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2010-10-22 Friday Newsm October 22, 2010 2010 Voting Reminder Election Day is now just 11 days away and we wanted to remind everyone about a few important issues. Absentee voting has been underway and will continue until Monday, November 1, 2010. Besides regular business hours, voters can also vote by absentee ballot on Saturday, October 30, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In addition, city hall will be open until 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 1, 2010 for absentee voting. On Election Day the polls will open at 7:00 a.m. and be open until 8:00 p.m. Please take the time to vote by either absentee ballot or show up at the polls on Tuesday, November 2, 2010. FEmergency Preparedness Dakota County hosted a planning workshop on Thursday morning to develop a new appendix for emergency preparedness plans across the county—emergency R medication dispensing for critical employees. Most Dakota County communities were represented, to ensure that our staff get early access to medications in order to I maintain essential municipal services such as police and fire protection, water and sewer service, etc. The county provided a plan template which can be customized to our needs, and a ® draft joint powers agreement was distributed for adoption by cities later this year. The County also plans an exercise for the dispensing plan. A mass dispensing plan A for the general public has been developed for some time now. While there are no indicators this flu season will be any worse than usual, Dakota County Public Health does recommend that all citizens consider receiving a flu shot. Y The shot protects you from seasonal influenza and may help your immune system fight off any new strains of the flu this year. Please watch for local flu shot clinics. 2011 City Budget NThe City Council discussed a number of aspects of the 2011 budget that were not resolved at the budget work session in August. The council decided to purchase two E vehicles out of accrued fund balance dollars along with including the construction of a small parking lot at the Pilot Knob site in the 2011 budget. These actions are the final decisions to be made in preparation of the final 2011 budget and tax levy. The final Wbudget will be presented at the city council meeting on December 7, 2010 with public comment being taken before the council considers approving the budget and tax levy. SIf you have questions on the 2011 budget please contact David McKnight. City Hall Closed The holiday season is upon us and this is a reminder that City Hall will be closed on Thursday, November 11, 2010 in recognition of Veterans Day. Please thank those who served our country in the past and those who serve today. October 22, 2010 Halloween Bonfire Drop Off The drop off period for the Halloween bonfire will start on Monday, October 25, 2010 at the Mendota Plaza. The drop off hours will be 8:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. Monday, October 25, 2010 through Thursday, October 29, 2010 and 8:00 a.m. through noon on Friday, October 29, 2010. The noon cutoff on Friday will allow Public Works staff the time to get the pile of brush pushed up and ready for the bonfire on Sunday, October 31, 2010. Please remember that the bonfire is for brush only. Bring the family down to the Mendota Plaza and enjoy a treat from the Fire Department. See you on the 31st!! Thank You Reception Please mark your calendars and make sure to attend the thank you reception for John Huber and Mary Jean Schneeman as they both prepare for their "retirement" from public service. The city council and city staff will be holding this reception on Tuesday, December 21, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. prior to the last city council meeting of the year. Please come and say thank you to both of these individuals before they participate in their final city council meeting. More information will be sent out prior to the reception, but we wanted everyone to be aware of the date so you could mark it on your calendar. Dates To Remember Planning Commission Meeting Halloween Bonfire Election Day City Council Meeting Canvassing Meeting Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting Airport Relations Commission Meeting 10-26-2010 7:00 p.m. 10-31-2010 11-2-2010 11-2-2010 8:30 p.m. 11-5-2010 4:30 p.m. 11-9-2010 6:30 p.m. 11-10-2010 7:00 p.m. Don't iFORGET! Attachments The Pipeline, Just The Facts, Dakota County Sheriff The Front Row, StarTribune.com article "Mendota Heights sets street, road plan for 2011-15" and "Plans for a senior facility advance" October 22, 2010 NEWS The Pipeline L E T T E R Public Works Ennineering Code Enforcement October 22. 