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2008-10-17 Friday News- Odd6 Halloween Bonfire Today through Wednesday, October 29th residents can deposit their brush behind Mendota Mall in preparation for the Halloween Bonfire. Please remember to keep your deposits less than 4 inches in diameter and1p ease no couches, tires, blocks etc. Once the area is full, dumping will be October 17, 2008 discontinues, so get there early if you have brush you need to get deposited. Fire Open House FThe Mendota Heights Fire Department held their annual Fire Prevention Open House this past Saturday. The event was well attended as always. There were two car fire R demonstrations, fire extinguisher demonstrations, bingo with lots of neat prizes, pictures with "Pluggy" and Snuffy the fire dog. The 800 free hot dogs were gone by 1:30, an- other 150 cooked and those were soon gone before 3:00 when. the Open House was done. DThanks to Firefighter Ron Katzenmaier who organizes the Open House and all the Fire- fighters that helped throughout the day. There are two pictures on the front of the Sun ACurrent from the Open House. Also, Firefighters went to the schools last week to help promote fire prevention. They Vwent to Somerset School, Visitation, Country Day, Mendota Elementary, and St. Tho- mas Academy. Citizens Academy "Use of Force" instruction continued this week. The emphasis was on firearms. A presen- Ntation was given by Matt Muellner of West St. Paul PD on what type of guns are used by the departments, how to correctly handle a gun, and officer training of the handgun, rifle E and shotgun. The class was then split into three rotating groups. One group focused on us- ing the TaserShot. Students were given a TaserShot and different scenarios were played on a video. A decision to use or not use "deadly force" had to be made and shots fired by stu- Wdents were recorded and played back to see how well the student handled the situation. Some students were "killed" before they could get the weapon out of the holster and some students "killed" innocent people. Thankfully, it was a video! A second group was on the S gun range. Brian Convery taught students how to hold the gun, stand, and site the handgun on target. Neil Garlock, and John Larrive gave instruction on actually shooting the handgun and the rifle. Students shot real amino at targets, aiming for "center mass". Most students did surprisingly well. The third group listened to a deadly force call that West St. Paul had last year at a bank in that city. Brent Nagel of WSPPD was one of the officers involved. He had to use deadly force to end a situation where a bank robber took an officer hostage. The suspect was killed with no injuries to officers or bank personnel. Brent stressed the im- portance of the training police officers do and how that training kicks in automatically in a scenario. This is the reason that they train with real guns and use targets that look like ac- tual people. Another fun and informative night for those attending! 10/17/2008 October 17 Dates to Remember in October MAC Full Commission Meeting 10/20/08 1:00 City Council Meeting 10/21/08 7:00 ARC Meeting 10/29/08 6:30 Planning Commission Meeting 10/28/08 7:00 Five-day forecast Tomorrow Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Oct 18 Oct 19 Oct 20 Oct 21 Oct 22 Fair Cloudy Clear Partly Cloudy Sprinkles u:. 620 u:. 620 FTi• 550 Hi. 581 Hi: 510 Lo: 471 Lo: 421 Lo: 370 Lo: 401 Lo: 370 Attachments Just the Facts, Pipeline, City Council Meeting Agenda, SouthWest Review Article "Mendota Heights ap- proves Hilton extended -stay", MNSUN Article "Fire Open House" and Mendota Heights approves street as- sessments, moves forward with hotel plans and John (Bill) Burke's Obituary. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!! 10/17/2008 October 17 10/17/2008 e At TC,.e l�testr�er-vsfiv�c tlie�fe�<{'ata �fei9lits�olice�epart�e�t �xs' The Warrant Arrest 10-10-08 2025 hours Mendota Officer Peyton Fleming along with Officer Urmann and WSPPD Officer Melville received information on the location of a person with felony Heights warrants. Officers arrived at the home a few moments apart Officer Police Melville immediately spotted the suspect and attempted to place her Department under arrest. She began arguing with him about not being under arrest and then attempted to fight. Once on the ground she was handcuffed a Support short time later. The party wouldn't provide any information about who Staff she was. After a few minutes she gave a full name, date of birth and Kim Henning address for a woman in Rush Lake, MN. A DVS photo check made it Sandie Ristine very clear that she was not that woman. A portable finger print ID Susan Donovan checker (IBIS) was brought to the scene and the identity of the woman Cathy Ransom was quickly determined. She was arrested on the Felony Assault on a Police Officer Warrant along with new charges for resisting arrest and Police Officers false information. Officer Fleming attempted to interview the suspect at Jerry Murphy MHPD and all she would do is argue about the fact that she should not Bobby Lambert be under arrest and that she had the right to see his picture ID. The Eric Petersen caller was identified as the room mate he was concerned because her Tanner Spicer Todd Rosse_`'_ behavior had become so bizarre the past few weeks. When he saw the _ Chad Willson leinrront infnrmnfinn rnmo in thin mail ha knf=W hn%ni to racnlvA fha ..