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2002-11-15 Friday News The Friday News November 15, 2002 Livable Communities Grant Increased On Wednesday I attended the Metropolitan Council meeting where they voted on the Livable Communities Grant awards. Not only did they approve our grant, but they increased the amount to $873,400! They awarded one new grant to the City of Ramsey, but Mendota Heights was the only grant award they increased. We are very excited about this news! Town Center Residential Focus Group Meetings Ross Fefercorn will be holding four focus group meetings with interested buyers of the town homes and condominiums in Town Center. The meetings will be held at 7:00 PM at the Mendakota Country Club on thththth December 5, 10, 12 and 17. Space is limited, so if you are interested in attending, please call Terese Hurley at the Dorn Company at 452-3047. nd CDA Groundbreaking – December 2 The Dakota County CDA will be holding a groundbreaking for their new Town Center building on nd Monday, December 2 at 3:30. There will be a photo opportunity on the site (gold shovels and hard hats!). Then the group will move to the CDA Senior facility behind Mendota Plaza for a presentation. Mayor Charles Mertensotto will speak, as well as County Commissioner Patrice Bataglia. This will be an exciting day for Mendota Heights and the Town Center project! City Council Budget Workshop th The City Council met on Tuesday, November 12 at 7:00 PM to discuss the 2003 budget. In early September, the City Council adopted the preliminary levy for 2003. The City now must adopt the final levy and budget by December 28, 2002. The budget discussions have taken on a new twist. At the end of October, we received a letter from the League of Minnesota Cities indicating that December aid cuts are becoming more likely. The State deficit may reach $2.7 billion, which may lead to immediate remedial action. This could include reductions or delays of December aid payments. The League is recommending that Cities make preliminary preparations in their budgets for the possibility of un-allotment. Through un- allotment, the City could lose up to $90,000. Unfortunately, we won’t know whether or not the funding has been lost until late Spring. The Council met with each department head to discuss the 2003 budget. The Council, at the budget meeting, reduced the general fund budget by almost $71,000. The City will adopt the budget and the final levy at its first meeting in December. Parks Commission Meeting The Parks Commission met on Tuesday night and once again discussed the possibility of building a skateboard park in Mendota Heights. Approximately fourteen young skateboarders attended the meeting and addressed the Commission about their sport. The Parks Commission voted to cancel their December meeting and meet again the second Tuesday in January. At that time, they will discuss the construction of a skateboard park at Rogers Lake Park. Sad News I am sorry to report that Kathy Swanson’s mother in law-Mildred Swanson, passed away last Saturday. She was 88 years old. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Swanson family at this time of loss. City Council Meeting The City Council will meet on Tuesday night at 7:30. The agenda is relatively light. The Town Center/Freeway Road improvement project bid will be awarded. Mr. Clifford Timm requested the opportunity to address the Council again regarding a proposed goose hunting ordinance. The Council will also discuss the Joint Airport Zoning Board indemnification agreement. Bid Award for Town Center Redevelopment/Freeway Road Neighborhood The bid opening for the Town Center Redevelopment/Freeway Road Neighborhood, Augusta Shores and Surrounding Areas improvement project is scheduled for 3:00 PM on Friday, November 15 at City Hall. These bid results will be presented to the Council for review and contract award consideration at their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday. Scaring Away Reporters I am sorry to report that we are losing another reporter. Nichola Saminather, our Sun Current reporter is moving to London, England to attend graduate school. Her last day on the job will be Friday, November nd 22. Nichola has covered the City news over the past year, replacing Merilee Helgeson who was transferred to the Western suburbs. Nichola was a fair and accurate reporter that covered the news in Mendota Heights well. Good luck abroad! Commission Appointments Expiring There are a number of Commission appointments that expire on January 31, 2003. If you are interested in being re-appointed to your Commission, please send a letter or email to my attention requesting the re- appointment. The following individuals have terms expiring in January: Planning Commission: Marina McManus, Bernie Friel and Bruce McManus; Parks and Recreation Commission: Stan Linnell, Raymond Morris and Larry Craighead; and Airport Relations Commission: Scott Beaty, Joe Leuman and Elizabeth Petschel. Final Thought “I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t find them, make them.” George Bernard Shaw Respectfully Submitted, Cari Lindberg Administrator Attachments: Pipeline, City Council agenda, Highland Villager article “Town Center gets $587,400 grant,” Sun Current articles “Mendota Heights awaits new Mayor, Council members,” “John Huber thanks community,” Southwest Review article “2002 election results are in,” and “Schneeman: Special thanks to supporters.”