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2016-08-12 Friday NewsCity of Mendota Heights Weekly Update Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com (651) 452.1850 Visit us on: Facebook.com/ MendotaHeightsMN Twitter.com/ @Mendota_heights DATES TO REMEMBER: Tuesday, August 16 City Council Tuesday, August 23 Council Budget Workshop 5:00 p.m. Planning Commission 7:00 p.m. Thursday, August 25 Council Workshop 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 6 City Council 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 13 Parks and Rec Commission 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 20 City Council 7:00 p.m. Aug 12, 2016 Election Campaign Signs MN State Statutes, Dakota County, and Mendota Heights City Code regulate the placement of campaign signs. The following is a summary of some of the regulations:  Campaign signs are allowed on private property with the owner’s permission.  No signs allowed in the public right-of-way of any street or highway.  No signs allowed on publicly owned property or bridges/overpasses.  Signs should not interfere with regulatory signs.  No sign shall impede the view at intersections.  No sign shall be attached upon trees, rocks or power poles.  Campaign signs may be posted until ten days after General Election . Farewell Reception for Public Works Director/City Engineer John Mazzitello Hwy 13 Slope Repair Update The private contractor is continuing work on the concrete wall at the site to the east of Wachtler Ave. The contractor poured the final wall section this past week, completing the cast-in-place portion of the retaining wall. The first of two block walls was also completed. The second block wall is scheduled for completion next week along with beginning the fine grading and landscaping. The highway is scheduled to reopen Sept 2nd. 2016 Concert Series Wednesdays 6:30 p.m. @ Market Square Park Rain or Shine Aug 17…. Kids Dance Back Tuesday, August 16, 6:30—7:00 pm. at the Mendota Heights City Hall Join us in celebrating Public Works Director/City Engineer John Mazzitello on his eight years of public service to the city and in wishing him well as he moves on to the public sector. Hwy 55 Lane Closures on Mendota Bridge Hwy 55 in Mendota Heights currently has alternating lane closures on the Mendota Bridge for maintenance. This will be in effect through 8:00 pm Tuesday, August 16th. Public Works The Parks Crew laid out and striped the soccer fields at Kensington Park and Mendakota Park. Trees were trimmed at Hagstrom King Park and along the trails. Grass was cut and trash picked up. The ballfields were dragged and chalked. The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. Pump 2 at the Northland lift station was taken out for new seals and bearings. Trees and shrubs were trimmed at the Culligan lift station. Root killing chemicals were added to nine spots in the Curley’s Addition neighborhood. Roots were cut in the sanitary sewer line in Caren Road, Caren Road easement and the Victoria easement. The portable waste water pump was exercised. Fire hydrant painting continues. The Streets Crew cut weeds along the roadside. The bobcat and brush mower was cleaned and greased. The culvert at Wentworth Park was cleaned to allow for better drainage. Concrete supplies were picked up for catch basin repairs. Signs were picked up at Advantage Sign & Graphix. Blacktop patching was done on Dakota Drive and the Police Department parking lot. A broken limb was cut down on Wachtler Avenue and hauled to S&S Tree along with braches from Warrior Drive. Catch basins were cleaned. 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) – Project is complete. Final payment to the contractor is expected in the coming weeks. Mendota Road Neighborhood Improvements (2016) – The first lift of pavement is complete throughout the primary project area. Contractor is working on the trail segment from Brookside to Laura (included as a component of this project). Update of Local Surface Water Management Plan (LSWMP) – Staff is expecting a draft plan any day now. The draft plan is expected to be before City Council in September. Watershed Management Organization approval is expected in October with final City adoption in January 2017. Lake Augusta Alum Treatment (2017) –The Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRMWO) will be managing the project that will apply alum to the lake to reduce the amount of phosphorus in the water. The grant The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works Engineering August 12, 2016 received for the treatment includes the treatment of Sunfish Lake. The City of Sunfish Lake is trying to collect the City matching funds from residents. Because the LMRWMO has to wait for the Sunfish Lake matching funds, treatment is expected shortly after ice-out in the spring of 2017. County Projects Highway 110 Greenway Trail Crossing (2017) – County staff participated in an area business open house hosted by MnDOT on August 11th at 8:00am at City Hall. There will be a public open