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2023 Spring
Hudson City Newsletter - Spring 2023
2023 Issue 5: Spring
Did you know?
In 1880, wheat was a staple crop in St. Croix County, but near the end of the decade, the county shifted to dairy.
By 1895, St. Croix County had seven cheese factories and 14 creameries, according to UWRF historical archives.
In this issue:
A Note from the Mayor
We’ve Gone Digital!
The Hudson City Newsletter is now mostly electronic, with limited printed copies available at City Hall, the Hudson Library, and several local businesses.
If you’d like to sign up to receive the newsletter digitally, you can do so on the Notify Me page, and sign up for other alerts as well!
Fire Department Updates
Grant Award
Hudson Fire was awarded a public safety grant from Marathon Petroleum Corporation, St. Paul Park Refinery, in the amount of $3,900. The funds will be used to purchase headsets for our boat.
These headsets will not only offer reliable communications between our members and dispatch, but will offer hearing protection while using the pumping equipment on the boat.
Hudson Fire is part of a reciprocal mutual aid agreement for river incidents with our neighboring river fire departments and this grant will benefit everyone involved.
Hudson Fire 150th
This year the Hudson Fire Department will celebrate 150 years of service to our community. There have been several events planned throughout the year. The kickoff to celebrations will be the return of the Fire Department Pancake Breakfast.
The breakfast will be held on the morning of Sunday April 2nd. Pancakes, eggs, sausage, milk, and coffee will be provided. Stay tuned for more information on upcoming events!
Hudson Fire Blood Drive
Hudson Fire will be hosting an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Wednesday March 15 th from Noon to 6 PM, at the fire station. To schedule an appointment please sign up at RedCrossBlood.org and enter: Hudson to schedule. You may also schedule via phone at 1-800-733-2767. Please consider taking time to donate.
Fire Hydrant Snow Removal
We are once again asking everyone to please take 5 minutes and clear out your nearest fire hydrant. The short amount of time it takes to shovel out a hydrant can literally mean the difference between life and death.
Library Grant Gives Teens a Space of Their Own
Coming soon: a major overhaul of the Hudson Area Public Library’s teen space and collection.
Library staff want teen voices at the table. If you know a teen who would like to be part of the planning process in upcoming weeks and months, contact Camille Young at cyoung@hudsonpubliclibrary.org.
Thanks to a generous grant from the Wendell Petersen estate, the current teen space on the second floor will be transformed into a place for young patrons to hang out. The space will include new seating, technology, games, crafts and snacks.
The collection of young adult books will move to the main floor in the area with the public computers. Those computers will be shifted into the iLab, which is just a few feet away.
The transition was prompted by the lack of space for books in the teen area. The building’s weight restrictions limit the library’s ability to buy and shelve young adult fiction. (Interesting note: adult readers also love young adult novels!) Staff have reached a point where if they purchase a new young adult title, an existing book has to be withdrawn.
In addition to the furnishings in the social space, the grant covers the cost of new shelving and supplements the collection budget. The supplemental funds are considered “catch-up funds,” spread over three years, to buy young adult books, movies and video games. The project will be complete at the end of 2023.
We’re grateful to the Petersen estate for enhancing the lives of youth in the community!
Community Development
Photo credit: Bryan Leonard
Municipal Zoning Code Updates
The City of Hudson is commencing with work on updating its Municipal Zoning Code. City staff and Cedar Corp are beginning with edits to the Downtown Overlay and Shoreland Management Districts.
These updates are anticipated to make understanding the code and its requirements more straightforward as well as streamlining the application review process.
Upcoming open houses and other public outreach events are anticipated, so please stay tuned for more information.
You may see updates on the project via the City of Hudson website.
Yard Sale / Garage Sale Signage
As city residents and businesses approach the spring season, the City would like to remind everyone about temporary signage requirements and limitations.
These signs on residential properties are limited to 6 square feet in area and must be removed within 24 hours after the completion of the event. Off-premises directional signs for garage/yard sales are limited to 4 square feet in area. Directional signs may be placed only on private property with property owner’s permission (not right up to the roadway or in street medians) and may be placed NO SOONER than 48 hours prior to the event and must be removed within 4 hours after the sale has ended.
Temporary Business Signage
On-premises temporary event signage for businesses in commercial zones all require sign permit approvals through the city and have differing requirements depending on what district a property is in.
