May 2021 2022 October
Cottage Grove Reports 2023 Proposed Budget
Pizza Ranch Breaks Ground in Cottage Grove On Thursday, September 15, Pizza Ranch, the long-anticipated restaurant coming to Harkness Avenue, broke ground just north of Muddy Cow. This location will have capacity for approximately 230 people, as well as a drive-thru window, a FunZone arcade and party rooms available to rent.
Next year’s proposed budget includes a property tax levy increase to 12.6 percent, or $20,649,710. You might recall that we have not had significant levy increases over the last two years due to COVID. About 85 percent of the proposed levy is to fund general operating services, which includes things like public safety, parks and trails maintenance, winter snow plowing and other street upkeep. The city’s needs for services have grown along with an increasing population. Even with the property tax levy, homeowners continue to enjoy a market value increase and a city tax rate that has fallen to historic lows. Keep an eye on our social media pages. Additional documentation and videos about the proposed budget and levy will be posted. On November 29 from 6-8 p.m., we welcome you to attend our open house at City Hall. You’ll be able to ask any questions you may have directly to city staff.
“We’ve heard loud and clear that people want some place to take their kids to have birthday parties,” the mayor said during the groundbreaking. The owner of this Pizza Ranch, Ernest Swanson, explained to guests at the groundbreaking about his 40-plus years of experience in the franchise food industry. He and his family run the day-to-day operations of his successful franchises, and he was excited to see his plans coming together for this location. Opening this location has been in the works for several years now. It was back in 2019 that the city council passed the unanimous vote to bring this restaurant to our community. Then the all-too-familiar struggles of COVID-19 hit and new business development slowed. Fortunately, the owners persevered and stood by their goal of opening this location. The application came back to council in early 2022 and was again approved. Anticipated completion is early 2023.
Oakwood Park Redevelopment
Oakwood Park’s redevelopment story began in the early 2000s. With guidance from the city council, parks and recreation department, and the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission, the city finalized a plan and appropriated funding with help from partners at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and National Park Service. Share the news! Take your friends, neighbors and family to Oakwood Park where you can enjoy a new playground, relax in the hammock grove and take in the views, eat under the beautiful new picnic shelter, play ball on an improved baseball diamond, stroll through an oak forest and beautiful flower gardens, and throw a disc at one of the premier disc golf courses in Minnesota.
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE • 12800 RAVINE PARKWAY S • COTTAGE GROVE, MN 55016 • 651-458-2800