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From YouTube: Bloomington Today: March 9, 2011
Description
On this week's episode of Bloomington Today we'll get a few reminders about winter fire hazards to be aware of, we'll also see the City's Street Maintenance crews in action, as they pre-treat Bloomington roadway's in anticipation for the next snowfall, not to mention, patch those stubborn potholes.
A
Welcome
to
Bloomington
today,
thanks
for
joining
us,
I'm
kailyn
real.
Last
week
on
Bloomington.
Today
we
brought
you
a
story
of
the
city's
transition
from
using
sand
to
help
d
ice,
wintry,
Road
ways
to
now
only
using
salt
and
other
chemicals.
We
went
out
with
Street
maintenance
crews
before
our
last
snowfall
here
in
Bloomington,
to
find
out
how
this
new
cleanup
system
requires
action
before
the
first
flake
has
even
fallen.
A
B
We
have
a
forecast
of
snow.
We
usually
try
to
get
out
two
to
three
days
ahead
of
time
and
star
jab
preparing
for
the
snowstorm
three
days
before
I
will
start
blending
the
materials
and
getting
materials
ready
and
two
days
before
we
start
applying.
Our
anti-icing
materials
are
liquids
to
the
road
to
help
prevent
the
bond
of
snow
and
ice.
When
the
snow
does
fire
falling
huge.
A
Tanks
inside
the
Public
Works
garage
housed
thousands
of
gallons
of
toys
fluids
and
when
mixed
together,
the
city
of
Bloomington,
has
a
recipe
for
success.
Liquid
corn,
salt,
calcium
chloride
and
salt
brine
are
blended
by
crews.
The
result,
a
mixture
that
not
only
brings
down
the
melting
point
of
roadways
but
holds
material
better
when
applied
well.
B
I
think
we
have
a
proactive
and
reactive
system,
so
we
used
to
be
on
a
reactive
basis,
which
was
sand
with
a
little
bit
of
salt
in
it.
So
that
would
be
when
the
storm
started
or
after
the
storm
was
completed.
We
would
go
out
and
plow
just
put
sand
at
the
intersections.
So
that
would
give
us
just
enough
to
keep
from
slide
on
the
intersection.
It's
not
a
real
good
program.
B
We
didn't
have
a
lot
of
milk
and
now
our
more
proactive
we're
two
to
three
days
ahead
of
time,
we're
out
trying
to
keep
things
going,
keep
the
city
safe.
It
uses
less
material,
we
don't
have
the
loss
of
the
sand
and
the
storm
sewer
in
the
river.
We
use
less
salt
in
a
hole.
Then
we
would
have
beforehand
because
we're
not
melting
all
the
ice
pack
on
the
roads
because
we're
keeping
it
off
from
the
beginning.
Pre.
A
B
Safety
factor
of
our
roses
got
ten
fold
all
our
main
roads,
even
our
residential
roads.
We
have
a
much
better
snow
and
I
system
than
we
did
just
five
years
ago,
we've
changed
from,
like
I,
said,
being
reactive
to
proactive.
Instead
of
waiting
for
a
three
or
four
inch
snowfall.
Now
we
start
with
one
inch
as
soon
as
it
starts
blowing
we're
out
applying.
So
you
know,
there's
a
better
chance
you're
getting
to
work
tomorrow
because
of
the
way
we
do
things
the.
A
Valve
system
that
controls
how
much
material
from
each
tank
is
pulled
to
blend
the
pre
icing
solution
was
created
from
scratch
by
a
few
of
our
very
own
Public
Works
city
employees,
thanks
for
continually
working
to
make
our
roads
more
safe
and,
although
snow
may
still
be
in
the
forecast
spring,
is
right
around
the
corner
with
warming
temperature
comes
a
great
concern
for
Bloomington
city
officials
when
it
comes
to
the
diminishing
ice
on
our
area,
lakes
and
ponds.
One
concern
in
particular
the
stormwater
retention
ponds
located
in
various
places
throughout
the
city
anytime,.
C
We
get
melting
on
the
streets
and
that
melting
runoff
goes
into
the
storm
sewer
that
will
go
into
one
of
the
ponds
somewhere,
the
still
holding
ponds
and
wherever
that
Inlet
is
that
warmer
moving
water
can
start
to
to
melt
ice
and
so
ice
might
be
on
one
side
of
a
pond
fairly
safe,
but
where
that
Inlet
is,
it
can
be
thin
or
in
most
cases,
you'll
actually
see
open
water.
