Loading...
2020-06-26 Friday News0 Receive Updates Enter Email Address Go Friday News 6/26/20 City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 06/26/2020 12:22 PM CDT Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page. FRIDAY NEWS | June 26, 2020 THE LATEST Copperfield Ponds restoration You may notice some additional activity in Copperfield Ponds Park this year. The City of Mendota Heights has partnered with Great River Greening to help control invasive tree and shrub species in Copperfield Ponds Park. The project entails removing invasive species using cutting and herbicide treatments, as well as replanting with native vegetation. Crews will be removing invasives such as Siberian Elm, Amur Maple, Common and Glossy Buckthorn, and Tartarian honeysuckle. For additional information, please contact Natural Resources Technician Krista Spreiter at kristas@mendota-heights.com or 651-255-1123. Continue to Stay Safe Mendota Heights Minnesota’s Stay Safe order is in effect. It is important to note that protections for those in our communities that are most vulnerable to the virus are still in place and are those at greatest risk of serious illness are encouraged to continue staying home. For more information visit mn.gov/covid19. City Hall to reopen to the public July 6 City Hall is set to reopen to the public on Monday, July 6, and visitors may notice some changes. To support visitor and staff safety, there will be physical partitions in place at the front desk, opportunities to hand sanitize, and increased physical distancing from others while in the building. The City Council has also updated its public meeting room use guidelines. Contact City Hall for more information. Skateboarding and courts are open Rogers Lake Park's skateboard area has reopened for use, along with all City basketball and pickleball courts. Users should continue to be mindful of hand hygiene, practice social distancing of at least six feet from those outside their household, and should stay home if they are sick. Fireworks display cancelled A friendly reminder the Fourth of July Fireworks Display normally sponsored by the City this year was cancelled. As you celebrate the holiday, a few important safety reminders: If it flies or explodes, it’s illegal in Minnesota. Use fireworks responsibly, especially around children. Kids mimic adult behavior. Fireworks can be disruptive and frightening to people and pets; provide a neighborhood courtesy notice so those who are affected by loud noises can adequately prepare. Use fireworks outdoors, far from property and crowds. Don’t let children or animals run through the area where fireworks are being set off. They could step on a spent firework that is still hot. Sparklers can cause serious burns. Consider glow sticks or light-up wands as an alternative. Use a long lighter meant for a gas grill to light fireworks. Do not try to re-light a dud. Ever. Soak used fireworks in water and leave them outside overnight before discarding into trash containers. Source dps.mn.gov. Race set for July 11 The Officer Scott Patrick Memorial 5K Walk/Run benefiting Special Olympics Minnesota will be held on Saturday, July 11. The 5K will be run at its normal location: The Village at Mendota Heights Intersection of Main Street and Market Street. Support more than 8,200 athletes of Special Olympics of Minnesota by participating. Proceeds benefit year-round sports training and competition for these talented athletes. Changes this year: Accommodations will be made for a COVID-19 compliant race. Runners will start at 9 a.m.; walkers will start at 9:10 a.m. Both runners and walkers will be started in groups of no more than 25 in order to comply with state guidelines. Participants will receive a T-shirt and have an opportunity to compete for recognition as one of the top ten male, and top ten female finishers in the race. Race winners will be announced on social media and the City website. Major prizes will be drawn during the race and will be available for immediate pickup. Prizes which can be mailed will be drawn later on July 11. Preregistration encouraged: Registration is $25 before 6 p.m. on July 10. Racers are encouraged to preregister this year online under Special Events or print and mail a registration form. Participants may also register at City Hall during packet pickup. Packet pickup July 10: Pick up packets from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at City Hall. Racers may also preregister for the race during this time. Race day registration July 11: Registration is $30, payable by check ONLY, from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Packets may also be picked up on race day from 7 to 8 a.m. Absentee Voting Absentee voting for the August 11 primary is available for those who wish to vote before election day. There are two ways to do so: Absentee Vote by Mail Residents are encouraged to vote by mail. Apply for an absentee ballot at MNVotes.org. Absentee Vote in Person July 6 through August 