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2020-02-21 Friday NewsMendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com 651.452.1850 City Hall Lobby Hours M-TH: 7:00am-4:30pm F: 7:00am-11:30am Police Department Lobby Hours M-F: 8:00am-4:30pm Upcoming Public Meeting Dates Thurs., February 27 Planning Comm Mtg | 7:00pm (Note changed meeting date) Sat., February 29 City Hall Open for Absentee Voting | 10:00am-3:00pm Mon., March 2 City Hall Open for Absentee Voting | 7:00am-5:00pm Wed., March 4 City Council Mtg | 7:00pm (Note Wednesday meeting date) Tues., March 10 Parks & Rec Com Mtg | 6:30pm Tues., March 17 City Council Mtg | 7:00pm Wed., March 18 Airport Rel Comm Mtg | 6:00pm Stay Connected: Facebook.com/ MendotaHeightsMN Facebook.com/ MHParksandRec Facebook.com/ MendotaHeightsPD Twitter.com/ @mendota_heights Twitter.com/ @mheightsPD February 21, 2020 from the City of Mendota Heights FRIDAY NEWS Congratulations Officer Powell During the City Council meeting of February 17, Officer Jared Powell was sworn in by Mayor Neil Garlock. Officer Powell has successfully passed his field training after being hired in October 2019. Coming soon — Friday News will be emailed via GovDelivery The City is preparing to launch a new email communications service for city news called GovDelivery. Through a pop-up overlay on the City’s website, the public will more easily be able to subscribe to topics of interest. Subscribers will also be able to maintain their own accounts, with the option to opt-in/opt-out of news at any time, and for added security accounts can also be password protected if desired. The new service provides the framework for expanded communication channels in the future, such as text messaging notifications and social media integrations, as well as built- in metrics and reporting capabilities to evaluate and improve services. As a current subscriber to Friday News/Just the Facts, you will automatically begin receiving the news through GovDelivery, from the email address cityofmendotaheights@public.govdelivery.com upon launch. No action is needed unless you’d like to sign up for additional offerings as they become available, establish password protection, or make other account modifications. Watch for this change in the near future. Excitement builds as fire operations prepare to move into the new addition The new addition to the Fire Station is scheduled to be complete and ready for use at the end of March, at which time the existing 1985-era structure will be vacated and work will begin on remodeling and bringing it up to code. While the existing structure is being renovated, fire operations will move into and serve from the new addition. Fire Chief Dave Dreelan was interviewed this week by personnel from Town Square Television regarding the Fire Station construction project. Watch for the story to air around mid-March. Get ready for the 2020 Census The 2020 Census is coming! To learn more about the importance of everyone being counted, how the information is used, and related job opportunities, watch Insight 7’s story: https://vimeo.com/390850011. Attend a free seminar on opening a restaurant/ food business in Dakota County! Open to Business is hosting Food Business Start Up 101 on February 26 from 6:00pm to 8:30pm at the Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) in Eagan. You’ll learn how to assess your idea and financial readiness, key steps and cost considerations, and will receive resource information for ongoing assistance. Learn more & register: https://o2bfoodstartup101.eventbrite.com Saturday, February 29 | 1-4pm Mendota Heights Fire Station, 2121 Dodd Rd. The City is hosting an indoor garage sale featuring surplus office furnishings, equipment, miscellaneous tools, and more from the Fire Station and other city departments. Items will be price marked and will be available to purchase in-person only, on a first-come, first- served basis. Payment is CASH ONLY (checks and credit/debit cards will not be accepted). Come prepared to haul away purchases; items will need to be picked up that day by 4:30pm. Please note that this sale does not include any type of Fire memorabilia or souvenirs. Shopper parking will be available off of Mendakota Drive; do not park in the Fire Station lot (unless directed for loading). Featured items include:  Banquet tables (appx. 14)  Red padded meeting chairs (appx. 65)  Office chairs (appx. 24)  High-top chairs (3)  Industrial storage rack  Miscellaneous tools (drills, saws, task lights, etc.)  Digital cameras  And more! Visit the City website for additional details. Census workers needed Minnesota needs 7,500 census workers this year. Are you interested in being one of them? The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring for a range of temporary, flexible jobs that make a difference in every community. The 2020 Census determines how more than a trillion dollars are spent locally for schools, roads, hospitals and much more. That means you could earn extra income while shaping your community’s future. Pay starts at $22 per hour in Dakota County. Learn more and apply at 2020census.gov/jobs. Absentee voting underway Absentee voting is available for those who wish to vote before the Presidential Nomination Primary on March 3. There are two ways to do so:  Absentee vote in person: Vote at the Mendota Heights City Hall or at any Dakota County Office during regular business hours.  