So
once
we
get
to
this
time
of
the
year,
when
we
get
melting
at
all,
we
we
really
tell
people
to
stay
off
city.
A
Officials
want
to
caution
residents
to
use
their
best
judgment
when
venturing
out
onto
area
lakes
this
time
of
year
and
as
a
rule
of
thumb,
keep
in
mind
that
Bloomington
is
no
longer
maintaining
city
ice
rinks
due
to
the
warming
temperatures,
lakes
and
ponds
are
expected
to
follow
that
thawing
trend
in
the
coming
weeks
and
warming
temperatures
don't
just
bring
budding,
leaves
and
green
grass.
It
brings
suspension
pounding
potholes
street
maintenance.
A
That
is
how
a
pothole
is
formed.
Bloomington,
Street
crews
are
already
out
trying
to
get
ahead
and
patch
as
many
holes
as
they
can
before.
The
big
snow
thaw
begins.
Street
maintenance,
worker
Paul
Fink
runs
us
through
how
the
patching
process
goes
when
dealing
with
what
they
call
an
axle
breaker.
We.
D
Don't
get
to
prepare
the
holes
as
well
as
we
could
in
the
summer.
This
is
more
or
less
an
emergency
patch
so
that
we
don't
have
any
damage
to
any
of
the
vehicles
of
the
residents
of
Bloomington
and
we're
mainly
going
after
these
bigger
what
we
call
axle
breakers
and
we
are
trying
to
do
a
decent
job
to
make
a
little
smoother.
So
we
have
a
roller
with
us.
Today
we
come
behind
and
we
smooth
them
out
the.
A
A
Workers
are
also
focusing
their
attention
on
snow
removal
from
the
boulevards
between
snowfalls.
This
will
redirect
that
snow.
That's
left
to
the
gutters
rather
than
the
roads
when
it
starts
to
melt
city
officials,
encourage
people
who
live
work
or
visit
Bloomington
to
share
the
location
of
annoying
potholes,
so
crews
can
out
there
and
have
them
filled.
There
are
several
ways
to
do
that.
You
can
call
the
city
at
9525,
638,
760
or
use
the
ask
the
city's
online
pothole
service
request
and
let
Cruz
know
the
location
of
that
bothersome
pothole.
A
Well,
in
an
effort
to
build
better
Bloomington,
the
city's
housing
and
redevelopment
authority
or
HRA
is
offering
assistance
to
residents
who
have
purchased
a
foreclosed
home
within
the
last
12
months.
The
foreclosed
home
improvement
program
offers
a
loan
funding
of
up
to
twenty
thousand
dollars
to
the
buyers
of
a
foreclosed
property.
One
half
of
the
amount
borrowed
will
not
have
to
be
repaid
if
the
owner
lives
in
the
home.
For
five
years,
many
foreclosed
homes
need
additional
work.
Here's
what
improvements
are
eligible.
The.
E
Eligible
improvements
include
we
like
to
think
of
as
any
permanent
type
of
improvement,
and
by
that
we
mean
if
a
homeowner
is
to
sell
that
home
down
the
road.
They
can't
take
that
improvement
with
them
to
a
new
house
that
they
purchase.
That's
not
a
catch-all,
but
that's
a
good
way
to
look
at
or
a
good
a
good
rule
of
thumb
that
eliminates
appliances
which
are
not
eligible
and
then
also
luxury
type.
Improvements
are
not
eligible,
so
they
can
do
siding
windows,
roofs,
kitchen
additions,
bathroom
remodels,
basement
finishing
doors.
It's
pretty
wide,
open
income.
A
E
Foreclosed
condition
means
that
these
properties
do
need
work
so
number
one.
The
buyers
can
get
a
typically
get
up,
foreclosed
home
for
a
reduced
price,
and
then
they
can
use
this
money,
which
is
a
very
good
incentive
to
make
the
home
improvements,
actually
bring
it
back
to
what
we
like
to
see
as
a
good,
safe
habitable
home.
So
that's
a
good
incentive
to
get
them
purchased
again.
Our
goal
is
to
try
and
get
people
in
these
homes,
so
they
aren't
vacant.
Some.
A
Examples
of
luxury
improvements
that
do
not
meet
the
guideline
for
the
foreclosed
home
improvement
program
include
pools
hot
tubs,
gazebos
and
sheds
to
find
out
more
information
or,
if
you'd
like
to
request
or
download
an
application
visit.
