This weekend saw the ice going out on Lake Langdon which is defined by being able to navigate a pontoon boat around the edge of the lake within 50 feet of the shoreline and being able to cross the lake both east to west and north to south. This year's winter kill includes a higher than average amount of carp which I predict will not impact their population or cause them to be placed on the threatened species list. The creek, (Langdon Bay Creek or Sollies Creek, take your pick.) is flowing into Lost Lake at a rate of about 10 gallons per second.
The ducks have returned and seem to be doing what ducks do every Spring, and there's a huge flock of white aquatic birds on the lake that are probably pelicans. And I am pleased to announce that about 5 loons have stopped by today and I am officially proclaiming there presence on the lake again. Their calls have also been heard.
And on this busy day, about 50 carp were seen moving upstream from Lost Lake into Landon Bay. Each year the creek is running, the carp will about this time, get confused and think they are Salmon, and fight their way upstream to spawn. While salmon die after they spawn, apparently carp do not.
This entry has been updated. |
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Langdon Bay Creek is about half open with the ice melted off of some of it. It appears to be flowing at a minimal rate, but I can't be sure about that. Langdon Bay's level may be low enough so that it hasn't breached the berm that sometimes forms at its headwaters.
Also I have recently been informed that another name for the creek is: "Sollie's Creek". (I am uncertain about the correct placement of the apostrophe.) Named after the two Uncles of the Andrews Sisters. These uncles owned the Sollie Store located South of the Creek for many years. |
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I'd like to thank the driver who passed me on the left while I was slowing to make a left turn off of Bartlett at Avon yesterday. Thank you for not running into the driver's side of my truck at around 2:00 pm Saturday when the roads were wet and it was snowing. I am sorry that my slowing down from about 25 mph to 15 mph in a residential area to make my left turn onto Avon could've delayed as long as 15 seconds, that surely wasn't my intent. Yes I was surprised to see you passing me in what I used to consider my neighborhood, until I realized I couldn't argue with physics and that Bartlett Boulevard between Shirley Hills and Shoreline belongs to those using it to get some place in a hurry. As I started my turn, there you were, like Richard Petty making that race winning pass. All I could do is stop in amazement and wonder, was that perhaps Jeff Gordon right here in Mound? A stock car racer once told me that their cars don't have rear-view mirrors, and it has something to do with never looking back. After I got over my shock at almost being in accident, I drove up to my house and tested my turn signal, thinking perhaps it was covered in that heavy wet snow that was falling or that it wasn't working? But that wasn't the case, it blinked OK. But all is well that ends well, and I am happy that you could continue on your way and know that you had saved yourself 15 seconds of travel time.
As I write this thank you to this unknown driver, I am reminded me of another near accident I was almost in. I was making a right turn off of Shoreline onto Chateau and was passed on the right. That taught me to block the break down lane of a road when making a right turn. Signaling a right turn may not count for anything. Physically blocking the break down lane where someone may try to pass, seems the safer thing to do. Some might say I am supposed to use the break down lane along that stretch of Shoreline, East of the old Hardee's, when making a right turn. I might say that it's too narrow to be a right turn lane given the width of my truck. Its narrowness might make things more dangerous if I use it as a turning lane. The reason I think it's not marked as a turning lane is not to save on paint, but because the road isn't wide enough to have a turning lane.
Unfortunately, I can't think of anything to make making a left turn in Mound any safer? Maybe I just won't make left turns anymore. I suppose it's normal to have differing opinions between people who live somewhere and people and who just want to get through somewhere as fast a possible. I am happy I haven't inconvenienced anyone by having an accident with them, as that might make them late for wherever it is they are going. |
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Barbara Blaha writes: "The next Westonka Horticulture Day will be held on April 5, 2008 at the Mound Westonka High School. This is one event you don't want to miss. Keynote speaker Jeff Gillman will dispel all those gardening myths and give you the answers you need to solve your garden problems. Over 16 workshops with topics such as lakeshore restoration, planting with annuals, beekeeping, septic mound plantings, native plants, and many more topics. We gather the best speakers available to bring a quality educational program." - Westonka Horticulture Day
Their website is at: http://www.westonkahort.org/ |
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| Local resident Tyler Hill recently passed away while on a trip to Japan. tylerhill.org |
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Interns are wanted for the DNR's Watercraft Inspection program. Duties include:
Educate the public on invasive species program and issues
Distribute written information to watercraft users
Inspect watercraft for invasive species
Conduct a verbal survey & inspection inventory
Document and record research activities
These are paid positions, seemingly with the requirement that interns must receive college credit to be eligible for the job. The application is due by March 14th. See more |
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From the StarTribune: "Residents sue Orono schools, claim referendum not conducted correctly"
"Seven Orono School District residents filed a lawsuit Tuesday alleging that the district's recent $39 million bond referendum should have been conducted by mail instead of at a polling place in the school district's main office.
