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2004-11-05 Friday News The Friday News November 5, 2004 BUCKTHORN MANAGEMENT IN CITY PARKS On Tuesday evening Council approved a proposal from Prairie Restorations for removal of mature Buckthorn plants from Copperfield Ponds, Friendly Hills Park and North Kensington Park during January or February 2005. Winter removal of mature buckthorn plants will be followed up in October with "over- spraying" the management sites with a selective herbicide to eliminate smaller buckthorn sapling plants as well as new seedlings. This years' management plan will be to "cut & slash" mature plants leaving the debris to deteriorate naturally in Kensington and Copperfield. In Friendly Hills Park a different approach is required due to the rocky conditions. Plant debris here would be very noticeable so the contractor has asked for permission to burn the cut plants on-site, in several small bonfires, during the one or two days when crews will be working in this park. PARKS “OPEN HOUSE” TO DISCUSS FUTURE PLAYGROUND UPGRADES The Parks and Recreation Commission, as part of their regular meeting next Tuesday, November 9th, will host an "Open House" to discuss future playground upgrades and improvements with interested residents and a representative from the Earl F. Anderson company, located in Burnsville, who is the local distributor for Landscape Structures, Inc. (manufacturers of playground equipment and components, located in Buffalo, MN). Residents were encouraged to attend the Commission meeting through an article in the October issue of the "Heights Highlites" and that article was expanded upon in a front-page article in the Review several days later. Residents not able to attend the Commission meeting were invited to contact City Offices. Staff has received four responses, a summary of which will be included in the meetings agenda packet. FIREFIGHTER DEATH On Tuesday November 2, Retired firefighter Eugene Olsen passed away after a valiant 10 Month fight with Cancer. Gene retired in 1982 after serving the department and community for 20 years. He served his last 3 years on the department as training officer and significantly improved Firefighter proficiency. Gene was active as firefighter as well as after he retired. In his retirement he often participated in lunches and dinners after meetings. His wife Monica was active in the Ladies Auxiliary until Gene’s retirement. The fire department provided full Honor Guard and Police provided escort services to the Cemetery. Wake is tonight 4-8pm at Klecatsky Funeral Home in Eagan (Yankee Doodle and Coachman Road) Funeral services tomorrow (11/5) 10:00am Saint Peters Church with 1 hour before at the church. Internment at Resurrection Cemetery. BEST WISHES TO KIT We recently learned that Planning Commissioner Joe Betlej’s wife Kit spent time in the hospital. Kit is home now and doing well. Our best wishes go out to her. ENORMOUS ELECTION The voter turnout on November 2 was near record proportions – the second highest in the city’s history. In comparison to the 77.29% statewide voter turnout, 97.07% of the Mendota Heights voters who were registered at 7:00 a.m. voted, either at the polls or by absentee ballot. Even after factoring in election day registrations, our voter turnout was 87%. Perhaps even more remarkably, there was a total of only 108 spoiled ballots across all five precincts. The precinct judges, and, in particular, the precinct chair people, did an outstanding job. Of the 7,878 people who voted, only one voter complained to City Hall. The Dakota County Auditor did not receive any questions or complaints, nor did we receive any calls from the Secretary of State’s Office. The residents who waited in line to vote for as much as two hours were wonderfully pleasant and cordial. The challengers who were stationed by a political party at three of our precincts were all impressed with the integrity of our judges and what a wonderful job they were doing. One of them was so impressed that she volunteered to be a judge for us. The polling place was so busy that she was sworn in as an emergency judge and worked from about 10:00 a.m. until the polls closed. The other two challengers both expressed interest in being appointed as judges for the next election, and none of the three are even residents of Mendota Heights. All in all, it was the most successful election process in recent memory. The credit for that success goes to the election judges and to the city staff members who worked so hard and spent so many hours preparing for and assisting on election day. A very special thank you to Nancy Bauer, who did everything possible to help prepare for the election, both during office hours and evenings and weekends, including issuing absentees and keeping the absentee database current, helping train judges, testing the ballot counters, packing the ballots and supply boxes, setting up and taking down the polling places, and on and on. She is truly remarkable and an incredible asset to the city. Special thanks to Janet Bolger and Linda Shipton for giving up a Saturday to help issue absentee ballots, and to Janet, Linda, Judy Wonick, Kristen Schabacker, Emmy Foster, Guy Kullander, Tom Olund and Ryan Ruzek and to former staff members Amy Griffin and Becky Pentel for their invaluable assistance on election day and the week that preceded it. Thanks also to Chief Aschenbrener and the police officers who responded to the election sign complaints, monitored polling place parking and handled traffic on election day. November 2 provided a perfect example of how truly outstanding this city’s staff is. HOLIDAY Next Thursday is Veteran’s Day and Mendota Heights, along with all other City, County and State offices will be closed. Respectfully Submitted, Jim Danielson City Administrator Attachments: Just the Facts, Pipeline, Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Agenda, ARC Commission Meeting Agenda, Twincities.com (Pioneer Press) Article “City takes golf course battle to high court”, “Burglar strikes historic church” and “City sued in golf course squabble”, Thank you letter, 2004 City Election Results, Letter from Metropolitan Council and Over the Years Article “Mitch’s”.