Absentee vote by mail: An application for an absentee ballot can be obtained at MnVotes.org. Remember, if voting by mail, your voted ballot must arrive by Election Day for the vote to count, so please allow enough time for postal delivery. City Hall will be open extended hours for absentee voting on:  Saturday, February 29 | 10:00am-3:00pm  Monday, March 2 | 7:00am-5:00pm Parks & Recreation Register beginning March 2: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights- mn/catalog or at City Hall. Ice rinks closing for the season by March 1 Depending on weather, ice rinks are scheduled to close by March 1— or possibly sooner — based on rink conditions. Thank you for another great season! For up-to-date information on rink conditions and warming house availability, please call the hotline: 651-255-1174. 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. Nominate an outstanding volunteer today Nominations are being accepted through March 13 for the fourth annual Garold 'Jerry' Murphy Community Service Award. This award is presented in April, during National Volunteer Week, to an individual who exemplifies outstanding volunteer service to the cities of Mendota Heights, Mendota or Lilydale. Candidate eligibility information and a nomination form can be found at http://bit.ly/JMServiceAward2020. Nomination forms may also be picked up at City Hall during business hours. Registration is open for the Officer Scott Patrick Memorial 5K Walk/Run Register for the 15th Annual Officer Scott Patrick Memorial 5K Walk/Run to benefit Special Olympics Minnesota. The event will be held on Saturday, June 6 at The Village of Mendota Heights. Registration is $25 before June 6, or $30 on the day of the event. Registration forms are available at City Hall or on the city’s website. Registration opens at 8:00am Monday, March 2 for spring/summer recreation programs Preview programs on the City website and in the upcoming Spring issue of Heights Highlights. Register online or at City Hall during business hours. Spring Shred Event—Saturday, April 18 9:00am-noon | West Saint Paul Sports Complex Saturday, Feb. 15 Noon-3pm | Farmington Library Saturday, March 21 Noon-3pm | Robert Trail Library Recycle Right Did you know black plastic cannot currently be recycled in our area? At recycling facilities, machines are taught to ‘see’ plastic with the help of light waves and lasers. Black does not reflect light waves and cannot be ‘read’ by the machines. Place all black plastic from rotisserie chicken bottoms to frozen meal trays, in the trash. Spring tree sale for Mendota Heights residents Start planning for spring! Purchase a quality shade tree for your landscape at a discounted rate of $45. Trees come in a 10 gallon potted container and have a trunk width of approximately 1” in diameter. On-line ordering begins Wednesday, March 11 at 9am. Follow the link on the City’s webpage or visit https://treetrust.org/ get-a-tree/mendotaheights/. Trees must be ordered by May 8. Pick-Up: Saturday, May 16 from 9:00am-noon at the Mendota Heights Public Works Facility Availability: Ordering is limited to two trees per resident. The number of trees and tree species are limited, and available on a first- come, first-served basis. Tree Selections:  Kentucky Coffee Tree  Japanese Tree Lilac  Hackberry  Linden  Bur Oak Planting trees helps beautify Mendota Heights, replaces canopy cover lost due to Emerald Ash Borer, improves air and water quality, and provides food and habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Earth and Arbor Day — free community event Saturday, April 25 Educational Booths and Activities City Hall | 10am – 12pm World of Wildlife – Minnesota Zoomobile Program City Hall | 11am – 11:45am Volunteer Tree Planting Event Hagstrom King Park | 1:00pm Sign-up for the tree planting on the City’s Parks & Recreation online registration page under Volunteer Opportunities: https:// secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog Watch for additional details on the City’s website and social media. Aeration underway at Rogers Lake — exercise caution on and near the ice The City of Mendota Heights has obtained a permit from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to install and operate an aerator on Rogers Lake during the winter months. The purpose of the aerator is to maintain healthy oxygen levels for water quality, as well as prevent winterkill of fish and other aquatic life. If using Rogers Lake during aeration operation, please exercise caution and remember ice is never 100% safe. Heed posted warning signs and stay well away from open water that may be created by the aerator. Always drill test holes periodically as you move across ice to gauge thickness. For more information on lake aeration, visit https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/lakeaeration/ index.html The LMRWMO wants to hear from you The Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO) is in the process of updating its 10-year Watershed Management Plan, and they need your input! Take their brief survey. By answering just a few short questions, you will help the WMO to better understand your concerns, priorities and goals for the health of the watershed. Please submit comments by March 1, 2020. The LMRWMO Organization provides a valuable forum for member cities to evaluate and resolve drainage and water