10 at City Hall during regular business hours. Extended hours will be available: Saturday, August 8, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, August 10, until 5 pm. In-person voting may experience longer wait times to allow for new safety procedures. Highway 13 closure in both directions Motorists who use Highway 13 will encounter a full closure between Sylvandale Road and Wachtler Ave/CR 8 in Mendota Heights as MnDOT crews make drainage and other repairs to the road. Motorists who use the highway are advised to follow the signed detour using I- 35E, Hwy 62 and Hwy 149 to bypass the closure. All lanes are scheduled to reopen by 5 p.m. Friday, July 10, weather permitting. For real-time travel information anywhere in Minnesota visit www.511mn.org Public meeting announcements There will be a joint work session of the City Council and Parks and Recreation Commission on Tuesday, July 14, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This meeting will take place at the Mendota Heights Fire Station, 2121 Dodd Road. Next issue of Friday News will be July 10 Due to the Fourth of July holiday, there will be no Friday News on Friday, July 3. Watch for the next issue on Friday, July 10. Recent highlights: The Mendota Heights Par 3 golf course is open for play with new safety rules; tee times required (call 651-454-9822). Putting in a backyard swimming pool this summer? What you need to know about permits. Residents are encouraged to preregister to vote up until 5:00 pm on July 21; the Minnesota State Primary takes place on August 11. Locate free lunches for children and students using this interactive map. City-sponsored events and recreation programs cancelled through July 6. Respond to the 2020 Census online, by phone (844-330-2020), or by mail. Apply for a census job; pay starts at $22/hour in Dakota County. Dakota County extends protective equipment donation drive; donate items at Western Service Center and all Library locations. NATURAL RESOURCES Tree planting at Hagstrom King Park through the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Tree Planting Grant Twelve new trees were planted adjacent to ash trees at Hagstrom King Park this spring. These ash trees are currently being treated, but will eventually be taken down due to Emerald Ash Borer. Mendota Heights will be planting over 100 trees over the next two years with the goal of reducing the impact of tree loss due to Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). EAB was confirmed in Mendota Heights in May of 2015, and is expected to eventually infect and kill all untreated ash trees in the City (approximately 10,000 trees). The planting project will help mitigate for this canopy loss by replacing diseased ash trees with a large diversity of quality, comparable shade tree species in close proximity to public trees that are removed, or will be removed. The project is made possible due to a grant received from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund. Recent highlights Discounted Emerald Ash Borer treatment program available for residents. Keep surface waters clean by adopting a neighborhood storm drain. Attend a virtual Landscaping for Clean Water introductory or maintenance workshop; apply for $250 in grants and on-site assistance Apply for a grant to create pollinator-friendly landscaping features through the Lawns to Legumes Program MnDOT stormwater repairs at Valley Park RECYCLING Make it a Plastic Free July Plastic Free July is a global initiative during the month of July to stop using disposable plastic and to start making healthier, more sustainable choices. More than one million people took part in last year ’s challenge! But why is plastic harmful? According to National Geographic about half of all plastic produced today is meant to be used once and thrown away, and 99% of plastic is made from fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal. Worldwide, only 9% of all plastic is actually recycled, the rest ends up in landfills, incinerated, or ends up in the natural environment such as oceans. This poses a large threat to wildlife and humans alike. “Reduce” is the first “R” for a reason, and reducing plastic use in our lives can help the environment in numerous ways! Below are easy ways to get started: Buy glass condiments: Use glass containers for foods such as peanut butter, mustard, BBQ sauce, and even juice, milk and salsas. Glass is widely recycled in Minnesota and infinitely recyclable, which makes it a great eco-friendly choice. Go bag-free: Let larger produce items roll free in your shopping basket or cart. Bonus: you won’t have to deal with that bag when you get home since you didn’t take it in the first place! Eco-swap toiletries: Swap out plastic toothbrushes, which never break down, for wooden or bamboo ones. To retire a wooden toothbrush, simply use a pliers to pull all the bristles out and compost the wooden handle. Use silk dental floss which doesn’t have harmful chemicals and can be composted after