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2010-06-25 Friday Newsnnm AAAAAA June 25, 2010 New City Website Work Underway Back in February the City Council authorized staff to work with a con- tractor to update the city's website. Our current website has served as well, but the time has come for a new look and the update pro- vides an opportunity to put more information on the website for our residents. Stacy Kaiser and Mary Hapka have been working hard on the format of the new site and putting together all of the information that residents and visitors to the site will get to review and use. Stay tuned as we continue the work in putting the site together. If you have questions, comments or suggestions on the site please contact Stacy or Mary. Thank you both in advance for your work on this pro- ject. We all look forward to seeing the new website. F 2011 City Budget Work City staff has started work on the 2011 budget in order to be able to present what we Rbelieve to be an acceptable budget to the City Council in August. City staff members will meet with the City Administrator, Finance Director and City Clerk on Monday and ' Tuesday of next week to review their proposed budgets for 2011. Once those meet- ings are completed, city staff will review all of the budgets and determine what op- tions are available, what work needs to be done and eventually develop a proposed ® budget for the City Council to review in August. If anyone has any questions on the budget or the budget process please feel free to contact David McKnight. Much like last year, there are many factors that are impacting the 2011 budget. The economy, A levy limits, slowed growth and many other factors are playing a large role in the budget process. Y History Repeating Itself I was given a copy of Mayor Robert Lockwood's 1979 state of the city address this week. In the address the mayor talks about the water tower, the purchase of a new fire truck, the completion of the comprehensive plan, concerns about the rate of develop - Nment in the city and the impact of major roadways on Mendota Heights. Although I have only been in my position for seven months, these are all issues that we have or are still dealing within that same timeframe in 2010. It is fun to look back sometimes E at our history to see where we came from. This column was interesting to read and could have been written as a big part of our 2010 history. Makes you wonder what the Wpeople in our positions in 2040 will think of us. S '"W", Fourth of July Holiday Safety Rerninde"M _ With the Fourth of July long holiday weekend one week away, please take the time to remind those that you celebrate with to take the extra precautions to be safe. Follow the safety rules when handing fireworks, buckle up when you drive, do not drink and drive and look out for all of those around you. Having a safe and happy fourth of July weekend is always better than the alternative. Enjoy the extra day off and celebrate safely with family and friends. June 25, 2010 Mendota Plaza Update If you have driven past the Mendota Plaza lately you can tell that work is moving along at a fast pace. You can start to see the framework of what the "new" anchor building will look like with the new facing and the new smaller sized building. The interior infrastructure work is also progress- ing so you can see future roads and building locations. The McDonald's drive through area will also be seeing some change in the near future. The Planning Commission approved a condi- tional use request that will change the one lane drive through to a more traditional two lane drive through. The City Council will consider this conditional use permit application at their meeting on July 6, 2010. The scheduled completion of the first phase of the reconstruction project is set for Spring 2011. If you are curious about the project please visit the project website at www.mendotaplaza.com. Community Fireworks Reminder Please accept this reminder that the city will again be partnering in 2010 with Mendakota Country Club to provide a community fireworks display on July 4th. This will be the 16th year that this very successful event will take place in our community. Please show your support for the com- munity and the city staff members that contribute to and work this event. City staff members from the Police Department, Fire Department and Public Works Department all work different portions of this event. Thank you also to the City Council for continuing the city's support of this excellent community event. Dates To Remember Community Fireworks City Offices Closed City Council Meeting Airport Relations Commission Meeting City Council Meeting Noise Oversight Committee Meeting 7-4-1020 7-5-2010 7-6-2010 7:00 p.m. 7-14-2010 7:00 p.m. 7-20-2019 7:00 p.m. 7-21-2010 1:30 p.m. ��(�t�mtb a"g� && 1c , -I I rri.ri � v ��. 