The
city's
website
at
wwc,
I,
bloomington,
MN
us
and
keyword
search,
sh
IP.
A
A
A
Good
well
we'll
just
jump
right
in
in
light
of
a
recent
fire
that
took
place
here
in
Bloomington
that
ended
up
displacing
several
families.
We
kind
of
wanted
to
do
a
little
winter
fire
hazard
update
and
you
know
things
to
watch
out
for
so.
Why
don't
we
start
by
talking
a
little
bit
about
what
happened
in
that
fire
off
of
nicollet
avenue
back
in
February.
G
The
fire
department
was
called
a
fire
was
on
februari
8th.
It
was
just
before
five
o'clock
in
the
morning
and
when
the
police
and
fire
department
arrived,
there
was
people
standing
outside,
there
was
every
smoke
and
fire
and
people
were
actually
jumping
from
windows
and
stuff
the
police.
Are
there
right
away
and
started
assisting
people
down
from
the
windows?
And
then,
when
the
fire
department
arrived,
they
put
up
ladders
and
help
get
the
rest
of
them
down.
G
They
did
an
excellent
job
getting
these
people
out
of
there.
Although
there
were
several
injuries,
there
was
people
taken
to
the
hospital
for
smoke
inhalation,
some
cuts
and
and
injuries
from
Falls
the
well
as
a
result
of
the
fire
that
all
the
tenants
were
displaced.
The
building
was
no
longer
livable
until
it's
remodeled
so
I.
G
When
we
did
the
fire
investigation,
what
we
determined
that
happened
was
they
were
using
the
stove
to
heat
the
apartment
and
evidently
their
regular
heat.
There
wasn't
enough
for
him,
so
they
thought
they'd
turned
on
her
stove
the
burners
and
uses
stole
for
that
and
so
ended
up
causing
the
fire
in
the
apartment.
G
So
one
of
the
other
things
that
happened
here
was
one
of
the
tenants
as
they
went
out
the
window
from
that
unit,
went
around
to
the
door
and
opened
it
to
check
to
see
if
there
was
anybody
else
in
there
and
left
the
door
open.
What
happened
then
was
a
fire
escaped
out
into
the
hallway
and
the
heavy
smoke
and
fire
causes?
The
other
exits
from
the
apartments
would
be
blocked,
which
caused
the
people
I
have
to
use
their
windows.
A
G
Another
one
is
candles.
Candles
is
a
year-round
thing,
but
people
tend
to
put
them
someplace.
Maybe
a
curtain
floats
over
them
and
catches
them
on
fire
candles
burned
down
too
much
they're
not
being
observed,
and
they
can
start
things
as
a
meltdown
causing
the
burn
we
have
under
tended
cooking,
which
is
our
probably
our
biggest
cause
of
fires.
And
what
happens
there?
G
G
Although
cooking
is
the
leading
cause
of
fire
smoking,
the
leading
cause
of
fire
deaths
and
we
encourage
people
if
you're
going
to
smoke
smoke
outside.
But
if
you're
going
to
smoke
inside
use
an
ashtray,
a
large
one
make
sure
you
put
your
cigarettes
out,
don't
throw
them
in
trash
cans
or
anything
like
that.
G
If
you're
small,
you
are
a
smoker,
don't
smoke
in
bed
or
fall
asleep
with
your
cigarettes
and
if
you're,
intoxicated
or
using
medications,
you
should
not
be
smoking
and
one
other
thing
is
fireplaces,
especially
wood-burning
fireplaces
you
have
sparks
and
stuff
make
sure
you
have
a
guard
on
fire
place
like
the
chimneys
should
be
checked,
I
mean
we.
They
build
up
creosote
if
you're
not
burning,
drink,
clean,
dry
wood.
G
A
G
A
G
G
The
problem
we
have
with
smoke
detectors
is
ninety
to
ninety-five
percent
of
the
homes
are
reported
to
have
smoke
detectors,
but
it's
a
much
less
percentage
that
have
detectors
that
actually
work.
They
may
be
just
too
old,
they're,
not
functioning
anymore,
a
lot
of
times
the
batteries
are
taken
out
or
the
batteries
are
dead.
G
We've
had
incidences
where
people
have
told
us,
they've
taken
the
batteries
out
using
a
child's
toy,
and
they
don't
get
them
back
in
sometimes
they'll
take
them
out
if
they're
too
close
to
a
shower
or
too
close
to
a
kitchen
where
they
get
smoked
and
you'll.
