Welcome to the City of Maple Grove blog!

Garage sales will soon begin throughout the city. We would just like to make some suggestions to those hosting garage sales to better protect yourself and your home.

1. Lock all the doors to your home and do not allow anyone into your house to use your bathroom or to try on any clothing.

2. Keep all money or loose change on you at all times – not in a lockbox where it could be left unattended.

3. Keep your cell phone on you at all times in case you need to contact police.

4. Keep your most valuable items near you so you can keep a close eye on them.

5. Acknowledge all persons who come to your sale, but do not answer any questions about alarm systems, security, or daytime/nighttime occupancy.

Are you starting to wonder if spring will ever come? So am I, but I’m confident that it will arrive in time for the annual boulevard planting on Saturday, May 18.

For more than 10 years, volunteers have planted the flowers in the medians of Elm Creek Boulevard and Weaver Lake Road. Public works employees prepare the soil, the flowers are delivered right to the gardens and in less than two hours on a Saturday morning, the medians are transformed from drab winter to beautiful spring.

150 people have already volunteered to help with the planting project this year but we need about 50 more volunteers. Groups and individuals are welcome as are supervised children age 10 and up. Volunteers need bring only a small garden trowel for planting. Planting begins at 7am on Saturday, May 18 and lasts less than two hours. Safety vests are provided for all volunteers as are treats for the volunteers once the planting is done.

Please consider volunteering for the boulevard planting – two hours of fun work for a summer’s worth of enjoyment every time you drive by “your” garden. Best of all, we’ll take care of the watering and weeding!

If you’d like to volunteer or for more information, please call 763-494-5956 or email dcoss@maplegrovemn.gov by May 10.

The Maple Grove Police and Fire Explorers would like to invite you to The Lookout Bar and Grill on Sunday, April 21 from 4-7pm for our spaghetti dinner fundraiser. Dinner (all you can eat), includes salad, bread, two pastas, and ice cream. Tickets are $10, in advance or at the door.

The proceeds help defer the cost of equipment and help send the Explorers to the State and National Explorer Competitions.

If you know of youth interested in either the police or fire exploring program or would like to buy tickets in advance please contact Officer Gross at ngross@maplegrovemn.gov.

Our Law Enforcement Training Facility will be open for public shooting beginning Saturday, April 13!

Walk-ins only, no reservations. Children ages 12-17 must be accompanied by parent or guardian only, I.D. required.

Handguns and 22 rifles only – must be cased or holstered. No tracer, armor piercing, or steel core ammo allowed. Ear and eye protection are required while shooting – some items, including targets are available for a fee. Closed-toe shoes must be worn.

Single-Lane Range fees:
$18/person; 45 minutes
$29/two people; 60 minutes

Open shoots:
Wednesday evenings: 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Saturdays: 8:00am – 2:00pm

The LETF is located at 11370 – 89th Avenue N., Maple Grove, if you have any questions, contact the Range Coordinator at 763-494-6151.

Your police department needs your help! We ask that you immediately call 911 to report crime and suspicious activity.

We often find that residents are hesitant to report crimes or suspicious activity because they:

• Believe that their observation is not important enough to call 911
• Feel that they are bothering the police department
• Are simply uncomfortable using 911.

We would like to remind you that you should not hesitate to call 911 anytime you observe crime or suspicious activity and to remember that your police & fire departments are here to assist you.

You should dial 911 anytime you need a Police Officer, Firefighter, or Paramedic to respond to your location! 911 is not just for emergencies, it should also be used to report activity such as animal complaints, loud disturbances, and SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY! Suspicious activity includes strange vehicle(s) in the area or strange person(s) in the neighborhood, such as someone you don’t recognize as belonging in the neighborhood or area that appears to have no apparent reason or purpose for being there.

What may seem to be a non-emergency may become an emergency very quickly, so please call right away!

Report as many details as possible to the dispatcher, vehicle description (color, make, model, license plate number, etc.), direction of travel, as well as suspect information (male/female, physical description, clothing, etc.) and any other information you can remember!

MOST IMPORTANT… STAY ON THE PHONE WITH A DISPATCHER UNTIL THEY TELL YOU IT IS OK TO HANG UP.

Please dial 911 if there is an emergency, but also remember to dial 911 if there’s something suspicious as well! We need your to help to reduce crime in our community.

Together we will make a difference!

Do you have Spring Fever?  The weather this spring is definitely colder than last spring.  Last spring I was sitting on my deck enjoying the warm weather and afternoon sunshine at this time.  The Maple Grove Community Center is the place for families or individuals to get out of the house until spring arrives!  The Community Center does offer the Grove Cove Aquatic Center, Maple Maze, gymnasium, ice arena, teen center and more … But did you know the Community Center hosts many other events throughout the year!   Check out these great things to do by yourself or with family and friends:

April 6, 2013 – Women of Today Craft Show is from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm with free admission.
April 12, 2013 – Quilters Show is from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm with $4.00 admission.
April 13, 2013 – Quilters Show is from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm with $4.00 admission.
April 20, 2013 – Longevity Expo is from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm with free admission.
April 20, 2013 – Maple Grove Ice Show is at 1:00 p.m. or 6:00 pm with tickets available at the door.

The Community Center is also offering a Family Deal through Living Social.  Purchase an All Building Coupon book for only $39.00 ($80.00 value)!  This deal is good through April 2, 2013 or until sold out so don’t miss out!

