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2010-07-23 Friday NewsMW AAAAAAA July 23, 2010 Election Preparations Absentee voting for the primary election has already started at City Hall, and we took another major step into the election season by of- fering election judge training this week. Nancy Bauer led the train- ing, with some assistance from Kathy Swanson. Nancy is pleased that we once again have a great return rate for election judges, and a good helping of new judges this year. Each training featured a video from the Minnesota Secretary of State, a question and answer ses- sion and was finished with judges taking their oath. Thank you to al of those people who serve the community in this capacity. F Upgraded Flight Tracking System Coming Soon Since 1992 the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) has operated one of the R most sophisticated and comprehensive airport noise and operations monitoring sys- tems of its kind. But core system upgrades are making this renowned system even better. Flight track data is an essential element of MAC's management of cost effec- tive noise reduction and public outreach initiatives. Publicly accessible online interac- tive maps and website tools, monthly technical advisor's reports, the Runway 17 de- parture procedure analysis, Eagan -Mendota Heights Corridor compliance reporting D and responsiveness to aircraft operations inquiries are a few examples of how the date is utilized. The upgraded system that is coming utilizes multilateration technol- ogy and a network of eight sensors, rather than a single radar source to collect air - Acraft operations data. This will significantly reduce the amount of missing data. The public will have access to the new flight track data by the end of June with only a one Y day delay rather than the current four to seven day delay. Later this year the MAC plans to release a real-time flight tracker tool using the new system that will offer in- formation about a flight within 10 minutes. For more information or to access the in- teractive maps and reports please visit www.macnoise.com. N 2011 City Budget The 2011 city budget processing is progressing and a draft budget will be presented to E the city council at the budget work session scheduled for August 17, 2010. The city ad- ministrator shared his recommended reductions with department heads this week and received feedback that the proposed reductions were understandable. The budget will W still need to be reduced by about $60,000 before it can be presented to the city council for consideration. The most positive part about the 2011 budget is that two park bonds will be paid off in 2010 and 2011 that will help the tax levy stay steady for next year. SAnyone with questions on the budget should feel free to contact David McKnight. New City Website Tremendous progress has been made on the city's new website. Please watch the Friday News for the date where the new website will go public. Our new look is right around the corner. July 23, 2010 Dakota County Fair The annual Dakota County Fair is scheduled for August 9-15, 2010 in Farmington. The fair, which was first held in 1858, is one of the largest county fairs held in Minnesota each year and always a fun family event. This year's fair includes a number of special days such as kids day, military day, seniors day and volunteer day. The grandstand events include a number demolition derby's, a lawnmower derby and a motocross event. Just like any other fair, there are dozens of food vendors and hundreds of food choices to select from. Admission to the fair is five dollars for adults and two dollars for children and seniors. For more information on this years Dakota County Fair you can visit www.dakotacountyfair.org. For those of you who have never attended the fair I would encourage you to see what this fair has to offer. A fun day at the fair in Farming- ton is hard to beat. Regional Transportation Study The Dakota County Board of Commissioners will be presented the findings and recommenda- tions of the Regional Transportation Study on Tuesday, July 27, 2010. These same findings and recommendations were presented to the Mendota Heights and Sunfish Lake city council's in early July. The County Board will be meeting as the Physical Development Committee on Tues- day, July 27, 2010 at approximately 10:30 a.m. at the Western Service Center in Apple Valley. City representatives will be on hand to make Mendota Heights position clear on this issue with the County Board. Dates To Remember Planning Commission Meeting City Council Meeting Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Airport Relations Commission Meeting City Council Budget Work Session City Council Meeting Enjoy the weekend! 