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2014-06-06 Friday NewsFriday News Mendota Heights Weekly Report on City Activities Public Works Superintendent The City Council approved the promotion of Terry Blum to Public Works Superintendent. Terry has 38 years of experience and successful performance with the Mendota Heights Public Works Department. Terry's extensive knowledge of the public works operation will benefit the department as well as the city. Congratulations Terry! Truck & Travel Show Wednesday, June 11th 6:30 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. Henry Sibley High School Parking Lot Live Music provided by the Teddy Bear Band Parks Celebration The Parks Celebration is this weekend. Start the weekend off tonight with live music at Market Square Park. Saturday events at Mendakota Park are from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be Free games, petting zoo, fitness demonstrations, pony rides and much more! Forgot to sign up for the 5K? You can register for the 5K on Saturday morning at Market Square Park from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Race day registration is $30. All proceeds benefit MN Special Olympics. Have a fun and safe weekend! Dates to Remember: June 6 Fu -Ga -We Tribe Market Square Park June 7 Mendota Heights 5K Market Square Park 6:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. Park Celebration 11:00 a.m. Mendakota Park June 10 Parks Commission 6:30 p.m. June 11 Airport Commission 7:00 p.m. Attachments: Pipeline, Just the Facts Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com (651) 452-1850 Facebook.com/MendotaHeightsMN Twitter.com/@mendota_heights 1 June 6, 2014 NEWS LETTER Public Works Engineering Code Enforcement The Pipeline June 6, 2014 /' ANNIVERSARY D-DAY NORMANDY LAND OF LIBERTY Public Works The Parks Crew did their daily trash pickup. The fields were dragged, striped and chalked. The drinking fountain at Mendakota Park was repaired. They helped Cliff install the Tommy gate on truck #503. A large limb was removed from Marie Park that was hanging over the playground equipment. Grass was cut throughout the parks. Mendakota Park was prepared for the Mendota Heights Parks Celebration. The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. There was a call on Sunday at 9:20 a.m. because of high water at the Mendota Heights Road lift station. The pumps needed to be reset. There was also a possible sewer back up on Victoria Road. The city's sanitary sewer line had no problem; the problem was in the home owner's service. Roots were cut in sanitary sewer lines along Hiawatha Avenue, Hingham Court, Callahan Place, Caren Road, and the Caren Road easement. Sanitary sewer lines were cleaned along Monet Lane, Monet Court, the easement on Westview Terrace, Pond Haven Lane, Pond Haven Circle and Bridgeview Court. The Streets Crew blacktopped the James Road and Douglas Road area. Storm sewer culverts were cleaned at Marie Avenue and Dodd Road and at Highway 13 and Wachtler Avenue. Culverts were also cleaned in the Copperfield area. 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 by mid to late June, and punch list items will be identified and corrected by the contractor. Highway 13 Trail Connection (2014) - Construction is anticipated to begin in June. A watermain will need to be lowered in conjunction with this project. Staff is coordinating between Saint Paul Regional Water Service and the trail contractor to work the repair into the schedule. Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2014/2015) - 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. A Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with Lilydale has been approved by both City Councils. The remainder of Victoria was put off to a future date, but it is anticipated for construction in 2015. Council awarded the bid to McNamara Contracting at their June 3rd meeting. Construction is expected to begin in early July. Wentworth Avenue & Pilot Knob Road Trail Rehabilitation Projects (2014) - The trails on Wentworth (Wachtler to Dodd) and Pilot Knob Road (I-494 to Highway 13) are scheduled for rehabilitation this summer. Projects will reclaim the existing pavement; 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. The project was awarded with the Victoria Road/ Rolling Green Neighborhood project, and construction is expected to begin in July. Limited Use Permits for portions of the trails in MnDOT right-of-way will need to be approved, and will be brought to City Council at a future meeting. Preventative Maintenance (Crack Sealing & Sealcoating) Contract (2014) - Crack sealing is underway with sealcoating to follow in July. Neighborhoods scheduled to receive a chip seal coat on their streets are Park Place, Highland Heights including Mayfield Heights Road, Copperfield, and North Ivy Falls. Homeowners are not assessed or billed for this work. County Projects Delaware Avenue Resurfacing (2014) - Dakota County will be 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 2-3 week construction project is expected to begin in late July. Lexington Crosswalk at Victoria (2014) - 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. Construction is expected to begin in July. State Projects Highway 110 & Lexington Avenue Signal Replacement (2014) - This project is substantially complete. The new signals complete with new LED lights and a flashing yellow arrow for the Lexington left turn lanes are up and operating. Also included in the project were new ADA compliant pedestrian ramps and signals, and new crosswalk striping. The contractor will be cleaning up the project site and closing out the project this week. Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Sealcoating (2014) - The State is planning on giving Dodd Road a chip seal treatment this week. The project is scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday (10th & 11th). Some pavement repairs are anticipated prior to the chip seal being installed, specifically at the Wentworth intersection. This treatment is a pavement life extension project until Dodd Road is resurfaced in 2017. CHIEF Mike Aschenbrener SERGEANT Eric Petersen POLICE OFFICERS Jerry Murphy Scott Patrick John Larrive Bobby Lambert Tanner Spicer Todd Rosse Jeff Vonfeldt Steven Meyer Denise Urmann Michael Shepard Peyton Fleming INVESTIGATIONS Chad Willson SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER Jennifer Fordham SUPPORT STAFF Kim Henning Trista Miller Lisa Brandt Becky Pentel RESERVES Randy Pentel Jim Knox Jeff Parker George Castillo CHAPLAINS Frances Cuenca Joel Detlefsen Lynn Liberman Butch Millett Sue Plucker John Snider David Wick 1 JUNE 6, 2014 lust the part:" The Latest -frovv 1±e Mev otota hteLglits PoLice t epartvu.eiA,t Water safety 1 1 When the weather turns warm, everyone wants to be in or around the water. Hanging 1 out at the pool or the beach on a hot day is a great way to beat the heat. 1 Between the splashing, swimming, and floating in the water, most people don't think 1 much about water safety—but they should. For people between the ages of 5 and 24, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death. Make water safety your priority this summer by following these tips provided by the American Red Cross: • Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. 1 1 1 1 1 • Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or a lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system. 1 • Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate swim lessons. • Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child's life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water. 1 1 1 • Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard -approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone. DId You Kit ,,lent Drownii Submitted By. police support Specialist Lisa Brandt Unlike what's commonly depicted in the movies, drowning is actually a silent struggle and a very 1 1 1 1 1 quick killer. In many cases, another swimmer is close by or someone may even be watching, completely unaware of what's happening until the victim slips underneath the surface. The screaming and thrashing on TV is actually physiologically impossible. If a swimmer can barely breathe, they cannot call for help. A drowning person doesn't usually appear desperate. In the process of drowning, a person stays in one spot in a vertical (upright position). And remember it happens fast! Generally, once a person gets into trouble, you have 30 to 60 seconds before he or she goes down and 1 doesn't come back up. 1 1 1 When in doubt about a swimmer ask them: "Are you OK?!" If they are able to give a full answer they're probably all right as they are getting oxygen. But, if the swimmer says nothing and stares, you only have 1 a few seconds to get them out. Supervision and vigilance is the key to drowning prevention. 1 ocoo Theft Saturday 05:35 hours Officer Denise Urmann was dispatched to a residence to take a theft report. The residents stated they had left the garage door open overnight. They discovered two bikes missing on Saturday morning. There are no suspects and no serial numbers of the bikes were available. Counterfeit Currency Saturday 17:55 hours Sergeant Eric Petersen and Officer Peyton Fleming were dispatched to a report of a male suspect who attempted to pass counterfeit currency at a convenience store. It was reported that the male suspect fled the scene after be- ing told by the store clerk that the money was fake. The clerk was able to provide police with a complete license plate of the vehicle the suspect was driving. While officers were searching for the vehicle Dispatch aired that a vehicle crashed into a residence on Lexington Avenue. Sgt. Petersen arrived on scene and confirmed, based on the detailed description given by the clerk, that the male suspect was involved in the crash. The suspect was taken into custody. During the search of the vehicle, a large amount of counterfeit currency was found as well as two computers, a printer/scanner, a large amount of paper, a bottle of bleach and a small amount of marijuana. A handgun was also found nearby while officers searched the area around the vehicle. The male suspect was transported to Dakota County Jail. Investigator Chad Willson is working with the Secret Service on consolidating charges for passing fake money all around the metropolitan area. The work continues. Medical Crisis Saturday 23:30 hours Officer Denise Urmann and Officer Peyton Fleming responded to a residence on report of a suicidal adult male. Officer Urmann located the male sitting in his vehicle which was running in the driveway of his home. When officers asked the male to exit his vehicle he became argumentative with Officer Fleming. The male wanted to know why officers were detaining him and Officer Urmann explained that his wife was concerned for the male's welfare and had called police. When asked if he wanted to harm himself he said that he did