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Issue 35 - Heights Highlights Winter 1995PAGE 1 February, 1995 ISSUE 35 AT YOUR SERVICE We at City Hall are proud of the services we provide to our residents on a daily basis and we are particularly proud that we are able to do so at a cost which is consistently recognized as one ofthe lowest in the Metropolitan area. "Where are my City tax dollars being spent?" is a fair and frequent question heard at City Hall and one we are happy to answer. Consider your typical day... As you get up in the morning you head for the bathroom to brush your teeth, shave or take a shower -- the water has been treated and is delivered to your home through city water mains. As you flush the toilet or watch the water go down the drain, that sewage is collected by city sewer lines and then sent through a large regional interceptor line to the regional sewage treatment plant. That plant charges the city for the sewage collected for treatment before it is returned to nature. You get into your car and drive out the driveway to the street. Unless -ou live on a county road, the street you drive on was constructed by ;itv, or under city supervision when your neighborhood was built. vur Engineering Department is staffed and equipped to insure the design and construction of high quality public infrastructure. In the Winter, you notice that the streets are plowed and have been sanded. In the Springtime, you notice that the city storm sewers have drained the streets and the city has arranged for street sweeping to clear away the accumulated sand and salt. Our Street and Utility Maintenance Departments take pride in keeping our city flowing, both figuratively aiid literally. As}you go through a city signalized intersection, you see a police car going the other way. Our Police Department, comprised of 15 ohm sworn officers, gives us high quality 24 hour police protection. Further down the road you see a fire truck responding to a call for help. Our volunteer Fire Depart- ment is comprised of 36 dedicated individuals who are highly trained to provide this important service to the community. The city has also made arrangements with HealthEast to insure the prompt provision of ambulance service to all residents. As your schedule allows, you and your family take advantage of the city's extensive park system. Our fourteen parks provide over 230 acres of recreational opportunity, all readily accessible via our care- fully planned trailway system. The Park Maintenance Department and our Recreational Programming Department work hard to maxi- mize your recreational enjoyment of this important community re- source. In addition to the above, the city also provides code enforcement, fire marshal, financial and administrative services; all to support and serve the public. What it comes down to is that your local municipal government has a daily impact on you and your lifestyle -- yet that daily operation is normally overlooked. Your municipal workers are indeed "at your service," every day of the year. We proudly and professionally provide a full range of services to enhance your quality of life. If you have suggestions on ways to improve those services, please let us know. We are your friends and neighbors providing you with the best services available for the lowest cost possible -- your tax dollars at work. Focus On Juvenile Crime The Northern Dakota County Community Pulse Project will be hosting an event entitled "Focus on Community" on March 9-10, 1995 at which a Community Action Plan to Prevent Juvenile Violence will be developed. You are invited to become a part of this important effort as we seek ways to minimize juvenile violence in the northern portion of Dakota County. In an extensive 400 household community survey conducted by the Pulse Project recently, the top three community concerns noted were crime, drug and alcohol abuse, and delinquency-- all concerns which directly impact the youth of our community. The purpose of the Community Action Plan to Prevent Juvenile Violence is to identify those specific steps which need to be taken over the next three years by all community members-- parents, youth, seniors, educators, elected officials, business people and service club members-- to protect our most valuable asset, our youth. The event is being held at the Koinonia Center in South Haven, MN. The registration fee is only $50 which includes accommodations, meals and transportation. Scholarships to the event are available thanks to the generosity of the West St. Paul Kiwanis Club, the West St. Paul/Mendota Heights Rotary Club, and West St. Paul McDonalds. The Northern Dakota County Community Pulse Project began in 1993 as a collaborative effort between business, education, government nd community agencies to better coordinate the delivery of public services. The geographic area covered by the Pulse Project includes that �a within the boundaries of ISD #197 encompassing Mendota Heights, West St. Paul, Mendota, Lilydale, Sunfish Lake and parts of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights. If you would