attitude and “I see you” approach to both her staff and the public “Katelyn has served as a mentor and life coach to the City of Shakopee’s lifeguard community for 16+ years as a leader in the department,” Dvorak said “The responsibil ity to protect life offers the greatest burden of accountability, and under Katelyn’s lead ership, her commitment to ensuring staff is highly trained and responsive has no doubt prevented tragedies from occurring in our aquatic spaces” Meyer said her favorite part of her job is the people she gets to work alongside “My coworkers are like a family and getting to work on such a creative and collaborative team is a blast,” she said “I also love getting to work with the high school and college staff Being able to train and mentor them, then watch them grow up and mature, is very rewarding” Eley and Buska, who are both permit coor dinators, were named the Employees of the

■ Police Captain Chris Dellwo : 2022 Administrator’s Leadership Award ■ Aquatics Supervisor Katelyn Meyer : 2022 Manager of the Year ■ Permit Coordinators Gia Eley and Kelly Buska : 2022 Employees of the Year Dellwo, who received the Administrator’s Leadership Award, has worked for the city for 28 years and was previously with the Coon Rapids Police Department He plans to retire this year Police Chief Jeff Tate said Dellwo is honest, fair, respectful and always puts the best interest of the community first “Captain Dellwo has managed the asset for feiture program for the department for the last decade and never had issues with his paperwork or managing the legal and audit ing requirements that come with asset for feitures,” Tate said “Twin Cities Summer Jam goes off smoothly every year in large part due to Chris’s efforts to manage traffic and officers inside the venue” One of Dellwo’s favorite aspects of his job is the opportunity to have a positive influence on others

NEWS & NOTES SUBSCRIBE TO THE SHAKOPEE DIGEST Want to stay in the know about city projects, events and other impor tant news for residents? Subscribe to the Shakopee Digest, our monthly email newsletter informing residents about the month ahead The newsletter is emailed at the beginning of each month To subscribe, visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/subscribe Follow the prompts and on the list of subscription preferences, tick “Shakopee Digest” Having trouble? Contact Communications Manager Amanda McKnight at amcknight@ShakopeeMN.gov

NEW EMPLOYEES JOIN CITY STAFF Join us in welcoming these new employees to the City of Shakopee: ■ Neal Aho , Maintenance Supervisor, 12/12/2022 ■ Andrea Harrell , Grants and Special Projects Coordinator, 11/21/2022 ■ Benjamin Lacher , Police Officer, 12/12/2022 ■ Matthew Ruehling , PW Maintenance Operator, 1/2/2023

Spring 2023 5

Continued from page 3

According to newspaper articles from the 1920s, Schroeder served on the Shakopee City Council for 18 years, organized the city’s first fire department and served as its first president, was active in St John’s Lutheran Church, the Lutheran Mutual Aid society, and the Valley Cemetery Association Remnants of Schroeder’s legacy can still be found throughout the city Though many of the downtown buildings that were constructed with the signature red bricks have been destroyed or covered with other building materials, collec tors and renovators have done what they can to keep these bricks alive in local designs The downtown Shakopee sign with Chief Sakpe and his horse is one example; the red rosette bricks underneath the sign letters are replicas of the rosettes crafted by Schro eder Brick Replicas were used to pay hom age to this unique design, as actual Schro eder rosettes can no longer be found Residents have been known to collect the rarer Schroeder bricks that were stamped with the word “Shakopee” Only one in every 100-or-so bricks was stamped These stamped bricks have even sold for upward of $100 at Shakopee Heritage Society auctions The brick work on the Schroeder House con tains standard bricks along with decorative brick architecture that shows off the capabilities and craftsmanship of the company’s workers “The house, in particular, is distinctive with its intricate brick details, including egg and dart trim, rosettes on the pilaster capitals, and a carved skirt of acanthus leaves,” the Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office said in a statement The brick livery on the property, which has two smaller wings, is also included in the National Register listing The Schroeder Brickyard workers

