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1996/1997 Winter DECEMBER WINTER 1996 - 1997 JANUARY No. 93 FEBRUARY LIFETIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE This issue recognizes William J.Nee for a lifetime of public service including twenty-five years as Mayor of o m e m o ra ti ve Fridley. A modest man of extraordinary accomplish- ments,Bill Nee stands out as the key person in the first half century ofFridley's history. The following are some ofthe highlights ofhis career: 1959 - 61 Chairman,Parks&Recreation Com- mission 1959 - 61 Member,Planning Commission 1961 - 62 Councilmember,Ward I 1962 - 65 Member,Suburban Rate Authority ul� 1962 - 66 Trustee, North Suburban Sanitary 6 � Sewer District 1963 - 65 Mayor 1963 - 66 Member, Governor's Water Re- sources Commission 1 1964 - 96 Member Fridley Chamber of Com- merce(now SACCC) v 1967 Co-Chair, Ad Hoc Committee for Postal Station in Fridley 973 - 74 Councilmember,Ward III _ 1973 - 86 Member,League of Women Voters a (first male member) 1975 - 96 Mayor 1975 - 83 Member,Board ofDirectors,Anoka County Community Action Program (ACCAP) 1983 - 96 Chairman,ACCAP 1983 - 96 Chairperson,MNMotorsport Volun- teer Committee 1986 - 91 Member,No.Metro Mayors'Assoc. Mayor Bill Nee 1987 - 89 Member, Committee to bring 1996 Olympics to St.Paul and Mpls. 1990 - 96 Representative,Mississippi National River&Recreation Area Coordina- tion Committee,appointed by the U. S. Secretary of the Interior W I N T E R 1 9 9 6 1 BATTLING THE ELEMENTS After the tornadoes went 1965 stands out as the defining forced insurance companies to through the city,I went to city hall with several year in Bill Nee's career. First, settle quickly,received informal other people to offer my floods ruined many homes, OK's, and proceeded on un- help. Mayor Nee was already in action and especially in the low Riverview tested grounds. Instead of taking asked if I'd be willing to neighborhood. Then major extra time to secure trucks and help. We started going through a storm-damaged tornadoes devastated the rapidly landfill rights,destroyed homes area of Melody Manor growing city. Twenty-five percent were piled up and burned at sites looking for people who needed help. Bill Nee was of the homes were destroyed,and around Fridley. In addition,Nee very instrumental in more than 1,000 others badly secured financial aid from the rebuilding this city. damaged. Fifty percent of the federal government and from the BOB SCHROER schools and commercial buildings State ofMinnesota to help the suffered serious damage or City through the crisis. worse. Many people interviewed for Before the rain stopped Mayor these articles remembered his Nee took charge and kept leadership in this crisis. Former working until Fridley was rebuilt. Fire Chief Bob Aldrich who was He used his political connections Captain of the Rescue Squad at to good advantage. The storm the time recalls that"Mayor Nee left the sewer system completely was a huge calming influence on clogged, so Nee contacted Vice the entire community,a very President Humphrey who helped stabilizing force." The flood was procure a special Emergency not forgotten either. Aldrich Senator Eugene McCarthy and Mayor Bill Nee Disaster Grant. The most imme- remembers the Mayor as"instru- diate need the night of the tornado mental. . .in making changes to Bills immediate request was replacement tires for emer- prevent future problems." for state help, his -- enc vehicles. He of those organization of the city g y g forces and his personal through Minneapolis Mayor In retrospect it seems clear that concern for the tornado victims proved his ArthurNaftalin. the aftermath ofthe tornado was leadership and his very Bill Nee's finest hour. real empathy for the people. Mayor Nee took political risks, CONNIE MUCALF ® W I N T E R I 9 9 6 BUSINESS AND ECONONIIC DEVELOPMENT Not everyone was pleased with Bill keeping property taxes low. Nee's attempt to secure federal money for rebuilding the Leonard Moore noted that"Mayor Nee always pushed for a Working closely with many City. Voters center ofthe community where you could say: This is Fridley." city councils, Bill has opposed to The current development of Christensen Crossing at the inter- molded Fridley, once a "urban renewal section ofUniversity Avenue and Mississippi Street,coupled gentle farm land with few paved streets, into a money"defeated with the earlier renovation ofthe Holly Shopping Center and the prosperous suburban his bid for re- construction of Target's Operation Center,are steps community with a sound