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2013-11-01 Friday NewsFriday News Mendota Heights Weekly Report on City Activities Halloween Bonfire A Glowing Success Thank you to Paster Enterprises for hosting the annual Halloween bonfire and for providing goodie bags. Residents enjoyed hotdogs and pop next to a toasty fire, compliments of the fire department. A big thank you goes out to "= the Public Works, Police and Fire Department for all their work in making this year's event successful. November Reminders ♦ Beginning today parking is not allowed on any Mendota Heights streets between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. This will be in effect through March 31, 2014. ♦ The Mendota Heights Fire Department reminds you to replace the batteries in all smoke detectors when setting you clocks for daylight savings time this Sunday, November 3rd. ♦ Tuesday, November 5th City Council meeting time has been changed to 8:00 p.m. due to 2013 Election day activities. The city council agenda packet is available online by visiting www.mendota - heights.com and click- ing on the agenda /minutes link. 65th Annual Firefighters Dance will be held on Friday, November 15th. Advance tickets can be purchased Monday through Friday at City Hall for $12 each or 2 for $20. Come out for an evening of fun, music and dancing. Dates to Remember: November 3, 2013 Daylight Savings Time ends November 5, 2013 ISD 197 School Board Elections City Council 8:00 p.m. November 11, 2013 Veteran's Day - City Offices Closed November 12, 2013 Parks Commission 6:30 p.m. November 13, 2013 Airport Commission 7:00 p.m. Attachments: Pipeline, Just the Facts Ff] Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota- heights.com (651) 452 -1850 Facebook.com /MendotaHeightsMN Twitter.com / @mendota_ heights NEW S LETTER Public Works Engineering Code Enforcement Public Works The Pipeline November 1, 2013 Q � o The Parks Crew replaced the aerator tines on the pull behind aerator. Truck 301 was taken to Kremer Spring for repairs. The fertilizer spreader was installed on the tractor. The soccer fields at Kensington Park South were fertilized and prepared for top dressing next week. The Utilities Crew checked the lift station daily. A rock and rag were stuck in the pump i m pel for at the St. Thomas lift station. The pump was pulled out of the wet well and cleaned up. Trees were trimmed at the Northland lift station. Sanitary sewer lines were cleaned along Celia Street. Big pieces of minerals were cut out of this area due to ground water infiltration. A catch basin on Arcadia Drive was cleaned out of rocks and mud. The Streets Crew pushed up the bonfire materials every day. Storm basins in need of repair were fixed on Huber Drive, Hampshire Drive and Medallion Drive. Where storm basin repairs were made on Maple Park Drive they patched, graded and blacked topped the area. They also filled in the area behind the curb with dirt and grass seed. Tree stumps were grinded and the area filled with black dirt in the Valley Curve area, Walsh Lane and Kirchner Avenue. In the alley way by Hiawatha Avenue and Freemont Avenue class 5 was put down in low spots, leveled off with the bobcat and compacted with the roller. Engineering City Projects (construction year) Dodd Road /Highway 110 Intersection Pedestrian Improvements (2013) -The contractor is working on the punch -list items, and signal and lighting completion will take place upon delivery of parts from MnDOT. Hunter Lane /Orchard Place Neighborhood Improvements (20131 -The project is considered substantially complete, and the final lift of wear course asphalt will be placed in the spring. Assessed property owners can pay their assessment off partially or in -full at City Hall up until November 15t. After that the remaining assessed amount will be certified to the County and payable through annual property tax statements. Crown Point &Overlook Neighborhood Rehabilitations (2013) -The contractor is finishing the final punch -list items. Assessed property owners can pay their assessment off partially or in -full at City Hall up until November 15t ". After that the remaining assessed amount will be certified to the County and payable through annual property tax statements. Sanitary Sewer Cleaning and Televising (20131 -This project is substantially complete. Staff will review the data when the report is received from the contractor. Sanitary Sewer Lining (2013) -This project will install a liner in place on sections of sanitary sewer main that have been identified as having multiple root penetrations. All lining activities this year will be on the north end of the City. Minor traffic impacts should be anticipated while the contractor accesses manholes. Lining is expected to add up to 25 years to the life of the sanitary sewer main. Mendota Heights Road Sanitary Sewer Force Main Replacement (20131 -The main directional drilling is complete. The contractor will be jacking a pipe under Highway 55 next week and begin manhole construction. Project should be substantially complete in a couple weeks. Highway 13 Trail Connection (20131 - The contractor is ready to mobilize for construction. As soon as M n DOT State Aid office gives the City permission, a notice -to - proceed will be given to the contractor. A utility conflict with Saint Pau Regional Water Service needs to be resolved in conjunction with the construction. Anticipated completion of the trail will be later this fall. Pavement of the trail may be delayed until the spring depending on the contractor's schedule Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation & Victoria Road Reconstruction (2014 ?) - An informal nei h borhood meeting was held on October 23rd at City Hall. Over 40 area residents attended the meeting and offered comments, suggestions, and asked questions about the project. The public hearing before City Council is scheduled for November 5t" (note: Council meeting will begin at 8:OOpm due to School District elections) . Issues, concerns, and questions brought up in the neighborhood meeting will be forwarded to Council for the public hearing. Due to the size of the project Council may direct construction over multiple years. This tn will be discussed at the Public Hearing on November 5. 