The red rosette bricks beneath the sign letters are replicas of a unique design crafted by Schroeder Brick and Lime Manufacturing Company

constructed an outhouse addition to the liv ery for their own use, which has elaborately designed brick architecture Schroeder’s bricks were so iconic, they were used in construction projects across the region and neighboring states According to the Scott County Historical Society, an order of 200,000 bricks was shipped to Fort Pierre, South Dakota in 1906, and another order of half a million bricks was sent to Fairmont, Minn , to build a new courthouse Historians have noted that Schroeder’s house features details that were not observed on nearby brick buildings, including egg and dart trim, rectangular rosettes and acan thus leaf carvings As the brickyard propri etor, Schroeder likely wanted to showcase his product and demonstrate his wealth through intricate decorations, which would have required greater skill and more time to craft

“The skill is really apparent when you look closely at the features of the Schroeder House,” Kerski said “This is the late 1800s we are talking about—many of these bricks were made by hand Schroeder’s brickyard didn’t start using a brickmaking machine until the 1890s, a decade after the house was built” Now that the property is officially on the National Register of Historic Places, the city has plans to turn the house into a destina tion to be enjoyed by the community Until 2020, when the city purchased it, it was being used as a rental property At some point the interior was renovated into a duplex The city hopes to restore the exterior, and the inside could be used as a location for weddings, meetings and special events The livery would be open to the public, with his torical displays as part of the trail system, similar to the Schroeder limestone kiln that has been preserved with signage along the Minnesota Valley State Trail Ultimately, the vision is for the Schroeder House and Livery to become a part of the riv erside Cultural Corridor starting near Huber Park and ending at The Landing Plans for the Shakopee Cultural Corridor include a cultural trail that offers a glimpse into the lives of past inhabitants of the region, from Native Americans to European settlers “It’s not every day you find a 150-year-old house with so much historical significance standing mostly in tact,” Kerski said “We are thrilled at the opportunity to preserve it and integrate it into our unique plans for a Cul tural Corridor”

One in every 100-or-so bricks were stamped with the word “Shakopee”These are highly valued by local collectors

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CONSTRUCTION CORNER Stay up-to-date on City of Shakopee construction projects

As the weather improves and the ground begins to thaw, it’s time again for road con struction season The City of Shakopee repairs city streets annually on a schedule deter mined by the five-year Capital Improvement Plan Annual road projects range from full-depth pavement reconstruction, which typically includes underground utility repairs and updates to curbs and gutters, to pavement rehabilitation, which includes crack sealing and spot patching The majority of these projects are funded by the Capital Improvements Fund, with the exception of trail reconstruction, which is funded by the Park Asset Internal Service Fund The sole project that is partially funded by assessments of adjacent property own ers is the Full-Depth Pavement Reconstruction Project The 2023 projects include: FULL-DEPTH PAVEMENT RECONSTRUCTION

How Can I Help You? Meet John Sullivan, who works as an Economic Development Coordinator in the Planning Department Q: What do you do for the city? A: I am the Economic Development Coordinator I work on business development, recruitment, expansion and marketing to attract businesses to Shakopee and assist existing ones that want to expand I currently assist with the management of the River City Centre and staff the Shakopee Entrepreneur Group with the goal of developing “The Hub,” a new 30,000 sq ft Innovation Center for startups and entrepreneurs Q: How long have you worked for the city? A: I started in September of 2022 Q: What do you enjoy about working for the city? A: I enjoy the staff, the energy and fun we have working together There is a lot of positivity and good development occurring all over Shakopee, and I’m proud to be a part of it Q: What’s the best part of your job? A: All the new projects and investments coming to Shakopee! It’s really exciting!

TRAIL REHABILITATION The bituminous trail along Fuller Street from 10th Avenue to Vierling Drive will be reconstructed This project will include improvements to pedestrian ramps to com ply with the ADA transition plan adopted by City Council in 2018 This project includes rehabilitation of the bituminous asphalt surface of River side Drive, Grove Circle, McGuire Circle and Court, Old Carriage Court, Stratford Circle, a portion of Southbridge Parkway, Valley View Road and the Countryside neighborhood Work will include milling the pavement surface, crack sealing, full depth spot repair and patching, spot curb and gutter repair, spot sidewalk repair, upgrading sidewalk and trail pedestrian curb ramp facilities, and a bituminous asphalt pavement overlay BITUMINOUS MILL AND OVERLAY

