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2020-10-30 Friday NewsFriday News 10/30/20 City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 10/30/2020 12:23 PM CDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. FRIDAY NEWS | October 30, 2020 THE LATEST Residents wishing to vote in person on November 3 should vote at their designated polling location. Ways to vote in person Vote early in person through Monday, November 2 Vote early (absentee) at Mendota Heights City Hall or at the Northern Service Center. Direct balloting, which means you can deposit your ballot directly into the vote counter, is now available. Voters are encouraged to follow social distancing procedures, wear a mask, and expect to wait in line. Please note that City Hall closes at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 30. Extended in-person voting hours are available: Saturday, Oct. 31 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2 | 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vote in person at your polling location on Tuesday, November 3 Polls will be open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. If you are not already pre- registered to vote, you may register at your polling location on Election Day with proof of residence. Locate your polling location on the map above, or visit MnVotes.org. Voters are encouraged to follow social distancing procedures, wear a mask, and to expect a line. As long as you are in line by 8 p.m. you can vote, even if you do not reach the front of the line by 8 p.m. Ways to return an absentee ballot Mendota Heights absentee ballots can be returned to City Hall or any Dakota County office by 3 p.m. on Election Day, November 3. Return your ballot to City Hall's front desk Ballots can be hand-delivered to City Hall's front desk during extended voting hours and up until 3 p.m. on Subscribe to updates from City of Mendota Heights Email Address Subscribe Share Bulletin Election Day, November 3. Please note that City Hall closes at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, October 30. Return your ballot to City Hall's outdoor drop box Voters may return their own ballot at the locked drop box located in front of City Hall. This drop box will close at 8 a.m. on November 3. After that time, ballots can be hand delivered to City Hall's front desk until 3 p.m. on Election Day. Return your ballot by mail Absentee ballots must be postmarked by November 3 and received by November 10 to be counted. For answers to questions and more voting information, visit MnVotes.org. Follow local election results County election results, including Mendota Heights City Election results, can be followed on the Dakota County website. Expand the navigation bar on the upper left to access totals for the different offices. Candidate forum for City elections available for replay If you missed Town Square TV's live candidate forum on Sept. 10, you can can view the replay online at townsquare.tv/webstreaming or on Town Square TV's Facebook page at facebook.com/townsquare.tv/videos/783114485855466. Winter parking restrictions to begin November 1 through March 31 Nightime parking is prohibited on any public street, from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., between November 1 and March 31. Additionally, when it snows 2 inches or more, or if there is a high probability of a 2 inch or more snowfall, snowplows may go into action. Please keep all vehicles off of public streets until roads are plowed curb-to-curb, and remind young drivers and any overnight guests to avoid a citation. Thank you in advance for your assistance in keeping the City a safe and operational community! Street sweeping to begin this week Weather permitting, street sweeping is anticipated to begin Monday, November 2, and be completed in approximately three to four days. This helps to keep storm drains in proper working order, and the system clear of sediment, leaves, and decomposing plant material that would be damaging to local lakes and rivers. Debris collected by street sweeping is hauled to an approved landfill. How you can help: Keep vehicles off of the street until sweepers have cleaned both sides of the street Remind neighbors to keep vehicles off of the street until sweepers are finished Keep trash cans behind the curb on collection day DO NOT push/rake leaves, grass, or other debris into the street, from your yard or from adjacent yards (it is illegal and prohibited by City Code) Public meeting announcements There will be a City Council Work Session on Thursday, November 12, beginning at 2:45 p.m. at City Hall. The Airport Relations Commission meeting scheduled for Wednesday, November 18, has been moved to Thursday, November 19, beginning at 6 p.m. at City Hall. See CORRECTION to FRIDAY NEWS issued October 30, 2020 y,,g g p y The annual Halloween Bonfire will not be taking place this year If you plan on trick-or-treating, keep the celebrating safe by sticking to these tips: If you’re sick (COVID or otherwise), stay home and don’t pass out candy. If you’re passing out candy, wash your hands, and hand it out yourself – you’re always going to spread more germs if lots of people are sticking their hands in your candy bowl. Consider (if the weather cooperates!) hanging out in the front yard in an open space, maybe with a fire pit, so that you don’t attract crowded bunches of kids in a cramped space at your door. Neighbors can swing by, say a quick hello, and you can pass out a fun treat. Note that portable fire units must be at least 15 feet from any structure or combustible material. Socially distance your family from other families as much as you are able – 6 ft distance is recommended – it keeps us all from sharing germs. When you are outdoors, wearing a mask is helpful for the short amounts of time you might not be able to socially distance – it helps keep any sneezes or coughs more contained. For more creative ideas on how to celebrate the holiday and to check the risk level for different activities, visit the CDC's website. Accepting applications for winter seasonal positions If you enjoy the outdoors and would