�..u.., .... ....��. .. ,... ... ...— ...�.. .. ... _.._ I T_rt�z'_ ,�_,.� I problem. Suspect transported to rail. Steven, Meyer Warrant Arrest 10-12-08 2118 hours Denise`Urmann Sergeant John Larrive ran a license plate check that revealed the R/O Michael Shepard Iof the car had an active Ramsey County warrant. The driver was the Peyton Fleming owner and arrested for the warrant. The arrestee told Sgt Larrive that she had narcotics on her person. Due to her clothing she could not be School Resource thoroughly searched. Sgt Linda Myhre of the Eagan PD came and Officer searched the young lady. Nothing was found on her person or in her Jenny Fordham vehicle. The car was released to the boyfriend who was a passenger Investigations in the car. The arrestee was transported to jail. Mario Reyes School Bus Stop Arm Violation 10-13-08 1554 hours Scott Patrick' Secretary Henning received a faxed school bus stop arm complaint from the ISD 197 bus garage. Officer Meyer made contact with the Sergeants driver who advised that all the flashing lights were activated; the stop Neil Garlock' arm was out to pick up a kindergarten student. The driver obtained the John Larrive company name and number off the truck. A phone interview was Brian Convery conducted with the driver, who admitted knowing he drove through the stop arm. *Note: Stop Arm Violations are one of the exceptions to Chief the "in presence" requirements to make an arrest in Minnesota. The Mike City Attorney will prepare a formal complaint for the gross �schenbrener misdemeanor violation. 10/17/2008 Mental Health Crisis 10-13-08 2222 hours Officer Bobby Lambert responded to a local adult group home when a resident returned from a walk intoxicated. The man is not allowed to consume alcohol as it causes him to have seizures. Healtheast ambulance was called to the home to assist with the man. The man refused to go to the hospital after prying him loose from the stair railing he was carried out to the ambulance. DAC — IPS 10-14-08 1114 hours Officer Steve Meyer passed a car on Hwy 13 and recognized the driver. The driver was someone he knew did not have a driver's license. Officer Meyer pulled up the man's lengthy driving record and affected a traffic stop. The man informed Officer Meyer that he didn't have his license with him at the moment; Officer Meyer replied that he was fully aware of that fact and he arrested the driver. The passenger, also the owner of the vehicle, was released and the vehicle was towed b Southeast towing after removing the license plates. At MHPD, the driver was issued the driv r and owner copies of the temporary license plates for that vehicle and he was ultimately release to a third party. A formal complaint will be issued. DAR/Possession MJ/Speed/No Seat Belt 10-14-08 1407 hours While watching traffic on Dodd near Emerson, Officer Steve Meyer spotted a car traveling in excess of the posted limit and clocked him at 14 mph over. Officer Meyer caught up with and stopped the car in front of a house in West Saint Paul. Upon exiting his squad, a group of the adult's neighbors gave Officer Meyer a standing ovation for the stop. Upon hearing this, the driver's mom came out of the house and interrupted the stop. She advised Officer Meyer that she knew her older son was revoked (arrested four times for DAR) when she gave him the car keys and allowed him to bring along the juvenile front seat passenger so they could "just run up to the gas station." The juvenile was free to go, but as she offered more excuses, she was asked to step aside. While being thanked repeatedly by the neighbors, Officer Meyer cited the driver for DAR, Speed, no seat belt, arranged for a tow, and released the driver. He conducted an inventory search and discovered marijuana and a pot pipe in the vehicle. Officer Meyer walked up to the house and handed the young man his 2nd citation including charges for Possession of Marijuana; the man expressed his gratitude with some "well chosen" words. Cleared by arrest. Terroristic Threats 10-15-08 1115 hours Officer Steve Meyer, Sergeant (Veil Garlock and investigator Mario Reyes responded to a local business on a bomb threat. The director of security called and stated that a customer service representative had been threatened. Calls there are recorded "to ensure proper customer service" +t.'