Bituminous roadway will be reconstructed for Atwood Street from Fifth to Sixth Ave nue; Valley Fair Drive; Park Drive; a por tion of Dominion Avenue; and the Maple Trail Estates neighborhood This project includes minor utility work, updates to comply with ADA requirements, and curb and gutter repairs

PAVEMENT REHABILITATION This project will rehabilitate the bitumi nous roadways for the Providence Pointe and Westchester neighborhoods, along with Fourth Avenue from Naumkeag Street to Marschall Road Work includes crack sealing and repair, minor concrete repairs, partial and full-depth spot patching and pavement repairs, utility repairs, and a chip seal coat of the bituminous surface

DROP OFF EXCESS CARDBOARD 24/7

Is your recycling bin bursting at the seams? If you have excess cardboard that needs recycling, drop it off at the cardboard recycling dumpsters on the Shakopee city campus, 500 Gorman St , across the street from City Hall Cardboard only Please break down your boxes to ensure enough room for all users.

Spring 2023 7

Green thumbs wanted Volunteer with Shakopee’s edible community garden Put your green thumb to work for a good cause this spring and sum mer by volunteering to care for the Shakopee Edible Landscape in Scenic Heights Park The Shakopee Edible Landscape is a garden that has edible plants, shrubs and trees that are maintained by volunteers for anyone in the community to harvest and eat It was planted last year with the expectation that it will be harvestable in 2023 This garden was made possible through a grant from the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership of Scott County and a water line donated by Shakopee Public Utilities

SPECIAL ELECTIONS Q: WHAT IS A SPECIAL ELECTION? A: Special elections are used to fill vacant offices or decide ballot questions; they can be scheduled at various times during the year and may be held in conjunction with a regularly scheduled election Q: WHY DO SPECIAL ELECTIONS HAPPEN? A: Sometime a vacancy occurs on the Council by either a death, illness or by one of the currently seated council members winning a different position, such as a council member becoming mayor, which is what happened in the case of Matt Lehman becoming mayor Another reason is so that local voters can weigh in on a city-specific issue Q: WHERE DO I VOTE DURING A SPECIAL ELECTION? A: There are three ways you can vote ■ Absentee In Person at City Hall, 485 Gorman Street, Shakopee ■ Absentee Mail-in Ballot (we will receive these at City Hall) ■ Vote on Election Day—All Precincts will be able to vote at their regular polling locations To find your polling location visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/PollingLocations Be mindful of spring load restrictions It’s that time of year again—please watch for spring load restric tions on City of Shakopee streets These restrictions keep our roads in good condition and often affect garbage and recycling pickup locations Check our website for updates at www.ShakopeeMN.gov or our garbage hauler’s website at www.dickssanitation.com In keeping with past practice, the local weight restrictions go into effect at the same time as spring load restrictions on state high ways, which are set by the Minnesota Department of Transporta tion Once announced, refuse collection will be moved from alley ways to the street until restrictions are removed Check the state restrictions at www.dot.state.mn.us/loadlimits The restriction end date is unknown at this time because restrictions are based on how weather affects roadway strength An update will be posted on the city website when restrictions are lifted Thank you for playing a part in keeping our roads in good condition! #AsktheCity

If you would like to volunteer with watering, weed ing or harvesting the edible landscape, please contact Carla Kress at ckress@ShakopeeMN.gov or by calling 952-233-9516