2010 Public Works The Parks Crew mulched leaves in the parks where needed. They helped the Street Crew haul soil and level out the soil in the undeveloped, City owned Right - of -Way between Second and Third Avenues. The Kubota was taken to Niebur for a plow hookup. Broken sprinkler heads were repaired at City Hall. Rich checked for bad spots in the sanitary sewer lines on Victoria Road, Highway 13, Fremont Avenue, Chippewa Avenue, Dodd Road, Ocala Court, Ocala Lane, Pontiac Place, Keokuk Lane, Valley Curve Road, Callahan Place, and Ridgewood. He assisted engineering in completing the infiltration test for the rain gardens on Wagon Wheel Trail. Storm sewers were cleaned on the Warrior pond easement. The Streets Crew hauled rip rap from Larson pit in Gray Cloud Island for work in the city. They worked with P.A.C. and put down rip rap in the storm outlet that empties into Rogers Lake from Swan Road. They also fixed the storm outlet that had pulled apart from the pipe that empties into the holding pond next to Lexington Avenue off Commerce Drive. Stump grindings were cleaned up and filled with black dirt and seed. A dead ash tree in Ivy Falls Park was cut down. The undeveloped, City -owned Right -of -Way between Second and Third Avenues was worked on by filling in the tree stumps with black dirt and grass seed. The large dip in the Right -of -Way was also filled in. They also blacktopped and patched around catch basins there were recently repaired on Evergreen Knoll, Medallion Drive and Fieldstone Drive. Last week fencing and signs were put up for the Halloween bonfire. Streets were patched and potholes filled on Hunter Lane, Orchard Place and Lake Drive. Enciineering Highway 55/Mendota Heights Road Intersection - Private utilities have been relocated allowing the contractor to begin work on the street. Pavement has been removed and new storm sewer installed east of TH 55. The contractor will begin removing the pavement and installing storm sewer west of TH 55 Monday (10/25). The expanded area will then be compacted and graded. The gravel base is scheduled to be placed on Thursday (10/28) and new curb to be installed on Friday (10/29). As always weather will determine the amount of work that can be accomplished. Residents should be aware of traffic revisions at this intersection due to construction through the end of December. 2010 Reconstruction/Rehabilitation Project - Council held the Assessment Hearing for the project at their October 19th meeting, and approved the proposed assessment rates recommended by Staff. The remaining final lift of asphalt (wear course) is scheduled for the spring as we typically leave the wear course off of areas where there is a total pavement replacement or reconstruction in order to identify any anomalies in the sub -structure during the freezing of the winter. Streets still in need of wear course are Spring Street, Simard, Street, and John Street Water Tower Rehabilitation - The Water Tower Project is essentially complete. The contractor is finishing up some site cleaning issues, and completing sterilization of the storage tank. Final Billing is anticipated sometime next month, then the project can be closed out. This is the last time the City has to perform maintenance on the Water Tower as maintenance responsibility is now transferred to Saint Paul Regional Water Service per the terms of our contractual agreement. 2011 Street Reconstruction Project (Wagon Wheel Trail) - Council accepted the Feasibility Report at their October 51h Staff is preparing for the informal neighborhood meeting to be held at Holy Family Maronite Church (1960 Lexington Avenue South - across form City Hall) on October 28th, starting at 6:30pm, and the upcoming formal Public Hearing before City Council. Public Hearing is scheduled for the November 16th Council meeting. Notices will be sent to the affected property owners informing them of the Public Hearing. Project is proposed to reconstruct Wagon Wheel Trail from Lexington Avenue to Dodd Road, install storm sewer with curb & gutter, and provide for a pedestrian trail along the length of the project. Also proposed are the rehabilitation (mill & overlay) of Alice Lane, Rodgers Court, and Swan Court, along with improvements to Rogers Lake Park. 2011 Water Rate Increase - Saint Paul Regional Water Service has notified the City that the Board of Water Commissioners has approved a proposed rate increase for 2011. The proposed increase is roughly 5.45% over the existing rate. The rate increase will need to be approved by the Saint Paul City Council. The Council will meet on Wednesday November 3rd at their Council Chambers (3rd floor, City Hall/Courthouse, 15 West Kellogg Boulevard) beginning at 5:30pm. Fall Street Sweeping - Beginning today (10/22) the City will be sweeping selected areas of the City to remove leaves and debris from the curb and gutter lines. This is being done to prevent the leaves and other vegetative waste and debris from getting into the storm sewer system, and ultimately to our storm water treatment ponds. Staff is hopeful that this can become an annual activity in future years. 