The suit claims that the west-metro district's Feb. 12 vote violated a state law that requires any referendum not held on the Tuesday after the first Monday in November be carried out by mail, unless a district is in statutory operating debt." More
Orono's voters approved a referendum by a vote of 1,845 to 1,713. |
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| From the Bemidji Pioneer: "The agency has returned the 52-inch fish to a Mound angler who caught it through the ice of Lake Minnetonka on Jan. 13.
Tom James kept the muskie after checking the DNR's regulation booklet and finding the season was listed as closing Feb. 24. The agency actually had closed the season on Dec. 15, but James and many other anglers weren't aware of the change." More |
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From the StarTribune: "Presbyterian Homes and Services has purchased a two-building apartment complex in Spring
Park and plans to rent the 75 units to its employees and the public.
The $5.4 million purchase at Shoreline and Island drives in Spring
Park was completed last month, said Mark Meyer, chief financial officer
of Roseville-based Presbyterian Homes, which provides senior housing in
the Twin Cities metro area." More
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"Of the ten district residents who sought to be considered for an open
seat on the Westonka School Board, seven have been selected to make a
face-to-face pitch to the panel next month." For more of the story about Westonka Schools: Laker
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| From Mound Crime Prevention: "The Mound Police Department is currently
auctioning a retired police squad car on ebay if you are interested in placing a
bid or following the auction. Go to www.ebay.com and type in item
#260187820594" |
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 Emerald Lake. Picture by: GML4
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We are getting close to being able to tell the time from the new clocks downtown. Bigger image
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From Mound Crime Prevention: Winter Parking
Restrictions
Beginning November 15 through April 15
between the hours of 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM - - - - Parking is prohibited on all
city streets in accordance to Mound City Ordinance
#700.45. |
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A reader asks: "There are huge piles of dirt in the parking area of the Andrews Sisters Trail.
Where is this from and what's the plan?" Any ideas?
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"We're going to hold them to the $300,000 they need and put the rest
into a reserve fund," said Tom Notch, who won one of the four seats up
for election on the seven-member board." StarTribune
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This is from the StarTribune's website:
Levy Referendum - $ 877,000 per year for 10 years:
Yes - 2154
No - 2052
So we have what might be called a "split result" when we take into account Hejna and Notch being elected.
