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2015-11-13 Friday NewsCity of Mendota Heights Weekly Update Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com (651) 452.1850 Visit us on: Facebook.com/ MendotaHeightsMN Twitter.com/ @Mendota_heights DATES TO REMEMBER: November 13 MH Fire Department 67th Annual Dance 8:00 p.m. November 17 City Council 7:00 p.m. November 24 Planning Commission 7:00 p.m. November 26 –27 Thanksgiving Holiday City offices will re-open on Monday, November 30th at 8:00 a.m. December 1 City Council 7:00 p.m. Attachments: Pipeline Just the Facts will return next week. November 13, 2015 Mendota Heights Firefighters Dance is Tonight The 67th Annual Firefighters Dance will be held tonight, Friday, November 13th at Mall of America Hilton, 3800 American Blvd East, Bloomington. Music will be provided by High and Mighty. Tickets can be purchased for $15 at the door. Come out for an evening of fun, music and dancing. Mendota Heights Book Club You’re invited to join others in the area to discuss Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns, Wednesday, November 18th. The Book Club will meet at Mendota Elementary School from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Media Center. 2015 City Budget The City of Mendota Heights 2015 Budget will be discussed at the December 1, 2015 city council meeting. Agenda materials can be found at www.mendota-heights.com, click on Agenda/Minutes. Winter Parking Restrictions Winter parking restrictions went into effect on November 1, 2015. No vehicles may park on the streets between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Following a winter storm that results in two or more inches of snow, all cars must be removed from the street, day or night. Did you know… You can contact city hall through interactive forms on our website: www.mendota-heights.com Report potholes, request that the police check your house while you are on vaca- tion, or simply ask any other question. Click on the “online interactive forms.” City Council agenda packets and agenda packets for the Airports Relations Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission and Planning Commission are available online by vising www.mendota-heights.com and clicking on the agenda/ minutes link. Public Works The Parks Crew picked up trash daily in the parks. A donated park bench was assembled and installed. Leaves were cleaned out of the tennis courts and then mulched. Leaves were mulched in the parks. They prepared the plows for the upcoming winter season. The Utilities Crew checked the lift station daily. A new pump impellor was installed on pump 2 at the Northland lift station. New LED light bulbs were installed at the Northland lift station. A storm sewer plugged with leaves and grass clippings on Ivy Falls Court was jetted to clear the blockage. Sanitary sewer lines were cleaned on Chippewa Avenue, Emerson Avenue, and Brookside Lane. A sanitary sewer installation inspection was done on Wagon Wheel Court. The Streets Crew worked with the street sweepers all week. They unplugged storm grates on Ivy Falls Court after the rain storm. Engineering City Projects (construction year) New Information in Italics Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2014/2015) – The final lift of asphalt is being installed today. Minor items and some landscaping remain, but may need to wait until spring for completion. Assessed property owners can pay their assessment, in full or partially, at City Hall until November 20th. After that time the assessments will be sent to Dakota County. Annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation (2015) – The contractor has completed the initial sewer cleaning phase. Lining has begun. Areas to be lined include Huber Drive from Bent Tree to Cheyenne, Mendota Heights Road from Pilot Knob Road to the lift station, and Rogers Lake Park area. The first 2000 feet of the interceptor line, from Highway 55 to Lexington, will also be lined. Project Completion is expected by the end of November. Mendota Road Neighborhood Improvements (2016) – City staff is working on concept design elements based on comments received from area residents. A preliminary layout will be presented at the Public Hearing for The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works Engineering November 13, 2015 City Council consideration. The formal Public Hearing is set for November 17th during the regular City Council Meeting at 7:00pm at City Hall. Residents were asked to complete a survey to inform the City of specific items to address with the project (including on -street