2019-10-25 Friday NewsOctober 31 | 7pm-9pm
Vacant lot behind Mendota Plaza
Gather family, friends, and neighbors
for this annual event! Hot dogs and
pop will be provided by the Mendota
Heights Fire Department. Residents
should park on surrounding streets,
and not in the Mendota Plaza parking
lot. The City will burn collected oak
pallets for the bonfire; do not bring brush to the site. Thank you to Paster Properties
for the use of the bonfire site again this year!
Upcoming Public
Meeting Dates
Wednesday, November 6
City Council Mtg | 7:00pm
Monday, November 11
City Hall & Public Works Closed
In honor of Veterans Day
Tuesday, November 12
Parks & Rec Comm Mtg | 6:30pm
Wednesday, November 13
Airport Rel Comm Mtg | 6:00pm
Stay Connected:
Facebook.com/
MendotaHeightsMN
Facebook.com/
MHParksandRec
Facebook.com/
MendotaHeightsPD
Twitter.com/ @mendota_heights
Twitter.com/
@mheightsPD
October 25, 2019
from the City of Mendota Heights
Mendota Heights City Hall
1101 Victoria Curve
www.mendota-heights.com
651.452.1850
City Hall Lobby Hours
M-TH: 7am-4:30pm
F: 7am-11:30am
Police Department Lobby Hours
M-F: 8:00am-4:30pm
FRIDAY NEWS
Take the survey at
https://polco.us/surveys/54a3709e-4394-46f7-b8e7-3e56be10c993
The survey will remain open until December 15.
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Collection
Saturday, October 26 | 10am-2pm
National Take-Back Day is a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of
unused or expired prescription drugs. MHPD will be collecting unwanted, unused and
expired prescription medications at City Hall between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Residents can simply drive thru the City Hall main entrance turnaround to drop them
off from their vehicle, and collections are anonymous - no questions asked. Please
place medications in a container or sealed plastic bag - they do not need to be
separated.
Can't make it to the event? A medication disposal box is available year-round, 24
hours a day, 7 days a week in the Police Department lobby entrance (lower level of
City Hall - access via the Lexington Ave S. parking lot).
Take part in the 2019 Mendota Heights Community Survey
The 2019 City of Mendota Heights’ Community Survey is designed to help Mendota
Heights follow trends in community sentiment to better serve residents. The survey
consists of 16 questions, and was designed to cover topic areas more generally, so that
later we can dive into individual results that impact our city. The survey is taken online
via any preferred digital device and takes just a few minutes to complete.
To take part, link directly to the survey and begin answering questions. At the end
you will be directed to set up a free Polco account if you do not already have one.
Polco accounts can be set up any time at https://polco.us/mendotaheights or
download the app for iOS or Android. Once an account is established, users can
receive notifications when new questions are posted.
Participants can remain anonymous, and responses are viewed as totals. Users can see
survey results and how others in the community are responding, and have an
opportunity to comment on topics if desired.
Seasonal Skating Instructor
The City of Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation is accepting
applications for a seasonal Skating Instructor. The Skating
Instructor is responsible for instructing individuals at various
levels and ages in learn-to-skate programs and performs a
variety of duties including developing lesson plans, preparing
materials, instructing classes and supervising participants.
Hourly Rate: $15.50 to $16.25, DOQ
To apply: Complete a city application and application
supplement. Position open until filled.
Seasonal Warming House/Rink Attendant
The City of Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation
Department is accepting applications for part-time,
seasonal Warming House/Rink Attendants for Mendota
Heights’ outdoor ice rinks. The City’s outdoor ice rinks are
located at Friendly Hills Park, Marie Park and Wentworth
Park.
