Frequently Asked Questions

Transcription

1 Address Questions Animal Licensing Apartments Frequently Asked Questions Address Questions How do I obtain an address? Every property in the City is assigned an address by the Planning Department. Please contact the Becker Planning Department by at [email protected] or call to obtain an address for a particular property or with any addressing questions. Animal Licensing Do I have to have a license for my pet? The City of Becker requires all dogs to be licensed. Cats and other pets are currently exempt from the City's license requirements. How do I license my dog? You can obtain a dog license from Becker City Hall, Sherburne Avenue. The cost is $10.00 per dog. You must provide proof of rabies vaccination at the time of application. Apartments What rental units are available in Becker? The following is a listing of residential rental units in Becker. There may be houses and duplexes available for rent that would not be included in this list.

2 Building Permits Prairie Village Townhomes Edgewood St Becker Estates Hancock St Heartland Pointe Apartments Bradley Blvd Third Street Apartments Third St Pineview Apartments Pineview Ave. Pine Ridge Court Sherburne Ave Woodbriar (Senior Apts) Rye St What if I have a question or problem regarding my rights as a renter? Contact the State Attorney General's Office for information. Consumer information is available by calling General Information is available by calling Building Permits When and Why do I need a building permit? For the protection of its residents, the City of Becker enforces the Minnesota Uniform Building Code. Any time you are building a new structure or adding onto an existing structure, you must obtain a building permit from the Building Inspector. Please contact the Building Official by at [email protected] or phone at with any questions regarding the building permit process. What else do I have to consider when considering building or adding onto an existing structure? The City of Becker enforces building setbacks via the City's Zoning Ordinance. Setbacks establish how far a building must be from the property line to ensure adequate light and air are able to pass between structures. This also ensures access to the entire structure for emergency purposes. Please contact the Planning Department via at [email protected] or phone at to find out what the setback requirements are for your particular property.

3 Cable Television Chamber of Commerce In all new residential developments and many older developments there are easements along all property lines. These easements vary from 5 feet in width to over 20 feet in width and are meant to allow public access for drainage and utility purposes. These easements are shown on the plat of your property. If you do not have a copy of your property plat you can obtain a copy from the Planning Department. These drainage and utility easements are critical for the drainage of water throughout an entire development. No fill or structures are allowed to be established in drainage and utility easements that alter the drainage of the development. Also, anything established in drainage and utility easements may be disturbed if utility work needs to be done in the future. Before placing anything in an easement please contact the Public Works Department via at [email protected] or at for more information. Before you do any digging always contact Gopher State One at to have your utility lines marked. Cable Television Who do I call for cable television service? The local cable company is US Cable. They can be reached at Becker Area Chamber of Commerce Who do I contact for local business assistance and information? The local Chamber of Commerce is a great resource if you are looking to start a business in town or if you are looking for information on a local business. The Becker Chamber of Commerce Director is Julie Brandt. She can be reached at or PO Box 313, Becker MN The Chamber of Commerce also has a web site you can visit for more information at

4 Daycare Churches Churches Following is a listing of churches in the City of Becker and the surrounding area. Please note: there may be other churches providing services that are not listed here. Assemblies of God Becker Baptist Church Hancock St Becker Christian Center nd St Faith Lutheran Church Sherburne Ave Becker United Methodist Hancock St Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Sherburne Ave Grace Lutheran Church Edgewood St There may be other places of worship in the community not included in this list. If you know of a church that should be included in this list please contact Becker City Hall at Thank you. Daycare Where can I find a list of local daycare providers? Sherburne County Social Services has a list of licensed daycare providers in the area as well as other valuable information to assist in selecting a daycare provider. Contact Sherburne County Social Services at

5 Electric Services Internet Service Lawn Care Electric Service I just moved to town, who do I call for electric service? There are two providers of electric service in Becker. Generally, if you live in the north part of town your service provider is Connexus Energy. They can be reached at If you live in the central or eastern area of town you are served by Xcel Energy. They can be reached at If you have questions, or are unsure about where your property lies please call City Hall at or the City Clerk at [email protected]. Internet Service Who are the local internet service providers in Becker? Currently, there are two local internet service providers in Becker. Each of them provides a host of services including DSL. Connections Etc Sonnek Communications US Cable Lawn Care

