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Friday News 07 13 2012 July 13, 2012 Dates to Remember: July 17, 2012 City Council 7:00 p.m. July 24, 2012 Planning Comm. 7:00 p.m. August 7, 2012 City Council 7:00 p.m. August 8, 2012 Airport Relations Comm. 7:00 p.m. Attachments: Pipeline, Just the Facts, Press Release on commission Opening Friday News Mendota Heights Weekly Report on City Activities Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com (651) 452-1850 Storm Cleanup The curbside cleanup of storm damage was com- pleted on Tuesday, July 10, 2012. On Thursday morning, our contractor showed up at Mendakota Park with a tub grinder to clean up the debris pile. They are making quick work of the pile, (Tim the Tool Man would defi- nitely approve of the massive grinder.) Notices were sent to neighbors to warn them about noise, which hasn’t been as bad as suspected. Night to Unite 2012 The National Night to Unite is scheduled for Tuesday, August 7, 2012. This is a great oppor- tunity to meet your neighbors, and get to know your public safety staff a little better. For more information pertaining to Night to Unite or how to get involved, check the city’s website or contact Crime Prevention Officer Denise Urmann at den- iseu@mendota-heights.com. In Recognition: City Attorney Tami Diehm was recently recog- nized as a “Rising Star,” one of the area’s top at- torneys. We received the following note from Winthrop and Weinstein regarding this honor: Some stars twinkle; ours dazzle. Thirteen attor- neys from Winthrop & Weinstine have been se- lected for inclusion in the 2012 Rising Stars list. This list is selected from attorneys who are 40 or under, or who have been practicing for 10 years or less. No more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are named to the list. Congratulations Tami, and thank you for all that you do for our city. Public Works The Parks Crew worked on the sprinkler systems at Mendakota Park and Kensington Park. The finished hauling downed trees and limbs to Mendakota Park. Graffiti was covered up at Valley Park on the pavilion walls and the tunnel under Marie Avenue. The Utilities Crew painted the Lilydale lift panel that was vandalized again. Sanitary sewer lines were cleaned on Bachelor Avenue, Bachelor easement, Sutton Road, and Trail Road. The storm sewer pipe on Chippewa Avenue was cleaned. He met with engineering and the wastewater consultant about rehabbing the Veronica lift station. The Streets Crew finished the curb side pickup of downed trees and limbs. The tub grinder is at Mendakota Park and chipping up the debris. About one third of it was chipped up on Thursday. The estimated finish date is Tuesday. Engineering Lemay Lake Road Reconstruction –A pre-construction meeting is scheduled for July 13th. The contractor should supply the city with an estimated schedule at the meeting. Construction is anticipated to begin late July. Marie Avenue Rehabilitation – Water main is installed but there have been problems getting it to pass water quality standards. St. Paul Water continues to flush and reflush the main with highly chlorinated water. Once the main passes the contractor will begin reconnecting services. Storm water pond construction is underway. Marie Avenue is closed to through traffic. A signed detour is provided. Construction is anticipated to last through July. Dodd Road/Highway 110 Intersection Pedestrian Improvements – The consultant is surveying the intersection this week and will begin drawing up preliminary plans in July. A stakeholder letter is scheduled to be sent out this month to get input into the project design. A mid to late summer update is planned at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting. Hunter Lane/Orchard Place Reconstruction - A resident survey letter has been sent out to get preliminary issues identified for preliminary project The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works Engineering Code Enforcement July 13, 2012 design. A neighborhood meeting is scheduled for September followed by a formal public hearing before City Council in October. MnDOT 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 St. Paul) has been underway since May. The portion of Highway 13 from 2nd Street in Mendota to I-35E in Lilydale will be exempted from this project and reconstructed in 2015 under a separate MnDOT project. The Highway 55 to Highway 110 portion of the project is paved and striped, as is the portion from Wachtler Avenue north to Annapolis Street. The portion of Highway 13 through Mendota is scheduled to be resurfaced later in July. Highway 110 Resurfacing (MnDOT) – Highway 110 is nearing completion. Lanes have been restored and minor touch up items remain. Old Sibley Memorial Highway (MnDOT) – MnDOT has informed affected local communities of their need to vacate the Right-of-Way for the Old Sibley Memorial Highway from Highway 13 near Saint Peters Church to Highway 13 at