2021-04-02 Friday NewsFriday News 4/2/21
City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 04/02/2021 01:57 PM CDT
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FRIDAY NEWS | April 2, 2021
THE LATEST
Celebrate Earth & Arbor Day
Learn about recycling and volunteer to clean up a Mendota Heights Park
Earth Day and Arbor Day both take place in April. Get ready to celebrate by participating in
a virtual Planting for Pollinators Workshop, learn more about recycling, help clean up a
Mendota Heights park, or adopt a neighborhood storm drain. Learn more.
COVID-19 vaccine information
All Minnesotans 16 years of age and older will be eligible to receive a vaccine. Sign up for
the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector to help find out when, where, and how to get a
COVID-19 vaccine.
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Links to additional vaccine information:
State of Minnesota COVID-19 Response vaccination webpage.
Minnesota Department of Health vaccination webpage.
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/get-tested/testing-locations/index.jsp for more information.
April newsletter available
The cities of Mendota Heights, Mendota, Lilydale, and West St. Paul make up the Northern
Dakota County Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. A Yellow Ribbon Community creates and
provides a comprehensive network to connect and coordinate agencies, organizations,
resources and employers for the purpose of proactively supporting Service members,
military families, and Veterans. Learn more about the organization and how you can get
involved by reading the latest issue of Yellow Ribbon News.
Marie Park Playground Redesign
Demolition Anticipated to Begin April 12
Due to the nice weather, the playground redesign project is starting earlier than planned.
Demolition is scheduled to begin the week of April 12. Once the current playground
structure is demolished, an existing tree and stump will be removed to allow for the
playground's new footprint. The demolition phase will take about three to four weeks to
complete.
While demolition is underway, the two closest parks with playgrounds for visiting are:
Victoria Highlands Park, 1700 Diane Road
Valley Park, 821 Marie Avenue West
Visit Marie Park Playground Redesign to learn more about this project.
Do you enjoy golf or tennis, and teaching?
Hiring for Golf Instructor and Tennis Instructor
The City of Mendota Heights is accepting applications for the following summer seasonal
positions:
Tennis Instructor | Must be 18 years of age or older
Tennis Assistant | Must be 16 years of age or older
Golf Instructor | Must be 18 years of age or older
Public Works Seasonal Maintenance Workers | Must be 18 years of age or older
mendota-heights.com/employment
RECYCLING
Upcoming recycling events
Paper Shred Event (Free)
Saturday, April 10, 9 a.m.–noon | West St. Paul Sports Complex
Curbside Appliance Pickup Event (Fee)
Monday, May 3 | Reservations open in April and are required
South St. Paul Compost Site
Opens Friday, April 9
Take home FREE compost for your garden.
The Compost Site is open Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning April 9,
and operation is weather dependent. The compost site accepts yard waste such as grass
clippings and leaves. Fees are $0.50 per standard sized bag and $1 per larger plastic bag
or barrel. Volume-based fees are charged for pickup truck loads.
Take part in a fun challenge for the whole family
Get ready for the Reduce Your Wasted Food Challenge! The challenge is being hosted by
the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and will span five weeks beginning April 19. By
signing up, participants will receive tools to track their wasted food at home, learn to prevent
waste, and save money. Learn more and sign up as the “Mendota Heights Team”.
Recent highlights
The City will not be hosting a Spring Clean-Up event this year; learn ways that you
can conduct your own environmentally-friendly spring cleaning.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Knotweed features large, oval heart-shaped leaves and green stems that resemble bamboo. Image from the Minnesota
Department of Agriculture.
Weed of the Month
Invasive Knotweeds (Polygonum sp.)
There are three species of invasive knotweeds in Minnesota, Bohemian knotweed
(Polygonum bohemicum), Giant knotweed (Polygonum sachalinense) and Japanese
knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum and var. compacta). These three species look relatively
similar, with large, oval heart-shaped leaves, and green stems that resemble bamboo.
Knotweed forms dense thickets, and can grow to 12 feet tall, often crowding out native
plants and reducing habitat. All knotweed species have been added to Minnesota’s
Prohibited Control Noxious Weed List. This invasive spreads by expanding root systems as
well as seed, and is an aggressive grower.
