2016-05-20 Friday NewsCity of Mendota Heights Weekly Update
Mendota Heights City Hall
1101 Victoria Curve
www.mendota-heights.com
(651) 452.1850
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MendotaHeightsMN
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@Mendota_heights
DATES TO REMEMBER:
Tuesday, May 24
City Council Workshop
1 :00 p.m.
Planning Commission
7:00 p.m.
Monday, May 30
Memorial Day Holiday
City Offices Closed
Friday, June 3
Music in the Park
Market Square Park @
6:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 4
Mendota Heights 5K
walk/run
Market Square Park @
9:00 a.m.
Park Celebration
Mendakota Park @
11:00 a.m.
Tuesday, June 7
City Council
7:00 p.m.
Attachments:
Pipeline, Just the Facts
May 20, 2016
Clip-n-save
2016 Summer Concert Series
Friday, June 3
The Percolators
6:30 p.m. @ Market Square Park
Wednesdays
6:30 p.m. @ Market Square Park
Rain or Shine
June 8 .......................... New Prescriptions
June 15 ........................ Connie Evingson
June 22 ........................ Vinnie Rose
June 29 ........................ Mendota/Somerset Elementary
..................................... Talent Show
July 6 ........................... Echoes of Elvis
July 13 ......................... Jazz on the Prairie
July 20 ......................... Pat Donohue
July 27 ......................... Annie Lawler Band
August 3 ...................... treVeld
August 10 .................... Shopp
August 17 .................... Kids Dance Back
August 24 .................... Latin Billies
2016 Parks Celebration
This year’s park celebration is set for Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4. The
Percolators will be performing at Market Square Park at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The
events continue on Saturday beginning with the Mendota Heights 5K walk/run at
9:00 a.m. at Market Square Park. The celebration continues at Mendakota Park
from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. There will be free games and events including a
petting zoo, pony rides, fire truck ridges a climbing wall, inflatables, face painting,
prizes and more. Master gardeners will have a booth with information on pollina-
tors, native plants, and sustainable landscaping. Visit www.mendota-heights.com
for additional information.
Public Works
Someone called city hall to say thank you to two Public
Works employees and a Police Officer for rescuing five
little ducklings that fell down a storm grate on Wagon
Wheel Trail. The ducklings were floated down stream
to the next catch basin where they were caught and
returned to safety. A turtle was also moved out of
the street (it was within the area marked turtle
crossing) that was crossing Wagon Wheel Trail.
The Parks Crew cut grass where needed. The fields
were dragged and chalked. The newly planted trees
and shrubs were watered. Trees were trimmed on the
Victoria trail and at Marie Park. Soccer fields and foul
lines were painted. Stump grindings were cleaned up and the hole filled
with black dirt and grass seed. Hockey nets were taken to Marie Park.
The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. Broadleaf weed control
was put down at Friendly Hills, Mendakota, and Rogers Lake Parks, as well
as at the Par 3 Golf Course. Attended safety training in South Saint Paul.
The Streets Crew cut weeds on the south end of the city. Locates were
performed for sign replacement on Lilac Lane. A hole was dug, and cement
poured to install a bus stop sign on Victoria Road and Eagle Ridge. They
attended a safety meeting in South Saint Paul. The gate was welded for the
evidence locker in the water tower. Catch basins were cleaned. Equipment
was cleaned. The trash gate was picked up and installed for the storm
water pipe on Norma Lane. Trees were trimmed on Trail Road and Marie
Avenue to increase the sight line at the corner. A dead deer was picked up
at Marie and Eagle Ridge and another at the Village.
Engineering – Project descriptions simplified for easier reading. For more
information, please contact the Engineering Department at (651) 452 -1850.
City Projects (construction year)
Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation
(2014/2015) – Installation of a retaining wall at the corner of Victoria and
Stratford Lane is nearly complete, and other punch list items are underway. A
The Pipeline N E W S
L E T T E R
Public Works
Engineering
May 20, 2016
utility conflict requiring minor modification to the trail at the corner of Victoria and
Walsh Lane is being coordinated with Xcel Energy.