house on August 18th at Market Square Park (City Hall will be the backup location if weather impacts the park site). County staff continues to coordinate 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 East-West Transit Study – Staff will attend a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) meeting on Thursday of next week. The TAC discussed the final goals and objectives of the study to be presented to the policy makers later this year. State Projects Highway 13 Slope Repair (2015-2016) – Highway 13 is now closed and will reopen on September 2nd. MnDOT issued a permit for the closure. The contractor poured the final wall section this past week, completing the cast-in-place portion of the retaining wall. The first of two block walls was also completed. The second block wall is scheduled for completion next week along with beginning the fine grading and landscaping. The project remains on schedule for re-opening the highway no later than September 2nd. The City’s Facebook site and web page will also be used to communicate further updates. Highway 110 Rehabilitation (2017) – MnDOT held a business open house at City Hall on Thursday morning. Several local business owners attended. The Open House focused on construction staging and how businesses can keep customers coming to their businesses during construction. The Dakota County Chamber of Commerce also participated. There is also a public open house at Market Square Park on August 18th from 4:30 – 6:30 (City Hall will be the backup location if weather impacts the park site). 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) – Staff is assisting the MnDOT project team in incorporating a trail gap segment between Maple Street and Marie Avenue. Staff will be attending a Project Management Team (PMT) meeting on Tuesday of next week. Contact Tara McBride, MnDOT Project Manager at 651- 234-7506, or tara.mcbride@state.mn.us for more project information. Other Activities West Saint Paul – Delaware/Butler Intersection Closed – The City of West Saint Paul is closing the Delaware Avenue/Butler Avenue Intersection until August 16th for sanitary sewer repair work. For more information call Ross Beckwith, West Saint Paul Public Works Director, at 651-552-4130. Public Works Director/City Engineer Transition –The City Administrator will be presenting different organizational options to the City Council ahead of the upcoming budget workshops. The outgoing Public Works Director/City Engineer continues to work toward preparing the City Administrator and the Assistant City Engineer for the upcoming vacancy at the Director level position.   1   The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department CHIEF Mike Aschenbrener SERGEANTS Eric Petersen Tanner Spicer Peyton Fleming POLICE OFFICERS John Larrive Todd Rosse Jeff VonFeldt 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 AUGUST 12, 2016 According to the MN Office of Traffic Safety’s most recent 2014 staƟsƟcs; 361 people died in traffic crashes, 88 (24%) were drunk driving‐related.  2,040 people suffered injuries in alcohol‐related crashes.  25,258 motorists were arrested for DWI (an average of 70 per day)  The average BAC for DWI drivers was .15 and the average for a fatal drunk driver was .19.  One out of every seven licensed MN drivers has at least one DWI.    The best way to prevent someone from driving drunk is to make a plan for a sober        designated driver, and make sure everyone agrees to it ahead of Ɵme.  If you are faced with  a situaƟon where someone who’s impaired is trying to drive, here are some Ɵps on how to  stop them:  Be as non‐confrontaƟonal as possible.  Suggest alternate ways of geƫng to their desƟnaƟon — a cab, a sober driver, public   transportaƟon.  Remember that the person you are talking to is impaired — talk a bit more slowly and   explain things more fully than if you were speaking to a sober person.  Explain that you don’t want them to drive because you care and you don’t want them to  hurt themselves or others.  Suggest that they sleep over.  Enlist a friend to help you or to act as moral support — it’s more difficult to say “no” to  two (or three or four) people than one.  If possible, get the person’s keys. It is far easier to persuade the potenƟal driver when you  hold this leverage.  If all else fails, call law enforcement. It’s beƩer to have a friend arrested than injured or  killed.  A good suggesƟon would be to keep a small notecard in your wallet/purse of designated  driver services to make sure you get home safely.  