f T ' g p s p economic base. election to to the realization of that dream. Just KORDUK Mayor in the fall of 1965. How- In some communities TIF has cre- ever,in 1972 he ated problems for local school s ran on a platform in support of eco- districts. FormerFridley District 14 m 4 , nomic development,and returned as a Superintendent Dennis Rens ob- Councilmember in January 1973. Two served that"His support was instru- ►� Til years later he returned as Mayor,an mental in allowing Tax Increment 9 A office he would hold for the next Financing revenue raised by school twenty-two years. district excess levy referendums to pass through to the school districts in Rebuilding after the 1965 tornado In 1978 Mayor Nee was instrumental in the community. This was not the re-establishing the Fridley Housing and norm in Minnesota and allowed the local schools to do some Redevelopment Authority(HRA)to things for the Community's children they otherwise could not direct a sustained effort at community have done." planning and economic development in cooperation with the City Council. Bill Nee took an open arms As Mayor Nee retires from public HRA assistance has helped expand the approach to business and office,some thirty years after the industry. He was willing tax base and create an optimum mix of to work cooperatively tornado,his influence continues to residential and commercial property. with developers. be evident in the vigorous pace of Judicious use oftax increment financing DAVE HAwus economic development and the (TIF)has also helped the City develop maintenance offlourishing residen- the land to its fullest potential,thereby tial and commercial areas through- out the City. W I N T E R 1 9 9 6 1 CABLE TELEVISION PIONEER In the early 1940's,Bill which was customary at Nee's involvement with Without Mayor Nee cable television that time. community access programming, as radio and television led to a we know it, would be nothing more career in advertising. When than a good idea. As he stated many Fridley's public access years ago "Local programming is the cable TV came into the only legitimate reason for cable cable channels were the first area in the early 70's he did franchising in the metropolitan area. established in Minnesota We didn Y bring cable into Fridley for not want to repeat the same it to become just another movie and among the first ten in mistakes that were made theater." the nation. Since cable with broadcast television. PAID.KAsPsznx television came to Fridley j At Christmas time in 1972 the funds Bill Nee helped he initiated a referendum to provide have also enabled have the first cable TV the government access franchise put before thechannel to cablecast all people for a vote. He and regular City Council meet- other volunteers collected ings. 5,000 signatures within two weeks to stop the agree- In 1976 Mayor Nee was ment from taking effect. the only local official to After eight months of court testify at congressional battles and testimony before Bill Nee and Don Fraser testifying before the Commission committee hearings on the Federal Communica- cable television. He advo- tions Commission in Wash- cated local authority over ington,DC,a franchise cable television franchising. agreement including com- In 1980 he testified again munity access channels was before the Senate Subcom- signed. The agreement also mittee on Commerce in included a fee of 5%of favor of maintaining local gross income to support authority and the 5% public,educational,and franchise fee. His actions government access instead helped set the parameters ofthe 2%ofnet revenues for cable television access Bill Nee from televised broadcast as they are known today. ® W I N T E R 1 9 9 6 CONCERN FOR THE DISADVANTAGED Bill Nee joined the board ofthe Anoka County Community Action Program Bill,with such actions as being chair ofthe Anoka (ACCAP)in 1975 and has been its chairman since 1983. ACCAP is a very County Community active county wide organization which helps low income residents and senior Action Program, his insistence on Fridley citizens. Over the years the ACCAP umbrella has included Head Start; devoting a portion of its Senior Well Clinic;foodshelf programs;low income housing rehabilitation and CDBG funds to human services, and his service weatherization;crisis and energy assistance;housing for the disabled;transi- to such organizations as tional housing;government surplus food distribution;Senior Chore Service; Head Start, Senior Well Clinic, and numerous Senior Outreach;Senior Befrienders;and lobbying for transportation