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Friday News 02 24 2012 February 24, 2012 February 24, 2012 Traffic Safety Committee The Traffic Safety Committee (TSC) meets on an as-needed basis to discuss concerns raised by residents on a variety of traffic-related issues. The committee met this past Tuesday night prior to the city council meeting to discuss three issues raised by residents: a request for a stop sign, pedestrian safety on Sylvandale Road and concerns about turning movements at the intersection of Lake Drive and Dodd Road. Two additional issues were raised by staff. A summary of TSC recommendations will be presented at the March 6th Council meeting. Benefit for Hayley Bester Hopefully you are all aware of the fact that tomorrow afternoon/evening is the benefit for Mendota Heights Firefighter Hayley Bester Ken Wiesenberger spoke to the city council on Tuesday evening, underscoring the need to support Hayley as she works her way through treatment. There are a number of excellent items up for bid at the silent auction, and there will be live music by Sandy and the Hitmen. Council Member Duggan shared a photo of an Irish -themed basket which will be up for auction—It looks like just the ticket to keep you warm on a cold winter weekend. Please consider stopping by the Mendota VFW to support Hayley! Friday News Mendota Heights Weekly Report on City Activities Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com (651) 452-1850 Redistricting Every ten years following the census, legisla- tive districts are re-drawn to reflect changes in population. Newly issued legislative districts will have an impact on Mendota Heights. Our new state Senate District is 52, and includes no changes for Mendota Heights. Our state House District has been divided, with all of the community north of Highway 110 in district 52A, and most of the community south of Highway 110 in district 52B. We are also now included in Congressional District 2, with the rest of Dakota County. Along with the changes in representation, the changes will require the city to re-draw our vot- ing precincts. City Clerk Sandie Thone will head up this process, which will also impact where some of our residents vote. We will be sure to keep you updated as new information becomes available. February 24, 2012 Attachments The Pipeline, Just the Facts, DCSO Newsletter, Valley Park Event Flyer, Hay- ley Bester Benefit Flyer February 24, 2012 Dates to Remember February 28, 2012 Planning Commission March 6, 2012 City Council March 13, 2012 Parks and Recreation Commission March 14, 2012 Airport Relations Commission March 20, 2012 City Council Page Two Mendota Heights on Facebook For those of you hooked up to social media, the City has a Facebook page, which can be found at: www.facebook.com/mendotaheightsmn “like” our page as one more way to stay con- nected with things going on in the city. Pilot Knob Update Jake Sedlacek and Justin Miller toured the Pilot Knob site on Friday morning with staff from Great River Greening (GRG). GRG is looking to work with the State of Minnesota to coordinate efforts on landscaping in the right of way between Highway 55 and Pilot Knob. Conversations are just starting on this project, but GRG staff were pleased to find several native plants in the variety of vegetation in the right of way. The next steps will include devel- oping a plan, and seeking funding for the work. GRG is hopeful to find grant and/or trust dollars to pay for the project. Our grant through the National Trust for Historic Preservation was approved by the city council on Tuesday evening. The grant, awarded last Octo- ber will fund the burial of utility lines and removal of utility poles that currently create a visual barrier cutting through the site. Public Works A resident came into city hall and told Pam that public works does a “phenomenal job” salting and sanding Ivy Hills Drive and Dodd Road. One day she had to slam on her brakes to avoid hitting another car, but because the streets had been salted and sanded it had prevented her from getting into an accident. Her car did not slip or slide either because the roads were in good condition. Way to go Public Works!! The Parks Crew plowed the cul-de-sacs, trails, and parking lots on Tuesday morning. The skating rinks are now officially closed. The hockey nets were brought in as well as the flooding hoses and hydrant fittings for storage. The warming houses were also cleaned out. The wire harness for the plow lights were replaced on truck 502. The Utilities Crew plowed cu-de-sacs in the middle of the city and assisted the parks crew with closing of the skating rinks. Root killing chemicals were put down the sanitary sewer line from