2020-04-17 Friday News0
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Friday News 4/17/20
City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 04/17/2020 02:25 PM CDT
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FRIDAY NEWS | April 17, 2020
THE LATEST
Mendota Heights Par 3 Remains Closed
Today (Friday), Governor Walz announced that Minnesota golf courses are eligilbe to
reopen effective April 18. However, operators and golfers must follow outdoor recreation
guidelines. It is anticipated that the Mendota Heights Par 3 will be able to open for the
season next week. Check the City website for details.
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/.
Mendota Heights Fire Department receives $20,000
donation
At its meeting of April 7, the City Council accepted an anonymous donation of $20,000 to
the MHFD to be used towards general fire operations. The City thanks this benefactor for
the generous donation and support for public safety and the community!
Plan ahead for major roadwork through
October
Road improvements are underway impacting traffic near the Minneapolis-St Paul
International Airport. Plan extra time for road transit near this area as MnDOT crews
perform major construction.
Eastbound Highway 5 between 494 and Davern St. in St. Paul is now closed through
mid-July. Also watch for lane restrictions and ramp closures at the 35E/494 interchange
and in the surrounding area.
Visit aroundtheairport.com to view an interactive project map, find detour and transit
information, and stay connected by signing up for project email updates.
Spring street sweeping
Street sweeping in Mendota Heights will begin Monday, April 20. Completion of the task is
weather dependent.
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.
Apply for permits via email, mail or vestibule drop box
Building, HVAC and plumbing permits are being processed once a week on Tuesdays.
Permit applications are available on the City website. If a sewer permit is required, please
call City Hall and leave a message, and a permit application will be emailed to you as soon
as possible. Two or three-page plumbing, building, sewer, and heating permit applications
can be emailed to permits@mendota-heights.com or mailed to City Hall at 1101 Victoria
Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118. Permit applications can also be left in the 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 some delay in response as staff is working from home and in-reserve, and thank
you for your patience.
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.
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
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
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.
Rainbow Treecare has resumed operations providing services within compliance of all CDC
guidelines to protect the health and safety of their employees and customers. Please visit
https://www.rainbowtreecare.com/ for details/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 (again), 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
Celebrate the 50th anniversary
of Earth Day this Wednesday
April 22 is the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Just
because there won’t be big local celebrations doesn’t
mean you can’t celebrate your own way with your
family. Here are some ideas:
Take a walk as a family and collect trash while out.
Upload your photo to social media with the hashtag
#EarthDayAtHome, which NASA is using.
Play a fun, interactive recycling sorting game with your kids on Dakota County’s
website.
Make homemade playdough with ingredients you already have. Best part, when
you’re done, you can compost the whole thing!
Sign up for the organics drop site in West St. Paul. It is FREE and you can do it
over email or phone: 952-891-7557 or organics@co.dakota.mn.us.
Reminder: Paper Shred event
cancelled this weekend
Just a reminder that the April 18 Paper Shred event
h b ll d Th t h d t ill
has been cancelled. The next paper shred event will
be hosted in October in Mendota Heights. Otherwise,
you can take advantage of Pioneer SecureShred’s free
drop off dates the first Friday of each month, but call
first to ensure the event is happening: 612-381-2199.
Decluttering your home during the quarantine?
Please note that many thrift stores are not currently open. Do not dump materials at a thrift
location that is closed, but rather wait until they are back open. Damaged or wet materials
will just be thrown away.
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.
POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS
Just the Facts
Incident reports 4/10/20 - 4/16/20
Sign up for emergency notifications
The Emergency Alert Program is available through the Dakota
Communications Center (DCC) at https://www.mn-
dcc.org/community-notification/.
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. Link to the forms 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:
Play the popcorn ball toss
Make an origami bookmark
Make a toilet paper roll creature
Dr. Seuss's Hop on Pop storytime
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 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.
Planning Commission Meeting April 28, 7:00pm
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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