2021-04-09 Friday NewsFriday News 4/9/21
City of Mendota Heights sent this bulletin at 04/09/2021 01:33 PM CDT
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FRIDAY NEWS | April 9, 2021
THE LATEST
Image shared from Minnesota Dept of Public Safety, Homeland Security and Emergency Management website.
Do you have a severe weather emergency plan?
Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 12 - 16
Each year, Homeland Security and Emergency Management in collaboration with the
National Weather Service sponsors Severe Weather Awareness Week in Minnesota. The
week is designed to refresh, remind and educate everyone about the seasonal threats
from severe weather and how to avoid them. It's also a great time to make and practice
your emergency plan and build or refresh your emergency preparedness kit.
Statewide tornado drills
There will be two statewide tornado drills on Thursday, April 15. Outdoor warning sirens will
sound in a simulated tornado warning. These drills present an opportunity to practice your
emergency plan.
Learn more about severe weather safety each day this week
Monday: Alerts and Warnings
Tuesday: Severe Weather, Lightning and Hail
Wednesday: Floods
Thursday: Tornadoes (with statewide tornado drills)
Friday: Extreme Heat
Visit Homeland Security and Emergency Management's webpage for more information and
helpful safety tips.
City to take ownership of a section of Old Sibley
Memorial Highway
Action will keep this segment of the road open
At its meeting of April 6, the City Council agreed to take ownership from MnDOT the 1.35
mile section of Old Sibley Memorial Highway, from just west of St. Peter’s Church, to its
intersection of TH13, near the Big Rivers Trailhead.
For years MnDOT has looked to “turn back” lesser used sections of road on its system to
the counties or cities in which the roadways are located. MnDOT has been negotiating with
the City regarding this section since the early 1990’s.
The City Council specified that in exchange for taking ownership, MnDOT would first have
to resurface the road, and install curb to provide for a good driving surface. In addition, the
City will also now qualify for increased state maintenance funding by agreeing to take over
the road.
Approximately 2550 vehicles per day drive this section of highway.Had the City not agreed
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pp o ate y 550 e c es pe day d e t s sect o o g ay ad t e C ty ot ag eed
to take ownership, MnDOT’s plan was to close the road just east of the two businesses
which front it, and those vehicles would have been forced to detour to other streets in
Mendota Heights.
Once this action completed, it will assure that this segment of road will remain open to traffic
for years to come.
COVID-19 vaccine information
All Minnesotans 16 years of age and older will be eligible to receive a vaccine. Sign up for
the Minnesota COVID-19 Vaccine Connector to help find out when, where, and how to get a
COVID-19 vaccine.
Links to additional vaccine information:
State of Minnesota COVID-19 Response vaccination webpage.
Minnesota Department of Health vaccination webpage.
Find a free COVID-19 community testing event
The Minnesota Department of Health is hosting both saliva and nasal swab testing events
throughout Minnesota. Tests are free and insurance is not required.
Visit mn.gov/covid19/get-tested/testing-locations/index.jsp for more information.
Public meeting announcements
There will be a City Council Work Session at 4 p.m. on April 28 to discuss the results of a
space needs study for the Police Department and City Hall, possible implementation of an
unlimited use card for seniors at the Par 3, an increase in the number of city-sponsored
recreation events for the community, and if/when to return to in-person regular meetings of
the City Council.
Marie Park Playground construction news
Demolition Anticipated to Begin April 12
Due to the nice weather, the playground redesign project is starting earlier than planned.
Demolition is scheduled to begin the week of April 12. Once the current playground
structure is demolished, an existing tree and stump will be removed to allow for the
playground's new footprint. The demolition phase will take about three to four weeks to
complete.
While demolition and installation are underway, the two closest parks with playgrounds for
visiting are:
Victoria Highlands Park, 1700 Diane Road
Valley Park, 821 Marie Avenue West
Visit Marie Park Playground Redesign to learn more about this project.
Do you enjoy golf or tennis, and teaching?
Hiring for Golf Instructor and Tennis Instructor
The City of Mendota Heights is accepting applications for the following summer seasonal
positions:
Tennis Instructor | Must be 18 years of age or older
Tennis Assistant | Must be 16 years of age or older
Golf Instructor | Must be 18 years of age or older
RECYCLING
Upcoming recycling events & education
Paper Shred Event (Free)
Saturday, April 10, 9 a.m.–noon | West St. Paul Sports Complex
Reduce Your Wasted Food Challenge
Begins April 19 | Sign up for the Mendota Heights Team
Curbside Appliance Pickup Event (Fee)
Monday, May 3 | Reservations open in April and are required
Compost Awareness Week Celebration
May 8, noon–5 p.m. | At Urban Growler, St. Paul
Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse Update (Free)
April 28, 11 a.m.–noon
South St. Paul Compost Site
Opens Friday, April 9
Take home FREE compost for your garden.
The Compost Site is open Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning April 9,
and operation is weather dependent. The compost site accepts yard waste such as grass
clippings and leaves. Fees are $0.50 per standard sized bag and $1 per larger plastic bag
or barrel. Volume-based fees are charged for pickup truck loads.
