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2003-08-15 Friday News The Friday News August 15, 2003 New Proposal from Clifford Timm Mr. Timm is now requesting that the City Council allow “off duty” Mendota Heights Police Officers to “scare and selectively kill” unwanted geese from certain areas in Mendota Heights, with the landowner’s permission (Mendakota Golf Course, Resurrection Cemetery etc.). Mr. Timm is offering to provide funding for this operation (air horns, ammunition, processing, etc.) including salary/compensation for the officer’s time. Mr. Timm will be present at the meeting on Tuesday to discuss his proposal with the City Council. Please also see the attached Southwest Review article “Local man donates $50,000 for lake improvements.” Death of Bob Brown, Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community I am sorry to report the Bob Brown, Chairman of the Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community, passed away th on August 8. He died following heart surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul. Mr. Brown had recently been very active in the City leading the effort by the Dakota community for the Environmental Assessment Worksheet on the Bluffs Project. Please see the attached Sun Current and Pioneer Press articles. Closed Session to Discuss Par 3 Litigation The owners of the Par 3 Golf Course (Mendota Heights LLP) recently filed suit against the City for denial of their request for a comprehensive plan amendment. The League of Minnesota Cities has assigned Attorney Pete Regnier to represent the City. If you recall, Mr. Regnier was our attorney during the Xcel litigation. He would like the opportunity to discuss the current suit with the City Council. Minnesota’s open meeting law (Minn. Stat. 471.05) allows a public body to close a meeting to consult an attorney on current and pending litigation. Mr. Regnier will be present for the closed session to discuss the lawsuit with the Council members at the end of the regular City Council meeting on Tuesday. Please see the attached South West Review article “Par 3 Golf Course Sues MH.” Snarl in the Skate Park Plans In April, the City Council awarded a contract to Custom Skate Park Concepts to build and install a Tier One Skate Park with ramps, jumps and obstacles at Roger’s Lake Park. The firm was unable to install the equipment st by July 1 and subsequently missed further deadlines. Staff recently learned that the company is no longer in business. Luckily, a purchase order had been issued, but no payments had been made to this firm. On Tuesday night, the Parks Commission recommended that the Council rescind the purchase order with Custom Skate Park Concepts and issue a new purchase order to an alternate firm, TruRide, Inc. TruRide will be submitting a proposal comparable to that of Custom Skate Park Concepts for Council consideration on Tuesday night. If the City Council agrees to the change, the delivery/installation could be done prior to mid October. St. Peter’s Catholic Church Celebrates 150 year Anniversary ththst St. Peter’s Catholic Church is celebrating their 150 year anniversary this September 19-21. St. Peter’s was th the first Catholic parish in Minnesota They are not only celebrating the 150 year anniversary, but also the plans for a new church. St. Peters was declared a historic site in 1935 by the US Department of the Interior. If you would like information regarding the anniversary celebration, please contact Al Todd, the Director of Development and Communications for the Parish at 651-283-7185. For a complete history of the Parish, see the website at www.stpetersmendota.org. At the request of Council member Duggan, the City Council will be considering a resolution acknowledging the 150-year Anniversary of the Parish on Tuesday evening. Request to Purchase Bourn Parcel – 1181 Bourn Lane The City was recently contacted by Chuck Bourn, the son of Art and Marian Bourn about the potential sale of his parent’s property to the City. During 1999, when the Legislature revised the Tax Increment laws, the City’s TIF district was sunsetted. One of the goals of the district was to purchase the land parcels on Rogers Road (Le . May Lake road) and redevelop the site as businessThis area is in aircraft zone 3 where single-family homes are not allowed. It does not have public utilities and is not a standard city street. It has also been guided by the City to be redeveloped as business. In 1999, we offered Mr. Bourn a life estate to purchase his property. Due to personal problems, Mr. Bourn was unable to complete the sale. Mr. Bourn has since passed away and Mrs. Bourn will be moving to a retirement community. The family is again interested in selling the home. The property was part of the original purchases planned by the District, and is an existing non-conforming use. The City previously purchased the land north of the property from the cemetery and to the west from Jerry Schouveller and Gerald Fink. Two parcels would remain owned by Mrs. Gauw, and the Bolhligs, who do not wish to sell at this time. On Tuesday, the City Council will consider entering into negotiations for the purchase of 1181 Bourn Lane. Resident Thanks Fire Department for Help Attached is a letter from Ms Margaret Lavigne thanking the Fire Dept. for their response to her home in the 1800 block of Eagle Ridge Drive. She also enclosed a check for the Fire Relief Association of $50.00. The department responded to a call of smoke coming from the roof vents early Saturday morning. Ms. Lavigne had noticed there was a problem with a light in the bathroom. She was not sure what the problem was until the paper delivery person knocked on her door and alerted her to the smoke from the vents. Upon arrival and investigation it was found that there was a fire in the ceiling around the recessed light fixture. It had burned through the roof truss and was smoldering under the insulation. The department was called back later in the day when the homeowner noticed more smoke. More insulation was removed but no fire was found. The cause of the fire was determined to be an oversized light bulb in the recessed light fixture. A 250 watt heat lamp bulb was installed in the fixture that was rated for 60 watts. Final Thought “Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” – Vincent Van Gogh Respectfully Submitted, Cari Lindberg Administrator Attachments: Pipeline, Planning Synopsis, City Council agenda, Pioneer Press obituary “Bob Brown, Dakota community chairman,” and “Chatter over Airport Noise,” Sun Current article “Dakota Community Chairman Bob Brown Dies,” Southwest Review articles “Par 3 Golf Course sues MH,” “Local Man donates $50,000 for lake improvements,” and Thank you note to Fire Department from 1869 Eagle Ridge. room of Council member Vitelli and Schneeman in the communitythe new CDA Senior facility at the Village at Mendota Heights.