This issue highlights information on the drought, the Mayor for a Day essay contest, new sewer rates, and more...





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Mendota Heights, Minneosta




*FRIDAY NEWS | October 7, 2022*






THE LATEST?
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What Does Drought Mean for Your Landscape?
Drought [ [link removed] ]

Currently Mendota Heights is experiencing Severe to Extreme Drought conditions according to the most recent data released by the U.S. Drought Monitor. This is the third subsequent growing season that Mendota Heights has experienced some degree of drought conditions. What this means for your trees and other vegetation in your landscape is that they may be showing slight to severe signs of drought stress, including:


* Lighter green to yellow-green foliage during the growing season
* Leaf scorch around the margins of trees and shrubs
* Wilting Leaves
* Premature fall color or leaf drop
* Stunted shoots
* Over-production of seeds

Drought stress can cause your trees and other vegetation to be more susceptible to diseases and pests. It can also cause long-term damage to root systems throughout the winter, as soil moisture helps to protect root systems from frost and freeze. To help mitigate effects of drought on your trees, shrubs, and perennials, continue to water these species up until ground freeze. Turf grass is more resilient in cooler temperatures, so it may not need extra watering unless it is newly established seed or sod. Ensure any trees, shrubs, and perennials that have been planted in the last two-three years are receiving at least 1? (about 20 minutes/week from a garden hose at a slow trickle, or 20-30 minutes/week from a sprinkler) of water per week up until ground freeze.

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Mayor for the Day

mayor for a day

The League of Minnesota Cities is once again encouraging our state?s 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to share ideas about how they would make cities better through submitting essays in the League?s ?Mayor for a Day? essay contest.

Contest information can be found at *lmc.org/mayorforaday* [ [link removed] ].?Three winning students will be chosen from among submitted entries. Each winning student will receive $100 and will have their essay published in a future issue of "Minnesota Cities" magazine.

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New Sewer Rates

Third quarter utility bills were mailed out from the city with the new sanitary sewer rates.

The sanitary sewer charge on your quarterly sewer bill is based on your first quarter (January, February, March) water consumption. Water usage during this quarter is typically the lowest of any of the other quarters. Your usage is reviewed on a yearly basis after first quarter, and that is how you will be billed for the following four quarters. The base quarterly charge is $25.64 for sanitary sewer and properties are billed $4.67 per unit of water consumed (100 cubic feet per unit).

This year, rates were changed to charge more equitably for usage, simplify the billing system, promote water conservation, and to keep pace with expenses.

More information on the new sanitary sewer rates can be found at *mendotaheightsmn.gov/utilities [ [link removed] ]*

water [ [link removed] ]
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Copperfield Volunteer Event- Saturday October 8

buck thorn

Our partners at Great River Greening have a big volunteer event happening in Copperfield Ponds Park this Saturday. 75 volunteers will work alongside Great River Greening staff to remove invasive buckthorn and plant native shrubs and wildflowers at Copperfield Ponds Park.?

Please be patient with additional traffic or parking limitations from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.?


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Mendota Heights Fire Department Open House

*Saturday, October 15, 2022 from 10am-1pm
*Mendota Heights Fire Station 2121 Dodd Rd.**

Learn fire prevention and life safety education through fun, interactive games and activities at the Mendota Heights fire station.? Kids of all ages can play Snuffer?s Grand Prize Game, Fire Safety BINGO, run through the junior firefighter challenge course, tour the fire station, see demonstrations, emergency vehicles, and more! Those who are interested in learning more about becoming a Mendota Heights Firefighter can get details and chat with a firefighter at the recruitment station.

Fire Department Open House [ [link removed] ]________________________________________________________________________

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Check out open positions at the City of Mendota Heights *HERE* [ [link removed]? ]

Open Positions include:?


