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Issue 34 - Heights Highlights Fall 1994PAGE 1 October, 1994 VOTE NOVEMBER 8th P The State General and City Election will be held on Tuesday, November 8. Polling places will be open for voting from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The five precinct polling places are: Somerset Elementary School (Precinct 1), Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church (Precinct 2), Men- dota Elementary School (Precinct 3), St. Paul's United Methodist Church (Precinct 4) and the Visitation School Fine Arts Center (Precinct 5). Boundaries of each of the precincts, along with the street addresses of the polling places, are identified on a map which is included in this issue of the "Heights Highlites." Some of the newer streets are not shown, however it should not be difficult to find the general location of your home. Before heading out to the polls on November 8, please look at the map to determine which precinct your home is located in. By doing this, you can avoid the time loss and frustration of going to the wrong polling place. If you are unsure of -nur precinct designation after reviewing the map, please call city 11 at 452-1850 for assistance. When you arrive at the polls, an election judge will ask your name and address. The judge will then look for your name on the polling place registration list, which is provided by the state. If your name is not on the list, because you are not registered or are at the wrong polling place, the judge will direct you to the correct polling place or will ask you to complete a voter registration form. If your name is on the list, the judge will give you a voter's receipt. You will be directed to the next judge, who will offer you a demonstration on how to properly mark a vote for an office. Although you have probably received a similar demonstration in past elections, please listen carefully to the judge's instructions. Many ballots were rejected by the optical scan vote reader in the Primary Election because they were not properly marked. When the demonstration has been completed, you will be directed to the, ballot judge. The judge will ask for your voter's receipt and will giveyou;a ballot, ballot pen and ballot sleeve. When you receive your ballot, take it to the first available voting booth. After you have finished voting, take a moment to look at your ballot. If you find that you have made a mistake in any way, you may return it to the ballot judge who will give you another. If you find no errors, take your voted ballot to the optical scan machine and insert it in the slot at the front of the machine. Your votes will immediately be recorded within the internal'memory of the machine. If your ballot has been improperly marked; it will be rejected by the machine. A message will be printed on shape located towards the rear of the machine. You should read the message to see why your ballot was --iected, and then returnto the ballot judge and ask for a new ballot. Election Day Registration Residents who are not currently registered to vote in Mendota Heights can register at their precinct polling places on election day. You must provide proper proof of residency. This proof can be a valid Minnesota Driver's License, Learner's Permit, or Minnesota Identi- fication Card, and specific types of student identification, or a receipt for any of these types of identification. If you do not have the proper identification, a person who knows you and is a registered voter in your precinct may vouch for your residency. Precinct election judges may not, under penaltyprescribedby state law, accept any otherproof of residency. The responsibility to provide the required proof is yours. If you are a new resident, why not take the time between now and November 8 to change your driver's license or Minnesota I.D. card. Bringing the proper identification to the polling place will save you and the election judges time and frustration on election day. Absentee Voting If you know that you will be unable to vote in person on election day because of illness, disability, religious discipline or because you will be out of town, you may apply for an absentee ballot. You can request an application form by mail, phone, or in person at City Hall during office hours. More Questions? Please Call The foregoing information is provided to make the election process easier for you. You are encouraged to contact City Clerk Kathleen Swanson at 452-1850, if you have any election questions. MAC TO ADD NEW AIRPORT RUNWAY?? The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) is currently considering various runway expansion options for Minneapolis/ St. Paul International Airport. One option being considered adds an additional runway pointed directly at Mendota Heights! This runway has the potential to subject an even larger portion of our City to aircraft noise-- including areas north of Highway 110. Our City already receives more than its fair share of aircraft overflights and your City Council strongly opposes any additional runway construction which would worsen the