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Issue 02 - Heights Highlights Summer 1984PAGE 1 SUMMER, 1984 ISSUE 2 COUNCIL ADOPTS LIQUOR ORDINANCE For several years the City Council has been considering the question of whether or not it should adopt laws to provide for the issuance of intoxicating liquor licenses. On. August 7th the Council adopted an ordinance which would permit the issuance of up to six on -sale licenses for restaurant and hotel facilities. The ordinance would also permit liquor store licenses to be issued for facilities in the Mendota Plaza Shopping Center, on -sale wine licenses for restaurant facilities, and a continuation of existing provisions for on -sale club liquor licenses. In all discussions on the liquor issue, the Council has been extremely concerned that any facility which could be eligible for a license must be of a very high quality. Because of the Council's con- cerns, the regulations that were adopted on August 7th are much more restrictive than any metropolitan area community imposes on license applicants. Anyone wishing to operate a restaurant with a r license must provide dining room seating for Bople and a dining room floor area of 4,000 square feet. Initial and renewal on -sale license fees would be $10,000 per year. In its current form, the Ordinance would not allow taverns or similar operations to receive licenses. A liquor store operator would have to provide 2,500 square feet of display and sales area and 500 square feet of storage area to comply with the minimum space requirements. It is anticipated that the City will receive permit requests from hotels and restaurants in the industrial park area along Hwy. 494. COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL EXPANDS The Mendota Heights City Council has granted a conditional use permit to Country Day School to open a second day care center in the community. The new facility will be located in the Victor Building, at the southeast corner of South Plaza Drive and Dood Rd. (TH 149). The existing Country Day School, operated by Ron and Phylis Ettinger and located at the south- east corner of Trunk Highway 13 and Victoria Avenue has been highly successful. It currently has 130 students, with up to 90 children on the site a* qny one time. The Ettingers have been looking second site in Mendota Heights for some tm e to accommodate over 50 families currently on a waiting list. This second location will ulti- mately have six or seven employees with 80 to 90 students, varying in age from 16 months to 5 years. The new day school will be open in time for the fall term. Minnesota statutes prevent the dispensing of liquor on -sale on Sundays without a "Special Sunday liquor license." The issue of Sunday liquor sales must be approved at a referrandum (election) before licensing such sales can occur. It is antici- pated that the November election ballot will include the question "whether sales of liquor at on -sale should be allowed on Sundays." MENDOTA HEIGHTS FIRE DEPARTMENT INVITES YOU TO "A HOT TIME IN THE OLD TOWN ..." The Mendota Heights Volunteer Fire Depart - merit will be holding its 36th Annual Dance at the Majestic Ballroom on October 5, 1984, with music by Dick Macko. Come and join your Fire Department in a great evening of music and dancing, plus many door prizes donated by local merchants. City Firemen will go door to door selling dance tickets starting in September. If they miss your house, please call Paul Dreelan, 454-7621 for ticket information. MART' TRADER HONORED FIRE STATION CONSTRUCTION ON SCHEDULE The new Mendota Heights Fire Station is under construction at 2121 Dodd Road (south of Hwy 1 10) and will be ready for occupancy in November or early December of this year. Construction started in mid-May and was running behind schedule but the good weather of late June and July has put the project back on schedule. The new station will replace the existing one located across the road at 2144 Dodd Rd., and will have an apparatus room to house eight fire trucks and a hose drying tower. The station will have a large meeting/training room, full kitchen, activity room, two dormatories, mechanical room and work shop. Mayor Lockwood and city officials attend "State of the City" luncheon sponsored by the Dakota County Chamber of Commerce, where past, present, and future development trends in Mendota Heights were discussed. PAGE 2 MENDOTA HEIGHTS HIGHLITES SUMMER, 1984 City parks and playground facilities provide year round opportunities for use by residents. Few complaints are received at city offices, but requests for full size softball diamonds and bike/hiking trails have been received. VALLEY PARK Shelter Double Tennis Court Ped -way Tables & Grills Kiddie Play Equipment Ball Field -Little League Standard Satellite MARIE AVENUE PARK Double Tennis Court Kiddie Play Equipment Ball Field -Little League Standard Hockey Rink Free Skating Rink Warming House Satellite ROGERS LAKE PARK cannot be reserved Pavilion Double Tennis Court Table & Grills Kiddie Play Equipment Satellite FRIENDLY HILLS PARK Ball Field -Little League Standard Double Tennis Court Kiddie Play Equipment Soccer Field (Fall) Hockey Rink Free Skating Rink Warming House Satellite WENTWORTH PARK Ball Field -Little League Standard Kiddie Equipment Soccer Field (Fall) Hockey Rink Free Skating Rink Warming House Satellite IVY PARK Ball Field -Little League Standard Kiddie Equipment Double Tennis Court Hockey Rink Free Skating Rink Warming House Satellite For reserving a Park, write to the City Offices, 750 South Plaza Drive, Mendota Heights, Minne- sota 55120, include name of Park requested, date and hours needed and for what use (i.e., company picnic, softball etc.) and approximate number of people expected. The City will then confirm your reservation in writing. Summer's here, and with the open windows and outdoor activities our residents south of Highway 110 are quickly reminded of the increased activity at the Twin City International Airport. The number of flights has shown about a 20% increase