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2019-10-04 Friday NewsTraffic impacts around town Old Sibley Memorial Highway MnDOT will be performing maintenance work on Old Sibley Memorial Highway on October 7 and 8. This work will require a closure of the road. Please use Highway 13 as an alternate route around this work area. Dodd Road Closure Xcel Energy will be replacing the gas mains in the Somerset Park neighborhood (northwest of Dodd & Marie) starting October 2. The project will close northbound Dodd Road, between Marie Avenue and Wentworth Avenue, for approximately three weeks. If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact the Engineering Department at 651-452-1850. Upcoming Public Meeting Dates Monday, October 14 Public Works Closed for Indigenous People’s Day (City Hall is Open) Wednesday, October 16 City Council Mtg | 7:00pm Tuesday, October 22 Planning Comm Mtg | 8:00pm Reminder: The next two City Council meetings will take place on Wednesdays beginning at 7:00pm on 10/16 and 11/6. Stay Connected: Facebook.com/ MendotaHeightsMN Facebook.com/ MHParksandRec Facebook.com/ MendotaHeightsPD Twitter.com/ @mendota_heights Twitter.com/ @mheightsPD October 4, 2019 from the City of Mendota Heights Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com 651.452.1850 City Hall Lobby Hours M-TH: 7am-4:30pm F: 7am-11:30am Police Department Lobby Hours M-F: 8:00am-4:30pm FRIDAY NEWS Mendota Heights Par 3’s last day for the season is Sunday, October 6 Get that last round of golf or footgolf in this weekend! The final day of business for the season will be Sunday, October 6. Special fall rates are still in effect. Thank you for a wonderful season — we look forward to seeing you next year! Fix and swap outdoor gear for free this weekend! Sunday, October 6 | noon to 3 p.m. Dakota Lodge in Thompson Park, 1200 Stassen Lane, West St. Paul Dakota County is hosting the first-ever outdoor gear Fix & Swap. Keep usable clothing and gear out of landfills (or stashed in closets) while building community! The event is free and open to all outdoor enthusiasts. Bring usable outdoor gear for someone else and take something you need. All tents, backpacks, camping gear and clean, usable outdoor clothing of all sizes and genders are accepted. Anything in the swap area is up for grabs. Bring broken or torn items to the Fix-It Clinic offered at the same time. Repair-savvy volunteers will guide residents through each step, from troubleshooting to a completed repair. Common outdoor items that can be fixed are zippers, backpacks, bikes and camping equipment. More info: https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/Environment/Residential/Reduce/Pages/fix- swap.aspx. Improvements coming to Acacia Drive Dog Park At its meeting of October 2, the City Council approved the addition of a small dog area within the City’s off-leash dog park on Acacia Drive. The small dog area will be limited to dogs under 35 pounds, and will provide a safer and more relaxed visit for all dogs and owners alike. The installation of this improvement is scheduled for late October. SUNDAY · October 13 Seasonal Skating Instructor The City of Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation is accepting applications for a seasonal Skating Instructor. The Skating Instructor is responsible for instructing individuals at various levels and ages in learn-to-skate programs and performs a variety of duties including developing lesson plans, preparing materials, instructing classes and supervising participants. Hourly Rate: $15.50 to $16.25, DOQ To apply: Complete a city application and application supplement. Position open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by 4:00 pm on October 15, 2019. Seasonal Warming House/Rink Attendant The City of Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation Department is accepting applications for part-time, seasonal Warming House/Rink Attendants for Mendota Heights’ outdoor ice rinks. The City’s outdoor ice rinks are located at Friendly Hills Park, Marie Park and Wentworth Park. Warming House/Ice Rink Attendants are responsible for opening and closing warming houses and ice rinks; maintaining rinks, warming houses and grounds cleanliness; shoveling and clearing excess snow off rinks and walkways; ensuring that rules and polices are followed and for interacting with the public in a professional, courteous and helpful manner. Hours vary, up to 20 hours per week, mid-December through early March (weather permitting). Evening and weekend hours required. Hourly Rate: $10.00 to $10.75 To apply: Complete a city application and application supplement. Position open until filled. First consideration will be given to applications received by 4:00 pm on October 31, 2019. Seasonal Rink Flooder The City of Mendota Heights Public Works Department is accepting applications for part-time, seasonal Rink Flooders for Mendota Heights’ outdoor