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2014-12-05 Friday News Friday News Mendota Heights Weekly Report on City Activities Ice Rinks and Warming Houses Open Today Mendota Heights’ ice rinks and warming houses are officially open. Our cheerful seasonal warming house attendants are ready to greet skaters. The warming house hours are from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Dates to Remember: Park Locations December 9 Friendly Hills Park: 2360 Pueblo Lane Parks Commission 7:00 p.m. Ivy Hills Park: 635 Butler Ave (no warming house) Marie Park: 1780 Lilac Lane December 10 Wentworth Park: 739 Wentworth Ave Airport Commission 7:00 p.m. For additional information call the ice December 16 rink/warming house hotline at 651.255.1174. City Council 7:00 p.m. Attachments: Pipeline, Just the Facts Holiday Collection Site City Council agenda packets and Planning Officer Denise Urmann is Commission agenda packets are available online coordinating a Toys for Tots by visiting www.mendota-heights.com and clicking Drive at City Hall once again on the agenda/minutes link. this holiday season. Toys can be dropped off through Thursday, December 18. Through a gift of a new toy or a Mendota Heights City Hall cash donation, you can help 1101 Victoria Curve bring the joy of Christmas and www.mendota-heights.com send a message of hope to children. All gifts (651) 452-1850 given in Minnesota will be dispersed to families Facebook.com/MendotaHeightsMN in need right here at home! Twitter.com/@mendota_heights December 5, 2014 The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works Engineering December 5, 2014 Code Enforcement Public Works The Parks Crew continued to flood the ice rinks. The trails on the bridge decks were cleaned. Repairs were done on truck 302, 501 and the Kubota. Tree trimming is being done along the trails. Bench repairs were done in Valley Park. The boards were repaired at the Friendly Hills rink. A new fire hydrant was installed at Ivy Hills Park to assist with flooding. The Streets Crew dumped salt out of the trucks and then they were washed and waxed. They also greased the sanders and plows. A new cutting edge was put on truck 312. Salt was delivered and pushed up in the bin. Brackets were fabricated and installed for the lights on the jetting truck. The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. Trees were trimmed at the Northland lift station. Cross training on lift station operations is being done. Fire hydrant flags were installed on Victoria Curve. A sanitary sewer inspection was done on Sylvandale Court. Engineering City Projects (construction year) Highway 13 Trail Connection (2014) This project is buttoned up for the winter. Saint Paul Regional Water Service has completed the lowering of the water main, and cover has been established over the pipe. The reminder of the project will be completed in the spring. Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2014/2015) The first phase of the project is complete and staff met with the contractor to negotiate final payment. Design of the second phase (Marie to Lexington) is underway. A neighborhood meeting is anticipated in late January/early February to discuss site specific design requirements. Storm Drainage System Repairs (2014) Staff has submitted project data to the State for reimbursement. A decision on reimbursement is anticipated by February. County Projects Highway 110 Trail Underpass (2017) This project will construct an underpass (tunnel) under Highway 110 for the future construction of the Mendota-Lebanon Hills Greenway Trail. Dakota County has received a $1,000,000 grant from the Metropolitan Council for construction. Dakota County is planning on presenting the project to City Council in February. State Projects Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Reconstruction (I-494 to Highway 55 Eagan) This project is complete. Contact the City of Eagan for more information. 