parking, drainage issues, etc.). Project will consist of reconstructing Mendota Road (Hwy 110 Frontage Road) from Delaware Avenue to Oak Street, and rehabilitating Warrior Drive, High Ridge Circle, and Sibley Court. County Projects New Information in Italics Highway 110 Greenway Trail Crossing (2017) – County Staff will be presenting the recommended alignment to the City Council at the November 17th meeting. The type of grade-separated crossing has not been selected yet. County staff has provided a summary of comments received at and since the October 21st open house. While the easternmost alignment seems to be preferred by those who commented, opinion is split between an overpass (bridge) and an underpass (tunnel). The alignment alternatives will be presented to the County Board on December 1st with a preferred alternative selection on December 15th. If approved, the project would be constructed with MnDOT’s rehabilitation project for Highway 110 in 2017. State Projects New Information in Italics Highway 13 Slope Repair (2015) – Although not a MnDOT Driven project, Highway 13 between the Ivy Falls Bridge and Sylvandale Road will be closed through early December (estimated) so slopes can be repaired and reinforced. In June of 2014, bluff slopes in this area failed during a large rain storm. This repair project is intended to restore and stabilize the slope. The posted detour route takes traffic along Dodd Road, Wentworth Avenue and Wachtler Avenue. See the City Web Page for a detour route map. Highway 13 Reconstruction (I-35E to 2nd Street) (2015) – Highway 13 is open! Minor punch-list items remain with the contractor. For more information about the MnDOT project, contact Kirsten Klein, Metro District at: kirsten.klein@state.mn.us, or 651-234-7506, or Kiet Ly, Project Engineer at kiet.t.ly@state.mn.us. The project website is: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy13mendota/. Highway 110 Rehabilitation (2017) – MnDOT will be requesting Local Government Concurrence from Mendota Heights for on this project at a City Council meeting sometime in December. This project will resurface Highway 110 between I-35E and I-494, including drainage improvements. Several access changes are proposed with the project, including changes to accesses across the median as well as closing the right-in/right-out east of Lexington Avenue. MnDOT staff has met with City public safety officials to discuss access changes along the corridor. For more information about this project, contact Molly Cline, MnDOT Project Manager, at 651-234-7723 or molly.cline@state.mn.us. Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Rehabilitation (2018) – This project will replace the pavement surface of Highway 149 from I-494 north to West 7th Street in Saint Paul. The project also includes a complete re-decking of the High Bridge. Also included in the project will be drainage improvements, curb replacement in specified areas, trail rehabilitation from Highway 110 south to Mendakota Park, and new trail construction from Maple Street north to Marie Avenue. Staff will be meeting with representatives from MnDOT and Dakota County in the coming weeks to discuss potential grant opportunities to extend pedestrian facilities north of Marie Avenue. For more information, please contact Tara McBride, Project Manager at 651-234-7506, or tara.mcbride@state.mn.us. The project web page is: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy149highbridge/index.html Highway 13 (Annapolis Street) Rehabilitation (2018) – MnDOT will be resurfacing Annapolis Street as part of this project in conjunction with the Highway 149 project in 2018. City staff has contacted some adjoining property owners about the possibility of sidewalk being installed on the south side of Annapolis. All responses were against the sidewalk proposal and have been forwarded to MnDOT. For more information, contact Molly Cline, MnDOT Project Manager, at 651-234-7723 or molly.cline@state.mn.us. Other Activities New Information in Italics Future Cities Competition – Staff met with the 2015 Future Cities Competition teams from Friendly Hills Middle School (FHMS) on Thursday. Students completed their project plans and schedules and continue to work through the SimCity development. They have started their slide-show submittal for their Sim City projects, and have started their outlines for the 1500 word essay. The competition is open to 6th-8th grade students and involves developing a virtual city using Sim City software, completing a project schedule, a 1500 word essay, scale model, and oral presentation. The