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2007-07-27 Friday NewsGREAT DAY FOR A PICNIC Jake traded in his computer for a set of BBQ tongs this morning for the end of summer picnic for the Tennis Program. Approximately 50 kids enjoyed perfectly cooked hotdogs and waited anxiously for their number to be drawn for door prizes. 130+ youth participated in the tennis program this summer — thanks to Teresa Gangelhoff, Tim Garvey and all the other folks who help to make the program such a success. On Tuesday, July 24th four City staff members, Dan Tix of Great River Greening (GRG), two members of the Pilot Knob Preservation Association and Mr. Seitu Jones (artist/sculptor) working with GRG met at City Hall to review a design for the interpretive signage and overlook for the site. The attached concept drawings were discussed in detail. GRG is actively preparing for City Council consideration in August, a proposed restoration and management plan for the 15 acre Acacia Cemetery parcel, that when acquired, would be added to the existing 8.5 acre Pilot Knob site. Future consideration of site signage, location and design of an overlook, and interpretive signage will be addressed by GRG in this new proposal. Two Mendota Heights' residents, Bernie Friel and Karen Johnson recently made a trip to Paupau, New Guinea to look for downed US and Japanese WWII airplanes. Their story will be featured on "Almanac" airing tonight at 7:00 P.M. Bernie tells me that this was the hardest hiking that he has ever done, and he is a mountain climber. As a reminder, we will be holding our tabletop exercise for Pandemic Influenza Tuesday, July 31, starting at noon at Veteran's Memorial Community Center in Inver Grove Heights. Department Heads and their alternates will be participating, others are invited to observe. Please RSVP to Jake Sedlacek, Mike Aschenbrener or myself if you plan to attend. Jim Danielson City Administrator Attachinents: Pipeline, Just the Facts, MNSun Article "Mendota Heights ARC hopes to continue tackling issues" The Parks crew worked the state baseball tournament for the Mendota Heights Baseball Association. They trimmed trees and ground stumps along pedways and in parks were needed. Trash was collected from parks, mowing, etc... Rich checked sanotary sower fcft stations daily. Rich cleaned he sower main using the jot truck on Overlook Rd® Overlook Ln,, Vicki Ln® Douglas rt, and Douglas Rd. ��cLo�c��r�or�c On Wednesday Gartzko Construction replaced the 42" store sewer pipe at Wachtlor and TH 13 and placed rile rale in he TCS 13 ditch. The portion of the trail that was disturbed by the oonstructlon will be repaired by Obis. Bituminous Roadways completed the mill and overlay of the trail on Wachtler south of Cherry Hill Komi. ®shote County's mill and overlay project on Lexington between Vall and TH 13 was completed this week. Installationo the Sports Tile surfacing ma ei IC itValley Parktennis court was completed on Thursday, The new court surfacing will be available for use Friday afternoon. Earlier in the week Public Works removed a number of dead elms trees along the easterly stream side of the courts which has ""opened up" the area. The mile long trail from Marie Ave. northerly to Hwy 13 is the most heavily used trail segment (bikers, walkers and canine companions) in the City. Signs will be placed in the all of the City's tennis courts next week asking residents to try the new surfacing , at Valley Park and toprovide e•• r !o City -1- IVAN +aY Y� Tlie latest �ervsv t`ie �fe�a�'ata �fes9�cts�alice �e�asttnevct The Follow up 07-15-07 0115 hours Mendota Just a quick note on last week's lead story about the car driving Heights on three tires. Sergeant Garlock followed the groove cut into the Police road surface by the rim to the point of the crash - 4.1 miles away in St. Paul. The car had hit a utility pole, a block later a curb, and Department proceeded to travel the wrong way down a divided road, using the entire road - shoulder to shoulder - along the river coming into Support Lilydale. It is truly a miracle that no one was killed. f ' Staff ' Hennmg Assist 07-19-07 1841 hours Chnstlna H©ss Sergeant John Larrive responded to a local business on report of Sandie Ristine a thief refusing to leave. Employees had caught a 42 YOA male Cathy Ransom shoplifting, was confronted and he subsequently returned the items he had taken. The male was advised by the staff that he Phce was no longer welcome on the property, but the man was now �fflers 7e M Phy refusing to leave. When Sergeant LarrivP arrived, the man Brian Connery , agreed to leave and not return. He was transported to his Bobby'Lambet- residence in St. Paul. Eric Petersen Tod, Bosse Unattended Recreational Fire 07-20-07 1010 hours Tanner Spicer Officer Bobby Lambert responded to an unattended recreational Chad Willson fire. The neighbors have on problems with the fire bug. Jeff VonFeldt When Officer Lambert arrived he found the recreational fire M Jenny Fordham: smoldering in the fire pit, and a hose lying next to the pit. The fire Steven Meyer ° was put out and the homeowner was cited. 