Cullen Avenue to Wagon Wheel Trail. The Streets Crew plowed and salted all city streets early Tuesday morning after the 2.7 inch snowfall. Plow truck 304 hit a manhole in Ivy Falls Avenue and broke the trip mechanism but was able to keep plowing snow. Cliff had to order parts to fix truck 304 from an outlet in Little Falls. A Blaine Public Works employee was there and offered to bring the parts back for us, saving us a long trip to Little Falls. John repaired the broken trip mechanism, and the truck is now ready for the next snowfall. Engineering Lemay Lake Road Reconstruction – Design of the project continues. Staff is currently working on the storm sewer design and road sections. A second informational meeting for area residents and property owners is anticipated during the first half of March. Final plans are anticipated sometime in April. Marie Avenue Rehabilitation – Staff submitted the preliminary plans and specifications to MnDOT. Review will likely take a couple of weeks. Once comments are received, production of the final plans can begin. Final plans are anticipated by mid to late March. The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works Engineering Code Enforcement February 24, 2012 Diane Road Neighborhood/Mendota Heights Road Rehabilitation – Staff submitted preliminary plans to MnDOT for review. Review is expected to take a couple of weeks. Once comments are received, production of final plans will begin. MnDOT review is only required for the Mendota Heights Road portion of the project. Final plans are anticipated by late March. Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO) – Staff attended a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting on Thursday. Mendota Heights hosted the meeting. The TAC was formed by the LMRWNO Board to make recommendations on a water quality cost sharing policy for drainages that cross municipal boundaries within the LMRWMO. The TAC recommendation will ultimately be heard and voted on by the LMRWMO Board and incorporated into the next iteration of the Joint Powers Agreement that all member Cities agree to. Rogers Lake Property Owners Association – Staff attended the monthly meeting of the homeowners association on Thursday night. The association has filed for 501c(3) status and is drafting their bylaws. They are anticipating presenting to City Council at the March 6 th meeting to introduce the association and to inform Council of their goals. Their next meeting is scheduled for March 22nd. Traffic Safety Committee (TSC) – The TSC met on Tuesday night before the City Council Meeting. Three resident requested issues and two internal issues were discussed. A summary of TSC recommendations will be presented at the March 6th Council meeting. MnDOT & Dakota County Projects The following projects are under the direction of MnDOT and Dakota County. They are presented as information only. For more information on MnDOT projects contact J.P. Gillach (651-234-7503, james.gillach@state.mn.us). Highway 13 Resurfacing (MnDOT) – The Resurfacing of Highway 13, along with drainage improvements and ADA upgrades between I -35W and Annapolis Street (Burnsville to West St. Paul) is on schedule for the summer of 2012. Drainage improvements at the Ivy Falls Bridge are included in the project. Construction should be anticipated between May and October of 2012, but MnDOT is planning on completing the work in segments. MnDOT plans to contact impacted Mendota Heights’ residents with construction schedule news and road closure information. Detours around the construction areas will be provided. The portion of Highway 13 from Mendota to I-35E will be exempted from this project and reconstructed in 2015 under a separate MnDOT project. Highway 110 Resurfacing (MnDOT) - A small portion of Highway 110 will be resurfaced during the summer of 2012. From Lexington Avenue east to the I-35E bridge, along with spot repairs between Lexington and Highway 13 will be addressed as part of this project. MnDOT is working with Dakota County to minimize conflicts with their Lexington Avenue project (see below), also scheduled for the summer of 2012. Turnback of Old Sibley Memorial Highway (MnDOT) – MnDOT has stated their intent to vacate the Right-of-Way for the Old Sibley Memorial Highway. Concept plans are being developed for the land use once it is vacated. The next meeting is scheduled for April 20th at Camp Sacagawea in Apple Valley. Concept plans for the right-of-way will be discussed. Lexington Avenue Resurfacing (County) - Dakota County will be resurfacing Lexington Avenue from Highway 110 south to Mendota Heights Road in 2012. This is strictly a pavement replacement project and will not modif y the road section or expand the width of the roadway. Dakota County is working with MnDOT to minimize conflicts with their Highway 110 project, also scheduled for the summer of 2012. For more information contact the Dakota County Transportation Department at 952-891-7100. 