like to learn more about the event, please feel free to call City Hall or contact Bev Fritz, ISD #197 Community Education Director, at 681-2337. Or you may stop by City Hall to pick up a copy of the registration brochure-- but hurry, the deadline for sign-up is February 28, 1995. PAGE 2 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES Traffic Signal News Dodd Road and Mendota Heights Road The intersection of Dodd Road (Trunk Highway 149) and Mendota Heights Road has been the location of several serious traf- fic accidents and many close calls over the past few years. Rush hour traffic in the morn- ing is the worst time to negotiate the inter- section. Dodd Road is very wide and traffic on it travels so fast that almost everyone who drives across it travelling on Mendota Heights Road feels uncomfortable. Parents from the Convent of the Visitation School and St. Thomas Academy, because they were most directly affected, joined in a task force with Mn/DOT and city officials to try to arrive at and implement measures to improve the safety of the intersection. After many months of work it was the conclusion of that task force that a traffic signal needed to be installed. Funding for the signal was to be a 50/50 split between the city and the state. The city applied its Municipal State Aid dollars to cover its share of the cost. The total cost of the signal was approximately $170,000. The signal was put into operation on Janu- ary 24, 1995. Lerbs Retired?? Bill Lerbs retired from the Fire Department on December 31 after twenty-seven years of service. Over the years, he responded to count- less fire calls, including the Bellows Court pro- pane tank explosion in. 1972. Bill served in a\ variety of positions be- tween 1967 and 1994, including Traffic Offi- cer, Secretary, Captain,' Assistant Fire Chief for seven years and Acting Chief for a short period in 1984. On February 7, the City Council recog- nized Bill for his service and dedication. He will also be honored at the Fire Department's Annual Awards Dinner on February 18. After twenty-seven years, it's safe to bet that Bill will still be seen around the station, making sure everything is running smoothly!! New T.H. 13 and Pilot Knob Road As part of the Mendota Interchange pro- ject, Trunk Highway 13 was rerouted through the city's industrial park to connect with Trunk Highway 55 at Kendon Lane. Along this new route T.H. 13 crosses Pilot Knob Road. Stop signs were installed on Pilot Knob to control traffic. This intersec- tion, just like the Mendota Heights Road/Dodd Road intersection, is one where a lesser travelled road crosses a very wide four lane divided highway carrying high speed traffic. Immediately after the intersection was opened, accidents began occurring regularly. At the city's urging, Mn/DOT acknow- ledged that this intersection also warranted a traffic signal. Mn/DOT applied to the federal government for additional funds within the ongoing Mendota Interchange Project to pay for a signal. Mn/DOT was successful and the federal government will fund 80% of a new signal at this location. The state, the county (because Pilot Knob is a county road), and the city will share in the remaining costs.The signal is currently being designed. It will be installed in late spring or early summer. 1995 Videos Available The city has recently received two educa- tional videos that are being made available to the public for viewing. The two videos cover the topics of Bicycle Safety and Pre- vention of Oak Wilt. The Minnesota Extension Service has pro- vided a video titled, "Be Safe on Your Bike" that provides bicycle safety instruction for children and adults. This thirteen minute video was provided to Mendota Heights be- cause of our promotion of bicycle safety during last year's Celebrate Mendota Heights Parks! The other video, from the Minnesota De- partment of Agriculture, is titled "Save our Trees - Stop Oak Wilt in Your Backyard and Neighborhood". It is 8 minutes 20 seconds long and is accompanied by a brochure titled "Get to the Root of Problem". The video and the brochure are helpful in providing instruc- tion on oak wilt and preventative measures. Both videos are available at City S_, A may be checked out free of charge. Farewell, Friends It has been a hard winter at City Hall but not because of the heavy snow and bitter rzold temperatures of a typical Minnesota winter. Rather, the season has been difficult becau se we have been saddened by the loss of two friends who were long associated with city orf;,rations. Retired Clerk -Treasurer Gilbert Radabaugh passed away in December after a. long illness. Gil began his career with the city as its elected Treasurer in 1956 and served as an elected Clerk -Treasurer for 12 years. In 1969 he was appointed as the city's first, ar,d only, full -rime Clerk -Treasurer. He retired in 1978 after twenty-two years of dedica'ced service to the community he loved. Gil had the perfect job title, for he was a treasurri to all who knew and worked with him. As mentor and friend he will be remembered for tus kindness to those he served and those who