Heights Highlights Spring 2025Official City of Mendota Heights Publication
HEIGHTS
HIGHLIG
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INSIDE
Police Cadets Graduate
A Message from
the Mayor
After a winter filled with ice skating, frozen hikes and fun, spring is upon
us! And as the warmer days roll in, you'll begin to see how the City works
with community stakeholders to maintain and improve our
infrastructure.
One significant project that's progressing this spring is at Oheyawahe -
a 112-acre site in Mendota Heights, considered sacred by the Dakota
people and other Native Americans. Here's what's happening:
• We are working to restore native grasses to the area, one way of
doing this is through prescribed burns, which kill off invasive species
and allow the native prairie to return.
• We need to make the site safe and accessible to all visitors, and we received a capital
investment funding allocation of $1.85 million from the State of Minnesota to do this; the planning
process is underway and we'll keep you updated as plans progress this summer.
• We are adding interpretive signs throughout the site, to help visitors understand its history -
this project has been aided by a $60,000 grant from the Minnesota Historical Society, and is
nearing completion.
Keep up to date on these and other happenings in our community, including a multitude of summer
events and programs, online at MendotaHeightsMN.gov/InfrastructureProjects.
Stephanie B. Levine, Mayor
I
Police Cadets
Graduate
The Police Department recently
launched a program to recruit and
train future officers. The Cadet
Program, partially funded through
the State, allows qualified 1
candidates to receive a scholarship \
for schooling and a salary, while they
simultaneously progress through
required schooling and gain on-the-job
experience.
Cadets graduating from the Program have
completed the necessary State requirements to be sworn in
and begin field training, with a two-year commitment to serve
in Mendota Heights.
"I chose to pursue a career in law enforcement because I have
always wanted to help people - my grandfather was a police
officer, and his stories about making a difference in the
community inspired me," said Madeline Spencer, the first
cadet to graduate from the Program.
"I was drawn to the Cadet Program because of opportunity to
work at the department while attending my skills courses,
which allowed me to learn about the officers' leadership roles,
build connections with the staff - whenever I had questions
about my training or areas where I needed improvement,
Department leadership took time out of their day to help me
succeed."
The Program's second graduate, David Perrault agrees, "For
me, law enforcement is a second career and the cadet
program provided a pathway to pursue the necessary
education and training to become a licensed peace officer, as
well as guarantee a job when I completed the program."
"The Cadet Program is a great opportunity for anyone looking
to get into law enforcement; I highly recommend it, and anyone
interested should explore what the program has to offer."
With two successful graduates and third scheduled to
graduate in 2025, the Cadet Program has become an
important tool for Police Department's recruitment and
retention, as well as succession planning efforts.
"One of the things I like most about the Program is that it
provides candidates who have always wanted to work in law
enforcement, but couldn't sacrifice their current income to
attend school, with the opportunity to make a career change,"
said Captain Wayne Wegener. "And by doing that, the
Department gains dedicated new officers who fill vacancies left
by those retiring from service."
Congratulations, Officers Spencer and Perrault - we're proud
to have you in our community!
MendotaHeightsMN.gov/
Police
The Just
Deeds Project
Raising
awareness of
racial covenants
in property JUST -e4
deeds, the Just
Deeds Project
encourages
homeowners to
check for discriminatory covenants
on your property. They can be
discharged free of charge through
Dakota County!
JustDeeds.org
The Mendota Heights Energy
Action plan aims to save an
estimated $1.6 million through
energy efficiency measures and
reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by 9,000 metric tons,
by the year 2030.
Ready to get involved? Sign up
for a Home Energy Squad visit!
Energy experts will personally
inspect and assess how your
home uses energy and offer ways
to create a more energy efficient
home.
XcelEnergy.com/
HomeEnergySquad
A Look Inside: City
Infrastructure
Projects
Each year, the City completes a series of
infrastructure projects to maintain
streets, parks and other important
amenities. Once these projects are
approved by the Council, City staff begin
the Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
This involves sharing details of the project
with potential vendors, who in turn submit
a bid for completion. Staff members and
the Council weigh the costs, timelines and
other key details in each proposal
received, before choosing the
best -possible vendor to complete the
project.
