2014-10-24 Friday News
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N E W S The Pipeline
L E T T E R
Public Works
Engineering
October 24, 2014
Code Enforcement
Code Enforcement
Public Works
The Parks Crew top dressed the fields at Kensington and Mendakota Parks.
They aerated and over seeded the soccer fields at Mendakota Park. Stump
grindings were dug out. Black dirt and seed was put down in low spots at
Marie Park. Leaves were mulched inthe parks. They met with a contractor
at Marie Park for the building the new hockey rink boards.
The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. New HVAC filters were
installed in the main lift station. Two sanitary sewer inspections were done.
Manholes were checked in this year’s Victoria Avenue construction area.
Assisted the Parks Crew paint over the graffiti in the Valley Park tunnel, and
helped the Streets Crew with blacktop patching. The fencing, gates, posts
and caution tape were put up at the bonfire site. Fire hydrants were painted
on Mendakota Court and Mendakota Drive.
The Streets Crew fixed catch basins. They prepped them and then
blacktopped around the catch basins. Signs were picked up at Earl F.
Anderson. Potholes were patched on Pond Haven, Apache, Huber Drive,
Maple Park Drive, Victoria Curve and Centre Pointe. A sign was replaced at
Beebe Avenue and Dodd Road.
Engineering
City Projects (construction year)
Highway 13 Trail Connection (2014)–The project is underway. Saint Paul
Regional Water Service is lowering a water main and the trail construction
will begin when this work is complete.The new trail segment will connect
The Summit to Lilydale Road along Highway 13. Project completion is
expected by mid-November.
Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation
(2014/2015)–Final lift of asphalt on Victoria has been installed, and trail
work will be completed within the next week or two. Landscaping on
Victoria is complete, and the contractor will be watering for the remainder of
the season. Public meetings on the second phase of the project (south of
Marie Avenue) are expected in November/December of this year.
Wentworth Avenue & Pilot Knob Road Trail Rehabilitation Projects (2014) –
Both the Wentworth and Pilot Knob Trail pavements have been replaced.
Landscape work will be completed by the end of the month.
Marie Avenue/I-35E Erosion Repairs (2014)–Staff has been working with
MnDOT on a project to repair erosion that has taken place in the northeast
quadrant of the Marie Avenue and I-35E intersection. This project is now
complete.
Kensington Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2015)–City Council authorized
staff to produce a Feasibility Report for the project. This Feasibility Report
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was accepted at the Council’sOctober 7meeting, but Council did not call
for a public hearing to advance the project to its next phase. Council chose
to wait until after the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) Budget is presented
in November to make a decision on when this project would take place. The
project is being developed at the request of the Kensington Homeowners
Association.
Storm Drainage System Repairs (2014)–City Council approved purchase
orders for culvert repairs associated with the storm that took place earlier
this summer. The contractor should begin work on the culverts on Willow
Lane and northeast of Dodd Road and Marie Avenue within the next week or
two.
County Projects
River to RiverGreenway Realignment (2014/2015)–Construction is nearing
completion for this year. The new trail has been paved along Warrior Drive
and north to Marie Avenue.The remainder of Marie Avenue trail will be
paved next week. Pedestrian access point along Warrior Drive will also be
paved next week. The “speed table” has beeninstalled on the Henry Sibley
High School drive entrance off Warrior Drive, and there are discussions
between the County and the contractor as to how effective the table will be
for speed control.Parking on the east side of Warrior Drive is anticipated to
be restored on November 3rd. No Parking areas necessitated by the County
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as part of the project will be presented to City Council at their November 5
meeting, and permanent signs will go up after Council approval. These will
beat the two pedestrian access points (50 feet of no parking each) and the
250 feet immediately south of the Henry Sibley High School entrance drive.
Parking on the west side of Warrior Drive remains prohibited per City Code.
For more information, please contact the Dakota County Project Manager,
Chris Hartzel,at (952-891-7106,Chris.Hartzell@co.dakota.mn.us).
River to River Greenway Master Plan–The North Urban Regional Trail
(NURT) has been re-named by Dakota County as the River to River
Greenway. Dakota County has begun the process of developing a Master
Plan for the entire Greenway, which runs from the Big Rivers Regional Trail
in Lilydale (near the Pool and Yacht Club) and the Mississippi River Regional
Trail in South Saint Paul. Staff me with County staff and their consultants
on Thursday to discuss the development of the Master Plan. An update is
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scheduled to be provided at the December 2City Council meeting.
State Projects
Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Reconstruction (I-494 to Highway 55 –Eagan)–
This project is nearing completion. The projectreconstructedDodd Road
from the I-494 Interchange to Highway 55 in Eagan. Construction is
expected to be complete by the end of November. Contact the City of
Eagan for more information.
