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2015-10-16 Friday News October 16, 2015 City of Mendota Heights Weekly Update Temporary Off-Leash Dog Area Is Open DATES TO REMEMBER: October 20 - City Council - Closed Session 6:30 p.m. City Council 7:00 p.m. - October 27 Planning Commission 7:00 p.m. Seasonal Job Opportunities October 31 Halloween Bonfire - Mendota Plaza 7:00 p.m. November 3 - City Council 8:00 p.m. - November 10 Parks Commission Mendota Heights Fire Department 67th Annual Dance 6:30 p.m. - Pipeline, Just the Facts Halloween Bonfire - The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works October 16, 2015 Engineering Public Works The Parks Crew removed the boards at Wentworth Park hockey rink and prepared for the new boards. New mulch was put down around the playground area at Hagstrom King Park and Victoria Highlands Park. New concrete pads were placed under the bleachers at Mertensotto field. The irrigation systems throughout city properties were winterized. Repair work was done on the Toro mower. Grass was cut in the parks. The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. A manhole was raised on the Warrior Pond easement. The HVAC filters were changed at the main lift station. The sanitary sewer lines were checked on South Freeway Road. A homeowner cleaned their service and the sewer lines looked good. The tank sprayer was cleaned and winterized. The Streets Crew trimmed trees on Chippewa Avenue and John Street to fix a sight distance problem. Blacktopping was done around storm grates on Sylvandale Road and Medallion Drive. They did pothole patching on Concord Way, Acacia Drive and in the Friendly Hills area. Grass was cut at the vacant Town Center lots. Engineering City Projects (construction year) New Information in Italics Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2014/2015) Pavement on the second portion (Walsh to Marie) of the project is being placed today. Once the second portion is complete, the surface layer (wear course) of asphalt will be placed over the entire roadway by mid-November. An Assessment Hearing will be held this Tuesday, th October 20 City Council meeting, 7:00pm at City Hall. Annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation (2015) The contractor has completed the initial sewer cleaning phase. Lining is expected to begin on nd November 2. Areas to be lined include Huber Drive from Bent Tree to Cheyenne, Mendota Heights Road from Pilot Knob Road to the lift station, and Rogers Lake Park area. The first 2000 feet of the interceptor line, from Highway 55 to Lexington, will also be lined. Project Completion is expected by the end of November. Mendota Road Neighborhood Improvements (2016) City staff is working on concept design elements based on comments received from area residents. Staff is continuing to discuss the project with area residents on individual bases. A preliminary layout will be presented at the Public Hearing for City Council consideration. The formal Public Hearing is set th for November 17 during the regular City Council Meeting at 7:00pm at City Hall. Residents have been asked to complete a survey and were invited to a neighborhood meeting held on September 28th. Project will consist of reconstructing Mendota Road (Hwy 110 Frontage Road) from Delaware Avenue to Oak Street, and rehabilitating Warrior Drive, High Ridge Circle, and Sibley Court. Ivy Falls Creek Streambank Stabilization (2015) The Contractor has essentially completed the repairs to the streambank of the creek through Somerset Country Club. Damage to the old gabions was caused by excessive rains in June of 2014. This project is eligible for 75% reimbursement through State disaster relief funds. Invoices have been submitted to the State for reimbursement. County Projects New Information in Italics Highway 110 Greenway Trail Crossing (2017) Staff is assisting representatives from Dakota County in preparation for a Public Open st House scheduled for Wednesday, October 21 from 5:00pm to 7:00pm at Henry Sibley High School. County staff will present alignment location alternatives and take public comments on the various options. The alignment alternatives will be presented to the County Board stth on December 1 with a preferred alternative selection on December 15. The type of crossing (underpass versus overpass) is not being discussed at this point, although basic cost information will likely be available for comparison purposes only. If approved, the