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2020-03-27 Friday News0 Receive Updates Enter Email Address Go Friday News 3/27/20 City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 03/27/2020 03:23 PM CDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. FRIDAY NEWS | March 27, 2020 THE LATEST COVID-19 update Minnesota’s Stay-at-Home order goes into effect today Governor Walz issued an order this week directing Minnesotans to stay at home, except for essential needs, beginning 11:59 PM March 27 through 5:00 PM April 10. Workers who provide essential jobs in critical sectors, and who are unable to perform their work from home, are exempt for work purposes. For specific information, the following are resources from the State of Minnesota: Stay at Home FAQ What’s open and closed? What are critical services? What can I do and what shouldn’t I do? More information: https://mn.gov/governor/covid-19/ State of Minnesota Emergency Executive Order 20-20. Conducting city business City facilities continue to be closed to the public, however essential city business can still be conducted via phone or email during regular business hours. A brown drop box in the main level driveway “island” is available for sewer/water utility payments, and that is checked regularly, M-F. For other city business, including the dropping off of building permit applications, there is a plastic drop box located inside of the front entryway. This vestibule drop box is available during normal City Hall hours—7:00 AM to 4:30 PM, M-Th, and 7:00 to 11:30 AM on Fridays. Please anticipate there may be a delay in response as staff is working from home or in-reserve. Life Safety inspections for Building or Fire also continue to be made at this time. Inquiries should be made by telephone, or by e-mail. Public safety Police, Fire, and essential Public Works staff continue to work, and are prepared for emergency response. For immediate public safety response and emergencies, call 9-1-1. Non-emergency police assistance requests should also go to 9-1-1. The Police Department will continue to process requests for police reports, gun permits, etc. The “link” to the forms may be found under Public Resources at https://www.mendota-heights.com/police. Completed forms and general questions can be submitted via email to pdrecords@mendota-heights.com. Parks & trails are open, but playgrounds are closed For community safety, and in accordance with Governor Walz’s Order, playground equipment (slides, jungle gyms, bars, etc.) at the parks are CLOSED until further notice. Mendota Heights parks and trails are currently open and healthy outdoor exercise is permitted and encouraged. Park guests should take socially-distanced measures when encountering other guests of at least six feet from one another. Portable toilets were placed this week, but users should be aware that hand sanitizer and toilet tissue may not be available—to be safe, bring your own from home! Additionally, please be thoughtful when exercising dogs at the parks. City Code requires that all dogs be restrained with a leash not exceeding six feet in length. City Code also requires that dog waste be removed. This is especially important, now that our parks are seeing an uptick in usage. For dog owners who wish to allow their dog to run off-leash, the city has an off-leash dog park located at 1360 Acacia Boulevard. Public meetings and events Other than the mandated meetings referenced below, all city-sponsored events have been postponed or cancelled through May 1. The calendar of events listings will be adjusted as more information is received. Public meetings that are required to be held by law, such as those of the City Council and Planning Commission, will take place as noted on the City website calendar. However, due to distancing requirements, these meetings will be held by teleconference only. Check the City’s website for public participation instructions. These meetings will be live broadcast on Town Square Television Channel 18, and webstreamed. Posting of public notices Public notices that are normally posted in City Hall on the inside bulletin board are being posted on the home page of the City’s website under “Public Notices.” Additional resources Additional resources can be found on the City’s website COVID-19 page. Mendota Heights Police Department is prepared As many of you know, emergency management is a primary function of any government. Mendota Heights has a designated Emergency Manager (the Chief of Police) who contracts with the Dakota County Domestic Preparedness Group to make sure that we are ready to face whatever type of emergency that might occur. We have plans in place for all kinds of emergencies. Our plans, equipment, and training all have to be flexible so that no matter the problem, we have the tools to fix it. In the case of COVID-19, we have taken several steps to keep our community safe such as: Yearly, mandatory training for all officers on bloodborne pathogens and personal protective gear. We have enacted our Continuity of Operations plan, identifying what critical city functions need to continue in the short and long term. We have tasked our IT and HR staff with implementing the ability for critical staff to work from home while ensuring we have everything we need to keep citizens safe. We had a stock of 300 N95 masks. Over the past two weeks, we have been able to triple our inventory. We have purchased supplies to increase our ability to respond to those citizens who are having trouble breathing and recovering at home. We have developed several emergency staffing models. The next two weeks are going to be crucial in our efforts to save the lives of those people who contract COVID-19. In the next two weeks we are: Taking possession of an ultra-violet light that will allow us to sanitize our non- disposable gear. Creating regional emergency staffing models with our Dakota County Partners. Refreshing Officer ’s training on proper oxygen delivery and management. We do all of this while still responding to the day-to-day demands of running a city. We cannot accomplish all that needs to be done unless you assist us by complying with the Governor’s order and stay home. Chief McCarthy Small business and nonprofit resources The Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program provides small businesses with working capital loans of up to $2 million that can provide vital economic support to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, or other bills that cannot be paid because of the coronavirus pandemic. Economic Injury Disaster Loan information The Open to Business (OTB)team is ready to discuss your business