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2020-11-13 Friday NewsFriday News 11/13/20 City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 11/13/2020 12:52 PM CST Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. FRIDAY NEWS | November 13, 2020 THE LATEST Small steps make big impacts Thank you to all who participated in the pumpkin collection event in City Hall's parking lot last weekend. The dumpster was filled to the brim! The pumpkins will be turned into compost. If you missed the event, pumpkins should be recycled by disposing of them through your yard waste cart (not the garbage), or bring them to Gertens in Inver Grove Heights for a small fee. City Council seat vacancy to be filled by appointment At a special meeting on November 12, the City Council accepted with regret the resignation of Liz Petschel from her position on the City Council. Her term was set to expire on December 31, 2022. The Council has decided that it will fill the interim vacancy by appointment for the remainder of the term, and will hold a special election to coincide with the City's next regular general election on Nov. 8, 2022. The candidate elected at the Nov. 8, 2022 election would serve the remainder of the open term, plus an additional four-year term to expire December 31, 2026. The City will be advertising the open seat and encouraging candidates to apply after the City Council finalizes qualifications and additional process details at its next meeting on Nov. 17. It is anticipated that the candidate application period will run Nov. 18 through Nov. 30, after which time the current City Council and Mayor-elect Stephanie Levine will review applications and narrow the field for candidate interviews. After the field is narrowed and interviews conducted, voting to select the candidate for the interim seat will be by the current Council only. Interested candidates should contact City Hall at 651-452-1850 for more information. Public meeting announcements The Airport Relations Commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 19, has been cancelled due to concerns over the statewide rise in COVID-19 rates. The next Airport Relations Commission meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 20 at 6 p.m. Subscribe to updates from City of Mendota Heights Email Address Subscribe Share Bulletin Changes to indoor social gathering guidance Effective November 13 at 10 p.m., the Governor has issued the following changes to social gatherings: 10-person limit for indoor AND outdoor gatherings. All social gatherings are limited to members of only three households or less, including the host. Please take this information into account as you begin planning holiday festivities. Learn more at staysafe.mn.gov. Find a free COVID-19 community testing event The Minnesota Department of Health is hosting both saliva and nasal swab testing events throughout Minnesota. Tests are free and insurance is not required. Visit mn.gov/covid19/for-minnesotans/if-sick/testing-locations/index.jsp for more information. Winter parking restrictions in effect Through March 31 Overnight parking is prohibited on any public street, from 2 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! Holiday Gift & Food Drive Drop off donations through Wednesday, December 9 The Mendota Heights Police Department is once again collecting donations for two organizations this year: Holiday gifts for teens & tweens benefiting A Place of Hope. Please keep gifts unwrapped when donating. Shelf-stable food items benefiting Neighbors, Inc. Drop off items in the collection bins at City Hall and the Police Department lobby during regular business hours. Get donation ideas for gifts and learn more. Recent highlights: Planned weekend bowhunting underway in select Mendota Heights parks to manage deer and coyote populations. Dakota County extends protective equipment donation drive; donate items at Western Service Center and all Library locations. RECYCLING Now through January 31 As you begin decorating for the holidays and run into that string that will no longer light, swing by City Hall and drop it into the collection barrel for recycling. In addition to holiday lights, you can drop off electrical cords, appliance cords, and phone cords through the end of January. Lights attached to wreaths, holly or trees must be removed first. Holiday lights are also accepted year round at The Recycling Zone in Eagan. Last weekend for brush and tree waste 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. They will be closed after Nov. 14. Calling all campaign yard signs Bring your yard signs and drop them into the outdoor bins near the main entrance to City Hall for recycling from Nov. 9 through Nov. 20. Yard signs must be removed within ten days following the election, which is by the end-of-day on Friday, Nov. 13. ACCEPTED: Rigid plastic signs, cardboard signs, metal stakes NOT ACCEPTED: Flags or fabric signs, stretchy plastic signs Signs are also being accepted at the Lakeville Maintenance Facility and Hastings Parks and Recreation Building. Sponsored by Dakota County, City of Mendota Heights, City of Lakeville, City of Hastings, and Dakota Valley Recycling. Confused about how to dispose of packaging from meal delivery kits? Our friends at Ramsey County have put together a guide to help you sort through the mix of what can and can't be recycled of insulated liners, cooling packs, food bags, and containers. NATURAL RESOURCES Help protect local lakes and rivers Applications are being accepted to become a Minnesota Water Steward The Lower Mississippi River Water Management Organization would like to sponsor two Minnesota Water Stewards this year. Minnesota Water Stewards (MWS) work within their communities as knowledgeable, certified citizens to improve local water health through education, raising awareness, and coordinating projects that reduce water pollution, and protect and conserve water. Minnesota Water Stewards become certified through the Fresh Water Society’s certification program. For more information and to apply, visit minnesotawaterstewards.org. Recent highlights Keep leaves and other debris from polluting waters; sign up to Adopt-a-Drain today. 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. POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS Just the Facts Incident reports 11/6/20 - 11/12/20 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 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. Winter recreation programs See what's coming up for winter fun and register for open programs at secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog. COMMUNITY CALENDAR City Hall will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26 and Friday, Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving. Public Works will be closed Thursday, Nov. 26. 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 watch City Council, Planning Commission, and Parks & Recreation Commission meetings live on Cable Channel 18 or online at townsquare.tv/webstreaming (available live or for replay). Select Airport Relations Commission meetings are broadcast on Cable Channel 19. Occasionally broadcasted channels may change; check Town Square Television's listings for updates. City Council | Nov. 17, 6:00 p.m. Airport Relations Commission | CANCELLED for Nov. 19 Planning Commission | Nov. 24, 7:00 p.m. City Council | Dec. 1, 6:00 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