Take
the
batteries
out.
Our
recommendation,
narrow
course,
is
to
move
it,
so
it's
not
so
close
to
where
shower
is
or
move
it
out
of
the
kitchen.
So
it's
in
another
area,
but
don't
just
take
them
out
and
not
replace
them.
A
Talk
going
back
to
smoke,
detectors,
I
know
one
thing
that
we
were
discussing
actually
before
this
was:
it
might
be
a
common
misconception
that
they
kind
of
come
in
the
house.
You
can
buy
them
battery-operated
and
put
them
just
about
anywhere.
What
areas
of
your
home
do
you
want
to
make
sure
our
have
properly
working
smoke
detectors
in
it?
Well,.
G
You
are
right
and
it
depends
on
the
age
of
the
home.
We
recommend
you
put
smoke
detectors
in
all
your
bedrooms.
If
you
have
a
Hollis
now
or
say
time
of
sale,
where
you're
selling
your
home
you're
probably
required
to
put
a
smoke
detector
in
the
bedrooms.
Now
those
can
be
battery-operated
smoke
detectors
where
we
have
new
homes
in
Bloomington
or
a
mom,
that's
remodeled.
G
What
they'll
require
is
a
smoke
detector
in
every
bedroom
and
typically
that'll
be
an
electric
smoke
detector
and
the
codes
and
I'll
say
I
have
to
have
battery
backups
and
also
the
smoke
detector.
All
sound
in
all
the
rooms.
One
detector
will
set
off
all
the
other
detectors,
which
is
important
because
if
you
go
to
bed
at
night
smoke
detector
goes
off
in
your
bedroom.
It's
they're
loud,
but
they're
not
necessarily
allowed
enough
to
alert
others
in
the
house.
A
Absolutely
well
switching
gears
a
little
bit
furnaces
are
something
that
we
in
Minnesota
obviously
used.
Quite
a
bit
talked
about
you
know,
is
there
a
hazard
there?
If
you
don't
have
your
furnace
inspected,
that
could
be
causing
a
fire?
It's.
G
What
happens
with
furnaces
and
one
of
the
biggest
thing
is
filters,
people
don't
change
filters
and
what
that
makes
the
furnace
do
is
mix
has
to
work
harder
to
get
error
for
complete
combustion.
If
you're
not
getting
complete
clean
air
to
your
furnace,
it
can
affect
how
the
flame
is
burning
and
that
can
cause
carbon
monoxide
poisoning
or
whatever.
The
other
reason
you
want
to
get
your
furnace
maintained.
H
G
G
That's
always
important
and
would
I
like
to
think
back
of
I
was
on
the
fire
department
for
20
years,
and
we
used
to
do
the
school
programs
in
the
in
the
Fire.
Department
still
does
that
today.
What
was
interesting
is
that
you'd
go
into
the
schools
in
these
fourth-grade
programs
and
younger
and
talk
to
these
kids
well,
as
I
got
older
and
met
some
of
these
people
as
adults,
they
would
remember
the
stop,
drop
and
roll
the
home
escape
plan
in
things
like
that.
So
is
always
interesting.
G
When
I
find
we
do,
is
we
try
and
educate,
especially
senior
citizens?
They
seem
to
listen
when
we
go
in
there
and
talk
to
them
and
actually
with
fires.
They're.
One
of
the
top
number
you
know
are
people
that
actually
get
injured
or
get
killed
in
these
type
of
fires.
So
they
listen.
They
have
a
lot
of
questions
and
then
the
kids,
of
course
in
school,
also
do,
but
it's
those
in
between.
G
A
G
We're
going
to
get
into
the
spring
here
now.
What
happens
now
is
we're
going
to
outdoor
fires.
House
wires.
Are
your
own?
Don't
get
me
wrong?
There's
things
people
do,
but
with
the
winter
months
people
stay
in
the
house,
Martin
attends
to
see
be
more
fires
happening
inside
the
homes.
When
you
get
outside
the
home,
you
know
we
will
start
with
barbecue
grills
will
have
fire
pits
and
people
not
burning
them
properly
and
or
not
keeping
safe
distances
from
buildings
or
structures,
and
it
can
always
cause
problems.
Course.
H
G
A
G
I
think
with
computer
use
the
best
way
to
look
at
is
you
know
your
websites
and
that
stuff
and
see
where
who
cleans
them
and
so
we're,
probably
not
a
good
resource,
because
I
don't
keep
a
list
of
people
that
do
that
and
but
I
do
strongly
recommend
they
look
up,
somebody
that
they
can
use.