not. The male appeared intoxicated and admitted to drinking some wine. The male's wife did not want the male at home so he was transported to Ramsey County Detox. A preliminary breath test was given with a result of 0.228. Theft from Vehicle Sunday 15:05 hours Officer Peyton Fleming took a report on a theft from vehicle. The victim reported that her vehicle's back window was forced open and items were stolen. The vehicle had been parked in her driveway at the time of the incident. There were no serial numbers for the items. Officer Fleming took photographs and cleared the scene. There are no suspects at this time. Domestic Assault Monday 17:23 hours Officer Steven Meyer along with Officer Peyton Fleming were dispatched to a residence on report of a domestic assault. The male suspect had fled the scene on a bicycle prior to the officers arrival. The male suspect was located on a bike path in St. Paul. The suspect was taken into custody and a black bag which attached to his bike was searched. The contents of the bag included marijuana and some unidentifiable pills. The suspect was trans- ported to the Dakota County Jail. • 1 GOGVMag ° 000 1 1 1 I Burglary Tuesday 11:08 hours I Officer Bobby Lambert responded to report of a after -the -fact burglary at a local greenhouse. The incident occurred while the owner was away. The owner reported "stuff' missing, including some copper piping and 1 1 some tools, and the owner noted that he routinely leaves the property unsecured. Locks and chains had I I been removed recently but not replaced. Extra patrols were requested and set up for the property. Case in- active. No suspect information available; case inactive. 1 1 1 Theft Wednesday 14:52 hours 1 1 Officer Fleming responded to a report of theft of gas, where the vehicle had sped off onto a nearby highway. The I I plate number, given by a customer, did not match the provided vehicle description The suspect drove off with $43.00 in gas, and it had occurred about 5 minutes before the employees called dispatch. Case inactive. 1 1 1 I Terroristic Threats Thursday 09:03 hours 1 11 IA local business whose headquarters are located here, had an employee received threats via chat. The client, up- set about the status of his card and the response he received, decided intimidation via foul language and bomb 1 I threats toward headquarters was an appropriate solution to the issue. Officer Bobby Lambert gathered suspect information but the phone number provided was not valid for him. Follow-up and charges pending. 1 1 I Theft of Gas Friday 07:15 hours 1 I Officer Bobby Lambert responded to a gas station on report of theft of gas. The suspect came in to pay, filled out some lottery tickets and grabbed candy. However, when he got to the counter, he realized he stated he forgot his I 1 wallet and left the items on the counter. The owner, not falling for that line, followed him out with a baseball bat I I first. The suspect drove, a blonde, white male, about 25 years old , 5'11" and 155 lb, khaki pants below the waist, t -shirt and baseball cap, was driving a beat -up pickup with the taillight taped up with red tape. Suspect info pro- I I vided and charges pending. 1 Bear Sightings Friday 01:32 hours I 1 1 1 Officers Steve Meyer, Tanner Spicer, Todd Rosse and Mike Shepard responded to a local area on report of a bear crossing the road. The bear was reported to be limping and not very big, but it was moving fast. Officers checked I 1 the area, but had no luck. Then today, around 1100 hours, a resident saw it walk near his window, then head I thru the lot behind the building and head into the woods. Officer Lambert and Investigator Chad Willson con- ducted a search of the area, but had no luck. 1 1 The MN DNR reports it is not common for bears to wander around the metro. They do ask residents take in all 1 food sources (bird feeds, BBQ grills & pet food) leave the animals alone. While appearing cute and cuddly they are wild animals and should be left alone. DO NOT FEED THE BEARS! Feeding will encourage them to hang 1 1 around the area. I 1 http://news.dnr.state.mn.us/2014/06/03/bears-in-suburbs-dnr-says-leave-them-alone-unless-theyre-a-threat/ 1 1 http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/assistance/backyard/privatelandsprogram/bear country.pdf 1 1 1 1 1 05/30-06/05 2014 YTD 3509 775 1 456 422 5.71 1 Calls for Service Citations Warnings Police Reports Response Time Average CLOTP120' 150 14 14 16 5.92 Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: https://www.raidsonline.com 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55025 J oto OAR *gide Please send us your positive feedback on our staff to: pdrecords@ mendota-heights.com Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps boost the morale of our staff. 4 v If you are a Mendota Heights resident and you are going out of town or on vacation, you can notify MHPD of your outing and we will be more than happy to keep a watchful eye on your home while you are away. The House Check Request online form is available on our website; we have similar forms in the MHPD lobby and we will take your info over the phone. MHPD offers monthly Car Seat Safety Checks. To schedule an appointment, call 651.452.1366 to contact Officer Jennifer Fordham. Take it to THE BOX MHPD has a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of the PD where Dakota County residents can safely and anonymously dispose of their prescription drugs and over-the-counter medication.