Vital Aging Commission

A newly formed Vital Aging Commission has been established in response to recommendations made at the November 2005 Senior Summit. The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners is accepting applications now until May 5, 2006.

Appointed members of the commission will:
• Advise the County Commissioners on issues affecting elders and their families.
• Advocate for the interests and needs of our aging population
• Serve a 2 year term beginning in June 2006
• Attend monthly meetings

You can contact me for an application or submit one on-line at www.olmstedcouonty.com
For additional information contact Charity Floen 287-2392, e-mail floen.charity@co.olmsted.mn.us or Mary Gorfine 285-8115 gorfine.mary@co.olmsted.mn.us

Thanks.

A Neighborhood Traffic Management Program Coming Soon

One of the most frequent complaints I receive has to do with traffic -- ignoring stop signs, stop lights, and most irritating and frustrating -- speeding and reckless driving in residential neighborhoods. It's especially troubling where there are wide streets, gentle curves, and downhill grading --- like so many streets in the newer sections of the 5th Ward.

I'm very pleased to be able to announce that we are considering the adoption of a Neighborhood Traffic Program Handbook for the City. This handbook would describe the process and guidelines we will follow in responding to your concerns about traffic in your neighborhoods . It will address how the city will prioritize requests for assistance that involve construction of physical improvement such as speed tables, traffic circles, raised medians, and other potential solutions.

Refer to http://www.rochestermn.gov/departments/publicworks/trafficmanagement/ or go to the Rochester City Home page for more detail about the program overview and to review a draft of the proposed handbook.

Two public meetings are scheduled for next week;
City Council Committee of the Whole -- Monday April 24, 4 pm Room 104, City Hall
Public Information Meeting -- Tuesday April 25, 7 pm Room 104, City Hall

If you have any questions or comments or wish to discuss this with me don't hesitate to contact me at 285-0295 or email bobnow@charter.net

I'M BACK AGAIN!

Well, I've just returned from a hectic three weeks with family (mostly grandkids) in Florida. First time Joan and I took so much time off at one time since kids were tiny. Not sure well do this again either!

A lot seems to have been going on in the city and some in the ward. I tried to keep up to date via emails, a cell phone call or two, and reading the on-line Post Bulletin.

Didn't update this blog site for a couple of reasons but mainly not being here to get info first hand and not being here to respond to those of you who might want to discuss something personally didn't seem to be the right thing to do.

The Think Credit Union zoning and general development plan approval seems to be the biggest 5th Ward decision made in my absence and went as I expected.

I'm waiting to hear more about the attempted mediation with the DME railroad that occured this morning in Sioux Falls. Will probably be several articles in the PB and play on the TV news but if I get any good inside scoop I'll let you know.

IF any of you are still tuned in let me know if you have any questions or concerns about anything that happened in the last three weeks and I'll get back to you.

Now to attack the foot of city council mail I just picked up and even bigger pile from the post office.

BOb