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Here's what I copied from the StarTribune's site for School Board election results:
Ann Bremer 2126
Gary Hejna 1935
David Botts 1902
Tom Notch 1861
So we have 2 from each side getting elected. It will be interesting to see what effect this has on the Westonka School Board? |
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It's been an interesting and far from dull, local campaign season. Good luck to the candidates for the Westonka School Board. They are: David Botts, Roger Bredeson, Ann Bremer, Gary Henja, John Johns, Tom Notch, and Ray Salazar |
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In the recent Lakeshore Weekly News, the letters from readers run 3-0 favoring Tom Notch and his running mates: Lakeshore Weekly |
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It's been an interesting School Board campaign so far with the recent charges of bias made by candidate Tom Notch. From the Laker: "Tom Notch of Minnetrista, an avowed opponent of the district’s levy request to raise $877,000 a year over a 10-year span, brandished a copy of the campaign manual distributed to all school board candidates and leveled his allegations during the visitor’s comment portion of the agenda at the Westonka School Board’s Oct. 22 meeting." Election It's difficult for the district to have to remain neutral in this situation, but I guess that's required. |
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In this weeks Laker, a number of people reply to Tom Notch's letter to the editor. When I received the Westonka School district's recent mailing, I wondered about their data? I wondered if it was objective? I am reminded of the role of an accountant: to provide financial data that is useful to management. An accountant usually doesn't push a view that the numbers are good or bad, but rather that they are accurate and follow generally accepted accounting conventions. Numbers |
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From the Laker: "Representatives for two of the best-known housing developments in Minnetrista were in front of the city council Oct. 1 to request preliminary plat or plan approval. Developers of the proposed Halstead Pointe project, a housing development set to be constructed at the site of the current manufactured home park, and those of the Park Place plan, the proposed 852-unit development to the northeast of Highway 7 and Kings Point Road both went in front of the Minnetrista City Council with their requests Oct. 1." Development |
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From the Laker: "The city of Mound will hold a ribbon cutting event for the new Mound Transit District, Oct. 28. In connection with the ceremony, city officials will take part in the Western Communities Action Network (WeCAN) annual benefit event to aid the homeless. This year's event has been dubbed, "Give a Hoot for the Homeless - WeCAN's Treck to the Deck," a walk-a-thon to benefit the homeless. City officials say participants in the event will be able to get a first-hand look at the new facility, designed with some of the same kind architectural details that were found in the Lake Minnetonka hotels operating in the region during the late 1800's. "It will be a centerpiece and a meeting ground for the new pedestrian-oriented downtown Mound," a statement issued by the city noted recently." Treck to the DeckIt's my guess that the Mound Transit District is the new parking ramp and bus stop. It will be close to the Port of Mound, a name that I, and perhaps others have proposed for Lost Lake. |
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 Gale's Woods has a little know North entrance from County Road 15 just across from Long Lake. It's a little over 2 miles West of Commerce and Lynwood. There is no official parking here, but I'd guess you can park along 15. You can walk or bike in here, and that would make a nice outing to see the fall colors. There is close to 2 miles of gravel roads that function as trails to walk or bike. These trails are a hidden gem of Westonka. Bigger image |
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 This is along Manchester Road. The city has something on their website called: PW Project that talks about the issue of upgrading its facilities. Bigger image |
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With some of the School Board in Westonka up for re-election, as well as what some are calling the Levy for Learning, the Laker editorial page is once again coming alive, and it should continue to be this way up until the election. This recent week, Kevin Borg, Jeff Bauer, Bill LaTour, and Sarah Reinhardt weigh in. The Laker |
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The city of Mound has recently mailed its residents a Public Works and Parks Maintenance Facilities Open House Newsletter announcing that you can see these two buildings for yourself as Mound contemplates spending money for better ones. The dates are September 27th, 4-7 at the Lynwood facility, and September 29th, 10-1 at the Island Park facility. The Met Council is projecting about 1 percent growth per year for the next 23 years. While I am wondering where all these people will be living, since Mound doesn't have a lot of developable land, I can accept their numbers, while not understanding how they came up with them. This 1 percent growth per year means something to me. Any problem isn't getting a whole lot worse. It's similar to the number of students at the district increasing by 1 percent a year, or perhaps your bills going up 1 percent a year.  Here's a Chronology from the mailing, showing us a little history: Bigger image |
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From the StarTribune: "Our community will be asked to cast an essential vote on Nov. 6. Please take this opportunity to show your support of all children in the district, those in school now as well as those whose first day will come years from now. Please vote in favor of the Levy For Learning." Levy |
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From the Laker: "With the Sept. 15 deadline nearing for the city to approve its 2008
preliminary budget and levy, the Mound City Council made a decision at
the Sept. 11 meeting...
...With a 3-2 vote, the council approved the preliminary levy with an 8.6 percent increase over the final 2007 levy." Levy
This 8.6 percent increase is the maximum amount of the levy increase, we're hoping for a lessor amount. I know there's a good reason for this high number, but it isn't inflation or a population increase.