2- e latest t`i e ofe"t, °Pta �feaglits�alice �eyart esxt J 10/22/2010 The GET THAT SEAT BELT ON! Mendota The October Seat Belt Mobilization, a nationwide effort funded by Heights NHTSA to help increase awareness and safety on usage of Police vehicle child restraints and seatbelts continues thru most of October. You will see our officers and squads even more — and Department we're looking for violations. You'll recognize when they are on Support this detail by their "high -visibility traffic vests," designed to keep Staff them and you safe. If you don't Click It, we will Ticket! Kim Henning Sandie Ristine Found Wallet Friday 1130 hours Susan Donovan On Boss's Day, our fabulous day boss, Sergeant Garlock, Cathy Ransom received a call to assist on a found wallet. A Good Samaritan Beckyel PoliceeOfficers found llet, full iwith money, credit cards, DL...) in a a wallet, y intact � y' Jerry Murphy parking lot. Sgt Garlock, after unsuccessfully finding a phone Scott Patrick number for her, finally found assistance in contacting her thru her John LarrlVe bank. She didn't even know her wallet was missing and thought Bobby Lambert Tanner Spicer it was still in her backseat near her child's car seat. The wallet Todd Rosse was returned to its grateful and relieved owner — all in a day's Chad Willson work. Thanks to the "finder" for being one of the honest ones!! Jeff VonFeldt Denise Urmann Information Friday 1357 hours Michael Shepard Caller reported to Officer Todd Rosse that a couple of weeks Peyton Fleming earlier they reported a vandalism. The victim was now sick and Jenny Fordham on antibiotics as a result of clean-up efforts from their house School Resource Officer being egged. A quick check of previous calls revealed the Steven Meyer victim's house was egged — all over, including on the newly Investigations shingled roof. However, no suspects or witnesses are available. Mario Reyes Tanner Spicer Felony DUI Saturday 0330 hours Sergeants Officers Fleming and VonFeldt received a call of people Neil Garlock screaming and hollering in a neighborhood. Upon arrival, they Brian Convety located the unfortunate remains of an after -bar party. Evidently, Eric Petersen Reserves one of the fight participant's girlfriends had gone to the party Randy Pentel without him. The boyfriend later arrived at the party, and a fight Gino Messina broke out, and... one drunk ran over another drunk, breaking his Jesse Meaner leg!! The driver fled and the man with the broken leg received a Andrew Quinlan Chief ride to the hospital to have his injuries treated. After a K9 search Mike of the area, a pick up and hold order was issued for the suspect. Aschenbrener Multiple people were interviewed including the victim at the 10/22/2010 hospital; the case is still under investigation. Disorderly Conduct Saturday 2341 hours Sergeant Eric Petersen spotted an altercation outside of the door to a local bar and pulled into the parking lot to intervene. The employees immediately let the man go who then tried to get back inside the bar. He was removed and told several times to calm down, but he refused. As the man was being removed from the area, he continued to yell and scream about wanting to get back inside. The man was informed he was under arrest; as Sgt Petersen began to handcuff him, the man pulled away an arm and tried to land a punch on Sgt Petersen. The punch did not connect and the man was brought to the ground and cuffed, receiving injuries to his face. HealthEast ambulance was called to check his injuries; before being released to the care of the ambulance crew, Sgt Petersen ensured he had his citation copy. Drunk Sunday 0139 hours Officer Peyton Fleming responded to a local gas station who reported a very drunk man in a MN Wild jersey. The drunk man was trying to jump into strangers' cars for a ride home. Officer Fleming arranged for a cab ride home for the man. No further contact. Found Property Monday 1433 hours A Mendota Heights resident reported finding open mail in the yard. Officer John Larrive spoke with the person who reported finding mail from Sunfish Lake scattered about their yard. WSPPD took a theft report from the victim shortly after the mail was turned over to them. NEVER PUT OUTGOING MAIL IN YOUR MAILBOX UNLESS YOU WATCH IT THE WHOLE TIME! Invest in a locked mailbox — it's worth the investment to prevent identity theft and your hard-earned