The COTTAGE GROVE
entinel
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Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Number 34 • 135 years
Coast Fork Brewery and Feed receives $10K national award
[ ] CINDY WEELDREYER
Cottage Grove Sentinel
“There are many deserving businesses in our community, and we hope others can be blessed in the same way as Coast Fork Brewing and Feed.” Dale Smith, Coast Fork Brewing and Feed Excitement rippled among Cottage Grove’s Main Street Program members when word came that Coast Fork Brewing and Feed, a local family-owned business, received one of the coveted Main Street America national awards. When the business opened, in 2013, it was only family members: Emily, Jason, Luke, Dale and Ernie and a childhood friend and bookkeeper, Jennifer Violette. Today, there are 16 staff members
who come from all walks of life and wear the many different hats necessary to continue the growing business’ ongoing success. The family’s nearby organic farm put down agricultural roots in the area, which expanded into an interest in opening a feed and garden store to support other local growers. The Brewstation opened in 2013. A restaurant opened in 2015. The brewery was built in 2018 and opened in 2019. Mom Dale Smith’s roles include leadership development, grant-writing, and baking. She also manages the family’s Coast Fork Nursery, which provides heirloom and non-GMO plants every spring and summer for local gardeners. Smith wrote the $10,000
FORK BREWERY cont. on page 9
Sheltering unhoused population still a “work-in-progress”
JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
The City of Cottage Grove’s homeless strategy changes this week. As of tomorrow (Aug. 22), all three of the City’s 24/7 homeless shelters will be closed and a “Dawn-to-Dusk” policy implemented. The general obligation bond money will be used for city street repair and improvements. The bond is scheduled for the Nov. 5 General Election. If approved the City would issue bonds raising approximately $2,500,000. The general obligation bond debt would be paid back by levying a $.50 per thousand of assessed value on all properties within the City limits for five years. The revenue would be dedicated to repair Row River Road from Thornton
HOMELESS cont. on page 9
Local voters to decide property tax boost, gas tax hike JEREMY C. RUARK Cottage Grove Sentinel
TODAY’S EDITION
The Cottage Grove City Council has approved two resolutions asking voters to approve a general obligation bond of $2.5 million and a 6-cent per gallon gasoline tax. The general obligation bond money will be used for city street repair and improvements. The bond is scheduled for the Nov. 5 General Election. If approved the City
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would issue bonds raising approximately $2,500,000. The general obligation bond debt would be paid back by levying a $.50 per thousand of assessed value on all properties within the City limits for five years. The revenue would be dedicated to repair Row River Road from Thornton Lane to Currin Connector, Taylor Avenue form Gateway Boulevard to 6th Street, and Harrison Avenue from Highway 99 to R Street.
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During the Monday night Aug. 12 public council meeting, City Councilor Dana Merryday broke the costs down, explaining that the bond would cost him about $71 a year more in property taxes, and he was willing to make that investment in the roads in Cottage Grove. “I know there are people on fixed incomes, but If we want good roads, we’re going to have to do something, and to me this makes good sense,” he said.
The council also approved a resolution asking voters to approve a 6-cent per gallon gasoline tax for street improvements and operations. The gas tax is scheduled on the Nov., 5 General Election. If the ballot measure is approved, it would take effect on January 1,2025. The $.06 increase will generate approximately $750,000 each year and will be dedicated to street improvements and maintenance based on each roads
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pavement condition index starting with the street segments with the lowest pavement condition index (PCl). Background The council approval follows what city officials called extensive community engagement. On May 8, 2023, the Cottage Grove City Council approved Resolution No. 2095 forming the Ad-Hoc Street Improvement and Funding Committee. The committee
was charged to make a recommendation to the council on how to improve the city streets to address the $35,000,000 backlog of street repairs and maintenance. On April 2, 2024, Chair Amber Bahler presented to the council the committee’s recommendations to improve streets and increase revenue to fund the improvements.
IMPROVEMENTS cont. on page 9