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2016-09-30 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, October 4 City Council 800 p.m. *Note Later Start Time Tuesday, October 11 Dodd Road Corridor Study 5:30 p.m. Parks and Rec Commission 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 18 City Council 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 25 Planning Commission 7:00 p.m. Sept 30, 2016 Dodd Road Corridor Study Open House The City of Mendota Heights received a $25,000 grant from Dakota County as part of the Statewide Health Initiative Program to study the possibilities of constructing an off-street bike/pedestrian trail along Dodd Road from Mendota Heights Road north to Delaware Avenue. City staff, along with our consultants, Stantec Inc., will be holding an open house on Tuesday, October 11th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at the Mendota Heights City Hall. This is a chance for all residents to ask questions and voice their support and concerns about a future trail along Dodd Road. Following the open house, Stantec will provide the Parks & Recreation Commission with a presentation of their work. If you are unable to attend and would like to share your support or concerns, please email them to Sloan Wallgren at sloanw@mendota- heights.com. Firefighters to Visit Schools In recognition of Fire Prevention Week October 9-15, 2016, the firefighters will be vis- iting preschoolers, kindergartners, and 4th graders at the local schools. Fire Prevention Open House October 15, 2016 The Fire Prevention theme is “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Eve- ry 10 Years.” Join us for the Fire Prevention Open House on Saturday, October 15, 2016 at the fire station, 2121 Dodd Road, from 10 am to 3 pm. We will have a memorial ser- vice at 10 am and a live burn/sprinkler demonstration at 2:30 pm. Absentee voting Absentee voting can be completed either by mail or in person at the City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve. For more infor- mation about absentee voting, visit MnVotes.org. *New this year - Absentee Voting using Tabulator will be available Nov. 1–7 at the City Hall. Voters may complete absentee ballot applications, complete their ballots and place their ballot directly into the tabulator — just like Election Day, but without the use of absentee ballot envelopes. Register Now to Vote in General Election Get ready to vote in the Nov 8 election. Preregister to vote by October 18 to have your name listed on the roster at the polling site. Register now and save time on Election Day! You can go online to register, or check to see if you are registered at MnVotes.org. Public Works The Parks Crew cut grass and picked up trash in all parks. A new gate was painted and installed at the Pilot Knob Preservation site and boulders were placed around the entrance. The access area to the dog park was regraded to allow better drainage and reduce muddy conditions. New grills were installed at Ivy Hills Park and Kensington Park. Soccer fields were striped. The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations. The Lilydale lift station pump was plugged with disposable wipes, cleared plug. The sewer line from Lloyds BBQ to the main lift station was cleaned and grease removed from the lift station wet well. A sewer inspection was done for a new home on Cheri Lane. He assisted the Parks Crew with mowing and trash pickup. The Streets Crew back filled curbs with dirt and seed and installed rock around a mailbox on Bent Tree Lane after catch basin repairs. A settlement was filled with dirt and seed on Hunter Lane. A sink hole was filled on Mendota Heights Road. Trail was patched, boulevard graded and seeded and rock installed for a storm sewer extension on Victoria Road. The Outlet control structure on Rogers Lake was cleared as well as the outlet to the Marie Park pond. The pedway was patched near the north end of Aztec Lane. Brush was cleared in Victoria Highlands for manhole access. Weeds were cut in boulevards and ditches. Locates were called in for new stop signs on Laura Street at 1st Avenue. Equipment was cleaned and maintained. Engineering – Project descriptions simplified for easier reading. For more information, please contact the Engineering Department at (651) 452-1850. City Projects (construction year) Mendota Road Neighborhood Improvements (2016) – The project is substantially complete. Minor punchlist items remain. New signage will be installed late this Fall. The trail is scheduled be fog sealed in 2017. 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 October. Watershed Management Organization approval is expected in November with final City adoption in January 2017. The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works Engineering Code Enforcement September 30, 2016 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 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. If Sunfish Lake is unable to collect the matching funds, the LMRWMO will proceed with Lake Augusta on its own. County Projects Highway 110 Greenway Trail Crossing (2017) – 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 –The TAC discussed the final goals and objectives of the study to be presented to the policy makers later this year. State Projects Highway 110 Rehabilitation (2017) –Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring with the directional closures of Highway 110 beginning in early June. 