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2015-04-10 Friday News April 10, 2015 City of Mendota Heights Weekly Update DATES TO REMEMBER: April 14 Parks Commission 6:30 p.m. April 15 Airport Commission 7:00 p.m. April 21 City Council 7:00 p.m. May 2 - Spring Clean-up Day 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Pipeline, Just the Facts City Directory City Hall 651.452.1850 Police 651.452.1366 Emergency 911 - - N E W S The Pipeline L E T T E R Public Works April 10, 2015 Engineering Public Works The Parks Crew swept the trails. Trees were picked up and planted at Hagstrom King Park, Wentworth Park and at the Fire Hall. Leaves were picked up at Mendakota Park. A broken water valve was repaired at Kensington Park. They attended the lockout/tag out and confined spaces safety meeting in South Saint Paul. The Utility Crews checked the lift stations daily. Manhole pick holes were sealed on Highway 13 so no rainwater can enter the lines. He finished checking the trunk line on Marie Avenue to Lilydale Road. He attended the lockout/tag out and confined space safety meeting in South Saint Paul. He also attended the last of the APWA leadership classes. th Pearson Bros. will be coming in to sweep the streets on April 20 and the Streets Crew were busy getting ready. The plows, sanders and wings were taken off the trucks. The sanders and under carriage of the wings were steam cleaned and stored for the summer. They fabricated an air pounder for the air compressor for the Parks Crew. They also attended the lockout/tag out and confined space safety meeting in South Saint Paul. Engineering City Projects (construction year) Highway 13 Trail Connection (2013-2015) The contractor has completed installing retaining walls for the project, and full construction completion is expected by late May. Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2014/2015) Design of the second phase of the project (Marie to Lexington) is tentatively complete and submitted to MnDOT State Aid Office for review. Their first round of comments has been addressed. th Authorization to bid the project is anticipated at the April 17 City Council meeting with contract award in May and construction beginning in June. The curb line at the northeast corner of Douglas Road and Victoria will be adjusted along with the second phase of construction. Substantial completion is expected by Labor Day. Ivy Falls Creek Stream Bank Stabilization (2015) Due to the early spring, construction is going on hold until the ground dries out. Construction is anticipated to begin in late July, weather permitting. The June 19, 2014 storm caused the gabions along the stream bank to fail. State disaster relief funds may reimburse up to 75% of the construction cost. Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation (2015) Council authorized staff to bid this th project at their April 7 meeting. The City rehabilitates (lines) sections of sanitary sewer each year to prevent Inflow and Infiltration from ground water and storm water into our sanitary sewer. Areas to be lined are sanitary sewer lines helps keep our flow contribution to the Met Council treatment plants as low as possible. Bid award is anticipated for early May th with construction during the summer, and completion by September 30. County Projects Highway 110 Trail Underpass (2017) This project proposes to construct a grade-separated pedestrian crossing of Highway 110 for the future construction of the Mendota-Lebanon Hills Greenway Trail. This crossing could be a tunnel (culvert) under the highway, or a bridge over the highway. Dakota County has received a $1,000,000 grant from the Metropolitan Council for construction of a tunnel, with a corresponding County match of $200,000. A kick-off meeting is scheduled for April 15th. Updates will be provided at future City Council meetings, and public open houses are anticipated as part of the project development. If approved for rehabilitation project for Highway 110 in 2017. River to River Greenway (2014/2015) Landscape restoration along Warrior Drive and Marie Avenue is underway and is anticipated to be complete by the beginning of May. Charlton Avenue in West Saint Paul will close later this summer for the installation of the trail underpass tunnel. At least one week notice will be provided prior to closure. The Greenway (formerly known as the North Urban Regional Trail) was realigned last summer, adding a new segment on the east side of Warrior Drive connecting Mendota Road to Marie Avenue. State Projects State Project List (2015) 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 and the Mendota Bridge will receive surface pavement rehabilitation (overlay). -Highway 13 between 2 Street and I-35E will be reconstructed to include new nd pavement, curb, gutter, and storm