SPECIAL APRIL 11, 2023 ELECTION

8 Hometown Messenger

PARKS & RECREATION

Keeping the kids busy Parks and Rec offers wide variety of summer fun

When you’re searching for ways to fill your kids’ seemingly endless free time this summer, look no further than Shakopee Parks and Rec reation programming The Parks and Recreation Department offers a wide range of pro grams and activities for kids ranging from preschool to teenage years, including a big hit from 2022, Camp Little O’s “Last year was the first year we offered it, and it was my favorite program,” said Recreation Coordinator Courtney Satterthwaite, who helped design and instruct the weekly preschooler program “I’m super excited to do it again this year The parents seemed to love it too” This is a drop-off program for children ages three to five, so parents can enjoy some recharge time while their child engages in a fun morning of games, sports and arts and crafts “Each week centers around a theme,” Satterthwaite explained Last year, some themes included farm animals, dinosaurs, superheroes and winter “During winter theme week, the kids made snow out of shaving cream,” she said “We had a dinosaur week where the kids broke up those dinosaur eggs that are made out of clay and have a little dino saur on the inside It was really fun to see the kids doing arts and crafts and making friends” The themes may differ this summer, but the program will follow a similar format with a variety of activities to boost kids’ creativity Parks and Recreation has offerings for older children, as well Satter thwaite said the Adventure for Girls program for girls ages six to 12 was popular last year “Most of it was craft-centered,” she said “They painted rocks to look like cactuses and they decorated ceramic pots We do dance parties, and it’s just a big ol’ fun, crafty afternoon” The wildlife explorer program for ages six to 12 has also gotten posi tive reviews from kids

“They learn about the weather, animal sounds, insects and other fun outdoor stuff,” Satterthwaite said While the Parks and Recreation Department is best known for its swim lessons and sports programming, Satterthwaite wants parents to know that not everything offered by the department is sports-centered New this year is Kite Camp, where kids will complete a workshop and make their own kites A representative from the Minnesota Kite Society will be visiting to teach the workshop “If your kid isn’t very into sports, we are all about other creative activi ties,” she said “We really do have a variety of well-rounded activities It’s going to be a fun summer!”

Recreation Coordinator Courtney Satterthwaite helps during the Camp Little O’s programming in 2022

Drop in to the redesigned Shakopee Skate Park

The upgrades to the Shakopee Skate Park are off the rails The skate park has been a summertime staple in Shakopee for two decades, but it under went improvements in the fall due to safety concerns with the aging wooden ramps and other amenities The upgraded ramps are made of concrete, which is safer and requires less maintenance The following features were added in the redesign: fly out box jump, adjustments to the stair rail feature, and a drinking fountain The skate park is outside of the Shakopee Community Center and is free to use Skate boards, roller skates or blades, and bikes are welcome

The skate park underwent improvements in the fall

Spring 2023 9

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT ‘What’s going there?’ City Council paves way for new construction, playground improvements We all want an answer to the burning question, “What’s going there?” when we see or hear about construction projects around the city Here’s a rundown of some of the latest projects to receive City Council approval:

THE BLAKELY APARTMENT BUILDING FROM ROERS COMPANIES In December, City Council approved the construction of a 205 unit market rate apartment building at 1600 Windermere Way called The Blakely Roers Companies anticipates construction on the four-level building with a sublevel parking garage to start this spring, with an opening of November/December 2024 The brick, concrete block, metal and paneled building is expected to provide a host of amenities, including two outdoor pickleball courts, an outdoor swimming pool, firepit patio area, outdoor movie area, dog run/park, and a clubhouse and fitness center

HUBER PARK PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENT At a December City Council meeting, city staff presented three playground concepts from St Croix Recreation to replace the aging wood playground at Huber Park The city underwent extensive public outreach activities to gather preferences for what possible users were looking for in a new playground City Council approved the concept from Burke and approved a con tract with St Croix for $700,000 for demolition and installation of the new playground, along with a contract with Pass Fence for a new steel fence Demolition and installation should begin in May 2023 and take approximately three months

NEW PLAYGROUND COMING TO QUARRY LAKE PARK

The City Council approved a contract in February with St Croix Recreation for a new Berliner playground to be located adja cent to the new restroom facilities at Quarry Lake Park The playground was part of the master plan for Quarry Lake Park, and the public had requested a more challenging playground for children to use The playground includes a large climbing structure unlike any others in the city Construction should be completed early this summer

CANTERBURY PARK HORSE BARN REDEVELOPMENT

OPUS GROUP RIVER VALLEY BUSINESS PARK Last year, City Council approved a rezoning and preliminary and final plat submitted by the Opus Group for 56 acres of property located at 2175 Colburn Drive to create two lots The two lots will be the original residential homestead, and the remaining 50 acres are being developed as a business park with two sin gle-story office and industrial buildings of 150,000 and 300,000 square feet Opus currently has no tenants but will be market ing the site once the walls go up this summer

Last fall, City Council approved Canterbury Park’s PUD application to redevelop the horse barn area at 1100 Canterbury Road in anticipation of the construction of infrastructure for the Amphi theater Additional barns will be demolished later as the devel opment south of the Amphitheater occurs Canterbury intends to remodel its existing barns and dorms as well as constructing new dorms, barns, and supporting facility buildings and recon figuring the practice track

10 Hometown Messenger

PUBLIC WORKS Spring your way into a cleaner spring at Clean Up Day Clean Up Day is April 29 The city’s 2023 Spring Clean Up Day is set for Saturday, April 29 from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Public Works, 400 Gorman St.