served with him, for the twinkle in his eye, 'the boom in his voice and the smile that at once softened his patented gruff exterior. To his beloved wife Dolores and their children we extend our sympathy and our appreciation fo r sharing him with us through the years. On January 28, Dr. Thaddeus Chao suffered a fatal heart attack. For nearly forty years, Ted Chao served as the city's Health Officer. Although he received no compensation from the city, he volunteered his services annually. From setting up a pciio clinic and administering vaccine to community residents in the 1950's to vaccinating public safety personnel against hepatitis in the 1990's, he dedicated his time and his talents to his community. No matter what request was made of him or how much work it would entail, he .responded without hesitation. We will miss not only his professional skills but, perhaps more importantly, his ready smile, his ---ase of humor and his compassion. On behalf of the Mayor, City Council and city staff, we t d sincere sympathy to his wife Terri and to their children. PAGE 3 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES February,1995 CONGRATULATIONS, MENDOTA HEIGHTS! In 1994, the community of Mendota Heights exceeded its goals for recycling for the sixth consecutive year. Congratulations are in order to our residents for their continued commitment to recycling and waste reduction. The residents and businesses in Mendota Heights recycled 1,585 tons (not counting yard waste) in 1994 through the curbside program and drop-off facilities. The waste abatement goal for 1994 was 888 tons, or 20% of the city's projected solid waste generation. Mendota Heights residents should be commended for their efforts to reduce waste and to recycle. Mendota Heights' efforts in 1994 have saved valuable natural resources and energy. 893 tons of paper were recycled including newspaper, corrugated cardboard and mixed mail. 77 tons of aluminum and steel were recycled and 260 tons of glass food and beverage containers were recycled. 75 tons of major appliances were recycled in Mendota Heights as well as 164 tons of household items which were taken to drop-off programs in the area in 1994. These levels of recycling make significant contributions to preserving natural resources. Recycled materials replace the need to manufacture items from natural materials, particularly trees, water and aluminum/bauxite. Estimates on resources saved in Mendota Heights include: * 15,194 trees not needed for paper products * 106,195 gallons of gasoline (manufacturing energy not needed) *7,756,990 gallons of water not consumed for manufacturing Better Recycling By using every opportunity to recycle and reduce trash through the curbside, multi -family and drop-off recycling programs the City of Mendota Heights can continue its excellent record of recycling and can continue to meet higher recycling goals. Studies show that most individuals and/or families only recycle 2 or 3 of the possible 6 items accepted at curbside. Make sure you recycle all these items: • glass containers • aluminum and metal cans K plastic bottles with a neck X newsprint • corrugated cardboard • magazines rt,'f Be aware of drop-off programs that take additional items such as the Dakota County Household Hazardous Waste facility. This facility will accept waste paint, solvents, herbicides, pesticides, lighter fluid, varnishes, strippers, polishes, wood preservatives, household batteries, motor oil, tires ($2 each), car batteries and fluorescent lights. Call 438 -INFO for further information. Location and hours are detailed below under the fluorescent lights section. Besides the materials they are required to collect curbside, many haulers pick up additional materials for recycling through their curbside collection. This may include phone books, mixed mail and office paper. Please contact your garbage hauler to inquire about the materials they will accept. Additional Opportunities Fluorescent Light Bulbs As of August 1, 1994, State law requires that fluorescent lights can no longer be thrown away in the garbage because of their mercury content. Please bring them to a Household Waste Site for disposal. The Dakota County Household Hazardous Waste Site in Eagan is located at 3385 South Highway 149 at the Gopher Smelting and Refining Company. Enter off of Hwy. 149 before you reach Yankee Doodle Road. Expanded hours of operation are Wednesdays, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (except Holidays). YouRbuldn't Think of 1bvwing Away aYmL Boxes for safely transporting fluorescent lights are available free of charge through the Men- dota Heights Recycling Office. Please contact 452-1850 or visit City Hall for a free box. Dakota County still encourages the use of fluorescent lights because they use less energy. Dakota County Recycling Center The Dakota County Recy- cling Center will accept many items that are not collected curbside. This center is located at 1705 East Highway 13 in Burnsville at the intersection of 121st Street. 