3?enise Urmann chael Shepard - Motor Vehicle Theft 07-20-07 2305 hours 'eyton'Flelning ;.. Officer Jeff VonFeldt responded to a local residence about a car e that had been taken without permission from the driveway. The Jf:Anvestigations victim felt the only person who could have taken the car was the `'Z Mario Reye's,''seller. The victim had just purchased the car from "the owner." Scott Patrick The victim received a signed receipt and paid cash. The seller x ergeants was to drop off the title at a later time. Officer VonFeldt attempted Fhle�lGarlock' to call the R/O without success. Using his squad computer he Jo1�n T arnve sent a message to Bloomington requesting the check an 9 9 q 9 Y address. Eventually the R/O was contacted, and was fairly Chref confident that the suspect was his son. The son evidently Mike decided to sell the car without his father's knowledge, then Aschenbrener -1- decided if he stole it back, he could sell it again and get more cash. The R/O arrived at the victim's house, saying the car was now parked at a local gas station. The R/O also agreed to sign the vehicle title over to the victim, as the vehicle had actually been for sale. Officer Meyer and the victim went to retrieve the car. The victim was shown a photo of the R/O's son and immediately identified him as the seller/suspect. The suspect refused to come to MHPD to provide a statement. Referred for charges. Theft/ Damage to Property 07-22-07 2041 hours Officer Steve Meyer responded to a damage to property / theft call in a parking lot for the Big Rivers Trail. Upon arrival he met with the victim who advised that before she left on her walk she had placed her purse under the front passenger seat. Fortunately she had taken her wallet and check book out of the purse and placed them under the driver's seat. Upon returning from her walk, the victim found a window smashed out of her car and her purse was missing. She was advised on the steps she should take to prevent further problems. ++ NEVER LEAVE ANYTHING OF VALUE IN YOUR CAR++ Vandalism 07-23-07 1025 hours MH Parks employees reported the hockey rink had been spray painted. Officer Bobby Lambert arrived on scene and found a number of things painted on the boards such as "peace," "love" and "hey, baby." The damage was documented. No leads at this time. Stolen Van 07-23-07 1036 hours Sergeant Garlock responded to a local business about a stolen work van. The van must have been taken from the business late on Friday. The victim received a call approximately a half hour earlier that the van was sitting in front of a house in Minneapolis. The caller had been watching the van over the weekend. On Friday it was parked in front of a problem property just across the street from her home. She called MPD and they provided her the name of the R/O to call. The owner of the van went directly to the location and recovered his van. No damage reported. DAS / No Insurance 07-24-07 1812 hours While on patrol, Officer Mike Shepard ran an in -squad computer license plate check on a vehicle. The check revealed the R/O's driving status to be suspended. The physical description of the driver matched the owner. The driver was cited and the car was towed. When the driver came to MHPD to get a release receipt for the vehicle he showed a proof of insurance card dated 07-25-07. A quick check with the agent revealed the coverage had been activated earlier in the day. The car was released along with a citation for not having insurance. Domestic 07-2407 2205 hours Officer Jeff VonFeldt responded to a 911 call for help on a domestic. When he arrived he was met by the caller who had an altercation with her 21 YOA son. He had come home intoxicated and had brought alcohol into the house — which is not permitted in the home, as the son has a history of alcohol abuse. When the mother attempted to get the alcohol away from him, a scuffle ensued, and the mother was slapped across the face. He was transported to Ramsey Detox and cited for disorderly conduct. Am a g,�at wee rd./til Irm Sun Newspapers - MNSUN.com - Mendota Heights ARC hopes to continue tackling issues Page 1 of 2 Print'Page Mendota Heights ARC hopes to continue tackling issues BY MEGAN ANDERSON - SUN NEWSPAPERS —) The Mendota Heights Airport Relations Commission (ARC) wants to maintain quiet skies. ARC Chair Liz Petschel presented the commission's plan July 17 at the Mendota Heights City Council meeting. The plan included issues the ARC hopes to continue monitoring, including representation on the Metropolitan Airports Commission and monitoring noise levels in the Mendota Heights -Eagan corridor. Petschel said air traffic above the Mendota Heights -Eagan corridor is still up at Minneapolis -St. Paul International Airport. She said the ARC told the Noise Oversight Committee that the percentage of nighttime flights was increasing Chad Leqve, MAC Manager of Aviation Noise and Satellite Programs, also conducted an audit of excursion levels on all corridors. Petschel said Leqve found the excursion rate is "at a level that has never occurred since the airport's been in existence." The ARC thinks the increased level is due to inexperienced air traffic controllers and regional aircraft. "I just want you to know that we're on top of this," she said. "This is something that we look at weekly, monthly." Noise levels in Mendota Heights have also been impacted as there continue to be more operations on the north parallel runway compared to the south parallel runway Petschel said. These operations continue even though the north -south runway (17/35), which is on the airport's west side, is still up and running. Representation for Mendota Heights on the MAC is another important goal for the ARC. Petschel said there has been frustration over who is appointed to the MAC. "We feel very disconnected from them," she said. Petschel said that, just like Minneapolis and St. Paul have MAC appointees, the ARC wants Mendota Heights to have representation. "We really want to take a serious look at that process to see if it could be changed to our advantage," she said. She said ARC has received commitment from the state Legislature to hold hearings on the issue, possibly in August. Councilmember Jack Vitelli thanked Petschel and the ARC. "I think you've made tremendous progress in the last few years," Vitelli said. Councilmember Sandra Krebsbach said that Petschel's leadership has added credibility to the ARC. "[The MAC] recognize your leadership and your thorough knowledge," she 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 SLincui-s-entsot�th@acnpapers.com.) http://www.mnsun.com/artioles/2007/07/27/news/cl26arc.prt 7/27/2007