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2014-12-19 Friday News - - - - The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works Engineering December 19, 2014 Code Enforcement Public Works The Parks Crew scraped the ice on the trailsand in the city parking lots. Trees are being trimmed along the trails. They are flooding the ice rinks. The pole saw was repaired. The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. A home on Dodd Road had their service cleaned of roots and it was jetted after the cleaning. Manholes were located and marked on the Commerce Drive easement. Housekeeping was done in the shop area and an assessment of chemicals was done for the MSDS sheets. The Streets Crew did earthwork at City Hall. The streets were sanded and plowed. All equipment was cleaned. Street sign repair work was done. Salt was hauled into the salt bin. Engineering City Projects (construction year) Highway 13 Trail Connection (2014/2015)–This project is buttoned up for the winter. Saint Paul Regional Water Service has completed the lowering of the water main, and cover has been established over the pipe. The reminder of the project will be completed in the spring. Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2014/2015)–The first phase of the project is complete. Design of the second phase (Marie to Lexington) is underway. A neighborhood meeting is anticipated in late January/early February to discuss site specific design requirements. County Projects Highway 110 Trail Underpass (2017)–Thisproject will construct an underpass (tunnel) under Highway 110 for the future construction of the Mendota-Lebanon Hills Greenway Trail. Dakota County has received a $1,000,000 grant from the Metropolitan Council for construction. County staff has issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to consulting firms for design services. Proposals received will be reviewed in January. Dakota County is planning on presenting the project to City Council in February. State Projects 2015 State Project List–The list of metro projects for 2015 has been released. Projects that will have an impact on Mendota Heights include: -A sealcoat will be applied to Dodd Road (Highway 149) from The Village south to Lake Drive. -Highway 110 between Highway 13 to I-35E will receive surface pavement rehabilitation (overlay). Other Activities Future Cities Competition–Staff met with Future Cities team members at Friendly Hills Middle School on Wednesday 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.Three teams will be competing inthe State competition, which is held on the University of Minnesota campus in January. Competing teams are constructing their scale models and developing their presentations for competition. Non- competing teams are completing the program with smaller scaled models and will present their cities within their classes. Students have been assigned completion of their models over the holiday break, and they will be working on their presentation when they return to school inJanuary. 2015 Sanitary Sewer Rate Increase–Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) has provided the amount that will chargeto Mendota Heights for 2015. This fee is charged tomunicipal governments to treat sanitary sewage sent to the MCES treatment plants. The Mendota Heights fee increased 12.3%for 2015. Most of this increase can be attributed to the extremely wet spring we experienced; specifically, the number of sump pumps that discharge to the sanitary sewer system. As a result, the City needs to increase the amount billed to property owners. The City Council st approved a 5%rate increase that will take effect for the 1quarter of 2015 (April billing cycle). The City is able to reconcile the differences in rate increasesby postponingsome capital improvement projects until future years. This rate increase remains consistent with increasesfromprevious years. The City has successfully negotiated the elimination of the penalty th surcharge due to increased flow from the June 19storm. 