situation. The troublesome runway addition is one of two currently being explored by the MAC. The other option would add a new runway along Cedar Avenue on the west side of the airport. Both options are described in the MAC's Long Term Comprehensive Plan - Draft Alternative Environmental Document which is currently open for citizen comment. WE NEED YOUR HELP! The MAC will hold a public hearing on the document on Wednesday, October 26, 1994 at 7:00 p.m. at Washburn High School, 201 West 49th Street, Minneapolis. Mendota Heights residents are asked to attend this public hearing to let the MAC know that Mendota Heights opposes any runway expansion that aims an additional runway at our community. For more information con- tact City Hall at 452-1850. PAGE 2 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES October, 1994 Don't Forget Your City Given the media focus on the candidates for Governor and U.S. Senator, it's easy to forget about local races. On election day, remember tu turn your ballot over and vote for your local representatives. City Government is important, as it is the level of government closest to the citizen. This year, you will be entitled to elect a Mayor for a two-year term. You will also be entitled to vote for two candidates for four-year terms as Councilmembers. So that you might get to know your local candicates a little better, they were asked to provide biographical profiles for this issue of "Heights Highlites." The profiles, edited for space, appear below. Mayoral Candidates William L. Knaus William L. Knaus, a.k.a. Cheryl Andrea Bruhn, is a private investor, a political activist, and a research scholar. Knaus has resided in Mendota Heights since 1967 and was a candidate for Mayor in 1971. The candidate has been Regent of the Archonist Club since 1973, a director of the Multipartisan Coalition since 1992, and a candidate for Board of Education in 1994. n s a graduate to f C Paul School holds B.A.�la..s l.... b...d a C Guth t. ail. High �ehGGi and 11Giva a D in Linguistics from the University of Minnesota. Between 1973 and 1988, the candidate earned over 250 credits in diverse subjects includ- ing management, sociology, psychology, speech -communication, journalism and computer programming. Knaus directs political re- search and public enlightenment for the Archonist Club and for the Multipartisan Coalition. The Multipartisan Coalition expects that experience in municipal government will provide valuable insights for the 1996 presidential candidacy of Cheryl Andrea Bruhn. The presidential candidacy has received mention in the Detroit News of August 16, 1993. The candidate was a guest commentator on "Probing America," over KID Radio, Idaho Falls, Idaho on July 7, 1994. Charles E. Mertensotto Charles E. Mertensotto is seeking his fifth term as Mayor. He and his wife Arlean have lived in the Rogers Lake area since 1959. Mertensotto is a civil trial lawyer in St. Paul with the law firm of Rowland & Mertensotto, P.A. Prior to entering the practice of law in May of 1964, he worked as a materials and process engineer for Northwest Airlines and was a senior development engineer with Univac in St. Paul. He attended St. Thomas College and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota. Mertensotto received his LLB from William Mitchell College of Law in 1963 and his Juris Doctorate in 1969. He is a member of the State of Minnesota and Ramsey County Bar Associa- tions. In addition to practicing before the courts in Minnesota, he is admitted and qualified to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the State of Minnesota. Mertensotto has been involved as a council member since January 1, 1963. He fulfilled an unexpired term as a Dakota County Commis- sioner in 1969 and 1970. He was a member of the Dakota Count Library Board for 11 years, serving as its president for 7 consecut years. He returned to the City Council in 1976 and was elected to h,� first term as Mayor in 1986. City Council Candidates Christine Koch Christine Koch is seeking her second term Timothy S. O'Gara, Jr. Tim O'Gara is seeking his first term as Councilmember. He is employed by Northwest as Councilmember. She was elected to a Airlines and is assigned to 747 technical operations. For fifteen years he worked in his family's four-year term in 1990. Koch is a member of business, O'Gara's, Inc. He managed the operation for three years. the St. Paul and National Boards of Realtors, O'Gara is a former board member of the Snelling/Hamline Community Council and the has earned the Graduate Realtor designation, Snelling/Selby Business Association. Tim grew up in Mendota Heights. He and his wife, participates in the Realtors Active in Politics Shawne Costello O'Gara, and their two sons live in the Crown Point neighborhood. and sits on the St. Paul Board Grievance Committee. She holds a B.S. Degree in Nursing, with post -graduate studies at the Jill Smith University of River Falls, and has instructed Jill Smith is seeking her second term as Councilmember, having been elected to a four year at Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. term on