THE LATEST
 At at the Seven Council Fires Overlook (not in photo order): Committee Chair Lee; Committee Lead Urdahl; Representatives: Berg, Freiberg, Hansen, Huot, Lillie, Raleigh, Rassmussen, Reyer, Xiong, J.; Juanita Espinosa; Dakota County Commissioner Halverson; Mendota Heights Mayor Levine; Gail Lewellan; Al Singer.
City seeking funding for improvements to Oȟéyawahe/Historic Pilot Knob
On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, the City of Mendota Heights and Oȟéyawahe Task Force hosted the Minnesota House of Representatives Capital Investment Committee at Oȟéyawahe/Historic Pilot Knob – a federally recognized historic site. The City is requesting one million dollars from the State as a part of the 2022 bonding bill for predesign, design, and construction for improved access to the site and to provide cultural and natural resources improvements.
Oȟéyawahe is located in Mendota Heights overlooking the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers, or Bdote Mni Sota, considered by many Dakota people as the center of the earth. The Dakota Name, Oȟéyawahe, can be translated as “a sacred place much visited; the place where people go for burials.”
The City’s proposal includes recommendations approved by the City Council from the Oȟéyawahe Task Force, comprised of private citizens, Dakota County staff, City staff, and other representatives. The primary goal of the proposed project is to provide safe and improved visitor access to and within the site. Current access to the site is via a former city street with no provisions for buses, and limited ADA accessibility to the best vistas. The Minnesota Humanities Center sponsors site visits for educators to encourage cultural awareness and has created curriculum for k-12 students specific to Oȟéyawahe.
The Oȟéyawahe proposal will be reviewed and considered alongside other proposals from across Minnesota by House and Senate committees as a part of the 2022 bonding process.
Burn only clean, dry wood in fire pits
When having a bonfire, you must burn only clean, dry wood per the City's Recreational Fire Restrictions. It is illegal to burn leaves, refuse, grass, logs over three inches in diameter, paper, garbage, trade waste or other combustibles. Burning those types of items contributes to air pollution and could lead to potentially uncontainable fires.
Please bring leaves to a compost site for disposal or schedule a yard waste pickup with your trash service provider. The South St. Paul Compost Site has extended its opening through November 21, weather permitting, or locate another residential yard waste collection site. And don't forget to leave some leaves for the pollinators!
Recreational Fire Regulations can be found in 7-2-7 of City Code.
Image courtesy of Xcel Energy.
Xcel Energy installing swan flight diverters as part of its transmission line replacement project
Xcel Energy will be working to install swan flight diverters on sections of the newly rebuilt 115kV transmission line, located between Rogers Lake Substation and MSP Airport, as part of its Avian Protection Plan. The swan flight diverters are plastic spirals that are fastened to the highest wires, increasing the visibility of the power lines to birds. Residents may notice air activity and noise in the work area since a helicopter is used to install the diverters.
Installation is scheduled to take place between November 15 and November 17. If you have any questions about this project please contact Chris Berglund at 612-330-6471 or christopher.d.berglund@xcelenergy.com.
Aerial map of swan flight diverters installation work area
Learn more about birds and powerlines
Winter Parking Restrictions are in effect
Overnight parking is prohibited on any public street, from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., between November 1 and March 31. Additionally, as snow season approaches a reminder that parking is prohibited during any snowfall of two inches or more, until the street is plowed curb-to-curb. Please remind young drivers and any overnight guests and avoid a citation.
 Gift drive underway!
Through December 10
Get ready to make the holidays merry and bright for local teens, tweens, and families in need. The Mendota Heights Police Department is collecting unwrapped gifts for youth, ages ten to eighteen, to benefit A Place of Hope. Items donated provide a holiday shopping experience for families in Dakota and Washington Counties in need. Gift bundles of $30 to $40, and $5 stocking stuffers are preferred. Cash donations are also accepted.
With grocery prices on the rise, shelf-stable food, toiletries, and gift cards to local grocery stores are also being collected to benefit Neighbors, Inc. throughout the holiday season.