02 24 12 The Mendota Heights Police Department Support Staff Kim Henning Sandie Ristine Susan Donovan Becky Pentel Police Officers Jerry Murphy Scott Patrick John Larrive Bobby Lambert Tanner Spicer Todd Rosse Chad Willson Jeff VonFeldt Steven Meyer Denise Urmann Michael Shepard Peyton Fleming School Resource Officer Jennifer Fordham Investigations Mario Reyes Tanner Spicer Sergeants Neil Garlock Brian Convery Eric Petersen Reserves Randy Pentel Jesse Mettner Jarrod Spicer Jim Knox Jeff Parker George Castillo Chaplains John Snider Lynn Liberman Frances Colon Alberto Vargas Butch Millett David Wick Chief Mike Aschenbrener Medical Thursday 0001hours Officer Steve Meyer and Sergeant Eric Petersen responded to report of a 72-year-old man down on the kitchen floor, sweating profusely. With the assistance of HealthEast paramedics, he was transported to the hospital and was released later in the day. At approximately noon, the appreciative man stopped at the office to relay what wonderful treatment he received from the two officers who were at his home the night before. He also complimented the HealthEast paramedics for their prompt response and good work. Domestic Thursday 2311 hours Officer Peyton Fleming along with Sgt Petersen and Officers Meyer and Shepard responded to a domestic in progress between a juvenile male and his mother. This was the third time officers were called to this residence within a week. The mother has expressed concerns each time that she is afraid of her son because his behavior is escalating in violence. When the officers arrived, the young man was in the process of throwing and smashing items throughout the house. Meyer interviewed the young man who stated he was upset because he couldn't find his video game controller. He was asked about his behavior becoming more violent and he stated it only seems so because his mom is calling the police for help. After speaking with the victim, it was determined the young man would be cited for misdemeanor domestic assault and transported to a juvenile shelter in the county. AOA/Possession of Stolen Property Saturday 0022 hours While on patrol Sgt Eric Petersen spotted a young man wearing a black coat, who, upon seeing the squad, immediately turned around and briskly walked the other way. The young man was stopped and after brief conversation, was asked to take his backpack off to be patted down. He complied, taking off his coat as well and throwing both on the ground. After he was patted down, Sgt Petersen picked up his coat and patted it too; inside the coat was a GPS that was powered with the owner’s name. Oops. In the backpack was a laptop with the name of a company in Eagan printed on the outside. Sgt Speakman from EPD was called and advised Petersen they had taken a theft report on a GPS with a matching victim name. EPD showed up at the scene, confirmed it was the reported stolen property, and took custody of the thief. “Just the Facts” The latest news from the Mendota Heights Police Department 02 24 12 Barking Dog Friday 0128 hours Officer Steve Meyer responded to a complaint of a barking dog near Henry Sibley high school. He checked the area but was unable to locate the barking dog and unfortunately was unable to speak to the caller, as they chose to remain anonymous. He cleared the area, unable to resolve the problem. **Quick note: You can request to remain anonymous yet still leave a name and phone number when calling for help, which allows us to call back and clarify any information that you provided. Minor Consumption Saturday 0259 hours While at a local gas station, Officer Peyton Fleming observed a man that appeared to be very young and possibly in violation of the curfew ordinance as he walked into the station. Officer Fleming approached and asked the young man how old he was; the man replied, “21.” It was immediately obvious the young man had been drinking, heavily. When asked where, the young man stated “at a party” but would not provide any more information. When asked for identification, the young man stated he didn't have any. He was verbally identified; it turns out the 20 year old with two active Dakota County arrest warrants. He blew into the PBT which revealed a .16 BAC. He was transported to the Dakota County Jail along with a new citation for minor consumption. Burglary Saturday 2351 hours Officer Peyton Fleming along with several other officers for Mendota Heights, West St. Paul and the Dakota County Sheriff's Office