Warming House/Ice Rink Attendants are responsible for
opening and closing warming houses and ice rinks; maintaining
rinks, warming houses and grounds cleanliness; shoveling and
clearing excess snow off rinks and walkways; ensuring that
rules and polices are followed and for interacting with the
public in a professional, courteous and helpful manner. Hours
vary, up to 20 hours per week, mid-December through early
March (weather permitting). Evening and weekend hours
required. Hourly Rate: $10.00 to $10.75
To apply: Complete a city application and application
supplement. Position open until filled. First consideration will
be given to applications received by 4:00 pm on
October 31, 2019.
Seasonal Rink Flooder
The City of Mendota Heights Public Works Department is accepting applications for part-time, seasonal Rink
Flooders for Mendota Heights’ outdoor ice rinks. The City’s outdoor ice rinks are located at Friendly Hills Park,
Marie Park and Wentworth Park. Rink Flooders are responsible for the safe operation of maintenance equipment,
maintenance of outdoor skating rinks which includes flooding and shoveling, and clean-up and disposal of debris found
on the rinks and in the general area of the rinks.
Hours: Hours vary, up to 25 hours per week, mid-December through early March (weather permitting). Evening and
weekend hours required. Hourly Rate: $10.00 to $10.75.
To apply: Complete a city application and application supplement. Position open until filled.
Visit https://www.mendota-heights.com/employment for more information,
application materials and instructions.
Now Hiring – Apply Today!
Winter Parking Ban
begins November 1
No vehicle shall be parked on any public street
from 2 am to 6 am, November 1-March 31.
Donate to help a neighbor in need
City Hall is collecting
shelf-stable food and
toiletries for Neighbors,
Inc. Donations may be
dropped off in the lobby
during City Hall business
hours. The donation
drive will run through
the holiday season.
Subscribe to weekly
city news online
Visit www.mendota-heights.com. Go to Our
City/City Publications/Subscribe to Friday
News
For subscription removals or other questions, please email
Communications Coordinator Sharon Deziel at
sharond@mendota-heights.com.
Orbit Earth Expo
December 30
Orbit Earth Expo is coming to the City
of Mendota Heights and Tri District
Community Education for an
unforgettable science experience. Orbit
Earth Expo is interactive and
entertaining. Orb (a 14-foot inflatable
model of Earth) and his friends will take
your family on a journey to space to create cycles, systems and
relationships between the Earth, Moon and Sun. You’ll manipulate the
models to create eclipses, seasons, moon phases, creation of winds, day/
night cycles, rotation vs. revolution, order of the planets, and
more! Admission is limited and registration is required. Thank you
to the ISD 197 Education Foundation for their help in making this free
event possible.
Cost: FREE Time: 1:30-2:30pm
Location: Mendota Elementary Register: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog or
at City Hall.
Winter gymnastics
Saturdays, December 7–February 8
At Henry Sibley High School
Classes introduce young gymnasts to the sport in a safe, fun
environment. A variety of skills will be taught and developed on the
balance beam, uneven bars, floor exercise and tumbling. This is an
8-week session.
Ages: 3-12
Tumbling Tykes, Tumbling Tots, Kinder Tumbling: $90 per child
Beginner, Advanced Beginner: $110 per child
Register: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog or
at City Hall.
Create an account and view youth and
adult programs at:
https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-
heights-mn/catalog
Parks & Recreation
Recreation Fee Assistance
Program
A Recreation Fee Assistance Program is
available to eligible Mendota Heights residents
for participation in recreation programs.
Qualification details, eligible program
information, and an application can be found
at https://www.mendota-heights.com/
parksrecreation. For more information
contact Recreation Program Coordinator
Meredith Lawrence: meredithl@mendota-
heights.com or 651.255.1354.
Superhero Masquerade
November 17
Action, adventure and fun awaits
your little superhero at the
Superhero Masquerade! Come
dressed as your favorite
superhero and enjoy crafts,
games, activities, a dance party
and refreshments. Register early
— space is limited. An adult
must be present during the event.
Ages: 2-12 Time: 3-5pm Cost: $20 per child
Location: Thompson County Park - Dakota Lodge Register: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog
or at City Hall.