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In the Laker, Tom Rockvam tells a good story about growing up: "With no supervision or coaching staffs to guide us; we did our own planning, made our own decisions and used our own imagination to make up rules that fit the number of kids that we had to play the game, the amount of time we had to play, the size of the lot we were playing on and so forth." Rockvam
This reminds me of growing in Halstead Acres by County Roads 44 and 110. Baseball, football, and hockey games were organized by us, and everyone got to play as I recall. I guess kids grow up differently these days, for the most part. Anyway, Rockvam did a nice job here.
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 Here's what may be a loon from yesterday on Langdon Bay. Without my hearing its call or getting closer, it might very well be that this was a cormorant. Bigger image |
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From the Lakeshore Weekly News: "For some time, the city of Excelsior has been exploring the option of building a fourth dock in the Port of Excelsior. The city council asked the Parks and Recreation Commission to explore the means and feasibility of adding the dock, which would be a half-residential, half-transient dock." Port
In the article, people are arguing over whether the city itself makes or loses money on their commercial docks? It sounds a bit like Mound's municipal liquor store. Does anyone know what the primary role of an accountant is? To provide numbers that are useful to management.
I do like the sound of, "The Port of Mound". Still there's the question of would it actually work? Lost Lake in Mound is not easy to change. It's my opinion that it's buffering Lake Minnetonka from Lake Langdon's poor water quality and other run off that would harm the big lake. On the other hand, we might only be talking about less than 10 percent of the current marsh that is Lost Lake. There are a lot of things to consider about the possibilities of there being a Port of Mound. |
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 Here you can see where the clocks will be placed on one of the two towers of the new parking ramp in Mound. The opposite corner of the ramp should follow this design. Bigger image |
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 Our Lady of the Lake's Incredibile Festival today. This runs through Sunday. For more information call (952) 472- 1284. Bigger image |
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According to the Laker, Caribou Coffee may occupy part of a 3,131 square foot commercial building. This differs from a prior proposal of a 12,500 square foot building. Caribou currently has a shop at the Mound Marketplace. With this recent proposal, a potential tenant is identified. There are a few local residents that prefer that Mound's council deals only with identified parties. |
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 Gale's Woods Farm is located on County Road 110 west, across from the WRA Park, in Minnetrista. It's part of Three Rivers Parks, and admission is free. There are sheep, cattle, turkeys, and more to see. It has a walking trail that goes near Whaletail Lake. See more Bigger image |
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The 9th annual Taste of the Lakes will be held at the Bayview Event Center in Excelsior on September 14th. See more from the Lake Minnetonka Chamber of Commerce at: Taste |
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 The walking bridge across Saunders Lake. This is another hidden gem of Westonka. There is a small parking lot along North Saunders Lake Drive, next to the walking path. This bridge which looks a lot like a dock, was controversial but eventually went through. The lake is part of the Lake Langdon sub watershed and outlets to Langdon through and un-named creek. I don't know of any public access to the lake. Development of this area started in the 1970s. Bigger image
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There are new comments on the blog, and one of them has some nice pictures of the Avon street repair. Here are links to the pictures: Pictures 1 Pictures 2 Recent comments are found on the right sidebar, and if you click on the "MORE >>" of a post, any comments related to that blog also appear there. |
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 Here's Langdon Bay looking across it from the west. There's what looks like an old berm here that I'd guess separates the creek from Saunders Lake and Langdon Bay. It's just east of the old sewer plant holding pond. It's purpose may have been to bring that water past the holding pond. As I may have written before, the old holding pond looks like it was built right into a swamp, perhaps as a way to make things easier. Bigger image Weather update: Last nights thunderstorm was spectacular and parts of Mound lost power for almost 5 hours. The rain however was not sufficient to cause Langdon Bay Creek to resume its flow. |
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 Another hidden gem on Lake Minnetonka is Wakota Beach in Tonka Bay. It's along West Point Road. In the background are Mahpiyata and Big islands. Bigger image |
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 From the Laker: "Unfortunately, this developer has taught the citizens of Minnetrista an important lesson about anti-growth activists, the misuse of regulation, private property rights and leadership." The above was written by Kory Banning of Minnetrista. He was writing about a developer's efforts to change the trailer park on County Road 110 west into typical residential housing. Bigger image
I am reminded of what I'll call entry barriers. In Minnetrista, and to be fair other cities as well, city councils can make it difficult to get houses built. Regulations and established procedures do raise the cost of housing and as we can see locally, the housing that does eventually get built seems expensive. It is true that it's not just the city level of government that causes the problem. I've been told there can be over 5 separate divisions of government to make happy before one can start construction, and all this costs money that goes into the price of the final product.
