2020-04-10 Friday News0
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Friday News 4/10/20
City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 04/10/2020 12:48 PM CDT
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FRIDAY NEWS | April 10, 2020
THE LATEST
Continue to stay at home
Minnesota’s stay-at-home order has been extended until May 4. For questions on what's
open and closed, what you can and shouldn't do, and more visit https://mn.gov/covid19/.
Additional safety needed in the parks
Healthy exercise and enjoyment of the parks, trails, and open spaces of Mendota Heights is
encouraged. However, as visitors are increasing so have complaints that social distancing
was not being practiced, along with other disturbances. Please continue to allow at least six
feet of space between your party and other visitors and keep these restrictions in mind:
Updated:
Basketball hoops, soccer and lacrosse goals are unavailable
Lines have been painted at the Rogers Lake pier, reminding non-family unit fishers to
stay six feet apart
Picnic tables have been spread further apart
Continuing:
Playground equipment is closed
The Skate Park is closed
Tennis and pickleball courts are open
Portable restrooms are open (bring your own supplies)
Keep dogs on leashes of six feet or less (City Code)
Be courteous and pick up your pet's waste (City Code)
The off-leash Dog Park at 1360 Acacia Blvd. is open for now; distance reminder signs
are being posted
If you are feeling unwell, stay home
If you feel unsafe due to crowding, move to another area or return home
These restrictions will stay in place until the Governor ’s order expires on May 4, or is
otherwise modified. Further updates from the CDC, the Minnesota Department of Health,
and the adherence to these practices by parks users may also impact the restrictions.
Additional resources: City’s website COVID-19 page.
I-494 Lane, Ramp Closures begin today through
June 1
Motorists traveling on I-494 in Mendota Heights and Eagan should plan for delays as crews
will close several lanes and ramps in both directions beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, April 10.
Multiple I-494 lane and ramp closures are scheduled for April 10 - June 1, and the WB I-494
ramp to SB I-35E will also remain closed through May 11.
Residents who live near this area may hear noise as crews work around the clock to set
barrier. The lane and ramp closures are part of a larger project on I-494 to repave the road,
update drainage and repair seven bridges on an eight-mile stretch of I-494 between the
Minnesota River and Third Avenue in South St. Paul. This is the second year of a two-year
project with anticipated completion by fall 2020, weather permitting.
For more information or to sign up for email updates:
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/…/projects/i494invergroveheights/
First virtual meeting of the Mendota Heights City
Council
The first ever virtual meeting of the Mendota Heights City Council was held Tuesday
evening. Mayor Garlock (top) and three staff members were in the City Council Chambers,
while the other four members of the City Council participated by telephone or computers
from their homes.
Public meeting announcements
Regular meetings of the City Council, held the first and third Tuesdays of the month, will
begin at 5:00pm until further notice. This is to accommodate a change in the outside work
schedule of an elected official.
There will be a City Council Work Session on Thursday, April 16, at 2:00pm to discuss City
operations and finances caused by COVID-19 impacts. Details on how to listen to this
meeting will be posted on the City website when available.
Utility Scam Alert
Scammers posing as gas, electric, or water utilities have been active in their efforts to take
advantage of nervous customers. No public utility will cut off service with a phone call. If a
customer receives a suspicious call, they should hang up and reach out to contact the
specific utility company via the internet, mobile application, or contact information found on
their bill. Most of the utilities’ websites have links to help customers impacted by the
pandemic to work out payment plans.
Event updates
The Paper Shred Event scheduled for Saturday, April 18 remains cancelled.
The Touch-a-Truck event scheduled for Saturday, May 9 has been postponed until further
notice.
The Family Kickball Tournament scheduled for Saturday, May 16 has been postponed
and will be rescheduled for this fall.
City Hall business updates
Pay sewer/water bills using the outdoor drop box
Sewer/water payments can be put in the secured brown utility drop box in the circular
driveway at City Hall. The box will be checked daily during the week.
Permits
e ts
Building, HVAC and plumbing permits are being processed once a week on Tuesdays.
Please anticipate some delay in response as staff is working from home and in-reserve, and
thank you for your patience.
Spring street sweeping
The city contracts out for street sweeping. The anticipated start date is Monday, April 20.
This date could change depending on weather and scheduling.
Small business and nonprofit resources
U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster loans now available
Online applications for these loans are open to Minnesota businesses at:
https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela/.
