Talking Trash: City Releases Video 'How-To' on New Garbage Ordinance

The new ordinance was approved after a resident disputed a citation and won in district court.

Follow Richfield Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter After the Richfield City Council redefined its garbage ordinance in September, city staff is making double sure residents understand the dos and don'ts of storing their receptacles. In addition to an arguably detailed diagram, the city has created a quasi how-to video. (Both are attached above to this article.) The new ordinance states that storage must be behind or alongside the principal structure on the property. The two-minute video shows two sample properties and outlines the requirements of the ordinance. The council first discussed garbage storage in August 2011, however, declined to pass an ordinance that would require screening cans. …

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Caitlin Burgess

11:20 am on Friday, December 7, 2012

And well, not all people store their garbage cans in an orderly fashion.   more ›

City Passes New Garbage Storage Ordinance

After a resident disputed a citation, the city moved forward with amending its requirements for garbage, yard waste, refuse and recyclables containers Tuesday night.

Residents now have some arguably clearer direction on how to store their trash containers after the Richfield City Council passed an ordinance redefining procedures Tuesday night. The council first discussed garbage storage in August 2011, however, declined to pass an ordinance that would require screening cans. However, after a resident recently disputed a citation for not having containers placed "behind or alongside the house"—and won the argument in district court—the city was forced to define ordinance language. The new ordinance states that storage must be behind or alongside the principal structure on the property. A diagram of the acceptable areas was presented along with the ordinance language, and is attached to this article in …

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Bill Johnson

8:18 am on Thursday, December 27, 2012

Richfield needs to implement a single garbage collector system. Richfield has the most screwed up garbage collection system of any town I have lived in. Why should we subsidize these businesses and not others? The current system is wasteful and disruptive with garbage trucks running all day on collection day. Council needs to take action to implement single hauler. Who needs choice for a …   more ›

City Manager: ‘I Have Every Confidence Best Buy Will Turn it Around’

Patch sits down with Richfield City Manager Steve Devich.

For months analysts have speculated that Best Buy was headed for bankruptcy. And after the company announced it would close 50 stores, lay-off employees and reduce the square footage of many remaining stores—those predictions have caused even more speculation. However, Richfield City Manager Steve Devich told Patch he has confidence in the company and didn’t foresee its financial struggles impacting the city’s continued collection of property taxes or upsetting the tax increment financing [TIF] revenue stream. “The city is well protected,” Devich said. “Best Buy has always paid its property taxes on time, and if the building were to change hands, …  someone would still own it, [even if it went back to the bank]. When banks own things, the …

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Caitlin Burgess

10:51 pm on Monday, April 9, 2012

Yes. I saw this article. Forbes has been talking a lot about some of the things Best Buy is behind on. I guess Best Buy is hoping its new model will help answer a lot of analysts' concerns. The redesign makes total sense to me, but many people are speculating that it might be too late. Only time will tell. In my opinion, I think it would be a shame to see the business plunge any deeper. It may be…   more ›

Municipal Liquor System: A Legal Monopoly

Richfield Patch explores the impacts of the liquor stores owned and operated by the City of Richfield.

The City of Richfield has been in the liquor business since early 1943, when voters approved the measure in a special January election. As the city has grown, business at the city's municipal liquor stores has, as well, providing a steady source of revenue. In 2011, the city's four stores combined are estimated to gross $11.5 million in sales. (To see a map of the strategically placed locations, click here.) “The municipal liquor stores have paid for most, if not all, of our recreation amenities,” said Richfield City Manager Steve Devich, rattling off the water slide and pool complex, the addition on the ice arena, park maintenance and a piece of the new city hall. At the same time, the city holds a legal monopoly on all off-sale liquor …

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Caitlin Burgess

10:17 pm on Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Very interesting. Thanks Jeff.   more ›

Poll: Should Richfield Be in the Liquor Business?

Richfield Patch wants to know what readers think about the city's municipal liquor model.