See Glow Dash in action!
The first Glow Dash held on September 21 was a bright success!
Check out the fun at https://vimeo.com/366784790.
Winter Break Field Trips
Registration is open for these winter break
adventures!
Register: https://secure.rec1.com/MN/
mendota-heights-mn/catalog or at City Hall.
Drakulas Bowling & Movie
December 26
Enjoy fun and interactive bowling followed by
the movie Spies in Disguise.
Ages: 6-12 Cost: $27 per child
Time: 9:15am-4:00pm (bus from City Hall)
Conquer Ninja Warrior Gym &
South Saint Paul Pool
December 27
Train and compete like ninjas in the morning,
and enjoy swimming the afternoon away at
Central Square Community Center Pool.
Ages: 6-12 Cost: $35 per child
Time: 9:30am-3:30pm (bus from City Hall)
Where do recyclables
go once they leave
your curb?
Below is a list of Minnesota
companies that take our recyclables and turn
them into finished products.
Mixed paper and cardboard: new paper
products (Westrock in Minneapolis or Liberty
Paper in Becker)
Office paper: commercial ceiling tiles (USG in
Cloquet)
Water bottles: new packaging (Advanced
Extrusion in Rogers)
Milk jugs and detergent bottles: plastic
lumber (Bedford Technology in Worthington),
decking, fencing, plastic tiles, garden edging
(Avon Plastics in Paynesville), outdoor furniture
(By the Yard in Jordan)
Tin cans and steel cans: rebar (Gerdau
Ameristeel, South St. Paul)
Thank you for doing your part to keep our city’s
recycling clean and plastic bag-free!
Fall Clean Up—Yard Waste Options
It is illegal in Minnesota to dispose of yard and tree waste (grass,
leaves, small brush, plant materials) with your household
garbage. This means it must be bagged in a compostable paper
bag or reusable container and kept separate from your trash
bin. Fall yard waste options include:
South St. Paul Compost Site—Now until November 12 681 Venderosa Ave., South St. Paul
(off of Hardman & Venderosa Ave.)
Hours: Friday-Sunday | 9am-5pm rain or shine
Materials accepted: leaves, grass, sod, and garden waste No brush or tree waste, wood chips, mulch or stumps accepted at
South St. Paul Compost Site. Free compost is available to take
home!
Cost: $.50 per standard bag - $1.00 per larger plastic bag/barrel, or
volume-based fee for truck loads.
http://www.southstpaul.org/208/Yard-Waste-Compost-Site
S&S Tree Horticultural Specialists/Davey’s Tree
405 Hardman Ave. S., South St. Paul
Hours: Saturdays only | 7am-5pm Materials accepted: brush and tree waste
No stumps; no bags accepted at this site—plastic or compostable
FREE disposal
Adopting a storm drain simply involves
keeping it free of sediment, trash, leaves,
and other debris by sweeping and
collecting it at least twice a month. It is a
simple, easy way you can help do your
part to improve water quality in our
community! Online sign-up at
https://www.adopt-a-drain.org/.
Your yard can bee the change
The Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)
has recently received state funding to provide individual
landowners the opportunity to make a difference for our
pollinators. The program is called Lawns to Legumes, and it
is focused on providing grants to residential property owners in order to
turn lawns into pollinator-friendly forbs (flowers), and legumes in order to
protect pollinators. Pollinators are responsible for the reproduction of
90% of all flowering plants and roughly 1/3 of all human food crop
production. Recently the MN Legislature named the Rusty Patched
Bumble Bee (an endangered species) our State Bee, for which Mendota
Heights is a Priority Area. It is important now more than ever to provide
much-needed habitat for pollinator species such as this.
The program is currently being developed by BWSR, the Environmental
and Natural Resources Trust Fund, and other partners and stakeholders.
The program is planned to begin in the spring of 2020. For more
information, and to sign up for program updates, visit the Lawns to
Legumes homepage.
