Savage mayor reports on rising quality of life

Initiatives by the city of Savage in 2008 safeguarded and enhanced the quality of life our residents have come to enjoy and expect. Thanks to great relationships with our neighboring cities, Scott County, local organizations and private parties, we were able to make many accomplishments on several fronts.

Most notable was the construction of the McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center at Savage Community Park. This investment in our youth, our environment and our community was made possible through a generous contribution of private funding mixed with public, non-taxpayer dollars. The building will benefit people of all ages -- a place where children and adults alike can learn about the environment and see reusable building practices in place. Now available for reservations, the McColl Pond ELC also answers the need for space in which groups can gather and celebrate or meet to conduct business.

Recognizing the value of our resources and the demands on our existing water system, we have joined with Burnsville, the state of Minnesota and Kraemer Mining and Materials to create the Surface Water Treatment Plant. The facility in Burnsville will take groundwater from a quarry a mile away and make it potable for the communities of Savage and Burnsville. The plant provides water, remedies a problem for the quarry and protects the Savage Fen Wetland Complex all at the same time.

To further meet Savage's water needs, a new well and pump house became operational last summer. The well taps into aquifers that do not impact the fen and will help boost water reserves on days when demand is highest.

Public safety received considerable attention in 2008, with the hiring of new firefighters and police officers and the initiation of a study to determine the best location for a new fire station. Also in the interest of protecting the public, building inspectors are visiting the more than 150 foreclosed properties in the city on a regular basis. The initiative aims to guard against vandalism, theft and other crimes, as well as ensure that pipes are not bursting or leaking.

A second Habitat for Humanity house was constructed last year, after Savage's first was built in 2007. We are proud to have partnered with Habitat for Humanity to provide homes for families who previously were without, and are especially proud to be the first and only Habitat for Humanity community in Scott County. The homes are symbols of how our community works together to fulfill a need and welcome new residents into our neighborhoods.

The city also gave businesses and the downtown commercial district a helping hand last year when it worked with the Savage Chamber of Commerce to offer improvement grants. Two businesses -- El Loro and Comfort Inn -- benefited from the grants by enhancing their buildings' exterior appearances and screening trash areas. Two other downtown businesses are expected to benefit from the program this year.

Further accomplishments in 2008 focused on improving services through technology. The Savage police and fire departments have new emergency radios that help them talk to one another and other first responders throughout the region. Perhaps more visible to residents is the ability to now register for recreation programs online, rather than "in line." Registrations are still taken at the Park and Recreation Office, but the lines are not quite as long as they had been before the online option debuted last spring. The city's new website also was launched last year, providing an electronic connection that is more pleasing to the eye and easier to navigate while reducing the time needed by staff to make updates.

Many routine programs and services in 2008 positively impacted the vibrancy of our community as well. These include Dan Patch Days, Community Recycling Day, Arbor Day festivities, Neighborhood Watch and National Night Out. And now when people come to our wonderful community to visit, they will know exactly where they are thanks to two new signs that proudly display our city logo. These signs are on the southeast corner of Hwy. 13 and 42, and on the eastern border with Burnsville.

As we near the completion of 2009's first quarter, we are poised for another fulfilling year. We will celebrate the grand opening of the McColl Pond ELC on April 25 and the activation of the aforementioned Surface Water Treatment Plant this summer, continue to work on the plans for a new fire station, await the approval of our comprehensive plan by the Metropolitan Council, revamp the entrance to the City Hall campus and, hopefully, facilitate a few commercial/industrial developments.