quality issues within the watershed. To learn more visit their website: Lower Mississippi River WMO. Are you interested in becoming more involved? The Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization is looking for citizens to serve on a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). The CAC would provide citizen input on the 4th Generation Management Plan, and actively participate in the process. For more information, contact: Joe Barten, Administrator c/o Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District 4100 220th St. West, Suite 102 Farmington, MN 55024 T.651.480.7784 | F.651.480.7775 E-mail: joe.barten@co.dakota.mn.us Landscaping for clean water workshops Receive grant funds and on-site assistance for creating a beautiful landscape feature in your yard, such as a raingarden, native garden or shoreline stabilization! Landscaping for Clean Water is a program for Dakota County residents that provides assistance for creating landscape features that promote clean water, benefit local pollinators, are sustainable and low-maintenance, and look beautiful! How does it work?  Attend a FREE introductory workshop where you’ll learn gardening basics, and how to create landscaping that can benefit our local water.  Sign up and attend a two-night Design Course ($25 one-time cost) that allows you to work hands-on with staff to begin planning and designing a garden in your yard.  Apply for the Landscaping for Clean Water Grant by filling out an application. FREE INTRODUCTORY WORKSHOPS All hour-long workshops will start at 6:00 p.m. Select one of ten different dates and locations. MAINTENANCE WORKSHOPS Already have a Raingarden or other Native Planting? Attend a Maintenance Workshop and learn how to maintain your raingarden or native planting year- round! Mendota Heights: Wed., March 4, 5-6:20 PM Inver Grove Heights: Tues., March 31, 6-7:30 PM Apple Valley: Wed., April 29, 5-6:30 PM LEARN MORE & REGISTER DakotaSWCD.org/cleanwater.html Call: 651-480-7777 Email: SWCD@co.dakota.mn.us The Lawns to Legumes Program is accepting applications Have you been looking for a way to help the endangered Rusty Patched Bumble Bee and other pollinators? Or maybe you have been wanting to create an environmentally-friendly, low- maintenance landscape? The Lawns to Legumes program offers a simple way to do both! The MN Board of Water and Soil Resources is now offering grants as part of the new Lawns to Legumes Program. This program offers workshops, coaching, guides, and cost-share funding for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings in residential landscapes. These pollinator habitats could consist of any of the following:  A Native Pocket Planting or garden with native, pollinator beneficial flowers  Establishing a Pollinator Lawn by removing existing turf and replacing with a pollinator seed mix that includes no-mow fescues and low-growing flowers, or seeding no-mow fescues and low-growing native flowers into existing lawn  Pollinator beneficial trees and shrubs  Establishing a Pollinator Meadow or a large area with a diversity of native plants, such as a native prairie that includes both native grasses and wildflowers Individual Support Grants are available to Minnesota residents for projects that establish pollinator habitat in their yards. If awarded, up to $350 in grant funds are available to applicants. To apply, visit Blue Thumb's Online Application Page. The first application period ends February 28. Minnesota Department of Transportation stormwater repairs at Valley Park The Minnesota Department of Transportation will be repairing and replacing two outfalls, or stormwater outlet structures that outlet into Interstate Valley Creek, beginning this winter. Tree removal will be necessary in order to access the two structures. Tree removal will begin this winter, and structural work will take place in July of 2020. The access will begin at the Xcel utility facility adjacent to I-35E in the northwest portion of Valley Park, and continue approximately 700 feet to the south, running parallel along I-35E. The goal of the project is to reduce stormwater velocity coming from the outlet structures, and also reduce or eliminate current erosion that is happening around the structures. View a map of the project here. For additional information, please contact:: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Technician kristas@mendota-heights.com | 651-255-1123 Chris Chatfield, PE, Principal Water Resources Engineer MnDOT Metro District Christopher.Chatfield@state.mn.us | 651-234-7365. 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/.   1            IMPOUND PLATES— WACHTLER AV/SIBLEY MEMORIAL      02/14/20, 0905 HOURS  Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle because the plates were labeled for impound. License  plates removed. Driver was recent purchaser of vehicle and unaware of plate status.   FRAUD—1XXX DOUGLAS RD        9/01/2016, 1422 HOURS  Resident reported someone uƟlized their personal informaƟon for a public uƟliƟes account in     CincinnaƟ, OH. Case referred to another agency.   5TH DEG DRUG—HWY 62/DELAWARE AV      02/15/20, 1626 HOURS  Officers responded reports of a verbal fight in a motor vehicle. Officers located the involved female  in McDonald's. She was impaired and provided police with a false name. She was taken into         custody and searched. Officers located alcohol and drug paraphernalia on her person. She was  transported to Dakota County Jail and charged with minor consuming alcohol, possession of         alcohol, and 5th degree drugs.   