Saturday, October 29, 2016...

A Special Supplement to the

Getting Ready for Winter!

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 2

Flanders Furnace Filters

Inside This Guide

Stories:
Builders keep building in Sherburne County . . . . . . . . . .Page 3
Big Lakes stunning parks and trails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 5
Area housing on an upward pace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 10
The fall homecare checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 13
Small changes make big differences this fall . . . . . .Page 14
Know the risks of CO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 15
A safer alternative to cleaning gutters . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 16
Winterizing your pipes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 17
Leaves, eaves and more leaves! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 18
Get the blanket out for your house . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 19

Advertisers Index:
Hirshfields...Page 16
All Elements...Page 4
IST Insurance Team...Page 15
American Heritage Bank...Page 7
JK Landscaping...Page 15
Angells Construction...Page 14
Ken Geroux Construction...Page 20
Annandale State Bank...Page 6
KleinBank...Page 5
Audio Communications...Page 9
Liberty Bank...Page 11
Autumn Winds Apartments...Page 20
B&D Plumbing...Page 4 Long & Son Carpet Cleaning...Page 20
Merit Drywall...Page 8
Big Lake Hardware...Page 2
ML Schendzielos & Sons...Page 15
Big Lake Lumber...Page 3
Plaisted Companies...Page 8
Bitzer Garage Door...Page 20
Plumbery...Page 15
Class Act Furnace...Page 20
Cherrywood...Page 12
Preferred Title...Page 17
Rays Abbey Carpet...Page 10
Custom Door Sales...Page 19
RiverWood Bank...Page 17
Design Build Glass...Page 4
Sherburne State Bank...Page 9
Duration Painting Systems...Page 4
St. Benedicts...Page 13
Focal Point...Page 11
St. Cloud HRA...Page 12
Greenscape Co. Inc....Page 6
Two Guys Painting...Page 15
Guardian Angels....Page 13
Veit/Vonco...Page 14
Hassan Dirt & Gravel...Page 6
Wausau Homes...Page 16
Haus Construction...Page 17
WH Security...Page 17
Heat My Floors...Page 14
WestAir...Page 18
Heitz Group Edina Realty...Page 20

Our Staff

3M Window
Insulator Kit &
Mounting Tape
BIG LAKE

763-263-2019621

Hillman
Cup Hooks

Rose Drive Big Lake, MN 55309

& RENTAL

Lake Shopping Center Big Lake M-F, 8-8; Sat., 7-6, Sun., 9 am to 5 pm

Gary W. Meyer
Sue Emberland
Susan Nagorski
Mary Mayer
Maggie Newman
Ken Francis
Gail Evans

Editor & Publisher

Advertising Sales
Advertising Sales
Graphic Designer
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Office Manager

Office: 763-263-3602 Fax: 763-263-8458

email: editor@westsherburnetribune.net
www.westsherburnetribune.com

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 3

Builders keep building in Sherburne County

By Ken Francis
Staff Writer
Last year was a comeback year for new
home construction throughout the county,
with 165 permits pulled for new homes in
cities and 135 in townships.
With the downturn in the economy starting in 2006-7, it had been a long time since
the county eclipsed the 300 mark, but the
pace hasnt slowed down in 2016.
One of the busiest sections of the county
in 2016 for new home construction through
September is the Big Lake area.
Last year, the City of Big Lake had 33
new homes built. Through September of
this year, that number is already at 52.
To my knowledge, we have not issued
this many permits for new homes in over a
decade, says Hanna Klimmek, community development director with the City of
Big Lake.
Ever since the number of foreclosures on
the market began to dwindle a few years
DALLAS HASSER of Hasser Construction uses a nail gun to attach
ago, people have begun to purchase lots
joists to the walls of a home under construction on Houghton Drive in the
and build homes.
Hudson Woods development in Big Lake. It is one of three homes being
Im encouraged, says Klimmek.
built on adjacent properties on the block. (Photo by Ken Francis.)
Were getting a lot of inquires and phone

calls from people prospecting the area.

Three of the homes being built in Big
Lake this year are products of an initiative
called the Neighborhood Stabilization
Program through the Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) Dept.
Because of the foreclosure crisis, which
was especially bad in Big Lake, the
Minnesota Housing Finance Agency
(MHFA) was given funding by the Federal
Government to help with affordable housing.
Big Lake wrote a grant application to
lock down funding. In 2009 we had our
first grant agreement of $1,214,520, says
Klimmek. We were able to fund 16 houses within the City of Big Lake.
Under the program, the city purchased
foreclosed homes and either rehabilitated
them or demolished them and built new
homes.
There are three left under the grant, and
all are expected to be finished midNovember: 920 Nicollet Ave., 750 Lake
Street North and 410 Lake Street South.
The city is now working with Tri-CAP
Builders Continued On Page 4

Celebrat
ing
40 Years!

FOR ALL YOUR BUILDING NEEDS

aNew Homes aWindows
aGarages
aDoors
aPole Buildings aSiding
aShingles
aDecks
Call today and talk to an experienced lumber professional.
Free Estimates - All the Time - Anytime 763-263-3400
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 to 5:00, Saturday 8:00 to Noon, Sunday Closed
Just off Hwy 10 in Big Lake www.biglakelumber.doitbest.com

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 4

ALL ELEMENTS INC.

Builders

Continued From Page 3______________________________

on the project. Two of the homes have been

sold to qualified homeowners. One is still
to be sold.
But the City of Big Lake isnt the only
place with lots of new construction happening.
Big Lake Township is also on a pace to
eclipse last years mark. The township had
24 new homes built in 2015. Through the
first nine months of 2016, that number was
already at 22.
Orrock Twp. is also building at a good
pace with 14 new home permits pulled so
far. The township had 19 all of last year.
One of the biggest increases is taking
place in Blue Hill Twp. which has already
built 17 new homes, compared to just three
in 2015.
Baldwin Twp. has already passed last
years total of 11 new homes with 18 in the
first nine months this year.
So has Livonia Twp. with 23 new homes
so far compared to 21 last year.
Becker Twp. might not match last years
total of 42 new homes. But through the end
of September, it had issued 27 permits.
The City of Becker has eight new homes
so far in 2015. Last year that number was
14.

Palmer, Santiago and Clear Lake townships havent issued many new home permits in recent years. But their numbers are
staying relatively steady. In 2015 the three
townships combined had 12 new homes.
That number is 10 so far in 2016.
Building new homes isnt the only work
going on in the Big Lake area.
With the economy improving, homeowners have spent millions this year to
make improvements on their property.
In the City of Big Lake, there have been
23 basements finished, 46 permits for
decks or porches, 33 permits for roofing or
siding, seven remodels and 20 residential
accessory buildings.
Homeowners in the township have also
been busy with 15 decks, 14 pole buildings, 18 re-roofing or re-siding projects, 12
septic replacements, nine garages, nine
remodels or additions and four screened
porches.
Its been a busy year for builders in the
county. And weather permitting, theres
still time for quite a few more projects
before winter arrives.