Other Activities
Future Cities Competition–Staff met with Future Citiesteam members at
Friendly Hills Middle School on Monday to continue work on this year’s
project. This year’s theme is, “Feeding a Future City,” and will focus on
urban and suburban agricultural services for city population. In addition to
the normally required land use planning, and infrastructure development,
students will have to incorporate the growth and production of one protein
and one vegetable in such a quantity to feed their city population. Students
have completed their draft essays and begun their SimCity computer
models. Friendly Hills Staff is in the process of selecting the teams that will
advance to the State competition, which is held on the University of
Minnesota campus in January.
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) 2015 Sanitary Sewer
Rate and Surcharge–Staff has been working with representatives from
MCES for the past several weeks on resolving issues surrounding their
proposed rates for sanitary sewer service for 2015. The proposed rate
increase for 2015 is 12%, and there is a proposed surcharge over and
above the rate increase due to the City exceeding our allowed daily
discharge amount on June 19, 2014(the day of the big rain storm). The
City is negotiating with MCES on reducing or eliminating the surchargeand
a decision on the surcharge should be forthcoming. Once resolved, we can
begin to negotiate the rate increase.Sanitary Sewer Rates for 2015 will be
set at a City Council meeting in December.
O 24, 2014
CTOBER
The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department
Help Your Kids Become Good Citizens
CHIEF
Ask anyone what he/she thinks a good citizen is, and more than likely
SERGEANT
you will get a different answer each time. Some may think that a
good citizen is involved in his/her community, while another may say
POLICEOFFICERS that a good citizen is law-abiding. Teaching children to be a good
citizen when she/he is young can help her/him to develop into a
responsible adult.
Empathy
: Empathy is key in creating and maintaining genuine
human relationships. It is important to teach children that despite our differences we are
Steven
all human beings.
Respect:
The “golden rule” is well known. Tell your children that being respectful
means being courteous of others for who they are as people. Being tolerant of people
who are different from us is key to treating someone fairly.
INVESTIGATIONS
Volunteer:
Being a responsible citizen begins with taking care of the environment
around us. Make your child aware that giving your time can be just as beneficial as
SCHOOLRESOURCE
donating money to a charity or organization.
OFFICER
Obeying the Law
: Good citizens do not put others at risk. Good citizens follow the
laws that govern their state or country. Rules are meant to keep people safe. As a parent,
SUPPORTSTAFF
if you follow the rules (for example, not speeding, wearing your seatbelt or paying taxes)
and do all you can to be a good example hopefully your child will follow suit.
RESERVES
Parents—Keeping Your Cool With The Kids
Ask the right queson when a child is being dicult and your temper is about to Ť are. Instead of thinking,
why is he/she doing this to me, focus on your child; there is probably a reason behind it. Are they hungry,
CHAPLAINS
bored, red, or in need of your aenon. Try to meet their needs instead of your anger geng the best of
you.
Keep an anger journal that documents when you lose your cool. Look for paerns, me of day, circumstances.
Brainstorm ways to minimize the angry acts. Talk with your kids, let them know it irritates you when they
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Minimize marriage spats. If you argue in front of the kids, excuse yourself from the situaon to calm down.
When you are calm, discuss with your partner ways to handle arguments dierently and reassure your kids
Ǥƚǒ ǞĻƩĻ ƒğķ ğƷ ƷŷĻźƩ ķğķ ĻğƩƌźĻƩͲ ǞĻǝĻ Ʒğlked and are working it out and that we sll love each other and
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that somemes people who live together get angry.
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Possession of Marijuana Friday 00:29 hours
Officer Tanner Spicer was on routine patrol when he observed a vehicle approaching with itÓs high-beam
headlights coming at him and failing to dim them. Officer Spicer stopped the vehicle and made contact with
the driver and his passenger. Officer Spicer detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the inside the
vehicle. Officer Spicer asked the driver if he had recently been smoking marijuana to which the driver
admitted that he had and that he saved all his ÐroachesÑ in the ashtray. Officer Spicer inspected the vehicle
and found the roaches in the ashtray as well as a newly rolled blunt under the front passengerÓs seat. The
driver was issued a citation for possession of a small amount of marijuana. The seized marijuana was seized
and taken to the Mendota Heights Police Department for evidence.
Mental Health Friday 17:06 hours
Officers Peyton Fleming and Steve Meyer responded to a mental health crisis. The mother reported the
juvenile was off his medication and making suicidal comments. Upon arrival officers found the juvenile
standing on the hood of a vehicle that was parked in the driveway. Officers spoke with the mother who stated
the juvenile seemed very depressed and was having suicidal thoughts. The mother requested that her son be
transported for his safety. Paramedics arrived and transported the juvenile to the hospital.