money!! Advice Monday 1904 hours Rental property owner called Officer Willson looking for advice about how to handle a previous renter. They had a renter leave without giving notice so they were going to toss what was left behind. The owner and renter have a tumultuous relationship and now the owner has no way to contact the renter. They have a bunch of stuff and don't know what to do with it. Advised to try and work it out because there are very specific laws about what to do with former tenant property. Theft Tuesday 1700 hours Caller reported his ATV stolen from his yard sometime during the night. Officer Chad Willson learned that the report was in conjunction with retrieving the ATV from the MN DNR impound lot. The ATV had been found by Conservation Officers, buried in the mud in Fort Snelling State Park. Officer Willson took the report and learned the Conservation Officer had already spoken with the owner and now had reason to believe the story provided by the "victim" was fabricated. Investigation continues. Crisis Intervention Thursday 1915 hours Sergeant Eric Petersen and Officer Denise Urmann responded to a parent's call for help. Upon arrival they learned from mom that their adult son who lives at home had changed medications and was having suicidal thoughts. After a short period of time he was convinced that it would be best to be evaluated at the hospital. HealthEast assisted with the transport. �Aam a #,Wt aes&I AIIA & 4, —2— 10/22/2010 Halloween Safety Tips for Trick or Treating Kids look forward to Halloween for many reasons. They like the dressing up in costumes but the mostly they like it for the candy an treats! Who wouldn't? Even some adults still like to go our trick or treating. It makes them feel young and happy again. While this sec sticks mainly to guidelines for kids, they are just as useful for adult: Some parents like to take first dibs on some of the candy that the k have picked up during the night. It's their reward for taking them an from house to house! We suggest that you watch the candy intake you all get home, too much at one time can lead to stomach aches indigestion. That includes mom and dad as well! Make your child's Halloween a memorable holiday and they'll have good memories that last a lifetime! If you are taking your kids out for the night, dress up as well. Mom and dad should get into Halloween as much as the kids do! Trick or Treating should be one of the great adventures of Halloween for kids! They can get dressed in scary costumes and go door to door, begging "Tricks or Treats!" from neighbors or at the local mall. Lots of small towns have a Halloween Safe Night at the community center or school so kids can Trick -or -Treat safely but going door to door is the stuff of childhood memories! It should be a fun time, without trouble and pain, so following some easy tips can keep your child safe every Halloween. Children should always go out trick or treating accompanied by a responsible adult. If you have a group of kids going, the parents should choose two or three of them to go along and keep an eye on things. A\Some towns set a curfew for trick or treating which makes it easier for townsfolk to know who's coming to their door. Make sure and stick to the curfew times and stick to subdivisions and areas with a lot of homes so your kids can get in as much trick or treating as possible in a few hours time. IPlan a safe route so parents know where their older kids will be at all times. Set a time for their return home. Make sure that your child is old enough and responsible enough to go out by themselves. Make sure that they have a cell phone. ;'±Let your children know not to cut through back alleys and fields if they are out alone. Make sure they know to stay in populated areas and not to go off the beaten track. Let them know to stay in well lighted areas with lots of people around. Explain to them why it can be dangerous for kids not to do this. If they are going out alone, they are old enough to know what can happen to them in a bad situation and how to stop it from happening. ,Instruct your children not to eat any treats until they bring them home to be examined by you. This way you can check for any problem candy and get the pick of the best stuff! iY•, Instruct your child to never go into the home of a stranger or get into their car. Explain why this is not a god idea and what to do if someone approaches them and tries to talk to them. ir•,Make sure your child carries a flashlight, glow stick or has reflective tape on their costume to make them more visible to cars. Let them know that they should stay together as a group if going out to Trick or Treat without an adult. Denise Urmann Crime Prevention Officer #2214 Mendota Heights Police