Remember to Keep Leaves
out of our Streets and
Storm Drains
Now that the leaves have begun to
fall, remember to keep them out of
our streets, gutters, and storm drains.
When leaves and yard waste are
washed into storm drains, they end up
in our surface waters, where they
then release nutrients that contribute
to algae growth and algae blooms the
next spring. These extra nutrients also
cause low oxygen levels, fish kills, and
unsafe swimming and recreation
conditions.
When raking up leaves, branches,
and debris from your yard,
dispose of them properly. Here
are some good options:
Compost yard waste in your
backyard. Addling leaves to a
compost pile is an inexpensive way
to add nutrient rich fertilizer to
your gardens.
Bring leaves to a compost site or
other acceptable disposal site.
Many sites take leaves and other
yard waste free of charge or for a
small fee. A list of sites in our area
can be found here.
Till leaves directly into a garden,
for added organic matter.
Short on time? Use a service such as
TaskRabbit to hire out the task of
raking and/or removing your leaves for
you!
The City Makes the Switch to Electric-Powered
Landscape Equipment
This summer, Mendota Heights Public Works
employees had some new landscape equipment
to try out: two battery-powered leaf blowers, as
well as two battery-powered trimmers. This
equipment replaced gasoline-powered versions
of the same landscape equipment that had been
used previously. The equipment runs on electric
motors powered by rechargeable batteries, and
are cord-free. The new electric equipment
produces lower emissions, lower noise levels,
and is fuel-free.
The purchase of the replacement equipment was
made possible through the Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency’s (MPCA) Alternative
Landscaping Equipment Grant, which was
awarded to the City to help fund the
replacement. The MPCA’s grant program began
in 2019, and has already helped 66 businesses
and organizations switch to alternative
landscaping equipment. These replacements
account for the total reduction of 185 tons of
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and other
air emissions, which can impact the health of
users as well as people in the community.
Employees reported being very satisfied with the new equipment. It is also
estimated that the new equipment has saved at least one gallon of fuel per
week, per piece of equipment, throughout the growing season. Due to this
positive experience, the City has again applied for the Alternative
Landscaping Equipment Grant to replace additional equipment in 2020.
1
The latest from the Mendota Heights Police Department
OCTOBER 25, 2019
CHIEF
Kelly McCarthy
CAPTAIN
Wayne Wegener
SERGEANTS
Eric Petersen
Tanner Spicer
Peyton Fleming
POLICE OFFICERS
John Larrive
Todd Rosse
Chad Willson
Philip McCarty
Weston Raberge
Peter Renteria
Cara Hogan
Tony Patton
Ryan Yauch
Tommy Albindia
Eric Hagelee
Leif Vandersteen
Alex Randall
INVESTIGATIONS
Nick Gorgos
SCHOOL RESOURCE
OFFICER
Steve Hilyar
COMMUNITY SER-
VICE
OFFICER
Josh Rosenberry
SUPPORT STAFF
Kim Richter
Trista Miller
Shayna Hoechst
Becky Pentel
RESERVES
Jim Knox
Jeff Parker
CHAPLAINS
Butch Millett
John Snider
Alberto Vargas
Lynn Liberman
Sue Plucker
Joel Detlefsen
Mike VerWay
If think you have fallen vicƟm to a
phishing email or other scam,
contact your financial insƟtuƟons
immediately and then call MHPD
to report it at 651.452.1366.
2
CHECK FORGERY—1XXX WALSH LN 10/17/19, 2110 HOURS
Officer responded a residence on a report of checks that had been taken and fraudulently cashed. InvesƟgaƟon ongoing.
FOUND MAIL—6XX 2ND AVE 10/18/19, 1123 HOURS
Homeowner was contacted by West St Paul police and informed some of their mail had been recovered. Owner recalls not
geƫng mail on October 11, 2019. It is not known where in West St Paul the mail was found. The owner believes that all of the
mail was recovered.