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. The Intersections of Dodd and Decorah/Wagon Wheel are being analyzed for a safe pedestrian crossing, as is the intersection of Emerson and Dodd (at Somerset Elementary School). Contact Tara McBride, MnDOT Project Manager at 651-234-7506, or tara.mcbride@state.mn.us for more project information. 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 Weston Raberge 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 SEPTEMBER 30 2016 RECREATIONAL FIRES 7‐2‐7: RECREATIONAL FIRES: A property owner or lessee of the property may have a recreaƟonal ﬁre without obtaining a permit by complying with the following regulaƟons: A. Hours Fires To Be ExƟnguished: Fires shall be exƟnguished within three (3) hours aŌer start but not later than eleven o'clock (11:00) P.M. B. Materials Burned Restricted: Clean, dry wood only (no refuse, grass, leaves, logs over 3 inches in diameter, paper, garbage, trade waste or other combusƟbles). C. Size Of Fire: Size shall not be more than three feet (3') in diameter, nor shall the ﬂames reach a height in excess of three feet (3'). D. LocaƟon: No ﬁre shall be within twenty feet (20') of any building or structure. E. Means To ExƟnguish: A means of exƟnguishment must be in the immediate area of the ﬁre. F. Weather CondiƟons: No ﬁre shall be started or maintained in dry condiƟons or when winds are over ﬁŌeen (15) mph. G. NoƟce To City: Prior noƟce shall be given to the dispatcher one hour before the ﬁre is ignited. H. AƩendance Required: RecreaƟonal ﬁres must be constantly aƩended by a competent person unƟl the ﬁre has been completely exƟnguished. I. Authority To Restrict Fires: The code official has the authority to prohibit, suspend, or further restrict all ﬁres should condiƟons warrant such acƟon. (Ord. 380, 5‐20‐2003) It’s Fire Prevention Week! The National Fire Prevention Association want’s to remind you: “Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.” It’s not enough to simply replace the batteries every year. Your smoke alarms also should be replaced every 10 years. There should be a manufacturer’s date on the back of the alarm. Once you learn the date, label your alarm and replace that alarm when it is expired. When you set your clock to “fall back” for Daylight Savings, change your batteries and check that date. Prevention today could save the lives of your loved ones tomorrow. 2 FOUND PROPERTY FRIDAY 09/23 0654 HOURS A resident reported they found mail in the roadway, belonging to a party out of Sunfish Lake. Some of the mail was opened some of it was not. The owner was contacted and was advised to contact their local police department to report it and to take immediate precautions against identity theft and fraud. Case referred. FIGHT/JUV MARIJUANA POSSESSION FRIDAY 09/23 2236 HOURS Concerned parties called 911 to report a fight possible in progress, reported initially in the City of West St Paul. Officers there were busy and MH Officers Weston Raberge and Jeffory VonFeldt responded to assist. Upon arrival, they found a large group of young people gathered, who informed officers they were not fighting, just planning a homecoming party location. Officers began to identify the parties and clearing the area and soon found an unclaimed backpack. They opened the backpack to identify the owner and found marijuana, later found to belong to a juvenile male. He was arrested, his parents were contacted and later cited and released to their custody. ASSIST OTHER AGENCY/DOMESTIC SATURDAY 09/24 0235 HOURS Sergeant Peyton Fleming responded to assist West St Paul with a fight in progress. The situation was contained, but he was asked to assist with gathering witness information. From the larger gathered party he learned they had heard a what sounded like a fight happening in a vehicle. They approached and observed the male suspect choking the female party and to stop him, she hit him with a beer bottle in. They attempted to leave but the witnesses stopped them by standing in front of it. The male was later arrested. Officers cleared. DOMESTIC ASSAULT SATURDAY 9/24 1907 HOURS Officer Raberge responded to a reported assault between two parties. The male and female were waiting outside the building. The male party stated he had been “cold-cocked” by the female party’s husband. It was later learned the three of them had been having beers, but the husband got very intoxicated and at some point punched his friend, who called police. The female then informed officers her husband had made threats to her and she was fearful of him. She left the building and waited for police with the other male party outside. The husband received not only a 5th degree assault charge but a domestic assault charge as well. Due to his intoxicate levels, he was taken to