Residents of Shakopee, Jackson Township, and Louisville Township are invited to participate in the Clean Up Day, which is made possible in part by grants from Scott County An ID is required to show residency Residents can recycle old appliances, electronics, yard waste, tires, car batteries, scrap metal and more at the drop-off recycling event Residents will be charged a flat fee based on the type of vehicle haul

ing the items Additional costs are applicable, as stated on the city’s website This event is first-come, first served To guarantee that vehi cles already in line are processed, the line to enter may be closed off prior to 11:30 a m To review the list of accepted and non-accepted materials for recycling on Clean Up Day, visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/ cleanupday

Note: This year we are not accepting furniture donations. Any furniture will be recycled. Check the website to see what will be accepted.

Annual tree sale pre-orders open

Pre-orders for the city’s annual Arbor Day Tree Sale are open as of Monday, March 27 to all Shakopee residents Sales will close Friday, April 21

Trees can be picked up between 1-3 pm Saturday, April 29 at the Public Works Building, 400 Gorman St To learn more about the tree sale guidelines or to order a tree, visit www.ShakopeeMN.gov/treesale

New traffic signals coming to town Two new traffic signals will be installed in Shakopee this year City staff is coordinating with Scott County on the construction of a signal at Fuller Street and County Road 16 This project will also include the installation of right turn lanes on the Fuller Street approaches This will be funded jointly by the city and Scott County

Downtown parklets coming soon The downtown Shakopee parklets are coming back for a second season this spring Last year during the warmer months, five of these parklets were installed by the Public Works Department in downtown near Arnie’s, Shakopee Brewhall, Babe’s Place, Turtle’s Bar and Grill, and Bravis Modern Street Food The parklets were paid for with funds from the Federal American Res cue Act to aid small businesses and industries that were impacted heavily by the pandemic The city received positive feedback from residents and visitors who were happy with the option of sitting outside to enjoy a meal or a drink City staff will work with downtown businesses for placement of the parklets in 2023 Questions can be directed to the Planning Department at planning@ShakopeeMN.gov

The city anticipates construction of a signal and dual westbound turn lane at County State Aid Highway 101 and Shenandoah Drive, along with the addition of trail connections across County Highway 101 This project will also widen a section of Shenandoah Drive just north of Unbridled Boulevard to add a second northbound lane Funding for this project will come from the Amazon and Canterbury Tax Increment Financing funds

Spring 2023 11

PUBLIC SAFETY The most popular picnic in town Join us for the annual Picnic with Police

Residents are also invited to bring toiletries to donate to Saber Nation Station, a resource room in Shakopee High School where everything is free for students in need This event is in partnership with Hosanna Church—Shakopee, MN, HEART (a ministry of Hosanna Church), and Esperanza—CAP (part of CAP agency)

You’re invited! Join the Shakopee Police Department on Wednesday, June 14 for the Fourth Annual Picnic with Police at Lions Park from 5 to 8 pm Shakopee police officers will be there serving food, playing yard games, and raffling off prizes And let’s be honest – there’s a high likeli hood of an impromptu dance party, which is always a hit with the kids

Shakopee police officers join in on a session of group zumba at the 2022 picnic

These officers enjoyed a game of basketball with local teens at last year’s picnic

Community continues to rally behind diaper drive

The Shakopee Police Department wants to thank the community for its generosity in the annual diaper drive held each February This year’s diaper drive brought in 15,235 diapers and 13,287 wipes that were donated to Shakopee Community Assistance to sup port local families in need The annual diaper drive is held in honor of the department’s crime prevention special ist, Janna Wood, who died six years ago at age 28 while 13 weeks pregnant Wood was not only the department’s first civilian crime prevention specialist, but she also came up with the idea for the depart ment to host an annual winter coat drive, which has been very successful The department thanks the community for continuing to make a positive difference for so many babies and toddlers in the region “Janna would be so proud,” Police Chief Jeff Tate said