* Seasonal Skating Instructor
* Seasonal Warming House Attendant
* Seasonal Rink Flooder
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Weekly Construction Update

*Centre Pointe Street Improvements*

The contractor, Bituminous Roadways, ?completed milling and final paving for Pilot Knob Road, Acacia Boulevard, Carmen Lane, Commerce Drive and Lemay Avenue on October 3 and 4.? Roadway striping is scheduled for Saturday, October 8.? This work will substantially complete this project.? Please also see updates on the city website at *mendotaheightsmn.gov/projects [ [link removed] ]*

*Westbound I-494 closes near Mendota Heights Oct. 7-10*

Motorists traveling westbound on Interstate 494 in Mendota Heights will encounter a full closure and detour as crews continue to paint the Highway 55 bridge over the roadway. Beginning at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, westbound I-494 will be closed at I-35E. In addition to the road closure, the ramps from both north and southbound I-35E to westbound I-494 will also be closed. Motorists in the area are advised to follow the signed detour using southbound I-35E and northbound Highway 77 or find an alternate route.

All lanes and ramps are expected to reopen by 5 a.m., Monday Oct. 10.

When possible, motorists should avoid cutting through neighborhoods and help keep the community safe by using posted detour routes.

These lane and ramp closures are part of a larger project on Highway 55 between Minneapolis and Inver Grove Heights. All construction activities and traffic impacts are weather permitting and subject to change. MnDOT will maintain access to all businesses and residences throughout the project however, you may have to use a different route.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of October 2022.?

For more information and to sign up for email updates, please visit: *Hwy 55 Minneapolis to Inver Grove Heights Project (state.mn.us) [ [link removed] ]*

construction [ [link removed] ]
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Election 2022

Absentee Voting

Absentee Voting is now open at City Hall in Mendota Heights!

Voters can register to vote, pick up an absentee ballot, and cast their ballot at City Hall. If you have requested a ballot through the mail, you can drop it off at the secure ballot drop box at city hall. If you would like to request an absentee ballot through the mail, Click Here [ [link removed] ]?

Residents can submit their absentee ballot at any of the following locations:?


* *Mendota Heights City Hall [ [link removed] ]*
* *Dakota County Northern Service Center [ [link removed] ]*
* *Dakota County Administration Center [ [link removed] ]*
* *Dakota County Western Service Center [ [link removed] ]*

"More information?on absentee voting and the upcoming election on the city website" *HERE [ [link removed] ]*

AB box

2022 Mendota Heights Mayor/City Council Candidates

The following city council/ mayor candidates?have filed to be?on the ballot (in the order that they filed with the City):

*For Mayor -* Stephanie Levine John Maczko ? *For City Council (two positions open) -* John Mazzitello Sally Lorberbaum Jeff Nath More information on the 2022 general election *HERE [ [link removed] ]* Candidate profiles available *HERE [ [link removed] ]*
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Election Links:

*City of Mendota Heights Elections Website [ [link removed] ]*

*Minnesota Secretary Of State - Office Statement on Congressional District 2 Election [ [link removed] ]*

*Register to Vote [ [link removed] ]*

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RECYCLING

Upcoming Events:

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Costume Swap [ [link removed] ]

Costume Exchange
*
Fix It Clinics [ [link removed] ]

Fix It Clinic
Recent highlights:

* The South St. Paul Compost Site is open and accepts grass clippings, sod, leaves and other yard waste. *Visit their website* [ [link removed] ] for information on hours of operation, type of yard waste accepted, and costs. Note that hours/days of operation may change based on weather conditions.? ??
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NATURAL RESOURCES

Yard Clean Up Tips

During the summer months lawns are mowed several times throughout the season. When grass clippings from all those mowings make it into the street, sidewalk, and eventually storm drains, it means increased nutrients, algae growth, and lower water quality for lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands. Now that the leaves have begun to fall, those leaves also add unwanted nutrients to surface waters. Remember to keep grass clippings and leaves out of streets, gutters, and storm drains. When leaves and yard waste are washed into storm drains, they end up in 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.

*Rake up grass clippings, leaves, branches, and debris from your yard, and dispose of them properly. Here are some good options:*


* Compost yard waste in your backyard. Adding leaves and grass clippings to a compost pile is an inexpensive way to add nutrient rich fertilizer to your gardens.
* Bring leaves and grass clippings 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* [ [link removed] ].
* 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 and yard waste for you!

