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January/February JanuaryrFebruary 2017 Celebrating Grand Openings Four large developments in Blaine wrapped up last fall.
Seeking Residents to Serve on New Traffic Commission The City of Blaine has created a Traffic Commission to review neighborhood traffic concerns on local streets, define traffic issues, review alternatives, look at long and short term costs of alternatives, hold public hearings, and make recommendations to the City Council. The Commission is to be made up of seven (7) residents who will serve two year terms. The Commission will meet initially once a month. Residents who are interested in serving on this Commission or any other City Commissions can contact the City Clerk’s office at 763- 785- 6 1 2 2 or visit the City’s website at WWW.CI .BLAI NE. M N. U S for more information.
Cub Foods opened their new store in Oak Park Plaza at 109th Avenue and University Avenue on December 8. The new 45,000 sf store is smaller than a typical Cub Store and offers a more quaint grocery shopping experience. The rest of the center was remodeled to bring new life to Oak Park Plaza.
Photo Courtesy of Eric Hagen, ABC Newspapers
2016 Election Results Record Voter Turnout
Blaine had a record voter turnout of over 91% at the November 8 election — higher than the County-wide turnout of 90% — and registered just over 4,000 new voters. Different this year was the number of absentee ballots, with almost 22% of Blaine voters voting absentee either by mail or in person. Since the end of September over 4,800 people voted at City Hall, with almost 3,000 the last week and almost 1,000 the day before the Election. It will be interesting to see if this turnout was because of the attention to this Election or if it will be a trend going forward. Either way we were pleased to offer this option to our residents. Blaine voters re-elected Tom Ryan as Mayor and Dick Swanson as Ward 1 Councilmember to another four-year term. Julie Jeppson was successful over incumbent Mike Bourke in Ward 2, and Andy Garvais captured the most votes for the Ward 3 seat left vacant by Russ Herbst who chose not to run again. A reception will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2017 to thank the outgoing Councilmembers and to welcome the new Councilmembers. The event will begin at 6:30 pm and will be held in the City Hall Atrium. While the question to construct a Blaine Community Center did not pass, the Council would like to thank the members of the Community Center Task Force for their hard work over the past two years to gather data, hold community meetings, and educate the voters so they could make an informed decision. A huge thank you also goes out to the 300 election judges who staffed the polling places on Election Day — serving as an election judge is a great way to get involved in the community and our election judges are second to none. For complete election results, visit WWW. M N V O TE S . O R G .
Infinite Campus celebrated the completion of their new 100,000 sf office tower located at 109th Avenue and Lexington Avenue. Infinite Campus, already one of Blaine’s top employers, anticipates adding up to 400 additional employees with the new space. Blaine welcomes a new business to the City. Streamworks moved into their new 90,000 sf office/production facility in the Lexington Preserve Business Park just off 35w. Streamworks is a digital marketing and bulk mailing firm previously located in Arden Hills. They will be bringing over 150 new jobs to the City of Blaine. Crestview Senior Housing celebrated the opening of their beautiful new building in October. The facility, located just north of 117th Avenue on Ulysses Street offers a variety of senior housing options including independent and assisted living, along with memory care. We’re excited to have this first class facility in Blaine! Stay up to date on Blaine Business News, visit B L AI NE BI Z.C O M .