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From YouTube: Bloomington Today: January 25, 2012
Description
On this week's episode of Bloomington Today, we'll take a look at how the City is keeping busy during this unusually dry winter, we'll also take a look at the difficulties that come along with rink maintenance as the thermometer rises.
A
Welcome
to
Bloomington
today,
I'm
kailyn
real
thanks
for
joining
us
winter.
Sports
enthusiasts
may
not
be
too
happy
with
the
lack
of
abundance.
No
we've
seen
this
year,
but
Bloomington
Street
maintenance
crews
couldn't
be
more
pleased
as
they
have
been
taking
a
full
advantage
of
this
rare
opportunity
to
do
other
important
wintertime
tasks
rather
than
plowing
out
the
city
after
a
snowfall,
it's
not
very
often
that
in
mid-january,
in
Minnesota,
you'll
see
crews
out
trimming
trees.
This
is
just
one
of
the
many
reasons.
The
2011
2012
winter
is
a
unique
one.
At
this
time.
A
B
A
B
A
B
Equipment
division
was
very
busy
last
year
trying
to
keep
the
trucks
up
and
running
just
through
repairs
from
normal,
wear
and
tear
of
plowing
snow,
but
they
didn't
get
to
do
all
the
preventative
maintenance
that
should
be
done
on
the
trucks.
This
year
we
can
schedule
the
tracks
to
go
into
the
equipment
garage,
so
they
can
get
caught
up
on
the
maintenance
issues.
Eiler.
A
B
A
Sure
to
tune
in
to
next
week's
Bloomington
today,
where
we'll
look
more
closely
at
City
tree
trimming
regulations,
also
in
the
event
of
a
significant
snowfall
resulting
in
the
snow
emergency
to
be
declared.
You
can
be
one
of
the
first
to
know
by
becoming
a
fan
or
follower
of
the
city's
Facebook
and
Twitter
pages.
You
can
also
sign
up
for
each
subscribe
to
customize
alerts,
sent
directly
to
your
email
or
smartphone,
and
while
the
lack
of
snow
is
helping,
allow
Public
Works
staff
time
to
conquer
new
tasks,
it
isn't
helping
Bloomington
outdoor
rinks.
A
In
fact
it's
hurting
them.
The
city
of
Bloomington
provides
residents
with
15
outdoor
rinks
every
winter,
the
men
and
women
who
flood,
groom
and
maintain
these
ranks
take
quite
a
bit
of
pride
in
their
work,
sometimes
coming
in
as
early
as
3
a.m.
to
catch
the
coolest
temps
to
make
ice,
and
this
year
they're
having
a
very
difficult
time
meeting
the
high
standards
they've
set
in
years
past
and
there's
just
one
thing
to
blame
mother
nature
with.
C
A
We
were
at
running
Park,
just
as
the
Sun
was
coming
up.
The
first
step
in
outdoor
rink
maintenance
includes
sweeping
the
ice
with
large
brushes
a
Zamboni
like
machine,
then
snow
blows
and
polishes
the
hockey
rinks
next
cruise
flood,
the
rink
making
sure
the
temps
remain
low
enough
for
long
enough
to
cover
the
rink
surface.
With
a
fresh
sheet
of
ice
on
this
particular
morning,
you
can
almost
see
the
ice
for
me
just
as
the
water
hits
the
existing
surface,
but
cold
temps
aren't
all
that
is
needed
for
ideal
ice
conditions.
Simply.
C
A
little
snow
we
use
the
snow
to
build
berms
to
kind
of
contain
the
water
and
we've
had
to
haul
that
from
the
ice
gardens
or
from
the
small
snowfall
that
we
did
have.
We
stockpile
some
of
it,
but
we
have
to
haul
it
out.
Usually
when
it
lands,
we
can
just
plow
it
up
and
make
berms
out
of
it.
Skaters.
A
C
A
A
Kilibrew
drive
just
south
of
the
mall
of
america
will
soon
look
a
bit
different.
At
the
january
third
city
council
meeting
a
3.6
million
dollar
pedestrian
bridge
project
was
approved
when
complete
the
project
will
connect
the
south
border
of
the
mall
of
america
through
the
parking
ramp
at
the
new
Radisson
Blu
Hotel
to
businesses
south
of
Killebrew
drive.
It's
here,
you'll
find
restaurants,
hotels
and
office
space.