Open to Business is ready to help
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.
Are you prepared for severe weather?
Severe Weather Awareness week is April 13-17. The week is designed to refresh, remind
and educate everyone about the seasonal threats from severe weather and how to avoid
them. It's also a great time to make and practice your emergency plan and build or refresh
your emergency preparedness kit.
There will be statewide tornado drills on Thursday, April 16. Outdoor warning sirens and
NOAA Weather Radios will sound in a simulated tornado warning. Residents and
businesses are encouraged to practice these drills to prepare in the event of an actual
incident.
Learn something every day this week from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety:
Monday: Severe weather alerts & warnings
Tuesday: Storms, hail & lightening
Wednesday: Flooding & flash floods
Thursday: Tornadoes
F id E t h t
Friday: Extreme heat
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.
The 2020 Census is waiting for your response
The 2020 Census has begun. You should have received your Participation ID in the mail.
It's easy to respond:
Phone: 844-330-2020
Online: https://my2020census.gov/
Recent highlights
Become a Parks Celebration Sponsor
Registration is open for the Officer Scott Patrick 5K Walk/Run
Census job applications are still being accepted although field operations are
temporarily suspended. 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
f b i f h d Th Ci h l b l f i f d h
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.
Note that due to the ‘Stay at Home’ order issued by Governor Walz, Rainbow Treecare is
not performing any work (with the exception of hazardous tree work) until Monday, April 13,
2020. They are still available during normal business hours to review any questions you
may have and plan to resume their tree care services after this order is expired while
adhering to safe distancing protocols. Please visit https://www.rainbowtreecare.com/ for any
updates to this information.
Recognize the signs of EAB and get suggestions on shade tree replacements.
Now is the perfect time to adopt a drain
The snow has melted, and 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
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
Store donation items at home until collection sites
open again
You may feel the urge to purge while staying at home, but dumping items at thrift stores and
y g p g y g ,p g
donation sites when they are closed is illegal and improperly left items must be landfilled.
Create a space in your home to label and store items until donation sites reopen. Extra
laundry baskets offer convenient storage and easy hauling for when then time comes.
Purchase a compost bin or rain barrel at a
discounted rate while supplies last
Celebrate the 50th annual Earth Day by composting and capturing rain water. Help your
yard and save money through the annual Recycling Association of Minnesota compost bin
and rain barrel sale.
While supplies last, Dakota County residents get 30 percent off when they order online
at www.recycleminnesota.org by applying the promo code Dakota. Pre-ordered bins and
barrels can be picked up at any of the distribution events in the metro area.
Free online classes through Dakota County
Back to Basics Recycling
Tuesday, April 21, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Register now.
Low-Waste Lifestyle
Thursday, April 23, 11 a.m.–noon
Register now.
Lazy Guide to Composting
Thursday, April 30, 7–8 p.m.
Register now.
Become a Master Recycler/Composter
Master Recycler/Composter Class
Wednesday, April 15–May 20, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
More information and registration
POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS
Just the Facts
Incident reports 4/03/20 - 4/09/20
Sign up for emergency notifications
g p g y
Sign up for the Emergency Alert Program through the Dakota
Communications Center (DCC). Receive critical information
quickly in a variety of situations, such as severe weather,
unexpected road closures, missing persons and evacuations of buildings or neighborhoods.
Messages can be sent to your home, mobile or business phones, email addresses, text
messages and more. Get started at https://member.everbridge.net/453003085612643/login.
For immediate public safety response and non-
emergency police assistance call 9-1-1
The Police Department will also 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 & 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. Check out activities from this past
week:
Dice in the bowl game
Trivia (no peeking at the answers in comments until you've played)
Mini-golf mania
Easy home workout
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
Meeting changes or cancellations are noted on the City's website https://www.mendota-
heights.com/calendar.
City Council Work Session April 16, 2:00pm
This session will be conducted by teleconference. Visit the City website for details on
how to monitor this meeting.
City Council April 21, 5:00pm (NOTE CHANGED MEETING TIME)
This meeting will be conducted by teleconference. Visit the City website for details on
how to provide public comment or monitor this meeting.
City Business Hours
All city facilities are currently closed to the public, including City Hall, the Police
Department lobby, the Public Works Maintenance Facility, and the Par 3 golf course.
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.
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
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