during the past year due to new airlines serving the Twin Cities. Summer also results in planes at a lower altitude due to warm weather, greater activity in number of flights and wind directions. Landings generally can be kept south of our residential areas by the Control Tower, however, take offs are more and more taking a track that effects the residents of Friendly Hills, Curley's and Rogers Lake. The City has been working with the Control Tower personnel to encourage flight tracts that stay south of Rogers Lake, however with wind conditions and safety requirements, this is not always possible. The Tower also tries to close the most effected runway for take offs after 8 P.M. Through efforts of the Metropolitan Airport Sound Abatement Council and the Federal Aviation Association, a new departure procedure was begun during July that will permit a heading of from 105° to 115' for planes departing under visual flight conditions. This should help to keep planes on a route more to the south and avoid many of the fly overs in the Curley and Friendly Hills areas. The airport personnel are very sensitive to our problem, and are working to keep flights on the southern areas of the City. Your voices are heard, and complaints can be made to the Airport Com- mission Sound Abatement Number, 726-9411. INCINERATORS THAT SMOKE The Mendota Heights Police Department has been receiving complaints of incinerators b, used in residential areas of the city. City OrdinL No. 1006, an ordinance prohibiting the burning of refuse from residences, states in part "no person, firm or corporation shall dispose of refuse by open burning or cause, suffer, allow, or permit open burning of refuse upon or from any residential property situated with the City". The definition of "open burning" in the or- dinance is deemed to mean burning any matter whereby the resultant combustion products are emitted directly to the open atmosphere without passing through an adequate stack, duct, or chim- ney. An adequate stack, under the regulations of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, requires multiple chamber incinerators to be used. To legally incinerate the refuse from the average household an after -burner is required in the second chamber. This burner must produce at least 26,000 BTU's of heat to reduce the emitted particles to the required amount. It is the lack of this equipment that causes the smoke and smell associated with the illegal incinerators still used in some homes. Violation of City Ordinance No. 1006 could result in a fine of up to $500, or 90 days in jail, or both. There are about forty manufacturers now making incinerators that conform to pollution control regulations. A list of manufacturers can be picked up at the Mendota Heights City Hall, 750 South Plaza Drive, ANALYSIS OF c CITY EMPLOYEA Name: Kim Henning, White, Female Hair: Blond (Natural) Eyes: Brown Height: 5-3-1/2" Weight; Over 9 Stone School: Henry Sibley, 1982 Graduate Inver Hills - Executive Secretary (1 year) Currently working towards an Associate in Applied Science Degree Residence: City of Mendota Heights. since 1981. Formerly lived in adjoining community on the southern boundary of Mendota Heights. Employment: Clerk/ Receptionist since June 1983. Effective in verbal articulation. Skills/Talents: Expert disseminator of pertinent data, facts, figures, permits and licenses. Able to explain what the surcharge on your water bill is for. (It's to pay for the water tower construction). A remarkable person. But wait, I've not told you her real value to the City. She is a pleasant person to have around. She is always cheerful. Some days on the main switchboard, she may answer the same question over and over, "your sewer bill is based on the amount of water you use." (That's a real popular question after the quarterly water and sewer bills are mailed out). Even after listening to a very loud irate builder or a resident express their displeasure over a city action she seems unruffled. She'll answer their questions or refer them to someone more familiar with the problem. A very multi -talented person with an inner sense of humor that never lets her down. She's always A smiling Kim Henning at her "work station." willing to answer another phone call or sell a dog license, or even type some of my articles for the newsletter. I've always thought she's "happy as a clam at high water". That's an "in" office joke referring to her talking. Kim likes to talk, but then THAT IS HER JOB. And she is good at it. What are the ingredients of a good emplo, ... sugar and spice and everything nice. . .", that may be part of the recipe, but it was altered when some hot banana peppers and vinegar must have been mixed in. To end this, I'll say "its nice working with you Kim. Thanks for being you." EDITOR. SUMMER, 1984 MENDOTA HEIGHTS HIGHLITES PAGE 3 DRIVING & SHOPPING IN MENDOTA HEIGHTS For several years, the Mendota Plaza Mall, ated at the intersection of Highways 149 and J, has served as the primary retail shopping facility in the community. Any significant upgrad- ing or expansion of commercial uses in the area has been discouraged by lack of a decision as to whether Highway 149 (Dodd Road) would be up- graded on its existing alignment, or relocated to the east on an easement reserved by the Minne- sota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) between the Friendly Hills First and Second Additions. Last year, the City Council commissioned City Planner Howard Dahlgren to develope a "down- town" Mendota Heights plan that would en- courage commercial improvements in the area. The plan was presented at a public hearing in August 1983. Residents of the Friendly Hills area voiced stiff opposition to that plan because it envisioned the relocation of Trunk Highway 110 to the eastern alignment, which they felt would disrupt their neighborhood and was not justified. As Mn/DOT had, at that time, made no commit- ments as to the future of T.H. 149, further planning was put on hold. Since that August meeting, Mn/DOT has com- pleted studies of current and projected traffic levels on T.H. 149, and developed several alterna- tive designs for improvement. The City Council and Planning Commission held a joint workshop on May 29, 1984, to review those findings. The Mn/DOT analysis is that with the opening of �rstate Highways 35E and 494, traffic levels on J (South of 110) will decrease significantly, then rise incremently until approximately the year 2000, when they'll be back to current levels. According to Mn/DOT officials, upgrading 149 on the current alignment can accommodate those traffic levels, negating the need for relocation. The upgrading plans call for a 3 to 4 lane roadway, with protected turn bays at major inter- sections, and continued at -grade crossing at Highway 110 with signal improvements. Plans for highway changes must be approved by the City Council. Whatever the City decides, Mn/DOT says funding for the improvements will be available in 1987 at the earliest, and possibly not until some- time in the early 1990's. At approximately the same time, Mendakota Country Club informed City staff of their interest in a redevelopment plan which would include selling off land at the southwest corner of 110/ 149 for commercial development, construc- tion of a new clubhouse, and development of a planned unit housing complex on vacant land south of the existing club, which would include relocation of some golf fairways among the housing. With so many divergent projects coming to bear on the area, City Council convened a task force of interested parties. The charge to the task force will be to study all of the issues affecting the 110/ 149 area, and attempt to come to a consen- on a development plan that will lead to better rficways and an enhanced commercial area. The group has held two meetings, and has primarily grappled with the question of what kinds of commercial development the community needs and wants, and the market potential. Task force members include: Fred Lambrecht, Friendly Hills; Jan Blesener, City Council; Bill Burke, Planning Commission; Dorothy McMonigal, Parks Commission; Lou Brenne, Mendakota Country Club; Sam Shepard, Mendota Plaza Merchants; John Roszak, At -Large; Kevin Kerve, At -Large, Carl Cummins III, At -Large. F*FOR CITY STREETS Mendota Heights City Council has been com- mitted, through a yearly seal coating program, to extend the life of city streets. The average bitumi- nous street can be expected to last 10 years without major maintenance (of course that time will vary with each street section). The major factor in pavement failure is when moisture enters the ground under the roadway, it softens the support, and then when a load is applied, (a truck or car), the pavement breaks up. This causes a layer hole for moisture and before long, the whole street has failed. One way of trying to keep moisture out of the subgrade is to periodically apply an asphalt seal coat to the surface. The application of this treatment helps in waterproof- ing the surface and also improves the texture. In Mendota Heights streets are evaluated on a 5-7 year basis for applying seal coat. The City main- tains approximately 51 miles of streets and road- ways, (not including county roads or state highways). This year over 5'/z miles of streets in the Summerset View, Ivy Falls West and Sommer - set Park areas along with a few other streets have been seal coated. The costs for seal coating as well as normal or minimum street repair comes from the general fund and is not directly assessed to abutting properties. Major repairs, overlays, or street recon- struction projects are fully assessed to properties benefiting from the improvement. Recently, an informational meeting was held by the City Coun- cil with property owners along Chippewa, Fre- mont, Hiawatha Avenue, Ellen Street, and Garden Lane to discuss the deterioration of their streets. The affected streets were not constructed under a city street improvement project but only repaired or restored to original condition following the installation of sewer and water mains in the early 1960's. The Council chambers were filled with property owners affected by the project, most wanting the streets upgraded, but reluctant to assume the assessments. A feasibility study is now being prepared by the Engineering Department to determine the need for any drainage improve- ments and the cost of doing a bituminous overlay project instead of a complete street reconstruc- tion. Cost estimates done in 1978 to upgrade this area (adjusted for inflation) were used to deter- mine that the average homeowner (with an 80' x 120' lot) would be assessed approximately $1,240 for a bituminous overlay, whereas a storm sewer and bituminous street with concrete curb and gutter would run about $5,265. Although an overlay project is less expensive, the present drain- age problems in the area would remain and the life of the overlaid streets will be less than that of a fully reconstructed street. Many of the residents along Chippewa requested the City Staff to look at alternate funding that could be applied to the work done on their street because it is wider than a normal 30' street and EARTHMOVING AT EVERGREEN KNOLL The only new subdivision being developed in Mendota Heights this year is the Gryc Evergreen Knoll Subdivision located immediately north of the Par 3 Golf Course off Dodd Road and Bachelor Avenue. The $330,000 first phase construction project (sanitary sewers, water mains, bituminous streets and concrete curb and gutters) will include twenty-two new lots. The second phase with an additional twenty lots will be developed in the next few years. Initial access to the project will be off Wachtler and Wentworth Avenues, (CR8) at the 900 curve. This curve has been a very dangerous one and the City Engineering Staff has been working with the County Engineer to upgrade it by making it a tee intersection. Ultimately, Wachtler will extend south through to Trail Road and Evergreen Knoll, which will be partially built in phase one, will connect with Dodd Road in phase two. Because of the late start of construction, utility work will begin in mid-August; the street paving portion of the project may be delayed until early next summer. This project was first presented to the City Planner Howard Dahlgren, in March of 1981 and has proceeded through the planning commission, City Council review, public hearings, plat approval, feasibility study, more public hearings and finally approved and plans and specifications ordered by the City Council in April of this year. Bids were let in July and Orfie and Sons, a contractor that has done many city projects over the past twenty years, was the low bidder. functions as a minor arterial roadway and not just a local neighborhood street. A few years ago the City Council requested the engineering staff to survey other communities to determine if any had special assessment policies regarding rebuilding or resurfacing of streets. By and large most communities did not have any official or formal policy guidelines. Some com- munities have a policy of sharing the cost of full street reconstruction but not of just a resurfacing project. In Mendota Heights street resurfacing or recon- struction projects have been few, only occurring once every two or three years, so it hasn't been a "high priority" item for the Council but considera- tion of the policy best for Mendota Heights residents is still being investigated and because of the age of many of our streets the Council has placed this problem on their priority list of items to address in 1985. PAGE 6 MENDOTA HEIGHTS HIGHLITES SUMMER, 1984 As cities have become increasingly aggressive in luring businesses to locate within their borders, the most coveted "plum" is the high technology center. Since 1979, Mendota Heights has been privileged to have Cray Research as one of its business residents. If present trends are any indication, Cray and Mendota Heights seem to like each other. Cray Research, dedicated to the design and development of large scale "super computers" was founded in 1972. Since that time they have established themselves as the leading producer of hard and software for very large, very fast scientific computers, able to explore the physical world through modeling and simulation. At an average price of $10 to $12 million, and ranging as high as $25 million per unit, Cray is definitely not in the home computer market. At the present time, approximately 75 Cray "super computers" have been installed around the world, and with addi- tional sales of 30 to 35 units per year, Cray has become a very major net contributor to America's balance of trade. In 1979, the growing corporation needed a home. After considering several sites around the Twin Cities, Cray finally chose its current location on Northland Drive. The willingness of the City of Mendota Heights to offer Industrial Revenue bonds as an incentive, in part led to the decision for location in our community. Despite expansion in three construction phases, rapid company Industrial Development Bonds. Tax Increment Financing, Redevelopment District. Small Business Administration. Land Development Corporation. Department of Energy and Economic Develop- ment. Community Development Block Grants. National Training development Council. Density Transfer. Public/Private Partnerships. What does it all mean? Business! Business and government getting down to business together. In the past decade government at all levels has become more involved in working productively to promote economic growth and expansion. Local elected officials have come to recognize that providing a high quality of life for the community means jobs as well as parks and snow removal. Increasingly intense competition between com- munities, states, and nations has called for an aggressive approach from those who want to share in the economic pie. From the very earliest efforts at community planning, back in the late 50's and early 60's, Mendota Heights has earmarked the Southwest portion of the City for industrial and business use. Opus Corporation and United Properties, two of the Twin Cities most prominent land development companies, purchased more than 200 acres of that property over twenty years ago in anticipation of its market potential when 1-494 would eventually be built across the Minnesota River. That hap- pened in the Fall of '82. As anyone driving around Pilot Knot and Mendota Heights Roads can see, the expectations of growth are coming true. In the belief that the community is ripe for growth has created an on-going space problem. In order to make more room for software develop- ment and support staff, the executive offices of Cray have since been relocated to downtown Minneapolis. The latest Cray expansion in Mendota Heights is the international training facility, located in United Properties' Business Center. Like the executive offices, the training function was "squeezed" out of the original Cray building. Unlike the executive office, however, they were not interested in downtown. Jim Nelson, head of the training facility: "we were looking for a semi -rural area, not all concrete business development, the Dakota County Cham- ber of Commerce decided to set up a Mendota Heights Economic Development Committee, sim- ilar to those currently operating in West St. Paul and Eagan. The committee will be working on marketing the community to prospective bus- inesses, acting as a channel of communication be- tween local businesses and the City, and advising the City Council and staff on business promotion and regulation policies. The City Council has endorsed the committee, and designated Councilman John Hartmann and City Administrator Kevin Frazell as ex officio mem- bers. Regular members include Chair Sam Shepard - Minnesota Federal Savings and Loan, Ray Whee- ler - Dakota County State Bank, Joyce Ohgren - Coast to Coast Hardware, Floyd Unruh - Unruh Realty, John McClung - Gould Battery, Marcus Scibora - First Tel Information Systems, Bill Strub, Jr. - Strub and Associates, Inc., and George Burk- hards - United Properties. From: City Of Mendota Heights 750 Plaza Drive South Mendota Heights, Mn. 55120 and buildings. An aesthetically pleasing site, with good parking, able to handle up to 100 students per day, easy to find, and close to the airport. Many areas were looked at but none could match all the advantages of this location". Today, almost 300 people are employed by Cray at the two Mendota Heights facilities. The training facility has an average daily attendance of 90 to 100 students from all over the world, who are learning to apply the Cray computer to their needs. With this kind of traveling clientele, Cray is eager for the day when the Mendota Heights Business Park will include hotel and restaur facilities. • • , Mendota Heights covers approximately ten square miles. 1'/z square miles is below the bluff and mostly unbuildable and the remaining 8'/z square miles above the bluff is developable. Approximately 70% of the city is developed. The developed areas consists of approximately 38% residential, 2% commercial, and 1 % in- dustrial. The remaining 59% of the developed area is public, institutional, and park use plus city streets and highways. The remaining 30% of the city is zoned 18% residential, 196 commercial, 6% industrial and 5% other. Highest point in city? Delaware Ave. & Beebe St. Elevation 1040 feet above sea level. Lowest point? Where the Minnesota & Missis- sippi Rivers meet below the bluff. Elevation 700 feet above sea level. Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 6166 St. Paul, Mn. 551'. SUMMER, 1984 MENDOTA HEIGHTS HIGHLITES PAGE 5 WHO, WHAT, WHEN ... Kevin Frazell, City Administrator 452-1850 Kathleen Swanson, City Clerk 452-1850 Paul Berg, Code Enforcement Officer 452-1850 James Danielson, Public Works Director 452-1086 Richard Ploumen, Public Works Superintendent 454-4059 Dennis Delmont, Chief of Police 452-1366 Gene Lange, Fire Marshal 452-1366 COUNCIL MEETINGS 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month at 7:30 p.m. Community Room PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS 4th Tuesday of the month at 8:00 p.m. Community Room PLANNING CONSULTANT APPOINTMENTS Contact Mary Ann DeLaRose @ 452-1850 PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETINGS 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Room 214, ineering Department Conference Room CABLE COMMISSION MEETINGS 3rd Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. Community Room SCHOOL BOARD MEETING, DISTRICT 197 Usually 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month Board Room, 1037 Bidwell Street, W.S.P. CITY COUNCIL Robert G. Lockwood, Mayor 457-3603 John Hartmann 457-6435 Charles Mertensotto 454-3394 Elizabeth Witt 454-2657 Janet Blesener 454-1811 PLANNING COMMISSION Cameron Kruse, Chairperson 454-3854 Stuart Henning 454-5323 Joseph Stefani 454-5372 Kevin Howe 454-6534 J. W. (Bill) Burke 454-3464 Kathy Ridder 454-1572 John Frank 457-1364 Howard Dahlgren, Planning Consultant 377-3536 PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION James Stein, Chairperson 452-4113 Dorothy McMonigal, Vice -Chairperson 457-1703 sha Knittig, Secretary 457-2166 a Singer 452-4664 Mike Williams 454-2528 Mary Jeanne Schneeman 457-4337 Robert Doffing 452-3358 Dewey Selander, Recreation Director 455-7112 Terry Blum 454-4059 NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WATCH "319 and Growing" "319 households in 13 neighborhoods, and growing fast". This is a brief status report on the Mendota Heights Neighborhood Crime Watch Program. The 7 month old effort has snowballed to the point that Chief of Police Dennis Delmont now has 4 officers assisting him with the organiz- ing effort. "We get 3 or 4 requests a week for neighborhood meetings" Delmont says, "and it requires the efforts of 5 officers, my secretary and an intern to keep up." Is it worth it? "Absolutely, in 7 months we haven't had a single burglary in a Crime Watch Neighborhood. That's positive encouragement for all the hard work the members of the neighbor- hoods have done." Crime Watch is a simple program that involves education, commitment and awareness. Burglary is a crime of opportunity and Crime Watch cuts down on that opportunity by making member neighborhoods and neighbors tougher targets. If you have noticed an upsurge of activity in your neighborhood, it could be that the criminals are being displaced into your area from a nearby Crime Watch neighborhood. Burglars look for the easiest "AN ALARMING SITUATION" A security alarm system at a home or business can be a considerable asset to the owner and the Police Department. If that alarm system doesn't work, malfunctions, or is used improperly, it quickly becomes an expensive and time consuming problem. False alarms in Mendota Heights in 1983 amounted to 530 cases of unnecessary responses by the police. Assuming that an average false alarm costs the taxpayers around $20.00 and one hours time the totals are near $10,600.00 and 661/4 work days lost. The fire department responded to 45 false alarms in the same period, each of which costs an estimated $232 per alarm totaling over $10,000 for the year. The police department has begun a new pro- gram that results in a letter being sent to the CABLE COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVES David Zemke, Chairperson 454-6376 Elizabeth Witt 454-2657 MENDOTA HEIGHTS JAYCEE WOMEN Mary Tuminelly 455-9534 DAKOTA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 33 E. Wentworth, Suite 101 West St. Paul, MN 457-4921 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NORTHERN DAKOTA COUNTY Karen Flood 454-2631 MED-EAGAN ATHLETICS Girls Softball -Gerald Brown 454-7419 Boys Softball -George Hetherington 452-1808 Soccer -Dennis McCardie 452-4963 DOG CATCHER Paul Brust, Oak Crest Kennels 451-7687 target, and if you are not a member of Crime Watch, you are that easier target. Through Crime Watch, neighbors have the following advantages: • A monthly newsletter with crime facts and crime prevention tips • Home security surveys done by a trained officer • Personal liaison with your Police Department • A renewed awareness of what is happening and what you can do to stop it • A better cultivated sense of neighborhood and community • Open communication to the Police Department and City Hall • Distinctive signs that designate your neighbor- hood as one that is tough on crime Want to get involved? Call the Mendota Heights Police Department between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 452-1366 and ask about Neighborhood Crime Watch. You can wel- come Neighborhood Crime Watch into your neigh- borhood or you can welcome the burglars—the choice is yours. owner of the alarm system. This letter asks the owner to determine the cause of the malfunction and then take remedial action. This could be notifying the alarm company of the need for service or educating a family member or employee on the proper operation of the system. Whatever the cause, the results are the same, wasted time and money. False alarms monopolize police and fire services that should be used for more important purposes. In addition, the "Cry Wolf' syndrome associated with many false alarms at the same location may result in complacency on the part of the responder. Use your expensive alarm system to its best advantage: 1. Demand conscientious service from your alarm company. 2. Regularly check the status of batteries and contacts. 3. Have regular maintenance checks made on the equipment. 4. Thoroughly instruct all family members or employees on the proper operation of the alarm system. Your alarm system is an effective tool in the prevention of crime or damage to your property. Treat it with respect and it will reward you and your family by doing its job in an effective and efficient manner. PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION James Stein, Chairperson 452-4113 Dorothy McMonigal, Vice -Chairperson 457-1703 sha Knittig, Secretary 457-2166 a Singer 452-4664 Mike Williams 454-2528 Mary Jeanne Schneeman 457-4337 Robert Doffing 452-3358 Dewey Selander, Recreation Director 455-7112 Terry Blum 454-4059 NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WATCH "319 and Growing" "319 households in 13 neighborhoods, and growing fast". This is a brief status report on the Mendota Heights Neighborhood Crime Watch Program. The 7 month old effort has snowballed to the point that Chief of Police Dennis Delmont now has 4 officers assisting him with the organiz- ing effort. "We get 3 or 4 requests a week for neighborhood meetings" Delmont says, "and it requires the efforts of 5 officers, my secretary and an intern to keep up." Is it worth it? "Absolutely, in 7 months we haven't had a single burglary in a Crime Watch Neighborhood. That's positive encouragement for all the hard work the members of the neighbor- hoods have done." Crime Watch is a simple program that involves education, commitment and awareness. Burglary is a crime of opportunity and Crime Watch cuts down on that opportunity by making member neighborhoods and neighbors tougher targets. If you have noticed an upsurge of activity in your neighborhood, it could be that the criminals are being displaced into your area from a nearby Crime Watch neighborhood. Burglars look for the easiest "AN ALARMING SITUATION" A security alarm system at a home or business can be a considerable asset to the owner and the Police Department. If that alarm system doesn't work, malfunctions, or is used improperly, it quickly becomes an expensive and time consuming problem. False alarms in Mendota Heights in 1983 amounted to 530 cases of unnecessary responses by the police. Assuming that an average false alarm costs the taxpayers around $20.00 and one hours time the totals are near $10,600.00 and 661/4 work days lost. The fire department responded to 45 false alarms in the same period, each of which costs an estimated $232 per alarm totaling over $10,000 for the year. The police department has begun a new pro- gram that results in a letter being sent to the CABLE COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVES David Zemke, Chairperson 454-6376 Elizabeth Witt 454-2657 MENDOTA HEIGHTS JAYCEE WOMEN Mary Tuminelly 455-9534 DAKOTA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 33 E. Wentworth, Suite 101 West St. Paul, MN 457-4921 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NORTHERN DAKOTA COUNTY Karen Flood 454-2631 MED-EAGAN ATHLETICS Girls Softball -Gerald Brown 454-7419 Boys Softball -George Hetherington 452-1808 Soccer -Dennis McCardie 452-4963 DOG CATCHER Paul Brust, Oak Crest Kennels 451-7687 target, and if you are not a member of Crime Watch, you are that easier target. Through Crime Watch, neighbors have the following advantages: • A monthly newsletter with crime facts and crime prevention tips • Home security surveys done by a trained officer • Personal liaison with your Police Department • A renewed awareness of what is happening and what you can do to stop it • A better cultivated sense of neighborhood and community • Open communication to the Police Department and City Hall • Distinctive signs that designate your neighbor- hood as one that is tough on crime Want to get involved? Call the Mendota Heights Police Department between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 452-1366 and ask about Neighborhood Crime Watch. You can wel- come Neighborhood Crime Watch into your neigh- borhood or you can welcome the burglars—the choice is yours. owner of the alarm system. This letter asks the owner to determine the cause of the malfunction and then take remedial action. This could be notifying the alarm company of the need for service or educating a family member or employee on the proper operation of the system. Whatever the cause, the results are the same, wasted time and money. False alarms monopolize police and fire services that should be used for more important purposes. In addition, the "Cry Wolf' syndrome associated with many false alarms at the same location may result in complacency on the part of the responder. Use your expensive alarm system to its best advantage: 1. Demand conscientious service from your alarm company. 2. Regularly check the status of batteries and contacts. 3. Have regular maintenance checks made on the equipment. 4. Thoroughly instruct all family members or employees on the proper operation of the alarm system. Your alarm system is an effective tool in the prevention of crime or damage to your property. Treat it with respect and it will reward you and your family by doing its job in an effective and efficient manner. NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WATCH "319 and Growing" "319 households in 13 neighborhoods, and growing fast". This is a brief status report on the Mendota Heights Neighborhood Crime Watch Program. The 7 month old effort has snowballed to the point that Chief of Police Dennis Delmont now has 4 officers assisting him with the organiz- ing effort. "We get 3 or 4 requests a week for neighborhood meetings" Delmont says, "and it requires the efforts of 5 officers, my secretary and an intern to keep up." Is it worth it? "Absolutely, in 7 months we haven't had a single burglary in a Crime Watch Neighborhood. That's positive encouragement for all the hard work the members of the neighbor- hoods have done." Crime Watch is a simple program that involves education, commitment and awareness. Burglary is a crime of opportunity and Crime Watch cuts down on that opportunity by making member neighborhoods and neighbors tougher targets. If you have noticed an upsurge of activity in your neighborhood, it could be that the criminals are being displaced into your area from a nearby Crime Watch neighborhood. Burglars look for the easiest "AN ALARMING SITUATION" A security alarm system at a home or business can be a considerable asset to the owner and the Police Department. If that alarm system doesn't work, malfunctions, or is used improperly, it quickly becomes an expensive and time consuming problem. False alarms in Mendota Heights in 1983 amounted to 530 cases of unnecessary responses by the police. Assuming that an average false alarm costs the taxpayers around $20.00 and one hours time the totals are near $10,600.00 and 661/4 work days lost. The fire department responded to 45 false alarms in the same period, each of which costs an estimated $232 per alarm totaling over $10,000 for the year. The police department has begun a new pro- gram that results in a letter being sent to the CABLE COMMISSION REPRESENTATIVES David Zemke, Chairperson 454-6376 Elizabeth Witt 454-2657 MENDOTA HEIGHTS JAYCEE WOMEN Mary Tuminelly 455-9534 DAKOTA COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 33 E. Wentworth, Suite 101 West St. Paul, MN 457-4921 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NORTHERN DAKOTA COUNTY Karen Flood 454-2631 MED-EAGAN ATHLETICS Girls Softball -Gerald Brown 454-7419 Boys Softball -George Hetherington 452-1808 Soccer -Dennis McCardie 452-4963 DOG CATCHER Paul Brust, Oak Crest Kennels 451-7687 target, and if you are not a member of Crime Watch, you are that easier target. Through Crime Watch, neighbors have the following advantages: • A monthly newsletter with crime facts and crime prevention tips • Home security surveys done by a trained officer • Personal liaison with your Police Department • A renewed awareness of what is happening and what you can do to stop it • A better cultivated sense of neighborhood and community • Open communication to the Police Department and City Hall • Distinctive signs that designate your neighbor- hood as one that is tough on crime Want to get involved? Call the Mendota Heights Police Department between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 452-1366 and ask about Neighborhood Crime Watch. You can wel- come Neighborhood Crime Watch into your neigh- borhood or you can welcome the burglars—the choice is yours. owner of the alarm system. This letter asks the owner to determine the cause of the malfunction and then take remedial action. This could be notifying the alarm company of the need for service or educating a family member or employee on the proper operation of the system. Whatever the cause, the results are the same, wasted time and money. False alarms monopolize police and fire services that should be used for more important purposes. In addition, the "Cry Wolf' syndrome associated with many false alarms at the same location may result in complacency on the part of the responder. Use your expensive alarm system to its best advantage: 1. Demand conscientious service from your alarm company. 2. Regularly check the status of batteries and contacts. 3. Have regular maintenance checks made on the equipment. 4. Thoroughly instruct all family members or employees on the proper operation of the alarm system. Your alarm system is an effective tool in the prevention of crime or damage to your property. Treat it with respect and it will reward you and your family by doing its job in an effective and efficient manner. PAGE 4 FV CITIZEN This is YOUR space. A "public meeting place" for discussion or expression of residents' ideas, questions, complaints, praise, whatever. Use it! When appropriate, a staff member will respond to specific questions or problems. The following article, received June 29th, 1984, was submitted by Mr. Bernard Friel, a resident in the Friendly Hills area and was slightly edited to omit reference to future meetings in August which have taken place prior to the Highlights publica- tion. As editor, I feel that in no way have I diminished the relevancy of the information Mr. Friel wanted to acquaint our readers with. MENDOTA HEIGHTS HIGHLITES SUMMER, 1984 AIRCRAFT DISTRIBUTION TREATS MENDOTA HEIGHTS UNFAIRLY Over the last 8 to 10 years there has been a significant increase in the amount of jet aircraft flying directly over heavily populated residential areas in Mendota Heights. In particular, the resi- dential areas between the City's southern boun- dary and highway 110 have been severely impacted. Generally, those areas are the Curley Addition, the Roger's Lake area, the Hazel Court area, the Friendly Hills area and Delaware Crossing. The considerable escalation in the noise levels from this air traffic in the last four years has seriously disrupted the peace and quiet of these neighbor- hoods. Nor is it just noise that is so distressing. The concussion generated by the jet engines shakes, rattles and sometimes breaks windows and literally shakes pictures and mirrors off walls. Information available from the Metropolitan Air- ports Commission ("MAC") and the Metropolitan Aircraft Sound Abatement Council ("MASAC") disclose that on frequent occasions these noise levels are in violation of standards established by state law. Many of us in Mendota Heights have had the impression that the air traffic from the Inter- national Airport was being equitably distributed and that little could be done. Of course, we have been aware that the preferential runway system has put approximately 55% of all air traffic (take offs and landings) over Mendota Heights and Eagan, but we had erroneously believed that those landings and take offs had been equitably dis- APARTMENT SPACE IN DEMAND The Lexington Heights Apartment developers have received a permit for their third and final building. Tenants began moving into the first building the third week in June and as of August first, seventy of the seventy-five units had been rented. Both buildings two and three, now being con- structed, have six tenants that plan to move in as soon as the buildings are completed this fall. The recreation building, swimming pool and tennis courts will be completed in the spring of 1985, which will complete the ten million dollar project. These -are the first apartment buildings built in Mendota Heights and confirms the developers projections of a strong demand for apartment space. tributed. We were very wrong. While air traffic movements over Minneapolis and Richfield (the opposite end of the runway) are spread out over an arc of 100°, the movements over Mendota Heights and Eagan (and mostly over Mendota Heights) are distributed over an arc of only 15° (see diagram). The result of course, is that the residential properties in southern Mendota Heights receive an unfair and inequitable amount of air traffic. The preferred solution would be to confine air traffic to a corridor over the commercial and industrial areas in Eagan and Mendota Heights which follow 1-494 and highway 55. This would minimize the noise impact. However, whatever alternative is selected one thing is perfectly clear, and that is that there is no justification for an air traffic procedure which dumps an inequitable amount of air traffic over heavily populated resi- dential areas of Mendota Heights. That is a practice that should be discontinued immediately. There has been good turnouts for the MASAC meetings where the complaints about air traffic from Mendota Heights citizens were discussed. MASAC has agreed to look into the matter in an effort to develop possible solutions. However, it is extremely important that citizens of Mendota Heights give support in this effort to their neighborhood associations and to their spokesman on the issue, for without substantial community support we can not reasonably expect the responsible agencies to pay attention so please keep calling when the aircraft fly over your homes (particularly after 7:30 p.m, when there is absolutely no excuse for them to be over home Mendota Heights). Attendance at meetings of Metropolitan Aircraft Sound Abatement Council or the Metropolitan Airports Commission when they have the Mendota Heights issue on the agenda will show that we are serious about reducing aircraft noise. It is the appearance of interested residents at these meetings that is important. One or two people with a complaint don't make much of an impression. FIX -IT PROJECT CONTROLS SEWER COSTS Inflow and infiltration are terms used to de- scribe water entering the city's sanitary sewer mains which DOES NOT need to be treated but which increases the volume of effluent the city discharges to the Metro Sewer facility at the Pigs Eye plant, and, therefore, must pay for. A 1981 study of the problem revealed that half of the total volume of Mendota Heights' effluent was due to inflow (water discharged into sewers from roof leaders, cellar, yard and area drains, founda- tion drains, storm catch basins, etc.) and infiltra- tion (water entering from the ground through defective pipes, pipe joints, or manhole walls). The City Council realized the cost benefit of eliminating this situation. City staff began by measuring flows at key manholes in various areas of the city in the early morning hours when most of the observed flows can be attributed to inflow and infiltration. As a result, several suspicious lines were located, some that exceeded 25,000 gallons per day. By visual and televised means the worst leaking sections of pipe were isolated. A private contractor was hired to seal the leaking sewer lines from within. The process used involves pulling a waterproof television camera through the sewer line to view suspected problem areas. When a leaking joint or cracked pipe is encountered, the camera is pulled out of the way and two inflatable "balls" are positioned on either side of the leak. A quick hardening gel is pumped into the space between the balls and forced under pressure into the leak sealing it in a matter of seconds. The "balls" are pulled on clearing the excess gel from the line and allowing the television camera to view the leak to see that it is sealed, then the camera and "balls" are pulled along the line to the next leak. So far the City has spent $18,000 this summer, including staff time, plugging the major leaks discovered in the original survey and have cut the amount of inflow and infiltration into the sanitary sewer system by an estimated 77,000 gallons per day. The $18,000 will be recouped in redur- sewer bills from the metropolitan system in than one year. This year's budget has been fully spent. Next year, with new funding, additional areas will be examined and sealing of additional leaks will continue.