A plan to expand recreational opportunities in Savage continues to move forward, with a neighborhood meeting on the indoor sports facility scheduled for February 2.

The meeting will give neighbors of the facility an opportunity to see the latest site plan for the project, which will be located on land recently attained through a park dedication agreement to expand Savage Community Park.  Although it was initially thought that the existing tennis and basketball courts would have to be relocated to accommodate the sports dome, current plans indicate there is enough room on the site for them to be preserved.  The site plan also shows that the dome will be as far away from the closest residential property line as possible - which is approximately 360 feet.

Corks from bottles of wine purchased at Dan Patch and Marketplace liquor stores are finding new life as shoe soles.

Natural corks are being collected at each of the two municipally owned stores. The program started a few months ago at the suggestion of a customer. Store wine expert Patti Johnson researched the concept and found ReCORK – a company that collects and stores the corks in California, then sends them to SOLE – a manufacturer of shoe soles.

Savage’s 22 city parks offer a range of features that can appeal to people of all age levels and recreational interests. The natural blend of trails, ponds, ball fields, courts and ice skating rinks is one of the big reasons the city of Savage was ranked #51 in Money magazine’s top 100 places to live in a 2011 nationwide poll.

The mixture of open spaces and recreation facilities within the City’s park system did not happen by accident, according to Parks and Recreation Supervisor Jon Allen. “In the early park planning process and throughout Council minutes you can see that there was a real effort made by City leaders to maintain and acquire natural areas while providing recreational outlets,” he explained, “The overriding philosophy was to find a balance between natural and recreational areas.”

Residents who use about the same amount of water each month may have noticed a slight increase in the utility bill included with this newsletter.

On Jan. 1, City water and sewer rates increased by 3 percent.

The increase responds to a 2010 study that evaluated the existing rate structure and its ability to fund future expenses. The study predicted that, if current rates were left intact, the City would not have enough money in the future to repair and replace water towers, wells, watermains and other systems necessary to provide the community with water.

In less time than it takes to write out a check, find a stamp and head to the mailbox, City of Savage utility customers can take steps that will allow them to pay their monthly water and sewer bill in their sleep – literally.

The City of Savage offers customers the ability to pay their utility bills automatically, eliminating the need to write a check or make a phone call each month. Signing up for Automatic Bill Payment is as easy as completing a form found on the City’s website (see link below). Once enrolled, customers can rest assured that their water and sewer bill will be paid on time – even if they completely forget about the bill. Payment is made through the customer’s designated bank account, which can be changed as needed through a phone call to the City’s Utility Billing Processing Center.

For added convenience, customers also can opt to receive their utility bills electronically instead of by mail. Visit the City’s website for the E-Bill Enrollment Form (see link below) to make the switch to an emailed statement.

For additional information regarding options for receiving and paying your City utility bill, please visit billing-info on the City of Savage website or call the City’s Utility Billing Processing Center at 651-256-3304.

The Savage Social Club provides members of the community an opportunity to meet for coffee and conversation on weekly basis. The free gatherings occur from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Tuesday at the McColl Pond Environmental Learning and Event Center. Presentations are occasionally scheduled and geared toward the interest and needs of seniors, although all ages are welcome.

Topics for the next several weeks are as follows:

Jan. 10: Demystifying nutritional supplements – Savage Walgreens Pharmacy Manager Amy Matiak will discuss the true value of vitamins and nutritional supplements for seniors and what some of the risks may be. Come learn the latest information and also find out what other services Walgreens offers to maintain good health and prevent illness.

“Two inches deep, park it off the street.” That’s the motto motorists will want to remember this winter as Savage Public Works and Police prepare to crack down on snowbird violations.

The City’s snow ordinance prohibits vehicles from being parked on unplowed streets after a snowfall of 2 inches or more, for a period of 48 hours. Those in violation will not only “lose” their vehicle for a period of time, but they’ll also be out an estimated $200 in fees and fines before getting their vehicle back.

The ordinance and its stepped up enforcement are intended to encourage vehicle owners to be more conscious of where they are parking when snow is falling or in the forecast. When vehicles are parked on a snow-filled street, City snowplow drivers have to go around them – coming back later to finish the job after the vehicle has been moved. Depending on the storm, the extra passes could result in additional overtime, more fuel, and wear and tear on City equipment.