State competition will be held at Dunwoody Institute on January 23 rd. This year’s theme is, “Waste Not – Want Not,” and will focus on how the cities of the future handle municipal and solid waste. This is the seventh year Mendota Heights’ Engineering staff has assisted FHMS with the program. FHMS will be sending three teams to the State Competition in January. Saint Paul Regional Water Service (SPRWS) Water Service Agreement – Staff is scheduling several approvals that will need to take place in conjunction with the approval of the new agreement with SPRWS. It is anticipated that all approvals will be complete by June 2016. These include: 1) A Lease Agreement for cell tower use and City storage at the water tower site – anticipated at the November 17th City Council meeting; 2) An easement agreement(s) for SPRWS access to the water tower and water mains not located within City Right-of-Way; 3) Conveyance of deed, title, and ownership of the system; 4) An amended City Ordinance to reflect the new agreement; 5) An amended Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with the other municipal partner agencies (West Saint Paul, Maplewood, Falcon Heights, Lauderdale) to gain a second seat on the Board of Commissioners. 1 The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department CHIEF Mike Aschenbrener SERGEANTS Eric Petersen Tanner Spicer Peyton Fleming Bobby Lambert POLICE OFFICERS Jerry Murphy John Larrive Todd Rosse Jeff VonFeldt Steven Meyer Denise Urmann Michael Shepard Nick Gorgos Robin Nelson Steve Hilyar Phillip McCarty INVESTIGATIONS Chad Willson SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER Jennifer Fordham SUPPORT STAFF Kim Henning Trista Miller Lisa Brandt Becky Pentel RESERVES Randy Pentel Jim Knox Jeff Parker CHAPLAINS Butch Millett John Snider Alberto Vargas Lynn Liberman Sue Plucker Joel Detlefsen Lenny Andrie NOVEMBER 13, 2015 ORIGIN OF FRIDAY THE 13TH Legend of the origin of Friday the 13th as unlucky comes from the persecution of the Knights Templar in the 14th Century. On Friday, October 13th, 1307, King Philip IV of France, in league with Pope Clement V, ordered all Templars to be rounded up and thrown in prison. The Knights were accused of numerous crimes including heresy and treason. For two hundred years the Knights Templar had been the most dominant force in Christendom, but after their defeat at the Siege of Acre and the loss of the Holy Land, their influence began to wane. Not only were the Templar some of the first protectors, but they also founded the modern day banking system. The Templar that were captured were tortured and died very painful deaths, but legend has it that a few did avoid capture and went into hiding, bringing with them numerous artifacts of the church. Last week, The Mendota Heights Police Department lost one of its heroes. Police Officer and Reserve Captain Jerry Murphy ended his earthly watch the morning of Monday, November 2. Jerry faithfully served his city and community as a volunteer for 48 years. Had he stayed much longer, it would have required some creative tailoring of his sleeve in order to accommodate all of the hash marks for his years of service; each mark representing 3 years! Jerry will be missed, but his legacy lives on in us through the advice and wisdom he imparted to each one who had the opportunity to know this great yet humble man. Thank you to all who stopped by as he dealt with his situation on his terms, and in his way, which allowed all of us to say, “I love you, Jerry,” as well as to hear him say it back to us. What a blessing it was to help “walk our brother home” and to share what needed to be shared. Garald “Murf” Murphy April 7, 1938 - November 2, 2015 2 DAMAGE TO PROPERTY SUNDAY 08:46 HOURS Officer Phil McCarty made contact with a male who said his vehicle was parked outside a hotel and sometime overnight, someone had entered his unlocked vehicle and stole his wife’s purse containing cash and several credit cards. The credit cards have been cancelled and there are no suspects at this time. POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA SUNDAY 14:47 HOURS Sergeant Eric Petersen and Officer Phil McCarty were dispatched to a local park on a report of two people smoking marijuana from a large bong. Officers arrived and located a male and a juvenile female sitting at a picnic table under a pavilion as well as a large red bong with marijuana in it sitting on the ground in front of them. The male admitted to purchasing the marijuana from a friend but would not give any further information. The male was cited for Possession of Marijuana