1 NOVEMBER 1, 2013 ULI�F 11W�11� �11� IF W �$ . the latest from the Ntewdota F- reCghts poUce pepartvwewt Dakota County Traffic fafety Awards SUPPORT STAFF Kim Henning Trista Miller Becky Pentel POLICE OFFICERS Jerry Murphy Scott Patrick John Larrive Bobby Lambert Tanner Spicer Todd Rosse Chad Willson Jeff Vonfeldt Steven Meyer Denise Urmann Michael Shepard Peyton Fleming On October 24, 2013, the Dakota County Traffic Safety Project ( DCTSP) held its first annual awards banquet. The DCTSP started in 2005 as a cooperative between Dakota County Law 1 Enforcement, the Dakota County Highway Engineer, the medical examiner's office and the Da- kota County Attorney's Office. The DCTSP members work together to review all the historical data on crashes, develop a plan and submit it to what used to be called a Safe and Sober Grant. This targeted enforcement /education /statistical gathering grant is funded by the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), whose job it is to find ways to make driving safer. The hard work does pay off. In 2012, 19 people died from auto related crashes, compared to 2005 when 28 died and the total number of crashes has dropped from 5,498 to 4,491. Grant fulfillment consists of targeted patrols within four primary enforcement areas: seatbelt, speed, distracted driving and DUI. The state then uses data - driven analysis tools to help the grant team structure the enforcements, and determine areas of targeted. Your safety on these roads is primarily in thanks to the hard work of the members of the DCTSP team and the officers i who spend the time on the street, dedicated to traffic safety. SCHOOL RESOURCE OFC. Jennifer Fordham INVESTIGATIONS Mario Reyes I Chad Willson SERGEANTS Neil Garlock Brian Conver I Y Eric Petersen RESERVES Randy Pentel Jim Knox Jeff Parker George Castillo CHAPLAINS Frances Cuenca Joel Detlefsen Lynn Liberman Butch Millett Sue Plucker John Snider David Wick Sergeant Neil Garlock has represented the Men- dota Heights Police Department on the DCTSP since its inception in 2005. The City of Mendota Heights has one of the highest primary seatbelt usage reporting's in the state of Minnesota, aver- aging well into the mid -90s on each observational count. Mendota Heights Police Department was recognized at the DCTSP Awards Banquet for dis- tinguished service in seatbelt enforcement. Pictured; Sergeant Neil Garlock, Sergeant Brian Convery, Officer Denise Urmann and Chief Mike Aschenbrener accepting the award on behalf of the Mendota Heights Police Department and all of the officers who put in time and effort to making the roads safe. DM Vol Kamd Submitte d i i Police Officer Parldm RztnotwKs Now k Ef act cottPatrick 1 With Fall upon us and Winter around the corner, a lot has been written and � distributed about the parking ban which is in effect from November 1st through March 31st between the hours of tam and 6 am. CHIEF I I Mike Aschenbrener The Police Department and the City go to great lengths to inform Mendota Heights residents of the Ordinance. The Ordinance is posted in numerous locations, City website, published in the Heights Highlights, Just The Facts and Officers have also been placing flyers on vehicles parked on the streets overnight to advise the owner of the parking restrictions that are now in effect. 0 QcToQUo00 Peeping Tom Wednesday 0857 hours Complainant called in an after the fact peeping tom incident. Officer Scott Patrick responded to the home where the female stated she had just finished up showering and when entering her bedroom, observed a smart phone right outside her bedroom window. The female yelled for her roommate and the roommate and barking dog came to help. The phone was then gone. After checking outside the window, it appeared the mulch was disturbed and a large uprooted weed was laying on the ground. The female was given security suggestions to help in the capture of the intruder. No suspects. Identity Theft Wednesday 1459 hours A local resident came into the PD to report mail had been stolen from his mailbox. The victim had placed an outgoing bill with a written check in the mailbox to be paid. It turns out, the check was presented to a bank in Inver Grove Heights, issued to a female for a much larger dollar amount and the memo line was filled in. The check was clearly tampered with. Good suspect information was available; case pending. DUI Wednesday 2357 hours While on routine patrol, Officer Peyton Fleming observed a vehicle turn without stopping or signaling. Fleming then activated his emergency lights and the vehicle continued to drive into the McDonald's drive through lane where it finally stopped. Fleming instructed the driver to pull forward out of the drive through lane. The driver failed all SFST's, refused a breath test, vehicle was towed and driver was transported to Dakota County Jail. Domestic Friday 1534 hours DCC received a call on a rolling domestic. Sergeant Eric Petersen located the vehicle and activated emergency lights. He then observed a male exiting the vehicle, which contained a front seat and a back seat passenger who were all yelling at each other. They were all separated and with the help of Officer Scott Pat- rick, tried to sort out the argument. The individuals were a boyfriend and girlfriend couple along with the girlfriend's