2015 State Project List The list of metro projects for 2015 has been released. Projects that will have an impact on Mendota Heights include: -A sealcoat will be applied to Dodd Road (Highway 149) from The Village south to Lake Drive. -Highway 110 between Highway 13 to I-35E will receive a surface pavement rehabilitation (overlay). I-94 Weekend Closure Westbound I-94 between Highway 61 and I-35E will be closed this weekend from 10:00pm Friday (12/5) through 5:00am Monday (12/8). This closure is for work on the Highway 52 Bridge. Other Activities Future Cities Competition Staff met with Future Cities team members at urban and suburban agricultural services for city population. Although all ththth 6, 7, and 8 grade students are completing the program, only three teams can advance to the State competition, which is held on the University of Minnesota campus in January. All three competing teams have completed their SimCity models, as well as their project essays and narratives. They have begun work on their scale models. Non-competing teams are completing the program with smaller scaled models and will present their cities within their classes. 2015 Sanitary Sewer Rate Increase Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) has provided the amount that will be charged to Mendota Heights for 2015. This fee is what MCES charges municipal governments to treat sanitary sewage sent to the MCES treatment plants. The fee increased 12.3% for 2015. Most of this increase can be attributed to the extremely wet spring we experienced; specifically, the number of sump pumps that discharge to the sanitary sewer system. As a result, the City needs to increase the fees we charge for sanitary sewer. The City Council approved a st 5% rate increase that will take effect for the 1 quarter of 2015 (April billing cycle). The City is able to reconcile the differences in rates by postponing some capital improvement projects until future years. This rate increase remains consistent with increases in previous years. The City has successfully negotiated the elimination of the penalty surcharge due to th increased flow from the June 19 storm. Southeast Metro Groundwater Group Staff attended a meeting with other Dakota County engineering staff on Friday morning to discuss the drinking water supply. Specifically, to balance groundwater and surface water sources to find a sustainable solution for long-term water supply to the area. The group is drafting a letter with comments on the Metropolitan attendance were Eagan, Lakeville, Savage, Apple Valley, Rosemount, Burnsville, Farmington, and South Saint Paul. Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) Sewer Access Charge (SAC) Forum Staff attended a forum hosted by MCES to go over the SAC program. The SAC charge for 2015 will remain the same for new development/re-development in the Metro Area ($2,485/unit). In recent years, MCES has allowed flexibility in how municipalities handle SAC fees, and several of these programs were also discussed. Њ D 5, 2014 ECEMBER The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department Life has No Rewind : Plan Ahead for a Sober CHIEF Ride Home SERGEANT Extra DWI Patrols on Minnesota Roads to Combat Drunk Driving Nov. 26- Dec. 27 To keep motorists and memories safe this holiday season, law enforcement across the state will POLICEOFFICERS be on the lookout for drunk drivers. The extra enforcement campaign runs on weekends through December 27. During the Thanksgiving holiday period over the last three years (2011– 2013), there were 1,624 drivers arrested for DWI. Steven Crashes involving drunk drivers have lasting effects on survivors and their families: 17 people suffered life-changing injuries in crashes involving an impaired driver during the Thanksgiving holiday period in the last three years. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over INVESTIGATIONS An increasing number of motorists are getting the message to drive sober or get pulled over. DWI arrests have gone down every year since 2006 when law enforcement officers arrested SCHOOLRESOURCE 41,951 drivers in Minnesota for DWI. The 2013 numbers statewide dropped to 25,719 - the low- OFFICER est in recent history. With 279 drunk driving-related traffic deaths in Minnesota since 2011— 81 people in 2013 SUPPORTSTAFF alone—traffic safety officials continue to emphasize enforcement and education in an effort to reduce fatalities on the state’s roads. “We’re encouraged by the drop in DWI arrests, but it’s clear there is much more work to be done through education and enforcement,” said Donna Berger, Office of Traffic Safety director. “The RESERVES responsibility falls on all of us. Speak up if you see a friend or family member who has had too much to drink. If