5 PCSR 03-09-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ITEM NO 5 Steering Committee Opinion Line Wednesday February 1, 1995 Rita Hurd believes there should be lots of flowers around town and believes, they are pleasing when kept neat. She thinks that there should be a `points of interest"board in a protected place listing historical events that happened in that area or in Elk River. Support our City's good friendly ways and let people take pride to be proud of Elk River. She thinks a partial solution to the area's youth who are spray painting buildings would be to instill pride in them about the area in which they live. Janet Spengler recently relocated here from Shakopee. She lived in Shakopee for four years and thinks Shakopee is very similar to Elk River in population and being an old river town that has grown dramatically. She believes that Shakopee has done an outstanding job with their expansion and development. An idea might be to send a delegation down there since it is practically a "sister city". She has known an animal control officer in Elk River and is surprised that there is no provision taking care of stray animals in this area. Anoka or St. Cloud is the closest place. In the future, she thinks the City should look at the possibilities of establishing a dog pound or animal pound to deal with all the stray animals that are at-large. She likes Elk River, but thinks that we could learn a thing or two from what Shakopee has done there. Thursday February 2, 1995 David Brake, 18927 Albany Street, has been a resident of Elk River for 40 years. Mr. Brake thinks the Elk River area is losing its individual character. He does not want the area to turn into another Brooklyn Center with business and housing cramped right next to another city. He would like to see Lions park maintain a family atmosphere. He commented how adding athletic fields "is beyond the concern of the Lions and the character of the park and Elk River." He would like to keep a full respectful relationship with nature, a critical part of Elk River. Don't unrespectfully cut and clear woods for developments. He would like to see trails by Country Club and County Road 1 kept, which are very beautiful and natural, away from thoroughfare. Historical character is maintained by structures, do not disregard them like the creamery, courthouse, and train depot. He believes there could have been better methods in preserving these structures. If the City found itself among completely glass-brick structures it would be known as another "downtown burbia." He thinks keeping our city clean is very important. Sometimes the business owners in the area find the exteriors of buildings defaced by youngsters. The city could use a method that involves students or juvenile law breakers to help maintain parks or river front property. He also thinks that the city could make better use of the river front. Mr., Brake is pleased with the efforts to provide a communication corridor. "Excellent Idea." •