services. other organizations has never lostsight of the fact that the basic mission of In addition to his service on the ACCAP board of directors,Mayor Nee has government is to serve supported many human services initiatives,especially through the designation people. of Community Development Block Grant(CBGD)funds for human services DONALD M.FRASER organizations. MayorNee has consistently supported designating about 30% ofthe City's allocation for that purpose instead of 15%as most cities do. QUALITIES OF A LEADER A number of people were asked: What qualities open-minded,fair. He made an effort to contributed to Mayor Nees success as Mayor of understand your point of view, sometimes Fridley? Here are some ofthe responses. agreeing with you and sometimes not, but County Commissioner Jim Kordiak: Good always respected your right to your view. listener. Leads by strength of character. Bob Aldrich: He had the ability to remain Dianne McKusick: His main goal was to above all of the pettiness that occurred make the city of Fridley a better place to and stay focused on the issue at hand. live. Dennis Rens: He hada vision and articu- Leonard Moore: Always open to sugges- lated it well. tions. Didn Y close his mind. Weighed Virgil Herrick: Talentforgettingpeople to things carefully. Always inclusive of come to the middle on issues. minorities. State Senator DonBetzold: Heputthe Woody Nelson: Ability to listen. City first. He deeply cared about this Bob Schroer: Upfrontwith everyone, City. W I N T E R 1 9 9 6 I� Sunday Vonday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday ' 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ty Q� PR CC HR Recycle 1 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 A HRA Recycle 2 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ar CC EQE PL Recycle 1 Cal Q 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Holiday ecycle2 Winter 1996-97 A 29 30 31 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Calendar Codes [� 1 2 3 4 Holiday Recycle 1 5 6 CC 7 8 9 10 11 A Appeals Commission PR PL *HRA recycle 2 y 12 13 Council 14 15 16 17 18 CC City Council Conf. A Recycle 1 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 CH Charter Commission Holiday EQE PL Recycle 2 27 CC 28 29 A 30 31 CTV Cable TV Commission CH EQE Environ. Quality&Energy Committee Sunday Moudal Tuesday I Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday HR Human Resources Commission 1 HRA Housing&Redevelopment Authority 2 3 PR 4 5 PL 6 7 8 C.Conf CI'V *HR Recycle 1 PL Planning Commission 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 CC A *HRA Recycle 2 PR Parks&Recreation Commission �I 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Holiday EQE PL Recycle I Recycle 1 North of Mississippi Street 23 24 CH 25 26 27 28 South o Mississi i Street r CC A Recycle 2 Recycle 2 l PP * Tentative Schedule The City Council meets at 7:30pm in the Municipal Center located at 6431 University Avenue NE. The public is welcome. The Cable, Charter, and Park & Recreation Commissions meet at 7pm. Other Commissions meet at 7:30pm. Hearing impaired persons planning to attend public meetings who need an interpreter, or others with disabilities who require auxiliary aids, should contact the City Manager's Office at 572- 3500 ten days before the meeting. The Municipal Center is accessible to persons with disabilities. ® W I N T E R 1 9 9 6 AN ADVOCATE FOR COMMUNITY PARKS After an unsuccessful bid for election to the City Highway 65." Council in 1957,Bill Nee was appointed to the Fridley Parks and Recreation Commission in 1959. While Bill Nee was being re-elected Mayor,almost He has never forgotten his beginnings. 70%of the voters indicated a preference for a nature center. "From that time on,he has supported In his early years he used to tour the City in search the development and continuation of what is now of suitable park sites. He led the campaign forFridley's only park He was always supportive of bond issue to acquire 112 acres expanding recreation facilities- parks,playgrounds, ball fields- for Locke Park;he was instru- to every neighborhood mental in getting legislative funds LEONARD MOORE for Islands ofPeace Park,one of the first parks fully accessible to people with disabilities;he promoted the development of Community Park,a major team sports recreational facility for softball,football,and soccer;and he worked with the Anoka County Board,other governmental Steve Billings,Biu agencies,and FMC to secure land for the Riverfront Nee,Ann Bolkcom, and Nancy Jorgenson Interregional Park just