1 D 19, 2014 ECEMBER The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department CHIEF While summer months are the deadliest on Minnesota roads, winterme leads to the most crashes and poses safety risks and hazards. SERGEANT { ʹ POLICEOFFICERS Avoid unnecessary travel if condions are too poor. Buckle up, and make sure child restraints are secured ghtly. It is recommended to use bulky clothes and blankets on top of the child restraint harness, not beneath, to ensure harness restraints ŋ t properly. Steven Drive at safe speeds according to road condions, and provide for plenty of travel me. Increase safe stopping distance between vehicles. Use extra precauons when driving around snowplows by keeping at lease ŋ ve carlengths behind plows. INVESTIGATIONS If skidding, remain calm, ease foot o the gas, and turn the steering wheel in the direcon you want the front of the vehicle to go. SCHOOLRESOURCE If vehicle has anlock braking system (ABS), apply a steady ŋ rm OFFICER pressure to the brake pedal. Never pump ABS brakes. Clear snow and ice from vehicle windows, hood, headlights, brake SUPPORTSTAFF lights and direconal signals. Headlights must be turned on when it is snowing or sleeng. Do not use cruise control on snow/icy/wet roads. Equip vehicle with a scraper/brush, small shovel, jumper cables, tow RESERVES chain, and a bag of sand or cat lier for re tracon. Blanket(s), heavy boots, warm clothing, and Ť ashlights are also important, as are storing highenergy foods such as chocolate and energy bars. Be sure cell phones are charged for long trips, and inform family of CHAPLAINS desnaon plans and schedule. If stranded, stay in vehicle. Parents of teen drivers should make sure new motorists experience snow and ice driving in a safe environment, such as an empty parking lot. CƚƩ ǞĻğƷŷĻƩƩĻƌğƷĻķ Ʃƚğķ ĭƚƓķźƚƓ źƓŅƚƩƒğƚƓ ĭğƌƌ ЎЊЊ ƚƩ ǝźƭźƷ ǞǞǞ͵ЎЊЊƒƓ͵ƚƩŭ ğƓķ ķƚǞƓƌƚğķ ƷŷĻ ğƦƦͧ 1 2 2 3 Health and Welfare Check Friday 01:28 hours Officer Robin Nelson along with Officers Steven Meyer, Michael Shepard, and Tanner Spicer responded to a residence on report of a female who had overdosed on prescription pills. When officers arrived they found the female outside the residence crying. She stated that her boyfriend who was inside the home had assaulted her multiple times. Officers found no marks on her body to indicate any domestic abuse had taken place. Officers spoke with the womanÓs boyfriend who stated he walked in on the woman trying to swallow a handful of different kinds of pills. He said he forced them from her and called for help. Officers called Dakota County Crisis Response Unit in order to find a place for the woman to stay for a few days and arrangements were made. Financial Transaction Card -Fraud Friday 09:50 hours Officer VonFeldt took a lobby report from a resident who noticed three charges on her credit card from the United States Post Office. She later found a store charge on her credit card and later a cashierÓs check which was made out to an unknown person was mailed to the residentÓs address. The Post Master General was contacted and investigator from their agency was assigned to the case. Prescription Forgery Friday 10:11 hours Officer John Larrive was contacted by an RN of a pain clinic who wanted to report prescription forgery that took place at our local Walgreens. The RN stated that the suspect went into Walgreens with a forged prescription written on a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper with the clinic name also on it. The DEA number written came back as stolen. Under investigation. Burglary Sunday 13:18 hours Officer John Larrive responded to an address on an after the fact burglary. Larrive was met by the homeowner who believes that his grandson entered into his home and stole prescription medication. He stated he came home and noticed the house was cold so in looking around, found an open window in a basement bedroom and a drawer open with missing medication. The suspect grandson, who showed up uninvited on Thanksgiving, was found in that same bedroom and was asked to get out. Later, pills were missing. With only family suspicion and investigative opportunities, the case is inactive. Suspicious Activity Monday 09:11 hours Officer Jeff VonFeldt spoke with a woman in the PD lobby who wished to report suspicious activity. She noticed in the morning outside that her wood pile was knocked over resulting in some wood in her yard. She does have an OFP out on her ex-husband but couldn't prove it was him and just wanted to have it reported. Fraud Monday 09:26 hours Officer Jeff VonFeldt spoke with a man who wanted to report checking account fraud. While the man was viewing account activity on his checking account, he noticed two checks written to Cub Foods and another written to Walgreens. In looking into this further, he looked in his checkbook and saw that the two check numbers that were written to Cub Foods were still in his checkbook and the check number written to Walgreens was really written to Northwestern Mutual for a payment he sent out in the mail. The bank closed his account and he was advised to deter from putting bills in his mailbox yet bring them to a secure USPS mailbox. 