you are a server, don’t be afraid to cut off a customer. Let’s keep the holiday memories special, not tragic.” DWI Consequences CHAPLAINS Loss of license for up to a year, thousands of dollars in costs and possible jail time. Repeat DWI offenders, as well as first-time offenders arrested at 0.16 and above alcohol concentration level, must use ignition interlock in order to regain legal driving privileges or face at least one year without a driver’s license. Offenders with three or more offenses are required to use interlock for three to six years, or they will never regain driving privileges. Њ Ћ Ћ Ќ Commercial Burglary Friday 07:00 hours Officer Denise Urmann was dispatched to a local restaurant on a burglar alarm. Upon arrival, Officer Urmann found the front door had pry marks and that it was no longer secured. The cash register was located and found to be open with change scattered about the floor. There are no witnesses or suspects. This case is currently under investigation. Fleeing Police in a Motor Vehicle Friday 17:28 hours Officer Robin Nelson and Officer Peyton Fleming were on patrol when they noticed a vehicle driving in the opposite direction with no headlights. As they turned to follow the vehicle officers noticed the driverÓs rear light was also out. Officers activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicle. The vehicle continued to drive at which point officers activated their siren in order to gain the driverÓs attention. The vehicle continued to drive to a residence at which time the vehicleÓs driver pulled into the residenceÓs driveway and ultimately the garage. Officers were able to make contact with the driver in the garage. The female suspect refused to give officers her name and her identity was confirmed by neighbors. The suspect was place under arrest for Fleeing a Peace Officer in a Motor Vehicle. Under 21 Drink and Drive Saturday 00:51 hours Officer Mike Shepard observed a juvenile female who was not dressed for the cold weather walking through the parking lot of a closed business. When Officer Shepard asked the female what she was doing she stated her friends had left her and she wasnÓt sure where she was going. Upon further questioning the female suspect admitted that her and her friends were drinking in an underground garage and she had left to go urinate. Officer Shepard located the other three juveniles in a minivan and they eventually admitted to drinking alcohol. Parents were called and the juveniles were sent home. Juvenile cited for Underage Consumption Drinking and Driving. Damage to Property/Hit and Run Accident Monday 07:02 hours Officer Denise Urmann responded to a hit and run motor vehicle accident who was picking up a co-worker at her residence when another vehicle struck hers. The complainant left the scene of the accident because she had to get to the airport. The complainant told Officer Urmann that she had video and photos of the accident and would send them to her. Officer Urmann attempted to make contact with the victim but has yet to hear back from her. Case is pending. Theft Tuesday 15:03 hours Officer Rosse responded to a residential group home on report of a theft of money. Resident there said some money in his room was missing. The victim reported nothing else was missing except a $100 in cash. Group staff said doors to the bedrooms are not locked but they have never had a incident like this in the ten years of service at this home. The case is under investigation. Ќ Ѝ 11/2812/42014YTD IƚƌźķğǤ CallsforService1187408 {ğŅĻƷǤ Citations2998 .Ļ {ğŅĻ ğƓķ {ğǝĻ Warnings13870 aƚƓĻǤ ǞźƷŷ \[95 \[źŭŷƷƭ͵ PoliceReports28889 9ƌĻĭƷƩźĭźƷǤ Ĭźƌƌƭ ĭğƓ ŭƩƚǞ ķǒƩźƓŭ ƷŷĻ ResponseTimeAverage5.435.84 ŷƚƌźķğǤƭ źŅ Ǥƚǒ ķĻĭƚƩğƷĻ ǞźƷŷ Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: ƭƷƩźƓŭƭ ƚŅ ƌźŭŷƷƭ͵ https://www.raidsonline.com /ƚƓƭźķĻƩ 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 ƭǞźƷĭŷźƓŭ Ʒƚ \[95 ŷƚƌźķğǤ ƌźŭŷƷƭ Ʒƚ ƭğǝĻ ĻƓĻƩŭǤ ğƓķ ƒƚƓĻǤ͵ LƓ ğķķźƚƓ Ʒƚ ƷŷĻ ĻƓĻƩŭǤ ğƓķ ĭƚƭƷ ƭğǝźƓŭƭͲ \[95 ƌźŭŷƷƭ ğƩĻ ƒǒĭŷ ĭƚƚƌĻƩ IfyouareaMendotaHeightsresidentandyouaregoingoutoftownoron ƷŷğƓ źƓĭğƓķĻƭĭĻƓƷ vacation ĬǒƌĬƭͲ ƩĻķǒĭźƓŭ ƷŷĻ ƩźƭƉ ƚŅ ŋ ƩĻƭ͵ tƩĻǝĻƓƷ ŋ ƩĻƭ ķǒƩźƓŭ ƷŷĻ ŷƚƌźķğǤƭ ĬǤ ǒƭźƓŭ ƓƚƓ Ť ğƒƒğĬƌĻ ķĻĭƚƩğƚƓƭͲ ǞğƷĻƩźƓŭ ǤƚǒƩ /ŷƩźƭƷƒğƭ ƷƩĻĻ ƩĻŭǒƌğƩƌǤͲ ğƓķ CarSeatSafetyChecks ğǝƚźķ ƷŷĻ ǒƭĻ ƚŅ ƌźƷ ĭğƓķƌĻƭ͵ 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