3RD DEG DWI—HWY 62/DELAWARE AV      02/15/20, 0227 HOURS  Officer conducted a traffic stop. The officer observed signs the driver may be impaired and           conducted a field sobriety test. The driver was determined to be over the legal limit and was  placed under arrest for DWI. The driver was booked and released from the Dakota County Jail for  Third Degree DWI and the vehicle was impounded.   THEFT FROM AUTO—1XXX SYLVANDALE RD     02/15/20, 0822 HOURS  Officers responded to take a report of a theŌ from auto. Officer arrived on scene and spoke to an  adult female vicƟm. Vehicle was leŌ unlocked in the driveway. No suspect informaƟon. Report  wriƩen.   FRAUD—6XX APACHE LN         02/15/20, 0851 HOURS  Officers were called to take a report of fraud acƟvity. A male party fell vicƟm to a scam on the   computer that resulted in the loss of $1,500. There is no suspect informaƟon available at this Ɵme.  The case is inacƟve.   THEFT—9XX SIBLEY MEMORIAL        02/15/20, 1910 HOURS  Officers responded to a local business for a theŌ that had just occurred. The reporƟng party stated  that two males came into the store and stole loƩery Ɵckets then the two males drove off towards  35E. Officers checked the area but were unable to locate the suspects. The suspects were later     arrested by SPPD for stealing loƩery Ɵckets in St. Paul. Case pending formal charges.  02/21/2020    2       THEFT—2XXX DODD RD         02/15/20, 1910 HOURS  In a scenario similar to the previous entry, suspects entered a gas staƟon and asked to purchase  high dollar loƩery Ɵckets. When the clerk placed the loƩery Ɵckets on the counter the suspects  picked them up and fled. Evidence was collected, suspects idenƟfied but were not located.           Suspects were apprehended shortly aŌer by St. Paul PD in a stolen vehicle aŌer a similar incident,  suspects idenƟfied. Case pending formal charges.  3RD DEG DWI—35E & WAGON WHEEL TRL      02/16/20, 0012 HOURS  Officer conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle and the adult male driver was found to be intoxicated  and placed under arrest.   THEFT—1XXX NORTHLAND DR        02/16/20, 0713 HOURS  Officer dispatched to theŌ report from a local hotel. ReporƟng party stated items had been stolen  from the maintenance room. No suspect informaƟon at this Ɵme. Report wriƩen.   DOMESTIC—2XXX DODD RD        02/16/20, 1849 HOURS  Officers were dispatched to a domesƟc in progress. The reporƟng party stated that her boyfriend  was thrown down the steps by his son. Officer detained the son and he was transported to the    hospital on a transport hold. CitaƟon for domesƟc assault.   AOA—HWY 62/DODD RD         02/16/20, 0114 HOURS  Officer was dispatched to a report of a driver slumped over at a stop light. Officer found the vehicle  and spoke with driver unƟl State Patrol arrived. State took over scene and took the report.   5TH DEG ASSAULT—1XXX NORTHLAND DR      02/17/20, 1231 HOURS  Officers dispatched to a disturbance at a local business. Officers arrived on scene and an adult      female said that she was aƩacked by another adult female. The adult female suspect was issued a  citaƟon for 5th Degree Assault and leŌ the premises.   FRAUD—8XX RIDGE PL         02/17/20, 1311 HOURS  Officer dispatched to a fraud report. ReporƟng party bought $500 worth of giŌ cards and gave  them to the suspect over the phone.   DOG BITE 1XXX DODD RD         02/17/20, 1926 HOURS  Officer was dispatched to a report of a dog bite and learned the delivery man was biƩen by a dog  while delivering a pizza. Officer spoke with both parƟes and placed the dog on a 10 day quaranƟne.       3           DISTURB PEACE—1XXX DAKOTA DR       02/18/20, 1740 HOURS  Officer dispatched to a disturbance at a business. The reporƟng party stated that there was a      customer in the store that spit on and threatened him. Officer arrived on scene and detained the  male. The male was transported to the hospital.   PROPERTY DAMAGE—1XXX NORTHLAND DR      2/19/20, 1909 HOURS  Officers were called to a business for a report regarding damage to property. Upon entering the  room in quesƟon, Officers found drug paraphernalia. Officers completed a search warrant to  search the room and property and located suspected narcoƟcs. The owner of the suspected        narcoƟcs could not be determined and they were destroyed.   DWI—STANWICH/DODD RD                2/19/20, 1257 HOURS  Passerby reported a vehicle off the roadway near. InformaƟon from the passerby was that the  male was stumbling, had fallen and was slow to get back up. Officer noted a strong smell of          alcohol, stumbling, slurred speech and male failed SFST's.   OFP VIOLATION—2XXX CENTRE POINTE BLVD      2/20/20, 1106 HOURS  An employee called to report that a party who had been issued a harassment restraining order had  violated that order. Evidence of both the restraining order and the violaƟon were obtained by     officers and contact was aƩempted with the suspect.   THEFT—7XX EVERGREEN KNOLLS        2/20/20, 1632 HOURS  Resident reported her license plate was stolen while at work at a locaƟon outside of our                jurisdicƟon. She already had new plates assigned. Stolen plate was entered and report taken.