121st Street cannot be accessed from Highway 13 and residents travelling south on Highway 13 should turn left at County Road 11 to access 121st Street. Call 484-5373 for hours of operation. They will accept all materials accepted curbside plus the following items: *Aluminum foil (clean) *Household batteries *Milk Cartons *Drink boxes *Office paper *Telephone Books *Empty paint and aerosol cans *Mixed residential mail Greenwing/Supercycle Recycling Center For those of you who travel to St. Paul, the Greenwing/Supercycle Recycling Center is located at 775 Rice Street. Please call 224-5081 for hours of operation. They will accept all materials accepted curb- side plus the following items: *Telephone Books *Milk cartons *Mixed residential mail *Polystyrene (styrofoam) food packaging *Textbooks * Household batteries *Empty aerosol cans PAGE 6 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES February,1995 The City of Mendota Heights will be offer- ing three new golf leagues this summer to be held at the Par 3 Golf Course in Mendota Heights. Leagues being offered are as fol- lows: Senior Citizens Golf League Session I: Mondays, May 15 - July 17 (No play May 29) Session II: Mondays, July 24 - Sept. 25 (No play Sept. 4) This golf league is for anyone 60 years of age or older. Tee times will start at 7:00 a.m. and approximately seven minutes thereafter. The cost is $65.00 which includes league membership fee, weekly green fees and weekly prizes. The league is limited to 75 members. More information to come after registration. Women's Golf League, Session I: Tuesdays, June 6 - August 29 (No play July 4) Tee times begin at 10:00 a.m. and approxi- mately seven minutes thereafter. The cost is $90.00 which includes league membership fee, weekly green fees and weekly prizes. This league is limited to 75 members. After the first 3 weeks of play, you will establish a handicap and be competing against women on the same level as you. More information to come after registration. Junior Golf League Session I: Wednesdays, June 14 - August 16 This league is for boys and girls ages 10 thru 17. You must have some golfing ability to join. Tee times begin at 11:00 a.m. and approximately seven minutes thereafter. The cost is $70.00 which includes league mem- bership fee, weekly green fees and weekly prizes. This league is limited to 75 members. You may register at Mendota Heights City Hall beginning April 3rd. There is a $5.00 non-resident fee if you live outside of Men- dota Heights. Priority will be given to Men- dota Heights residents. League availability based on demand. For more information, please call 452-1850. ADULT SOFTBALL LEAGUES Registration information is now available for a variety of Mendota Heights Adult slow -pitch softball leagues. The information can be obtained in person at the City Hall, 1101 Victoria Curve, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or by calling 452-1850. Leagues being offered include: Mondays: Men's "C" Wednesdays: Co-Rec "D" Tuesdays: Men's "D'; Women's "D" Thursdays: Men's Over 30 "D" League All games will be played at Mendakota Park. Mendota Heights teams may register their teams from March 6-10. Returning non-resident teams may register March 13-17, and all other teams may register March 20-24. All teams must be registered by March 24, 1995. Registration must be made in person at City Hall. League availability will be based on demand. Sand Volleyball Three adult Co-Rec sand volleyball leagues will be offered this summer. These recreational leagues will be played in the evenings at Rogers Lake Park. Games will not be officiated. Leagues being offered include: Advanced: Mondays Beginners: Tuesdays Intermediates: Wednesdays Games will start the week of June 5 and will continue through mid-August. The maximum number of teams is 6 teams per league. Priority registration for Men- dota Heights residents will be May 1-5 on a first come, fust served basis. All other teams may register between May 8-19. You may register in person at City Hall, Monday through Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 A.M. or call 452-1850 for more information. League availability is based on demand. From: City of Mendota Heights 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, Mn. 55118 A��k Build A Bird House Spring is near and the birds will be back! Many birds are already building their nes' and preparing to lay eggs. A naturalist N give you a few tips on how you can attract birds to your backyard, and then you can build a bird house perfect for black -capped chickadees and house wrens. BYOH - Bring Your Own Hammer! When: Saturday, April 1, 1995 9:30 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. Where: Mendota Heights City Hall Fee:$8.00 per parent-child pair, $5.00 per additional bird house kit. Fee includes one bird house kit (pre-cut wood pieces, nails, sandpaper, etc.) 90 minute program length Maximum: 20 parent child pairs POSTAL PATRON MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MN 55118 Bulk Rate U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 6166 St. Paul, Mn. 55118 CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT PAGE 5 