Department Deniseu@mendota-heights.com VM:651)255-1 148 Office:651)452-1366 -3- Volume 6, Week 19 October 11, through October 17, 2010 Explorer Post 523 Sheriff's Office Liaisons/Advisors: Correctional Deputy Tim Fletcher Deputy Jim Iliff Sergeant Mitch Penny Deputy Dawanna Witt Chaplains Jim ezoskie Vern Hildebrandt Clayton McDougall Eddie Nestingen Cory Voll Don Voll Questions? Comments? Please contact the Dakota County Sheriff's Office at 651.438.4700 or any of the following by email: dave.bellows@ co.dakota.mn.us julie.ecker@ co.dakota.mn.us DAKOTA COUNTY SHERIFF The Front Row f'roktt row seat to the greatest show ow Garth... " Dave Bellows, Sheriff Tim Leslie, Chief Deputy ATI/Accident.. Deputies responded to an ATV accident involving two 14 -year-old girls in Nininger Township. The girls were riding on the ATV when they struck an irrigation unit, sustaining hip injuries. Sergeant Brian McGinn and Deputy Krystal Johnson responded to the scene. BEUND r. 4 Behind the Bars... Over the past week the jail held an average of 245 inmates in custody per day. The jail population continued to stay low over the past several weeks. Our Job is Picking Up... Several members of the Sheriff's Office and their friends and family spent a few hours cleaning up along 160th Street in Vermillion Township. Thanks to Deputy Scott Bensen for organizing and participating the event with his wife, Dorothy, their daughter and her boyfriend, and also to Program Services Assistant Fay Wallin, Detective Coreen Kulvich and her nephew, Dante, and Deputy Dan Siebenaler for their efforts on road clean-up. Another Type of Picking Up... Over the past month, Deputies Jeff Leopold and Matt Schepers have made a combined seven felony arrests of wanted persons. Two of the suspects were wanted on charges of child pornography. Nice job, guys! PUtIPKIA'S FOR S.%1 L.E " -A "Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn." --Elizabeth Lawrence Click here to subscribe to this newsletter electronically. Page 2 Volume 6, Week 19 October 11, through October 17, 2010 Featuring Sheriff's Volunteer Units and information Technology Support Staff: Information Technology Support Dan Anderson Lisa Blount Chance Munger SRecial Deputies Tom Ahr Juan Balli Louis Henderson Dennis Millerbernd Anthony Pojman Randal Smith Dave Stanek Bob Stowell Tom Wilson Special De up ties Sheriff's Office Loaison: Sergeant Mitch Penny Mounted Patrol Tim Burns J. B. Dudley Jean Fredlund Kelly Haas Wendy Human Heidi Johnson Ann LaBelle Denise McCall Maggie Mell Cathy Snyder Mounted Patrol Sheriff's Office Liaisons: Sergeant Mitch Penny Deputy Sean Qualy DAKOTA COUNTY SHERIFF The Front Row u.4 front row seat to the greatest show on Farth..." Dave Bellows, Sheriff Tim Leslie, Chief Deputy A Tragic Saturday... Deputies responded to an accident involving two motorcycles and a car on October 16th. The preliminary investigation indicates that the two motorcyclists were traveling southbound on Cedar Avenue south of 230th Street when a car going northbound attempted to turn into a private driveway { and into their path. Both e r� motorcycles struck the car. The accident claimed the life of Ricky Dean Ball, 62 years i' old of Lakeville. His wife, Nancy Lynnette Ball, 61 years old, was seriously FBF injured and airlifted to Hennepin County Medical Center. The driver of the �....+�►.�•• car was identified as Donna - May Rollins, 76 years old, ` also of Lakeville. She was taken to Regions hospital with non -life threatening injuries. The accident remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Office and the Minnesota State Patrol. We also appreciate the assistance we received at the scene of the accident from the Lakeville and Farmington Police Departments. Responding from the Sheriff's Office were Sergeant Dan Bianconi and Brian McGinn, Deputies Phouthaivanh Sourignavong and Krystal Johnson, Commander Wm. Blair Anderson, and Sheriff Dave Bellows. Highway Robbery Doesn't Pay... The Sheriff's Office has made an arrest of a man in connection with two robberies that occurred along Highway 52 on Tuesday I y morning. The first robbery occurred at the Hamptonn Pump shortly before 6:00 a.m. The suspect, claiming to . V have a gun, took an undisclosed sum of money from the s' register and fled. A short time later, a second robbery t was reported at Coates Corner. In the second incident, I i the suspect took additional money before fleeing. Taken g into custody was Abdirahman Hassan Samatar, 30 years old, of Minneapolis. Samatar was arrested Wednesday eveningt in Minneapolis by DCSO deputies with assistance from the i Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Violent ° Offender Task Force. He was also wanted on an outstanding n felony warrant from