son. The argument arose while discussing an acquaintance of the son and it became heated. The male wanted her to exit the vehicle to calm her down but he was too late, as the female ended up punching him in the face. Neither party wanted to press charges yet the male was cited for DAR and No Proof of In- surance. Detox Friday 1930 hours DCC received a call from a woman who wanted to report her intoxicated mother was en route to the liquor store; then the caller said, "I'm done," and hung up the phone. Officer Mike Shepard located the vehicle parked in front of the liquor store and soon saw the woman walk out. Upon approach, she smelled strongly of alcohol and had watery, blood -shot eyes. She stated she was in an argument with her daughter. After run- ning a check on the mother, it showed her drivers license had an alcohol and drug restriction. She was then instructed to complete a breath test which showed a high alcohol concentration. Officer Shepard then made reservations for the woman at Ramsey County Detox. i 00o QOOTDDTnF �@ Mental Health Crisis Friday 2014 hours Sergeant Eric Petersen responded to a home on a call of a dispute between father and daughter. In speaking with the father, he stated his daughter came home with a bottle of booze, grabbed some orange juice and went to her room. He stated this was the first time she had done this, but she suffers from mental illness. An argument about the situation started; the daughter ended up pushing her way past her father and slapped him. She then took off from the home in a vehicle. A friend of hers spoke to her and was scared she would attempt to take her life as she had tried in the past. Her cell phone was pinged and she was found in WI and put on a health hold. Dad was notified of her whereabouts. Suspicious Person Sunday 0201 hours While on routine patrol, Officer Jeff VonFeldt observed two juvenile females hiding behind a parked ve- hicle. He put the spotlight on them and they began to run at which time he instructed them to stop and come back to the squad. When asked what the girls were doing, they stated they snuck out of their house in Bloomington to meet up with a boy. However, upon catching the girls in her home, the boy's grandmother kicked the girls out of the house and they didn't know where they were or how they were going to get home. VonFeldt contacted the grandmother who was very confrontational and uncooperative. The girls were taken back to the PD where their parents were called to pick them up. Theft from Vehicle Monday 1913 hours Officer Todd Rosse responded to a local restaurant on an after the fact theft from vehicle. The victim's re- turned to his car that was parked in the parking lot and upon found the passenger side front window shat- tered with multiple items stolen from the vehicle. It appears items were obtained by reaching into the vehi- cle and opening the center console where all of the valuables were located. No suspects at this time, under investigation. Burglary Thursday 0753 hours Officer Larrive was dispatched to a local restaurant on a burglary report. Upon arriving at the scene, he ob- served a glass door shattered and evidence of forced entry. The suspect (s) then forced entry into a locked office where the cash box, and over $1,000 were stolen. Under investigation. Trespass /Drugs Friday 0058 hours This is a perfect example of citizens and law enforcement working together: Caller reported activity in the house next door and possible flashlights within. Sergeant Petersen was close by, saw the two males and stopped them in their vehicle while awaiting assistance. Officers Fleming and Rosse quickly arrived and the males were taken into custody without issue. The occupants were questioned and officers learned that the two parties were under 21, they had been drinking, and they thought they would break into the home in where the driver used to live reportedly because the driver said he had left property there. Upon searching the vehicle, hallucinogenic mushrooms were found. Driver was arrested on 4th Degree Drug Possession, trespass and Under 21 charges, passenger was cited for Under 21 and trespass; both were given a ride to jail. Vehicle towed /forfeited, officers cleared. 4 *V PP FV] -IT I _T 0 0 0 o I $TAN _M_ I VW9 I 0� 10/25 - 11/01 2013 YTD I Calls for Service 134 7J33 ISD 197 Foundation Citations 13 1299 wrote a note of � I appreciation I Warnings 20 1,117 thanking Sergeant t I I Neil Garlock, I I Police Reports 18 897 Investi g ator Mario Reyes, Officer Jerry I h and Reserve Response Time Average 5.18 5.17 Murphy I Officer Jeff Parker on Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: their help with the htt]2://mendota.prophoenix.com/CS/CrimeMapping.asj2x 5K. The 5K had a great turnout and the presence of our officers gave the _ foundation p eace of -�� � �� rt 00 mind to ensure a safe r r event. Thanks for all If you are a Mendota Heights resident and you are going out of town or on your help' vacation, you can notify MHPD of your outing and we will be more than happy to keep a watchful eye on your home while you are away. The House Check Request online form is available on our website; we have similar forms in the MHPD lobby and we will take your info over the phone. Please send us your positive feedback on our staff to: pdrecords@ mendota- heights.com MHPD offers monthly Car Seat Safety Checks. To schedule an appointment, call 651.452.1366 to contact Officer Jennifer Fordham. M Take It to THE BC) 2''our feedback is greatly MHPD has a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of the PD where Dakota appreciated and helps boost County residents can safely and anonymously dispose of their prescription drugs the morale o f our staff. I 1. and over - the - counter medication. t-f2ve a safe we6z!