2004-02-12 Friday News
The Friday News
February 13, 2004
North Urban Regional Trail
Dakota County has sent RFP's to consulting firms interested in coordinating the construction of the
NURT (North Urban Regional Trail) to be constructed on the north side of Hwy 110, from Dodd
Rd. to Charlton. An existing trail extends from Charlton to the Dakota County Northern Service
Center in West St. Paul.
One of the firms that intends to submit a proposal, queried staff on the correct procedure for
plan review of the route alignment through Mendota Heights, including connections to Town
Center, and meeting schedules of the City Council and Park and Recreation Commission. They
were advised to submit their proposed trail route design(s) to the Park and Recreation Commission
for review and comment prior to seeking Council approval.
A preliminary layout, shown to staff by the Dakota County Engineering Department last
year, located the trail on the north side of Hwy 110 Frontage Road east of Oak Street, due to safety
concerns, not between Hwy 110 and the frontage road as Council has previously requested.
Locating the trail on the north side may be interpreted as a negative impact by some of the twelve
residences with driveways that front on the frontage road.
Joint City Council / Park Commission Workshop
The City Council, at their regular meeting on February, scheduled a joint workshop with the
Parks and Recreation Commission for Tuesday, March 9th from 6:00 to 7:00 pm. At Tuesday's
meeting Park Commissioners discussed various items of interest they hoped to discuss with
Council. A preliminary agenda including various background documents has been sent to Park
Commissioners for review and comment prior to February 20th. The workshop agenda, with any
suggested revisions from the Commission, will be placed on the March 1st City Council agenda for
their acknowledgement. The final form of the agenda packet for the workshop will be distributed to
all participants by March 5th.
Winter Heights Hilites Due Out
The winter edition of the Heights Hilites is done and is at the printers. We expect that is should be
back and ready for delivery next week.
President’s Day
Monday is President’s Day which is a holiday for City, County and Federal offices. City Hall will
be closed on Monday.
Garage Fire
The Mendota Heights Fire Department responded to a reported garage fire in the 1200 block of
Second Street in Mendota at 3:00 A.M. Wednesday Morning. First arriving officers on the scene
reported that the flames were out the roof. The owner and two sons were trying to extinguish the
fire from the outside. The fire was a stubborn one to fight and burned the roof off of the garage.
Damage was substantial to the garage and its contents. The fire’s origin is currently listed as
suspicious and is being investigated jointly by police and fire as well as the State Fire Marshal’s
office and the BCA.
Xcel Poles Going In
Xcel Energy has completed construction of all replacement transmission poles within the City of
Mendota Heights except for three structures adjacent to their substation. Two poles will be set on
the eastern edge of the substation outside of the fenced area and one will be set on the north side
inside the fenced area. Xcel Energy estimates that pole construction should be completed by the end
of March. Beginning the week of February 16th, they will begin stringing wire on the set poles
beginning with Structure #9 near Sunfish Lake. Xcel Energy will also need to complete some
modification work within their substation which will begin sometime this summer and should be
completed in the October/November timeframe. If you have questions, you may contact Xcel
Energy representative Sharon Price at (612) 330-5893.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jim Danielson
Administrator
Attachments: The Pipeline, Just the Facts, City Council Agenda, Pre-Application Meeting
Synopsis, Update on Excel Poles going in, Terry Duggan is featured in the Star Tribune regarding
the Adkins-style diet craze, AMM News, AMM Bill Tracking Report, State of the Cities
Legislative Conference, and the Friday Fax