and the juvenile female was released to her mother. THEFT OF GAS SUNDAY 17:00 HOURS Officer Robin Nelson responded to a local gas station on a theft of gas report. Upon arrival, she was met by store employee who stated that a male pumped $22.91 worth of gas, came in to the store, patted his pockets and then stated he was unable to pay for his gas but left his MN ID and said they could keep it until he was able to come back and pay for the gas. In running the ID, it came back as a revoked status. Officer Nelson mailed the male a citation for Theft of Motor Fuel From Retailer and Driving After Revocation. STOP-ARM VIOLATION MONDAY 10:40 HOURS Officer Phil McCarty received a stop arm violation report from ISD #197. It stated that the bus was stopped at an intersection while kids were exiting the bus and a vehicle traveling south was not stopping despite the honk from the bus driver. McCarty made contact with the vehicle driver via telephone who claimed he did not see the bus as he may have been looking at something else however did hear the bus honk at him loudly. The driver was issued a citation for Bus-Fail to Stop for School Bus. PRESCRIPTION FORGERY MONDAY 10:53 HOURS Officer John Larrive responded to a local pharmacy on a report of prescription forgery. Upon arrival, he was met by complainant who stated that when she went to get her prescription filled, the pharmacist notified her that it had already been filled. She stated that she did not fill her prescription and does not know who would have done so. They were unable to gather video surveillance as the videos recycle themselves after 10 days. No suspects at this time. FOUND PROPERTY MONDAY 12:55 HOURS Officer Phil McCarty received a report on an abandoned bike at the intersection of Decorah Lane and Pueblo Lane near Friendly Hills Park. The bike was a green Road Master mountain bike. The bike was transported back to the MHPD for safekeeping. MENTAL HEALTH MONDAY 17:59 HOURS Officer Steve Hilyar responded to a local group home on a report of a missing vulnerable adult. Upon arrival, he was met by the group home supervisor who stated that the subject had ingested un -prescribed medication and took 35 times the normal dose in just 24 hours and then took off to walk to the liquor store. Sergeant Fleming located the subject walking and made contact with him. He denied overdosing on medication and said he was fine. He was unable to tell Fleming where he was and could not tell him the accurate date. HealthEast responded and the male was put on a health and welfare hold and transported to the hospital. 3 THEFT WEDNESDAY 15:18 HOURS Sergeant Eric Petersen responded to a local business on a theft report. Upon arrival, he was met by the business Loss Prevention Manager who stated that through his investigation, he determined that an employee of the business had stole over $3,400 in cash and merchandise dating back to the end of September. The employee was on scene and admitted to the theft and said he liked his job, knew it was wrong but did it to help provide for his parents who he was living with. The male was transported to Dakota County Jail for felony theft charges. DWI WEDNESDAY 17:10 HOURS Sergeants Bobby Lambert, Peyton Fleming and Officer Todd Rosse received a report of a vehicle that had driven into a pond, was occupied and sinking. It was also reported that the sole occupant had made it out and was making way to shore. Upon arrival, officers found a fully submerged vehicle in the pond and a male struggling to get to shore. Sergeant Fleming was able to remove the male with his rescue disc he threw to him. The driver, a taxi cab driver, was identified and stated he was in the process of picking up a client nearby when he drove off the parking lot, over the curb, up the grass embankment and then down into the pond. During contact with the driver, officers could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. He was asked to perform field sobriety tests in which he could not, nor did he provide an ample breath test on the PBT as he placed his tongue over the mouth piece. The vehicle was removed by Dakota County Water Rescue and towed by SouthEast Towing and the male was transported to Dakota County Jail for DWI charges. TOBACCO SALE—MINOR WEDNESDAY 17:15 HOURS While conducting routine compliance checks, Officer Mike Shepard gave a volunteer juvenile instructions on attempting to purchase tobacco products. Shepard dropped off the male juvenile at a local business to attempt a tobacco purchase. A short time later, the male returned to his vehicle with a pack of Marlboro Light