detox and a citation was left with his belongings. Officers cleared. DWI SUNDAY 9/25 0303 HOURS Officer Raberge was dispatched to a driving complaint of a vehicle crossing over fog lines and stopping in traffic. The vehicle was located, already stopped at the side of the road. The female driver was identified and in plain view were open alcohol containers. The driver failed all the tests, especially the PBT with a .26 and she was arrested for 2nd Degree DWI and served with vehicle forfeiture paperwork. ROAD RACING SUNDAY 9/25 1700 HOURS While watching traffic near a freeway, Sergeant Eric Petersen observed several race-style vehicle traveling to- gether on the freeway. He also observed a someone on the overpass who appeared to be filming. He decided to run some radar, clocking the fastest doing 88 in the 55 zone. That vehicle was soon stopped and the driver was issued a citation for speed, no DL and No Proof of Insurance. 3 ANIMAL BITE MONDAY 9/26 1657 HOURS Officer Mike Shepard was dispatched to take a report of a dog bite. The victim reported that while running, a dog, on leash, snapped at her and when she arrived home, realized it had actually bitten her and broke the skin. Not knowing the dog or owner, she decided to report it and seek medical care. The doctor advised that a rabies injections are arduous but would be recommended unless the owner could be located and confirm the shot wasn’t needed. A press release and Facebook posting was completed, the owner and dog were found and the dog was current on shots. Civil, case closed. BIKE VS CAR/HIT & RUN MONDAY 9/26 2125 HOURS Sergeant Fleming with Officer Phil McCarty, was dispatched a report of a male in the road, soon updated to a hit and run. The visibly injured victim was found sitting next to his badly mangled bike, wearing a helmet. The victim was hit from behind on his way home from work but could remember no details of the vehicle that hit him. Case under investigation. BIKE VS CAR TUESDAY 9/27 1710 HOURS Officer Mike Shepard was dispatched to an intersection involving a personal injury crash involving a bicycle and car. The driver did not see the bicyclist and struck him. The bicyclist reported he had trouble with his gears and was in the intersection on a red light when he was struck. The bicyclist refused treatment, stating he was not injured and his bike was not damaged and the vehicle did not sustain damage. No state crash report needed/completed. Closed. ACCIDENT/INJURIES TUESDAY 9/27 1841 HOURS Officer Steve Hilyar responded a report of an accident involving injuries. Driver 1, going to fast for the wet conditions, lost control, jumped the cement median and struck Driver 2. Extrication was required for Driver 2, who did complain of injuries. Witness information was collected and Driver 1 was cited for Duty to Drive with Due Care. Officer cleared. POSSESSION/MJ & ALCOHOL IN MV WEDNESDAY 9/28 0120 HOURS Sergeant Fleming observed an occupied vehicle parked on a city street. He made contact with the parties within and found both under twenty one, smoking marijuana. Alcohol was also in plain view. Officer Hilyar responded to assist and a vehicle search produced 8.2 grams of marijuana, a scale and other paraphernalia. The driver was cited for the drug and alcohol violations. OFP VIOLATION WEDNESDAY 9/28 0800 HOURS Officer John Larrive observed a vehicle with a cracked windshield pass him in a neighborhood. He ran pulled the vehicle over and ran the plate, which came back as owner revoked. There was a female in the front seat with him also. Not only was the driver/owner suspended, but there was an active OFP for the petition/his passenger. He was placed under arrest for felony OFP violation and traffic violations, as well as for his active warrant. Closed by arrest. 4 THEFT THURSDAY 09/29 1403 HOURS Officer Rosse responded to a location on report of glasses being stolen from a retail shop. The suspect came in, asked for “his” glasses to be cleaned again and then decided to steal a new pair for himself. Investigation pending with suspect info and follow-up. HRO VIOLATION THURSDAY 9/29 1657 HOURS Officer Larrive responded to location on report of a violation of a “no contact order” in progress. The reporting party had reportedly just left court to get a order for protection against someone and that party followed her to the gas station. Investigation showed the petitioner had the paperwork but when the officer ran their data, no order showed up. Their stories on how they both happened to arrive at that location dif- fered, with finger-pointing at who was at fault. Forwarded to attorney for review. Case pending. 5 09/23 ‐ 09/29 2016 YTD Calls for Service 180 6449 Citations 18 592 Warnings 11 593 Police Reports 26 746 Response Time Average 5.42 5.81 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! Saturday, October 15, 2016 2121 Dodd Road 10:00AM—3:00PM Join the MHFD for a blazin’ day of fun and great informaƟon to burn into your brain! 10:00 AM : Memorial Service 2:30 PM : Live Burn/Demo PLUS, ENJOY… FREE Hot Dogs & Pop Fire Trucks Fire Prevention Bingo Fun Exhibits Hope to see you there!