Spring will be here before you know it so maybe you will join us at the Community Center outdoor pool soon for some warm weather and sunshine!  For more information on the Community Center and events check out our website at www.maplegrovecommunitycenter.org.

In late March the Assessing Department mailed the 2013 Valuation Notices to Maple Grove property owners.  The 2013 assessed valuation represents the estimated market value as of January 2^nd, 2013; for property taxes payable in 2014.  The valuation is an estimate of what the property would likely sell for on the open market.  The 2013 assessed valuation is based on sales that took place within the city between October 1^st, 2011 and September 30^th, 2012.

The city will be holding our Local Board of Appeal and Equalization on Tuesday, April 9^th at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers.  In order to appeal the 2013 assessed valuation or classification you will need to appear at this meeting in person, by letter or through a representative authorized by you.  Please contact the assessor’s office if you wish to appeal the valuation or classification to the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. The Local Board of Appeal and Equalization is not the forum to address property tax matters; the members of the board will only address 2013 assessed values and property classifications.

In order to further your appeal by attending the County Board of Appeal and Equalization you must first appeal at the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization on April 9^th.  If a property owner does not appear at the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization, the only remaining option to appeal the 2013 valuation or classification is by filing an appeal with the Minnesota Tax Court.

If you have questions or concerns about your 2013 assessed valuation or classification you may contact the Assessing Department at (763) 494-6250.  For additional information about the Local Board of Appeal Equalization, you may visit the Assessing Department on the Maple Grove website.  The valuation notice that was recently mailed to property owners describes the appeals process in greater detail.

Tim Mitchell, City Assessor

 Did you ever wonder why your sump pump discharges up to 3 times a minute? It’s a concern for many Maple Grove residents that do not understand the number of potential causes for this to happen. Some contractors will describe this situation as a natural spring where the water is upwelling near the surface and coming into contact with their foundation. However, it is highly unlikely that natural springs would develop in the glacial moraine type soils that are typically found in Maple Grove. So where does the water come from?

 The most obvious source is from the City supplied water that may be over utilized with poor irrigation practices. Many new homes have sod installed to get the yard up and functional as soon as possible. Typically lawns do not need as much water as they’ve been getting in the first few weeks after installation. Overwatering impedes root growth into the soil which inhibits the ability of the grass to sustain itself during dry periods. The fine silty-clay type soils that are found in most of Maple Grove hold a lot of moisture and watering more than twice a week is usually unnecessary.

 Another common cause of frequent sump discharge is poor drainage within 25 feet of the foundation. For adequate drainage the ground should drop six inches within 10 feet of the foundation. Failure to rapidly move water away from the foundation will allow surface water (i.e. rainwater, sprinkling) to saturate the uppermost 48 inches of soil near the foundation. Because of the fine particle size (silty-clay), this water may be trapped in the soil for prolonged periods (e.g. months) allowing the moisture to be constantly coming in contact with the foundation and then cycling through the sump system.

Solutions to the frequent sump discharge problem start with noting the frequency and length of irrigation. If you are sprinkling more than 30 minutes, twice a week, you may want to cut back.

 Also, check your valve boxes for sprinkling system leaks. If there is standing water in the valve box, you likely have a leaky valve. Another method is having an irrigational professional pressure test your irrigation system for leaks in the valves and pipes. Pipes and valves will commonly develop leaks if they are improperly installed or winterized each fall. The City can check if the water is fluorinated to determine whether the water source is from the City supplied utilities. However, only a positive test for fluorine can be considered conclusive because a negative result commonly occurs when suspended sediment and minute debris in the water sample interfere with detection of fluorine.

 Inspecting and improving the grade around the house may be critical to improving the drainage. Installing additional rock and drain tile around the foundation (other than the drain tile installed at the bottom of the foundation) may improve drainage but this is an expensive fix that may not be necessary. Landscaping is a common impediment to surface water flow and the likely cause of wet soil near the home. This fix may be relatively inexpensive by removing or altering surface water barriers and traps (i.e. landscaping trim and impervious fabric), relocating sprinklers heads outside of the trim and extending the gutter and sump discharges beyond the trim.

 Many residents spend thousands of dollars on landscaping contractors that may not be able to properly diagnose or fix the drainage problem. City staff is here to help residents identify the source of drainage problems and assist with solutions. Once this has been completed, the resident should be well informed on how to most efficiently fix their drainage problem and make decisions on whether a landscape or drainage contractor is necessary. Further information can be obtained by contacting the City engineering department at 763-494-6350.

Spring is in the air, and soon many City departments will be hiring extra seasonal employees to staff our outdoor pool and beach, teach T-Ball and soccer lessons, perform maintenance on City streets such as blacktopping, taking care of the flower beds along roadways, mowing our many parks, and staffing Town Green performances. Many of these positions are currently open and can be found under the Job Opportunities tab on our website. Some positions such as the Parks and Public Works Maintenance jobs are open until March 31 at 4:30pm, and others are open until filled. Some jobs require a person to be 18 years of age or older, and may require a background and driver’s license check. Our online application makes it easy to apply for these positions from anywhere you may be, so visit our job openings and help make the City of Maple Grove a wonderful place to visit by keeping our athletic programs, parks and streets looking great this summer!