Mendota Heights Road due to it being a redundant right-of-way route. Concept plans and alternatives are being developed for the land use once it is vacated. MnDOT will be presenting potential alternatives to local City Councils and holding public open houses later this summer and fall. 7/13/2012 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 Night to Unite Mark your calendars for Night to Unite, Tuesday, August 7, 2012, 5:30 - 9pm. Mendota Heights Police, Fire and HealthEast Ambulance will be introducing themselves at parties throughout the city. To get your neighborhood involved, just fill out the form found @ www.mendota-heights.com and drop it off at MHPD or email it to Officer Urmann at: deniseu@mendota- heights.com by July 24. You can also call 651-452-1366 and ask to be put on the list. We all enjoy this night, as it allows citizens and public safety to get to know each other and look out for each other, which is one of the biggest crime prevention tools we have. We can also answer questions, show off some of our equipment (which both kids and adults love), and discuss safety and security concern with our citizens. Sign up now! MHPD in the News http://kstp.com/news/stories/S2684680.shtml?cat=1 Be Vigilant! Thefts from vehicles and burglaries of both residences and businesses have increased not only in our city, but metro-wide. The public is reminded to keep vehicles and homes locked up and valuables out of sight. Remember that criminals love your garage- door openers! Prevent access to homes or garages by removing remote-control garage openers from vehicles left outside and keep access doors locked. Be vigilant – report any suspicious activity by calling “911”! Burglary 07/07/2012 0331 hours Officer Peyton Fleming and Sergeant Eric Petersen responded to an alarm at a construction site that has been plagued with recent burglaries and vandalism. On arrival, officers located suspects inside the newly constructed building. Assistance in the form of multiple officers and K-9’s were requested from surrounding agencies after the suspects fled from officers. One suspect was apprehended fleeing the scene and arrested. Investigator Mario Reyes was summoned to the scene and documented a significant amount of damage in the form of broken windows, discharged fire extinguishers and spray painted graffiti. Reyes interviewed the “Just the Facts” The latest news from the Mendota Heights Police Department 7/13/2012 apprehended suspect after processing the crime scene, learned who the second suspect was and issued a pick up for him. A short time later, the second suspect was located and arrested in Saint Paul. This suspect reported memory trouble regarding his actions due to his lack of sobriety, but he believed the described vandalism sounded like something “fun” he would do. Both are now located in the Dakota County Jail. Gas Drive Off 07/08/2012 1325 hours Sergeant Garlock responded to a local gas station in reference to a gas drive off. The plate and description of the suspect vehicle did not match. After reviewing the video surveillance it was determined that the plate was unreadable. No further suspect information available; case closed. Found Property 07/09/2012 1613 hours Officer Jenifer Fordham responded to a local park on a report of a found cell phone. On arrival, the cell phone was turned over to her by the Good Samaritan. The officer then went through the contacts in the phone leaving messages to have the owner contact the police department. On 07/10/2012, the owner of the phone responded to the police department and was re-united with his phone. Civil Problem/Harassment 07/04/2012 1622 hours Officer Jennifer Fordham met with a reporting party who was looking for assistance on how to proceed after receiving unwanted communication via email. Officer Fordham advised that she would contact the other party and tell him that any further communication was unwanted. Issue was largely a civil dispute over a divorce decree, after contact with both parties was made, both assured her the communication would not continue or escalate. Gas Drive Off 07/10/2012 1719 hours Officer Chad Willson responded to a local gas station in reference to a gas drive off. On arrival, Officer Willson was provided with a license plate, suspect information and video surveillance. Officer Willson, after reviewing all the evidence learned that the suspect did not match the information given by the store employee. The video surveillance captured the image of the thief but not his vehicle. Case is pending further leads on the identity of the thief. Stolen License Plates 07/11/2012 0831 hours Officer Jennifer Fordham responded to a local business in reference to a report where a bumper was stolen off a vehicle. On arrival Officer Fordham learned that indeed the front bumper, which included the license plate, was missing off the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle stated that he had