south of the I-694 bridge. In the mid 70's a controversy arose over the use of called Springbrook Nature Center." North Park. Many wanted it to be made into a golf course. Bill Nee preferred a nature center on the In the 90's Mayor Nee has served on the Missis- site. It became a campaign issue in the 1974 sippi National River and Recreation Area Coordina- election. Dianne McKusick clarified Mayor Nee's tion Committee to preserve the river as a national stand. "He never felt it was an EITHER/OR deci- park running from Hastings to CoonRapids and to sion. A study by a consultant hired by the City establish guidelines for land use along its banks. He Council advocated the development of a city golf has also had the pleasure of dedicating Riverview course on land leased from the Metropolitan Air- Heights Park on the site of the devastation from the ports Commission two miles north ofthe city on 1965 flood. W I N T E R I 9 9 6 Q 1 CELEBRATION OF PUBLIC SERVICE On Sunday,November 17, 1996, for his forty years of public Councilmember in addition to more than two hundred people service including twenty-five years service on countless commissions, gathered to honor Mayor Bill Nee as Mayor and four years as a committees,and task forces. Bill Nee Bill Nee and Senator Eugene McCarthy discussing rebuilding Bill Nee and Govenor Karl Rolvaag Bill Nee Bill Nee shaking � hands with Diane McKusick ands Virginia Peterson �. i Bill Nee and Nasim Qureshi, and Bill Burns Bill Nee shaking hands with Don I Fraser at the Appreciation II Dinner ' l Grand Opening Bill Nee at the Appreciation Dinner ® W I N T E R I 9 9 6 I INTERNATIONAL HORIZONS Bill Nee's world view was shaped to Fourmies to continue this by his service in the U. S.Army tradition. during World War IL especially his combat experience during the In 1981 the Nees visited w. Battle of the Bulge where he was Fourmies where Mayor Nee and wounded inaction. The experi- Fourmies Mayor Fernand ence ofwar instilled a commit- Pecheux signed an agreement of Sister City Lei Papua New Guinea ment to world peace. friendship. During that visit the Tour de France bicycle race ,. In the late 70's Medtronic built a passed through Fourmies. Bill "� z manufacturing plant in Fourmies, Nee was grand marshall for the France. In 1978 this led to the Fourmies segment ofthe race and establishment of a Sister Cities rode a motorcycle along with the xta ' relationship when the Secretary bicyclists. General(=City Manager)of Mayor Bill Nee, Sister City-Fourmies Mayor Fourmies,Marceau Batteux, In 1990 Mayor and Madame Fernand Pecheux and wife made the first of his many visits to Pecheux visited Fridley,and in Fridley. Current Sister Cities of 1994 Mayor Nee and Kay Fridley President Clynell Moore Bonner Nee returned to Fourmies recalls the crucial role Mayor Nee to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary played in establishing the organi- of the liberation ofFrance. zation. "I don't think we could ' have done it without his help." With Mayor Nee's guidance and Bill Nee,Don Fraser, and Fourmies Mayor support a solid sister city relation- Fernand Pecheux Fridley High School French ship has developed between teacher Diane Ferry was the first Fridley and Fourmies-a small president. Throughout the years but definite step toward enduring �. she has been the guiding light of world peace. student exchanges between the two cities. In 1997 more than twenty Fridley students will travel Marceau Batteux from Fourmies and Bill Hunt W I N T E R 1 9 9 6 1 THE LIGHTER SIDE Kay Bonner Nee recalls that Bill then view him as a lame duck Nee volunteered for the from the start,but I thought I � mortorcycle corps at the begin- should sound out some other r' ring of World War II. He was people on this issue. So I talked .e N rejected because offlat with Dick Modig,his campaign feet and subsequently treasurer,to see what he though. drafted into the infantry! Dick laughed and said, `Ah,hell, Bill said that last time he ran and Mayor Nee arrested and Dianne McKusick every time before that.' Sure imprisoned for fund drive reports:"While work- enough,not only did he run again, mg on the 1980 but apparently said the same thing campaign,I had no (about not running again)every time to sew or develop a time." costume for Chuck or myself that we needed for Halloween. He There were many stories about and Kay offered us the use of two Mayor Nee and his motorcycle. great costumes from their collec- Dick Harris remembers when his tion. Some oftheir talented family motorcycle broke down in the members also provided a