3 4 Health and Welfare Hold Tuesday 09:24 hours Officer John Larrive was originally dispatched to an apartment on a theft of medication report. Upon arrival, he was met by a client who lives in the apartment and then heard a male voice yell he was in the office. Larrive walked to the office and was met by the care provider who advised there was some missing medica- tion. The care provider then mentioned that he was punched in the face by the client over a disagreement with medication disbursement. The client got more agitated the longer Larrive was there and eventually came at him. An ambulance arrived and the client was then placed on a health and welfare hold. Warrant/DAS Wednesday 00:12 hours While on routine patrol, Officer Peyton Fleming ran a license plate check on a vehicle parked in the gas station parking lot. The check came back as the registered owner to having a suspended license and a warrant out of Hennepin County for a DWI. There was no one in the vehicle so he waited a few minutes down the road to see if the vehicles approaches him. A few minutes later, the vehicle exited the parking lot so Fleming made a traffic stop. He made contact with the driver and asked if the vehicle was hers. She replied it was and then added, ÐI know, I have a warrant.Ñ South East Towing was called for the vehicle and the female was asked to exit the vehicle and was transported to Dakota County Jail. Warrant Wednesday 14:14 hours While on routine patrol, Officer Nick Gorgos observed a male walking down the sidewalk and then into the home of an address he knew a burglary suspect could possibly live (reference the story on page 1). The sus- pect in question also had a felony warrant out for his arrest. The warrant description matched that of the sus- pect he observed and Gorgos requested Officer Larrive come to the location. They knocked on the front door and a female answered the door. Officers told her they needed to see the male suspect who had entered the home and she quickly replied, ÐOK.Ñ The male came to the door, he was informed he was under arrest and he was transported to Dakota County Jail. Mental Health Thursday 14:03 hours Officer Peyton Fleming along with Officer Nick Gorgos were dispatched to a local gas station on a suspicious person call. The caller had flagged down officers in the parking lot, informing them that yesterday he found his roommateÓs brother having sexual relations with his girlfriend at their apartment. He said he had driven to St. Paul and then to Apple Valley and was being followed by several people the entire time. He also re- ported his vehicle had been tampered withÏloosened lug nuts, brake pads and some paneling on his vehicle . None of the allegations appeared to be correct and then pointing out the current customers pumping gas as the suspect who were after him. As he did not meet the mental health hold criteria, he was asked what he wanted to do. The man requested his vehicle be towed to a dealership to have it checked out and he wanted his boss to come pick him up. His boss arrived a short time later. Officers cleared. 4 5 12/1212/182014YTD CallsforService1367,694 Citations121,026 Warnings18900 PoliceReports19936 ResponseTimeAverage4.725.79 The Heart of a Child Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: https://www.raidsonline.com Michael and Sarah Larsen 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 called MHPD on behalf of their son Tommy, a second grader at Mendota Elementary. For his September birthday party, Tommy asked his friends to donate money to IfyouareaMendotaHeightsresidentandyouare the family of Ocer Sco goingoutoftownoronvacation Patrick instead of bringing him birthday presents . Tommy arrived at MHPD wearing a big smile and his ͻ{ƷğƩ ‘ğƩƭͼ ƦğƆğƒğƭ ΛźƷ Ǟğƭ Pajama Day at school). He presented to us a homemade Christmas card with $200 inside. WOW! ŷğƓƉ —ƚǒ ƚƒƒǤ ε CarSeatSafetyChecks CƩźĻƓķƭͲ Ǟŷƚ ŭğǝĻ ƭƚ ŭĻƓĻƩƚǒƭƌǤͧ —ƚǒƩ ğĭƷ ƚŅ ƉźƓķƓĻƭƭ ƦǒƷ ƆƚǤ ĬğĭƉ źƓƷƚ ƷŷğƷ ŷƚƌĻ źƓ ƚǒƩ ŷĻğƩƷƭ͵ Please send us your positive feedback on our staff to: MedicationDisposalBox pdrecords@ mendota-heights.com Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps boost the morale of our staff. 5 HAVE A SAFE WEEK!