the Council in 1990. She has been a Senior Real Estate Analyst for 3M since 1990 in Koch has been Legislative Co -Chair of the its Real Estate and Geology Department. She handles real estate for 3M corporate operations Minnesota Women's Political Caucus and a including buying, selling, leasing, property management, land use matters and internal opera - member of the Governor's Task Force on tions. Missing Children. She is currently a member of the state D.A.R.E. Advisory Committee After graduating from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Education, Smith taught elementary school for two years. She received her Masters Degree in Business with a real estate and the National Association of Female Ex- analysis major at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Her background in real estate and ecutives. land use matters includes working as a paralegal in the real estate department of a Vancouver, Koch has over fifteen years of community involvement with the American Cancer So- B.C. law firm and in the Madison, Wi., Assessor's Office in real estate appraisal. Smith serves as the Acting Mayor during any of the Mayor's absences from the communi*, ciety, the St. Paul Junior League, and Visita- and is the city's representative on the Metropolitan Aircraft Sound Abatement Council. 11 tion Convent School fund-raising activities. has also served on the Northern Dakota County Cable Communications Commission, the MSr She owns and operates a manufacturing Reuse Task Force (Airport Dual Track Process). Smith has also been a volunteer at the Guthrie company in Amery, Wisconsin. Koch, her husband Greg and their two children have Theater since 1990. She and her husband Tom have two sons and have lived in Mendota lived in Mendota Heights for 17 years. Heights since 1988. PAGE 3 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES GRAND REOPENING! On Friday, October 14, city officials gathered at the Mendota Bridge to take part in a dedication ceremony for the bridge's Grand Reopening. The reopening was very well attended by interested residents and dignitaries too numerous to mention. The event included canon salutes, 1920's era Model "T"s and speeches. Because of its military heritage, "Colonel Joshia Snelling," an actor from the old historic fort, presided over the ceremonies. After the ceremonies, the structure remained closed to motorized traffic to allow bicyclists and pedestrians to use it throughout the evening. 'he new bridge deck is 32 feet wider and 2 feet higher than the old deck. It features two .Z-footwide driving lanes in each direction, wider shoulders, an eight -foot pedestrian/bicycle trail on the northeast side, a center median barrier and a four -foot maintenance walkway (not for public use) on the southwest side of the bridge. The bike trail links trails on the Mendota Heights and Fort Snelling sides of the river. The bridge was first dedicated on November 8, 1926, replacing the Mendota ferry as the link across the Minnesota River between Mendota and Fort Snelling. The bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places, thus extreme care was taken to rebuild it to closely resemble the original structure. Extra care was also taken during reconstruction to protect Fort Snelling State Park underneath, park visitors and any archeological sites in the area. Four bridges on the Fort Snelling end of the bridge in the intersection of Highway 5 and 55 were also rebuilt. Additional work remaining in the intersections of Highways 13, 55 and 110 on the Mendota Heights side of the river is expected to be finished in the spring. October, 1994 Change Your Clock - Change Your Battery A working smoke detector can reduce by nearly half the risk of dying in a home fire by providing early warning and critical sec- onds to escape. However, smoke detectors are only as good as the batters in them. At midnight on October 29, the change from daylight savings time to standard time will occur. Again this year, your volunteer fire department, along with departments throughout the nation, are sponsoring the "Change Your Clock, Change Your Battery" program. This program is designed to help home -owners get into the habit of changing smoke detector batteries at the same time as they change their clocks back from daylight savings time. The fire department urges you to take sim- ple fire safety precautions. Develop at least two different fire escape routes and practice them. A fire detector should be installed on each level of a home. Make sure your chil- dren understand that a smoke detector sig- nals a home fire and that they recognize the alarm. Without a working smoke detector as an early warning device, fire can spread un- noticed through the household, blocking es- cape routes and filling rooms with deadly smoke. Start a life-saving habit on October 29. When you change your clock, take the time to change your detector battery. It's a habit you can live with. City Provides Radon Test Kits Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is odorless, tasteless, and invisible. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates between 7,000 and 30,000 deaths a year are attributable to radon -induced lung cancer. Recent news articles have indicted that radon may be less of a concern than believed, but Minnesota health officials continue to urge residents to test for radon. The only way radon can be detected is by testing. The city offering a limited number of radon test kits to residents at no charge. The easy-to-use test kits are for a short-term test of four days. If the short-term test indicates there may be elevated levels of radon in the home, a long-term test can be used to confirm those results. County and city officials hope the project will provide additional data concerning radon levels in Dakota County. However, individual results of the tests will be kept confidential. The Radon Project is funded by an EPA grant. It is a joint effort of Dakota County, its cities, and the Minnesota Extension Service. Information r%n simple solutions to radon problems in the home will be presented in meetings next March.Additional information on radon will be on display Dakota County Libraries during the month of October. fhe city was allotted 100 test kits as part of the Radon Project. If you are interested in testing your home for radon, call Nancy at City Hall, 452-1850, to reserve a test kit. Call soon! The number is very limited so the kits won't be available for long. PAGE 6 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES October, 1994 Have a monstrously good time at the an- nual Halloween Bonfire. It will be held on October 31, from 7:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. The location is the same as in prior years - in an undeveloped portion of the Mendota Plaza Shopping Center property, behind and east of the shopping center building. All the goblins and gremlins, dinosaurs and rangers are guaranteed to have a great time. The bonfire is conducted to provide a safe and enjoyable family alternative to trick or treating. It is also a nice way to warm up those little toes and noses and moms and dads grown cold and weary from booing away the early evening. Costumes are not necessary. Hot dogs, soda and other goodies are free and a ghostly good time is guaranteed. Rink Attendants Needed Rink attendants are needed for the city's outdoor ice rinks. If you are interested in applying for one ofthese part -rime positions, your are invited to stop by City Hall between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for an application and job description. Don't delay, as applications will only be accepted through November 16, 1994. The salary for the rink attendant positions will depend on experience. If you need further information call City Hall at 452-1850. Heights Highlites is a government news- letter distributed to residents to inform them on events and activities that affect Mendota Heights. All articles, layout and production are done by city staff members. If you know any residents who are not receiving the Heights Highlites, please in- vite them to contact City Hall, 452-1850, to be placed on the newsletter mailing list. Warming House Schedule Weather permitting, the city's ice rinks and warming houses will open on December IY. There are warning houses with both hockey and pleasure rinks at Wentworth Park, Marie Park and Friendly Hills Park. There is a warming house with pleasure skating only at Ivy Hills Park.Warming House and Rink Locations:, • Wentworth Park: Between Dodd and Wachtler • Marie Park: West of Victoria • Ivy Hills Park: Off Butler and Ivy Hill Drive • Friendly Hills Park: South of Decorah on Pueblo Warming House Hours: lyy Hills Park Saturday, Sunday and school vacation days Noon to 6:00 p.m. Closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Marie/Friendly Hills/Wentworth Parks Weekdays 4:00 - 9:00 p.m., Saturday and school vacation days Noon to 9:00 p.m., Sunday Noon to 8:00 p.m. and Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day Noon to 6:00 p.m. Closed on Christmas Day. Rules will be posted at the rinks and an attendant will be on duty at each of the rinks during warming house hours. The rinks will be closed when the temperature reaches 10 degrees below zero, thirty degrees below zero wind chill factor or when they have not been plowed. Snow is cleared from the rinks after all city streets have been plowed and sanded. For more information concerning ice rinks, call city hall at 452-1850. Skating Lessons Outdoor ice skating lessons will be offered again this winter at Friendly Hills Park. Classes being offered include Adult Begin- ner, Tiny Tot with parent, Beginner, Ad- vanced Beginner and Intermediate. Classes will most likely take place on Saturday and/or Sundays and possibly one week night starting January 7, 1994. For more registra- tion information concerning cost and times please call 452-1850 after November 1, 1994. Live Local Election Coverage NDCTV/NDC4 will provide live coverage of the general election on Tuesday, Novem- ber 8. Coverage will begin at 8:00 p.m. at the NDCTV studio, which will serve as election central. Live commentary and results will be re- ported from the city halls of Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights and West St. Paul. Coverage will be carried on Channels 18 and 33. Get up-to-the-minute information on elec- tion results, listen to political commentary from local citizens, and be the first to know who the winners are, all in the comfort of your own home. From: City of Mendota Heights Bulk Rate 1101 Victoria Curve U.S. Postage Mendota Heights, Mn. 55118 PAID Permit No. 6166 St. Paul, Mn. 55118 POSTAL PATRON CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN 55118 PAGE 4 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES Yard Waste Options Your backs can probably attest to the fact that the leaf season is upon us. This yard waste, along with grass clippings, garden waste, weeds, sod strippings and prunings is a significant portion of the residential solid waste stream. It is important to dispose of this waste properly. Yard waste can no longer be disposed of in a landfill or at a resource recovery facility. Are you wondering what to do with all of those leaves? We offer the follow options. X Leave grass clippings on the lawn. This is the most cost effective and environmentally sound way to handle grass clippings. They decompose, returning nutrients to the soil, and never enter the waste stream. X Use leaves as mulch by mowing them and leaving them on the lawn in the same manner as grass clippings. X Start a backyard composting pile, or use grass clippings and leaves as mulch around trees and shrubs. 88 Place yard waste in compostable bags and take them to a compost site. X Contact your garbage hauler about separate collection of yard waste. X Ask your hauler about separate collection of Christmas trees, or bring your tree to a compost site. Sites Accepting Public Delivery • Empire/SMC Composting Services, 683-9020 Yankee Doodle Road at Elrene Road, Eagan • Pine Bend Compost Site, 457-2778 117th Street, 1 mile west of T.H. 55, Inver Grove Heights Stop by City Hall for a composting information packet, or call the Dakota County Environmental Management Department at 891-7020 to have one mailed to you. Winter's Greetings Hard as it is to admit, summer is gone and winter is near. This will likely be the last "Heights Highlites" you will receive before the snow falls. To make winter more pleasant for all of us, we offer this reminder of the city's winter parking requirements. Your Public Works Department is committed to keeping city streets in safe winter driving condition. To accomplish this goal, your cooperation is needed. C Tom Lawell, Administrator Kathleen Swanson, City Clerk James Danielson, Public Works Director Dennis Delmont, Police Chief John Maczko, Fire Chief Code Enforcement Officers: Paul Berg & Dick Gill 452-1850 452-1850 452-1850 452-1366 454-3266 452-1850 ars may not be parked on -street for more than 30 minutes during the time intervening between a snowfall of two inches or more and the removal of that snow. Also, neither you, nor a contractor you have retained, can legally plow snow from your driveway onto a public street. Please be considerate and abide by the parking rules. Time spent tagging or plowing around illegally parked vehicles could be better spent plowing other city streets. Printed on recycled paper October, 1994 Turn off the Violence For too many people, violence is an ordi- nary way to be entertained, settle arguments, or blow off emotional steam. The City Coun- cil has joined with the Dakota County Board of Commissioners and the State of Minne- sota in proclaiming October 23-30 as Vio- lence -Free Week. For just one week, and especially on Turn Off the Violence Day, October 27, let's tum it off. People are asked to turn off violent televi- sion programs, not listen to violent music, not go to violent movies or rent violent vid- eos and to choose to solve problems in non- violent ways on October 27. Hopefully, this one day will signal the beginning of major changes in attitudes and actions. Use the week to examine ways that conflicts can be resolved positively and constructively with- out violent words or actions. Here are some on-going Action Ideas de- veloped by the National Crime Prevention Council in partnership with the Tum Off the Violence Campaign: # When you buy gifts for friends and family, make sure that games, music, videos and books do not promote vio- lence. # Make one night a month a Family Fun Night. Go out to dinner, take in a non- violent movie, play board or card games, go to the library, read aloud or go through old family photos and slides. # Turn off television, radio and movies that make violence look exciting, hu- morous or macho. Call or write to ra- dio and television stations and movie theaters to advise them of your deci- sion and write to thank them when they show programs that portray posi- tive nonviolent ways of solving prob- lems. # Don't buy products whose advertise- ments glorify physical or verbal vio- lence. Write the manufacturer to ex- press your concern. It's up to each of us to decide to "turn off the violence." Use this special day and week to establish habits that will last a life -time for you and your children.