Your Roofing Specialists

Your Local
Residential
and Commercial
Roofing Experts

Top of the Line Warranties

Certified Shingle Installer

Platinum Duro-Last Installer

Member of the Monticello Chamber

763-314-0234 or
1-888-ROOF-320

www.allelementsinc.net

SHOWER DOORS
INGLASS PET DOORS
WINDOW
REPLACEMENT
RESIDENTIAL
& COMMERCIAL

Ross Fredrickson

(763) 260-3378

Ross@db-glass.com www.db-glass.com

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 5

spryuocuer up

Big Lakes stunning

Parks and Trails

By Maggie Newman
Staff Writer
One of the perks about living in the great
City of Big Lake is its beautiful array of
parks and trails. There are nearly 215 acres
of parkland, 20 miles of trails and sidewalks, and 3.5 acres of greenway in Big
Lake. With over fifteen different parks to
choose from, finding one close to home is
easy.
The city's growing trail system provides
many opportunities for walking, bicycling
and inline skating. The vast choice of
scenery is amazing, from prairies and
meadows, to wetlands and marshes, the
choice is yours! The Big Lake park system includes parks throughout the city and
in Big Lake township, with playgrounds,
ball fields and picnic areas. Visitors can
also enjoy fabulous beach access at
Lakeside Park along with a boat landing
and a fishing pier. Each year people come
from all over Minnesota to swim, fish, go
boating and gather with friends and family
at Lake Side Park in Big Lake.
The lake, for which the town is named,
was once an important part of the Big Lake
and Twin Cities economy. In the days
before modern refrigerators, much of the
ice for metropolitan iceboxes was harvested and taken from Big Lake. Although
they no longer harvest ice, the lake is still
very important and used by thousands of
boaters and fishermen every year.
Lake Side Park
Lake Side Park is located at 101
Lakeshore Drive (located on the west side
of Big Lake along Hwy 10) and has 12.4
acres of lush grass and trees and is host to
dozens of events every year. Events such as
Music in the Park, the Big Lake Farmers
Market, BL Women of Today Easter egg
hunt, Movie in the Park, BL Police Night
to Unite, Get Outdoors event, Team Liam
5K run, Granite Man Triathlon and many
more public and private events.
There are two Park Pavilion areas available for rental at Lakeside Park which can
be accessed for private use with a $30 fee.
Lakeside Park also has many amenities
including: public WiFi access, picnic areas,
picnic tables, grills, playground structures,
three volleyball courts, Skate Park, basketball court, exercise equipment, restrooms,
water fountain and horseshoe pits.

cet
spia
ty line of credi
home equ

Lake Side Park

Lake Side Park is the biggest park, and

the most costly to maintain. With the City
Park budget for 2015 at $408,422.00, a
large percentage of that was spent on maintain a fabulous beach and a very nice park
to welcome folks into the beautiful City of
Big Lake!
Last year a total of 9,927 vehicles
entered Lake Side Park while park attendants were working and the highest daily
amount of passes in one single day was
546.
Lions Park Canoe access to
the Elk River (Lions Park)
Lion's Community Park is located at
21960 Cty Rd 5.
The park offers four outdoor shelters and
is about 50 acres with 1.22 miles of walking trails. Lions Park has a river trail and
an upland trail. The park features a baseball diamond, playground, barbecues and a
canoe launch.
Reservations are available for the rental
of the Town Hall meeting room, kitchen &
indoor restroom and serves as a great place
to have a family reunion, picnic, gradua-

Parks Continued On Page 6

home equity
line of credit

RATES
R
ATES A
AS
SL
LOW
OW A
AS
S

3.65% A
APR*
P R*
iddeeaaall ffooorr yoyoouurr bbiiigg oorr ssmmmaaalll prproojjjeeeccctttss
oour needs
e yyour
erms ttoo meet
xiblele tterms
flexib
h m ::: flfle
o r home
our
ty iin yyour
quitity
qu
esssss ttoo eequit
ac
acccceess
ing
iinnngg acces
ggoooioin
nnggoing
ongo
oon
ateess ::: ong
at
rate
etitivive rates
competitive
low, comp
low,

CLARKSEANN AATT 7763-235-2727

63-235-2727
CALL DONNA CLARKSEAN
OR GO TO
TO KLEINB
KLEINBANK.COM/SPRUCEUP
ANKK.COM
M/SPRUCEUP

Big Lak
Lake
e | 19943 County
County Rd.
Rd. 43
*Annual
*Annual PPercentage
ercentage RRate
ate aavailable
vailable on lines of cr
credit
edit with a minimum term
term of fiv
fivee yyears
ears with bank paid standar
standardd closing ccosts.
osts. YYou
ou ma
mayy
be responsible
responsible for
for non-standard
non-standard closing costs.
costs. The
The APR can
can change daily and is tied to
to W
Wall
all SStreet
treet Journal PPrime
rime (3.50% as of 8/1/16)
or floor of 3.50% whichever
whichever is greater.
greater.. TThe
he APR ccannot
annot eexceed
xceed 21.75% and the floor is a standar
standardd 3.50%. Rate
Rate will be determined
determined with
credit
credit decision and may
may be higher if you
you do not meet the ffollowing:
ollowing: a credit
credit score
score of 740 or abo
above,
ve, debt-to-income
debt-to-income of 40% or less,
less, and loan to
to value
value
of 80% or less,
less, and automatic
automatic payment
payment is required
required frfrom
om KKleinBank
leinBank ac
account.
count. AAnnual
nnual FFee
ee of $50 will be applied af
after
ftter first yyear
ear of opening line of
credit.
credit. Requires
Requires monthly
monthly pa
payments
yments with a balloon pa
payment
yment due aatt ma
maturity.
turity. M
Minimum
inimum line amoun
amountt of $5,000, maximum $250,000. HHomeowners
omeowners
insurance
insur
ance is required.
required. QQualifications
ualifications apply to
to primar
primaryy rresidences
esidences only
only.. SSee
ee yyour
our tax advisor ffor
or tax benefits
benefits.. If line is not main
maintained
tained ffor
or thr
three
ee yyears,
ears,
ccustomer
ustomer is rresponsible
esponsible ffor
or closing ccosts.
osts. CClosing
losing ccosts
osts rrange
ange frfrom
om $450 ttoo $1,500 based on loan amoun
edit guidelines apply
ther
amount.t. Regular cr
credit
apply.. OOther
products
pr
oducts and terms
terms available
available including sec
secondary
ondary rresidences.
esidences. Member FDIC

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 6

Parks

Continued From Page 5____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Highline Park

