Loading...
2005-04-15 Friday News The Friday News April 15, 2005 A “Redwood” Falls It is with heavy heart that I must report that retired Firefighter Bill Lerbs passed away on Saturday 4/9/2005. Bill was admitted to the hospital Friday afternoon and passed away on Saturday afternoon. Bill was a member of the department for 27 years (1967-1994) and served in every leadership position in the department including training, Captain (5 years), Assistant Chief (6 years) and Interim Fire Chief. Bill was very involved in all aspects of the department and a regular visitor after he retired. He was very knowledgeable and handled all of our breathing apparatus maintenance and was extremely knowledgeable on our fire pumps. Two areas of knowledge that he passed onto his son Jamie, a 26 year veteran of the department. While Bill served in leadership positions in the department, what he enjoyed the most was his time sharing his knowledge and teaching. Bill took every rookie under his wing and showed them the ins and outs of pumping. Bill took great pride in working with the new firefighters and when a student finished working with him there was no doubt you would not only know how to pump but also how the pump operated. Bill’s love for the Fire Department spilled over to his family. His wife Geri served on the Fire Auxiliary for 25 years. His sons Jamie and John went on to become firefighters, Jamie with Mendota Heights and John in Inver Grove. Bill also has a son Jay and two daughters Jodi and Jenny. Both Bill’s wake, which was Tuesday 4/12/05 at Willweshied from 4-8 and funeral, which was held Wednesday morning at 10 AM at St. Stephens Lutheran Church were extremely well attended. A testament to what a great guy Bill was. The minister gave a fantastic homily that painted a very clea r picture to everyone of what and who Bill was (he started by saying a “redwood” has fallen). Assistant Fire Chief, Jim Kilburg also gave a wonderful tribute to Bill. It was moving to see all the firefighters fill the front of the Church. Bill will truly be missed by all. MOCK CRASH The mock crash was performed at the St. Thomas Academy parking lot in the wind and the rain on Monday. The student actors were great, the hysterical witnesses were hysterical and the drunken driver was hauled away. Brian Convery did a great job as the moderator; his quests were Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom, Police Chaplin Butch Millett and Sharri Abott who expressed her real life experiences to the kids. Hopefully the kids all take this program to heart and do not drink and drive during prom, or any other time. PARKS COMMISSION PLANS FOR 2006 PROJECTS At Tuesday’s meeting the Parks and Recreation Commission directed staff to proceed with development of plans for Park Capital Improvement projects to be constructed in 2006. Projects identified in the Parks Five Year Capital Improvement Plan are: safety and accessibility upgrades to playgrounds at Ivy Hills and Victoria-Highlands parks (similar to this year’s projects for Marie and Wentworth Parks), removal of wood footbridge to Friendly Hills Tennis courts with a culvert and asphalt path, replacement or upgrades to softball backstops in three parks, and replacement of the hockey and free-skating rink lighting (similar to Marie Park upgrades in 2001). Final plans and cost estimates for these projects will be reviewed in late summer. The Commission also decided to ask the City Council to order project feasibility reports for new trail segments, for construction in 2007, on Dodd Road from Town Center north to Marie Avenue and on Wachtler Road and Sibley Memorial Highway, adjacent to the Opus project to redevelop the Ecolab site. The concept plan for the trail on Sibley Memorial Highway includes an extension of the trail from the Ecolab site westerly to Lilydale Road where it can connect to the City’s trail in Valley Park, to the Big Rivers Trail along the river, and to the new trailway constructed on the I-35E Bridge over the river, which connects to the Fort Snelling State Park trail system and to other trails in St. Paul. LAWSUIT UPDATES The Minnesota Court of appeals ruled in the City’s favor on the Pilot Knob Lawsuit on April 1st, now we have to wait the mandatory 30 days to see if the applicant appeals further (to the Minnesota Supreme Ct). The oral arguments for the Par 3 Lawsuit have been scheduled to be heard by the Minnesota Supreme Court on Wednesday, May 4th. I hope that everyone gets their taxes in today!!! Respectfully submitted, Jim Danielson City Administrator Attachments: Just the Facts, Pipeline, City Council Agenda, Pre-Application Meeting Synopsis, “In Memory of Bill”, Letter from IGH Fire Department, Pioneer Press Article “How to get ‘er done”, “Bus riders riled”, and “Bus riders urged to rebuff cuts”, Sun Current Article “Road projects ordered in Mendota Heights” and “Met Council seeking local input on transit” , Plant Sale Flyer, Letter from Congress and Friday Fax..