To name a few:   Alpine Sober Cab 763.432.7536 Dry Drivers 651.491.9363  BeMyDD 877.U.BEMYDD Last Call Car Service 612.789.2222  DDi Drink and Drive Intelligently 651.338.1425      2   AOA/PURSUIT FRIDAY 1842 HOURS Sergeant Peyton Fleming and Officer Steve Hilyar responded to dispatch airing a vehicle that was previously being pursued by a neighboring jurisdiction being seen on a MNDOT camera exiting the interstate into Mendota Heights. The vehicle was quickly spotted by Officer Fleming on a city street. Once confirming by license plate that is was the correct vehicle, Officer Fleming activated his lights and sirens when the vehicle fled through an intersection without stopping at a stop sign. Officer Hilyar was able to set up stop sticks to attempt to stop the fleeing vehicle but the vehicle went into the opposite lane to avoid the stop sticks. Due to the ongoing reckless driving conduct of the suspect, the pursuit was terminated. THEFT SATURDAY 0138 HOURS Sergeant Peyton Fleming responded to a call at a local bar regarding a theft. The victim reported that while in the bar her purse was stolen while unattended. The victim also stated that she was able to track her phone which was inside her purse using an AP on her friend’s phone. The phone was recovered where it was shown in the AP but the purse and other contents were not. Although the victims credit cards were used in multiple locations after the theft, they were cancelled with no monetary loss to the victim. MINOR CONSUMPTION SATURDAY 2349 HOURS Officer Steve Hilyar and Sergeant Peyton Fleming located several vehicles and people in a city park after hours. While speaking with the group the Officers noticed the odor of alcohol and asked who had been drinking. One of the individuals admitted to drinking and was also underage. The male was given a breathalyzer and ultimately cited for underage consumption of alcohol and released to his parents. ACCIDENT/CVO/DWI SUNDAY 0258 HOURS Officer Steve Hilyar, Sergeant Peyton Fleming and Officer Mike Shepard all responded to a report of a one vehicle crash involving injuries. Upon scene there a was vehicle on its roof upside down in a driveway. The four people were transported to the hospital, one with life threatening injuries. The driver was suspected of DWI and evidence was taken. Case is pending investigation. CURFEW VIOLATION MONDAY 0330 HOURS While conducting routine business checks, Sergeant Peyton Fleming located a male who appeared to be a juvenile out past curfew. Sergeant Fleming made contact and identified the young man, verified his age and learned he was out biking through various metro cities. The juvenile was cited for curfew violation and transported home to his residence where he was released to his father.   3   PROPERTY DAMAGE ACCIDENT TUESDAY 1049 HOURS Officer John Larrive responded to a local residence regarding a report of a property damage accident. A private contract delivery driver was delivering a package to a local residence when the driver forgot to put the vehicle in park. As the driver exited the vehicle and started to walk in front of the vehicle to the residence he was stuck by it and ran back to the drivers door, entered and applied the brakes. By this time, the vehicle had already struck the single garage door causing damage. Driver was not injured and the owners of the home were notified. THEFT THURSDAY 1935 HOURS Officer Jenny Fordham, Officer Steve Hilyar and Sergeant Peyton Fleming responded to a report of four adult males playing golf at a local golf course without paying fees. The officers made contact and identified the four individuals, all of which admitted to having not have paid to play. The incident was ultimately resolved with the individuals being trespassed from the course for the remainder of the year and restitution being paid to the establishment.   4   Officer Denise Urmann wished to say a special THANK YOU! to everyone who made 2016’s Night to Unite a record year! Mendota Heights Police and Fire staff attended 24 parties in Mendota Heights and in Lilydale. This is twice the number of parties held just two years ago. Night to Unite has become a great tradition in our city and we value the opportunity to greet you, answer questions and of course, let the kids hang out on the police and fire vehicles. Officer Urmann felt so grateful, saying, “I am humbled by the response. We could not have pulled it off without the help of those who stepped up to help.” A special thanks to police and fire staff for working the event and to our public works teammates who ensured barricades were dropped off and picked up at all the partying neighborhoods. Start planning for next year! Mark your calendars now for the 1st Tuesday in August!   5      08/05‐08/11 2016 YTD Calls for Service 120 5324 Citations 10 499 Warnings 9 497 Police Reports 14 614 Response Time Average 5.53 5.10 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 Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps boost the morale of our staff. HAVE A SAFE WEEK! Many of us who have pets love them like family and want to keep them safe. For the safety of your dog as well as others, please remember that your dog must be kept on a leash when you are not on your private property. The leash must not exceed six feet in length. Also, proper disposal of dog waste is required in all areas of Mendota Heights. The ordinance states that any person having control of any dog shall be responsible for cleaning up any excrement left by such dog to a proper receptacle.