Recent highlights
g g
The City will not be hosting a Spring Clean-Up event this year; learn ways that you
can conduct your own environmentally-friendly spring cleaning.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Celebrate Earth & Arbor Day
Learn about recycling and volunteer to clean up a Mendota Heights Park
Earth Day and Arbor Day both take place in April. Get ready to celebrate by participating in
a virtual Planting for Pollinators Workshop, learn more about recycling, help clean up a
Mendota Heights park, or adopt a neighborhood storm drain. Learn more.
Become a Wetland Health Evaluation Program
volunteer
Dakota County is looking for volunteers for the Wetland Health Evaluation Program
(WHEP)! Volunteers will work in teams to monitor and collect data on plants and
macroinvertebrates like beetles, bugs and snails. A background in science is not necessary.
They will provide training and equipment. Volunteers typically commit 10 to 20 hours. Learn
more and sign up at mnwhep.org.
Register for the Landscaping for Clean Water
Program
Offered by the Dakota County Soil & Water Conservation District
Introductory Classes
The free Introduction to Clean Water class focuses on general water quality practices of
raingardens, native gardens and shoreline stabilization.
Wednesday, April 28, 6 p.m. Monday, May 3, 6 p.m.
Design Course
After completing the Introductory Class, you are eligible to enroll in the Design Course with
an opportunity to apply for a $250 cost share grant for your project (available to Dakota
County residents and Lower Mississippi River WMO residents in Ramsey County).
Maintenance Workshops
Learn how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden
throughout the season.
Spring – Workshop video available Summer – June 10, 5 p.m. Fall – Sept. 23, 5 p.m.
Blue Thumb workshops for your yard
Registration open
Learn how to make your outdoors more beautiful and more environmentally friendly. Come
to a Blue Thumb workshop to learn DIY ideas for projects that strengthen your yard, help
protect nearby lakes and streams and create habitat for bees and butterflies. Attend a
virtual workshop! And if you can’t attend your workshop, it will be recorded so that you can
watch later at your convenience.
Planting for Pollinators Workshop
Thursday, April 22, 6-7:30 p.m. | $15
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This workshop includes information from the
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources’
Lawns to Legumes program, which helps residents
create pollinator-friendly landscapes in their yard.
Learn about pollinator health, and how you can help
bees and butterflies by installing pocket plantings,
trees and shrubs, bee lawns, pollinator meadows,
and more.
Register at bluethumb.org/events
Bee Lawn Workshop
Thursday, May 6, 6-7:30 p.m. | $15
Learn how to create a bee lawn! Bee expert and
Metro Blooms landcare professional James Wolfin
explains the steps for turning your turfgrass lawn into
a beautiful, flowering bee lawn. Flowering bee lawns
protect bees and butterflies, improve water quality,
and create a healthier environment.
Register at bluethumb.org/events
Recent highlights
Learn how to identify, control, and prevent the spread of invasive knotweeds.
Dakota County is seeking volunteers to become aquatic invasive species (AIS)
detectors; course registration is open and scholarships may be available.
The Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization is updating its
Watershed Management Plan to guide its activities for the next ten years. As part of
this process the public is invited to participate in a brief survey so they can better
understand concerns, priorities and goals for the health of our local water resources.
POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS
Just the Facts
Incident reports 4/2/21 - 4/8/21 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/.
Stay in touch through Nextdoor
The MHPD has expanded their social media channels to include Nextdoor. Learn more and
sign up at nextdoor.com.
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
Family Golf Season Kickoff
Saturday, May 1 | 9 a.m. shotgun start
Join us for a family-friendly start to the 2021 Golf Season at the Mendota Heights Par 3. Tee
times can include family and friends. Registration price includes one round of golf, a snack,
beverage, and tournament golf ball. $20 per person. Register online under Par 3 Programs.
See-a-Truck
Saturday, May 15 | 10 a.m. to noon at Mendakota Park
Join us for a behind the scenes tour and get up and close to tons of big rigs—fire trucks,
police squads, mowers, plow trucks, and more! Activities will include kids games, photo
opportunities, and refreshments. This is a free community event - no registration required.
Officer Scott Patrick Memorial 5K Walk/Run
Saturday, June 5 | 9 a.m. at Market Square Park
Participate in the Officer Scott Patrick Memorial 5K Walk/Run to benefit Special Olympics of
Minnesota. Registration is $25 before June 5 or $30 on the day of the event. Register online
under Special Events or use the registration form. Registration forms are also available at
City Hall during business hours.
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. Meeting
attendees should adhere to the posted City Hall safety guidelines and be aware that
capacity in the City Council Chambers will be limited. As much as possible, the community
is encouraged to watch City Council, Planning Commission, and Parks & Recreation
Commission meetings live on Cable Channel 18, online
at townsquare.tv/webstreaming (available live or for replay), or through dial-in when offered.
Select Airport Relations Commission meetings are broadcast on Cable Channel 19.
Occasionally broadcasted channels may change; check Town Square Television's listings
for updates.
Parks & Recreation Commission | April 13, 6:30 p.m.
City Council | April 20, 6:00 p.m.
Planning Commission | April 27, 7:00 p.m.
City Council Work Session | April 28, 4:00 p.m.
City Business Hours
City Hall: Monday - Thursday, 7 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | Friday 7-11:30 a.m.
Police Department: Monday - Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Public Works Building: Monday - Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
City Hall Contact Information
Official Website of the City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota 1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118 Phone: 651-452-1850
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