.. +.. .J..... .........+ +L..-...,+ +.. h�...., p t4... h n {+ M, 0— staff t or in a iia case, w UVL U11 ici n a u n cat to blow is the business. �rter working vviu 1 u Mc sta i o ensure the building was safe, the victim was interviewed and the call traced to a residence in Apple Valley. The suspect was picked up by the local police and transported to MHPD. During the interview he admitted to the threat. The County Attorney's Office was consulted and determined that they would release the suspect. The County Attorney's Office is preparing a formal complaint. Theft from Auto 10-16-08 1147 hours Officer Todd Rosse responded to a car break in near the Pool & Yacht Club. The victim reported that a black Acura took off from the scene. The car was stopped a short distance away and no connection to the theft could be made. Pool & Yacht employees did not notice anything suspicious. ,just one more.... ...TIMBER!!! 10/11/08 Chief Aschenbrener was assaulted at his residence by a large tree as it attempted to break down his new retaining wall. Aschenbrener sustained substantial bruising and reportedly saw stars. Said tree was DOA and the Chief was administered first aid and ibuprofen. The Chief also received verbal lashings from the household chief and had his chain saw privileges revoked. �ace a��eat wr,��t��/t%ii aKd het -2- Public Works The Parks Crew blew out the sprinkler systems at Kensington Park, Mendakota Park, City Hall and the Fire Hall. Sprinkler heads were repaired as needed. Sprinkler heads were raised at Kensington Park and filled in with black dirt. The buildings at Kensington and Mendakota Parks were winterized. Rich inspected the rebuilt manholes on Pilot Knob Road. Two of the manholes were dusty and he called the County about it. The floats at the Veronica lift station were cleaned. Rich met with Friedges and inspected the manholes on Kay Avenue and Walsh Lane. Friedges cleaned the dirty ones. The Streets Crew blacktopped 810 Park Place where the storm sewer was fixed. The fence was put up around the Halloween bonfire site. News signs and posts were installed in the Kay Avenue and Walsh Lane project. Tree stump holes were filled with black dirt and seed at 1037 Delaware Avenue, 566 Hiawatha Avenue, and 810 Park Place Drive. They made election signs fnr t -hp iinrnminn PIPrfinn_ Ennineerincl Engineering continued monitoring the progress of the Callahan Reconstruction Project, addressing public concerns and contractor issues. Pavement installation is tentatively scheduled for next week. The Traffic Safety Committee met Tuesday night to discuss a crosswalk for Brown College, stop signs and speed in the Avenues neighborhood, a permanent stop sign at Maple and Linden, an update on the Decorah Lane Speed Study, and potential Mendota Heights Road improvements at Visitation Drive and Lake Drive. An update on the Committees will be presented to Council on Tuesday night. Staff received an updated concept Site Plan for the proposed Mendota Plaza redevelopment project (Paster property), and is coordinating presentation to the Council on Tuesday night. CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA October 21, 2008 — 7:00 P.M. Call to Order 2. Roll Call 3. Pledge of Allegiance 4. Agenda Adoption Approval of the October 7th, 2008, City Council Minutes. 6. Consent Calendar a. Acknowledgement of the September Treasurer's Report. b. Acknowledgement of the R!Rort from the Traffic Safety Committee. c. Acknowledgement of the 17 Annual Fire Awards. d. Authorization for Purchase Order for Public Works Garage Furnace Replacement. e. Authorization for Purchase Order for Sander for Dump Truck. f. Authorization for Mayor to sign Engagement Letter for 2008 Audit g. Approval of Insurance Renewal. h. Approval of Sign Permit for 750 Main Street, Suite #215. i. Approval of Sign Permit for 1295 Northland Drive. J. Adoption of Resolution No. 08- : "RESOLUTION APPROVING SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZING ADVERTISEMENT FOR BIDS FOR A 1500 GPM ENGINE". k. Adoption of Resolution No. 08- : "RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE DAKOTA COUNTY, MINNESOTA ALL -HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN". 1. Adoption of Resolution No. 08- : "RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF MENDOTA HEIGHTS TO ENTER INTO A MUTUAL POLICE ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT FOR ENFORCEMENT OF TRAFFIC SAFETY LAWS.". in. Approval of the List of Contractors. n. Approval of the List of Claims. 