like to earn part-time income, the City is currently accepting applications for the following positions: Ice skating instructor Rink flooders Warming house/rink attendants Learn more and apply at mendota-heights.com/employment. Recent highlights: Qualifying small, for-profit businesses are encouraged to apply for Round 2 of Dakota County's Small Business Relief Grant Program by November 6; home-based businesses may be eligible. Planned weekend bowhunting underway in select Mendota Heights parks to manage deer and coyote populations. Review these regulations on the placement of campaign yard signs. Dakota County extends protective equipment donation drive; donate items at Western Service Center and all Library locations. RECYCLING November 7 & 8 Mendota Heights City Hall Parking Lot Bring pumpkins to City Hall's parking lot and toss them into the giant dumpster for free. No painted pumpkins, wax, or candles will be accepted. For questions contact Cassandra Johnson at 651-255-1347 or cassandraj@mendota-heights.com. Where to bring leaves and yard waste this fall South St. Paul’s Compost Site is open to any resident in Dakota County. Open Friday thru Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the compost site accepts leaves, garden waste, grass and sod. Brush and tree waste can be taken to Davey Tree (former S & S Tree and Horticultural Specialists, Inc.) located at 405 Hardman Avenue South. They will accept brush and tree waste (no stumps), from 8 a.m. to noon, on Saturday, November 14. Note that they will be closed after Nov. 14. NATURAL RESOURCES Learn the steps of clearing a storm drain with Minnesota Water Steward Michelle Spangler. It's Fall Leaf Cleanup Week! The official Adopt-a-Drain Fall Leaf Cleanup Week runs through Sunday, November 1. Despite the early snowfall, a common seasonal pollutant has built up in the streets: fallen leaves. Yes, leaves are a pollutant too. Although people think of leaves as natural, when they flow through storm drains and into local surface waters, they become a major problem and source of nutrients, which causes high algae concentrations and low oxygen levels. However, there is a simple way you can combat this pollutant this fall: Adopt-a-Drain! Even with this snowy weather you can still get out there and clean your storm drain. Clearing the snow and leaves on and around your drain prevents potential flooding on your streets. And while the leaves hiding underneath the snow might be "natural" debris, they become pollution when large quantities hit the water as the snow starts to melt. So be sure to remove them and place them in your compost pile, place in gardening beds, or bring them to a designated yard waste or compost site. Last October, adopters reported about 11,000 pounds of debris collected. This equates to keeping around 4.5 pounds of total phosphorus from leaching into our local waterways, and preventing the growth of at least 1,200 pounds of algae. Adopt-a-Drain's goal this year is to crush that number. Can you help? Check out these six easy steps to participate in this year's Fall Leaf Cleanup Week. Recent highlights Fall is the perfect time for buckthorn removal. Learn how to identify and remove this invasive from your property. The City of Mendota Heights is developing a Natural Resources Management Plan to manage invasive plant species and restore healthy native plant communities. Tree planting at Hagstrom King Park through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Tree Planting Grant. FIRE DEPARTMENT NEWS Replace batteries this weekend As you change clocks back one hour, be sure to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Smoke alarms are a key part of a home fire escape plan. When there is a fire, smoke spreads fast. Working smoke alarms give you early warning so you can get outside quickly. It's also time to change batteries in carbon monoxide detectors and to make sure they are working properly. Learn about carbon monoxide safety with Mendota Heights Firefighter Hayley. POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS Just the Facts Incident reports 10/23/20 - 10/29/20 Previous Just the Facts publications are available in the Laserfiche archive system on the City's website. Sign up for emergency alerts The Emergency Alert Program is available through the Dakota Communications Center (DCC) at mn-dcc.org/community-notification/. Stay in touch through Nextdoor As a way to reach more of the community and specific neighborhoods, in addition to their popular Facebook page MHPD has expanded their social media channels to include Nextdoor. Nextdoor accounts are verified based on your address, and the platform is already used by 40% of the households in Mendota Heights. Learn more and sign up at nextdoor.com. 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 mendota-heights.com/police. Completed forms and general questions can be submitted via email to pdrecords@mendota-heights.com. PARKS & RECREATION Register today! Superhero Masquerade Rec Pack | Nov. 12-13 pickup, Ages 5-12, $20 Pick up a fun pack of games and activities for your superhero to enjoy in their own space, at their own pace. Register under Special Events by 11 a.m. on Nov. 4 at secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Public Meetings Meeting changes or cancellations are noted on the City's website mendota- heights.com/calendar. Meetings take place at City Hall unless otherwise noted. Meeting attendees should adhere to the posted City Hall safety guidelines and be aware that capacity in the City Council Chambers will be limited. As much as possible, the community is encouraged to continue watching broadcasted meetings live on Cable Channel 18 or online at townsquare.tv/webstreaming (available live or for replay). City Council | Nov 4 (Wednesday), 6 p.m. Parks & Recreation Commission | Nov 10, 6:30 p.m. Airport Relations Commission | Nov 19, 6 p.m. City Business Hours City Hall: Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Friday 7-11:30 a.m. Police Department: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 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