stopped at many locations throughout the day and the theft could have occurred at any of the 7/13/2012 locations, but was pretty sure he would have noticed the entire front of his car missing. The vehicle’s license plate was entered as stolen into NCIC; no further suspect information was available at the time of the report. Theft from Vehicle 07/12/2012 0259 hours Officer Denise Urmann responded to an address in reference to a theft from vehicle. She learned from the resident that unknown suspects had entered into her unlocked vehicle and took a GPS unit and opened her overhead garage door, waking her. The area was checked and no suspects were located. Pending suspect information. Burglary 07/12/2012 0523 hours Officers were summoned to a business when, upon arrival to open, the owners arrived and found entry had been made and items were stolen. This business and the adjoining business were both overnight victims of burglary, with both cash registers now missing. Both owners were going to complete a property loss form. Investigation pending. Solicitor Complaint 07/12/2012 1807 hours Sergeant Eric Petersen responded to a suspicious male approaching people in a neighborhood. Sergeant Petersen located the suspect male and learned that he was soliciting without a permit. The male was cited and transported to a nearby gas station to wait for his manager to pick him up. There were several solicitors in various neighborhoods throughout the area. Soliciting is (in most cases) no longer permitted in the city; if you are approached by a door-to-door sales person, or by anyone asking for money or a contribution, do not hesitate to call 911. Let us check it out for you. Have a great weekend! Steve and Kim NIGHT TO UNITE! Mendota Heights Police Department 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Denise Urmann Crime Prevention Officer Telephone (651)452-1366 FAX: (651)452-2995 E-mail: Deniseu@mendota-heights.com 06/13/2012 PRESS RELEASE TUESDAY, AUGUST 7th is NIGHT TO UNITE! Join neighbors across Mendota Heights, Mendota and Lilydale on Tuesday, August 7th, 2012 for the 4th Annual Night to Unite in Minnesota. Sponsored by the Minnesota Crime Prevention Association, AAA of Minnesota/Iowa, and local law enforcement agencies, Night to Unite will celebrate and strengthen neighborhood and community partnerships. Night to Unite is designed to: 1. Get to know one another in your neighborhood; 2. Build neighborhood involvement by bringing police and communities together; and 3. Bring awareness to crime prevention and local law enforcement efforts! MCPA President Jennifer Schaefer said, “I invite neighborhoods in every City and County throughout the state of Minnesota to become involved in Night to Unite activities. This is an opportunity for neighborhoods and communities to band together, enjoy a summer evening and get to know who belongs in their neighborhoods.” Chief Michael Aschenbrener said, “WE NEED YOU TO BE OURS EYES AND EARS, early this summer a tip from a concerned neighbor helped us arrest a day time burglary crew! Sign up today show up on August 7th and help us year round!” For more information pertaining to Night to Unite or how to get involved, check the cities website or contact Crime Prevention Officer Denise Urmann at Deniseu@mendota-heights.com. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jake Sedlacek Assistant to the City Administrator City of Mendota Heights 651.452.1850 651.452.8940 jakes@mendota-heights.com www.mendota-heights.com Mendota Heights Seeks Applicants for Parks and Recreation Commission The Mendota Heights, Minnesota, July 13, 2012 – The Mendota Heights City Council is seeking applicants for the Parks and Recreation Commission, an advisory body to the city council through August 3, 2012. This appointment is for a three year term. Advisory commissions meet on a monthly basis, and serve to advise the City Council about ideas, projects, requests and concerns in their focus areas. Members must be of voting age and reside within Mendota Heights. The Parks and Recreation Commission provides advice to the city council on matters pertaining to recreation facilities and recreation programs throughout the community. The majority of this commission’s work relates to park improvement projects, trail maintenance issues and par 3 golf course performance. The Parks and Recreation Commission meets the second Tuesday of every month, starting at 6:30 p.m. Interested citizens of Mendota Heights should provide a current resume and letter of interest to Jake Sedlacek, Assistant to the City Administrator. Applications will be accepted through Friday, August 3, 2012. Mendota Heights is a premier first ring suburb in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Incorporated in 1956, the City of Mendota Heights has been carefully developed with a mix of residential and commercial properties. Active and engaged citizenry is a hallmark of the community. # # #