Mendota Road Neighborhood Improvements (2016) – A pre-construction meeting
is being scheduled for next week. At that meeting, staff will receive the
contractor’s schedule for the project. Construction is expected to begin in early
June, after school is out, and completion is estimated for September.
Update of Local Surface Water Management Plan (LSWMP) – The consultant should
have a draft revised plan to City staff by early June. Watershed approval is
expected in August with City adoption in January 2017.
Lake Augusta Alum Treatment (2016) –The Lower Mississippi River Watershed
Management Organization (LMRMWO) has received the grant money from the
Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) to apply alum to the lake to reduce the
amount of phosphorus in the water. Treatment is expected in the fall. Staff
observed an alum treatment on a different Metro Area Lake last week.
County Projects
Highway 110 Greenway Trail Crossing (2017) – County staff is coordinating the
trail alignment with representatives from MnDOT, Mendota Plaza and Dodge
Nature Center. Design is anticipated to be complete in time to bid with the MnDOT
Highway 110 Rehabilitation project (see below). For more information contact
Jacob Rezak, Project Manager, at 952-891-7981 or jacob.rezak@co.dakota.mn.us
Traffic Signal Improvements: I-494 & Pilot Knob Road (2016) – Construction is
underway. One lane of traffic on Pilot Knob will be open at any point in time, and
the contractor was instructed to have all travel lanes open during morning and
evening peak periods. For more information contact Stacy Reilly, Project
Coordinator at stacy.reilly@co.dakota.mn.us or at 952-891-7935.
East-West Transit Study – No additional information this week. The next Technical
Advisory Committee meeting is scheduled for June 2nd. The County’s consultant
continues to look at demand and optimal routes. Study completion is anticipated
in January 2017.
State Projects
Highway 13 Slope Repair (2015-2016) – Construction is expected to resume on
the private property slope repair in early June. A 4-5 week closure of Highway 13
between Sylvandale and Wachtler is anticipated during this period. The contractor
will notify the City prior to construction resuming.
Highway 110 Rehabilitation (2017) – Staff met with adjacent property owners to
discuss drainage in their area of the project. Staff is fielding questions from
residents about the median changes at Carmen Lane. For more information
contact Molly Cline, MnDOT Project Manager, at 651-234-7723 or
molly.cline@state.mn.us.
Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Rehabilitation (2018) – The MnDOT project team is
focusing mainly on the High Bridge portion of the project. Staff is working on
getting a bike/pedestrian facility incorporated into the project from Marie Avenue
north to Delaware Avenue (see Highway 149 Trail Corridor Plan below). For more
information contact Tara McBride, MnDOT Project Manager at 651-234-7506, or
tara.mcbride@state.mn.us for more project information.
Pilot Knob Bridge over I-494 Expansion Joint Repair (2016) – MnDOT will be
repairing the bridge deck concrete expansion joints on the Pilot Knob Road Bridge
over I-494. Work is expected to take approximately two weeks, and is anticipated
to begin immediately after the signal improvement project by Dakota County (see
above) on or about June 8th.
Other Activities
Highway 149 Trail Corridor Plan & SHIP Grant – City Council approved the grant
contract with the County and the consultant contract at the May 3rd City Council
meeting. The JPA allows the City to utilize the grant money to develop the plan.
Staff hopes to use the plan to apply for a separate grant from the Metropolitan
Council to construct a separated trail facility between Marie Avenue and Delaware
Avenue along Dodd Road. Grant applications are due July 15th, and the County
will be assisting the City in developing the grant application.
National Public Works Week – The City celebrated National Public Works Week by
providing lunch for Public Works and Engineering Staff on Thursday. National
Public Works Week is an annual event where the dedication and hard -work of
Public Works staff is recognized nation-wide. This year’s theme was “Always
There” signifying the round-the-clock and year-round requirements of developing
and maintaining community infrastructure systems.