Olmstead County. Responding from the Sheriff's Office were Captains Brad Wayne and Dan Scheuermann, Sergeants Mitch Penny, Bruce Kammen, and Jim Rogers, Detectives Steve Forrey and Dave Sjogren, and Deputies Brent Lohmann, Gordy Steffel, Tim Samuelson, and Sean Qualy. Format Dynamics:: CleanPrint :: http://www.swrtribune.com/local/south/105149489.htm... Page 1 of 2 }yourtrTribune*co `y7h m©bile tarowser tottp://s tartribune.com Mendota Heights sets street, road plan for 2011-15 A bumpy back road that residents say is used as a shortcut by speeding drivers is the first major project on a list of 18 road improvements for Mendota Heights. Along with a $2.1 million plan to overhaul Wagon Wheel Trail and update several connecting streets, Mendota Heights now has a list of about $14 million in city infrastructure improvements for the next five years. The City Council recently approved the street improvement plan detailing the timeline of road reconstruction and rehabilitation from 2011 to 2015. The document prioritizes 18 road projects and gives cost estimates. By developing such a plan, the city is letting residents know when projects that affect them might be undertaken. "I think that this is very good. Everybody can look and see what's coming in the future," said City Council Member Mary Jeanne Schneeman. John Mazzitello, city engineer and public Advertisement the first time Mendota Heights has had such a plan. In the past, reconstruction projects were prioritized, but the rehabilitation projects were only informally discussed, he said. Mazzitello emphasized that the street improvement plan is not set in stone. "As time goes by, circumstances change, priorities change, needs change, so we would be able to adjust it accordingly," he said. Staff members will present the plan to the council on an annual basis for possible revisions, he said. The reconstruction of Wagon Wheel Trail from Dodd Road to Lexington Avenue is slated to begin either late next May or in early June and should be completed that fall, Mazzitello said. According to a feasibility report that also was presented at the council meeting, the road, which was reconstructed in 1966, is at the end of its lifespan and no longer meets minimum design standards. Along with the addition of curbs and gutters to replace the ditches that currently collect 8 HOLIDAY SHOWS SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS DECEMBER 8 - 12 TICKETS START AT $24 MYS+I'c LAK E GROUP RATES AND PACKAGES AVAILABLE! V;A'_:INQ. HUTLC OrccE aa Oaaaica h,C+c SFu:gxc Ndr-Ilniot5owfcm�uNt� mysticlake.com Print Powered By http://www.startribune.com/templates/f`dcp?1287579885177 d1 I IEap I J i'-- 10/20/2010 Format Dynamics:: CleanPrint :: http://www.startribune.com/local/south/I05149489.htm... Page 2 of 2 Point your tarTribune.com mobile browser http://startribun e. e.coni runoff from the road, the report calls for a trail to be created next to the street. There is also money allotted in the project to pave the gravel parking lot at Rogers Lake Park, which the street runs past. Other streets in that neighborhood due for improvement include Alice Lane, Rogers Court and Swan Court. Residents would pay about $500,000 total for the projects in the form of special assessments. The rest of the funding would come primarily from municipal bond sales and state aid. Nicole Norfleet • 612-673-4495 Advertisement M PREM101TALIAN STEAKHOUSE SUNDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY 5 P.M. = 1 P.M. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MYS+ie- LAKE' 5 P.M. - MIDNIGHT CASINO. HOTEL 0.vdwd Opvaacd tip roSto'Wcc mysticlake.corn Print Powered By http://www.startribune.com/templates/fdcp?1287579885177 Dynamics 10/20/2010 Format Dynamics:: C1eanPrint :: http://www.startribune.com/local/south/I05115529.htm... Page 1 of 3 7 1 Point your StarTribune.com mobile browser to httollstartribunexom Plans for a senior facility advance The Lilydale City Council approved preliminary concept plans to replace its former tennis club with a senior living complex. By NICOLE NORFLEET, Star Tribune Last update: October 16, 2010 - 11:32 PM At a long meeting of the Lilydale City Council in the fall of 2006, developer John Mathem waited to hear if he'd be allowed to realize his vision of luxury condos "where you could see the Minneapolis and St. Paul skylines" in a spot where the city's vacant tennis club was gathering dust. His concept plan got the go-ahead, but in the next year, fmancing for the project evaporated. The site is now in foreclosure. Last week was deja vu for the Lilydale businessman. He was once again in a meeting room, this one packed with people, holding h is breath to see if the city approved a new plan he helped push through. This time, it