cigarettes. The juvenile male stated that he was asked for his identification but when he stated he did not have it, the store employee over rode the ID scanner and sold him the cigarettes anyway without asking him his date of birth or whether he was 18 years of age or not. Shepard made contact with the store employee who stated that she thought the male was “borderline” being old enough. Shepard notified her that she would be receiving a citation in the mail for Tobacco Sale to a Minor and that the employer would also be notified. ALCOHOL SALE—MINOR WEDNESDAY 17:55 HOURS While conducting routine compliance checks, Officer Mike Shepard gave a volunteer juvenile instructions on attempting to purchase alcohol products. Shepard dropped off the male juvenile at a local business to attempt a alcohol purchase. A short time later, Shepard received a text from the juvenile that he had just been served a beer and was not asked for any identification or proof of age. Shepard made contact with the employee and notified her that she would be receiving a citation in the mail for Sale of Alcohol to a Person Under 21 and that the employer would also be notified. TOBACCO SALE—MINOR WEDNESDAY 18:31 HOURS While conducting routine compliance checks, Officer Mike Shepard gave a volunteer juvenile instructions on attempting to purchase tobacco products. Shepard dropped off the male juvenile at a local business to attempt a tobacco purchase. A short time later, the male returned to his vehicle with a pack of Marlboro Light cigarettes. The juvenile male stated that he was not asked to provide identification or proof of age. Shepard made contact with the store employee and notified him that he would be receiving a citation in the mail for Tobacco Sale to a Minor and that the employer would also be notified. ALCOHOL SALE—MINOR WEDNESDAY 19:27 HOURS While conducting routine compliance checks, Officer Mike Shepard gave a volunteer juvenile instructions on attempting to purchase alcohol products. Shepard dropped off the male juvenile at a local business to attempt a alcohol purchase. A short time later, Shepard received a text from the juvenile that he had just been served a beer and was not asked for any identification or proof of age. Shepard made contact with the employee and notified him that he would be receiving a citation in the mail for Sale of Alcohol to a Person Under 21 and that the employer would also be notified. 4 11/06 - 11/12 2015 YTD Calls for Service 162 6,309 Citations 13 489 Warnings 19 630 Police Reports 22 949 Response Time Average 4.95 5.39 Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: https://www.raidsonline.com 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 If you are a Mendota Heights resident and you are going out of town or on vacation, you can notify MHPD of your outing and we will be more than happy to keep a watchful eye on your home while you are away. The House Check Request online form is available on our website; you can complete a form found in our lobby, or simply give us a call and we’ll help you out. MHPD offers monthly Car Seat Safety Checks. To schedule an appointment, call 651.452.1366 or email jennyf@mendota-heights.com to contact Officer Jennifer Fordham. MHPD has a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of the PD where Dakota County residents can safely and anonymously dispose of their prescription drugs and over-the-counter medication. Please send us your positive feedback on our staff to: pdrecords@ mendota-heights.com Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps boost the morale of our staff. HAVE A SAFE WEEK! STOP-ARM VIOLATIONS Stop-arm violations are a serious offense. When you see any school bus stopped, please, slow down and be aware of your surroundings. MN STATUTE 169.444 SAFETY OF SCHOOL CHILDREN; DUTIES OF OTHER DRIVERS When a school bus is stopped on a street or highway, or other location where signs have been erected and is displaying an extended stop-signal arm and flashing red lights, the driver of a vehicle approaching the bus shall stop the vehicle at least 20 feet away from the bus. The vehicle driver shall not allow the vehicle to move until the bus stop-signal arm is retracted and the red lights are no longer flashing. If you commit this crime and drive away, don’t be too sure you got away with it. Most bus drivers will write down your license plate number and vehicle description, fill out a stop-arm violation re- port, then fax it to your local police department. The PD will then try either making contact with you or, just mail the vehicle owner a citation.