7. Public Comments 8. Presentation Village Update — Ross Fefercorn 9. Unfinished and New Business a. Case No. 08-27: Mark Goblisch, 694 Ocala Lane, Variance to the side yard setback. Resolution No. 08- : "A RESOLUTION DENYING A VARIANCE TO THE SIDE YARD SETBACK AT 694 OCALA LANE". b. Case No. 08-11: Mendota Mall, Site Plan Review. C. Discussion of Building Permit at 694 Wentworth Avenue d. Discussion of Sale of Old Fire Hall Lot. 10. Council Comments 11. Adiourn Auxiliary aids for persons with disabilities are available upon request at least 120 hours in advance. If a notice of less than 120 hours is received, the City of Mendota Heights will make every attempt to provide the aids, however, this may not be possible on short notice. Please contact City Administration at 452-1850 with requests. This meeting is being taped by NDC4 (651-450-9891) and will replay on Friday at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. on the NDC4 Government Channel 18 Mendota Heights approves Hilton extended -stay Commercial development advanced in industrial zone Danielle Cabot Review Staff Monday, October 13, 2008 If making laws is like making sausage, Mendota Heights City Council made like a butcher Oct. 7 with discussion about allowing cooking in a proposed Hilton -owned, extended -stay hotel planned for the southeast corner of Pilot Knob Road and Northland Drive. The council resolved, for now, a discussion that begun in August about how to allow cooktops in the proposed Homewood Suites. Cooking had been banned in Mendota Heights hotel rooms by city ordinance. Staff recommended that the language banning cooking in hotel rooms simply be removed, which would allow cooking to be considered on a case-by-case basis as conditional use permits are submitted for future developments. This solution was ultimately adopted by the council, but only after agreeing to rework the ordinance or create a new definition in upcoming meetings. The measure also gets current hotels that may have cooking facilities off the hook. Calls to area hotels and motels did not reveal any businesses with cooktops in the rooms, however, council and staff were unclear whether the ubiquitous microwave qualified as a violation under the previous ordinance. Both council members Ultan Duggan and Sandra Krebsbach were insistent on creating a separate definition for extended stay hotels that would allow cooking in the rooms. After listening to the discussion, Duggan instead suggested he would support explicitly allowing cooking devices in hotels. Council members Jack Vitelli and Mary Jeanne Schneeman were not interested in rewriting any definitions at the meeting and wanted to pass staffs recommendation to delete the ordinance language and approve a conditional use permit to get the project moving. "I don't want to fool around with this anymore; we can talk it to death," Schneeman said. Vitelli suggested fine tuning the ordinance over the next month or so, but giving a go-ahead to the Hilton. A representative of the North Central Group, which is directing the Homewood Suites project, said that defining an extended -stay hotel could result in too narrow of a definition and restrict future projects. Questions like room size, flooring, venting and duration of stay were briefly discussed as characteristics that may separate an extended -stay facility from a traditional hotel. Assistant City Administrator Jake Sedlacek said creating a definition might put the city in the business of designing hotel rooms. Krebsbach said Hilton's separate standards for Homewood Suites versus the company's other brands amounts to an existing definition, and it should be part of the city's ordinances. Krebsbach also wants to see language preventing the hotel from essentially becoming apartments. "I think it's a good protection for the city, that's my only interest," Krebsbach explained. The development is significant because it's one of few remaining industrial lots in the city, according to Sedlacek. In addition to the hotel, a retail service center is planned as well as a "fast -casual" dining business, like Chipotle or a sandwich shop. The city had initially hoped for a traditional restaurant for the site but was unable to attract one to the location. A conditional use permit was also passed Tuesday allowing the commercial development to be built on the industrial -zoned lot. Developers are now clear to submit building permits to the city for approval Related Links Content © 2008 M'Nn SUN 44 community newspaiprrs Fire open house (Created: Thursday, October 16, 2008 11:13 AM CDT) Olivia Lloyd, 3, sprays a fire hose with the help of Mendota Heights Firefighter Tracy Wilcziek as her mother, Danielle, and brother, Hayden, 4, watch Oct. 11 during the Mendota Heights Fire Department open house. (SCOTT THEISEN • SUN NEWSPAPERS) Print Page Olivia Lloyd, 3, sprays a fire hose with the help of Mendota Heights firefighter Tracy Wilcziek as her mother, Danielle, and brother, Hayden, 4, watch during the Mendota Heights Fire Department open house Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. (Photo by Scott ihelsen%Sun Newspapers) This site and its contents Copyright © 2007. Sun Newspapers - Main Office: 952-829-0797 