ice rinks. The City’s outdoor ice rinks are located at Friendly Hills Park, Marie Park and Wentworth Park. Rink Flooders are responsible for the safe operation of maintenance equipment, maintenance of outdoor skating rinks which includes flooding and shoveling, and clean-up and disposal of debris found on the rinks and in the general area of the rinks. Hours: Hours vary, up to 25 hours per week, mid-December through early March (weather permitting). Evening and weekend hours required. Hourly Rate: $10.00 to $10.75. To apply: Complete a city application and application supplement. Position open until filled. Visit https://www.mendota- heights.com/employment for more information, application materials and instructions. Now Hiring – Apply Today! Register for winter gymnastics Saturdays, December 7–February 8 At Henry Sibley High School Classes introduce young gymnasts to the sport in a safe, fun environment. A variety of skills will be taught and developed on the balance beam, uneven bars, floor exercise and tumbling. This is an 8-week session. Ages: 3-12 Tumbling Tykes, Tumbling Tots, Kinder Tumbling: $90 per child Beginner, Advanced Beginner: $110 per child Register: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog or at City Hall. Find fun this fall! The fall episode of Town Square TV’s Community Parks Connection is online at https://vimeo.com/361337037. Discover tons of events and activities taking place locally. This episode will also play on Comcast Xfinity 18/CenturyLink Prism 8418. Create an account and view youth and adult programs at: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota- heights-mn/catalog Parks & Recreation Field trips registration open for non-school days October 17 | Bunker Park Stables Ages: 8 and up | $47 per child October 18 | Sever’s Corn Maze and Eden Prairie Community Pool Ages: 6-12 | $35 per child Reserve early! https://secure.rec1.com/ MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog or at City Hall. Recreation Fee Assistance Program A Recreation Fee Assistance Program is available to eligible Mendota Heights residents for participation in recreation programs. Qualification details, eligible program information, and an application can be found at https://www.mendota-heights.com/ parksrecreation. For more information contact Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence: meredithl@mendota- heights.com or 651.255.1354. We want to hear from you! The City uses an online civic participation tool through Polco that residents can participate in via their preferred digital device, at a time and place convenient for them. Community survey questions are posted periodically on a wide range of topics. Users can remain anonymous, and responses are viewed as totals. Responses enable the City to effectively survey performance and programs, gain insights into public attitudes and opinions, and uncover new ideas and solutions. Users can see survey results and how others in the community are responding, and have an opportunity to comment on topics if desired. Set up a free account at https://polco.us/ mendotaheights or download the app for iOS or Android. Once an account is established users can receive notifications when new questions are posted. The last day to play is Sunday, October 6 Plastic bags are not allowed in the recycling Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) are the facilities that sort our recycling once it leaves our homes and businesses. Recently waste haulers have started initiating fees to customers and residents if their recycling contains empty plastic bags, because they are so hazardous to machinery and worker safety. The picture above shows what plastic bags do to recycling equipment. Bags tangle around the small moving parts in the machines and cause the machinery to jam, resulting in workers needing to hand-cut bags off machinery for hours per day. Please remember: do NOT bag recycling at your home; leave your items loose and free to move around; use a paper bag if needed. At work, please dump the contents of your recycling bag into the dumpster loose, and throw the liner into the trash. Questions on how to dispose of something? Visit Dakota County’s Green Guide. Subscribe to weekly city news online Visit www.mendota-heights.com. Go to Our City/City Publications/Subscribe to Friday News For subscription removals or other questions, please email Communications Coordinator Sharon Deziel at sharond@mendota-heights.com. Donate to help a neighbor in need City Hall is collecting shelf-stable food and toiletries for Neighbors, Inc. Donations may be dropped off in the lobby during City Hall business hours. The donation drive will run through the holiday season. From the archives A view of Rogers Lake from the from the water tower—1984. Illicit Discharge What is Illicit Discharge? The Environmental Protection Agency defines Illicit Discharge as any discharge to the storm sewer