sewer. Maps of 2015 MnDOT projects can be found at: ŷƷƷƦƭʹΉΉǞǞǞ͵ŭƚƚŭƌĻ͵ĭƚƒΉƒğƦƭΉķΉĻķźƷͪŷƌўĻƓεğǒƷŷǒƭĻƩўЉεƒźķўǩĻЎΗАķǞWǒЉБ͵ƉWtbВ5ЏĬЉƒv ΛĭƚƓƭƷƩǒĭƷźƚƓΜ ŷƷƷƦƭʹΉΉǞǞǞ͵ŭƚƚŭƌĻ͵ĭƚƒΉƒğƦƭΉķΉĻķźƷͪƒźķўǩwǒŅƉb9bCВА͵ƉtБЋa\[ΏƆta ΛƒğźƓƷĻƓğƓĭĻΜ nd Highway 13 Reconstruction (I-35E to 2 Street) This project is being advertised for bid. Construction is expected to begin in June with substantial completion expected by the end of September. The project will rebuild the road way with curb, gutter, and storm sewer in most places along the route. Through traffic detours will be in place throughout the project, but access to businesses and residences will be maintained. The City of Mendota Heights will be contributing a small share of the cost for a Lilydale sponsored, coinciding project to re-route drainage down the bluff to minimize erosion. For more information on the MnDOT project, contact Kirsten Klein, Public Affairs Metro District at: kirsten.klein@state.mn.us, or 651-234-7506. Contact the City Engineering Department for questions on Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Rehabilitation (2017) Staff continued discussions with MnDOT representatives on design aspects of the project. The project will complete a pavement replacement on Dodd Road from I- th 494 to West 7 Street in Saint Paul, including a deck replacement on the High Bridge. Also included in the project will be a rehabilitation of the City trail from Mendakota Drive to Maple Street and the construction of a new City trail from Maple Street to Marie Avenue. Other Activities Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO) Staff attended the monthly meeting of the LMRWMO Board on Wednesday. The preliminary 2016 budget was approved, and consultant contracts were awarded. In addition, there was extensive discussion about grant applications for upcoming water quality projects. Also the Cherokee Heights Culvert Replacement project was discussed, which is anticipated for 2016 construction by the City of Saint Paul. Dakota County Blue Thumb Seminar Mendota Heights hosted a Dakota County Blue Thumb design seminar on Wednesday. The design seminar is for area residents interested in installing a rain garden on their property that have already attended a preliminary class through the same program. People who complete the initial class and the design seminar are eligible for grant money from Dakota County for rain garden construction. There are over a dozen rain gardens in Mendota Heights that were installed under this program. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Upper Mississippi River Bacteriological Implementation Plan Staff Met with representatives from MPCA on Friday to discuss the provisions outlined in their Draft Implementation Plan for bacteriological contamination affecting the Mississippi River. Mendota Heights has several outfalls that empty into the Mississippi River, and this implementation plan could affect how we manage our surface water drainage for bacteria management. Of particular interest are the levels of e. coli concentration in creeks and other discharges to the river. More information will follow as the plan gets closer to completion later this year. Њ A 10, 2015 PRIL The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department Digging in Your Yard? Call 811 First to Avoid 911 Later CHIEF April is Safe Digging Month in Minnesota. After a long winter homeowners are ready to tackle spring yard projects. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Office of Pipeline SERGEANTS Safety reminds Minnesota to call 811 before they dig to avoid an emergency and unintentionally striking an underground facility. Digging without knowing the location of underground utilities increases the likelihood of POLICEOFFICERS unintentional damage, which can cause serious injuries, service disruptions, and repair costs. State law requires anyone excavating to notify Gopher State One Call (GSOC) at least two days before beginning a project so utility companies can mark the approximate location of potentially hazardous underground facilities. Steven Source: MN Department of Public Safety INVESTIGATIONS Pedestrian Safety Remember, according to state statute, where traccontrol signals are not in place or in operation, vehicles must stop for pedestrians crossing the roadway within a marked crosswalk or SCHOOLRESOURCE at an intersection with no marked crosswalk. The driver must remain stopped until the pedestrian OFFICER has passed the lane in which the vehicle is stopped. There are rules for pedestrians tooby the same state statute, no pedestrian shall suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle; it will make it almost impossible for the driver to yield. SUPPORTSTAFF Be Safe and Be Seen: Make yourself visible to drivers Wear bright/light colored clothing and re Ǉ ective materials. Carry a Ǉ ashlight when walking at night. Cross the street in a welllit area at night. Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars, etc. before crossing so drivers can see you. RESERVES Be Smart and Alert: Avoid dangerous behaviors Always walk on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing trac. Stay sober; walking while impaired increases your chance of being struck. $®Ȍ³ ²²´¬¤ µ¤§¨¢«¤² ¶¨«« ²³®¯ȁ - ª¤ ¤¸¤ ¢®³ ¢³ ¶¨³§ £±¨µ¤±²Ǿ £®Ȍ³ ©´²³ «®®ª ³ ³§¤ µ¤§¨¢«¤ȁ )¥ CHAPLAINS driver is on a cell phone, he or she may not be paying attention to drive safely. $®Ȍ³ ±¤«¸ ²®«¤«¸ ® ¯¤£¤²³±¨ ²¨¦ «s. Look before you cross the road. Be alert to engine noise or backup lights on cars when in parking lots or near street parking. Be Careful at Crossings: Look before you step Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections, if possible. Obey tra¢ ²¨¦ «² ²´¢§ ² 7!,+ȝ$/.Ȍ4 7!,+ ²¨¦²ȁ Look left, right, and left again before crossing a street. Watch for turning vehicles. Make sure the driver sees you and will stop for you. Look across ALL lanes you must cross and visually clear each lane before proceeding. Even if one motorist stops, do not presume drivers in other lanes can see you and will stop for you. Њ $®Ȍ³ ¶¤ ± §¤ £¯§®¤² ®± ³ «ª ® ¢¤«« ¯§®¤ ¶§¨«¤ ¢±®²²¨¦ȁ 3®´±¢¤: www.pedbikeinfo.org Ћ Traffic Violation Friday 15:48 hours Officer Bobby Lambert was on patrol when he ran vehicleÓs license plate and learned the registered owner of the vehicle was revoked. Officer Lambert stopped the vehicle and confirmed that the driver was in fact revoked in Minnesota. The driver was issued a citation for Driving After Revocation and the vehicle was towed. Assault Friday 03:23 hours Sgt. Spicer responded to an after the fact assault report that had occurred at a local bar. The victim told Sgt. Spicer that he was defending his brother who was being assaulted by another bar patron when the bouncers pulled him out the back door and assaulted him. After he was pulled free by friends he took a taxi cab to escape. Sgt. Spicer went and spoke to the bar manager to get his side of the events. This case remains under investigation while video of the event is being reviewed. Suspicious Circumstances Saturday 02:22 hours Sgt. Tanner Spicer, Officer Mike Shepard, and Officer Jeff VonFeldt responded to a report of unauthorized people on the homeownerÓs property . When officers arrived they saw several people running towards the highway and into a wooded area. Some suspects were detained and they admitted that they were ÐscrappingÑ. With the homeownerÓs assistance police were able to determine that a large amount of aluminum and copper had been moved around the property and placed into containers for easy transport. The homeowner did not believe anything had actually been removed from the property. Theft Sunday 07:59 hours Officer John Larrive took a report from a homeowner who stated that when he went out to his vehicle this morning he discovered someone had rummaged through it. Later that day while the victim was driving down the street he discovered his backpack was on the side of the road. The victim stated he did not think anything was missing. There are no suspects. Burglary Monday 10:35 hours Officer John Larrive responded to a business where evidence of forced entry on the front door had occurred. The business owner stated when she arrive this morning she discovered the cash box on the floor and pry marks on the front door. There are no suspects or witnesses. Warrant Service Thursday 19:48 hours Sgt. Tanner Spicer responded to an Mendota Heights address to locate an adult male with four confirmed Ramsey County warrants. Sgt. Spicer observed the male at the home and took him into custody. He was transported to Ramsey County Detention Center in St. Paul. Ћ Ќ Ќ Ѝ Ѝ Ў ΏΓȝΏΒȡΏΓȝΏΘ2015YTD CallsforService1121725 Defensive Driving Citations7150 The Basics Warnings8133 PoliceReports26266 ResponseTimeAverage5.015.03 Check out the MH Crime Map! Scan ContinuallyÏ to Click below to search your neighborhood: the front, sides and https://www.raidsonline.com rear. 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Create a cushion of safetyÐa safe and stress-free driving space in and around your vehicle. Communicate with IfyouareaMendotaHeightsresidentandyouare other road users, su- goingoutoftownoronvacation ing courtesy, com- mon sense and coop- eration. Follow National Safety CouncilÔs collision prevention formula: Recognize the hazard. CarSeatSafetyChecks Understand the defense. Act in time. Source: MN Safety Council Please send us your positive MedicationDisposalBox feedback on our staff to: pdrecords@ mendota-heights.com Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps boost the morale of our staff. Ў HAVE A SAFE WEEK!