Officer Chad Wimmer, Officer Jeff Wyckoff, Officer Michael McLain, Crime Prevention Specialist Nicole Clifton, BCA Agent Nicki Marquardt and BCA Agent Jim Blatzheim are all smiles after seeing the results of the 2023 diaper drive

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PUBLIC SAFETY

CHIEF’S NOTES

Hopefully by the time you’re reading this, the temperatures are getting warmer, and the snow is melting You’re probably starting

Acting Shakopee Fire Chief Ryan Yttreness

A burning question about leaves and yard waste

to think about spring cleaning around your home Take this time to perform some very easy fire safety tasks that could protect you and your family: ■ March 12 at 2 a m When you change your clocks, it’s a good time to replace your smoke alarm batteries ■ While you are replacing the batteries, push the alarm button and test your smoke alarms The best plan is to test your smoke alarms monthly ■ While you’re at it, check the date your smoke alarms expire Any alarm over 10 years old needs to be replaced with a new one The date should always be printed on the underside of the alarm If you don’t see a printed date, the alarm is too old and needs to be replaced ■ To help prevent nuisance alarms, gently vacuum your smoke alarms around the outside and any openings to remove dust or cobwebs ■ Check to make sure you have proper smoke alarm coverage You should have a smoke alarm in every bedroom and in the hallway outside of the bedrooms Also, you should have at least one smoke alarm on every level of your home ■ You should also have a carbon monoxide alarm on each level of your home We recommend the plug-in models with battery back-up Change the batteries yearly and test them monthly just like smoke alarms, but you should replace them after seven years Have a question about the fire safety in your home? Contact us by calling 952-233-9570 or check out additional tips and information on our website at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/fire and “like” our Shakopee Fire Department Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ ShakopeeFD

To keep residents safe, the City of Shakopee (city code, 13006 open burning) does not allow burning of vegetation or yard waste To safely dispose of these materials, con tact the city’s local trash hauler, Dick’s Sanitation Inc, to subscribe to seasonal yard waste service DSI also offers as needed yard waste pickup from mid April through mid-November at the cost of $368 per bag Visit www.dickssanita tion.com or call DSI at 052-469-2239 to subscribe to these services

For many, spring is a time for cleaning up our yards of accumulated leaves, sticks and other vegetative debris Disposing of this dried-up yard waste is becom ing more difficult, with some waste facilities no longer accepting such material Yet, allow ing this material to accumulate close to your home is even worse as it can become a bed for embers and act as an ignition source to a home Faced with few choices, some choose to burn these materials in order to get rid of yard waste But before you grab the matches, it is important to be aware of local codes and ordi nances regarding outdoor burning

Smoking safety tips Whether you smoke cigars, cigarettes or e-cigarettes, it’s important to be mindful of safety tips to avoid a needless fire Despite the rate of people smoking decreasing over the years, careless smoking is still the leading cause of fatal fires in Minnesota Most fires ignited

by cigarettes started in living rooms, dens or bedrooms Mind these tips to stay safe while smoking or vaping:

■ Only smoke outdoors ■ Discard cigarettes in a deep, study ashtray filled with water or sand ■ Do not discard cigarettes in vegetation like mulch, potted plants or leaves ■ Do not smoke while using medical oxygen or near medical oxygen

■ Do not smoke while under the influence of drugs or alcohol ■ Charge e-cigarette batteries in a visible place while you are awake, as fires can ignite from charging

BBQ Grill Safety tips ■ Use outdoor barbecue grills with caution; use only outdoors in a safe area away from the building and other combustibles and not under overhangs or inside garages ■ Make sure to clean excess grease and grime from inside your grill monthly to help avoid an unwanted fire inside your grill ■ Check your propane barbecue grill hose for leaks and cracks; never store propane tanks indoors ■ Just like when cooking on the stove, never leave your grill unattended while cooking

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