7-27-2010 7:00 p.m. 8-3-2010 7:00 p.m. 8-10-2010 6:30 p.m. 8-11-2010 7:00 p.m. 8-17-2010 5:00 p.m. 8-17-2010 7:00 p.m. Attachments Just The Facts, The Pipeline, TwinCities.com Article "Dakota County residents cheer plan for new 1- 494 exit near Argenta, other road proposals". July 23, 2010 N EWs - c9N LETTER A's The P� rne Public Works Engineering Code Enforcement July 23' 2010 Public Works The Parks Crew hauled in rec rock to Mendakota Park and the Civic Center ball fields. Boards were removed and replaced with new ones at the hockey rinks. They graded the east driveway in Rogers Lake Park. Weed killer was put down where needed in the parks. Brush and downed -tree limbs were picked up from last weekend's storm. Rich cleaned the sanitary sewer lines on Wentworth Avenue, Farmdale Road, Cherry Hill Road, Park Circle, Park Place and Bluff Court. He was called in on Wednesday at 10:30 P.M. because the alarm went off at the Lilydale lift station. The low level float was out of order and Northstar Pump changed the float. The Streets Crew did patching on Decorah Lane from Huber Drive to Dodd Road. Storm grates were cleaned. Brush was picked up that was left from the contractor who trimmed trees in the north end street rehabilitation project. The Eugenia easement was cleaned of weeds. Also trash was picked up and black dirt and grass seed was put down. George, John Ambrose and Cliff were called in to clean up a downed tree on Sylvandale Road on Saturday night. 7/22/2010 -1- j1:*wc6- ,Tkff t ae AM T%ie latest ne�vs�v� t6ie �lev�R'at�c �fei9l ts�alice �eyarttn-est tl. _ ' The Blown Transformer Thursday 1053 hours Mendota Officer Bobby Lambert responded to the call of 72 YOA man who Heights was standing in the driveway when an Xcel energy transformer Police blew up. The force of the explosion knocked him down. HealthEast Paramedics checked him out but the man refused to Department be transported to the hospital for observation. His wife will keep Support an eye on his injuries and take him to the doctor if needed. Xcel Staff was notified of the transformer and a branch on the line. Kim Henning Sandie Ristine Susan Donovan Burglary Thursday 1458 hours Cathy Ransom Homeowner came to MHPD to report that $1500 worth of stuff BeckyPentel was missing from the garage. In speaking with Officer Lambert Pollee officers she admitted that much of the time the garage just stands open Jerry Murphy Scott Patrick when no one is home. She is not really sure when the burglary John Larrive occurred, sometime in the past month or so. No model or serial Bobby Lambert numbers available to run through APS (Automated Pawn Tanner Spicer Systems) or to enter into NCIC (National Crime Information Todd Rosse Center computer system run by the FBI) the victim was advised Chad Willson JeffvonFeldt to check the local pawn shops. Denise Urmann Michael Shepard Credit Card Fraud Thursday 1657 hours Peyton Fleming Officer Jen Fordham spoke with a victim in South Dakota whose Jenny Fordham School Resource' ; credit card was being used in Lilydale. The victims purse was Officer stolen in Burnsville on July 3rd when some smashed a car Steven Meyer window and took the purse the cards were used quickly in Investigations Apple Valley, Eagan and Lilydale. Officer Fordham made contact Mario Reyes with the manager of the business and they will pull the video of Tanner Spicer Sergeants the transaction. Watch the blog for videos and photos as soon as Neil Garlock they come in. Case referred to investigations for follow up. Brian Convery Eric Petersen Neighbor Problems Thursday 1712 hours Reserves Randy Pentel Anonymous caller reported the same woman who was screaming Gino -Messina obscenities on Father's Day was at it again. Caller couldn't see Jesse Mettner the woman, could only hear her. Officer's Rosse and Fordham Andrew Quinlan responded to the area. They monitored before making contact Romel Brown Chief and did not hear anyone screaming obscenities. Contact was Mike made with the neighbor who had her brother over. Advised of Aschenbrener -1- 7/22/2010 the complaint and the consequences of another call to the home. AOA MSP Thursday 1748 hours Officer Todd Rosse responded to assist the State Patrol on a felony vehicle stop on 1-35E near 1-494. Two were taken into custody with out incident. A replica firearm was located in the car. If it looks like a gun, it is a gun and will be treated as one by any police officer. Fire Thursday 1901 hours Neighbor called about the neighbor having a fire. They have not spoken with neighbor about the problem, which was smoke, but wanted Officers to handle. Fire was a legal recreational fire. Drug Information Thursday 2124 hours Officer Todd Rosse received a phone call from a paranoid drug informant. The person had information about a member of a Cuban/Mexican gang member who deals in meth and heroin. The caller was extremely evasive about how they got the information and what they did have didn't make much sense. Officer Rosse will be attempting to locate the proper police agency and will forward the information to the Dakota County Drug Task Force if he can narrow it down just a bit. Alarm Friday 0013 hours Elderly resident called and reported her burglar alarm was going off but she never set it. Officer Fordham requested MHFD to respond routine to the home. In making contact with the resident it was quickly determined that it was a carbon monoxide alarm, not a burglar. MHFD determined everything was safe. Car Prowler Friday 2216 hours Homeowner looked outside and spotted a young, dark skinned, male who was about 5 feet tall going through her SUV. When the homeowner