The
bridge
will
be
funded
partially
by
a
federal
grant
and
partially
through
assessments
to
mall
of
america
and
other
businesses.
A
A
The
structure
will
be
a
cross
between
a
Skyway
and
a
conventional
pedestrian
bridge
plans
confirm
it
will
have
a
roof
and
windows
along
with
moderate
heating
and
cooling.
Construction
is
set
to
be
again
on
the
pedestrian
bridge
in
May.
It's
now
time
for
a
short
break.
When
we
come
back
we'll
be
joined
by
utilities,
superintendent
abab
real
to
discuss
the
growing
trend
of
private
water
testing
companies,
soliciting
their
service
to
city
residents,
stay
right
here.
D
I'm
Jessica
Mendoza,
US,
Olympic,
gold
and
silver
medalist
I
never
take
my
eyesight
for
granted.
Neither
should
you
doesn't
matter
how
old
you
are.
You
can
be
losing
your
vision
of
glaucoma
without
knowing
it
take
care
of
your
sight
schedule,
regular
eye
exams
for
yourself
and
those
you
love
call
one.
Eight
hundred
437
24
23
go
to
a
half
org
for
free
information
and
publications
from
national
glaucoma
Research.
A
A
F
E
Areas
of
responsibility
that
I
have
within
the
utilities
are
to
provide
administrative
oversight
for
the
water
treatment
plant,
which
is
water
production,
that
water
distribution
system
and
the
sanitary
sewer
collection
system
and
I
like
to
think
of
my
job,
is
providing
oversight
and
support
and
giving
the
tools
and
materials
that
the
staff
needs
to
do
their
job.
So
I'm
there
to
support
them
and
to
provide
the
services
to
the
city
and.
A
E
Generally
speaking,
they're
telling
our
residents
that
Minnesota
water
by
and
large
is
bad
and
bad
is
very
subjective
term
they're,
not
identifying
any
issues
or
any
problems,
whether
they're
just
trying
to
get
people's
attention
and
trying
to
get
invited
into
their
homes
for
the
purposes
of
doing
some
very
rudimentary
tests
in
order
to
show
what
the
bad
water
looks
like
and
then
trying
to
then
sell
filtration
systems
in
order
to
address
those
bad
things
in
the
water.
This
has
caused
a
lot
of
problems
because
it
has
brought
into
focus.
E
If
you
will
the
fact
Bloomington's
water
might
be
of
concern,
because
so
many
people
are
getting
so
many
of
these
types
of
calls
and
we're
here
to
tell
you
that
our
water
is
fantastic
and
that
the
water
is
not
bad
and
we
have
a
lot
of
documentation
and
a
lot
of
regulations
that
we
need
to
provide
and
to
follow
in
order
to
basically
prove
to
the
state
of
Minnesota
and
to
the
environmental
protection
agency
that
our
water
is
indeed
good.
In
fact,
it's
better
than
good
as
excellent.
Absolutely.
A
E
Being
here
today
is
one
of
the
ways
we're
responding
to
it.
We
try
real
hard
to
provide
public
education
in
our
reach
to
let
people
know
that
we
indeed
do
have
a
very
high
quality
product.
We
are
one
of
about
24
water
systems
in
the
state
of
Minnesota,
actually,
lime
softens
our
water,
and
so
we
provide
softened
water
at
a
very,
very
reasonable
price.
E
We
also
include
what
we
call
our
water
quality
report
and
this
report
is
actually
a
requirement
of
the
Environmental
Protection
Agency
and
in
it
worth
we're
required
to
provide
everybody
who
reads
this
report,
everything
that
it
was
founded
in
the
testing
of
our
water
over
the
course
of
the
year.
There
are
several
primary
things
that
we
have
to
test
for
things
like
lead
and
copper,
nitrate,
sulfates,
etc,
and
it's
all
documented
within
this
report
and
again
we
meet
or
exceed
all
water
quality
standards
and.
A
A
E
They
have
a
very
full
day
at
the
water
treatment
plant.
We
have
what
we
have
the
william,
lloyd
water
quality
laboratory,
but
within
that
we
have
the
tri-city
labs,
which
is
a
consortium
of
the
cities
of
Bloomington
Edina
in
st.
louis
park.
