Friday News 10 26 2012
October 26, 2012
Dates to Remember:
October 30, 2012
Council Work Session, 5:00 p.m.
City Council, 7:00 p.m.
November 6, 2012
Election Day, No City Council
Meeting
November 14, 2012
City Council Meeting to Canvass
Election Results 9:00 a.m.
November 14, 2012
Airport Relations Comm. 7:00 p.m.
Attachments:
Pipeline, Just the Facts, 2012
Precinct Map
Friday News
Mendota Heights Weekly Report on City Activities
Mendota Heights City Hall
1101 Victoria Curve
www.mendota-heights.com
(651) 452-1850
Halloween Bonfire
The 2012 Halloween Bonfire is set for 7:00 p.m.
on the 31st at Mendota Plaza. This great com-
munity event will include free hotdogs and soda
compliments of Mendota Heights Fire Depart-
ment. Paster Enterprises and Mendota Plaza
merchants will be handing out free goodie bags.
Residents will be allowed to deposit brush in the
designated area between the Mendota Plaza
Shopping Mall and South Plaza Drive, Satur-
day, October 27th through Tuesday, October 30
from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until the site is
full. Brush must be less than 4” in diameter and
no grass clippings or leaves are allowed. Only
yard waste will be allowed, no construction de-
bris or other materials will be allowed.
Par 3 Closes for the Season
With forecasts showing highs topping out in the
low forties, the Mendota Heights Par 3 has
closed for the season.
Thank you to all of the walk up customers,
league players and program participants for a
great year. Planning is already underway for
improved offerings and events in 2013!
Vote November 6, 2012
General Elections are less than two weeks
away. A copy of the 2012 Mendota Heights
Precinct Map has been attached. Absentee
voting is available for individuals who are una-
ble to vote in person on November 6, 2012. In
addition to standard office hours, we will also
be open 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday,
November 3, 2012 and until 5 p.m. on Monday
November 5, 2012.
Public Works
The Parks Crew mulched leaves in the parks. A security light bulb was
replaced on the side of the public works garage. Truck 501 was taken to
Kremer Spring for a front end alignment. They met with a contractor for the
repairs to the culverts in Valley and Wentworth Parks. Cutting edges for the
plows were picked up.
The Utilities Crew changed a broken gasket on the check valve at the Mendota
Heights Road lift station. Leaves were blown out to the street at the Culligan lift
station for the street sweepers to pick up next week
Street crew worked on a new jack for the utility truck. They took off the old
jack and welded on a new one. They made up a new sign for Northland
Drive at Enterprise Drive and installed it. Signs were put up at the bonfire
site. They worked at the dump site to get ready for the fall sweepin g.
Engineering
City Projects (construction year)
Lemay Lake Road Reconstruction (2012) – The project is substantially
complete. Wear course installation was scheduled for today (10/26/12),
weather permitting. Soil tests prior to base course pavement revealed an
outstanding foundation for the pavement surface. An assessment hearing
for the project was held on October 16th at the City Council meeting.
Marie Avenue Rehabilitation (2012) – The project is substantially completed.
Only minor punch list items remain. Staff will review the seed/sod
conditions in the spring.
Dodd Road/Highway 110 Intersection Pedestrian Improvements (2013) –
The consultant continues to work with MnDOT, evaluating design elements
for the pedestrian safety improvements to ensure they meet their design
requirements. 95% design drawings have been submitted and are under
review by City staff. An update for City Council from the consultant is
anticipated in December. Final plans are anticipated in late fall/early winter
with bidding and construction in 2013.
The Pipeline N E W S
L E T T E R
Public Works
Engineering
Code Enforcement
October 26, 2012
Hunter Lane/Orchard Place Neighborhood Improvements (2013) – City
Council ordered the project at the October 16th City Council meeting. Staff
is working on design and building the final plan set. A second informational
meeting is anticipated over the winter to go over specific property design
issues with affected residents. Final plan completion is expected in March
with bidding in April/May, and construction starting in June 2013.
Crown Point & Overlook Neighborhood Rehabilitations (2013) –Staff is
working on the final design plans. If necessary, a neighborhood open house
will be held over the winter to work out specific design issues with property
owners. Final plans will be prepared and bids are anticipated in the spring
for 2013 construction.
Other Activities
Saint Paul Regional Water Service (SPRWS) Water Meter Replacements –
SPRWS will be replacing water meters on residences this fall. Residents are
encouraged to contact SPRWS’ contractor, Northern Water Works Supply to
schedule a time for their meter replacement. Northern Water Works Supply
can be reached at 1-888-497-4171, or appointments can be made at their
web page www.nwwsonline.com.
Future Cities Competition – Staff continued to mentor and assist the middle
school teams at Friendly Hills Middle School in the 2012 Future Cities
Competition this past week. The teams are judged on four different products
in the competition: a SimCity model of their city, a scale model of their city,
a written report, and an oral presentation about their city. The students are
finishing up their project narratives and computer models, and will soon
begin building their scale models and rehearsing their presentations for the
competition. Friendly Hills Middle School has won various awards in this
competition over the past three years, and is in a position to finish near the
top of the competition once again.
Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO) –
Staff attended the monthly meeting of the LMRWMO with the City’s
appointed primary and alternate representatives. Mendota Heights hosted
the meeting. An update on the lake study being conducted by LMWMO was
provided and the renewal of the Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) was
discussed. The JPA will be presented to City Council for approval at their
November 20th meeting.
Municipal State Aid (MSA) Pre-Screening Meeting – Staff attended the
annual MSA pre-screening conference in Vadnais Heights. At this
conference, municipalities that are eligible for MSA funding (population of
5,000 or greater) are first notified of next year’s MSA amounts. Four new
cities are being added to the MSA program with no appreciable increase in
state appropriation to the program. Therefore all MSA cities are seeing their
allocation drop slightly for 2013. Mendota Heights is expected to see a
reduction of approximately $13,800 in MSA funding, a 2.68% reduction
from 2012.
Fall Street Sweeping – The City will be sweeping the streets starting on
Monday, October 29th to pick up leaves from the fall. As a reminder,
residents are not allowed to rake their yards into the street, and are
encouraged to take their leaves and grass clippings to a compost facility.
10/25/2012
The Mendota
Heights Police
Department
Support Staff
Kim Henning
Sandie Ristine
Susan Donovan
Becky Pentel
Police Officers
Jerry Murphy
Scott Patrick
John Larrive
Bobby Lambert
Tanner Spicer
Todd Rosse
Chad Willson
Jeff VonFeldt
Steven Meyer
Denise Urmann
Michael Shepard
Peyton Fleming
School Resource Officer
Jennifer Fordham
Investigations
Mario Reyes
Tanner Spicer
Sergeants
Neil Garlock
Brian Convery
Eric Petersen
Reserves
Randy Pentel
Jesse Mettner
Jim Knox
Jarrod Spicer
Jeff Parker
George Castillo
Chaplains
John Snider
Frances Cuena
Butch Millett
Lynn Liberman
Sue Plucker
Chief
Mike Aschenbrener
Sergeant Larrie Mack #2205
MHPD sends condolences to the family of Larrie Mack (a.k.a. “IE”) who
passed away on Monday, October 22, 2012. Larrie Mack was hired by
MH Chief Rich Thule in 1980 as a Police Officer and was sworn in as
badge #2220. In 1987 he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was
issued his gold shield with badge #2205, serving until his retirement in
1999. Before being hired by MHPD, Larrie worked for the City of West
St Paul as a police officer. Larrie also spent 20 years in the Army in
active service. In addition, Larrie was active in the Army Reserve for his
entire law enforcement career.
Visitation: 10-25-12 from 1600 to 2000 hours at Gill Brothers Funeral
Home, 5801 Lyndale Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55419.
Funeral: 10-26-12 1000 hours, same as above; Military Chaplain Ken
Beeale presiding, burial to follow at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
24/7/365 Service Saturday 1334 hours
Sergeant Neil Garlock received a call about a large pothole on Mendota
Heights Road near Hwy 13. The area was thoroughly checked for large
potholes but none were found; Public Works response avoided.
Suspicious Activity Saturday 1235 hours
A business, still under construction and not open for business, called
when a woman walked in asking if the “hotel” was open. The
construction employees were a little alarmed at the question and
decided to get a license plate number for police assistance. The caller
described the woman as either high or drunk. WSPPD located and
stopped the woman for a centerline violation. She passed all SFST’s and
didn’t appear to be under the influence to the officer. Clear, no ill-intent
determined, just a bit confused.
“Just the Facts”
The latest news from the Mendota Heights Police Department
10/25/2012
Civil Assist Saturday 1637 hours
Caller spoke with Sergeant Neil Garlock about a dispute in a caregiver situation. The
Caller/caregiver who had been living on-site, was about to move out. However, the family member
didn’t feel she was moving out fast enough and became upset, informing her he was on his way;
she was a bit fearful. Sgt Garlock spoke with the family member and requested he wait until the
moving process was over to come to the home. A short time later, the relative called to report
several items missing from the home, suspecting the caregiver. After further discussion, no report
was taken from the complainant.
AOA Saturday 1710 hours
Officer Chad Willson received a request from Mesa, AZ in regarding for reports on a man who was
recently arrested by MHPD in a traffic stop. Officer Willson located and sent a copy of the report to
MPD to assist in the drafting of their search/arrest warrants.
Drunk Saturday 2230 hours
Cell phone caller found a drunk male sleeping/passed out along Marie Avenue. Officer Meyer
found the man with the assistance of the caller. The intoxicated man was dropped off at home with
his adult brother who took responsibility for him.