2iUe � yaur Attachments Just The Facts, The Pipeline, TwinCities.com Article "South -metro school districts join move to pro- pose levy increases", Article from Villager "Council approves replacing all water meters in St. Paul area", Thank you letter for Par 3 Golf Course and Road Construction Letter from MNDOT. June 25, 2010 7A- elatest aeras j rvyrc the Ae,,,t&A �fei9lits�vlice �eyartyrce�t J 6/25/2010 md The S -ecial Olynnpics `forth F_ Mendota Heights Police x: Department Support Staff - Kim Henning Sandie Ristine Susan Donovan { i Cathy Ransom Becky Pentel Police Officers rk Jerry Murphy Last Thursday MHPD participated in the east leg of the 2010 Dakota Scott Patrick County Law Enforcement Torch Run. Volunteers from every aspect of Law John Larrive Enforcement ran, walked, roller bladed or bicycled, carrying in the Olympic Bobby Lambert Tanner Spicer torch together before the MN Special Olympic games began. You can still Todd Rosse help us support this worthy cause by purchasing a (or more than one) Chad Willson 2010 Commemorative shirts: $10 dollars minimum donation per shirt. Of Jeff VonFeldt course, we will accept any donations and forward them directly to Special Denise Urmann Olympics Minnesota (receipts available) — just stop in to MHPD and staff Michael Shepard will help you out. Torch Run is the primary fundraiser to support the Peyton Fleming annual MN State Games. Thanks!! Jenny Fordham School Resource MHPD Blog solving Crimes Officer The northern Dakota County cities of Mendota Heights, West St Paul, Steven Meyer South St Paul and Inver Grove Heights share a blog. Investigations http://wsppvideos.blogspot.com/search/labeiNVest%2OSt%20PauI Mario Reyes The blog has been successful in helping us solve crimes. If you are Tanner Spicer interested in staying current with our blog, at the bottom of the page click Sergeants on: Subscribe to: Post (Atom) To find out what crimes need to be solved Neil Garlock you just have to click on this symbol , in your Internet explorer toolbar. Brian Convery Watch as we continue to learn how to use these new tools to solve crimes. Eric Petersen Reserves Theft Saturday 1228 hours Randy Pentel Officer Bobby Lambert responded to a local gas station on a drive -off Gino Messina report. The thief, a mid 20's black male driving a Pontiac G6, pushed the Jesse Mettner "pay inside" button, but after pumping $28 worth of gas, jumped in the car Andrew Quinlan and drove away. However, an employee managed to get the vehicle Romel Brown license plate as the car drove away. Officer Lambert made contact by Chief hone with the registered owner R/0 who stated she was working Mike p 9� ( ) 9 Aschenbrener when the theft occurred. The R/0 assured him should would attempt to -1- 6/25/2010 obtain a name for the thief. Missing Saturday 1311 hours Caller reported that his 86 YOA wife with Alzheimer's was missing for about the last ten minutes. Officer Bobby Lambert was pleased when an old friend returned the woman home. Drunk/AOA Sunday 0015 hours Officer Denise Urmann responded to the call of a woman laying on the ground in a yard. Upon arrival, she found an intoxicated 32 YOA female lying on the West St Paul side of the street; however, WSPPD squads were tied up on calls. The drunk was transported home and released to a sober party. Drunk to Disorderly to DUI Sunday 1931 hours Caller reported a drunk screaming and swearing off the back deck. Officer Chad Wilson spoke with the suspect and learned they were just venting about all the things wrong in their life. Officers cleared after speaking with the party's son who had just arrived on scene and agreed to take control of the situation. However, after soon after they left, the screaming started up again and the caller wanted to know why officers hadn't arrested or detox'd the person (well, there is that "little" document called The Constitution...). The drunken suspect was gone when Officers arrived — but the suspect was located — driving back home! The suspect was then arrested for DUI and transported to MHPD. After being read the MN Implied