JUVENILE MARIJUANA—2XXX PUEBLO LN 10/18/19, 1612 HOURS
Officers received the report of possible drug acƟvity. Officers located a vehicle with mulƟple juveniles in it. Through the
invesƟgaƟon marijuana was located in the vehicle. One juvenile was cited for the possession of marijuana and all were released
to their guardians.
MAIL THEFT—2XXX SWAN DR 10/19/19, 1200 HOURS
Officers received the report of a package that had been stolen from a person’s mail box. The person was unsure what mail had
been stolen. There are no suspects at this Ɵme.
WARRANT—HWY 62/LEXINGTON AVE 10/20/19, 01016 HOURS
Officer ran a license plate query which showed the registered owner of the vehicle had a warrant and a revoked license. Upon
stopping the vehicle, the registered owner was in the rear passenger side. He was idenƟfied and subsequently arrested for the
warrant and then transported to Dakota Count Jail. Cleared by arrest.
JUVENILE VAPING—1XXX DELAWARE AVE 10/21/19, 1200 HOURS
Responded to assist with and take a report of a juvenile in possession of a vape cartridge that contained suspected THC oil. The
item was seized for tesƟng and the case will be forwarded to the Juvenile County AƩorney for charging consideraƟon. Juvenile
was released to the parent.
JUVENILE VAPING—1XXX DELAWARE AVE 10/22/19, 1119 HOURS
Responded to assist with and take a report of a juvenile in possession of a suspected THC vape cartridge. The cartridge will be
sent for tesƟng and the case will be forwarded to the Dakota County Juvenile AƩorney's Office for review of charges. Juvenile
was released to a parent.
PROPERTY DAMAGE—1XXX FURLONG AVE 10/22/19, 1927 HOURS
Officer was dispatched to take a damage to property report. The lock on the reporƟng party's sliding door was damaged. Case
inacƟve due to low solvability.
SHOPLIFTER—9XX SIBLEY MEMORIAL 10/23/19, 2039 HOURS
Officers were dispatched on a report of a theŌ from a liquor store. A male party inside the store had appeared to conceal a boƩle
of alcohol. The male paid for other items but not the boƩle of alcohol and then leŌ the store. Officers gathered informaƟon and a
report was wriƩen. Case status is open. There is no suspect at this Ɵme.
STOP ARM VIOLATION—1XXX DODD RD 10/24/19, 0802 HOURS
A bus driver faxed a stop arm violaƟon to our department. The incident took place on 10‐23‐2019 around 1230 hours. With the
informaƟon provided, was able to source an owner and a phone number. Upon making contact and idenƟfying the party, the
owner and driver admiƩed to the driving offense and was mailed a citaƟon.
3
4
10/18—10/24 2019 YTD
Calls for Service 198 9,953
Police Reports 17 967
Citations 49 1,480
Warnings 67 2,146
Response Time Average 6.49 6.61
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 Vacation/House Check Request online form is
available on our website; you can also complete a form
found in our lobby, or simply give us a call!
MHPD offers a Medication Disposal Box in the lobby of
the PD where Dakota County residents can safely &
anonymously dispose of their prescription drug
medication. This program is mainly meant to keep
narcotics off the streets and dispose of medications in
environmentally sound ways.
** No needles/sharps. Visit the Green Guide for tips.
** Please visit the Dakota County Recycling Zone for
helpful resources for all safe disposal solutions.
Car Seat Checks—TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE
Please visit the MN DPS for more information. Questions/Comments?
Email us at:
pdrecords@
mendota-heights.com
Questions? Call our Non-Emergency Line @ 651.452.1366.
Need Public Safety Response? Call 911
NIGHTTIME
PARKING
11/1 – 3/31
Cars off the street
2 am – 6 am.
MH CITY ORD
6-2-2H
PARKING
DURING
SNOWFALL
2” or more snowfall =
vehicles off streets
until it’s plowed curb
to curb.
MH CITY ORD 6-2-4