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HONORING OUR HEROES: Recognizing servicemen and women PAGE 8
Vadnais Heights finalizes assessments for street project BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
There was a group of skiers that would bring (the younger) skiers on the weekends when they went to state parks to go ski. And he was one of those people,” he recalled. “Looking back now, that tells you even more about his character for someone who was willing to do that.” Doherty says Curt was an inspiration to the younger skiers on the team. Curt’s senior year, he won regions and sectionals. After he graduated, Curt decided to follow his brother, Alan Feistner, to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. His freshman year, he wrote a letter to the White Bear ski team back home. “(The coach) read that letter to us as inspiration,” Doherty said. “He was a great skier. He was a great athlete.” Scott Storkamp, a 1985 White Bear Lake grad, got to know Curt really well while they attended West Point and skied on the ski team. (Their paths continued to cross, as they were both stationed in Hawaii at the same time years later.) “He was a great dude. He was as all-American as you can get,” Storkamp recalled. “He was a great guy and extremely good at what he did.”
The Vadnais Heights City Council has officially set its assessments for the ongoing County Road D Project. The project is focused on improvements along the titular road, including asphalt removal/ replacement, new curb and gutter, storm sewer and water utility and sanitary sewer rehabilitations. A trial will also be installed from Greenbrier Street to County Road D Circle on the north side. To fund these repairs and improvements, the city will use $260,131 from municipal state aid, $150,000 in utility enterprise funds and $192,129 from assessments. The council has also entered into an agreement with Ramsey County for right-of-way acquisition costs. “We had allocated a larger amount of funds, not knowing what the project would cost,” said Public Works Director Jim Hauth. “We’re thankful that we’re below our Capital Improvement Budget.” The project’s special assessments will be based on a front-foot basis of $36.68 per linear foot. The total city contribution cost, including right-of-way acquisition and legal costs, will be $410,121. The assessable cost to properties along the roadway will be $192,129 for a total of $602,250. “If this were a residential neighborhood where all of the lots were the same size, then we would have chosen a per unit basis,” explained Hauth. “In a situation like County Road D, where all of the properties are varying sizes, per front foot is the most logical way for us to proceed.” The assessment roll includes 17 total parcels. Residents will be able to spread the assessment over a 10-year period, with the annual interest rate to be set at 8%. Of the payment options, residents can pay the total amount in full within 60 days after the assessment hearing without interest; alternatively, they can pay the amount between 61 days after the hearing and October 1, with interest. If residents do not pay anything before property taxes are certified, then the assessment will be certified to their taxes. Starting in 2026, they will begin paying this amount with their property tax payments. They may also pay off the remaining principal and outstanding interest at any time during the initial 60-day period, as subject to county rules. The city also has a hardship deferral policy based on income for seniors and disabled and active military personnel. Interest will continue to accrue for anyone who is seeking a deferral. The assessments were not without criticisms
SEE MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE, PAGE 7
SEE ASSESSMENTS, PAGE 11
CONTRIBUTED
On Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, the city of White Bear Lake will honor one of its own, Major Curtis Donald Feistner — a 1986 White Bear Lake grad who died at the age of 34 in a helicopter crash in the Philippines in 2002. This collage was made by a member of Task Force 160th to honor Curt.
White Bear Lake honors one of its own this Memorial Day BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
American Legion 168 is pulling out all the stops to honor one of its own this Memorial Day. Each year, the VFW Post 1782 and American Legion alternate on which organization plans the Memorial Day events. In 2025, it’s the American Legion’s turn. About a year ago, Legion members received a phone call from White Bear Lake Area Schools. As district staff were going through items during construction of the unified high school campus, they stumbled upon a plaque, flag and photo that were given to the district in honor of Major Curtis Donald Feistner — a 1986 grad who died at the age of 34 in a helicopter crash in the Philippines in 2002. “We both looked at each other and said, ‘We’ve got to do something,’” said Gary Carlberg, American Legion 2nd Vice Commander. Curt was raised in Birchwood Village. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout and was a three-sport athlete in cross-country skiing, tennis and soccer. John Doherty, a 1988 White Bear High School grad, was on the cross-country ski team with Curt. “I was a terrible skier … I was the worst skier on the team.
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