Spring Clean Up Day

The annual Arnolds Park City-Wide Clean Up is scheduled for June 6, 2005. This is offered to all residents in Arnolds Park as a way to dispose of items that are not collected on regular garbage pick up. Please place small items in boxes or bags. White goods (washers, dryers, refrigerators) and brown goods (T.V., VCR, other electronics) will be disposed of for $10 a piece and will have to have a sticker. You will need to purchase this sticker at City Hall prior to June 6, 2005. No lawn waste or recycling will be collected.

If you need to dispose of building structures or other large objects that two men cannot easily handle, please call City Hall at 332-2341 to make special arrangements, and we will try to accommodate you.

The City will not pick up any hazardous waste materials, such as oil, paint, insecticides, weed control products, etc.

Please place all debris curbside and have it ready for pick up by 8:00 a.m. on June 6, 2005.

City Council Meetings

The Arnolds Park City Council meets in regular session the second Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. The public is encouraged to attend and bring any questions or concerns that they may have.

The Mayor of Arnolds Park is Mike Mitchell. Members of the City Council include: Jason Christensen, James Jensen, Mike Koppert, Sue Munsen, and Mitch Watters.

Dickinson County Green Waste Site

The Dickinson County Green Waste Site Recycling facility is now open. Materials accepted include yard waste (trees, grass clippings, etc.) and white goods (stoves, refrigerators, and ovens).

Cost is $10 each to bring a white good to the center. Green waste disposal cost is 20¢ per bag with a $1 minimum, $10 for a trailer or $15 for a truckload. Mulch is also available now at the recycling center.

The facility is located on 13th Street in Milford, 1/2 mile east of the Highway 71 and 13th Street intersection.

Hours of operation are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

City Website

Log on and check out the City of Arnolds Park's new website at: arnoldsparkcity.com.

Meet the City Officials; and members of the City Hall, Library, and Police and Fire Departments.

The minutes of the latest City Council meetings are available to look at, along with a listing of the City services, Ordinances, and calendar.

Utility Billing

The City will be increasing fees for garbage & sewer within the City. Effective July 1, 2005 charges for sewer will be increased by $1 per month per unit, and 25¢ per 1,000 gallons of water used; and garbage fees will go up $2 per month for residential units from $5 to $7, and $1 per cubic yard for commercial accounts from $5 to $6. A great way to control rising costs of garbage disposal is to recycle!!!

In order to receive the discount on your water, sewer, and garbage bill, payment must be received in our office by 5 p.m. on the day that they are due.

The City now has the ability to directly deduct the utility bills from checking accounts at any bank. You would still receive a bill at your home stating paid by bank.

Utility bills are billed quarterly; or for your convenience, you may change to annually. Just contact City Hall if you would like either of these changes.

Police Department

Law Enforcement from Northwest Iowa and Southwest Minnesota will be converging on Arnolds Park in May for the First Annual Lakes Area Law Enforcement Golf Tournament. All proceeds from this event go towards the purchase of bullet proof vests for the Reserve Officers.

The police department would like to take this time to remind all pet owners that they must have their pets, especially dogs, contained on their property at all times. When walking animals, they must be on a leash. All animals must be in a secure location away from electric, gas, and water meters. This will assure your meters are read properly.

Now that summer is just around the corner, please take the time to clean up around your property. If you have any garbage or other debris, make sure that it is properly disposed of. The city wide clean up day is Monday, June 6, 2005.

You can reach the Arnolds Park Police at 332-2227 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday thru Friday. After hours, please call the Communication Center at 336-2525; and for an emergency, call 911.

As always, if our department can be of service to you, please contact our office and we will do our best to assist you with your Law Enforcement needs.

At the Library

The summer library program for kids will be on every Monday morning in June from 10:30 a.m. until Noon. We well be making puppets and putting on a puppet show. All children from preschool to 4th grade can register. Just call the library at 332-2033. It's very important to keep kids interested in reading during the summer.

The library has wireless internet access. There are three computers available for the public. It's also possible to use you own laptop with the library's internet access.

The library hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; and 10 a.m. to Noon on Saturday.

Garbage Collection

Beginning Monday, May 30, residential garbage will be picked up twice a week, with those days being Monday and Friday.

All garbage must be in City Bags and set at the curb. City Garbage Bags may be purchased at City Hall or Allan's Hardware in Arnolds Park, Buy Rite Foods in Milford, and HyVee in Spirit Lake.

There are proper disposal methods for yard waste and it should never be placed or blown on street right of ways, public roads, or neighboring lots.

Yard waste will be collected on Tuesdays. The yard waste must be in city bags, tied shut, and at the curbside by 7:00 a.m. on collection days. If you choose instead to burn, remember that any yard waste you burn on your property, must originate on your property.

Yard waste cannot be burned on City property.

Summer Fun

Be sure to stop and enjoy the City Parks that Arnolds Park has to offer. Sawmill Park is located on Rohr Street.

Overnight camping is available at the city campground two blocks east of the Amusement Park on Broadway Street; and also at the city campground on Minnewashta on Bascom Street. The rates are $20 per night with electricity and $15 per night with no electricity.

If walking, biking, or skating is your thing, come out and enjoy the Spine Trail that runs from Spirit Lake to Milford. Take in the sights and sounds that nature has to offer.

Building Numbering

The City of Arnolds Park has an ordinance that requires the owner to install and maintain the building number on the principal building of each lot.

The building number must be easily seen from the street. The figures must also be not less than 2 1/2² in height and of a contrasting color with the background.

If you fail to comply with this ordinance, the City may proceed to place the assigned number on the principal building and assess the costs against property for collection in the same manner as a property tax.

Having a visible building number makes it much easier for the police department, the fire department, medical personnel, and city crews to find your home during an emergency.

If you are unsure what you building number is, please check with City Hall.

Team W.A.V.E.

Team W.A.V.E. has a busy spring and summer planned. Our big spring planting will be held on May 21. We will be planting the three corners next to Oak Hill Marina on Highway 71 and the Dam Road. We will be starting at 9 a.m. and if you are able to join us please bring shovels, rakes, and gloves. This project does not involve any big trees, mostly bushes and perennials. If you come, please park on the Dam Road on either side of Highway 71.

We are working on a tree planting project in partnership with Alliant Energy¹s ³Branching Out² Community Project. We have received a grant from them and will be planting trees along South Emerald Drive; we also have a partnership with that neighborhood. If you have a project in mind for your neighborhood, please call Pat Graves at 332-2327 or City Hall at 332-2341.

We also have several other projects we are working on including finishing the ball park.

We will NOT be sponsoring a fundraising dance this summer. We will be mailing a letter to all Arnolds Park residents in June. We are always in need of funds to match the grants that have been awarded. If you are able to support us with a contribution or your help at a project, we will be able to continue with our beautification efforts. We are planning a party on October 1 at the Pavilion in the Amusement Park to celebrate. ³We Are Looking Good² will be the theme. We will have an informal dance and are planning other fun events. Mark your calendar and come celebrate!!!

As always we are looking for help: youth groups, service groups, and any other eager volunteers will make our job easier.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer, please call City Hall at 332-2341 or Pat Graves at 332-2327.

Curbside Recycling

Recycling is collected curbside on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month. Please clean recyclables before placing them in the recycling containers.

Make sure all recycling is in the recycling containers and not stacked beside them. A community recycling facility is located next to the water tower.

Styrofoam is not a recyclable item in the City of Arnolds Park; please do not place Styrofoam in the residential bins or the community bins located on Dewey Street.