Fleeing Sunday 0122 hours
Officer Steve Meyer was running stationary radar on Dodd near Delaware when he spotted a car
with one headlight traveling 36 in a 30 zone. As the vehicle went past his fully marked black and
white squad, he pulled in behind and activated the emergency lights. The car slowed, signaled the
as if to turn but continued driving. The car then attempted to lose the squad which had all it lights
and siren going as it followed the car around the north end of town. Once the car was stopped, a
high-risk stop was executed. The driver was taken into custody and the two passengers were
removed and released without incident. Sent to the County Attorney for charges and forfeiture.
Crash / Fleeing Sunday 0409 hours
Officer Urmann responded to several reports of a crash on Marie at Victoria. The caller thought the
airbags deployed. A quick check revealed the car was hung up on a fire hydrant and two parties fled
as the driver and passenger doors were open. There were no signs of injury. The occupants of the
crashed car fled on foot. Officers Meyer and VonFeldt began checking for the parties who fled and
quickly located one who stated he was the passenger in the crash. A short time later Officer
Urmann spotted the driver run into some nearby woods. The driver managed to escape but was
given up by the passenger in a formal statement. The passenger was released to a relative.
Awaiting the driver/owner of the car to come to MHPD to retrieve it from impound.
Noise Sunday 2123 hours
Neighbor called because the neighbor two doors with the big Halloween decorations including
music and felt it was too loud. After talking with caller Officer Denise Urmann went the decorated
house and confirmed there was music playing, but not outside of the noise ordinance. No other
complaints from neighbors; no further action.
Stolen SUV Monday 0736 hours
Caller awoke to find his SUV missing. Officer Bobby Lambert arrived and spoke with the victim who
advised the company vehicle was not locked, the keys were in the ignition and a shotgun was in the
SUV when it was stolen. Entered into the computer. No suspects, but at 2106 hours on Tuesday
SPPD recovered the truck in St Paul along with the shotgun.
Theft Monday 0922 hours
A local business reported the fourth break-in since the beginning of the year related to theft of
10/25/2012
scrap metal. They have video of two W/M about 6’ tall, 160 lbs, wearing gray hoodies as they break
into two work vans parked outside. The two removed several thousand dollars’ worth of materials
from the work van. No useable video of the suspects.
Lost Bike Monday 0959 hours
Officer Scott Patrick received a message to speak with a person about a lost bike. The bike was lost
on I35E near I494 as the party went through the exit ramp. The DCC received several cell phone
calls regarding the bike being in the road on Sunday. The calls were handled by the State Patrol.
Unfortunately, by the time the party looped around to pick up the bike it was already gone. The
State Patrol did advise that it was a black Jeep that picked up the bike. The owner had the make,
model and serial number. The bike was entered into NCIC.
Harassing Communications Monday 1045 hours
Caller spoke with Officer Bobby Lambert about harassing phone calls he received in the middle of
the night. The calls come in on a work phone which keeps him from just changing the number. The
man has started the process with his phone service provider and once police are involved they will
help resolve the situation. Investigator to follow up.
Suspicious Person Tuesday 1100 hours
Employee of the middle school called to report a suspicious male walking around the parking lot.
Caller provided a description for Officer Patrick to locate the party; when asked why they felt he
was suspicious, they stated they knew he shouldn’t be in the parking lot. The man was quickly
located and identified as a social worker who had an appointment with a student. No issues; good
job by school staff in identifying and requesting assistance for a potential problem. “See
something? Say something!”
Crisis Intervention Tuesday 1159 hours
School relayed information to DCC about a student threatening suicide who could be in Mendota
Heights, St Paul or West St Paul. Officers worked with school staff, the DCC and Ramsey County 911
to try and locate the student. Officers attempted to get the MSP helicopter for assistance with the
regional park; unfortunately, the weather prevented flying. Ramsey County Communications
located the student’s phone which fortunately was in their pocket. At 1355 hours WSPPD located
them in 40 acres.
Gas Drive Off Tuesday 1805 hours
Sergeant Brian Convery responded to a gas drive off for $41. The employee managed to get the
license number MN #277BN on a 2003, black, GMC Yukon driven by a B/M with a B/M passenger.
Unfortunately the vehicle was listed as a stolen car out of St. Paul. Sgt Convery will review the
video to see if a suspect can be located.
Theft Wednesday 1138 hours
Local business called to report possible employee theft. The business had done their own due
diligence and checked their surveillance and business processes to attempt to identify the thief.
When that proved unsuccessful, they notified us to report the theft of two iPads. Report completed
and property entered into NCIC. No suspects at this time.
Noise / Barking Dog Wednesday 2326 hours
Officer Peyton Fleming responded to a two part noise compliant. The first was a barking dog, the
second was pounding. The homeowner advised that the dog was likely barking while it was outside.
The pounding was him working in his basement in a large single family home. The homeowner
advised that he would not stop putting up drywall even if the neighbors were unhappy. Clear.
Have a great weekend! Mike & Kim