6 I just built a new home - do I have to sod my yard? No, the City does not require sodding of new yards. However, the City does require you or your builder to lay at least 3 inches of black dirt on the property. You have 8 months from the issuance of a certificate of occupancy to establish turf grass on the yard. The City recommends the use of drought resistant grasses such as the Fescue variety. Do I need a permit to put in retaining wall or to plant trees? You do not need a permit to plant trees. You do not need a permit to put in a retaining wall unless the wall is over 4 feet high. Most lots have drainage and utility easements running along the property lines so make sure when landscaping your yard you keep plantings and retaining walls that may alter drainage patterns out of the easement areas. And always call Gopher State One at before you dig to have the utility companies mark your site for underground utilities. Where can I dispose of my yard waste? The Public Works Department provides curbside brush and limb pickup every Monday in October to November (depending on the weather). Compost site is open for your convenience. What do I do with my green grass clippings? Because of equipment issues, the Public Works Department cannot pick up green grass clippings. You are welcome to bring your green grass clippings, leaves and brush to the City's Compost Facility. Wood chips and compost are available to residents at no charge at the compost site. The Compost Facility is open 24 hours a day / 7 days a week for your convenience. It is monitored by the Public Works Department staff and the Police. For questions about lawn care or the compost facility please contact the Public Works Department by at [email protected] or by phone at

7 License Plates & Tabs Medical Facilities Natural Gas Service License Plates and Tabs Where do I go to renew my vehicle registration? There are Deputy Registrar's offices in Monticello, Elk River and St. Cloud. Elk River Deputy Registrar 600 Railroad Drive Monticello Deputy Registrar 250 Broadway East St. Cloud Deputy Registrar 3335 St. Germain Where do I go to renew my driver s license? You can test for and renew your driver s license at the Sherburne County Government Center at Highway 10, Elk River. Or call the Sherburne County Auditor at Medical Facilities Are there any local clinics or pharmacies? Centra Care has a Clinic located at Rolling Ridge Road. This facility provides clinical services as well as a pharmacy. The clinic phone number is and the pharmacy number is Natural Gas Service

8 Property Taxes Realtors Who do I call for natural gas service in Becker? XCel Energy provides natural gas service in Becker. They can be reached 24 hours a day at Property Taxes How do I find out or dispute the assessed valuation of my property? Call the Sherburne County Assessor at How do I find out about Green Acres benefits and requirements? Contact the Sherburne County Assessor at Realtors What local realtors are in the area? Sherburne Ave Edina Realty 6th and Walnut, Monticello Progressive Realty 715 Katrina Lane, Big Lake

9 Recreational Fires Refuse Collection Recreational Fires Can I have a recreational fire in the City? Yes, you can have a recreational fire on property located in the City of Becker provided: The fire is enclosed in a non-combustible and non-smoke or odor producing fire ring. The fire ring measures no more than 3 feet in diameter from the inside of the fire ring border. The fire ring is located more than 20 feet away from any structure including houses, sheds, and fences. You should notify the fire and police departments of your intent to have a recreational fire. Only clean, dry wood may be burned. An adult must be tending the fire at all times. You must respect your neighbors, weather conditions, burning bans, and air quality conditions so as not to pose a nuisance, health or safety hazard. You must completely extinguish the fire before leaving the fire ring. Refuse Collection What companies provide refuse collection service in Becker? ACE Solid Waste, Inc BFI Superior Services Waste Management

10 School Who provides recycling services in Becker? Check with your trash provider. School Information My family is new to Becker, who do I call to enroll my children in school? Becker Independent School District 726 serves the City of Becker residents as well as the surrounding area. Following are the phone numbers for each school. You can also check out the schools on the web at Intermediate Middle School High School District Office Primary School Middle School Who do I call to find out about family programs and programs for my younger children? Contact the Early Child and Family Education Office at Does the school district provide community education classes? Yes, the Becker School District provides a number of Community Education courses. Call for more information and a schedule.

11 Voting Telephone Service Telephone Service Who do I call for telephone service in Becker? Sherburne County Rural Telephone Company, or Connections, provides local telephone service. They can be reached at or Voting Where do I vote? If you live in the City of Becker you vote at Becker City Hall, Sherburne Avenue. Please call for additional information. How do I register to vote? Voter Registration Cards are available at the front desk at Becker City Hall or at the Sherburne County Government Center in Elk River. Or you can call the Sherburne County Auditor at How do I obtain an absentee ballot? Contact the Sherburne County Auditor at