responded to a burglary that had just occurred. Officers immediately cleared the residence finding no one inside. In speaking with the homeowner they had only been gone a short time and returned to find the front door pried open. Several things were found missing; the residence was processed for evidence and items were taken into custody for further processing. Earlier in the day, Officer Bobby Lambert had taken a suspicious vehicle report a block away of a black Cadillac Escalade occupied by two males. AOA Sunday 2216 hours Officer Chad Willson along with Officer Fleming and Sgt Peterson responded to assist Eagan PD Sgt Speakman in front a local motel where he had two parties at gun point. Speakman had been checking the area, looking specifically for the front seat passenger. The man was known to him to have two active felony warrants. A quick search of the vehicle revealed drugs and property likely to be stolen. Both parties were arrested and transported to the Eagan Police Department a short time later Speakman called MHPD and advised he had consent to search the motel room where the parties had come from. Officer conducted a search of the motel room, finding it contained many items that might have been stolen but none that could be confirmed. The property was mostly left in the room; some items were taken for processing. Detox Tuesday 1454 hours Officer John Larrive responded to a call of a man who appeared to be driving drunk. Before he arrived, the suspect had parked and entered a business in Lilydale. The caller stayed on the phone, directing the officer to the business. She also provided a good description and further information about why she thought he was intoxicated. A short time later Officer Larrive and Sgt Garlock made contact with the man who was waiting for a massage. The description was accurate; he was extremely intoxicated. After a brief conversation, a phone call was placed to his mother in WI, ensuring that his children were taken care of for the evening. The man was cited and transported to the Ramsey County detox in St. Paul. Have a great weekend! Mike D AKOTA C OUNTY S HERIFF The Front Row “A front row seat to the greatest show on Earth...” Dave Bellows, Sheriff Tim Leslie, Chief Deputy Volume 7, Week 37 February 13, through February 20, 2012 Life Father Like Son… A conscientious citizen played a vital role when they called the Dakota Communications Center after witnessing a vehicle pull into a construction area around midnight and turning off the headlights. Needless to say, the call generated the interest of several deputies from the DCSO and, on their arrival, they discovered a father and son team driving a semi-tractor and claiming to have mechanical troubles. Adding to the mystery was the fact they took time to park near heavy construction equipment. However, the mystery was short-lived when deputies discovered a long hose attached to a pump. After deputies further questioned the two, they realized their “gig was up” and confessed to stealing gas from the dozers and other equipment. In addition to the theft, the couple was found in possession of burglary tools. The two were escorted to jail, where individual family photos were taken. Thanks to our citizen for their heads-up call and to Deputies Tim Gonder, Gordy Steffel, and Mike Vikesland, and Sergeant Tim Samuelson for their work. Patrol Notes… An alert citizen driving on Highway 52 reported smoke in the area. A short time later, a home was found engulfed in fire. Quick work by the Randolph Fire Department saved the 130-year-old farm house from being a total loss. The homeowners were gone at the time of the fire. Responding to the fire were Sergeant Bruce Kammen and Deputies Jen Lenarz, Brent Lohmann, and Bruce Lohmann. Deputy Phouthaivanh Sourignavong handled a school bus stop arm violation this past week. The driver, who was from Seattle, claimed she did not think it was necessary to stop for the extended bus arm and the flashing red lights. We are not sure how they do things in Seattle, but in Minnesota we reward this type of driving conduct with a ticket. You Make a Difference… An important group to the DCSO, inspiring hope and faith with inmates, are the churches that hold Sunday services in the jail. On Tuesday, the annual appreciation dinner was held at the Riverview Baptist Church in West St. Paul, as in years past. Head Chaplain Jim Bzoskie, who has overseen our Jail Chaplain Program for over 30 years, takes this time to thank all the members for their contributions. The evening included a wonderful spaghetti dinner, followed by Jeff Wynne giving his testimonial of redemption. The group Featuring Sheriff’s Jail Staff: Commander John Grant Captain Brad