use. Also, refuse complimentary toiletries when offered, such as plastic floss, mini toothpaste and plastic toothbrushes, mini shampoo and conditioner bottles, and the plastic bags they come in. Small toiletry bottles cannot go through recycling machinery properly and end up in the trash. Pay attention to fabrics: Clothing made from plastic (polyester, acrylic, nylon, fleece) shed microfibers in the washing machine, which end up in waterways and eventually aquatic life. Microplastics are an emerging area of concern for scientists because plastic acts as a sponge for toxic chemicals. When shopping, look for clothing made from natural fibers (cotton, linen, wool, jute, hemp, bamboo, denim) that won’t hurt wildlife when shedding fibers. Wash clothes with cold water since modern detergents work just as well in cold as in hot. Bonus: shop at thrift stores to give new life to pre-loved clothing. Additionally, postpone washing jeans until absolutely necessary, and then air dry them to keep jeans as nice as possible for as long as possible. Take the Plastic Free July Pledge: Visit plasticfreejuly.org/take-the-challenge today. Recent highlights The Recycling Zone in Eagan is open with new drop-off guidelines for safety: co.dakota.mn.us/Environment/RecyclingZone. POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS Just the Facts Incident reports 6/19/20 - 6/25/20 Previous Just the Facts publications are available in the Laserfiche archive system on the City's website. Sign up for emergency alerts The Emergency Alert Program is available through the Dakota Communications Center (DCC) at mn-dcc.org/community-notification/. For immediate public safety response and non- emergency police assistance call 9-1-1 The Police Department will also continue to process requests for police reports, gun permits, etc. Link to the forms under Public Resources at mendota-heights.com/police. Completed forms and general questions can be submitted via email to pdrecords@mendota-heights.com. PARKS & RECREATION Summer Safety Camps go virtual Safety Camps have been shifted to an online experience this year. Join the West St. Paul and Mendota Heights Police Departments (MHPD), South Metro Fire Department, Mendota Heights Fire Department, and other great community organizations to learn about fire safety, public safety, nature safety, and more through engaging videos. In addition to the videos, children will have the option to participate in up to three live Q&A sessions with the MHPD at varying times. Choose to attend all three Q&A sessions or tune into one to ask questions, get answers, and interact with officers and other camp participants. Q&A sessions will last about 30 minutes. Participants will also receive a supply and swag bag with a Safe Kids Safety Camp t-shirt, snacks, craft and activity supplies, and more. The bag will need to be picked up curbside at City Hall on the specified date. Little Tykes Camp Grades K-2 | Cost $15 Online link active July 31-August 21 Swag bag pickup July 30 at City Hall, 9-10am or 5-6pm Register by July 24: secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog Safe Kids Camp Grades 3-5 | Cost: $15 (reduced rate) Online link active August 18-September 8 Swag bag pickup August 17 at City Hall, 9-10am or 5-6pm Register by August 10: secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog Summer recreation registration While in-person camps, classes, and programs have been cancelled through July 6, registration for programs that begin after these dates is still open. Please note that programs/events may be subject to change based on state and federal safety guidelines. Browse programs & register: secure.rec1.com/MN/mendota-heights-mn/catalog. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Public Meetings Meeting changes or cancellations are noted on the City's website mendota- heights.com/calendar. Meetings take place at City Hall unless otherwise noted. City Council July 7, 5:00 p.m. City Council & Parks & Recreation Commission Joint Work Session July 14, 5:30 p.m. @ Mendota Heights Fire Station, 2121 Dodd Road City Business Hours All city facilities are currently closed to the public, including City Hall, the Police Department lobby, and the Public Works Maintenance Facility. Essential city business can still be conducted via phone or email during regular business hours. How to pay water/sewer bills, apply for permits, or schedule a building inspection. City Hall and Public Works will be closed on Friday, July 3. City Hall Business Hours: Monday - Thursday, 7:00am-4:30pm | Friday 7:00-11:30am Police Department Business Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm City Hall Contact Information Official Website of the City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Phone: 651-452-1850 Stay Connected with the City of Mendota Heights: SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Manage Subscriptions | Help | Unsubscribe from all Topics Powered by Privacy Policy | Cookie Statement | Help