Highline Park
19200 Highline Drive (Located north of
Canoe access to the Elk River (Lions Park)
Highline Drive west of CR 5, and east of
Highland Trail) Highline Park is open from
tion. Rental fees are either $200 or $300 include, the annual dog vaccination clinic, 5am to 10pm and has 6.17 acres of beautidepending on the size of the room request- Big Lake Lions fish fry, Boy scouts ful scenery. Amenities include playground
ed. Lions Park holds many events through- Pinewood derby, Lord of Glory Pumpkin structure, picnic tables, ball field, benches
out the year as well. Some of the events Fest and many more.
& grills. Parking is also available as well as
a Port-A-Potty Satellite. This park is
known to some kids as the puke-a-lator
Stop in today about YOUR home financing options!
park because it is the only Park in Big Lake
with a puke-a-lator.
Mortgage Loans
Shores of Lake Mitchell Park
Equity Loans
3211 Lake Ridge Drive (Located south
of Lake Ridge Drive and north of Manitou
Refinance Loans
Street) Park Hours are from 5am to 10pm
Construction Loans
with 4.5 acres available to enjoy. There are
no restrooms and no parking but the
amenities include, playground structure,
swings, benches, horseshoe pits, soccer
Annandale 320-274-8216 Clearwater 320-558-2271
field & basketball court.
TELEPHONE BANKING: Annandale 320-274-8200
Lake Ridge Park
Clearwater 320-558-4600 Internet Banking: www.annabank.com
4430 Pintail Street (Located east of CR
MMLS #500057
81 off of 206th Avenue) Park Hours are
from 5am to 10pm and Lake Ridge Park

H
O
M
E

$!-2

/nA :A enb
enb
[b 2Qnb 0n

-An -AnA:AA
0ee0nneenne
2nn0Q-nnA
A[ Ae
0[n !AAnn
nn[An[An[

n[An /[ I ![n
-|nA n
/nenA I
n[A

Ae[An 

0n AA
-e:An|AA
nn An
$e  0A[n[nnA[n

Find this
guide
on our

WEBSITE!
WestSherburne
Tribune.com!

offers 4.3 acres of beautiful grass to

accompany the baseball field. Amenities
include playground structure, benches,
swings, and picnic tables. There is also
parking available. Lake Ridge Park is often
known to kids as the tire swing park, as it
is the only park in Big Lake with a tire
swing.
Riverside Landing Park
Riverside Landing Park is located east of
CR 5, across from Highline Drive. It offers
2.16 acres of trails and provides access to
the Elk River. There is no parking available
at the access landing.
McDowall Park
McDowall Park is 82.42 miles of trail
systems, including prairie restoration
plantings & benches, located north of
Mitchell Lake. This amazing trail system
offers many miles of beautiful scenery
including prairies, meadows and woodlands. Park Hours are from 5am to 10pm.
Mitchell Farms Park
5415 Teal Street (Located north of
Mitchell Road and west of Teal Street)

Sand & Gravel

Serving satisfied homeowners
& contractors since 1973.

Decorative Rock Drainage Supplies Pulverized

& Screened Topsoil All Types of Driveway
Aggregates Wood Mulch Edging & Underlayment
Play/Volleyball/Mason Sand
Fieldstone Boulders, Steps & Natural Quary Stone
Open: Mon-Fri 7am to 4 pm, Sat: 7am - Noon

13530 Willandale Rd. Rogers, MN

LARGE
SELECTION!
www.HassanSand.com

763-428-2393

Parks

Continued From Page 6___________________________________

Lake Ridge Park

oMitchell Farms Park is .83 acres and offers rooms available.
playground structure, benches & swings.
Browns Park
106 Lake Street North (located adjacent
,There are no restrooms and no parking,
to City Hall along US Hwy 10) This beauopark hours are 5am to 10pm.
River Oaks Park
tiful area includes a gazebo, benches &
t Located West of CR 5 and north of flower garden.
It is .3 acres and is open from 5am to
eGrace Drive, River Oaks offers a dirt walking Trail and also provides access to the 10pm. Parking is available in the City Hall
Elk River. It is 21.9 acres and also has a 24 parking lot and there is also restrooms
fhole disk golf course. Park Hours are from available inside City Hall.
5am to 10pm.
Bluff Park
Hidden Rivers Park
20220 Prairie Drive (Located in the
o
e 20774 Atlantic Blvd. (Located in the Prairie Meadows Development) Bluff Park
Hidden Rivers Development along CR 5). is 1.36 acres and offers playground strucHidden Rivers offers 29.3 acres of beauti- ture, picnic tables & swings. Park hours are
ful scenery, a walking trail to the river with 5am to 10pm, there is no off street parking
overlook, a gazebo and benches. There are and no restrooms available.
Hudson Woods Park
fno restrooms available and park hours are
16400 May Circle (Located in the
m5am to 10pm.
Powell Park
Hudson Woods Development) Hudson
y
1420 Powell Street (Located west of CR Woods Park has 5.80 acres of fabulous out5 and south of Hiawatha Avenue) This .6 door scenery with ponds, rolling hills and a
acre park is open from 5am to 10pm and lot of nature. Hudson Woods has a 12 hole
fincludes, playground structure, benches & Frisbee golf course throughout the park,
swings. There is no parking and no rest- Parks Continued On Page 8

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 7

e /nA
 $ 2Ae

n Ab

n[A /nA An

I
A !AAnn
n Qnn
Qe Qnn [n

n A 0n[A
| 9nnA neA
" $A nn
" 4en-[n nn
A[
AAQnz

A <  $ !
Mitchell Farms Park

800 Nelson Drive, Clearwater

320-558-2021

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 8

Parks

Continued From Page 7____________________________________________________________________________________________________

playground structure, benches & picnic

tables. Park hours are 5am to 10pm with
parking and a Port-a-potty available.
Wrights Crossing Park
514 Forest Road (Located south of Hwy
10 and north of Forest Road) Wrights
Crossing Park is 3.1 acres with a playground structure, swings, gazebo, benches,

picnic tables & volleyball court. There is

one Park Pavilion area available for rental
at Wright's Crossing Park. A Facility Use
Agreement must be completed and
approved by the City to reserve a pavilion.
Park hours are 5am to 10pm, parking and
restrooms are available.
Jefferson Square Park

Hudson Woods Park

10 Lake Street South (Located along the

Southside of US Hwy 10 at the intersection
of Hwy 10/25) this is the future site for the
Veterans Memorial which is in the works.
This is a beautiful area with benches, a
reader board & flower garden.
Kellerwood Park
Located South of US Hwy 10, and west
of Highway 25 along Keller Lake.
Kellerwood Parks is 1.77 acres of beautiful
wetland scenery with benches to sit and
enjoy the view. The Park hours are 5am to
10pm and parking is available.
About Public Works
The Big Lake Public Works Department
does not have a separate Parks
Department. Big Lake Public Works
Department consist of streets, parks, water,
wastewater, in general Public Works staff
specialize between Streets/ Park and/or
Water/ Wastewater.
Last year in 2015, City works completed: 1507 hours mowing grass, 182 hours

weed whipping, 180 hours skate rink

maintenance, 230 hours warming house
attendant and 152 hours of snow removal
including sidewalks and trails.
2585 hours of maintenance is spent in
parks, not including the above items or
shop repair and maintenance of equipment.
The City does get some assistance at times
throughout the winter flooding the ice
rinks, these hours are not included.
The Park Advisory Board and Park and
Trail Master Plan Committee have done a
fantastic job meeting the needs of the community as they are in charge of coming up
with the park plans for the Cities parks and
trails. Mike Goebel is the Citys Public
Works Director, he and the team of Public
works employees are very dedicated and
do a fantastic job of maintaining Big
Lakes beautiful parks and trails.