Burglary Saturday 23:11 hours
Officer Steve Meyer responded to a residence on report of a burglary. Officer Meyer spoke with the residents
who had been gone for the evening and came home to find the door from their garage to their home had
been forced open and many personal items had been stolen. As Officer Meyer was processing the scene he
learned from the homeowners that in addition to the items inside the home missing one of their garage
openers was missing from one of their vehicles which had been sitting in their driveway earlier that day. This
was likely how the thieves were able to gain access into the garage and then forced entry into the home.
There are currently no suspects and this case remains under investigation.
Gas Drive-Off Sunday 11:32 hours
Officer Bobby Lambert responded to a gas station on a report of a theft of gasoline. The gas station
employee described the vehicle and the direction in which it left. The vehicle was not located. The employee
was able to give a license plate number which matched the vehicle that left the scene. Officer Lambert
followed up by making contact with the registered owner of the vehicle.
Indecent Exposure/Lewd Conduct Monday 17:37 hours
Officer Peyton Fleming was dispatched to the Scenic Overlook to assist a Dakota County Parks, Lakes and
Trails Deputy. The deputy was on foot patrol when he found two males masturbating in front of each other.
Both men denied the meeting was pre-arranged. The men were issued citations for Indecent Exposure/Lewd
Conduct in a Public Place by Officer Fleming and were trespassed from the park by the deputy.
Ќ
Theft from Motor Vehicle Monday 20:25 hours
Officer Peyton Fleming was dispatched to a school parking lot where he met with a woman who stated she
parked her car and left to go watch a football game. While watching the game she realized she did not have
her purse and went back to her car to retrieve it. She found her car window smashed and told Officer
Fleming that she left her purse on the front seat in plain view. The purse was gone and the victim promptly
cancelled her credit cards. Unfortunately, the suspect had already used one of the credit cards to at gas
station in St. Paul. This case is under investigation.
Stolen License Plate Wednesday 12:46 hours
Officer John Larrive responded to a business where a business discovered one of the two license plates on its
work truck had been stolen. They ordered new plates for the vehicle. Officer Larrive removed the remaining
plate from the vehicle and it was destroyed. The missing plate was entered as stolen.
Gas DriveÏOff Thursday 09:47 hours
Officer Robin Nelson was dispatched to a gas station for a gas drive-off. Officer Nelson spoke first with a
witness who stated he was filling up his company truck. He went inside to pre-pay $65 worth of gas. After he
paid he saw a male suspect pull up to pump the witness had just pre-paid and pump the $65 worth of gas into
his own vehicle. The gas station employee confirmed the witnessÓs story and was able to reimburse the
witness for the $65. The license plate information given by the witness and store employee belongs to a
vehicle which does not match the vehicle description given my the witness and store employee.
Found Property Thursday 20:06 hours
Officer Todd Rosse responded to a gas station where a womanÓs wallet was found near the gas pumps by a
customer. Officer Rosse took the wallet which contained a driverÓs license and credit cards. He made several
attempts to contact the owner but was unable to reach the owner by telephone. Approximately 45 minutes
after picking up the wallet from the gas station the walletÓs owner arrived at the Mendota Heights Police
Department. The owner said she noticed her wallet was missing and went back to the gas station where she
had last remembered using it. The gas station employee directed her to the police department. The owner
found the wallet to be fine with none of its contents missing. Case closed.
Have a safe week!
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ΐΏȝΐΖȡΐΏȝΑΒ2014YTD
Pedestrian
CallsforService1246557
Safety & Teens
Citations11929
Every hour, a teen
pedestrian is
injured or killed
Warnings24779
aer being hit by a
car in the United
PoliceReports14774
States.
In 2012, 284
ResponseTimeAverage5.735.91
pedestrians died
and another 10,000
Check out the MH Crime Map!
were injured.
Click below to search your neighborhood:
In a survey of 1,000
https://www.raidsonline.com
teens, 40% say they
1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118
have been hit or
almost hit by a car,
bike or motorcycle
while walking.
When asked what
happened when
they were hit or
almost hit:
IfyouareaMendotaHeightsresidentandyouaregoingoutoftownoron
24%Driver was
vacation
going too fast
13%Teen didn't
look properly
10%Driver wasn't
paying aenon
Teens who have
been hit or nearly
hit report:
47%Listening to
music
18%Texng
20%Talking on the
CarSeatSafetyChecks
phone
Please send us your
positive feedback
on our staff to:
pdrecords@
mendota-heights.com
MedicationDisposalBox
Your feedback is greatly
appreciated and helps boost
the morale of our staff.
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