system that is not composed entirely of stormwater, except for some allowable discharges such as irrigation water and hydrant flushing. Some examples of Illicit Discharge:  Sediment-laden water from construction sites  Improper commercial vehicle washing  Dumping or spilling of paint, oil, cleaners, fertilizer, and other chemicals How do I report an Illicit Discharge? If you believe there is an immediate health or safety, call 911 first. Contact the Minnesota Duty Officer at 651-649-5451 | 1-800-422-0798 -- AND – Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Technician Email: kristas@mendota-heights.com Office: 651-255-1123 | Fax: 651-452-8940 -- or -- Mendota Heights Police Department | 651-452-1366 Emerald Ash Borer City Staff has begun notifying residents if it is suspected that ash tree(s) on their property are infected with Emerald Ash Borer. Removal on private property is not required by City Code, but is encouraged to help slow the spread, and prevent dead and dying ash trees from becoming a safety hazard. The City has also begun removals of infected ash trees within the Right-of-Way along public streets, and within City-owned land. EAB is an invasive insect that attacks and kills ash trees. Signs of EAB infestation:  Canopy die-back  Blond patches on branches and/or trunk  Woodpecker damage  Splitting bark  D-shaped exit holes If you have an ash tree on your property that is in the early stages of infection, or has not yet become infected, treatment may be an option. The City has continued its partnership with Rainbow Treecare to offer treatments to residents at a discounted rate. Contact Rainbow Tree Care directly if you are interested in taking advantage of this program: Rainbow Treecare's Discount Program for Mendota Heights. Regardless of your choice or ability to treat your ash tree, consider replacing your ash tree with another shade tree species. Some good options for replacement shade tree species are:  Basswood (Linden) Tilia Americana  Bur Oak Quercus macrocarpa  Cathedral Elm Ulmus ‘Cathedral’  Hackberry Celtis occidentalis  Ginkgo Ginkgo biloba  Ironwood Ostrya virginiana  Kentucky Coffee Tree Gymnocladus dioicus  White Oak Quercus alba For More information, please visit: Mendota Heights EAB webpage. Adopting a storm drain simply involves keeping it free of sediment, trash, leaves, and other debris by sweeping and collecting it at least twice a month. It is a simple, easy way you can help do your part to improve water quality in our community! Online sign-up at https://www.adopt-a-drain.org/. Rake leaves into piles, not into streets Remember after raking all those leaves into piles this fall, to dispose of them properly. Do not rake them into the street. Street sweepers are not equipped to remove large amounts of leaves, and if leaves end up in the street, they often also end up in our surface waters after it rains. All these extra leaves release nutrients that contribute to additional algae growth. This can result in low oxygen levels, fish kills, and unsafe swimming and recreation conditions. When raking up leaves, branches, and debris from your yard, dispose of them properly. Here are some good options:  Compost yard waste in your backyard. Addling leaves to a compost pile is an inexpensive way to add nutrient rich fertilizer to your gardens.  Bring leaves to a compost site or other acceptable disposal site. Many sites take leaves and other yard waste free of charge or for a small fee. A list of sites in our area can be found here.  Till leaves directly into a garden, for added organic matter.  Short on time? Use a service such as TaskRabbit to hire out the task of raking and/or removing your leaves for you! 1 The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department OCTOBER 04, 2019 CHIEF Kelly McCarthy CAPTAIN Wayne Wegener SERGEANTS Eric Petersen Tanner Spicer Peyton Fleming POLICE OFFICERS John Larrive Todd Rosse Chad Willson Philip McCarty Weston Raberge Peter Renteria Cara Hogan Tony Patton Ryan Yauch Tommy Albindia Eric Hagelee Leif Vandersteen Alex Randall INVESTIGATIONS Nick Gorgos SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER Steve Hilyar COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER Josh Rosenberry SUPPORT STAFF Kim Richter Trista Miller Shayna Hoechst Becky Pentel RESERVES Jim Knox Jeff Parker CHAPLAINS Butch Millett John Snider Alberto Vargas Lynn Liberman Sue Plucker Joel Detlefsen Mike VerWay Fall Fire Safety Tips •Service Your Furnace: Before the winter weather sets in, it’s a good idea to call your heating and cooling company to inspect your furnace to make sure everything is working properly. •Use Fireplaces Safely: Be sure to use a fireplace screen to keep sparks from flying out of your fireplace. Never leave a burning fire unattended, and make sure a fire in your fireplace is completely out before going to bed. •Use Caution with Space Heaters: Always read the instructions on