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES February, 1995 Senior Housing Being Planned A new senior housing facility is being planned in the City of Mendota Heights that will consist of 40 units of housing for low and moderate income seniors. Dakota County Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) has worked with the city over the past year to select a site for this facility and is currently in the process of acquiring the land that has been chosen as the best site by the City Council. This site is located on Minnesota State Trunk Highway 149 right of way at the east end of South Plaza Drive, immediately east f the Dakota Bank. It is hoped that acquisi- cion of the site will occur in the near future so that architectural plans can be finalized with the city and construction can begin in 1995. The building of a senior housing facil- ity in Mendota Heights is one of 10 projects on the county's 10 -year capital improvement plan. The facility is being provided for use by low and moderate income seniors in the community and will help meet demand in the community for senior housing. Community Development Block Grant funds are being used by the city to assist the HRA in acquir- ing the site. The HRA will construct and operate the 40 unit facility, which will be a three story building on approximately 5 acres. The HRA does not accept applications to be on a waiting list until construction of a building has begun. Currently, Dakota County HRA is keeping an information list of those seniors who may be interested in this housing. The list is being kept in order to notify all interested individuals on the pro- gress of the facility planning and to provide information about the application process for )w and moderate income senior housing. Any residents who desire to be placed on the information list should contact Joan To- lacek, of Dakota County HRA, at 423-8141. Brisk Building Continued Recent completion of the reconstruction of the Mendota Bridge and rerouting of High- ways 13, 55 and 110 has returned easy access to our Industrial Park and made it just min- utes from the airport, both downtowns and surrounding suburbs. As a result, interest in and development of the park continued in 1994 at a vigorous pace. United Properties has recently completed a three story office building for Northland Insurance Company at 1285 Northland Drive. This 108,000 square foot facility is Phase II of a possible three phases for this growing company. Just southwest of the _ - — - —w I`- --- insurance -insurance building at 1330 Northland Drive, Tharaldson Development Company built a four story Heritage Inn. This 121 unit motel is used exclusively by Northwest Airlines as temporary living quarters for students of its Flight Training Center and is not open to the general public. A 29,000 square foot build- ing at 2430 Enterprise Drive is the new home of Business Development Sales Inc. BDS is a commercial laundry equipment distributor that moved to Mendota Heights from two sites in Bloomington. Hudson Trucking at 1460 Sibley Memorial Highway added 33,500 square feet of refrigerated warehouse to their existing facility. Right next door at 1480 Sibley Memorial Highway, LCS has expanded their metal stamping company with a 10,000 square foot addition. Another growing local company is moving to a larger building. General Pump, a high pressure fluid pump and component manufacturer is moving from its present location on Mendota Heights Road to 1174 Northland Drive. The 53,000 square foot building is currently un- der construction as is an 85,000 square foot office/warehouse building for Prime Net Data Systems, a data base marketing service. To the east of the Industrial Park, work was done on 37 houses in the Furlong subdivision to reduce the impact from aircraft noise. Sound reduction updates performed during this MAC proj ect include more attic and wall insulation, new windows and doors, and air conditioning systems. There was a focus on local schools in 1994. Henry Sibley Senior High and Mendota Ele- mentary schools underwent remodeling pro- jects to bring them into closer compliance with today's fire codes. Two additions to Sibley are presently underway, a new gym- nasium on the east and more science labs on the north. School District 197 has also leased and remodeled space in the industrial park for Metro II, a computer training center for teachers. Six classrooms were also added to the west side of the Beth Jacob Synagogue. Xerox Corporation has ■recently remodeled and moved into a large tenant space on Pilot Knob Road. There were 68 additional tenant finishes, alterations and remodeling projects in the commercial/industrial zones of the city. In the residential zones, building permits were is- sued for 51 new single family homes, 10 condominiums, and 364 miscellaneous pro- jects such as basement finishes, additions, remodeling, decks and porches. As always, if you have any questions about projects you would like to do at your resi- dence, feel free to call the Code Enforcement Officers, Dick or Paul. by air noise? When the ` noise becomes unbearable and