Consent Advisory, the suspect refused everything, because the plan had been to jump off the high bridge as soon as possible, not to go to jail. That little bit of info initiated a call for HealthEast Ambulance; a 72 Emergency Hold form was filled out and the party was transported to the hospital for a professional evaluation. Charges pending - Clear no further contacts. Fire Sunday 2200 hours Officer Peyton Fleming responded to home of a long standing neighborhood feud, similar to the Hatfield's and McCoy's. One neighbor was thought to be on probation and was not to have any fires as a condition of the probation. However, the fire was legal per City Ordinance, and the son had the fire going, not the actual convicted neighbor. A review of court files showed that the probationary period had expired and there were no longer any standing conditions; case closed as unfounded. Trash Monday 2208 hours Caller reported to Officer Mike Shepard that someone had put trash into their mailbox (and it definitely wasn't junk mail). They were unsure if mail was stolen. Information purposes only. Smashed Mailboxes Monday 2300 hours Officer Chad Willson received two separate calls of kids driving around smashing mailboxes. The suspects were last reported in the area of Lilac Lane and Marie Avenue. The only suspect information was a white 4 door sedan vehicle; but no such vehicle was located. Officer Willson found and notified the owners of 8 mailboxes about the damage. The following morning five more residents called in to report their mailboxes were damaged. Be On the Look Out (BOLO) for a white 4 door sedan with juveniles (99% probability boys) driving around your neighborhood for no apparent reason. Suspicious Person Wednesday 0022 hours Resident called about a man sitting on a rock near a fountain ... for an unknown length of time. The caller was concerned about the person. Officer Mike Shepard found and checked in with the man and determined he was a resident enjoying a cigar. All in a day's work.... Missing Person Wednesday 1255 hours Officer Steve Meyer received a call about a missing 88 YOA female who has Alzheimer's, last seen 60-90 minutes earlier. The reporter was checking the neighborhood while another family member stayed home in case she showed up there. The City's Public Works staff even helped out in the search. Shortly after the search began the caller reported that she had been located and everything was okay. She was actually at lunch with a friend — it was her son who forgot the scheduled appointment. Officers cleared. We like happy endings to these incidents. /! r -2- NEws LETTER The Pipeline Public Works Engineering Code Enforcement June 25, 2010 Public Works The Parks Crew hauled dirt in around the curbs at City Hall, leveled it and put down grass seed. The pitching mounds on fields one and two were installed at Mendakota Park for a 13 year old baseball tournament. Picnic tables were stained throughout all the parks. Trees were trimmed at City Hall and limbs taken away. Rich jetted bad spots in the sanitary sewer lines. He cleaned; Caren Road, Caren Road easement, Highway 13 (Fremont to Garden and Brompton to Sylvandale), Annapolis Street, Timmy Street, Glen Hill Road, Walsh Lane, Kay Avenue, Callahan Road, and Knob Road. A resident called on South Freeway Road that had roots in their service, Rich cleaned the City's line downstream to the frontage road. Lloyds Meats was cleaned to the lift station and Pipe Services than vacuumed the lift station. Storm sumps on Wachtler Avenue were vacuumed and mosquito control biscuits were added. The Streets Crew cleaned up the stump grindings with the Bobcat on Brompton Place. They helped the Parks Crew with a downed large evergreen tree in Rogers Lake Park and a tree down in Ivy Falls Park. Trees were cut and brush taken out around the storm pipe on Arbor Court so Rich could jet the pipe. Tim helped Cliff work on the hydraulics system leak on the bobcat. Work was also finished up on the front end of the John Deere back hoe. A gutter cover was picked up and installed at City Hall. They started hauling Class 5 to the Par 3. South -metro school districts join move to propose levy increases - TwinCities.com districts join moveto propose levy increases By Maricella Miranda mmiranda@pioneerpress.com Updated: 06/22/2010 11:18:18 PM CDT A second south -metro school district will ask its voters in November to approve levy increases — and a third is seriously