suninfo@acnpapers.com -S-AM— ne"SPAPC111% Print Page_ 44 ComYttUnitty tie w$p aper$ Mendota Heights approves street assessments, moves forward with hotel plans BY MEGAN ANDERSON - SUN NEWSPAPERS (Created: Thursday, October 16, 2008 10:01 AM CDT) It's smooth sailing on some Mendota Heights streets now that the city wraps up summer road projects. The City Council had an assessment hearing for the 2008 street reconstruction project at its meeting Oct. 7. Over the summer, the city improved the area known as the Avenues of the city, located east of Dodd Road. Also receiving improvements were Kay Avenue and Walsh Lane neighborhood, north of Highway 110. Public Works Director John Mazzitello said the project is substantially completed. Improvements included water main and sanitary sewer repairs, storm sewer and curb and gutter. The project cost $3.4 million, he said, with the portion assessed to residents at $950,550. Residents in the Avenues neighborhood were assessed $8,303, with those who already had curb and gutter assessed $7,111. Walsh and Kay residents were assessed $7,803. Resident Nick Hansen said, while he initially opposed the project, "I was very pleased with the process and the care of the construction." Now that the street reconstruction has been completed, resident Vern Edgerton said there needs to be a stop sign at the corner of Second Avenue and Vandall Street. There is a lot of transient traffic traveling through on Vandall at high speeds, he said. Mayor John Huber said they would refer the issue to the traffic safety committee. In other council news: - The council approved a zoning ordinance amendment, conditional use permit and preliminary plat for a four-story hotel and retail service center. The site is at the southeast corner of Pilot Knob Road and Northland Drive, in the Mendota Heights Business Center. United Properties is working with the North Central Group to develop a Homewood Suites, a hotel for people staying in the area for a longer term. Whether or not establishing different guidelines for extended stay hotels was the focus of discussion for the council. Nate Gundrum, director of development for the North Central Group, said the average for an extended stay hotel is five to seven nights. Councilmember Jack Vitelli said he supported the plan and was ready to move forward. "I'm not in favor of continuously nitpicking this thing," he said. It's important for the council to look over the proposal in as much detail as possible, Councilmember Ultan Duggan said. "I just want to have something that, long-term, I think will work," he said. The average size of a Homewood Suites guest room is 615 square feet, he said, with separated living room, kitchen and bedroom areas. The separate spaces answered Duggan's initial concerns about allowing cooking in the guest rooms. Councilmember Sandra Krebsbach said she wanted to have a definition for extended stay hotels in the city ordinance. The council decided to go ahead with the proposal and continue to work out how to define extended stay hotels. - Guy Kullander, operations and projects coordinator, gave the council an update on the Historic Pilot Knob restoration. He said volunteers turned out to do a seeding operation at a recent event at the site. The event involved cleaning up debris, raking and planting, he said. "It was a good day, with a lot of people up there," Kullander said. It was great to see so many volunteers at the event, said Duggan. Duggan took a tour of the site with Wiley Buck of Great River Greening, who is helping restore the site. The views at the site are getting more and more beautiful, he said. "It was extensive and impressive," Duggan said. "I think it's looking very good," Krebsbach said. (You are invited to comment about this story on our website at www.mnsun.com and/or write a letter to the editor at suncurrentsouth@acnpapers.com.) Burke. John W. 0711 View/Sign Guest Book Burke, John W. 'Bill" Age 85, of Mendota Heights Died on October 14, 2008. Preceded in death by wives, Jean Ann and Patricia Ann; and brother, Richard. Survived by daughter, Catherine Ann Burke; son, Thomas W. (Terri) Burke; step -son, Stephen (Susan) Van Eschen; grandchildren, Joseph, Lori, Thomas, Christina, Patricia, Connor, Drew, & Emma; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Patrick and Jana; cousin, Eileen Koch. Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 a.m. Friday at the CHURCH OF THE ASSUMPTION, 51 West 7th Street, St. Paul. Private Interment. Visitation at WILLWERSCHEID WEST -HEIGHTS CHAPEL, 235 W. Wentworth Ave., West St. Paul 4-8 p.m. Thursday and at church '/z hour prior to mass. In lieu of flowers memorials preferred to Assumption or Store -to -Door. Willwerscheid West -Heights Chapel 651-457-7938 Published in the Pioneer Press on 10/15/2008 Notice • Guest Book • Flowers • Visit the gift shop Create a Memorial Website