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2014-04-11 Friday News - Ώ -- - - -- N E W S The Pipeline L E T T E R Public Works Engineering April 11, 2014 Code Enforcement Public Works The Parks Crews did their daily trash pickup and placed trash barrels in the parks where needed. The aerator was pulled from Rogers Lake and put into storage for the summer and repairs to the Groundmaster 5910 mower were finished. Bathrooms at Mendakota and Kensington Parks were opened, and parking lot lighting was tested at both parks. Summer equipment stored in the water tower for the winter was brought out, and branches from tree trimming last fall were chipped. The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. Pump 2 at the Lilydale lift station was clogged with wipes and plastics and was cleared. Gas monitors for Public Works and Fire Department were calibrated. A water service line was adjusted in Friendly Hills, and a sewer inspection on Wachtler Avenue was completed. Sump manholes for the storm sewers were cleaned. The Streets Crew emptied the salt form the plow trucks and cleaned the shop floor. Pothole repairs were made, and areas with landscape damage from snow removal were repaired. Asphalt damage from snow removal was fixed and looked at a sink hole that opened up on Mendota Heights Road. Chairs were removed from City Hall. Engineering City Projects (construction year) Hunter Lane/Orchard Place Neighborhood Improvements (2013) The project is considered substantially complete and the final lift of wear course asphalt will be placed in the spring. Highway 13 Trail Connection (2014) Construction will not begin until the spring. A water main will need to be lowered in conjunction with this project. Staff is coordinating this issue between Saint Paul Regional Water Service and the trail contractor to work the repair in to the schedule. Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2014/2015) Staff held an open house on Wednesday evening at City Hall for the affected residents of the project. At the open house, people were able to review what is proposed to take place adjacent to their property and identify any specific issues the project may be able to address. The first (2014) phase of the project will reconstruct Victoria from Lilydale to Marie Avenue and rehabilitate the Stratford/Walsh/ Rolling Green neighborhood. The Lilydale portion of Victoria from Caren Road to Highway 13 is included in the 2014 construction phase, and staff is drafting a Joint Powers Agreement with Lilydale for this work. The remainder of Victoria was put off to a future date, but it is anticipated for construction in 2015. Wentworth Avenue & Pilot Knob Road Trail Rehabilitation Projects (2014) The trails on Wentworth (Wachtler to Dodd) and Pilot Knob Road (Mendota Heights Road to Highway 13) are scheduled for rehabilitation this summer. Projects will reclaim the existing pavement and install ADA compliant ramps and a new paved surface along each trail. Dakota County is participating in cost sharing since these trails are in County right-of-way. Trail rehabilitation will be bid with the Victoria Road/Rolling Green Neighborhood project, and construction is expected to begin in June/July. County Projects Delaware Avenue Resurfacing (2014) Dakota County is planning on resurfacing Delaware Avenue from Highway 110 south to I-494. This project will not widen or alter the lane alignment of Delaware, but will provide a new asphalt driving surface and new striping. The County has awarded the project to McNamara Construction, and work is anticipated to begin in late June/early July. Lexington Crosswalk at Victoria (2014) The median and crosswalk are scheduled for installation this summer. This project will install a center median in Lexington on the north side of the Victoria intersection and provide for a crosswalk to connect the trails on the east and west of Lexington. The left turn lane from southbound Lexington to eastbound Victoria will be removed as part of this project. Construction is expected to begin in July. State Projects State Publishes Construction Schedule (2014) The State Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has published their construction project list for 2014. The online list of projects with contacts, schedules, and updated information can be accessed at the State project web page at: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/roadwork/current.html#four. Highway 110 & Lexington Avenue Signal Replacement (2014) The existing signal will be replaced this summer with a new LED signal with flashing yellow arrow for the left turn lanes on Lexington. I 35E & Marie Avenue Drainage and Erosion Control Improvements (2014) Storm Water Runoff at the northeast corner of I-35E and Marie Avenue has caused erosion that has exposed utility pipes and conduits. Since a portion of the runoff comes from the Interstate right-of-way, MnDOT has taken the lead in designing a solution. MnDOT has asked that the City administer the construction contract for the improvement. Highway 13 Reconstruction (2015) The section of Highway 13 that was not rehabilitated in 2012 is scheduled for reconstruction in 2015. This section is from I-35E south and west to 2nd Street in Mendota. This section will receive a widened shoulder, curb, gutter, and storm sewer to help alleviate drainage and erosion problems in Lilydale. Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Resurfacing (2017) Dodd Road is scheduled to be resurfaced from Highway 55 in Eagan to Annapolis Street in 2017. There are no plans to widen the State Highway, but some alterations for drainage and public safety are possible. Originally scheduled for 2015, the project was delayed to coincide with the Highway 110 rehabilitation project. Dodd Road will receive another sealcoat (chip seal) in 2014. Highway 110 Resurfacing (2017) Preliminary project scoping has begun. This project will not reconstruct or alter the alignment of the state highway, but modifications to access points, traffic signals, shoulders, drainage, and pedestrian facilities are likely. The project is scheduled to take place between the I-35E bridge and the I-494/Highway 52 interchange. Other Activities Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO) Staff attended the monthly meeting of the LMRWMO Board. The Board is beginning to put together their 2015 budget, and much of the discussion at the member cities. Dues paid by member cities have not been raised by the LMRWMO for over 10 years. Other items discussed were the cooperative agreement for a feasibility study to complete drainage repairs in Cherokee Park, and approving the annual activity report. 