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2013-11-27 Friday News November 27, 2013 Dates to Remember: November 28 - 29, 2013 Thanksgiving Holiday Closed City offices will re-open on Monday December 2nd at 8:00 a.m. December 3, 2013 City Council 7:00 p.m. December 5, 2013 Mendota Plaza’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony 6:00 p.m. December 7, 2013 Mendota Lights at the Village 4:00 p.m. Attachments: Pipeline, Just the Facts Friday News Mendota Heights Weekly Report on City Activities 2014 City Budget The City of Mendota Heights 2014 Budget will be discussed at the December 3, 2013 city council meeting. Agenda materials can be found at www.mendota-heights.com —click on Agenda/Minutes. Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com (651) 452-1850 Facebook.com/MendotaHeightsMN Twitter.com/@mendota_heights Holiday Collection Site Officer Denise Urmann is coordinating a Toys for Tots Drive at City Hall once again this holiday season. Toys can be dropped off through Friday, December 20th. Through the gift of a new toy or a cash donation, you can help bring the joy of Christmas and send a message of hope to our less fortunate children. All gifts given in Minnesota will be dispersed to families in need right here at home! Mendota Heights City Hall will be a collection site for your holiday lights, electric and phone cords through January 31, 2014. Resi- dents can drop off lights, electric and phone cords Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cord adapters, battery packs, plastic rope lights or CFL lights will not be accepted. Happy Thanksgiving City Offices will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29 for the Thanksgiving Holiday. Have a happy and safe holiday weekend. Public Works The Parks Crew brought the broom and snow blower down from the water tower. The summer equipment was brought up to the water tower for winter storage. The wing decks were put back on the groundsmaster after it came back from Toro. The hood was also installed. The hand mower, edger, and aerator were serviced for next year. The Utilities Crew received a high water alarm from the Lilydale lift station. There were rags wrapped around the float. They were cleaning wipes that should not be flushed. He worked on the force main drain. The Mendota Heights Road lift station is now working on the newly finished force main. The Streets Crew pulled and picked up signs from the corner of Hunter Lane and Orchard Place. They removed the storm sewer silt protectors from South Plaza Drive. The street sweepings were cleaned up that were on the trucks and the sanders reinstalled. The chipper blades were replaced. Engineering City Projects (construction year) Dodd Road/Highway 110 Intersection Pedestrian Improvements (2013) – The contractor is working on the punch-list items (including removing the concrete pipe from the Dodd Road shoulder), and signal completion will take place upon delivery of parts from MnDOT. New luminaires have been installed at the NE corner. Hunter Lane/Orchard Place Neighborhood Improvements (2013) –The project is considered substantially complete and the final lift of wear course asphalt will be placed in the spring. Assessment amounts not paid off by November 1st have been 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. Assessment amounts not paid off by November 18th have been certified to the County and payable through annual property tax statements. Sanitary Sewer Cleaning and Televising (2013) – This project is substantially complete. Staff will review the data when the final report is received from the contractor and determine which sections of sewer (if any) require lining in 2014. The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works Engineering Code Enforcement November 27, 2013 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 were identified by the 2012 cleaning and televising contract and 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 (2013) – The main directional drilling is complete. The contractor is planning to switch over to the new line today Friday November 22nd. Highway 13 Trail Connection (2013) – The contractor is ready to mobilize for construction. As soon as MnDOT State Aid office gives the City permission, a notice-to–proceed will be given to the contractor. A utility conflict with Saint Paul Regional Water Service needs to be resolved in conjunction with the construction. Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2014/2015) – Council ordered Victoria Road from Highway 13 to Marie Avenue to be reconstructed in 2014 as well as the rehabilitation area of Rolling Green Curve, Stratford Road, Walsh Lane, Coventry Court, Windwood Court, and Oxford Court. Staff will begin designing the project this winter with anticipated bid opening in May with construction beginning June 2014. State Projects Northbound Highway 52 Closure This Weekend – North bound Highway 52 on the Lafayette Bridge will be closed Saturday, November 30th from 9:00am to 5:00pm between Concord Street and West 7th Street. Detour routes include I-494, US Highway 61, and I-94. For more information, see the MnDOT project web page: www.mndot.gov/lafayettebridge/ MnDOT Commisioner/Met Council Open Houses - Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Charlie Zelle and Metropolitan Council Chair Sue Haigh invite the public to attend town hall meetings on transportation, including transit, on several dates in December. All meetings are from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 at Minneapolis Public Library, Pohlad Hall 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Anoka/Ramsey Community College, Coon Rapids Campus, Legacy Conference Room, 11200 Mississippi Blvd. NW, Coon Rapids, MN Tuesday, Dec. 10 at St. Paul Union Depot, Veterans Gallery, 214 E. 4th Street., St. Paul, MN Thursday, Dec. 12 at Century College, 3300 Century Ave. N., Room #2315, White Bear Lake, MN Tuesday, Dec. 17 at Burnsville High School Theatre, Mraz Center for the Performing Arts, 600 East Highway 13, Burnsville, MN, Zelle and Haigh will lead a discussion about transportation, how it affects quality of life, its link to Minnesota’s economy and the importance of investing in this state asset. The officials will also take feedback and answer questions about Minnesota’s transportation system. Local MnDOT officials will be available to answer questions, as well. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend. Additional information is available at www.mndot.gov/minnesotago/. Highway 13 Reconstruction (2015) – The section of Highway 13 that was not rehabilitated in 2012 is scheduled for reconstruction in 2015. This section is from I-35E south and west to 2nd Street in Mendota. This section will receive a widened shoulder, curb, gutter, and storm sewer to help alleviate drainage and erosion problems in Lilydale. Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Resurfacing (2015) – Dodd Road is scheduled to be resurfaced from Highway 55 in Eagan north to Annapolis Street in 2015. At this time, there are no plans to widen the State Highway, but some alterations for drainage and public safety are possible. Curb, gutter, and storm sewer will be installed where drainage and erosion issues exist. Highway 110 Resurfacing (2017) – Preliminary project scoping has begun for the resurfacing for Highway 110 in 2017. This project will not reconstruct or change the alignment of the State Highway, but modifications to access points, traffic signals, shoulders, drainage, and pedestrian facilities are all likely. Other Activities Future Cities Competition - Staff is once again assisting 6th through 8th grade students at Friendly Hills Middle School with their entries in the Future Cities Competition. This competition challenges middle school students to conceptually develop a city of the future addressing issues and needs municipalities will face in the coming years. This year’s theme is, “Tomorrow’s Transit: Design a Way to Move People In and Around Your City,” so the students will be looking at how people, materials, and products move throughout a developed community. The students have completed their computer models using the popular Sim City game, and have begun researching their essays. There are some very unique and innovative ideas being proposed by the student groups. Friendly Hills Middle School should, once again have some very successful teams in the competition. 1 The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department 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 SCHOOL RESOURCE OFC. Jennifer Fordham INVESTIGATIONS Mario Reyes Chad Willson SERGEANTS Neil Garlock Brian Convery 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 CHIEF Mike Aschenbrener NOVEMBER 29, 2013 Submitted By: Police Ofϐicer Steve Meyer A warm car to steal? The cold is here! The City of Mendota Heights has an ordinance to help protect citizens and visitors of the City from becoming victims of motor vehicle crimes. Mendota Heights City Ordinance number 6‐2‐2 states: 1. No person shall leave a motor vehicle unattended on any road, street or highway in the City with the engine running. 2. No person shall leave a motor vehicle parked unattended in the City, on a street, road or highway, in any parking area, or in any public or private driveway, with the key in the ignition or the ignition unlocked. 3. Whenever any police ofϐicer shall ϐind any such motor vehicle standing in violation of the foregoing provision, such police ofϐicer is authorized and directed to remove the keys from such vehicle and retain the same until called for by the owner of said motor vehicle. It’s not that the City doesn't want you to have a warm, defrosted vehicle, but more so intended to protect you and your property from falling victim to motor vehicle theft. Often times, these are crimes of opportunity for thieves to strike. Thou shall not tempt! It is recommended that an auto start device be installed and used if you need to warm up your vehicle prior to driving so you do not end up a victim or on the wrong side of the law! The 2013 Police Citizens Academy “Badges, Bullets and Brains,” just ϐinished the 6th Annual Class. The Mendota Heights and West St. Paul Police Departments Citizen’s jointly host the Academy. Graduation was held Thursday November 21st. Over the 10 week course, the participants had an opportunity to learn about police work in both a classroom and hands on! They had a chance to drive a squad car, shoot a gun, lift a ϐinger print, hear how the CSI Effect impacts a trial, tour the jail & 911 Center and arrest a drunk driver. Follow the link to see a NDC4 video production about the academy: http://vimeo.com/79801200 Congratulations 2013 Citizen’s Academy! 