News from the week of May 16, 2001 Headlight Herald - Serving Tracy, Minnesota, since 1880
Special Olympics torch gets lit Saturday in Tracy
Spectators, volunteers invited to attend
Over 100 youth from across the region are expected in Tracy, Saturday, May 19, for Special Olympics competition.
The Tracy Lions are sponsoring the event, which will be held at the high school track complex.
Events get underway at 8:20 a.m. with an assembly of athletes A torch run by the Tracy Special Olympics team begins at 8:45 a.m., followed by the opening ceremony at 9 a.m.
Field events, walking events, and wheelchair events start at 10 a.m. Running events take place at 1 p.m., and closing ceremonies start at 3 p.m.
Volunteers are still needed to help with the Special Olympics.
“We are definitely in need of volunteers,” said co-chair LeRoy Johnson. He said anyone—individuals and groups –are welcome.
Volunteers are asked to register at the north door of Tracy Area High School on Saturday morning between 8-8:30 a.m. Volunteers need to register for insurance purposes.
Five Tracy students are among the Special Olympics participants. They are Emily Coulter, Lisa LaVoie, Hope Reese, Liz Towne, and Cody Minett.
Lower interest rates will ease pinch of pool bonds
20-year, $1.5 million bond sale locks in 5.25% interest rate
Historically low-interest rates are happening at a good time for City of Tracy taxpayers.
Tracy City Council members Monday night approved the sale of $1.5 million worth of swimming pool bonds at an interest rate of 5.25%. The interest rate is substantially less than the 6.13% projected at the beginning of the year.
The money being borrowed will finance the construction of a new Tracy Family Aquatic Center at Sebastian Park. Construction is expected to begin late this summer, with completion targeted next May.
The lower interest rate means the city's annual principal and interest payments will be less than expected earlier. When voters passed a $1.5 million swimming pool bond referendum in February, it was projected that about $140,000 would be needed annually to pay off $1.5 million over a 20-year period. But at an interest rate of 5.25%, the annual principal and interest payments on $1.5 million will vary between $123,798 and $129,465.
Rusty Feinfeld, a bond consultant for Ehlers and Associates of Roseville, told council members that the city has benefited from a trend of declining interest rates.
Good turnout urged for 2nd Sabongi planning workshop
Tracy citizens are invited to attend a community planning workshop Monday, May 21, at the Tracy Area High School cafeteria.
The gathering, led by Eagan consultant Fred Sabongi, begins at 7 p.m. and continues until 9 p.m. Registration is begins at 6:30 p.m.
The event follows up an April meeting that was attended by 60 people. The City of Tracy and the Tracy Economic Development Authority are sponsoring the event.
“We're heard a lot of good comments about this,” comments City Administrator Audrey Koopman. “I hope we have twice as many people attending this next workshop.”
Bob Gervais, Tracy Community Development Director, agrees on the importance.
“This isn't about tomorrow. This is about what we want Tracy to be like ten or 15 years from now.” Gervais said he'd especially like to see young people attend.
Joel Adelman is the new operator of the Tracy Water Treatment Plant.
Adelman is an employee of PeopleService. The Omaha, Nebraska-based company has a contract with the City of Tracy to operate and maintain the city's water treatment, water distribution, and sanitary sewage treatment systems.
The contract took effect May 1. The city turned to PeopleService following the death of long-time plant operator Ron Thompson this winter.
Adelman has been employed by PeopleService for six years, most recently at Pipestone. He is a graduate of the water and sewer management program at St. Cloud Technical College.
In Tracy, Adelman is responsible for the on-going tests and reports required by state agencies, as well as the day-to-day maintenance of the city's water treatment plant, wells and pumps, water distribution system and the sewage lagoons.
Tracy organizations urged to join Crime Alert Network
The Tracy Police Department along with the Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce have joined the statewide crime alert network.
The Minnesota Crime Alert Network will enable the police department to quickly alert the community about a crime trend or criminal activity that may affect them.
The system, which is coordinated by the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, uses broadcast fax technology and electronic mail to transmit crime alerts directly to people most likely to be affected by a particular crime or most likely to be able to provide information to solve a crime. Anyone with an ordinary fax machine or electronic mail can receive the information.
“Our goal is to more quickly identify suspects and apprehend them, as well as provide crime prevention advice to the community,” said Bryan Hillger Chief of Police. “The Crime Alert Network is more cost effective than mailing crime alerts and it allows us to simultaneously send hundreds of faxes/electronic mail to destinations across the region or even across the state. The Network currently has more than 7,000 members statewide. Alerts are resulting in crimes prevented, criminals apprehended, stolen property recovered, and improved security measures within participating organizations. I believe this will be a valuable communications tool for our community.”
Kim Jeffries to keynote Tracy Womens' Expo
WCCO radio personality Kim Jeffries is the keynote speaker for an "Advancing Women Expo" scheduled Saturday, June 9, at Tracy Area High School.
Registration includes a light breakfast, gifts and lunch.
Jeffries topic is "Not Just One of the Guys: Surviving and Thriving in a World of Men."
Other activities include: