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2016-05-13 Friday NewsCity of Mendota Heights Weekly Update Mendota Heights City Hall 1101 Victoria Curve www.mendota-heights.com (651) 452.1850 Visit us on: Facebook.com/ MendotaHeightsMN Twitter.com/ @Mendota_heights DATES TO REMEMBER: Tuesday, May 17 City Council 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 24 Planning Commission 7:00 p.m. Monday, May 30 Memorial Day Holiday City Offices Closed Friday, June 3 Music in the Park Market Square Park @ 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 4 Mendota Heights 5K walk/run Market Square Park @ 9:00 a.m. Park Celebration Mendakota Park @ 11:00 a.m. Attachments: Pipeline, Just the Facts May 13, 2016 Spring Clean Up Day A Success Once again, the 2016 Annual Spring Clean Up was successful. The weather was perfect as the city council and volunteers unloaded 378 vehicles this past Saturday. Thank you to all the residents and volunteers who took part in this annual event. DNR schedules Public Hearings for Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area Rules Starting in 2013, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been working to update the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (MRCCA) Rules. The MRCCA is a 72-mile land corridor along the Mississippi River encompassing 54,000 acres of land including 30 jurisdictions. Land development in the corridor is currently guided by state regulations, which are implemented through local plans and zoning ordinances. Public hearings concerning the DNR's proposed rules are scheduled for the following locations and dates: Tuesday, June 14, 4:30 p.m. Schaar’s Bluff Gathering Center 8395 127th St. East, Hastings Wednesday, June 15, 4:30 p.m. Greenhaven Golf Course Event Center 2800 Greenhaven Road, Anoka Thursday, June 16, 10 a.m. Mississippi Watershed Management Organization 2522 Marshall St. NE, Minneapolis Interested parties can find additional information on the DNR's website: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/rules/mrcca/index.html Public Works Someone called city hall to say thank you to two Public Works employees and a Police Officer for rescuing five little ducklings that fell down a storm grate on Wagon Wheel Trail. The ducklings were floated down stream to the next catch basin where they were caught and returned to safety. A turtle was also moved out of the street that was crossing Wagon Wheel Trail. The Parks Crew cut grass in the parks. Trash was picked up daily in the parks. Soccer fields and foul lines were striped. The seeded areas at Marie Park were cleaned up. The fields were dragged and chalked. Plumbing repairs were done at Mendakota Park. The gate was repaired at the Pilot Knob site. Trees that were donated were planted in the parks. The Utilities Crew checked the lift stations daily. Broadleaf weed killer was sprayed at North Kensington Park and Friendly Hills Park. Mosquito control briquettes were put in all sump manholes. He attended the APWA conference on Thursday. The Streets Crew mowed weeds on the corner of Dodd Road and Wagon Wheel Trail, the empty lots at Town Center, and half of the dog park, before the rain started. Potholes were filled on Laura Street. Black dirt and seed were put down on Crown Point. Catch basins were cleaned so rain water can flow freely. A storm grate for the storm drain pipe on Norma Lane was ordered. An asphalt overlay was done on Victoria Curve in front of city hall. Road kill was picked up on Mendota Heights Road along with broken car parts. Engineering – Project descriptions simplified for easier reading. For more information, please contact the Engineering Department at (651) 452 -1850. The Pipeline N E W S L E T T E R Public Works Engineering Code Enforcement May 13, 2016 City Projects (construction year) Victoria Road Reconstruction & Rolling Green Neighborhood Rehabilitation (2014/2015) – Installation of a retaining wall at the corner of Victoria and Stratford Lane, warranty issues, and punch list items are underway. A utility conflict requiring minor modification to the trail at the corner of Victoria and Walsh Lane is being coordinated with Xcel Energy. It is possible Xcel will pay for the bulk of the modification. Mendota Road Neighborhood Improvements (2016) – McNamara Contracting was awarded the bid at the May 3rd City Council Meeting. A pre-construction meeting will be held in the coming weeks, where staff will receive the contractor’s schedule for the project. Construction is expected to begin in early June, after school is out, and completion is estimated for September. Update of Local Surface Water Management Plan (LSWMP) – The consultant is finishing the text of the LSWMP and the revised surface water modeling. A draft of the new plan is expected by the end of June. Watershed approval is expected in August with City adoption in January 2017. Lake Augusta Alum Treatment (2016) –The Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRMWO) has received the grant money from the Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) to apply alum to the lake to reduce the amount of phosphorus in the water. The LMRWMO consultant will develop specs for the project and manage the program. Treatment is expected in the fall. The Augusta Shores Homeowners Association has committed to providing a portion of the matching funds for the grant. County Projects Highway 110 Greenway Trail Crossing (2017) – County staff is coordinating the trail alignment with representatives from MnDOT, Mendota Plaza and Dodge Nature Center. Design is anticipated to be complete in time to bid with the MnDOT Highway 110 Rehabilitation project (see below). For more information contact Jacob Rezak, Project Manager, at 952-891-7981 or jacob.rezak@co.dakota.mn.us Traffic Signal Improvements: I-494 & Pilot Knob Road (2016) – Construction is scheduled to begin on Wednesday of next week and last until June 8th. One lane of traffic on Pilot Knob will be open at any point in time, and the contractor was instructed to have all travel lanes open during morning and evening peak periods. For more information contact Stacy Reilly, Project Coordinator at stacy.reilly@co.dakota.mn.us or at 952-891-7935. East-West Transit Study – No additional information this week. The County’s consultant continues to look at demand and optimal routes study completion is anticipated in January 2017. State Projects Highway 13 Slope Repair (2015-2016) – Construction is expected to resume on the private property slope repair in early June. A 4-5 week closure of Highway 13 between Sylvandale and Wachtler is anticipated during this period. The contractor will notify the City prior to construction resuming. Highway 110 Rehabilitation (2017) –MnDOT’s environmental document is expected to be completed next week. For more information contact Molly Cline, MnDOT Project Manager, at 651-234-7723 or molly.cline@state.mn.us. Highway 149 (Dodd Road) Rehabilitation (2018) –Staff is working on getting a bike/pedestrian facility incorporated into the project from Marie Avenue north to Delaware Avenue (see Highway 149 Trail Corridor Plan below). For more information contact Tara McBride, MnDOT Project Manager at 651-234-7506, or tara.mcbride@state.mn.us for more project information. Pilot Knob Bridge over I-494 Expansion Joint Repair (2016) – MnDOT will be repairing the bridge deck concrete expansion joints on the Pilot Knob Road Bridge over I-494. Work is expected to take approximately two weeks, and is anticipated to begin immediately after the signal improvement project by Dakota County (see above) on or about June 8th. Other Activities Highway 149 Trail Corridor Plan & SHIP Grant – City Council approved the grant contract with the County and the consultant contract at the May 3rd City Council meeting. The JPA allows the City to utilize the grant money to develop the plan. Staff hopes to use the plan to apply for a separate grant from the Metropolitan Council to construct a separated trail facility between Marie Avenue and Delaware Avenue along Dodd Road. Grant applications are due July 15th, and the County will be assisting the City in developing the grant application. Asset Management – Work Order Module – The electronic work order management system is online. Full implementation of the system will take place the week of May 16th. An electronic work order system will provide a more efficient way of logging daily activities, costs, and materials used. It will also help track those work requests from outside of the Public Works Department to make sure issues are addressed in a timely manner. Debris Management Planning – Staff attended a workgroup meeting on Tuesday. Dakota County Emergency Management is hosting a series of workgroup meetings to assist cities in developing plans to handle natural disaster debris management. In June of 2012, Mendota Heights received a severe storm with straight-line winds in excess of 70 miles per hour. There was extensive tree damage and debris city - wide as a result of that storm. The City initiated an event specific curbside debris pick up plan for recovery from that storm. The plan being developed will formalize and outline policies and procedures for the City to follow should that type of event happen again. More details to follow as the plan is developed. 1 The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department CHIEF Mike Aschenbrener SERGEANTS Eric Petersen Tanner Spicer Peyton FlemingBobby Lambert POLICE OFFICERS John Larrive Todd Rosse Jeff VonFeldt Steven Meyer Denise Urmann Michael Shepard Nick Gorgos Robin Nelson Steve Hilyar Phillip McCarty INVESTIGATIONS Chad Willson SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER Jennifer Fordham SUPPORT STAFF Kim Henning Trista Miller Shayna Hoechst Becky Pentel RESERVES Randy Pentel Jim Knox Jeff Parker CHAPLAINS Butch Millett John Snider Alberto Vargas Lynn Liberman Sue Plucker Joel Detlefsen Lenny Andrie MAY 13, 2016 HYDROPLANING Wherever you are in Minnesota, the Minnesota Department of Transportation has got you covered:  Statewide travel and road conditions  Current construction projects  Future construction projects  Metro area weekend traffic impacts  Greater Minnesota weekend traffic impacts  News releases We want you to choose the fastest and safest route to your destination. The MN Department of Transportation lists all current projects and offers an option for you to sign up for email up- dates to keep “in the know” on projects happening near you. CLICK HERE to take advantage! Projects unfortunately do not always stay on schedule so for more detailed information on real-time traffic/road conditions and to download the convenient smart phone app, please visit: 511mn.org To report a safety issues such as potholes, unsafe driving, traffic signal issues or compliance issues, you may also do so on the MNDOT website. With all this recent rain, comes the risk of hydroplaning. Hydroplaning refers to the skidding or sliding of car tires across a wet surface. Hydroplaning occurs when