project would be constructed State Projects New Information in Italics nd Highway 13 Reconstruction (I-35E to 2 Street) (2015) The Lexington to I-35E resurfacing portion of the project is essentially complete. Only minor nd housekeeping items and lane striping remain. Lexington to 2 Street in Mendota remains closed until the Metropolitan Council repairs their sanitary sewer force main. The final lift of asphalt will be installed once the reconstruction area is completed. MnDOT now lists the completion date for -For more information about the MnDOT project, contact Kirsten Klein, Metro District at: kirsten.klein@state.mn.us, or 651-234-7506, or Kiet Ly, Project Engineer at . The kiet.t.ly@state.mn.us project website is: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy13mendota/. Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Rehabilitation (2018) MnDOT recently completed a series of three open houses to gather public opinion on the Highway 149 corridor. These open houses were held in Downtown Saint Paul, West End of Saint Paul, and Mendota Heights. All three open houses were very well attended, and many comments were received. Comments will be utilized by MnDOT during the design of the project. The project will th replace the pavement surface of Highway 149 from I-494 north to West 7 Street in Saint Paul. Also included in the project will be drainage improvements, curb replacement in specified areas, trail rehabilitation from Highway 110 south to Mendakota Park, and new trail construction from Maple Street north to Marie Avenue. Adjustments to lane markings along the corridor may also be incorporated to address pedestrian safety issues discussed at the open houses. The project also includes a complete re- decking of the High Bridge in Saint Paul. For more information, please contact Tara McBride, Project Manager at 651-234-7506, or tara.mcbride@state.mn.us. The project web page is: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/hwy149highbridge/index.html Highway 110 Rehabilitation (2017) MnDOT will be requesting Local Government Concurrence from Mendota Heights for on this project at an upcoming City Council meeting. This project will resurface Highway 110 between I-35E and I-494, including drainage improvements. Several access changes are proposed with the project. MnDOT staff is currently working with local emergency management to assess proposed access changes along the corridor. For more information, contact Molly Cline, MnDOT Project Manager, at 651-234-7723 or molly.cline@state.mn.us. Highway 13 (Annapolis Street) Rehabilitation (2018) MnDOT will be resurfacing Annapolis Street as part of this project. It is intended that this project be constructed in conjunction with the Highway 149 project in 2018. City staff has contacted some adjoining property owners about the possibility of sidewalk being installed on the south side of Annapolis. All responses were against the sidewalk proposal and have been forwarded to MnDOT. For more information, contact Molly Cline, MnDOT Project Manager, at 651-234-7723 or molly.cline@state.mn.us. Other Activities New Information in Italics Future Cities Competition Staff met with the 2015 Future Cities Competition teams from Friendly Hills Middle School on Wednesday. This is has assisted Friendly thth Hills Middle School with the program. The competition is open to 6-8 grade students and involves developing a virtual city using Sim City software, completing a project schedule, 1500 work essay, scale model, and oral presentation. The State competition will be held at Dunwoody Institute rd on January 23 focus on how the cities of the future handle municipal and solid waste. Students are working on their initial research into solid waste management, beginning their Sim City games, and setting up project schedules. Three teams from Friendly Hills will be competing at the State competition. - Several Dakota County City Engineers and Public Works Directors are putting together a curriculum for a infrastructure. The course is tentatively scheduled to be held in the February timeframe and will be open to anyone interested in learning about what municipal Public Works and Engineering Departments do, and why they do it. Specific invitations will be sent to all Council Members, Appointed Commissioners, and non-engineering, Director/Administrator level City staff members for the County and northern Dakota County Cities. Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO) Staff attended the monthly meeting of the LMRWMO in Inver Grove Heights on Wednesday. A new logo for the WMO was selected, and updates were discussed regarding the grant application submitted for area lake improvement projects, including an alum treatment at Lake Augusta to reduce phosphorus levels. A decision on the grant funding from the State Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) is expected in December. Dakota County East-West Transit Study Staff attended the kick-off meeting for the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) on Thursday. The County is studying future transit needs County-wide through the year 2035. They will be hiring a consultant to do the work for this study, and the first duty of the TAC is to review proposals and recommend a consultant. The County hopes to have a consultant on board by the end of the year. Municipal State Aid (MSA) Fall Screening Board Staff attended the meeting of the MnDOT State Aid Screening Board on Monday. 2016 proposed State Aid allocations to Cities were provided. Mendota Heights is remaining - The State offers MSA funds to cities with populations over 5,000 to assist in the maintenance and replacement of certain city streets. For more information, please contact the City Engineering Department. Њ 16, 2015 OCTOBER The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department CHIEF 169.14 Basic rule; Inaenve Driving Subdivision 1. . No person shall drive a vehicle on a highway SERGEANTS at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the condions. Every driver is responsible for becoming and remaining aware of the actual and potenal hazards then exisng on the highway and must use due care in operang a vehicle. In every event speed shall be so restricted as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care. POLICEOFFICERS Each year in Minnesota, inaenve driving is a factor in one of four crashes, resulng in at least 70 deaths and 350 injuries. While many motorists may perceive driving as a normal roune acvity, aenve driving is crical as the trac environment changes constantly and you must be prepared to react. Steven AVOID DISTRACTED DRIVING: /Ļƌƌ tŷƚƓĻƭÁǒƩƓ ƷŷĻƒ ƚ or place them out of reach to avoid the urge to answer or dial. If there is a passenger in the vehicle, ask them to handle the calls/texts. aǒƭźĭΉ/ƚƓƷƩƚƌƭΓtƩĻƦƩƚŭƩğƒ ƭƷğons for easy access. Adjust mirrors and heat/AC prior to departure. Ask a passenger to help assist. NavigaƚƓΓağƦ ƚǒƷ ǤƚǒƩ ķƩźǝĻ źƓ ğķǝğƓĭĻ ğƓķ Ʀǒƌƌ ƚǝer to study the map if need be. Ask a passenger to help with navigaon. INVESTIGATIONS EaƓŭΉ5ƩźƓƉźƓŭÁƩǤ Ʒƚ ğǝƚźķ Ņƚƚķ ğƓķ ķƩźƓƉ ƚƩ ğƷ least messy foods. Make sure food and drink are secured. /ŷźƌķƩĻƓÁĻğĭŷ ĭŷźƌķƩĻƓ ƷŷĻ źƒƦƚƩƷğƓĭĻ ƚŅ ŭƚƚķ ĬĻŷğǝźƚƩ źƓ ƷŷĻ ǝĻŷźĭƌĻ͵ SCHOOLRESOURCE tğƭƭĻƓŭĻƩƭΓ{ƦĻğƉ ǒƦ Ʒƚ ƭƷƚƦ ķƩźǝĻƩƭ from distracted driving behavior. OFFICER ‘ŷĻƓ —h… ğƩĻ ƒğƉźƓŭ ğ ĭğƌƌ ǞŷźƌĻ bh ķƩźǝźƓŭΓ!ƭƉ ƷŷĻ ƦĻƩƭƚƓ ƚƓ ƷŷĻ ƚƷŷĻƩ ĻƓķ ƚŅ ƷŷĻ ƌźƓĻ źŅ they are driving, if so, call them later or ask them to call you back at a safer me. SUPPORTSTAFF TURNING, STARTING & SIGNALING RESERVES Minnesota State Statute 169.19 is ƷƌĻķ ͻǒƩƓźƓŭͲ {ƷğƩng and {źŭƓğƌźƓŭ͵ͼ ŷźƭ ķƚĻƭƓ͸Ʒ ƭƚǒƓķ ĭƚƒƦƌźĭğƷĻķͲ ĬǒƷ ƷŷĻ ƩĻğķźƓŭ źƭ ğ bit hard to follow. The requirements are really quite simple though. CHAPLAINS Signal your intenons. Turns, lane changes, merging or Uturns all require that you use turn signals. Turn into the lane closest to you. Whether making a le ƚƩ ƩźŭŷƷ ƷǒƩƓͲ Ǥƚǒ͸ƩĻ ƩĻƨǒźƩĻķ Ʒƚ ƷǒƩƓ into the closest lane designated for travel in the direcon that Ǥƚǒ͸ƩĻ ķƩźǝźƓŭ͵ …turns are legal. You can make Uturns, but only when you can be seen by other trac at least 1,000 feet in both direcons and only when your Uturn can be made safely. ‘źƷŷ ğƓǤ ƷǒƩƓͲ ƒĻƩŭĻ ƚƩ ĭŷğƓŭĻ ƚŅ ĭƚǒƩƭĻͲ Ǥƚǒ͸ƩĻ ƩĻƨǒźƩĻķ Ʒƚ Њ make your movements safely. Ћ BURGLARY FRIDAY 09:59 HOURS Officer John Larrive was dispatched to a home on a burglary in process report. Upon arrival, he was met by the homeowner who stated that he was in the shower when he heard the doorbell ring and several loud bangs on the door so he exited the shower and made way towards the door. As he got close to the door, he saw a male standing in his front entryway. The suspect then saw him, ran out the door and took off in a dark grey 4 -door sedan. The suspect was described as an adult white male, mid 20Ós, approximately 5Ó8Ñ-5Ó10Ñ and weighing approximately 180 pounds. The suspect gained entry into the home by using a tool to pry