02
"4- $
t9/<

2!z

>F
> (

( H  h
? I _

ss

!n Ab [
!nA

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 9

RATES ARE
STILL AT
HISTORIC
LOWS!
Lions Park. (Photos by Maggie Newman)

BURGLARY HOLDUP MEDICAL PANIC ENVIRONMENTAL

HIGH WATER LOW TEMP
CCTV CAMERA SYSTEMS
ANALOG CAMERAS IP CAMERAS -- DIGITAL RECORDING EQUIPMENT
TELCO & CELLULAR MONITORING
LOW MONTHLY RATES

FIRST THREE MONTHS TELCO FREE

Tanya

(NMLS509843)

Construction Loans
Conventional Loans
Rural Development
Home Equity & Home
Improvement Loans
Lot & Land Loans
VA & FHA Loans
MHFA Lending

Sherburne State Bank offers long-term

loans. If you are looking to purchase,
refinance or consolidate, now is the time
to stop by and see what we can do for you.

Sherburne
State Bank

19912 INDUSTRIAL DRIVE

BIG LAKE, MN 55309
WWW.AUDIOCOMBIGLAKE.COM
MN LIC: TS-643434
763-263-3582 RCB-49@IZOOM.NET

Two locations to serve you...

Becker 763-261-4200 | Princeton 763-389-4099

www.sherburnestatebank.com

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 10

Area housing on an upward pace

(EDITORS NOTE: The following story

by Editor Gary W. Meyer is reproduced
from a September issue of the Tribune,
with updates.)
The Big Lake Community is on the
grow again, following eight years of
quiet, the effects of the recent Depression.
What will the community look like in
say, five years, or 10 years? What are all
the factors determining its growth - and the
type of housing needed to accommodate
that growth?
Projected answers to those questions
came Monday from Mary Bujold, president of Maxfield Research and Consulting
of Golden Valley, who addressed the Big
Lake Economic Development Authority
(EDA) at City Hall. Sitting in were members of the city council and planning and
zoning commission.
What were her key takeaway?
Big Lake will remain an attractive community for residential growth, but the
growth will be slower than the previous
A SPLIT LEVEL home built this year and offered by Progressive
upturn in growth;
Builders on 204th Avenue on the west side of Big Lake. (Photos by Gary W.
Younger and aging population growth
Meyer)
will impact alternative housing types;

The community has a very low 3.4%

unemployment rate, lower than other areas
of the state, and a good share of its residents will need to find work in adjacent
communities;
Older and senior housing is limited, with
low vacancy rates;
Home prices are increasing, and that
includes big surges in land costs;
There is a lack of middle-market and
move-up housing, especially in single family stock, as a result of new construction
being aimed mostly at first time buyers;
There will be a demand for most housing
types this decade and beyond.
Bujolds study was the result of a community housing survey conducted this
spring in the community. She refers to the
Big Lake Market as including neighboring
townships, Big Lake and Orrock.
People from within the market area will
comprise 80% of those needing additional
housing.
Whos Living Here?
A higher percentage of people are moving into the city than to the two townships,
Housing Continued On Page 11

763-263-2058
Serving The Area Since 1967!
M-F, 9:30-5:30PM; SAT, 9:30-12PM

17000 205th Ave., Big Lake

Financing available to qualified buyers!

CERAMIC TILE WOOD FLOORING VINYL

Housing

Continued From Page 10_____________________________

she reported. In 2000, townships outdrew

the city in move-ins by a 3-2 margin. By
2010, that comparison was even; by 2016,
%
the city had moved ahead and that trend
s
will continue into 2025.
Children under 18 account for about a
t
third of the area population, and that will
continue to grow.
h
Largest growth group, however, is those
aged 55 to 72, as the Baby Boomers grow
t
to senior citizenship.
Big Lake remains about average to surd
rounding communities with about 35% of
households having married couples with
n
children.
Household size is stabilizing at around
g
three.
There is a remarkably high home ownership rate in the community, she reported.
s
Ninety-five percent of those living in the
e
townships own their homes and 83% in Big
g
Lake, compared to 73% statewide.
Big Lakers earn more than their counterl
parts around the state, and that is likely to
l
expand.
In 2016, the city median family income
was $68,148, and $78,971 in the townships, compared to $61,657 statewide.
,
By 2021, the city family income should

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 11

FASTER cheaper LOCAL...

home loans

At Liberty Bank Minnesota we have the loan you need, plus amazing rates and service. We
process your loan locally and we can close fast.
If youre looking to buy or build a home or refinance a loan you already have, give us a call or
use our convenient online mortgage center. Were waiting to hear from you 7 days a week!

KEN GEROUX CONSTRUCTION workers are attending to a

2,400 square foot home, with a lot
of amenities, in Orrock Township.
Cost of the structure, aside from
land purchase, is $406,000.

1-888-850-2265
libertyapply.com
NMLS I.D. #411232

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 12

Housing

Continued From Page 11______________________________________________________________________________________________

increase to $80,436, and the market area to

$90,312.
There is a large disparity between incomes
of homeowners and renters in the city,
whereas homeowners have an earning of
$68,835, compared to $32,123 for renters.
And, Big Lake is a job exporter, Bujold
reported.
The area unemployment rate is 3.4%,
compared to 3.3% statewide. And the community, for every 2,112 workers who came
into Big Lake, 5,355 workers left for
employment elsewhere, usually within

close-by communities.
Average weekly wage in 2015 in Big Lake
was $675; it was $1,159 as the highest in the
manufacturing sector,
So, For The Houses
There were 253 housing units constructed
in Big Lake during the Depression (2007 to
2015), an average of 28 per year.
In the preceding robust years, there were
202 single family and multiple living units
constructed per year.
The housing stock is relatively new, with
58% built prior to 2000 and 41% built since.

BEAUTIFUL APARTMENT LIVING

AT A PRICE YOU CAN AFFORD

1 BR - $550 FREE Wi-Fi

Heat, Electric & A/C
Controlled Entrance

w/Video Surveillance
Elevator & Ramp
Screened Patio

RIVERSIDE APARTMENTS
Senior Apartment Community 55+

101 RIVERSIDE DR SE, ST. CLOUD, MN

Community Room

Section 8 Welcome

Small Pets Allowed

in all Apartments
WESTWOOD VILLAGE APARTMENTS
SAVANNA AVE, ST. CLOUD, MN

2 BR $605, 3 BR $750
Controlled Entrance
w/Video Surveillance
Section 8 Welcome
Patio/Deck D/W
Microwave
Garage, Heat,
Water/Sewer & Trash
Included in Rent

Call Joyce or Lisa

320-252-0880

SWISSHELM VILLAGE APARTMENTS

LAUDENBACH CRT, ST. CLOUD, MN

WWW.STCLOUDHRA.COM

Single family detached homes count

Housing Continued On Page 12

for 95% of all owner-occupied housing.