disrupts your family's life style, the Metropolitan Airports Commission wants to hear from you. The MAC Air Noise Complaint Line can be reached at 726- 9411. If possible, when you call, please be prepared to provide information on time, loca- tion, direction and aircraft Wi type. PAGE 4 HEIGHTS HIGHLITES February,1995 Water Tower Repair Means TOTAL SPRINKLING BAN THIS SUMMER Repair and repainting of the city's two million gallon (MG) water tower will begin on April 1, 1995 and is anticipated to be completed by August 1. During that time, the water tower will be taken out of service. There will be a TOTAL LAWN SPRINKLING BAN FOR ALL MENDOTA HEIGHTS RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES. This ban will also affect residents in Mendota, Lilydale, and Sunfish Lake whose homes are connected to the Mendota Heights water distribution system. Current safety standards require that inter- nal structural modifications be made to the water tower, which was constructed in 1979. Repair of some rusting and ice damaged surface areas will be done during the re- painting operation, when the entire tank, inside and out, will be sandblasted and re- painted with two coats of paint. The exist- ing paint color will be maintained. Water is provided to Mendota Heights by the St. Paul Water Utility which pumps treated water from St. Paul under the Mis- sissippi River into a six million gallon res- ervoir located in West St. Paul. The need for a complete sprinkling ban is not due to a lack of water. The West St. Paul reservoir con- tains ample water to serve both West St. Paul and Mendota Heights. The ban is being imposed to ensure that there will be ade- quate pressure in the water mains in the event of a fire emergency. Water fed into Mendota Heights through mains from the reservoir in West St. Paul were designed and sized in the 1960's. Since that time Mendota Heights has grown tremendously and with that growth, life- styles have changed to include larger homes that use more water. Many of these homes and most businesses now sprinkle their lawns with automatic underground sprinkler systems. These systems use a tremendous volume of water during the summer months and cause the pressure to drop off in the lines even when our water tower is in service. The city has experienced this problem several times in recent dry summer periods, when sprinkling use has literally sucked the water tower dry. We are currently working with the St. Paul Water Utility to bring a larger water supply main from the 6MG reservoir in West St. Paul to our boundaries. We hope to have this accomplished sometime in 1996. Owners of new homes are encouraged to delay putting in their yards until after the tank is put back in service, thus avoiding the need to water, but exemptions for new lawns will be considered on a case by case basis. Residents and businesses with lawn sprinkling systems should contact the vendors who maintain their systems and inform them of the total sprinkling ban. If tower repairs and repainting are completed before August 1, the city will issue a press release in the local newspapers to announce the lifting of the sprinkling ban. Do Your Part To Protect Wetlands Every year, large quantities of phosphorus enter Mendota Heights lakes and ponds through the storm water system. Substances containing phosphorus, like lawn fertilizer, grass clippings, leaves and soil end up on driveways, streets and gutters where they are washed into the stormwater system by rain or snow melt. Most of Mendota Heights' lakes, ponds and wetlands are connected to this system. Consequently, the pollutants that start out on the street , gutter or driveway end up in the neighborhood pond. Here's a reminder about some things you can do during the upcoming lawn care sea- son to protect surface water quality: 1. Use a low phosphorus fertilizer. The three large numbers on the side of the fertil- izer bag indicate the percentages of nitrogen (1), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K` 4n the fertilizer. Be sure to select a fert with a middle (phosphorus) number or 3 percent or less. 2. Keep fertilizer spray or pellets off hard surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks and the street. This will reduce the chance that rain or lawn sprinkling will wash the fertil- izer into the storm sewer. 3. Keep lawn clippings and leaves off streets, sidewalks, and driveways where they can be carried into the storm sewer. Lawn clippings and leaves contain phosphorus which is released when they decompose. 4. Make sure soil stays in place on dis- turbed areas. Use hay bales or silt fence to prevent washing of soil into streets or lakes, and seed or sod areas as soon as possible after they are disturbed. Heights Highlites is a government news- letter distributed to residents to inform them on events and activities that affect Mendota Heights. All articles, layout and production are done by city staff members. If you know any residents who are r -t receiving the Heights Highlites, please vite them to contact City Hall, 452-1850, to be placed on the newsletter mailing list.