a tire encounters more water than it can scatter. Water pressure in the front of the wheel pushes water under the tire, and the tire is then separated from the road surface by a think film of water and loses traction. The result is loss of steering, braking and power control. When rain mixes with oil residue on a road surface, it creates slippery conditions that can cause vehicles to hydroplane. How to AVOID Hydroplaning: Keep your tires properly inflated Rotate and replace tires when necessary Slow down with wet roads; the faster your drive, the harder for your tires to scatter water Stay away from puddles and standing water Avoid driving in outer lanes where water tends to accumulate Try to drive in the tire tracks left by cars in front of you Turn off cruise control Drive in a lower gear Avoid hard braking Try not to make sharp or quick turns 2 THEFT SATURDAY 2157 HOURS Officer Nick Gorgos responded to a local business on a theft report. He was advised by dispatch that suspects ran out of the store with two shopping baskets full of merchandise. Gorgos did not observe anyone outside the business matching suspects description. He met with store employee who stated that two white males in their early twenties exited the store with several items of unpaid merchandise valuing over $1,000. Gorgos was able to collect video surveillance. Case pending. ASSAULT SUNDAY 0159 HOURS Officer Nick Gorgos along with fellow officers, responded to a business parking lot on an assault. Upon arrival, officers found a male laying in the parking lot, breathing yet unresponsive. Nearby was another male with a laceration to the face who stated that they were attacked for no reason. All the male remembers is that they were discussing a rap group with one of the suspects, when the suspects friend jumped out of a white Chrysler 300 and began to punch them rendering the one male unconscious the left the scene. The males were transported by medics. Case pending. ASSAULT SUNDAY 1524 HOURS Officers John Larrive and Nick Gorgos were dispatched to the local cemetery on an assault in progress involving two females. Upon arrival, officers were met by six people standing around two vehicles and one female stated she was there to pay respects to loved ones when her ex -husband and girlfriend showed up. An argument ensued between the ex and the girlfriend about kids and a physical fight took place. A citation was issued to the ex for 5th Degree Assault. DOMESTIC TUESDAY 2317 HOURS Officers McCarty, Gorgos and VonFeldt were dispatched to a home on a father/son domestic. Officers spoke with the father who stated that his son was damaging things within the home. He also stated that his son was not taking his medications. Officers looked for the son but he had left. The father stated they had got into an argument over his medications causing the son to get angry and start destroying things. The father was intimidated by his actions so felt police action was necessary. The son was found, issued a citation for Domestic Assault, and transported to Dakota County Jail. BURGLARY SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS MHPD Officers, took reports from several employees and residents of a senior living facility reporting a suspicious female inside the building on different occasions. There are several theft victims associated with this case. Video surveillance has captured the suspect. Under investigation. 3 05/06 - 05/12 2016 YTD Calls for Service 139 2,756 Citations 14 365 Warnings 14 345 Police Reports 33 374 Response Time Average 4.78 4.91 Check out the MH Crime Map! Click below to search your neighborhood: https://www.raidsonline.com 1101 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights, MN 55118 If you are a Mendota Heights resident and you are going out of town or on vacation, you can notify MHPD of your outing and we will be more than happy to keep a watchful eye on your home while you are away. The House Check Request online form is available on our website; you can complete a form found in our lobby, or simply give us a call and we’ll help you out. MHPD offers monthly Car Seat Safety Checks. To schedule an appointment, call 651.452.1366 or email jennyf@mendota-heights.com to contact Officer Jennifer Fordham. MHPD has a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of the PD where Dakota County residents can safely and anonymously dispose of their prescription drugs and over-the-counter medication. Please send us your positive feedback on our staff to: pdrecords@ mendota-heights.com Your feedback is greatly appreciated and helps boost the morale of our staff. HAVE A SAFE WEEK! This combination of vehicles is referred to as a recreational vehicle combination and must meet these requirements. Recreational vehicle combination includes: A full size pickup truck or recreational truck tractor. A middle vehicle attached by means of a 5th wheel and kingpin assembly. A trailer carrying only water- craft, snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles, motorized bicycles, golf carts, or eques- trian supplies and equipment. Limitations that apply to this combination are: The combination does not consist of more than three vehicles. The towing rating of the truck is equal to or greater than the total weight of all vehicles being towed. The combination does not exceed 70 feet in length. The operator must be 18 years of age. No operation in the seven- county metro area 6-9 am and 4-7 pm Monday thru Friday. May I tow a trailer behind my towed camper?