That
was
formed
back
in
the
late
60s,
if
I'm
not
mistaken,
and
that
was
used
to
basically
a
test
the
waters
and
also
to
do
other
additional
tests,
such
as
food
tests
and
stuff
for
the
environmental
services
parts
of
the
city's
operations.
E
But
we
have
two
lab
analysts
currently
employed
plus
we
use
the
services
of
one
of
our
other
staff
members
to
augment
their
work
and
for
the
city
of
Bloomington
alone,
the
water
tests
that
are
done
annually.
We
do
over
45,000
tests
a
year
on
our
water
and
that
averages
out
to
about
one
test
every
year
with
10-12
minutes,
and
this
is
365
days
a
year.
We
are
constantly
testing
the
water.
E
There
are
minimum
set
of
tests
that
have
to
be
done
each
month
per
the
requirements
of
the
safe
drinking
water
act
that
is
administered
through
the
Minnesota
Department
of
Health.
We
far
exceed
the
number
of
tests
that
need
to
be
taken.
We
look
in
all
corners
here
there
and
everywhere
to
make
sure
that
the
quality
of
the
water
that
were
sending
out
to
the
system
and
to
our
users
is
top-notch
well.
A
One
test
every
10-12
minutes,
there's
not
a
whole
lot
of
room
to
miss
things,
so
the
city,
you
know
in
a
different
sense
of
finding
out
about
you-
know
how
much
residents
like
the
water
you
know.
Besides
the
health
effects,
the
city
often
holds
taste
tests
between
Bloomington
faucet,
water
and
various
bottled
water
brands.
What
have
the
results
of
those
tests
been
in
the
past?
Well,.
E
What
a
great
plug
for
us!
We
have
done.
These
taste
tests,
these
blind
taste
tests,
we've
done
them
at
some
of
the
the
home
fairs
that
the
city
participates
in,
along
with
some
of
the
conference's
of
professional
organizations,
have
conferences,
et
cetera,
that
will
enter
in
our
our
water
or
finished
treated
water
and
we'll
have
that
compared
to
other
people's
water
along
with
bottled
water,
as
you
mentioned,
and
we
have
for
the
local
ones,
we've
done
quite
well.
In
fact,
we
won
each
of
the
ones
that
we've
entered.
E
Our
water
has
been
strongly
preferred
over
the
bottle
water
of
various
manufacturers,
and
so
we're
very
proud
of
that
and
about
two
years
ago,
going
on
three
years
now,
the
american
water
works
association
started
doing
a
state
of
minnesota
drinking
water,
competition
and
the
very
first
year
of
the
when
they
had
the
test.
There
was
a
competition
up
in
duluth
minnesota
and
there
was
multiple
utilities
entered
in
their
water
and
again
as
a
blind
taste
test
and
with
close
voting,
bloomington
came
in
a
very,
very
close
second
place
throughout
the
CMS
ohta.
G
A
Well,
let's
just
kind
of
sum
it
all
up.
You
know
between
the
extensive
testing
that
is
done
at
the
william,
lloyd
laboratory
to
you
know
the
obvious
positive
results
of
the
the
blind
taste
tests.
What
is
what
does
utility
say
and
what
does
utilities
want
residents
to
know
when
it
comes
to
maybe
them
getting
that
call
that
water
is
bad
in
bloomington?
Let's
just
drive
it
home.
What.
E
We'd
like
to
say
is
that
if
you
have
any
concern
about
your
water,
please
contact
the
water
treatment
plan.
We
have
trained
professionals
there
that
can
and
will
answer
any
and
all
questions
that
you
might
have
regarding
your
drinking
water,
the
number
of
tests.
We
do
the
types
of
tests
we
do
what
you
can
expect
to
get
in
the
finish
water
product.
There
is
absolutely
no
reason
for
you
to
be
concerned
that
the
water
that
we're
sending
you
on
a
daily
basis
is
in
any
way
shape
or
form
bad.
E
If
you
would
like
we'd,
be
happy
to
come
out
and
pull
a
sample
from
your
your
tap
there
and
tested
for
whatever
constituents
it.
Somebody
might
tell
you
having
your
water,
and
we
can
prove
to
you
that
without
any
doubt
that
the
level
in
the
water
or
either
below
or
they
don't
exist
below
the
standards
or
they
don't
exist
at
all.
So.