It
does
a
good
job
of
it
and
they
could
just
keep
them
doing
a
year
after
year,
if
they're
satisfied
with
their
service.
So
I
would
like
to
mention
something
else
to
that.
G
There
are
some
websites,
and
I
want
to
give
one
website
which
is
nfpa
org.
Ok,
people
can
go
on
to
that
website
and
and
they
can
look
up
its
safety
programs
in
there.
What
they
do
is
they
have
a
lot
of
sheets
in
there
that
explain,
fires
and
there's
just
a
ton
of
information
on
it
anyway,
but
again,
that's
nfpa
dot,
org
orgy
and
they
can
click
on
air
and
there's
just
all
kinds
of
information,
there's
kids
games
and
everything,
but
it
all
relates
to
fires
and
fire
prevention.
What.
G
G
A
F
A
Welcome
back
to
bloomington
today,
as
promised
we're
keeping
you
in
the
loop
regarding
the
progress
of
the
169
I
494
interchange,
project
construction
is
officially
underway,
as
crews
spent
the
first
week
of
March
preparing
surrounding
service
streets
for
the
new
frontage
road
system.
According
to
a
min
dot,
spokesperson,
residents
can
expect
to
see
pile
driving
and
excavation
begin
very
soon,
as
well
as
retaining
wall
and
pier
construction.
A
All
this
is
groundwork
for
the
new
washington
avenue
bridge
spanning
I
494
and
the
flyover
ramp
from
westbound
I
494
to
southbound
169
continue
to
tune
in
to
Bloomington.
Today,
where
we'll
bring
you
updates
on
the
various
phases
of
construction
as
they
begin
to
happen.
Well,
bloomington's
favorite
choral
groups
are
coming
together
to
present
a
one-of-a-kind
concert
to
celebrate
the
community.
The
everybody
sing
choir
festival
will
feature
nine
different
choirs
and
hundreds
of
singers,
ranging
in
age
from
92
99.
The
event
is
set
to
kick
off
on
Sunday
March
twentieth
at
st.
A
Michael's
Lutheran
Church
at
3pm
groups
performing
include
the
Angelica
cantante
youth
choir,
the
Bloomington
Corral,
the
sing
for
life,
singers
from
friendship,
village,
retirement
community,
the
notable
singing
group
and
many
more.
This
is
a
free
event,
so
everyone
is
encouraged
to
stop
by
st.
Michael's
located
at
9201
normandale
Boulevard.
The
event
is
hosted
by
the
Angelica
cantante
youth
choirs
and
made
possible
by
a
special
grant
from
the
Bloomington
Fine
Arts
Council.
Well,
at
the
March
seventh
city
council
meeting
longtime
member
Steve
Elkins
submitted
his
resignation.
G
I
J
A
Members
adopted
a
resolution
acknowledging
the
vacancy,
thus
starting
the
clock
to
getting
that
vacancy
filled.
Council
has
45
days
to
appoint
a
replacement
for
Elkins.
The
person
who
was
appointed
to
fill
the
seat
must
be
a
resident
of
bloomington's
Council,
District
three
and
agree
to
serve
the
remainder
of
elkins
term.
His
seat
is
up
for
election
in
November
this
year
for
a
two-year
term
beginning
in
january,
2012
council
has
until
april
21st
to
appoint
someone
to
the
vacant
seat.
A
If
you
enjoy
authentic,
japanese
cuisine,
listen
up
in
a
few
short
weeks,
the
annual
Taste
of
Japan,
dinner
and
fundraiser
will
take
place.
This
event,
put
on
by
the
Bloomington
sister
city
organization,
will
be
held
on
saturday
March
19th
from
six
to
ten
p.m.
at
the
bloomington
Hilton
for
just
fifty
five
dollars
for
adults
and
twenty-five
dollars
for
students.
A
The
city's
website
that,
and
so
much
more
is
on
right
now
at
wwc,
I,
bloomington
MN
us
check
out
past
bloomington
today
shows
by
visiting
the
city's
youtube
channel
or
for
real-time
alerts,
become
a
fan
or
follower
of
the
city's
Facebook
and
Twitter
pages
will
do
even
one
better
sign
up
for
you
subscribe
to
have
updates
sent
to
your
email
or
cell
phone.
This
is
bloomington
today,
a
presentation
of
the
city
of
Bloomington
communications
division,
I'm
kailyn
real.