2002-10-04 Friday NewsThe Friday News
October 4, 2002
A Skateboard Park in Friendly Hills Park?
The Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a public information meeting on Tuesday, October 8"' to
hear input from Friendly Hills residents and all other interested Mendota Heights residents regarding the
proposal to install a skateboard park on the paved surface of the skating rink at Friendly Hills Park. The
informational meeting will take place at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers at City Hall. The skateboard
park would consist of a course of temporary ramps and jumps that would be removed each winter and re-
installed in the spring. If you are interested in getting more information or would like to make your
opinion known, please attend the meeting on October 8t'.
Final PUD Approval for the CDA Senior Housing Building in Town Center
On April 16, 2002, the City Council approved the preliminary development plan for the Planned Unit
Development for Town Center. At the first meeting in September they reviewed the concept plan for the
new CDA senior building. On Tuesday, the Council approved the final PUD and building plans for the
Dakota County CDA Senior Facility in Town Center. The CDA will be bidding the project in October
with the hopes of breaking ground on the new facility in November.
Baby News
Investigator Yvette Tillery had her baby last Saturday night at 11:07 PM. She had a 71b 8 1/2 oz boy, 20
inches long. They named him Cameron John Tillery. She also said he has a lot of dark hair!! Mother
and baby are doing just fine. Congratulations Yvette!
New Mailbox at City Hall
We recently received a request from a resident for a US mailbox to be placed at City Hall. The resident
was concerned with an increase in mail theft from home mailboxes in their neighborhood and was looking
for a secure mailbox to be placed in the area. Guy Kullander worked with the local postal service and we
now have a US mailbox outside in the drive up in front of City Hall (next to the Utility Billing drop box).
Pick up is every day at 3:00 PM.
Northland Lift Station Repairs
In August, it was discovered that the electrical feed to the Northland Drive sanitary sewer lift station
(located on the Brown College Campus) needs replacement. On Tuesday, the City Council approved a bid
from Total Construction to do the repair work.
Automatic Door Openers for City Hall —Upper and Lower Level
On Tuesday, the City Council approved the installation of ADA compliant automatic door openers at both
the upper and lower level main entrance doors at City Hall. This improvement to the building will be
done this fall.
Congratulations Sergeant John Larrive
On Tuesday night, the City Council appointed John Larrive as the new Sergeant for the Police
Department. In July, the Council authorized the Chief to begin the promotional process to fill the position.
A lengthy process was undertaken with six officers participating. Phase I consisted of a written exercise
and oral interview. Three finalists were chosen from Phase I for a final interview on September 25"'.
Congratulations to Officer John Larrive for fmishing at the top of the process!
Fire Prevention Week
Once again, the firefighters will be busy conducting fire safety activities during National Fire Prevention
Week, October 6th -12th. "Team Up for Fire Safety" is this year's theme. The Fire Department open house
will be held on Saturday, October 12"' at the fire Station, 2121 Dodd Road from 10 am — 3 pm. Come
tour the fire station, have your blood pressure checked, see the fire trucks up close, meet the firefighters,
learn fire safety tips and see safety demonstrations from HealthEast Paramedics and the Mendota Heights
Police Department. The Fire Department will also show off their thermal imaging cameras, rescue boat,
all terrain vehicle, water rescue suits and two new Automatic External Defibrillators.
Halloween Bonfire
Join us at the annual City Halloween bonfire on October 31 from 7-9PM. The event will be held on the
undeveloped portion of the Mendota Plaza Shopping Center property. The Volunteer Fire Department
will carry on the tradition and run this years' event. Hot dogs, soda and other goodies are free and a
ghostly good time is guaranteed. Residents of Mendota Heights are allowed to deposit brush no larger
than 4" in diameter as fuel for the fire. In the past, the City has had problems with illegal dumping at the
site which costs the City a great deal of money. In order to prevent the illegal dumping, the City will be
limiting the hours of operation from 8am-7pm from the 19th —29"' of October. We will also be increasing
the signage and limiting access to the dumping site. Unauthorized dumping is a misdemeanor with a fine
of up to $1,000.
54th Annual Firefighters Dance
The Fire Department will be having their annual Firefighter's Dance on Friday, October 25th. This year's
event will be held at the Prom Expo in Oakdale. Tickets are on sale now for $8.00 or $10 at the door.
Music by the Dweebs will begin at 8:30 PM. If you need tickets, please call City Hall at 452-1850.
Heights Highlites
The latest edition of the Heights Highlites is out! This final 2002 edition is full of election and general
City news. Please also note the architectural rendering of the new Dakota County CDA senior facility in
the Town Center Development. Thanks to everyone that contributed information to this edition. Thanks
especially to Emmy Foster for her hard work in production and layout of the newsletter!
Recreation Programmer Theresa Gangelhoff has surgery
Recreation Programmer Theresa Gangelhoff underwent surgery this week to help repair her broken arm.
She is now recovering at home with orders from the doctor to keep her arm elevated. She is recovering
well and expects to be back at work on Monday.
Final Thought
"You must first be who you really are, then, do what you need to do, in order to have what you want." --
Margaret Young
Respectfully Submitted,
Cari Lindberg
Administrator
Attachments: Just the Facts, Pipeline, Planning Synopsis, ARC Agenda, Parks and Recreation
Commission agenda, Sun Current articles "Airport zoning issues take center stage at public hearing," and
"Supreme Court denies PLTF's petition for review."