For the B-3 Central Business District in downtown, temporary signs are limited to 24 square feet in area and may only be placed for up to 10 consecutive days on the business premises and not within any public street right of ways. Afterward, signs must be removed within 24 hours of the completion of the event. Please note that each business is limited to six on-premises special event permits per lot/premises per year.
For the B-2 General Business District, temporary signs are limited to 40 square feet in area and may only be placed for up to 10 consecutive days on the business premises and not within any public street right of ways. Afterward, signs must be removed within 24 hours of the completion of the event. Similarly with the B-3 District, each business is limited to six on-premises special event permits per lot/premises per year.
All off-premises noncommercial temporary event signage is not to be placed sooner than 48 hours prior to this type of event and must be removed within 4 hours after the event ends. This sign type is not to exceed 4 square feet in area and cannot be placed in any public right-of-way and requires private property owner’s permission for placement. These signs must include address, date(s), and hours of the temporary noncommercial event.
City Clerk Updates
To avoid the late fee on your dog tags, be sure to get your rabies certificate to the City Clerk’s office no later than April 1st, 2023. These can be mailed in or dropped off.
Spring Election 2023
In-person absentee voting will be held between March 21 - March 31 at City Hall - 505 3rd Street - from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
You must have a photo ID. The last day to request an absentee ballot is March 30 at 5 p.m.
Election Day is April 4th. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Polling locations include:
Hudson Fire Department – 2121 Ward Avenue
Faith Community Church – 777 Carmichael Road
Hudson United Methodist Church – 1401 Laurel Avenue
Absentee Ballots must be returned by the VOTER to city hall by 8pm to be counted.
Upcoming Events
Spring Craft Fair
When: Sun. May 7, 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Where: Hudson High School, 1501 Vine St.
Details: Enjoy work from local crafters and support Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue! Registration is open to crafters and homemade goods at $60 per 8’ x 10’ booth, with all vendor fees going directly to Coco’s Heart Dog Rescue.
More >>
Little Red Robin Hood
When: May 5 - May 21 (times vary)
Where: The Phipps Center for the Arts, 109 Locust St.
Details: Smart, pretty, and kind, Little Red Robin Hood must deal with the Big Bad Sheriff of the Naughty Hams (the Three Little Pigs, that is!), who does the bidding of Prince John, the vain Emperor who is eager to try on his magic new suit being woven by Cinderella’s deceitful stepsisters. Tickets $15 for youth and $20 for adults.
More >>
Mother’s Day Brunch Cruise
When: Sun. May 14, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 2:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Where: 98 Walnut St.
Details: Take mom and the family out for a relaxing Sunday Champagne Brunch cruise on the scenic St. Croix River. Call 651-436-8883 or book online at stcroixrivercruises.com.
Celebrate Spring with a New Tree or Shrub!
Before we know it, spring will be here, and with it, the city will come to life with budding trees and green all around us.
If you want to add some biodiversity to your area, consider ordering our tree of the year or shrub of the year. The form will be available on the city website from March 22 - April 14. Stay tuned for the announcement of our chosen shrub and tree, coming soon!
There will be a joint Arbor Day and Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 29 at 9 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church on Vine Street. There will be exhibits, snacks, and activities.
At 1 p.m., the celebration will move over to Lakefront Park, where attendees will learn how to plant trees, prune, and mulch - everything you need to take care of your new tree or shrub.
You’ll be able to pick up the trees or shrubs you’ve ordered afterwards.
Hudson Police Department Safety Tips
Spring break and summer outings mean more time away from home. The Hudson Police Department urges families to take the following precautions before going on trips.
Let someone you trust know where you are going, how to contact you, and when you’ll return. Hudson PD says families should make their homes look “lived in” by:
- Having a trusted friend or neighbor pick up mail and deliveries, shovel/blow snow, or even park their car in your driveway.
- Using timers to turn lights and a radio on and off at different times during the day.
- Locking the house access door to your attached/detached garage if you have one. Make sure all doors and windows are locked and secure.
While on the trip, you should be cautious as well. Hudson PD recommends the following travel tips:
Never pick up hitchhikers.
Always wear your seatbelt, and drive with your doors locked and windows rolled up.
Always keep an emergency kit in your vehicle.
Never carry large amounts of cash.
- Never leave money, checks, credit cards or car keys in your hotel room.
Always ask hotel staff about dangerous areas you want to avoid when sightseeing.
Don’t post on social media that you are on a trip.
When out and about, travel in pairs or groups.
If you consume alcohol, remember to drink responsibly.