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2015-04-17 Friday News April 17, 2015 City of Mendota Heights Weekly Update DATES TO REMEMBER: April 21 City Council 7:00 p.m. April 28 Planning Commission 7:00 p.m. May 2 Spring Clean-up Day 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. - - May 5 - City Council 7:00 p.m. June 6 5K Run/Walk Event 9:00 a.m. Pipeline, Just the Facts City Directory City Hall 651.452.1850 Police 651.452.1366 Emergency 911 - - The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works April 17, 2015 Engineering Public Works The Parks Crew planted shrubs at Mendakota Park. The bathroom facilities were opened at Kensington and Mendakota Parks. The fencing was repaired at Mendakota Park, Friendly Hills skating rink, and the Pilot Knob site. The infields at the parks were graded and leveled. New base anchors and pitching rubbers were installed at Mendakota Park. Safety nets were installed at Mertensotto Field and the Mendakota ball field areas. The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. The manholes on the north east interceptor line from Falls View Court downstream to Lilydale Road were checked. One manhole cover and casting was removed from a concrete cone section and was reinstalled. Streets Crew was assisted with the spring sweeping.A rusty bike was pulled out of Huber pond. Parks Crew was assisted with installing the base holders at Mendakota Park. The Streets Crew worked on sweeping the city streets. They also swept the parkinglots at the parks, paved hockey rinks at Friendly Hills and Marie Parks, fire hallparking lot,and the police department/city hallparking lots. The skating rink was also swept at Marie Park. The sweeping was finished on Thursday. They started working on mailboxesthat were damaged during snow plowing. Engineering City Projects (construction year) Highway 13 Trail Connection (2013-2015)–The contractor has completed installing retaining walls for the project. Sub-Base grading and gravel base installation are underway. Projectcompletion 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 complete and submitted to MnDOT State Aid Office for th approval. Authorization to bid the project will be requestedat the April 17 City Council meeting with contract award on May 19thand construction th beginning afterJune10. 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 onhold 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 7meeting. 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 identified by the previous year’s cleaning and televising contract. Lining 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 thesummer, andcompletion by September 30. County Projects Highway 110 Trail Underpass (2017)–Thisproject proposes toconstruct a grade-separated pedestrian crossing ofHighway 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 was held onApril 15th. Updates will be provided at future City Council meetings, and public open houses are anticipated this fall as part of the project development. If approved for construction, the project would be installed along with MnDOT’s rehabilitation project for Highway 110 in 2017. River to River Greenway(2014/2015)–Landscape restoration along Warrior Drive and Marie Avenue is virtually complete. 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). nd -Highway 13 between 2Street and I-35E will be reconstructed to include new pavement, curb, gutter, and storm sewer. Maps of 2015 MnDOT projects can be found at: https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?hl=en&authuser=0&mid=ze5_7dwJUu08.kJPN9DY6b0mQ (construction) https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=zRufkNENF97Y.kP82VYML-jPM (maintenance) nd Highway 13 Reconstruction (I-35E to 2Street)–This project is being advertised for bid. Construction is expected to begin in early 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 Lilydale’s portion of the project. Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Rehabilitation (2017)–Staff continued discussions withMnDOT representatives on designaspects of the project. The project will complete a pavement replacement on Dodd Road from I- th 494 to West 7Street 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 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. Њ A 17, 2015 PRIL The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department CHIEF DAKOTA COUNTY CHIEFS OF POLICE ASSOCIATION SERGEANTS POLICEOFFICERS Steven WSPPD: L I M S IEUTENANTNVESTIGATORATTWENKE Tireless work and leadership with not only the Ocer Sco Patrick murder INVESTIGATIONS invesgaon, but also with the concurrent invesgaons of a homicide and an aempted homicide. While many of us found closure in the arrest of Brian Fitch, Lt. SCHOOLRESOURCE Swenke had none unl his convicon & sentencing. OFFICER WSPPD: I T NVESTIGATIVEEAM This team, comprised of Lt. Ma Swenke, Invesgators Dan Cook, Michael Eberlein, SUPPORTSTAFF Casey Kohn and Mahew Muellner and Invesgave Aide Jerri Schmidt, worked relessly on the case against Brian Fitch. Together, they pulled together an airght case and showed immense professionalism, dedicaon and aenon to detail. Our whole country has immense pride in this team. RESERVES MHPD: S T S ERGEANTANNERPICER Dedicaon and commitment to the Patrick family in service as the designated Liaison Ocer. Tanner demonstrated his professionalism while displaying the heart of a hero and servant and he dedicated signi ŋ cant me and energy into the service role CHAPLAINS on behalf of Sco. DCSO: P S S S A ROGRAMERVICESUPERVISORTEVENDERSON Steve successfully secured several grants, including a MN Oce of Trac Safety Grant, for which he also acted as the Fiscal Agent, and the Violence Against Women Act to enhance the response to violent crimes against women. Grants are crical to funding for impacul public safety projects. Thanks to the Dakota County Chiefs for making time to nominate county-wide staff that you encounter and observe making a positive and lasting impact in our communities. Њ Ћ Mental Health Thursday 19:30 hours Sergeant Tanner Spicer along with Officer Nick Gorgos responded to a group home on a crisis call that was reported to a suicide hotline. Officers spoke with the male who stated he did attempt suicide with a battery and that he wanted to die. The male stated he was having painful flashbacks which ultimately made his decision to want to die so he smashed his iPod to get the battery out trying to electrocute himself. HealthEast arrived and he was transported to the hospital on a health and welfare hold. Theft from Vehicle #1 Friday 08:57 hours Officer Todd Rosse responded to