Debris Management Planning – Staff attended a training session put on by Dakota
County on Wednesday. In June of 2012, Mendota Heights received a severe storm
with straight-line winds in excess of 70 miles per hour. There was extensive tree
damage and debris city-wide as a result of that storm. The City initiated an event-
specific, curbside debris pick up plan for recovery from that storm. The plan being
developed will formalize and outline policies and procedures for the City to follow
should that type of event happen again.
American Public Works Association (APWA) Spring Conference – Staff
attended the Spring Conference for the APWA Minnesota Chapter last week
in central Minnesota. The theme of the conference was “Perfecting Your
Show” and focused around improving leadership skills across Public Works
organizations. Attendees also received updates from the League of
Minnesota Cities, MnDOT, and recognized the graduates from the APWA
Leadership Academy.
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The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department
CHIEF
Mike Aschenbrener
SERGEANTS
Eric Petersen
Tanner Spicer
Peyton Fleming
Bobby Lambert
POLICE OFFICERS
John Larrive
Todd Rosse
Jeff VonFeldt
Steven Meyer
Denise Urmann
Michael Shepard
Nick Gorgos
Robin Nelson
Steve Hilyar
Phillip McCarty
INVESTIGATIONS
Chad Willson
SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICER
Jennifer Fordham
SUPPORT STAFF
Kim Henning
Trista Miller
Shayna Hoechst
Becky Pentel
RESERVES
Randy Pentel
Jim Knox
Jeff Parker
Jon Clayton
Dan Iverson
CHAPLAINS
Butch Millett
John Snider
Alberto Vargas
Lynn Liberman
Sue Plucker
Joel Detlefsen
Lenny Andrie
MAY 20, 2016
Boating Season (Finally)
With Memorial Weekend just around the corner and with the temperatures finally geƫng
warmer, here are a few boaƟng safety Ɵps:
State law requires children under 10 year old to wear a life jacket while a boat is un-
derway.
A readily accessible AND wearable life jacket is required for each person onboard a
boat, this includes canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and waterfowl boats.
One Type IV (buoyant cushion, ring buoy or horseshoe buoy) throwable is required on
boats 16 feet or longer (except canoes and kayaks).
NavigaƟon lights must be on from sunset to sunrise.
CLEAN all visible aquaƟ c plants, zebra mussels and other prohibited invasive species
off your boat. DRAIN water-related equipment by removing drain plugs before leaving
a water access. DISPOSE of unwanted bait in the trash. It is illegal to release live bait
into a water body.
Stay sober while operaƟng a motorboat. Similar to a motor vehicle, motorboat opera-
tors could be arrested for BWI (BoaƟng While Intoxicated) with a blood alcohol
concentraƟon of .08 or more.
The weather’s getting warmer and with Memorial weekend coming up, many are
hopping in the car to get to a fun destination! Remember to obey all posted speed
limits and get to your destination safe and sound. Each year, illegal or unsafe
speed is a leading contributing factor in Minnesota’s fatal crashes — accounting
for at least 130 deaths annually, of which 70 percent occur on rural, two-lane
roads in Minnesota. Young adult motorists are the most common offenders and
those at greatest risk.
Speeding is not an innocent crime — it puts every motorist at risk on the road:
Greater potential for loss of vehicle control.
Increased stopping distance.
Less time available for driver response for crash avoidance.
Increased crash severity — the faster the speed , the more violent the crash.
Heavy Foot = Light Wallet
Costs of speeding violations vary by county, but typically are at least $120 for
traveling 10 mph over the limit.
Motorists stopped at 20 mph over the speed limit face double the fine, and those
ticketed traveling more than 100 mph can lose their license for six months.
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TERRORISTIC THREATS FRIDAY 0904 HOURS
Sergeant Tanner Spicer along with a number of other MHPD officers responded to a local school for a
reported bomb threat called into the schools office by phone. The school was placed on lock-down while the
officers as well as the assisting Airport PD bomb detection K-9 checked the school and found no bomb or
suspicious packages. Once the building was cleared and the threat determined to be a false alarm, the lock-
down at the school was lifted. Case pending follow up.