11, 2014 APRIL The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department SUPPORTSTAFF POLICEOFFICERS LOOKINGTWICEMAYSAVEALIFE! Steven SAFERIDINGFORMOTORCYCLISTSSAFERIDINGFORMOTORISTS SCHOOLRESOURCE OFFICER ALCOHOLALCOHOL PROPERTY INVESTIGATIONS MOTORMOTOR RELATEDRELATED FATALINJURYDAMAGETOTAL CYCLISTCYCLIST MOTORMOTOR CRASHESCRASHESONLYCRASHES CRASHES CYCLIST INJURIES CYCLIST CRASHES FATALITIESINJURIES SERGEANTS 511,3201921,56355151,454125 RESERVES School Bus Safety for Motorists CHAPLAINS CHIEF Њ Threats Thursday 0716 hours Officer Scott Patrick was dispatched to a local business on an after the fact threat. One contract employee had threatened another employee after an argument ensued where the two of them went outside and began to fight. The fight was separated and one employee then stated he was going to kill the other after work. The individual then left the building. The man denied the threat and it is assumed the two are just competing to get hired on full time. Tobacco Possession Friday 1250 hours While on duty as the School Resource Officer, Officer Jennifer Fordham was notified that several students were located in an unoccupied classroom during the lunch hour and that at least one of them was using an e-cigarette. The students were searched by the principal and one male student was found to be in possession of an e-cigarette. The juvenile was issued a citation and given school consequences. Theft of Gas Friday 1319 hours Officer Bobby Lambert was dispatched to a local gas station on a theft of gas report. In meeting with the store employee, she was able to get the vehicle plate and description. A letter was mailed to the vehicle owner. Case pending. Theft Friday 1635 hours Sergeant Eric Petersen was called to a local business in reference to a man who had stole a laptop the week prior was in the store again. The man was detained while Petersen viewed video surveillance from the previous weeks theft. It was clear that this was the suspect. The man admitted to stealing the laptop and selling it for $50. He was arrested and cited for misdemeanor theft. Traffic Stop/Drugs/No Ins Friday 2259 hours While on routine patrol, Officer Denise Urmann observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed so then proceeded to conduct a traffic stop. In approaching the driver, a strong smell of marijuana was detected. In asking for his proof of insurance he stated he had none as he just bought the car. Urmann then asked the male if there was anything in the vehicle she should know about and he stated no. She then asked to search the car at which time he grabbed out baggies of marijuana that looked ready to sell, a bong, metal grinder, pocket knife and said there was a 5 foot bong in the trunk. The party was then over for this man and he was issued a citation and his ÐnewÑ car was towed. DWI/Hit & Run Saturday 2357 hours Officer Steve Meyer was dispatched to a local bar parking lot on a hit and run accident report. The witness did see the suspect vehicle leaving the scene and was able to capture the plate info. Officer Todd Rosse had located the vehicle parked unoccupied at a local gas station appearing to have fresh scratches. Meyer made contact with the reporting party who stated it was actually at a different bar where this occurred and that she got confused. The bartender at this bar was able to locate the suspect who in questioning him denied all involvement saying Ðmy truck? Where?Ñ The male then showed Meyer his truck keys which did in fact start the truck in question. He was given field sobriety tests and was arrested for DWI. Ћ Domestic Sunday 2101 hours Officers Todd Rosse and Michael Shepard responded to a local motel on a domestic assault. Officers were met by a male who stated he and his girlfriend got into an altercation and she spit on him and bit him. It did not appear as though there were bite marks more so red irritated skin however, there were visible cut marks on his chest that he stated were self inflicted a week prior. In speaking with the girlfriend, she was upset because the boyfriend didn't want to have intercourse with her so a fight ensued which got physical and her boyfriend ripped up her cash and payroll check. Neither party wished to pursue charges and the girlfriend was picked up by her mother. The man was given information on how to deal with the cutting concern. Theft of Gas Monday 2106 hours Officer Michael Shepard was dispatched to a local gas station on a theft of gas report. In meeting with the employee, the license plate given did match that of the vehicle description. A letter was mailed to the registered owner. Case pending. Theft Tuesday 1434 hours Officer John Larrive was dispatched to the Scenic Overlook where he met with a victim of a theft. The victim stated she was out for a 30 minute walk and when she returned to her vehicle, the rear passenger side window had been smashed and her purse was stolen containing a debit card and credit card. The victim was notified that her cards had already been used at a gas station located in St Paul. Under investigation. Fraud Tuesday 1435 hours Officer Todd Rosse responded to a residence on a theft report. In meeting with the victim, she stated she discovered fraudulent activity with two of her checks. The two checks were made out to a male with a forged signature. She also stated that at no time was her checkbook lost or stolen and that the only person who had access to her home was the cleaning lady. The woman who had cleaned her home suddenly quit her job the next day after the checks went missing. Under investigation. Ordinance Violation Tuesday 1606 hours Officer John Larrive received a call on a solicitor complaint. The RP stated that three males were going door to door soliciting. Dispatch advised the males were in a red pickup truck. In searching the area, Larrive was able to locate the red truck and a male talking to a female on a driveway. The truck and the man were identified to be working for a tree service and he said he did not have a permit to solicit. A strong smell of marijuana was also detected coming from the man in which he lied at first to having marijuana on him but then told the truth. The marijuana was confiscated and destroyed and the man was issued a citation for Soliciting Without A Permit. Ќ ΓȝΏΓȡΓȝΐΏ2014YTD CallsforService1172,190 Citations9519 GREAT JOB THIS WEEK Warnings23286 MHPD! PoliceReports19253 ResponseTimeAverage4.735.83 IfyouareaMendotaHeightsresidentandyouaregoingoutoftownoron vacation (®´²¤ #§¤¢ª2¤°´¤²³ CarSeatSafetyChecks Please send us your positive feedback on our staff to: pdrecords@ mendota-heights.com MedicationDisposalBox Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps boost the morale of our staff. Ѝ Have a Safe Week!