Upcoming Infrastructure Projects:
Reconstruction of the Ivy Hills Park
playground
Hampshire Drive neighborhood
pavement improvements and new trail
Friendly Hills neighborhood pavement
rehabilitation
Valley Park Trail streambank
stabilization and trail improvements
street improvements
Inspection of 46 community ponds
Dredging of new Sibley Plant pond
Restoration work at Copperfield
Ponds, Oheyawahe, Rogers Lake and
Valley Park
MendotaHeightsMN.gov/
Projects
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Earth and
Arbor Week
17, It
Celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day with
a week-long lineup of events and
entertainment!
Find Lily the Frog
April 21-26
Find Lily hidden in a park using clues
posted online - snap a photo to be
entered into a prize drawing.
Learn to Fish
April 22; 5-7 p.m.
Stop out to Rogers Lake Park and learn
the basics with Fishing For All.
Yoga in the Park
April 23; 5-6 p.m.
Enjoy a free outdoor yoga session at
Market Square Park.
EcoElsa Biologist Explorer Class
April 24; 3-5 p.m.
Join naturalist EcoElsa to learn about
animal habitats, exploring plants and
small wildlife. Free; registration required.
U of MN Raptor Center Program
April 25; 12:45-1:45 p.m.
Join us at Mendakota Park for a live
raptor show!
Kids Garage Sale
April 26; 10 a.m.-Noon
Bring your piggy bank to Veteran's
Memorial Community Center and shop
for treasures from young entrepreneurs.
Earth and Arbor Day Celebration
April 26; 1-3 p.m.
Don't miss this annual event at Market
Square Park, complete with booths,
giveaways, educational opportunities
and more!
MendotaHeightsMN.gov/
Calendar
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Follow your
Recycling
If you follow your recycling in Dakota County, you won't have to go very far. The
materials are sorted by people and machines at local recycling facilities and sent
to different companies that turn them into new products.
Many of these companies are based right here in Minnesota, turning recyclables
into new cracker and cereal boxes, durable decking and fencing, food and
beverage bottles and more. To keep this process running smoothly, it is
important to put the right items in your home recycling.
Put these items loose in your home recycling
(no plastic bags):
M
Paper Metal cans
• Newspaper and Aluminum, tin and
inserts steel cans
• Magazines and Glass bottles and jars
G catalogs Plastic bottles,
I • Mail and office papers containers and jugs
Cardboard • Containers numbered
• Corrugated cardboard 1, 2 or 5
• Paperboard (e.g., • Soda, juice and water
bottles
cracker boxes)
Cartons • Milk and juice jugs
• Margarine, cottage
• Milk and juice cartons cheese and other tubs
ti • Soup, broth and wine and lids i
cartons • Laundry detergent
• Juice boxes bottles and jugs
• Clear berry and
produce containers
Make sure bottles, jars and containers are empty and dry before recycling. They
don't have to be perfect — just free of most residue like food and liquids. Leave
caps on containers and flatten boxes. Leave out plastic bags, batteries, black
plastic, food and things that can tangle around moving machines. If you're
wondering about a specific item, use the online Recycling Guide.
DakotaCounty.US
Search: Recycling Zone
Partially funded by Dakota County and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
MARKYOUR CALENDAR
TOUR
C
t
May 14
The Legendary
Percolators
May 28
Darlene &
The Boys
June 11
Swingin'
on a Star
June 25
Alligations
TOUCH -A -TRUCK
May 10
10 a.m.-Noon
Weather reschedule date: May 11
Mendakota Park
2111 Dodd Rd.
Explore the trucks that help run the City!
New this year:
Video game truck 2-4 p.m.
(Ages 13+)
MendotaHeightsMN.gov/
o Calendar
City of Mendota Heights
1101 Victoria Curve
Mendota Heights, MN 55118
651-452-1850
Council
Mayor Stephanie Levine
SLevine@MendotaHeightsMN.gov
651-686-0340
Councilor Sally Lorberbaum
SLorberbaum@Mendota Heights M N,gov
651-503-5564
Councilor John Maczko
JMaczko@MendotaHeightsMN.gov
651-454-5961
Councilor John Mazzitello
JMazzitello@MendotaHeightsMN.gov
651-249-7306
Councilor Joel Paper
JPaper@MendotaHeightsMN,gov
612-237-1133
PRSRT STD
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #32324
Twin Cities, MN
Printed on 10% post -consumer product.
C4Please recycle this publication.
As spring rolls in and you're
planning to head out to the