North news briefs: Anoka water rates will rise by 60 cents a month

Anoka will raise water rates slightly next year in an effort to cover the cost of several routine city improvements. The City Council approved a rate increase of about 12 cents per 100 cubic feet, or about 60 cents a month.

The city's last water rate rise was in 2011.

The increase will generate an additional $110,000.

Anoka County Board members voted recently to increase their salary by 2 percent. The board also voted to increase the county attorney's and sheriff's salaries.

The vote was 4-1, with Commissioner Matt Look opposed. Two other members were absent from the meeting.

Board members' salaries will increase from $61,444 to $62,367. Sheriff James Stuart's salary will increase from $137,355 to $140,102, and County Attorney Tony Palumbo's from $143,820 to $155,000.

During the Nov. 25 meeting Look said that keeping employees happy is important, but that the 2015 pay increase was also "concerning" to him.

The Coon Rapids City Council recently ordered reports and plans for three street projects that are slated for 2015.

Two of the projects involve residential streets — one plan covers 2.8 miles and the other 2.6 miles. The third project will focus on collector streets — about 1.5 miles will be reconstructed and another 1.7 miles will have a mill and overlay.

The projects will be paid for by the affected property owners, as well as three city accounts — the general, utility and stormwater utility funds.

For full reconstruction, the assessments will be $1,803 for single-family lots, $22.53 per front foot for higher-density residential properties, and $45.04 per front foot for commercial properties.

The 2015 assessment rates for the mill and overlay work will be $901.50 for single-family residential lots, $11.27 per front foot for higher-density residential properties and $22.52 per front foot for commercial lots.

A figure-skating exhibition, open skating and a visit by Santa will be offered on Sunday, Dec. 14, at the Coon Rapids Ice Center. The exhibition will be presented by the Coon Rapids Skating Academy at 4:30 p.m. on the outdoor rink. Santa will arrive at 5:30 p.m. and be on hand for photo opportunities until 7:30 p.m. Open skating will be available on both the indoor and outdoor rinks.

The cost is $5 for adults; $4 for students and seniors, and free for kids 5 and under accompanied by a paid adult. Skates are available for rental.

The Ice Center, located at 11000 Crooked Lake Blvd. NW, is also a Toys for Tots drop-off site. The public is invited to bring toys for donation to the event; for each toy donated, a person will receive a coupon for a buy-one-get-one-free public skating pass.

For further information, call the ice center at 763-951-7222 or go to www.coonrapidsicecenter.com.

Starting in January, Blaine residents will pay an additional 25 cents in their monthly storm drainage bills. However, water utility and sanitary sewer bills will not increase. The city will also hire a staff member to maintain the city's stormwater infrastructure, including storm sewer pipes, manholes, culverts and ponds.

The council approved the 2015 storm drainage fund budget at its Oct. 16 meeting. The water and sanitary sewer fund budgets will be approved before the end of the year, but the budget the council discussed at its Nov. 13 workshop meeting includes no increase for these funds.

Coon Rapids is seeking volunteers for its first fix-it clinic to be held in January.

Residents will bring in broken lamps, toasters and other household items for repair by a team of skilled volunteers. The clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 31 at City Hall, 11155 Robinson Dr. in Coon Rapids.

The city is seeking volunteers with skills in soldering, electronics and electrical repair, small appliances, motors and circuitry, lamp rewiring, mechanical and gluing, sewing and general tinkering.

Contact Colleen Sinclair at csinslair@coonrapidsmn.gov or 763-767-6485 with questions or to volunteer.

The gun club, located at 22 4th St. NW., opened Dec. 2. In July 2013, the city approved the project, turning an empty parking lot into a $3.3 million 18,000-square-foot building housing a 20-lane indoor gun range, gun-safety classrooms, retail and banquet facilities. The gun club initially divided the community, with some opposing it because of its location two blocks from the school while dozens of Twin Cities gun owners argued that it would meet the needs of a growing group of gun owners and attract visitors to the northwestern suburb.

For more information on the gun club, go to osseogunclub.com.

Youth First Community of Promise is hosting a Towel Drive through Dec. 15. The organization is asking for washcloths, bath or hand towels to be donated. The drop-off location is the Ramsey Police Department located on 7550 Sunwood Dr.