Blaine CityConnect
March/April March/April 2018 2018
Jean Keely Named City Engineer of the Year
Jean Keely has been named 2017 Municipal City Engineer of the Year by the City Engineers Association of Minnesota (CEAM). The CEAM is a professional association for engineers that strives to work cooperatively and efficiently to help further the municipal engineering field by developing and refining best practices and continuing education for members of the civil engineering profession. The award is based on work experience, work within the organization to help improve the municipal engineering field in Minnesota, and continuing education. During Ms. Keely’s tenure with the City, Blaine was recognized as one of the top Pictured, Jean Keely, City Engineer, Blaine MN 100 places to live by Money Magazine and Glenn Olson, City Engineer, Marshall MN, due, in part, to its commitment to and 2018 President of CEAM building and maintaining quality roads and infrastructure. Ms. Keely is the second woman to be named lead City Engineer in Minnesota and the second woman to receive this award. Ms. Keely received her degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Wisconsin Madison in 1981. She was hired as Assistant City Engineer in Blaine in 1988 and became City Engineer in 2005. During her time with the City, Ms. Keely is most proud of the joint project with the State of Minnesota and Anoka County which constructed the County Road 14/State Highway 65 interchange. This intersection was consistently rated as one of the most dangerous intersections in the State. Other major projects of note included extending trunk sanitary sewer and water to central Blaine which enabled the Lakes of Radisson development and developments now occurring north of County Road 14. Ms. Keely has also been vital to the most significant project for Blaine’s future, the Pavement Management Program. This is the long-range ranking and prioritization of all City streets with regard to maintenance, repair, and replacement. Congratulations to Ms. Keely on this well-deserved award.
Blaine Staff Pictured, Back Row: Jason Sundeen, Jon Haukaas, Al Thorp, Clark Arneson, Jerry Rud, Stefan Higgins, Eric Raatsi, Robert Therres, Stacy Dellich, Dan Schluender, Middle Row: Rebecca Haug, Tom Scott, Lucy Gray, Nancy Hupp, Front Row: Jean Keely
Special Board of Review Convenes April 16 The Blaine Board of Review, also known as the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization, convenes at 7 PM on Monday, April 16 in the City Council Chambers at Blaine City Hall. The purpose of this meeting, which may affect your 2019 property tax payments, is to determine whether taxable property in the jurisdiction has been properly valued and classified by the assessor and to determine whether corrections need to be made. If you believe the value or classification of your property is incorrect, please contact the Anoka County Assessor’s Office at proptax@co.anoka.mn.us or 763-323-5400 to discuss your concerns. If you are still not satisfied with the valuation or classification after discussing it with the Assessor you may appear before the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization. The Board shall review the valuation, classification, or both if necessary and correct as needed. Generally, an appearance before the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization is required by law before an appeal can be taken to the County Board of Appeal and Equalization. For questions or more information, contact the Clerk’s Office at 763-785-6124.