the unit before use. Never use your stove or oven to heat your home. Always allow at least three feet of open space around heaters. •Exercise Candle Caution: Candles are a great way to give a room a warm glow, but they also can cause fires. Never leave candles burning if you go out or go to sleep, and keep your candles away from pets and kids. •Change Smoke Alarm Batteries: Change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors when you turn back your clocks for Daylight Saving Time. Check and replace any home fire extinguishers that have expired. SAFETY TIPS FOR FALL DRIVING •Be Aware of Poor Visibility: Falling leaves, rain and fog can all obscure your vision. Shorter days are also part of the fall season making it more difficult to see children playing or people walking and riding bicycles. Be aware of limitations in your visibility and slow down if you can't see well. •Slow Down on Wet Pavement: Rain is common in the autumn. Wet roads make it more difficult to stop. When wet leaves are on the roadway, they make the pavement slippery and hard for cars to get good traction. •Watch Out for Ice: As the temperatures drop further at night, a driver will need to spend some extra time in the morning scraping frost off his or her vehicle. Shady spots in the roadway may be home to black ice, which a driver may not be aware of until his or her car starts to skid on it. 2 DWI — HWY 13/MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD 09/27/19, 1948 HOURS Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle near the intersectfon of Highway 13 and Mendota Heights Road. The vehicle was driving on the shoulder and without headlights. The driver admitted to driving after consuming an alcoholic beverage. The driver completed SFSTs and was placed under arrest for DWI. The driver completed the breath test and was booked into the Dakota County Jail. MENTAL HEALTH — 7XX LINDEN ST 09/27/19, 2111 HOURS Officers dispatched to the 700 block of Linden Street on a report of a domestfc disturbance. An adult fe- male was found to be having a mental health crisis and was transported to the hospital. DWI — WHITFIELD DR/MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD 09/28/19, 0158 HOURS Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for a speed violatfon on Whitiield Drive and Mendota Heights Road. While speaking with the driver, the officer could smell the odor of consumed alcoholic beverage. The driver performed a field sobriety test and was ultfmately arrested for DWI. Driver was booked and released into the Dakota County Jail for third degree DWI, and the vehicle was impounded. MENTAL HEALTH — SIBLEY MEMORIAL HWY 09/28/19, 1611 HOURS Observed party walking partfally in roadway on Hwy 13 near Fremont Ave. Party was picking up rocks, talk- ing to self and cars had to swerve to avoid her. Party recognized from past contacts. Contact made, found to be in crisis. DWI — HWY 62/HWY 13 09/28/19, 2330 HOURS Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for several moving violatfons on Highway 62 at Highway 13. While speaking with the driver, the officer could smell the odor of consumed alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle. The driver admitted to drinking prior to driving and performed a field sobriety test. The driver was ultfmately arrested for DWI. The driver later refused to submit to a breath test and was charged with Third Degree DWI Test Refusal. The driver was booked into the Dakota County Jail and the ve- hicle was impounded. DRUGS — HWY 55/HWY 13 09/29/19, 0442 HOURS MHPD responded to a crash with injuries to assist State Patrol. The driver was taken into custody by State Patrol for DWI. The passenger was searched for safety and a vape pen with a cartridge of marijuana con- centrate was found on his person. The passenger was transported to the hospital for injuries related to the accident and was informed he will be formally charged. Forward to DTF for formal charging. DAMAGE TO PROPERTY — 1XXX LILYDALE RD 09/29/19, 1722 HOURS Officer was dispatched to locatfon on a vehicle break in. Resident parked at about 1600 hours to use the trail system. Resident returned at about 1715 hours and found the car window was broke. Nothing was stolen. No suspects or witnesses. 