Drop off donations in the collection bins at MHPD and City Hall during business hours Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. After 11:30 a.m. on Fridays, please deliver gifts via the MHPD lobby entrance located on the north side of City Hall; park in the north parking lot off of Lexington Ave S.
View the Holiday Gift and Food Drive flier for additional gift ideas and details.
 COVID-19 information
Kids:
- Children age 5-11 years old are now eligible to get vaccinated. Minnesotans can use the Find Vaccine Locations map to find providers offering Pfizer vaccine for 5-11 year olds.
- Minnesota has launched ‘Kids Deserve a Shot,’ a vaccine incentives program rewarding Minnesotans 12-17 years old for completing their COVID-19 vaccine series.
Vaccination locations:
Booster shots:
- Providers can now offer booster shots to Minnesotans who are eligible, and who previously received any of the three authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson). Learn more.
COVID-19 testing:
- The Minnesota Department of Health continues to host both saliva and nasal swab testing events throughout Minnesota. Tests are free and insurance is not required.
Recent highlights:
A tasty way to reduce food waste
Our second “Reuse” themed class took place November 8 at Mendota Heights City Hall with seven participants learning about leftovers repurposing and reimaging ingredients to waste less. Chef Bill from That Cooking School led an informative class, teaching how to turn common Thanksgiving leftovers into new dishes like turkey shepherd’s pie, carrot salad and cranberry chutney. Delicious samples were enjoyed by all!
Space remains for the last Reuse class on November 18, to learn Basic Sewing Skills. Register for this free class by emailing Recycling Coordinator Cassandra Johnson at cjohnson@wspmn.gov.
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Pumpkin recycling results
Thank you to all who chucked pumpkins into the parking lot dumpster at City Hall last weekend. There were 5.86 tons of pumpkins collected at City Hall to be turned into compost. This is a remarkable increase in pumpkins from last year's event that collected 3.99 tons.
If you still need to dispose of a pumpkin, visit Dakota County's Recycling Guide and search "Pumpkins" for a list of drop-off locations (note there may be a small fee).
SSP Compost Site extends closing to November 21
The South St. Paul Compost Site will be open through November 21, weather permitting. Please check with the site in advance as to what types of yard waste are accepted.
Upcoming events
Nov 18 | Mendota Heights City Hall, 7-8:30pm
Celebrate America Recycles Day by seeing what happens to your recycling! Join the free virtual tour of a recycling sorting facility.
Nov 18 | 6:30 p.m. | Register
Nov 20 | Heritage Library, Lakeville
 Lawns to Legumes program grants now available
The MN Board of Water and Soil Resources is offering cost-share grant programs for installing pollinator-friendly native plantings:
Individual Support Grants are available to Minnesota residents for funding up to $300 to create pollinator habitat on their property. Applications are due February 15, 2022.
Neighborhood Demonstration Grants are available to conservation districts, watershed districts, watershed management organizations, cities, counties, tribes, and nongovernmental nonprofit organizations for neighborhood projects that incorporate native planting, pollinator beneficial trees and shrubs, and pollinator lawns and meadows. Please contact Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Technician, if your neighborhood is interested in participating in this program.
Krista Spreiter, CWD
Natural Resources Technician
City of Mendota Heights
1101 Victoria Curve
Mendota Heights, MN 55118
Email: KSpreiter@mendotaheightsmn.gov
Office: 651-255-1123
For more information: bwsr.state.mn.us/l2l
Recent highlights
 Par 3 closed for the season
All good things must come to an end....until next year at least! The Mendota Heights Par 3 Community Golf Course has closed for the season effective November 10. What a season it has been! From launching a rebranding initiative that better represents the course, to bringing back youth golf lessons after a year off due to COVID-19, the year 2021 has been memorable.
Please stay off the greens in the off season, as it helps us to provide better quality playing surfaces in the spring. We look forward to welcoming you back in 2022!
Give Thanks Art Camp
November 24 | 9am-4pm
Ages 5-11
Create art inspired by the earth to share with family and friends at this ARTrageous Adventures camp. Paint, collage, and sculpt keepsake gifts that show gratitude during this special season.
Cost: $75 per person (resident)
Location: Harmon Park Neighborhood Center, West St. Paul
Register online or at City Hall during business hours.
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