considering asking for additional dollars, too. Like Lakeville schools, the West St. Paul -Mendota Heights -Eagan school board this month has decided to go after an operating levy with a $1.8 million renewal and $1.7 million in new money. The Rosemount -Apple Valley -Eagan school board also plans to decide this summer whether to pursue $15.5 million in additional revenue from an operating levy vote. But even with new levy dollars, the districts expect budget cuts will be inevitable. Stagnant state revenue and more than $1.8 billion in delayed state aid payments since July 2009 have stretched Minnesota school finances thin. And now, district leaders say, cuts to school funding could be next to help plug the state's estimated $6 billion deficit. "It puts school districts in a really bad situation," said Tony Taschner, spokesman for the Rosemount - Apple Valley -Eagan district. Advertisement ROSEMOUNT-APPLE VALLEY-EAGAN Page 1 of 2 The district currently receives $1,042 per student from three levies, which expire in 2015. The district can seek $525 more per student to reach the state - set cap of $1,567. In an updated five-year financial plan, district officials estimated how school -funding cuts from the state could affect the district's $288 million annual operating budget. If voters approved raising the levy — and the state reduced school funding — the district would need to cut $4.5 million to almost $12 million from its budget, Taschner said. Next month, a community survey will allow residents to weigh in on a potential school levy. The board must decide by Aug. 20 whether the district will pursue it. "They're certainly discussing the possibility," Taschner said. WEST ST. PAULMENDOTA HEIGHTS-EAGAN West St. Paul schools want voters to support an operating -levy renewal and increase, which will bring the district's levy to the state's maximum cap. The district's levy renewal would mean $362 per student. The increase would mean an additional $357 per student. The increase would cost taxpayers $35 more a year on a home valued at $100,000. School leaders plan to use the additional money to invest in more cost-effective ways to do business, 4 011 tip SAVE to Xy. Mus, get 3 FREE Gifts Print i'ovrorec By t Dyne amics http://www.twincities.coin/dakota/ci_15354827?nclick_check=l 6/23/2010 South -metro school districts join move to propose levy increases - TwinCities.com Superintendent Jay Haugen said. That could include offering more online courses, sharing classes with other districts or starting programs in the district. If voters approve the levy, it would protect the district from one year of budget cuts. But the district likely will have to reduce its budget by up to $2 million a year after that. LAKEVILLE Lakeville schools are seeking a levy renewal, a levy for additional revenue and a capital -projects technology levy to replace computers that are at least 10 years old. If approved, the renewal would mean $236 per student, a $14 decrease from the current levy because of declining property values. The new levy would generate $524 per student, and the one-time capital -projects technology levy would mean $940,000 for schools. The new 10 -year operating levy would have a tax impact of $299 a year on a $250,000 home. The capital levy — which would replace about 875 computers and upgrade infrastructure — would have a one-time tax impact of $39 for a $250,000 home. If the levies pass, the district still plans to cut $3 million from its $106 million budget because of an expected $21 million deficit for the 2011-12 and 2012-13 school years. The last time Lakeville residents voted on school funding was three years ago when a $4.6 million annual operating levy request failed by 12 votes. Maricella Miranda can be reached at 651-228-5421. Advertisement Page 2 of 2 Give us a call today! ' Prices start at `x29.9 but 1-877-294--3988 may vary by frS€ide(. Print Powered By A 'ynat iii ,... http://www.twincities.com/dakota/ci_15354827?nclick check=l 6/23/2010 Council approves replacing all water meters in St. Paul area Approximately 94,000 water meters will be replaced in cities served by St. Paul Regional Water Services over the next three years as a result of action by the St. Paul City Council on June 16. The council approved a loan of up to $30 million to pay for the replacement as well as two other major water utility projects. About $23.4 million will be spent to replace all residential and commercial water meters