Recent highlights [ [link removed] ] [ [link removed] ]

* *Learn how to identify, control, and prevent the spread of the invasive species garlic mustard. [ [link removed] ]*
* *Learn more about the Adopt a River program and access planning tools for your cleanup event through the Freshwater Society. [ [link removed] ]?*
* *The?Lower Minnesota River Watershed District (LMRWD) is seeking volunteers to serve on its Citizen Advisory Committee. [ [link removed] ]??*
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*Create a beautiful garden to benefit pollinators, improve water quality, or stabilize your shoreline with the Landscaping for Clean Water program. Learn more about their Introductory, Design, and Maintenance classes -- get started today. [ [link removed] ]*


* *I'm planning a project near a surface water. Do I need a permit? [ [link removed] ]*
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POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS

pd logo med
Weekly Crime Report

Incident reports?*9/30/22-10/6/2022* [ [link removed] ]
Previous "Weekly Crime Report/Just the Facts"?publications are available in the *Laserfiche archive system on the City's website* [ [link removed] ].?

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Sign up for emergency alerts

The Emergency Alert Program is available through the Dakota Communications Center (DCC) at?*dakota911mn.gov* [ [link removed] ].

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Stay in touch through Nextdoor

The MHPD has expanded their social media channels to include Nextdoor. Learn more and sign up at?*nextdoor.com* [ [link removed] ].?

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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 *mendotaheightsmn.gov/police [ [link removed] ]*. Completed forms and general questions can be submitted via email to *[email protected]* <[email protected]>.


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PARKS AND RECREATION

Fall Golf Rates- Starting October 1
Fall Golf Rates [ [link removed] ]
Senior Programming with Thompson County Park Activity Center

*Thursday, October 13 from 11:00am ? 2:00pm | Thompson County Park*

**Pre-registration required*

Register today to learn about senior programming for Mendota Heights residents. Join us for a light lunch, a tour of the facility and learn all about the amazing programs Thompson Park Activity Center offers for adults 55+

Preregistration is required. To register call 651-255-1140 or Register online under Special Events?*HERE [ [link removed] ]*

TPAC
Dog Day

*Sat, October 15 from 1-3 p.m.
Mendota Heights Dog Park*

Bring your dog to socialize with other pups! Mendota Heights Parks and Recreation will be providing fun dog play equipment, prizes and more.

Dog Day [ [link removed] ]
MEA Field Trip

Register today for the upcoming MEA Field Trip ? Drkula Bowl and Movie MEA Thursday, October 20, 2022 at 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Ages 6-12

Spend the morning at Harmon Park playing games, then head to Drkula?s to go bowling and eat lunch. After, catch a movie and head back to the park. Note: Exact movie and locations are TBD. Pizza included. In partnership with the cities of Inver Grove Heights, West St. Paul and South St. Paul.

*Register here [ [link removed] ]*

Bowling [ [link removed] ]
Trick or Teeing

*Saturday, October 22 from 5-7 p.m.
Par 3 Golf Course*

Celebrate the season by taking your little ghosts or goblins for a Spooktacular trick-or-teeing experience. Get in costume and visit golf course holes for a treat and enjoy festive games, arts and crafts. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Sunday, October 23. Ages 13 and under. Adult supervision is required.

Trick or Teeing [ [link removed] ]





COMMUNITY CALENDAR

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 [ [link removed] ]*

*Public Meetings*

Meeting changes or cancellations are noted on the City's website mendotaheightsmn.gov/calendar [ [link removed] ]. Meetings take place at City Hall unless otherwise noted.?Meeting attendees should adhere to the posted City Hall safety guidelines.

Watch regular meetings online at *townsquare.tv/webstreaming [ [link removed] ]*?(available live or for replay) or on cable television:


* City Council: Channel 18/798 HD
* Planning Commission: Channel 18/798 HD
* Parks and Recreation Commission: Channel 15/859 HD
* Airport Relations Commission (select meetings are broadcast): Channel 15/859 HD
* Natural Resources Commission: Channel 15/859 HD

"Occasionally broadcasted channels may change; check *Town Square Television's listings [ [link removed] ]* for updates."

Upcoming Meeting Schedule

* *Natural Resources Commission Meeting |* October 12, 6:00 p.m.
* *City Council Work Session Meeting* | October 18, 4:00 p.m.
* *City Council Meeting* | October 18, 6:00 p.m.
* *Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting* | October 19, 6:30 p.m.





*Official Website of the City of Mendota Heights, Minnesota [ [link removed] ]*
1101 Victoria Curve Mendota Heights, MN 55118
Phone: 651-452-1850








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