And - 87% of Big Lake owners have a
mortgage.
New home prices are escalating quickly following the conclusion of the
Depression. Mortgage foreclosure sales
have just about cleared out and all now
available on the market are newer units.
Most of the new homes coming on the
market are for first-time buyers, but they
are escalating up into the $250,000 range.
Pre-owned homes were a little different.
In June, there were 25 homes on the market at prices from $150,000 to $199,999;
another 29 homes (the largest share) were
on at $200,000 to $249,999; the thirdlargest share (17) were on at $250,000 up
to $299,999; and another 10 (the fourth
largest share) were on at $300,000 to
$399,999.
Median list price for those homes was
$225,000 in Big Lake; the average price
was $264,775.
Of 311 rental units (in 12 projects)
around the city, there was a 0.6% vacancy rate. Market rate units (210) had a 1.0

vacancy rate; affordable and subsidized

(101 units) had a 0% vacancy rate.
Their Recommendations
They suggest the demand will be for
about 140 single family homes, mostly
built on the 540 vacant lots.
Entry-level construction (under
$200,000) will be very difficult, given
land, materials and labor costs.
Maxfield also says there will be demand
for 168 units in privately-owned multifamily housing. They could be in twin
homes, townhomes, quads or row homes,
with entry levels at $225,000.
There is a suggested demand of 190
rental units, about half of them at market
rate.
For the seniors, a demand of 122 units,
in various cooperatives, congregate and
assisted living.
Staff and policymakers believe there is
more housing needed in Big Lake, and
the purpose of the study was to have a
third party (Maxfield) confirm that, says
City Administrator Clay Wilfahrt.
Our market will demand 60 to 75 new
single family homes each of the next 10
Housing Continued On Page 13

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 13

The fall home care checklist

By Sam Erickson
Maybe its going back to school, maybe
its the shorter days or maybe its the blinding lights signaling the holiday season
ahead, but fall home improvement projects
often get tossed aside or neglected in favor
of more exciting, interesting or pressing
activities. This short checklist will help
guide you to the most important elements
to monitor and maintain in your home,
keeping you and your family safe and maximizing the life of your home.
When the time changes, its time to
check the batteries in your smoke detectors. Making sure they are still operational
is quick and easy and will bring peace of
mind for another six months. Similarly,
every year, you should check your fire
extinguishers to ensure that they have the
proper pressure. Look for dents and dings,
and make sure the pin is in the correct position. Fall is a great time to do this, as youll
be spending more time indoors. If the pressure has fallen too low, find a professional
to recharge them for you.

Housing

Most people dont use their chimney in

the summer, and soot can build up over the
course of a year. Other debris like birds
nests or even leaves can create unsafe
blockages. Have your chimney inspected
by a professional if you plan to use it
through the winter.
Small animals will be looking for a
warm place to sleep, and your home is a
great option for them. Perform routine pest
control in your area, watching out for
places where animals might get into your
home.
Most importantly, youll want to have
your furnace and heating system checked
by a professional. This can save you big
money on your heating bill, and an inspection can ensure that there isnt a dangerous
buildup of carbon monoxide in your home.
Furnace and air filters should be changed
regularly to maximize safety and efficiency. If you are planning on using space
heaters, humidifiers or de-humidifiers,
they are a great addition to your checklist.
Clean them off and inspect the heating and

electrical elements for safety, particularly

if they have been out of sight in storage for
the warmer months.
Finally, check the caulking around your
home. Caulk is a cheap compound that
anyone can apply, and it will reduce the
amount of energy loss from your home and
prevent water damage to flooring, walls

and windows in the kitchen and bathroom.

This is a big listand its certainly not
comprehensivebut all of these things can
be accomplished in one weekend day.
Spending minimal time improving and
protecting your home for the winter season
will provide great returns.

ITS TIME TO START

LOVING YOUR AGE!

Continued From Page 12_____________________________

years. Overall this information is good

news and indicates steady future growth.
The Maxfield survey cost $12,500, of
which $4,000 was absorbed by a grant
from the Initiative Foundation.
2 Builders Producing
Two local builders have added several
homes of the 52 for which permits have
been pulled in the city this year.
Denny Nelson of Progressive Builders
completed purchase of several previously
foreclosed lots on the west end of the city
and earlier this year announced his plans to
developed up to a dozen of them.
more here.
Ken Geroux of Ken Geroux Builders,
meanwhile, is having a busy year, doing
custom-built projects.
Hes been out in the area townships for
two current jobs, one in Orrock and one in
Becker township. The Orrock home, to be
finished by the end of the year, is being
sold for $406,000, besides the cost of the
lot. It is a 2,400 square foot slab-on-grade
home in infloor heat, high end cabinetry,
has three bedrooms and two and a half
baths, three stall garage and engineered
wood siding. The interior has wood floor
and tile.
The Becker project, to go for $365,000,

without the price of the lot, has 1,900

square feet with an oversized three-stall
garage, two bedrooms and an office, hardwood and tile floors, stone and high grade
vinyl exterior. It features a large covered
porch.
He expects to start two
more homes yet this
fall, one in the city.
But there are some
serious
headwinds
home builders are facing, Geroux says, and
that is the lack of
trained carpentry craftsmen. The pipeline producing such workers
has dried up in the last
years and he cant
secure more employees.
Hes like to have a
second crew, but the
applicants arent there.
He expects the problem
to continue and slow the
number of homes being
built in the area.

763-295-4051

Built on a
History of
Excellence

Senior Housing
Transitional Care
Assisted Living & Memory Care
Long-Term Care Adult Day
Home Care & Hospice
Club GA-Wellness Center

763-241-4438 guardianangelsmn.org

EEO/AA

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 14

Solid Waste Disposal Services Including:

Industrial Waste
Foundry & General Manufacturing Wastes
Construction & Demolition Waste
Sludges & Ash
SERVING MANUFACTURING, INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL CLIENTS

OPEN T
TO
O THE PUBLIC

763-262-8662 VONCOUSA.COM | 15301 140th Avenue SE, Becker, MN 55308

Small changes make

big differences this fall

By Sam Erickson
Usually, the term home improvement
leads people to think about the physical
structures of the placeplumbing, insulation and wiringbut you can improve the
look and feel of your home this fall with
just a few small changes. You dont have to
sign any paperwork with a contractor or
spend a lot of money in order to make
these changes.
Consider changing the colors of your
accent pieces. Everyone decorates for
Christmas, and having a few pieces of fall
that you procure this year and keep from
year to year can help bring the outside feeling in. Fall leaves, holly and vegetables
like pumpkins and squash will immediately trigger warm associations in your home.
Got a big elm in your front yard? When the
leaves start to change colors, bring in the
best-looking ones, dry them out and
arrange them on a coffee or accent table.
You could also string them up into the
chandelier above your dining room table,

adding visual height to the room.