VEHICLE THEFT MONDAY 0810 HOURS
Officer Todd Rosse responded to a local business for a report of vehicle theft. Upon arrival, Officer Rosse
spoke with the victim who stated that sometime over the weekend a work vehicle had been stolen. The
vehicle was last seen parked in a parking lot in front of the business on Friday afternoon and was missing on
Monday morning. Officer Rosse entered the vehicle into the database as stolen. Case pending.
PD ACCIDENT MONDAY 1512 HOURS
Officer Todd Rosse responded to a two vehicle property damage accident. Upon arrival Officer Rosse
confirmed there were no injury’s and only minor damage occurred. The drivers exchanged information and
were able to drive their vehicles away from the scene. Case closed.
THEFT OF GAS TUESDAY 0914 HOURS
Officer John Larrive responded to local gas station to a report of theft. The suspect pumped gas into the
suspect vehicle then sat in the car for a bit and then left without paying, in which the store manager believed
that the driver just forgot to enter the store and pay. The reporting party was able to write down the license
plate number which lead Officer Larrive to obtain the information to the owner of the vehicle. Officer
Larrive was able to contact the driver of the vehicle who admitted forgetting to pay and called and provided
the store with a credit card to pay for the fuel. Case closed.
DAMAGE TO PROPERTY WEDNESDAY 1241 HOURS
Officer Todd Rosse responded to a residence on a report of property damage. The victims showed Officer
Rosse where a portion of their yard had been damage by heavy tire tracks in a u-shaped pattern. The
victims also advised that this is has happened multiple times previously in the same location of their yard.
Case pending.
ASSAULT/MEDICAL THURSDAY 1051 HOURS
Officer Robin Nelson, Sergeant Eric Petersen & Sergeant Tanner Spicer responded to a location for a party
possibly having a heart attack. Upon arrival the party was found unconscious and not breathing, and CPR
was started. Party started breathing and while on scene stated she was assaulted by the reporting party. The
reporting party admitted to assault and was arrested and taken to the DCJDC. Case and charges pending.
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05/13 ‐ 05/19 2016 YTD
Calls for Service 141 2918
Citations 9 374
Warnings 19 364
Police Reports 23 400
Response Time Average 6.07 4.98
Check out the MH Crime Map!
Click below to search your neighborhood:
https://www.raidsonline.com
1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118
If you are a Mendota Heights resident and you are
going out of town or on vacation, you can notify
MHPD of your outing and we will be more than happy to
keep a watchful eye on your home while you are away.
The House Check Request online form is available on
our website; you can complete a form found in our
lobby, or simply give us a call and we’ll help you out.
MHPD offers monthly Car Seat Safety Checks.
To schedule an appointment, call 651.452.1366 or email
jennyf@mendota‐heights.com to contact Ofϐicer Jennifer
Fordham.
MHPD has a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of the
PD where Dakota County residents can safely and
anonymously dispose of their prescription drugs and
over‐the‐counter medication.
Please send us your positive
feedback on our staff to:
pdrecords@
mendota-heights.com
HAVE A SAFE WEEK!
The Minnesota Law Enforcement
Memorial AssociaƟon (LEMA) is
dedicated to assisƟng the
families and home agencies of
those law enforcement officers
who have died in the line of
duty.
LEMA is able to provide assis-
tance both at the Ɵme of death,
as well as into the future. LEMA
honors the families and fallen
officers during NaƟonal Law
Enforcement Memorial week.
LEMA is there...when the need
arises.
LEMA is a non-profit organiza-
Ɵon and all contribuƟons are tax
deducƟble per IRS secƟon 501(c)
(3) and donaƟons are always
welcome.
You can send donaƟons through
LEMA’s Facebook page, website
or address.
www.mnlema.org
L.E.M.A– 614 Aqua Circle
Lino Lakes, MN 55014