3 DWI — 9XX SIBLEY MEMORIAL HWY 09/30/19, 0038 HOURS Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and while speaking with the driver, the officer could smell the strong odor of consumed alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle. Driver performed a field sobriety test and was ultfmately arrested for DWI. Driver was booked into the Dakota County Jail for 2nd Degree DWI. The vehicle was impounded for forfeiture. DRUGS — 1XXX MENDOTA HEIGHTS RD 09/30/19, 0232 HOURS Officers were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle on the 1000 block of Mendota Heights Road. The passenger of the vehicle was arrested for being in possession of a controlled substance. The driver of the vehicle was arrest for DWI. TRAFFIC STOP/WARRANT — HWY 62/DODD RD 09/30/19, 0722 HOURS Officers conducted a traffic stop near the intersectfon of Hwy 62 and Dodd Road. The driver of the vehicle had a misdemeanor warrant and was driving after revocatfon. Driver was advised of court date and transported home. The driver of the vehicle was issued a citatfon. DAMAGE TO PROPERTY — 1XXX DELAWARE AVE 09/30/19, 0954 HOURS Officers were called to the 1000 block of Delaware Avenue on the report of a disorderly person. The person had caused damage to a nearby building. The party was ultfmately transported to the Dakota County Juvenile Detentfon Center. STOP ARM VIOLATION — DODD RD/WESLEY LN 09/30/19, 1611 HOURS Received a fax of a school bus stop arm violatfon. Reportfng party gave the locatfon of Dodd Rd at Wesley Lane. I spoke with the driver, who admitted to driving past the stop arm without stopping. Officer mailed a citatfon to the driver. THEFT — 2XXX LEXINGTON AVE 09/30/19, 1809 HOURS Officer responded to locatfon to take a theft report. Victfm reported their vehicle was broken into over the weekend. Vehicle damage was photographed. No suspects at this tfme. THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE — 1XXX SIBLEY MEMORIAL HWY 09/30/19, 2236 HOURS Officers responded to a theft from vehicle where the victfms window was broken and items were taken from inside the vehicle. A credit card was taken and used but rejected at several locatfons around the metro. Case pending. FRAUD — 1XXX WACHTLER AVE 10/01/19, 1325 HOURS Officers received a call about possible fraudulent actfvity at the 1000 block of Wachtler Ave. Officers spoke with the victfm and determined that fraudulent acts had occurred. Case pending. 4 BURGLARY — 9XX SIBLEY MEMORIAL HWY 10/02/19, 0858 HOURS Officer was dispatched to locatfon on a burglary report. The storage area was broken into but nothing was stolen. Locks were last intact on Friday and discovered broken on Wednesday. No suspects or witnesses. POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA — 1XXX DELAWARE AVE 10/02/19, 1130 HOURS Officer responded to locatfon on a report of marijuana possession. The adult suspect was issued a citatfon for Possession of Small Amount of Marijuana and Drug Paraphernalia. THEFT — 2XXX ACACIA DR 10/02/19, 1154 HOURS Officer was dispatched to locatfon on a report of mail theft. Resident was out of town Friday through Sunday. Resident received delivery confirmatfon of an item being delivered Friday but it was not received. No suspects or witnesses. BURGLARY — 6XX CHEYENNE LANE 10/02/19, 1618 HOURS Officer was dispatched to locatfon on a report of a burglary. Unknown suspect entered an open garage door and stole a wallet from inside a vehicle. Cards were used at a local retailer. Video was requested from the retailer. Case under investfgatfon. DRUGS — 1XXX NORTHLAND DR 10/03/19, 2009 HOURS While on patrol in the area, officer drove through the parking lot of a business and could smell the odor of what appeared to be marijuana coming from a parked vehicle. Officer spoke with the occupants inside of the vehicle and conducted a search of the vehicle. Officer located a vacuum sealed bag of what appeared to be a felony amount of marijuana. Officer seized the bag and the case was referred to the DTF. 5 09/27—10/04 2019 YTD Calls for Service 235 9,259 Police Reports 27 898 Citations 23 1,363 Warnings 50 1,981 Response Time Average 7.34 6.59 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 Vacation/House Check Request online form is available on our website; you can also complete a form found in our lobby, or simply give us a call! MHPD offers a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of the PD where Dakota County residents can safely & anonymously dispose of their prescription drug medication. This program is mainly meant to keep narcotics off the streets and dispose of medications in environmentally sound ways. ** No needles/sharps. Visit the Green Guide for tips. ** Please visit the Dakota County Recycling Zone for helpful resources for all safe disposal solutions. Car Seat Checks—TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE Please visit the MN DPS for more information. Questions/Comments? Email us at: pdrecords@ mendota-heights.com Questions? Call our Non-Emergency Line @ 651.452.1366. Need Public Safety Response? Call 911 169.475 USE OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE The new statute took effect August 1st, 2019 and since then, MHPD has issued 15 citations under the new statute.  Don’t use your phone when you drive.  Use a single earphone.  Pair your phone with your vehicle.  Use an auxiliary cable to connect your earphone jack to your car’s AUX jack.  If your car doesn't have an AUX jack, buy an adapter.  Use a holder to clip your phone to the dash.  Buy a Bluetooth speaker or earphone to pair with your phone.