Privacy Policy

Privacy Statement

This statement explains our information-gathering practices related to the City's website. This statement applies only to:

• Websites with the City's official domain name (hamlakemn.gov) in the web address
• Websites under contract with the City to provide online services to the City

Information you provide to us

The Minnesota Government Data Practices Act governs all data that the City.

• Collects
• Creates
• Receives
• Maintains
• Disseminates

This law presumes that all such data is public unless classified otherwise.

See Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13

There are many exceptions to the presumption that all such data is public. If we ask you to provide private data through an online form, we will let you know about the proposed use of the data by the City before you submit the form online.

If you choose to submit information to the City by email, we will use, disseminate and retain the information you provide:

• Including any identifying information
• As needed in conducting the City’s official business
• In accordance with the laws governing retention and dissemination of data

You should be aware of the provisions of the law as it relates to data that you are sending to the City. If you have questions about the information you share, contact the City Clerk's Office.

Information about your visit to our site

The City of Ham Lake does not routinely collect or keep personal information about your visit to the City's website. Like most Internet sites, our website reads some information from your computer to help us:

• Analyze traffic patterns
• Perform routine maintenance
• Make it easier for you to use our site
• Temporary information we collect

In general, the information we collect is temporary. When you leave the site, we delete the information from our system.

The City automatically collects and stores the following information:

• Total number of visits to our site
• Number of unique visits to our site
• Types of computer systems used to access our site
• Web browser type and version
• Date and time of access
• The website that may have referred you (linked you) to this website
• The first and last page you visited on our site

None of the information described above contains personal, identifying information.

Cookies

Our website traffic tracking system and other online services from the City may use "cookies" to help deliver online services. Cookies are simple text files that are created and stored on your computer.

The systems will destroy many of these cookies when a user does any of the following:

• Is not active on the site for a few minutes
• Successfully completes a transaction
• Closes the browser window

In some instances, however, cookie files may last for a longer time.

If your web browser does not accept cookies:

• You will be able to navigate the information contained on our site.
• You may not be able to use some of the online transaction services provided by the City.