2005-01-28 Friday News
The Friday News
January 28, 2005
SOMERSET ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Somerset Elementary School staff members are reviewing proposals from playground equipment
vendors regarding plans to upgrade their playground area next summer. Contact was made of City
st aff seeking references on two of the vendors who have previously installed play components in
City parks and to inquire about agenda deadlines for the Park and Recreation Commission meetings,
as I understand they plan to seek funding assistance for a portion of the costs from the City. Several
years ago the City provided funding assistance to Mendota Elementary and Friendly Hills Middle
School for similar improvements.
TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT
Fire Captain John Lapakko left for Indonesia on Sunday, January 23, 2005 in the afternoon. He was
originally scheduled to leave on Friday, January 21, 2005 but his schedule was changed. He is
going to assist in the Tsunami relief effort and expects to be gone for 30 days. We wish all the best
to John in his fine humanitarian efforts.
TRANSPORTATION FINANCE MEETING
Dakota County hosted a breakfast meeting with legislators about Transportation Finance Issues this
Friday morning. Senator Steve Murphy, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, Mary Liz
Holberg, Chair of the House of Representative Transportation Finance Committee and Bob
McFarlin, MnDOT Assistant Commissioner were the featured speakers. Councilmember
Schneeman and Krebsbach and I attended for Mendota Heights. The meeting was filled with lots of
other important government figures there too, so besides getting the lowdown on this year’s
transportation issues, lot of other networking could be done. From the presentations it sounded as if
the Governor’s very ambitious plans was cross partisan support and progress would be made in
Transportation funding this year (news release attached).
SKATE WITH MAYOR
In spite of the weather, 7 plus inches of snow Friday night , the City’s Public Works crew was able
to clear the way for the 1st annual “Skate with the Mayor”. The turnout was light, probably because
of the weather, but I think everyone who came had a good time. The Mayor even got to sign a few
autographs! Teresa Gangelhoff was there serving hot cider and cookies and Mary Jeanne braved
the weather to bring a couple of her grandchildren.
CARI’S BABY NEWS
Cari had her baby New Years Eve in time for a 2004 tax deduction. It’s a boy! Wilson Arlo
Lindberg born at 12:12 A.M. New Years Eve weighing in at 7 lbs 6 oz and 20 inches long. The
baby had a few respiratory problems at the beginning but latest news from Cari is that baby is doing
well!!
Respectfully Submitted,
Jim Danielson
City Administrator
Attachments: The Pipeline, Just the Facts, City Council Agenda, Pre-Application Meeting
Synopsis, Governor Pawlenty News Release, Villager Article “MAC OKs planning of phase 1 of
$856 million airport expansion”, LMC Friday Fax and AMM News.