Richfield has had a municipal liquor system since early 1943, when the population was somewhere around 3,000 or 4,000 people, by Richfield City Manager Steve Devich's estimates. Minnesota State Statute states that a city with the municipal liquor model is the only business allowed to sell intoxicating, off-sale liquors. Thus, preventing other privately owned businesses from setting up shop. However, while the system doesn't allow for other liquor stores to come in, Richfield uses its liquor sales for the parks and recreation services in the city. In addition, the city sees it as a win to be able to control off-sale intoxicating liquor sales within the city. So, does a municipal liquor store model limit competition? Is it a good idea for …

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UPDATE: Richfield Property Taxes to Rise in 2012

The rate increase is part of a long-term strategy for the city to get off LGA.

In approving the 2012 city budget at last week’s council meeting, the Richfield City Council approved a 3.98 percent increase in the city’s property tax rate. The increase was necessary to make up for an overall 2.5 percent spending increase in the approximately $19.5 million 2012 budget, which city staff members have been crafting since April of this year. “It [the city budget] happens to be about the same service model from the previous year," said Richfield City Manager Steve Devich. "When we take a look at that we have a situation where we’re losing LGA and [the Market Value Homestead Credit] and we tried to keep the tax levy as low as we possibly could.” Part of city officials’ long-term plans is to stop relying on local government …

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Too Early to Tell Affects of Minnesota Government Shutdown on Most Businesses; Construction Industry Will Definitely Suffer

While it is too early to tell how most local businesses will be affected by the shutdown, with many state construction projects on hold, many workers have been laid off.

Among Minnesota’s nearly 164,000 businesses—from retailers and real estate agents to corporations and cosmetologists—the impact of a state government shutdown will be difficult to measure “due to the diverse landscape of businesses,” said Tom Hesse, an executive at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. Hesse predicted most businesses would feel only a minimal impact from a short-term shutdown. Richfield Chamber of Commerce President Steve Lindgren echoed Hesse’s assessment stating, “We are very concerned about the inability of the [Minnesota government] to reach an agreement prior to July 1 … [But], it is too early to tell the impact on our membership [and local businesses]." Further, Brian Steinhoff, president of the Minnesota Retailers …

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Richfield Reports No City Staff Lay-Offs as Result of Minnesota Government Shutdown

While the city previously thought it would have to lay-off workers, now that the shutdown is in effect, all workers are still intact.

While the City of Richfield anticipated having to lay-off up to 10 city staff members in the event of a shutdown, now that the shutdown is official, the city has not furloughed any workers, according to Pam Dymtrenko, assistant city manager. City Manager Steve Devich recently released a Richfield City Council memorandum that detailed local impacts of a state shutdown, stating that workers would be laid off. Fortunately, this has not needed to happen. Dmytrenko said the city plans to continue with its current staffing regiment. For workers areas such as motor vehicle licensing, which is currently open despite the shutdown, they may be sent home early if business is slow on any particular day.

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Caitlin Burgess

12:42 pm on Monday, July 4, 2011

Well, with the shutdown starting with the holiday weekend I don't know if the city experienced much of a difference on Friday. However, once Tuesday rolls around, this could be a different story!   more ›

Richfield News Sprouts

Five Things: First Day of Summer, Longest Day of the Year Marked by the Solstice

Five things you need to know today.

1) June 21 marks the beginning of the summer season as it is the day of the summer (or northern) solstice. The sun has reached its northermost point making the summer solstice the longest day of the year. Yes, unfortunately that means that while summer has arrived, the days will grow shorter. 2)Richfield High School (RHS) graduate Nicole Pomerleau is looking for former RHS musicians to participate in the Richfield Hometown Fourth of July Parade. If you're interested, e-mail Nicole at nmpomerl@cord.edu. 3) The Assistance League Thrift Shop is holding a clothing sale from June 21-23 that features 50% off all clothing. All proceeds benefit philanthropic programs. 4) Music Together, which is a program for parents and their children (birth to …

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