yelled at the would be thief he took off running. Officer Jeff VonFeldt checked the area and then spoke with the caller. They advised they normally don't lock their vehicles. Nothing missing. Locked out Saturday 0238 hours Officer Jeff VonFeldt responded to a call for help. A very intoxicated homeowner was looking for help getting into the house. The house was securely locked. She requested that Officer VonFeldt use his universal house key and when she found out they don't issue those anymore she asked about maybe the universal garage door opener. She settled on calling a friend for help until morning. An hour later a second call was received from the homeowner asking for help breaking into the house. Mission accomplished. DUI Saturday 1154 hours Sergeant Neil Garlock received a call of a 911 cell phone caller following a drunk driver. The car was all over the road and into on -coming traffic several times. The vehicle looped around in northern Eagan and southern Mendota Heights before being stooped by Sergeant Garlock. The driver was quite obviously intoxicated (not even noon yet) and refused to do SFST's. She was arrested and brought to MHPD -2- 7/22/2010 where the MN Implied Consent was read. After making contact with an attorney she agreed to a blood test. After the test was completed the woman had her own blood draw done in the lobby and then her father took her home. When the results come back from the BCA lab charges will be filed. Captive Saturday 2021 hours 911 call of a man being held against his will. DCC operator asked where the caller was at; they did not know. Phone went dead; then a party who stated she was a nurse came on the line. Officer Fordham responded to the residential care facility and spoke the elderly gentleman who agreed to stay at least until storm let up. AOA Sunday 0251 hours Officer Peyton Fleming responded to a residence in WSP where an earlier domestic dispute flared up. The husband was now hurting himself and telling the caller they would both be dead by the time the cops showed up. Upon arrival, the male was no longer in the home. Officer Fleming assisted in securing the scene and cleared. Domestic Assault Sunday 0531 hours Reporting party is calling from a relative's home reporting that her ex-boyfriend broke in and strangled her with clothing. The man eventually passed out and the caller escaped. She was unsure how he got into the house as it was locked up when she went to bed and he does not have a key. Officer Fleming found a door kicked in with very clear evidence it was recent damage. The suspect was found passed out and was arrested without incident. He was read Miranda and interviewed. Evidence was gathered at the crime scene. The County Attorney, after some discussion, was convinced to look at the evidence and agreed to charge the case out before he could get out of jail. The suspect's intensive supervision probation officer called the next day to find out what occurred. Suspicious Activity Sunday 1215 hours Caller reported a suspicious man at the Lilydale boat launch who they believed was looking for a man to have sex with. Shortly after the first call another was received from the first caller's supervisor with the MN DNR. They were both referred to SPPD who is responsible for policing the Regional Park. Assault Sunday 2254 hours Officer Peyton Fleming received a call of an assault at the middle school in the area of the basketball courts. Victim reports this occurred around 2230 hours and he was kicked and punched. No visible injuries. No other calls on the attack by a group of kids near the school were reported; victim could not recall any suspect information. Burglary Monday 0052 hours Complaint had just returned to business after being gone a very short time to find the front window smashed out. Officers VonFeldt, Fleming and Rosse secured the scene until a K9 from Eagan PD could arrive to search the building. The suspects were GOA. Officers processed the scene and obtained some evidence as the surveillance video showed two B/M's, dressed in dark clothing enter, steal some items, and quickly leave. Suspect 1: B/M, 50-60 YOA, 511-6'0 tall, 270-300 lbs, -3- 7/22/2010 black hat, t -shirt, pants and white running shoes. Suspect 2: B/M, 30-40 YOA, 5'8, 250-260 lbs, wearing dark pants and blue shirt. Awaiting video for blog. Under investigation. Theft from Vehicles Monday 0600 to noon Officers Lambert and Larrive received multiple reports of damage and theft from auto in the southwest part of town. The vehicles belonged to multiple businesses and were parked for the weekend. AOA Monday 1604 hours Officer John Larrive assisted MSP and Eagan PD near the intersection of 55 and Lexington or Blue Gentian. A female was reported to have an unknown medical condition after being pushed from a moving car the car that had left SB on Lexington. No female victim or reporting party located in the area. Crisis Monday 1720 hours Caller had locked herself in the bedroom while her irate husband was pounding on door. The 85 YOA husband has been developing dementia and the wife is very afraid for her safety. Officer Chad Willson arrived and calmed the situation down. Family members were