Control methods:
Hand-Pulling
Cutting and herbicide treatment: Best used in the fall. Cut plants close to the ground,
and immediately treat with herbicide.
If you are unable to do the work of removal yourself, there are native restoration companies
that perform removal and treatment as well.
For more information: Minnesota Department of Agriculture or contact Krista Spreiter,
Natural Resources Technician at 651-255-1123 or email kristas@mendota-heights.com.
Volunteer to help plant at Valley Park
Saturday morning, May 22
Great River Greening has a volunteer opportunity to work alongside their staff planting and
protecting important native plugs and shrub species at Valley Park. This planting will
continue restoration work being done throughout the corridor adding important pollinator
resources and habitat. Learn more and register.
Photo shared from University of Minnesota/Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC) webpage.
Become an aquatic invasive species detector
Dakota County is looking for volunteers to become aquatic invasive species (AIS) detectors.
The commitment includes an online course to learn principles of aquatic ecology; AIS
identification, impacts, and biology; Minnesota rules and regulations; and how to prevent the
spread of AIS, perform surveillance, and report potential AIS findings. Dakota County will
reimburse the $150 course fee for up to seven residents who complete it. Registration for
the AIS Detectors Core Course is now open at maisrc.umn.edu/ais-detectors/detectors-
course.
Landscaping for Clean Water Program
Dakota County Soil & Water Conservation District will again be offering their Landscaping
for Clean Water Program, through their partnership with the City of Mendota Heights and
other partners. The program offers three classes: Introduction to Clean Water, Design
Course, and Maintenance Workshop. Through these classes and workshops, you’ll learn
about Minnesota’s natural resources and how what we do in our yards can improve our
surface water, ground water, wildlife habitat, and other natural resources. Residents can
also apply for a $250 cost share grant to help with project installation expenses.
a so app y o a $50 cost s a e g a t to e p t p oject sta at o e pe ses
Learn more and register: dakotaswcd.org/services/landscaping-for-clean-water.
Blue Thumb workshops for your yard
Registration open
Learn how to make your outdoors more beautiful and more environmentally friendly. Come
to a Blue Thumb workshop to learn DIY ideas for projects that strengthen your yard, help
protect nearby lakes and streams and create habitat for bees and butterflies. Attend a
virtual workshop! And if you can’t attend your workshop, it will be recorded so that you can
watch later at your convenience.
Planting for Pollinators Workshop
Thursday, April 22, 6-7:30 p.m. | $15
This workshop includes information from the
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources’
Lawns to Legumes program, which helps residents
create pollinator-friendly landscapes in their yard.
Learn about pollinator health, and how you can help
bees and butterflies by installing pocket plantings,
trees and shrubs, bee lawns, pollinator meadows,
and more.
Register at bluethumb.org/events
Bee Lawn Workshop
Thursday, May 6, 6-7:30 p.m. | $15
Learn how to create a bee lawn! Bee expert and
Metro Blooms landcare professional James Wolfin
explains the steps for turning your turfgrass lawn into
a beautiful, flowering bee lawn. Flowering bee lawns
protect bees and butterflies, improve water quality,
and create a healthier environment.
Register at bluethumb.org/events
Recent highlights
The Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization is updating its
Watershed Management Plan to guide its activities for the next ten years. As part of
this process the public is invited to participate in a brief survey so they can better
understand concerns, priorities and goals for the health of our local water resources.
POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS
Just the Facts
Incident reports 3/26/21 - 4/1/21 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
The MHPD has expanded their social media channels to include Nextdoor. 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
Adult Softball League registration open
Registration is now open for the Mendota Heights Adult Softball League. There are open
spots for the Women's Tuesday Night League and Tuesday and Thursday Men's League.
All leagues play "D Level" softball. If you are interested in registering a team, please contact
Recreation Program Coordinator Meredith Lawrence, meredithl@mendota-heights.com.
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 watch City Council, Planning Commission, and Parks & Recreation
Commission meetings live on Cable Channel 18, online
at townsquare.tv/webstreaming (available live or for replay), or through dial-in when offered.
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 | April 6, 6:00 p.m.
Parks & Recreation Commission | April 13, 6:30 p.m.
City Council | April 20, 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.
Public Works Building: Monday - Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 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
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