was a senior living complex and luxury apartments as replacements for the old Lilydale Tennis and Fitness Club. Advertisement Again, he got the green light, with the council approving his preliminary concept plan. "I think that we had worked so hard and to such fmality back in'07 (when the city approved the final draft of his old concept plan) that all of the ground that we have been working had already been plowed," said Mathern, president of development company Mendota Homes and general manager of Lilydale Commons, the property owner that submitted the new plans. The tennis club site off Sibley Memorial Highway in Lilydale would be home to a mix of memory care, assisted living and independent living units for seniors as well as a three-story apartment building. The buildings would have about 170 units total and share a parking lot. At last week's public hearing, City Planner Ciara Schlichting said more trees for visual screening were needed for the site, which is situated close to river bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. Her suggestions mirrored what was said in a letter from river advocacy group Friends of the Mississippi River. In the letter, Friends executive director Whitney Clark recommended that the city go the extra mile to protect the aesthetics of the 8 HOLIDAY SHOWS ', • ,SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS DECEMBER B — 12 - TICKETS START AT $24 MYS+I-c LAKE GROUP RATES AND PACKAGER AVAILABLE! th gn;;1r4(y • Hortt it ov+cua+do�eatean,acSh� cNde-�►,�io�sw:earnuarr mysticla e.com Print Powered By :,0i Dynan- icz, http://www.startribune.com/templates/fdcp?1287494008826 10/19/2010 Format Dynamics :: C1eanPrint :: http://www.startribune.coniAocal/south/105115529.htm... Page 2 of 3 1 Point your nothrto StarTribune.com atpWstartlibune cor river by setting the buildings farther back from the bluffs and restricting their height by more than what's required in the city code. "The height of the buildings, lack of vegetative screening, and closeness to the bluff all serve to chip away at the scenic beauty of the corridor," Clark wrote. Another ding to the view that was identified early in the development process was a Clear Channel billboard also located near the bluffs. In plans, developers suggested the city pay $500,000 for the removal of the billboard with the help of a tax increment financing (TIF) district. However, an agreement was recently reached to extend the lease so that the billboard would be there at least until 2022, which Mathern said may have worked out for the best. "It appeared that no one was interested in the city buying the billboard to take it down," he said. Lilydale mayor Tom Swain, who was in support of the development, said any issues with the billboard shouldn't prevent the Advertisement project. "We're not going to let the billboard be the deal breaker for this," Swain said. Southview Senior Living Communities, the proposed operator of the senior facility, and Lilydale Apartments, which would run the apartment complex, are amending the plans to reflect the city's requests, Mathern said. Both Southview and Lilydale Apartments plan to purchase the site in December when Mathern's redemption period to be able to buy back the land from financier Highland Bank runs out. There will be another public hearing about the final development plans later in the year. There will also be a hearing about establishing the proposed TIF district, which was suggested by the developers as a way to bring in more than a million dollars to the project. If everything goes smoothly, demolition of the tennis club could start in January and construction by the end of March, Mathern said. After years of discussion, the tennis club site could finally be put to use, a thought that IL PREM101TALIAN STEAKHOUSE SUNDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY 5 P.M. - 1D P. M. MYS+0-c- LAKE' FRIDAY AND SATURDAY 5 p.m. — MIDNIGHT CASINO. HOTEL o.n,ccwdO ated4Ocsnawocewac..1WwS*, Qml,.vv mysticlake.eom ., Print Powered By http://www.startribune.com/templates/f`dcp?l 287494008826 14 Dynamics 10/19/2010 Format Dynamics:: C1eanPrint :: http://www.startribune.com/local/south/l05115529.htm... Page 3 of 3 = Point your tarTribune.com mobile browser http://startrihune.e.cam Mathern said makes him 'very happy," even though he will no longer be involved with its development. "It will be my swan song." Nicole Norfleet - 612-673-4495 Advertisement ovER 130, 0100 1N r -ASH A1ujo PsuzEs! MULTIPLIER MADNESS FRIDAYS, OCTOBER 8 - 29 LAKE 550 1FUSTAlVT CASH UVINMERS EACH WEEK., MYS+ic CSA-SIMQ - HQTFL Lv ,tda-uOwmedtip OcStakWeWde.akanm S*uCm*.*p mysticiike.com Print Powered By http://www.startribune.com/templates/fdcp?1287494008826 11 Dynaillfi;s 10/19/2010