concerns from The Open to Business (OTB) team is ready to discuss your business concerns from COVID-19 related to funding needs, cash flow, and next steps for keeping your business open. OTB is a partnership between the City of Mendota Heights, Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) and the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers (MCCD). For more information, please contact MCCD Business Advisor Karen Schaffhausen, at 612-706-3926 or kschaffhausen@mccdmn.org or visit www.opentobusinessmn.org. Free meals for children With school closings, several local restaurants and school districts have offered to provide free lunches for children and students in need. Use this interactive map to locate a provider near you. Census Day is April 1 - do you have your Census ID? Every residence should have received an invitation to participate in the census from the U.S. Census Bureau by now. Please be careful when looking through the mail - it is in a plain white envelope with black printing. You may have also already received a recent reminder to participate. Your census can be completed online, by phone, or by mail. The census takes about 10 minutes to complete and participation is mandatory by law. Your response helps to direct billions of dollars in federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services, and determines the number of seats each state has in Congress and your political representation at all levels of government. If you have students who live most of their time at school, but have temporarily returned home due to COVID-19, in most cases they should be counted at school. Get answers to questions and ensure you are counted by visiting 2020 census.gov. Recent highlights Become a Parks Celebration Sponsor Registration is open for the Officer Scott Patrick 5K Walk/Run Census job applications will stay open through May - pay starts at $22/hour in Dakota County NATURAL RESOURCES Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) update & treatment program 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 property. 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. Recognize the signs of EAB and get suggestions on shade tree replacements here. Now is the perfect time to adopt a drain Now that the snow has (almost) melted, it is a great time to Adopt-a-Drain, or adopt another drain in your neighborhood if you have already adopted. With the Governor ’s most recent Covid-19 order, it is also a great stay-at-home project. Adopt-a-Drain is a Metro-wide program developed by Watershed Partners and Hamline p p g p y University. When you adopt a drain, you are committing to cleaning and picking up around a stormwater drain in your neighborhood twice a month, and it usually only takes fifteen minutes. You can even track the amount of trash and pollutants that you collect through the Adopt-a-Drain website. Stormwater drains are grates placed along the curb on the street, and collect stormwater during rain events. However, debris and pollutants such as sediment, leaves, grass clippings, and trash also make it into our storm drains and eventually into our lakes, streams, wetlands, and rivers. By adopting a stormwater drain in your neighborhood, you are helping to protect and improve the water quality of our local surface waters. To adopt a drain, go to the official Adopt-a-Drain website. Recent highlights Apply for a grant to create pollinator-friendly landscaping features through the Lawns to Legumes Program Protect surface waters by properly picking up pet waste Spring guide to native plant sales and landscaping information Prune trees BEFORE spring arrives to prevent disease Register for a free Landscaping for Clean Water design or maintenance workshop. MnDOT stormwater repairs at Valley Park RECYCLING Make your own household cleaner Did you know you can make your own household cleaners with just a few ingredients you probably already have around the house? Homemade cleaners are easy to make and cheaper than store bought cleaners. Simple and low-cost ingredients like borax, baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar go a long way. Reducing toxic chemicals in your home creates a safer place for you, your family and pets. Please note that this cleaner is for general cleaning and is not a disinfectant. All Purpose Cleaner: ¼ cup white vinegar 1 ½ teaspoons non-antibacterial liquid dish soap In a 16 oz. spray bottle, add the vinegar and fill with water. Add dish soap last. Add lemon juice or 5 drops essential oils if desired. Visit Dakota County’s website for more recipes and tips! POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS Just the Facts Incident reports 3/20/20 - 3/26/20 PARKS & RECREATION Stay active at home through fitness & fun Enjoy a new experience in recreation called Rec-at-Home! Watch for daily activities posted on Park & Rec's Facebook page and the City's website. Participants this week discovered how to make origami hearts and were challenged with a custom Mendota Heights word search puzzle. Summer program registration is open Preview the summer program catalog for tons of classes, camps and events to keep everyone enriched, engaged and energized this summer! Register at https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Public Meetings Meetings take place at City Hall unless otherwise noted. Meeting changes or cancellations are noted on the City's website https://www.mendota-heights.com/calendar. Please confirm meeting dates & times prior to attending. City Council April 7, 7:00pm The April 7 City Council meeting is to be conducted by teleconference. This will be available on Town Square Television, Channel 18 and webstreamed. Members of the public who wish to provide public comment should check the City website for information on how to participate. City Business Hours City Hall, the Police Department lobby, Public Works Facility, and Mendota Heights Par 3 are closed to the public until further notice. City business can be conducted via phone or email during regular business hours. Paperwork may be left at City Hall in the brown drop box of the main entrance turnaround or inside the main level entryway. City Hall Business Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7:00am-4:30pm | Friday 7:00-11:30am Police Department Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm City Hall Contact Information Official Website of the City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Phone: 651-452-1850 Stay Connected with the City of Mendota Heights: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions | Help | Unsubscribe from all Topics Powered by Privacy Policy | Cookie Statement | Help