the front door open. There was damage to the front door but nothing was taken from the home. The area was checked for the vehicle/suspect description but no luck. THEFT OF GAS FRIDAY 14:35 HOURS Officer Phil McCarty was inside a local gas station when an employee approached him and pointed to a white SUV that had just pumped $35.89 worth of gas and was leaving the parking lot at a high rate of speed. McCarty got in his vehicle and eventually caught up to the suspect vehicle. McCarty made contact with the driver and passenger and asked them if they had just left the gas station without paying for gas and they said they did. Both parties were placed in the rear of the squad. In questioning the driver, he stated that he was unaware the gas wasn't paid for as the passenger was the initial driver, pumped the gas and then asked his friend if he wanted to drive. McCarty then questioned the passenger who stated that he tried to pay with his credit card but it didn't work so he just pumped the gas and left. The driver was able to leave, the vehicle registered to the passenger was towed and he was taken to Dakota County Jail on theft charges. THEFT OF GAS SUNDAY 19:13 HOURS Officer Steve Hilyar responded to a local gas station on a theft of gas report. Upon arrival, he was met by store employee who stated that Hispanic male, 20-25 years old, approximately 5Ó8Ñ and 150lbs, pumped $29.06 worth of gas and left in a grey or silver GM product without paying. Hilyar ran the plate of the suspect vehicle and it listed to a silver Chevrolet. Hilyar made contact with the registered owner who stated that his daughter had his vehicle parked at her boyfriends house in St. Paul while she went out of town with him. The father then went and checked on the vehicle and discovered its front and rear plates were missing. He was advised to notify SPPD of the plate theft. The video surveillance at the gas station did not cover the pump where the theft occurred. No suspects at this time. BURGLARY SUNDAY 20:14 HOURS Officer Robin Nelson was dispatched to a residence on an after the fact burglary that had taken place. Nelson met with the homeowner who stated that when she returned home, she noticed the curtain to her back deck was open and the door was unlocked which was not how she left it. She then walked into her bedroom and found the pillows had been thrown to the ground, jewelry boxes taken out from the closet and totes with bank statements rummaged through. This is when she called 9-1-1. Nelson arrived and cleared the home. A walk through was performed and the front door was found to be damaged as if tools were used to pry the door open. Nelson advised the homeowner to change bank account numbers and make a list of anything she finds missing. Case pending. Ћ Ќ RECKLESS DRIVING MONDAY 22:32 HOURS While on routine patrol, Officer Mike Shepard observed a vehicle going 97mph in a 55mph zone. He then attempted to follow the vehicle and witnessed it weaving in and out of other vehicles, disobey a stop sign, and pass in a no passing zone. Shepard stopped the vehicle and ordered him to turn the vehicle off. He made contact with the driver and asked what he was doing and the driver stated ÐIÓm about to S@#$ my pants right now.Ñ Shepard said were you really driving 97mph because you have to use the bathroom and again he said, Ðyes, IÓm about to S@#$ my pants right now.Ñ Shepard asked for his identification and observed that he had an extensive driving history so he issued him a citation for reckless driving. CARELESS DRIVING WEDNESDAY 23:52 HOURS While on routine patrol, Sergeant Bobby Lambert saw and heard a vehicle with tires squealing, engine revving and traveling at a high rate of speed toward him. The vehicle as swerving back and forth and had a headlight out. Lambert stopped the vehicle and made contact with the juvenile driver who stated that he and his friend were on their way to get a pizza. The two juveniles were warned for curfew and the driver was issued a citation for careless driving. IDENTITY THEFT THURSDAY 13:36 HOURS Officer Steve Hilyar spoke with a complainant who stated that her credit card company called to say a male was attempting to gain access to her credit card account over the phone. The card and since been canceled and a new card was issued. There was no loss on the account. THEFT THURSDAY 13:43 HOURS Officer Todd Rosse responded to a business on a theft report. Upon arrival, he was met by the warehouse manager who stated