This leads me to predict that Westonka's primary source of new housing, which is Minnetrista, will be in substance for the middle class and above. Will Minnetrista be the rich suburb of the central city Mound? Not likely since Mound with all its lake shore properties has its own upper middle class.
Minnetrista is (using a simple analysis), a small affluent market. With less government restrictions, it would be a bigger somewhat less affluent market. I think it's an example of government changing and influencing markets.
I wish the Council of Minnetrista well in dealing with their growth issues, and I suppose I'd like to see a few less imposed barriers effecting the market.
In the recent Laker, BJ Johnson of Minnetrista responds to Banning: Johnson | |
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Langdon Bay yesterday was completely or nearly completely green. It seems more green than in past years and that coincides with its low level that has risen a bit lately. What is also interesting is the lower weed growth this year. During a survey of the lake, numerous carp were seen doing whatever it is they do. A small crappie was caught near the southeast corner on corn, and last week a 3 1/2 pound carp was caught in the boat launch area on corn. The bay has been cut off from Lost Lake for the last couple of months as the creek has been dry. Many of the boats on Langdon Bay are non-motorized and there are a few with electric motors. On a typical Summer day, there is only one boat moving on the bay. The boat launch is a bit more usable with the water level coming back. If you're going to use it, wade out first to check for potholes, muck and its gradient. |
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Recently signs have gone up along Bartlett and Wilshire next to Shirley Hills elementary designating those areas as School Zones. The speed limit drops to 20 m.p.h. when children are present. I thank those responsible for making this happen. I live in this area, but more importantly, my children live in the area. Bartlett Boulevard east of Wilshire is residential, is not a county road, and has been for at least 30 years - a shortcut to avoid downtown Mound for those living in west Mound and beyond. The new School Zones will help on a section of Bartlett to reduce speeds. My children are still being told not bike along Bartlett. I have conceded that section of Bartlett near my house belongs to the automobiles, because they have taken it from the residents. I guess the drivers are in a hurry and/or indifferent to the people of all ages who live there. |
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City Manager Kandis Hanson responds this week in a letter to the editor that reads in part: "The system is a looped system which avoids dead end lines where mineral particles accumulate." She was addressing the concerns of some Langdon Heights residents have about their water quality. I don't know if it's true that some Mound residents are still hooked up to dead end water mains, but if they are, that could be a problem. In Hanson's reply, I don't know how to interpret her use of the word, "avoids"? I think I'll be looking for clarification of that. If Mound has no dead end lines, that's not the issue, but the people of Langdon Heights wrote in the August 4th Laker that, "Some of us live on a water line dead-end..." There are two cul de sacs on the northside of the neighborhood, and those might have dead-end water mains. I am still hoping for some contributions and information on this subject at the Westonka Wiki - the wiki you can edit right now. (Once there, look under "Mound".) |
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In a sudden change of events, Shorewood's Council recently voted to sell its two liquor stores. The effort was spearheaded by Martin Wellens who is generally opposed to governments running a business. For Sale.An interesting part of the story that appeared in the Lakeshore Weekly News is its statement that: " the city cannot simultaneously operate a municipal liquor store while a private store is operating in the city." This appears to apply to all cities. While I am not sure about this, it seems that if someone opened a liquor store in Mound, that would close down its municipal liquor store. I'd appreciate further information about this. |
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 Here they are working on the roof that will be placed on top of the what I think is one of the clock towers. There are two towers, and two roofs. Bigger image
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 Here we have what I think are two loons on Langdon Bay. The picture is from today. I can't say for certain these were loons, but the lead one had the typical shape. No calls were heard. Earlier this year, I had a confirmed and guaranteed sighting of a solo loon. The picture was taken using maximum zoom. Bigger image |
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The Lynwood Facility in Mound.