2 PI Crash Thursday 1805 hours Officer Peyton Fleming responded to a crash in a school parking lot. Two children were transported by HealthEast Ambulance to the hospital. The two mini-vans involved were driving through the parking lot when one turned in front of the other. Both drivers stated they were not speeding yet somehow, the vehicles sustained significant damage resulting in one car having to be towed from the scene. Theft of Gas Saturday 2000 hours An employee of a local gas station called to report an adult male had pumped $43.08 worth of gas and left without paying. The car was described as a purple Chevrolet Impala. The license plate registers to an Impala out of Shakopee. The clerk stated they can ID the thief if needed. Video surveillance is forthcoming pending investigation. DUI / Possession of a Small Amount of MJ Saturday 2227 hours A 911 cell phone caller reported he was following a car on Delaware Avenue that was all over the road driving against traffic and not stopping. Officer Denise Urmann caught up with the vehicle as it exited the Village of Mendota N/B on Dodd Road. Officer Urmann followed the car noting the probable cause to make a stop when the car turned on Wachtler and drove down the wrong side of the street... her decision was quickly reinforced. The squads emergency lights were immediately activated. The car pulled into the next driveway and pulled up to a garage and stopped. When contact was made, it was obvious the driver was intoxicated. When asked if the individual lived at the house, the individual stated no. When asked if they knew the homeowners, the individual stated no. When asked where they were coming from, the driver said White Bear Lake. Needless to say, the driver didn't do well on any of the SFST’s including the PBT which revealed a BAC of .182. As the car was being inventoried to remove it from the driveway, marijuana along other drug paraphernalia was located. The driver quickly admitted to the possession. They were read the MN Implied Consent Advisory and refused to test. The party was transported to the Dakota County Jail. Theft from Auto Sunday 1102 hours Officer Scott Patrick responded to a local apartment building to meet a resident about a theft from their vehicle. The victim had parked in the corner of the parking lot. Unfortunately a thief broke in and attempted to hot wire the car without success. The crooks then stole the in dash stereo system. Case pending possible video surveillance. Theft Monday 1538 hours A local business reported that a 6’7”, early 30’s, B/M came into the store waited until the employees were busy and grabbed an iPad off the front desk and jumped into a waiting white BMW with no license plates. The thieves then fled the area. No video. Investigations looking for similar thefts. Violation of No Contact Order Monday 2049 hours Officer Urmann met with a frequent victim of a Domestic Abuse No Contact Order (DANCO). The woman’s daughters former boyfriend and father of soon to be grand child is prohibited by court order from having any contact. Mom reports the young man has never stopped calling, is usually drunk and this time was very derogatory towards her when she answered the phone. A statement was taken and copies of phone records were requested for charging. Under investigation. 3 Friday afternoon a resident stopped to thank Officer John Larrive for respond- ing and checking out the suspicious man at his house, that was in fact him. He was impressed with professionalism displayed by Officer Larrive as he confirmed that he was the homeowner. He also wanted us to let the neighbor know how much he appreciated him keeping an eye on his place while he was gone. Please send us your positive feedback on our staff to: pdrecords@ mendota-heights.com Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps boost the morale of our staff. Have a Safe Week! 11/22—11/27 2013 YTD Calls for Service 94 7,680 Citations 7 1,412 Warnings 9 1,168 Police Reports 10 969 Response Time Average 5.87 5.21 Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: http://mendota.prophoenix.com/CS/CrimeMapping.aspx If you are a Mendota Heights resident and you are going out of town or on 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. MHPD offers monthly Car Seat Safety Checks. To schedule an appointment, call 651.452.1366 to contact Ofϐicer Jennifer Fordham. MHPD has a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of the PD where Dakota County residents can safely and anonymously dispose of their prescription drugs and over‐the‐counter medication.