great middle of Main Street. Herb make-up application to complete Bacon recalls seeing him"buzzing our costumes." around"Logan Park on his way to meetings. Sue Sherek says her State Senator Don Betzold tells daughter will never forget her first ` the following story: "During the meeting with Mayor Nee. She 1983 campaign,Bill confided in was only four years old and their n me that since this was going to be family had just moved to Fridley ° the last time that he was going to when a man in a black jacket xE run for re-election,he wondered drove up on a motorcycle and Bill Nee participated in the Fourmies Grand Prix ifwe should make this public. I said: "Hi. I'm BillNee. You though that this might be a bad must be new in town." thing to say,because people might ® W I N T E R 1 9 9 6 • A PLACE OF HER OWN Respondents agreed that Bill In December of 1944 during the Nee's story was not complete Battle ofthe Bulge she barely Kay and Bill married in 1947 and without his spouse of many years, escaped the German break- lived in Minneapolis. Kay con- Kay Bonner Nee. The two met through. In fact,her companion siders their four children-Chris- in 1941 was killed while they were fleeing topher,Nicole,Lisa,and Rachel- when back to France. to be their greatest achievement. they both Later Kay returned to Belgium; In 1950 she became a producer/ worked crossed the Rhein into Germany; director for WCCO-TV. In 1956 for radio was present for the linkup of the Nees moved into their new station Russian and American troops; home on a lot on the banks of the Kay Bonner Nee and Bill Nee Middle person's name unavailble KATE in and witnessed the arrival of Allied Mississippi River in Fridley. In Albert Lea. Their paths parted troops at Buchenwald extermina- 1957 Bill made his first try for when Bill was drafted into the tion camp. While managing an public office and Kay became a Army and Kay went to work for American Forces Network radio full-time mom while continuing to NBC in Chicago and then volun- station in Czechoslovakia, she do free lance writing and record- teered for the Special ing of commercials. Services Corps. Kay Bonner Nee and Bill Nee Kay was one of the founders of }¥r In March 1943 Kay arrived W "The Footlighters,"a in London to entertain troops community stationed in England. She and theatre her companion drove a two ,, group,in ton truck with a piano and a 1958 and of fold-out stage which was also the Fridley their sleeping quarters. Seven- returned to League of teen Days after D Day,Kay was Paris for some Women Voters among the first women to land at phonograph records and in 1967. In Normandy. Kay traveled through broke her leg when hit by a taxi in 1968 she and Bill traveled the France;witnessed the liberation the Place de Vendome. She country with the Eugene of Paris;and went onto Belgium. returned home in 1945 with a Bronze Star for valorous service. continued on page 12 W I N T E R 1 9 9 6 • A PLACE OF HER OWN continued from page 11 McCarthy presidential campaign. The following the Guthrie,Old Log, Children's,Jungle,and other year she landed the advertising account for a new theatres. She has appeared in one feature movie department store chain called (The Untamed Heart)and three Target Stores. From 1971 tog movies made for television. ,m 1980 Kay was Executive Direc- tor ofthe Minnesota Association 1, Truly,Kay Bonner Nee has a of Voluntary Social Service place of her own in the history of Agencies. Fridley. In recent years Kay has been Marceau Batteux,Kay Bonner Nee and Lisa Nee active on the board of the Banfill- Locke Center for the Arts and in efforts to support A special thank you to Bill Hunt and the drama program at Fridley High School. In 1995 Jim Froehle for their contributions a scholarship was established in her name. to this issue of the Fridley Newsletter. Over the years Kay has been Bill's chief advisor and has pursued an acting career with appearances at WINTER NEWSLETTER 1996 w U A ECR Mayor WilliamJ.Nee w BULK RATE Councilmember-at-large Nancv J. Jorgenson U.S.POSTAGE O PAID Councilmember 1st Ward Steven E. Billings Minneapolis, MN Coucilmember2nd Ward Dennis L. Schneider Permit No. 2886 Councilmember3rd Ward Ann R.Bolkcont Z Oj �t W) City Manager William W.Burns Editor William C.Hunt yz FRIDLEY SERVICE DIRECTORY M **ECRW S S �. Administr.Off ices/Municipal Ctr 571-3450 Office hours:Sam-Spm M-F > >1Postal Customer 24 Hour Recreation Hotline 571-9397 a 0 TDD 572-3534 �D Liquor Store 571-3480 -� Police(24Hour Non-Emergency) 572-3629 FIRE AND POLICE EMERGENCY 911 w W) W I N T E R 1 9 9 6