You can create a wall grouping with fall
flair anywhere in your home. Gathering a
number of small frames from second-hand
stores, you can add whatever items you
find that remind you of fall. These might
be leaves, swatches of color or even sayings that you have typed and printed out. A
cluster allows you to make dramatic
change in a small space. Clustering smaller items will add visual interest and
encourage the eye to move around the
room, making it appear larger.
Consider the front of
your home. This is the
first thing that people will
see as they approach for
the holidays, and fall is a
good time to spruce up
your entry or vestibule. A
fall wreath on the front
door can really set the
tone. Fall is also a good
time to think about flowers. You wont have the
vibrancy of spring flowers, but you can dramatically alter the way that
your home is perceived
with several pots of
mums.
The kinds of small
changes you can make in
the fall are only limited by
your imagination. Shop
flea markets, discount
stores and thrift stores
with an eye out for inexpensive items than can be
combined to make a stunTTake
ake the
the ch
chill
ill off
off ccold
old floors
floors with
with our
our iinnovative
nnovative aand
nd
ning display in your
energy
efficient
Warmfloor
ystem. It
It w
works
ork s u
under
nder
e n e rg y e
fficient STEP
STEP W
armfloor ssystem.
home.
You dont have to
tile,
floors.
Transform th
the
e ffeel
e el o
off
tile, ccarpet
arpet and
and even
even wood
wood fl
oors. Transform
make
major
changes to
your
your ccold
old room
room ttoday!
oday!
make a major impact on
the appearance of your
C
Contact
ontact us ffor
or w
warm
arm floors: inf
info@heatmyfloors.com
o@heatmyfloors.com
(800) 785-8738 or (763) 477-3665 w
www.heatmyfloors.com
ww.heatmyfloors.com
home.

Warm Up Any Room With

Roll-off Dumpsters: 6, 10, 20, 30, 40 cu. yd. Serving Residential & Commercial
(763) 422-3867
VeitUSA.com

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 15

Know the risks of CO

poisoning especially
in the winter months

As temperatures fall, carbon monoxide

dangers rise
With the start of the fall and winter heating season, the Minnesota Commerce
Department urges Minnesotans to be aware
of the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Each year about 500 people die in the
United States from unintentional exposure
to carbon monoxide
(CO) a silent, odorless, colorless gas
formed by the incomplete combustion of
fuels.
Dangerous concentrations of CO can
build up indoors when
fuel-burning devices
are not properly vented, operated or maintained. These include
furnaces, water heaters, gas or kerosene
space heaters, gas boilers, gas ranges and
ovens, gas dryers, charcoal or gas grills,
fireplaces and wood stoves, motor vehicles
and yard equipment.
The risk of deadly CO poisoning is
greatest in the winter months, when a heating system may malfunction in a home or a
car engine is left running in a garage.
People can also be exposed to high CO
levels while camping, fishing, hunting or
boating. For example, concentrated CO
can form in the cabin areas of boats or in
ice houses with portable heating equipment.
Here are three basic tips to prevent CO
poisoning:
Properly vent and maintain fuel-burning
appliances
All fuel-burning appliances should be
vented to the outside and should be
checked by a qualified heating contractor
every year to detect potential problems.
CO buildup in a home often results from
problems with venting flue gases. Causes
may include a cracked furnace heat
exchanger, blocked or undersized chimney
or vents, damaged or separated vents, or
insufficient combustion air supply.
An appliance intended for outdoor use
such as a barbecue grill, camp stove or
portable generator should never be used in

an enclosed space. Do not idle a car in a

garage, either attached or unattached, for
any length of time. Dangerously high CO
levels can accumulate even if the garage
door is open.
Know the effects of CO poisoning
When CO is inhaled into the lungs, it
displaces the oxygen in the blood stream
and affects all major
organs and muscles.
Breathing in high levels of CO can cause
people to lose consciousness and die
even before they are
aware of any symptoms.
CO exposure can
produce flu-like symptoms. The first signs may include mild
headache and breathlessness with moderate exercise. Continued exposure can lead
to more severe headaches, dizziness,
fatigue and nausea.
Some ways to distinguish CO poisoning
from the flu:
You feel better when you are away from
home.
Everyone in the home is sick at the same
time.
Family members most affected spend the
most time at home.
You dont have a fever or body aches
that come with the flu.
Install and maintain CO alarms in your
home
Minnesota law requires that every home
have at least one operational CO alarm
within 10 feet of every room used for
sleeping. All CO alarms should conform to
the latest Underwriters Laboratory (UL)
standards. Follow the manufacturers
instructions for installation of your CO
alarms and note suggested replacement
dates.
For more information on CO poisoning,
visit the Minnesota Department of Health
website, the Minnesota Commerce
Departments Home Energy Guide (page
28) or the Carbon Monoxide Safety
Association at www.cosafety.org.

How to get bigger

savings, better coverage
and the best service...

THE
SHOWROOMS

Purcell Plumbing
& Heating Inc.
Registered Kohler Showroom

Residential & Commercial

Service & Remodeling
220 Sandberg Rd Monticello

763-295-5445

www purcellplumbery.com

INSURANCE
SPECIALISTS TEAM
530 Jefferson Blvd., Big Lake
(Corner of Hwy 10 & Eagle Lake Road)
(763) 263-0785 WWW.ISTMN.COM

When you want

it done RIGHT.

Residential & Commercial

Interior & Exterior

Painting & Staining, Drywall Repair, Ceiling Texturing

& Spraying, Decks & Woodwork, Pressure Washing

Rob & Laurie Swanson

Call: (763) 218-5328 Email: twoguyspainting@aol.com

M.L.
SCHENDZIELOS & SONS
Earth Moving & Excavating Contractor
BULLDOZING BLACK DIRT SEWERS
BACK HOE EARTH MOVING GRAVEL
Licensed & Bonded Celebrating 40 years

7760 Front St, PO Box 245

Clear Lake, MN 55319

Office (320) 743-2000

Fax (320) 743-4222

todd@mlschendzielos.com

A Complete Design & Build Company

Over-the-Ice Hauling - Beach Sand & Rip Rap
Landscape Design Retaining Walls
Paver Patios/Walkways/Driveways Water Features
Plantings - Trees/Shrubs/Perennials Outdoor Living
Landscape Accent Lighting Lakeshore Renovation

Turning Dreams Into Reality

Clearwater, MN | 320-558-4445 | www.jklandscape.com

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 16

Build this winter,

move in by spring!

Get $3,500
toward your
new home
when you build
this winter!

We got $3,500 by building last winter which

allowed us to upgrade to the kitchen of
our dreams! - Brett and Lynn
Only Wausau Homes builds fully custom one of a kind, superior quality homes
- from floor plans to finishes - with a firm price and move in date, guaranteed.