that sometime overnight, suspects tampered with their tractor/semi and stole parts off of the tractor. The loss was approximately $70. There are no suspects at this time. DISPUTE THURSDAY 20:31 HOURS Sergeant Bobby Lambert and Officer Steve Hilyar responded to an apartment complex on an ongoing dispute neighbor dispute. The RP states that the neighbor children have been being loud and hanging around the property late at night. The RP was once confronted by the mother of the children and did admit to stating that her son is an army ranger and owns guns. Lambert spoke with the mother of the children who stated that the RP is the aggressor and that this was the first sheÓs heard of the complaints. Lambert advised the RP to stop making threats and the mother of the children to limit time spent on property and utilize the park across the street. Ќ Ѝ 10/0910/152015YTD 3RD ANNUAL CallsforService1215,718 TIP-A-COP Citations15436 Saturday, October 24th Warnings17583 is the naonwide pa cop at all Red Robin PoliceReports18869 locaons. ResponseTimeAverage4.655.40 Police Ocers from Check out the MH Crime Map! around the metro will Click below to search your neighborhood: ĬĻ ƷŷĻ ͻĭĻƌĻĬƩźƷǤͼ https://www.raidsonline.com 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 servers! Any ps that the cops receive will go directly towards Special Olympics MN. IfyouareaMendotaHeightsresidentandyouare goingoutoftownoronvacation The event is hosted at the lunch hour and dinner hour. 11:00am3:00pm 4:00pm8:00pm This is a great family fun event and we hope to see you there! CarSeatSafetyChecks 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. Ѝ HAVE A SAFE WEEK! You are Invited to the Public Open House for the Mendota Lebanon Hills Greenway Hwy 110 Crossing Project Project Purpose:Purpose of the Open House: Dakota County, in cooperation with MnDOT, is planning a trail The purpose of this meeting is to provide you with an opportunity to ask questions and provide comments on the project and routes under to Lebanon Hills Greenway. This crossing will provide a safe, consideration. Representatives of Dakota County, the City of Mendota continuous trail segment across the highway and connection into Heights, and SRF will be available to receive your comments and the River to River Greenway as well as provide an additional safe answer questions regarding this project. MnDOT will also be available crossing option for local users. to answer questions about MnDOT’s Hwy 110 Preservation Project. Project Summary: Time & Location: We are evaluating 3 concepts for a trail crossing of Hwy 110. Wednesday, October 21st, 2015 These include: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. • Greenway tunnel under Highway 110 (Underpass) • Highway 110 bridges over the Greenway (Underpass) Henry Sibley High School, • Greenway bridge over Highway 110 (Overpass) Room A241 1897 Delaware Avenue Mendota Heights, MN 55118 When Should I arrive? The meeting will have an open house format. You can stop in at your convenience between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. https://www.co.dakota.mn.us/parks/Planning/Greenways/Pages/mendota-to-lebanon-hills.aspx Mendota Lebanon Hills Greenway Hwy 110 Crossing Project Open House Open House Objectives: The project team is currently evaluating 3 alternatives for open house is the public’s opportunity to review the concepts, provide input to the project team on alignment preferences and design considerations, and share any questions or user concerns. Public comments will be reviewed and considered by the project team as the concept design phase is completed. Refer to the Mendota-Lebanon Hills Greenway Master Plan available on the County’s website for additional information related to this project and future greenway segments. www.dakotacounty.us Project Schedule 20152016 TASKS JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASOND Public Input & Concept Design Selection of Preferred Alternative Preliminary & Final Design Other Milestones Project LettingFebruary - 2017 If you are unable to attend the open house, please feel free to ConstructionSpring 2017 – Fall 2017 submit your comments to or contact: Jake Rezac, PE Casey Black, PE Project Manager Project Manager Dakota County SRF Consulting Group, Inc. 14955 Galaxie Ave. One Carlson Pkwy North, Suite 150 Apple Valley, MN 55124 Minneapolis, MN 55447-4443 jacob.rezac@co.dakota.mn.us cblack@srfconsulting.com P: (952) 891-7981 P: (763) 475-0010