A
E
Say
the
answer
that
question
is
absolutely
yes,
we
would
be
happy
to
come
out
and
meet
with
you
and
the
sales
rep
at
the
time
that
you
were
to
set
up
an
appointment.
If
you
choose
to
do
so,
I,
don't
believe
you
would
receive
a
knock
at
the
door
that
that's
a
different
method
of
promoting
what
they're
trying
to
do
most
of
these
are
done,
if
not
all,
by
setting
up
reservations
or
appointments
over
the
telephone.
A
We'd
like
to
thank
utilities,
superintendent,
Bob
cockrill
for
being
here
with
us
today.
If
you
have
any
questions
about
any
of
the
things
we
discussed
here
today,
please
feel
free
to
call
the
William
Lloyd
laboratory.
That
number
is
9
52,
56,
34
904.
It's
now
time
for
a
short
break,
we'll
be
right
back.
You.
H
F
H
A
Welcome
back
everyone
a
helpful
addition
on
the
campus
of
Normandale
Community
College
is
officially
underway.
Adolfson
and
peterson
construction
began
installing
a
tower
crane.
The
week
of
January
sixteenth
to
construct
the
new
720
forestall
parking
ramp.
The
crane
approximately
120
feet
tall
will
illuminate
the
project
site
with
boom
lights.
The
four-story
ramp
is
being
funded
through
an
increase
in
student
fees
approved
by
the
student
government.
The
addition
of
this
ramp,
while
factoring
in
the
six
surface
Lots
on
the
campus,
will
bring
the
total
number
of
parking
spaces
to
3334.
A
The
structural
elements
of
the
ramp
are
scheduled
to
be
completed
by
mid-summer.
It's
now
time
for
another
arts,
at
the
plaza
segment,
where
we
bring
viewers
a
taste
of
the
changing
art
exhibitions
that
make
their
way
into
either
of
civic
plazas
two
galleries.
From
now,
until
februari
17th,
you
can
find
lace
and
gunpowder.
The
male
female
art
exhibition
featured
in
the
first
floor,
Inez
Greenberg
gallery.
A
This
exhibit
features
male
and
female
artists
who
are
working
in
the
same
artistic
genre,
you'll
notice,
side
by
side
pieces,
similar
in
style,
but
different
in
overall
presentation
according
to
the
male
and
female
artist.
While
many
of
the
similarities
between
the
artists
work
is
evident,
viewers
will
also
be
challenged
by
personal
and
societal,
preconceived
stereotypes.
A
You
won't
want
to
miss
the
artist
talk
on
februari
9th
at
seven
p.m.
at
Civic
Plaza
next
week
on
Bloomington
today,
we'll
find
out
what's
heading
into
the
atrium
gallery
upstairs
at
Civic
Plaza.
Well,
if
you
didn't
take
this
friendly
advice
back
in
November,
hopefully
you
will
now
we've
already
seen
sub-zero
temps,
freezing,
wind,
gusts
and
snow.
That
means
winter
is
here
and
City
emergency
personnel
want
to
make
sure
Bloomington
residents
are
properly
prepared
if
ever
left
stranded
in
the
cold
according
to
the
Minnesota
safety.
A
So
each
year
hundreds
of
Minnesotans
find
themselves
stranded
on
the
roadside
unprepared
motorists
can
be
seriously
injured
or
killed
within
minutes
when
exposed
to
extreme
weather
conditions
like
we
have
here
in
Minnesota.
That's
why
officials
say
every
vehicle
on
the
road
should
have
their
own
winter
survival
kit
in
the
trunk
of
their
vehicle.
Some
key
things
to
keep
inside
your
winter
weather
survival
kit
is
a
blanket
some
extra
gloves
and
a
pair
of
boots
a
first-aid
kit,
something
sweet
to
snack
on.
A
In
case
you're
stranded
for
an
extended
period
of
time,
as
well
as
a
candle
some
matches
and
a
working
flashlight,
these
things
will
help
get
someone
through
until
help
arrived.
Well,
that's
all
the
time
we
have
for
today
to
get
more
information
on
city
projects,
parks,
road
construction
and
events
visit.
The
city's
website
to
check
out
past
episodes
of
Bloomington
today
or
other
City
productions,
visit
bloomington's
youtube,
channel,
accessible
right
from
the
city's
homepage.
That
and
so
much
more
is
online
right
now
at
wwc,
I,
bloomington
MN
us.