Quality built custom homes for every

every lifestyle.
Call or stop by the Wausau Homes Monticello
Design Studio to learn more!
763.295.1860
9251 Cedar St. Monticello, MN

A safer alternative to cleaning gutters

By Tresa Erickson
Every fall homeowners across the country pull out their ladders, buckets and
scoops and prepare for the arduous chore
of cleaning out their gutters. Gutters are
essential for directing water away from the
home and must be free of debris in order to
do their job effectively. Leaves, acorns,
pine needles and more can fill gutters
quickly in the fall and lead to major issues
later. Getting up on a ladder and scooping
out debris from gutters is not an easy task.
It is quite the hassle, in fact, so much so
that many homeowners have opted for a
gutter guard system.
There are hundreds of gutter guard systems on the market. Some you can install
yourself. Others require the skills of a professional to install. Cost is based on a number of factors, including materials.
Gutter guard systems come in a variety
of materials. Some of the most common
include copper, aluminum, plastic, mesh
and foam. There are advantages and disadvantages to each. Copper is expensive and
difficult to install, but it will not rust. It
must be sealed periodically to prevent it
from turning green. Aluminum costs less
than copper and is durable, but it can be

difficult to install. Plastic is also durable,

easier to install and will not rust. It can
crack, however, especially in cold temperatures. Mesh and foam work best as filters
in gutter systems. They are inexpensive,
easy to install and allow for better water
flow all around, but they tend to get
clogged quickly.
Most gutter guard systems come in two
designs: screens or covers. Screens act as
filters, allowing for more water to run
through gutters while keeping out large
debris. They are usually made from aluminum, foam or nylon or metal mesh.
Perched inside of gutters, screens are hidden from view. They are the least expensive of the two designs and the easiest to
install. They are not nearly as durable as
covers, however. Covers are usually made
from metal or plastic and sit on top of gutters within view. Larger than screens, they
can be difficult to install. Covers keep
debris out of gutters but do not allow as
much water to pass through as screens do.
As with any home improvement, you
should do your homework when selecting
a gutter guard system. Find out what is
available in your area and what will work

Gutters Continued On Page 18

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 17

Winterizing your pipes

By Sam Erickson
Not everyone has to worry about pipes
freezing in the winter, but much of
America does. If the temperature in your
area routinely drops to 20 degrees or
below, it will be worth your time and energy to prepare and maintain your home to
prevent your pipes from bursting. Pipes
burst when an ice blockage forms and the
pressure builds up behind it. While you
wont have ice shooting into your home,
youll have all of the water that has built
up behind itin the basement, in the
crawlspace or through the walls of your
house.
Proper insulation is the first step to preventative maintenance. The unheated areas
of your house are the most important to
insulate. Attics, basements and crawlspaces are the general culprits.
Polyethylene or fiberglass tubes are available to keep the cold out of pipes. Youll
want to measure the diameter of the pipes
and purchase the correct size. This will
ensure you have to make only one trip to
your home supply store.
Pipe insulation is carried in most big box

stores and in all hardware and home supply

stores. It can be cheaper in the spring
monthsprices tend to go up as the temperatures drop and demand goes up. You
will want to be particularly aware of any
pipes that have been stressed by previous
freezing or have recently been installed.
If you experience significant periods of
severe winter weather, you might consider
wrapping pipes in heat tape before insulating them. The instructions for installation
are very specific, and it is essential to follow them. If you dont, the heat tape can
lead to fires. Heat tape also has to be
checked regularly to ensure it is still functioning effectively.
Once youve taken all of the prerequisite
steps, youll still have some maintenance
to do to ensure you dont wake up in a puddle. When the temperature is expected to
drop, turn on your faucets, particularly
those that flow along outside walls and are
the most exposed to the cold. This will
reduce the pressure and can prevent an
explosion in the pipes, even if an ice dam
does form. Opening cabinets that contain

D/,>>EZ^KE
ED>^/

K>>Eh^d/E
ED>^/

DZ/>KhDKZD/
ED>^/

Z/E&/>E
ED>^/

Pipes Continued On Page 18

FU
FULL
LL SERVICE
SERVICE T
TITLE,
ITLE, A
ABSTRACT
BSTRACT
AND ESCROW
ESCROW S
SERVICES
ERVICES

etter Security
Security System
System
Your
Y
our B
Better
MINNESOTA BASED COMPANY off
offering
ering
TOTAL HOME PROTECTION
9
Burglary/intrusion

9
Carbon monoxide

9
Medical

9
Environmental
flooding
ding,, sump pump,
pump, sewer

9
Smoke and fire

9 Cameras/Video

View monthly specials online at www.wh-security.com!

info@wh-security.com (763) 477-33664 (800) 943-2667
info@wh-securit
Control
C
ontrol your
your homes
homes secur
security
ity from
from anywhere
anywhere
with interactive
interactive services!
services!

Custom Built Homes

Remodeling & Additions

(320) 743-3062
Family owned & operated
for over 40 years!
Clear Lake, MN
MN Lic. #BC009240

www.HausConstructionInc.com

113
1
13 West
West B
Broadway
roadway
Mo
Monticello,
nticello, M
MN
N

763-295-6140
763 -295 - 6140
w
www.preferredtitle.biz
w w.preferredt it le.biz

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 18

Gutters

Cont. From Page 17______________________

best for your budget and know-how. If
you decide to go with a professional,
review the options carefully and find out if
annual inspections are included in the
packages presented. If not, be prepared to
do the inspections yourself. If you decide
to install a system yourself, take the necessary precautions. Get a buddy to help
you and follow the manufacturers directions.
The whole point of as gutter guard system is to keep debris out of gutters and
homeowners safe on the ground.
Hundreds of injuries occur every year
from annual gutter cleanings. Dont let it
happen to you. Consider investing in the
safer alternative of a gutter guard system.

Pipes

Continued From Page 17______

pipes will let the warm air from the rest of your
house flow onto the pipes, keeping them warmer.
You can take one more step and check the basement and garage for any leaks. Look particularly
for places where cold air could be directly applied
to pipes from cracked windows, gaps or areas
where the insulation has worn away. Applying
your general insulation strategies will save
money on your energy bill, and it can also keep
your pipes warmer and delay or prevent a freeze.
Preventative maintenance is never an attractive
fix. Its neither a new skylight nor a fresh coat of
paint, and it wont be instantly noticeable. Pipe
insulation and maintenance, however, will add to
the value of your home in the long run by preventing costly damage and a nasty surprise in the
middle of the night.

b~

ss

0

/
2

4- 2$ kb~

0 /
2
/nn n AA
n|nne nn
An }A[ AAAQn
A| [n
n

0n[n A
!An I !en
4Aen I
/nA[nn
/ n
An
s /n /Ae "
Anb !" ~~
nAnA[










  
 
 


    


  



  






 



  


  


   



 




  


 

$33

   GVSOBDF 

     

 

n
   


Leaves, leaves
& more leaves!