Jeska Correctional Lieutenants Lawrence Hart Jodi Rolloff Correctional Sergeants Scott Fuchs Deb Fyten John Heger Chuck Stemig Ben Verby Correctional Corporals Farrel Byrd Damion Giles Virginia Jones Gary Millbach Lisa Peterson Christine Winfrey Correctional Deputies Craig Altendorfer Brett Biffle Vallie Bissonette Tim Bowman Courtney Brown Anna Caughey Stacy Cress Russell Crissman Mike Curry Joe Engesser Ryan Fitzhenry Daniel Forrey Mandy Fredrickson Tchad Guckin Christopher Hamblin Kelvin Hannah Jerry Hanson Adam Henry Joe Hertenstein D AKOTA C OUNTY S HERIFF The Front Row “A front row seat to the greatest show on Earth...” Dave Bellows, Sheriff Tim Leslie, Chief Deputy Volume 7, Week 37 February 13, through February 20, 2012 Click here to subscribe to this newsletter electronically.Page 2 also enjoyed music throughout the evening. Thanks to Assistant Pastor Vern Hildebrandt for hosting the dinner. Attending from the DCSO were Commander John Grant, Captain Brad Jeska, and Sheriff Dave Bellows. Over a 300 Average… In baseball hitting, 300 is considered a pathway to the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, when it refers to our inmate population it is less glamorous. This week the jail averaged 301 inmates in custody per day. Since the beginning of February, our jail has held an average of 298 inmates per day. We did see a slight decrease in the number of females in custody, dropping from 37 to 35 per day from the previous week. We also want to extend our best wishes to former Correctional Deputy Milford Holmes as he begins a new job after working the past five years at the DCSO. On the Road… The Transport Project, in collaboration with Washington and Ramsey Counties, continues to reap benefits. Since the beginning of the project, the DCSO has had to travel 2,000 less miles, saving both fuel and staff time. The combined savings exceeds $2,400 to date. Nice work by Sergeant Jen Cho, who coordinates the project for the DCSO. Take the Plunge… The Polar Plunge will be held this Saturday at Crystal Lake in Burnsville. As in past years, several members will participate by taking pledges and then jumping into ice cold water, all for the benefit of Special Olympics. Deputy Jen Lenarz is coordinating this year’s event, as she has for many years. While the list of jumpers remains a secret until next week’s edition, we can tell you that our Explorers and their advisors have raised over $4,100 in donations. See you at the Plunge! Happy Birthday to You… Employees celebrating birthdays during the upcoming week include Park Ranger Michael Mandel (February 28th) and Program Services Assistant Jamie Maiser (March2nd). We wish you both a very happy birthday! Ryan Holmquist Mike Holzemer Dan Hoover Katie Hoover Muhammed Jackson Cheri Johnson Blair Jones Theresa Lambert Joshua Loahr Lucio Marquez-Zazueta Raul Mascorro Darin McGowan Frantz Moise Lana Opp Julienne Oppong Tim Parker Eric Peot Brandon Pitts Brandon Rogers Cartier Russell Tom Schneider Regina Shepherd Phil Simpson Adam Smith Sara Steinhoff Kent Themmes Tina Tyler Anthony Welin Greg Wisher Xue Yang Programs Staff Loren Hanson Hal Palmer Questions? Comments? Please contact the Dakota County Sheriff’s Office at 651.438.4700 or any of the following by email: dave.bellows@ co.dakota.mn.us julie.ecker@ co.dakota.mn.us Sponsored by the Mendota Heights Firefighters Firefighter Hayley Bester Benefit Saturday, February 25th 3-8:00 pm Mendota VFW 1323 Sibley Memorial Highway Mendota, Minnesota 55150 Mendota Heights Firefighter Hayley Bester was on her honeymoon when she encountered a parasite called the Acanthamoeba. This parasite got behind a contact lens and caused severe damage, pain and loss of vision. You most likely have never heard of this before as it’s somewhat rare and unusual. Hayley and her husband, Roy, have been battling this disease for over five months now including having to travel to Toronto, Canada for medical procedures not approved yet in the USA. This benefit is being held to help cover costs of treatment and other related expenses. To read the whole story please follow the link to Hayley’s Caring Bridge site http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/hayleybester $10Spaghetti D i n n e r Silent Auct i o n Music by Sandy & t h e H i t m e n For any questions or for further information please contact: John Mendez : (651) 269-1539 johnmmendez@yahoo.com Ken Weisenburger: (651) 303-3220 ken.weisenburger@state.mn.us Donations can be mailed to :c/o Gateway Bank 745 Market Street Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Please make check payable to “Hayley Bester Benefit”  For more information about the Fundraiser event on Facebook IUUQTXXXGBDFCPPLDPNFWFOUT