a home on a theft from vehicle report. Upon arrival, he was met by the homeowner who stated that her vehicle that was parked on her driveway overnight, was entered and a mini flashlight and vehicle rescue kit were stolen from the center counsel. The woman was unsure if her vehicle was locked or not. Theft from Vehicle #2 Friday 09:46 hours Officer Todd Rosse responded to a home on a theft from vehicle report. Upon arrival, he was met by the homeowner who stated that his vehicle that was parked on the driveway overnight, was entered and his prescription medication had been stolen. The male said his vehicle was left unlocked. Theft from Vehicle #3 Friday 09:48 hours Officer Bobby Lambert responded to a home on a theft from vehicle report. Upon arrival, he was met by the homeowner who stated that his vehicle that was parked on the driveway overnight, was entered and two backpacks with several contents had been stolen. All of the stolen items except a tablet were later found in the backyard of the residence. The vehicle was left unlocked. Counterfeit Currency Friday 13:17 hours Officer Bobby Lambert was dispatched to McDonalds on a counterfeit report. Lambert was met by the manager who stated a Caucasian male with blue eyes, short light brown hair, wearing a jersey and jeans attempted to pass a counterfeit $20 bill in the drive thru. Store employees checked the bill with a marker and it was confirmed counterfeit. Employees notified the male of the counterfeit bill and he did not seem overly surprised nor disappointed. He did pay his bill with a legitimate $5 bill and employees could observe several other $20 bills in his wallet. The suspect then left and a employees were able to obtain a license plate number. Lambert followed up on the plate number but the description of the vehicle owner did not match that of the suspect. A letter was mailed to the registered owner. Case pending. Theft from Vehicle #4 Friday 14:15 hours Officer Todd Rosse took a walk in report from a male who stated that sometime overnight, his UNLOCKED vehicle had been entered in his UNLOCKED detached garage and had been rifled through. All that was noticed missing was some miscellaneous change. Theft from Vehicle #5/Burglary Friday 23:00 hours Officer Nick Gorgos responded to a home on a theft/burglary report. Upon arrival, he was met by the homeowner who stated that sometime overnight, his UNLOCKED garage was entered and his UNLOCKED vehicles were rummaged through. The only item missing was the sonÓs backpack containing textbooks. There were other bags in the vehicles containing laptops and other valuables however, they were not taken. Residents Ð PLEASE, lock your vehicles and remove all valuables from it. Ћ Ќ Vandalism/Property Damage Sunday 10:18 hours Officer Robin Nelson responded to a home on a property damage report. Upon arrival, she was met by a contractor who stated that he has been working on this home and sometime overnight, the home had been vandalized. The contractor said there were several punch holes in the basement insulation, caulk spread on insulation panels and floor with a name ÐLarryÑ written on it. He also said that someone had urinated on the second floor bathroom and defecated in the bathtub but had cleaned up prior to NelsonÓs arrival. He believed he had locked the doors the previous day before leaving but couldn't be positive as there were no signs of forced entry into the home. No suspects at this time. Medical Monday 11:28 hours Officer Robin Nelson was dispatched to a home on a woman who had gone into cardiac arrest and CPR had been started. Nelson arrived on scene and took over CPR while HealthEast prepared the LUCAS and AED machine. The AED and LUCAS machine were now in place so Nelson started her breathing with a bag valve mask. A pulse was shortly found and she was transferred to hospital via ambulance. Theft Tuesday 14:44 hours Officer Robin Nelson was dispatched to the Courtyard by Marriot on a theft report. Upon arrival, she was met by hotel employee who stated that overnight, a guests tires and rims had been stolen off of her Chevrolet Tahoe and concrete blocks were placed in its spot. The owner of the vehicle was out of town and the hotel did not have a phone number for her. Nelson attempted to obtain a phone number for her, found one, but when she called there was no answer and no voicemail had been set up. There has been a trend of this same activity in neighboring cities where tires and rims are being stolen off Chevrolet TahoeÓs. Case pending. Identity Theft Wednesday 15:59 hours Officer Todd Rosse was dispatched to a home on a fraud report. Upon arrival, he was met by the homeowners, a wife and husband. They stated that when they went to file their taxes earlier in the day, the tax agent informed them that they had to reject it because there was already a return filed in her name. The woman received a letter a week prior from Pay Pal advising her that there had been two attempts on her account which did not get completed and was rejected. It is unknown at this time how her information had been obtained. She was advised to contact the IRS and Pay Pal. Case pending. Dog Complaint Thursday 14:00 hours Officer Todd Rosse responded to a neighborhood on a barking dog complaint. Rosse could hear habitual barking coming from the backyard of a residence. He went around the home and could see the dog. The dog seemed healthy and not in distress. Rosse attempted contact with the homeowner but no one responded to the door. Rosse sat outside the home and monitored the dog for over ten minutes. The dog habitually barked. In looking at previous records for the home, this was not the first instance of the barking dog. There had been several calls in the past and the homeowner was issued a citation a couple of weeks prior for violating Ordinance 4.1.4. Rosse issued and mailed the homeowner a second citation. Ќ Ѝ ΏΓȝΐΏȡΏΓȝΐΕ2015YTD CallsforService1321,879 Citations8159 Warnings13146 On March 21st the PoliceReports22290 Moose Country held the 2nd Annual ResponseTimeAverage5.375.06 Wing Eating Contest. Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: https://www.raidsonline.com Town Square 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Television was there to get all the footage showing our very own Officer Steve Meyer “The Carnivore” get MHPD the bragging IfyouareaMendotaHeightsresidentandyouare rights for the second goingoutoftownoronvacation year in a row! To see all of the excitement, please, CLICK HERE This event raised CarSeatSafetyChecks $3,200! 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. Ѝ HAVE A SAFE WEEK!