By Tresa Erickson
Whether you are raking leaves in the fall or leftover leaves in the spring, there are sure to be many.
You could bag them for your sanitation service to
dispose of, and many people do, or you could keep
them out of the landfill and try one of these alternatives.
Mow
Forget the raking. Mow your leaves for instant
fertilizer. The shredded leaves will provide great
cover for your lawn over the winter, resulting in
better soil and fewer weeds in the spring. The
leaves will add vital nutrients to the soil as they
break down and block out some of the sunlight that
would otherwise help weeds grow.
Mulch
Use the leaves as mulch. Shred them with the
mower first. Then rake up the organic leaf mulch
and spread it in your vegetable gardens,
flowerbeds and around your trees and shrubs.
Again, the leaves will add nutrients to the soil as
they break down over the winter and help your
plants grow. If you don't like the look of the organic leaf mulch, you may add a layer of bark mulch
over it. Just don't use more than three inches of
mulch total, or you could cause disease to occur.
Compost
Add the leaves to your compost pile. They will
provide a great source of high-carbon brown material. To speed up the decomposition process, rake
the leaves into low piles and mow over them several times. Then layer the shredded leaves with
green materials and let it sit over the winter. Keep
the pile moist and turn it over often. When planting
time rolls around, you will have some great compost on your hands.
Save
Should you decide to add the leaves to your
compost pile, you might want to save a few bags
for later. You'll be doing a lot of weeding, deadheading and pruning in the spring, making for a ton
of green materials for your compost pile. The best
compost piles layer green and brown materials.
Brown materials will be hard to come by unless
you have saved a few bags of leaves from the fall.
All you will have to do is get them out and dump
them into the compost pile.
This year, as you are dealing with leaves, consider giving the landfill a break and your lawn and
garden a boost. Mow, mulch, compost or save
some leaves for later. Try one alternative or a combination of alternatives. Maybe you can mow
down the leaves one week, rake up some for the
compost pile the next and use some for mulch the
next. Whatever you do, don't burn your leaves. Not
only will you incur the risk of a house fire, but you
will release harmful chemicals into the air.

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 19

Get out the blanket for your house

By Sam Erickson
With colder temperatures coming, you might be thinking about making some additions that will help your
home and your pocketbook get through the winter
unscathed. Many people automatically think of drafty
places in the home like doorsills or older windows. Its a
great idea to pay attention to these, but insulation actually has a much greater effect. Rather than a quick draft,
poor insulation is like a slow sieve, leaking energy at
every surface of your home. Fall is the perfect time to
install more insulation in your home.
The first step is to find out how much insulation you
actually have. Crawl up in to your attic and look at the
depth of the insulation there. That can offer you a clue
about the quality of the rest of the insulation in your
home. There are also numerous organizations that will
come out and do a home energy audit for you. Having an
energy audit is a good idea for a number of reasons,
including the fact that it will reveal the quality of insulation in hard-to-check places like inside your walls.
These days, youve got several options for home insulation. Most people think of giant rolls of pink, and these
rolls or batts are still readily available. Made of fiberglass or rock wool, they are easy to install and relatively
cheap. They are also cut to standard widths to fit between
wall studs or floor joists in the ceiling. You might also
look into professional installation of loose-fill, rigid
foam or foam-in-place insulation. Loose-fill insulation
can be blown into place, making it useful for odd-shaped
places like roofs or ducting where it can be difficult to
install other kinds of insulation. Rigid foam can be
applied to exterior walls and has a higher R-rating based
on thickness.
Each type of insulation is given an R-rating, essentially a measure of how much resistance to heat flow the
product has. As you do your research, youll quickly

learn the R-values of different types of insulation. Remember that these are based on
depth as well, and the resistance to
heat will change based on how much
material you put into your house.
Each region of the country has
different recommendations for the
amount of insulation you should
have, so check with your contractor
before proceeding to maximize your
investment. Insulation is one of the most

effective ways you can reduce your energy

expenditures, offering a much faster return
on your investment than other options. In
addition to keeping your home warm in
the winter, insulation can keep the heat
out in the summer, doubling your
investment. Once youve completed
your renovation, you can cozy up for
the winter under the new blanket for
your house.

No Other Garage Door Opener

Opens Your World Like a LiftMaster

LiftMaster 8550W DC
Belt Drive Garage Door Opener
With Wi-Fi Built In

What garage door opener alerts you when it opens or closes with MyQ
Technology? Gives you the ability to control it from anywhere?
Safeguards your home with advanced security features, and powers up
so you can access your home, even when the power is down?

$369.00

The LiftMaster 8550W DC Belt Drive Garage Door Opener.

PROFESSIONALLY
INSTALLED

Includes:
2 Car Remotes & Keyless Entry

for 7 high door

Fall Home Improvement Guide... October 29, 2016...Page 20

Bitzer
Garage Doors,

FALL Carpet
Cleaning Special

LLC

Garage Doors
Electric Openers
Sales Service Repairs
Installation

Shirlee Heitz
ABR, CRS, GRI
www.shirleeheitz.com

Serving Big Lake &

surrounding communities
for 30 years.

763-262-0123
690 Humboldt Drive
Chuck Heitz
Realtor
www.chuckheitz.com

BIG LAKE
www.ShirleeHeitz.com

763-295-5366
Call Dan Bitzer: 763-286-0128
Call Scott Bitzer: 763-286-0136
e-mail: BitzerGarageDoors@tds.net
30+ Years of Experience FREE ESTIMATES

www.bitzergaragedoors.com

Clean the biggest filter in your house!

612.701.3140 763.441.2418
CARPET UPHOLSTERY AREA RUGS FABRIC PROTECTION
CARPET CLEANING

We are pleased to also offer:

Totally Green &
Hypo-Allergenic Cleaning
Products & Processes For
Your Carpets & Upholstery

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER:

10% OFF

A Cut Above Excellent Since 1989

New Home Construction - On your property
or wooded acreage homesites available

Remodeling & Renovation - Our success in remodeling

comes from viewing the project from our clients perspective.

Design - Proper planning and design are the foundation

of a successful project.

Commercial Construction - Buildout services,

structural renovation, complete design and new construction.
Their work is absolutely second to none. I think it is also in part to KGC'S high demands
of their subcontractors and workers. We can assure you, if Ken Geroux Construction
Corporation does your work, no matter how big or small, you will be pleased. M.H

It's nice to know that there are still companies out there that care about their
clients. (KGC) knew what our budget was and stayed within it, even under it!
All of the employees and sub-contractors were so nice to work with. D.&P. T.

Autumn Winds Apartments

Now Leasing!
1 bedroom apts
,iL>i`Vit
xNewly renovated!
xHeat, water/sewer and
trash all included
xConvenient location
Must be 62 + and/or
disabled to qualify

121 Euclid Ave

Big Lake, MN 55309
Equal Housing Community

3URSHUWLHV
Tel: 763-228-2562

763-263-6878
BIG LAKE, MINNESOTA

www.KGCCorp.com
Lic. #BC002757

Chamber of
Commerce Member