advised of what was occurring and will make arrangements to resolve the problem before it gets out of hand. Vandalism Tuesday 1441 hours Officer Steve Meyer received a call to see a resident about vandalism to a fence. When he arrived he was shown a lawn mower mark, highlighted in yellow paint, on the bottom of the fence. The reporter is sure the damage was in retaliation for their call about an illegal fire the week before. After the damage, the reporter put up a sign on the fence that said "Don't hit my fence." His neighbor cut it down. Officer Meyer spoke with both people and advised them. Suspicous Wednesday 0633 hours Caller reported an occupied car parked across from her house and it looked like someone was in the car. After an in squad computer check revealed a warrant on the R/O of the car Officer Peyton Fleming made contact with the man. He was not the R/O he had just purchased the car. It was his temporary home until he could move into an apartment. The man was waiting to go to work across the highway. He moved into the parking lot at work. Wooden Stakes and Silver Bullets Wednesday Yes we take them all. Support Specialist Kim Henning fielded a call from a resident who was referred to us by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). The caller was out on a local trail when a bat swooped down and bit them. Unfortunately she didn't ask if the bite was on the neck. The bat was now resting in a tree above the trail. This led to a lively discussion about the most effective bat repellent: silver bullets or wooden stakes. No other bat attacks reported. Victim was advised to watch for signs of infection and to call the doctor. -4- TK's Coffee'& Cars Classic Car Show & West St. Paul K-9 Unit Benefit Saturday July 24th 2010 9:00 am 11:00 am h y��r�,n at 8:30am r $15 donAR Participants welcome, coffee & a scone Nnent Auction* (all proceeds are donated 1 1Unit) For moreinformation: call Tony/Melissa Logonto I1' 1 `' 1' 1 1 ,! 1 County Dakota n residents for new 1-494 exit near other road proposals By dick Ferraro nferraro e@pioiieerpress.corn Updated: 07/19/2010 12:08:14 AM CDT A vision of long-term road improvements for northern Dakota County is becoming clearer — and does not include a controversial interchange. A transportation committee made up of local, state and federal officials has completed a Regional Roadway System Visioning Study and recommends that an Interstate 494 interchange be located about a quarter -mile east of the Argenta Trail overpass. That's good news to officials and residents of Mendota Heights and Sunfish Lake, who last fall vocally opposed an interchange at Delaware Avenue. They said the interchange, combined with the closing of part or all of an interchange at Minnesota 149 (Dodd Road), Advertisement would bring more traffic to their neighborhoods. The report also does not include changes to the Dodd Road interchange and states that any potential improvements to Delaware Avenue north of 1-494 would need to be agreed upon by officials from the county, Mendota Heights and Sunfish Lake. "We're obviously very pleased," Mendota Heights Mayor Jon Huber said. "We think it's probably the best result we could have come up with, if in fact all the planned growth of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights comes to pass." Brian Sorenson, an engineer with Dakota County's transportation program, said the committee listened to concerns voiced by city officials and residents at open houses and neighborhood meetings. "We certainly had a lot of discussion since this fall," he said. "And it seems like the general consensus now is that people are satisfied with the proposed location of an interchange." Indeed, the site of the new interchange has been approved the Inver Grove Heights, Mendota Heights and Sunfish Lake city �aree�c�a*a� vaa��exrsee: ae Print towered By " , i! files UMME=-AME councils. The Eagan City Council will consider the committee's recommendations tonight. The study, which was started in April 2009, includes a look at one of the largest undeveloped areas — about 4,300 acres — that links northeast Eagan and northwest Inver Grove Heights, adjacent to the 1-494/1- 694 beltway. The area will become developed over time and as a result add more traffic to the transportation system, county officials said. Interchanges already exist at South Robert Trail in Inver Grove Heights and Dodd Road in Eagan and Mendota Heights. Further study is needed to come up with solutions to address traffic congestion at the Dodd Road interchange, as well as merging issues between Dodd Road and the Interstate 35E exit, the report notes. Also recommended is a potential interchange at Minnesota 55 and Argenta Trail in Inver Grove Heights and the addition of two more lanes to parts of Dodd Road, Minnesota 55 and South Robert Trail near the 1-494 interstate. The study does not identify construction timetables or a specific funding plan for Advertisement improvements. Sorenson said the plan and subsequent environmental studies would allow agencies to work together to put in improvements over time as needs arise and as opportunities and funding allow. Nick Ferraro can be reached at 651-228- 2173.