in St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Maplewood, West St. Paul, Flacon Heights and Lauderdale. The new meters will be designed to be read electronically, which will eliminate the need for meter readers to go onto private property. The water utility's long-term plan is to elimi- nate meter reader jobs as current employees retire. The water meter replacement project will start this fall and is expected to pay for itself within 10 years, according to water utility di- rector Steve Schneider. The proposed 2011 water rates, along with the 2011 water utility budget, will be announced in July. Another $3.5 million, will be spent to place lead water service lines. The water utility pays for the replacement from the street to the property line, and the property owner pays the rest. The bond issue will allow the water utility to replace about 3,000 lead water lines. There are 10,000 to 15,000 such lines still awaiting replacement in St. Paul. Another $6 million has been earmarked to replace the old underground Dale Street Reservoir in Roseville. Demolition of the old reservoir began this spring. Page 1 of 1 David J. McKnight From: Jake Sedlacek Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 11:01 AM To: David J. McKnight Subject: FW: Mendota Par 3 Jake Sedlacek Asst to the City Administrator City of Mendota Heights 651.452.1850 www.Mendota-Heights.com From: Liz Lee [mailto:liz@wallcompanies.com] Sent: Wednesday, June 23, 2010 10:35 AM To: Jake Sedlacek Subject: Mendota Par 3 Hi Jake, I just wanted to let you know that we have really enjoyed our relationship with the folks at the Mendota Heights Par 3 course. We are very glad that the city has opted to keep it open as a golf course! If you recall, You helped me organize the after school golf club for Visitation which we have run for 3 years in a row. This past year, we had 30 kids sign up! For a school our size that's pretty impressive. In addition, this year we held an adult/child golf tournament at the end of the school year. Again, we had a fabulous turnout. I have to attribute that to the good instructors who have been making golf a lot of fun for the kids. So I wanted to thank you for all you have done to help. It's been a great experience for the kids at Visitation, and hopefully those families will continue to play over the summer at the Par 3. Tom Perkins has been very helpful and responsive to our needs. I have a hard time turning kids away who sign up late, and Tom was very quick to hire another instructor to accommodate the larger than anticipated group we had. The instructors were also good. There was one in particular, whose name escapes me just now, but he has been there the last 2 years, and he is truly good with kids. I believe he is a gym teacher at a school nearby. I'll have to ask my kids and send you his name; I'd like for you to know who it is that I thought was really outstanding. I'm embarrassed that I can't remember just now! Anyway, thanks again, and we look forward to more golf at the Par 3. Sincerely, Liz Lee Liz@wallcompanies.com 6/23/2010 NES0, Do �o Minnesota Department of Transportation Metropolitan District oFTRP`'y¢o 1500 West County Road B2, Roseville MN, 55113 Date: June 24, 2010 Dear Resident, A road construction project that may affect your travels is scheduled to begin soon on Highway 149 near your home. Highway 149 in Mendota Heights will be closed between Wentworth and Emerson Avenues, adjacent to Somerset Country Club. The closure starts on July 6 and will last through August 27. The project will replace two drainage culverts and resurface the roadway, along with other needed repairs and upgrades to help maintain or improve drainage in the area. The posted detour route will direct you to Wentworth and Delaware Avenues (please see the map printed on the back of this letter). Access to Somerset Country Club and residences within the project will be maintained from either the north, or from the south, depending on which culvert is being replaced. If you have questions, feel free to contact me directly at the phone number or e-mail address below. Sincerely, 9 -?7- ;)IA1(1 J.P. Gillach Mn/DOT Public Affairs Coordinator Phone 651-234-7503 James.Gillach@state mn.us An Equal Opportunity Employer 000;_ ooso0 Hwv 149 Construction July 6 - August 27 But�erAve N r- 149 map not to scale a STAGE 1 0 Culvert replacement Emerson Ave SOMERSET COUNTRY ¢ CLUB cz 3 STAGE 2 0 Culvert replacement 149 Wentworth Ave