THE LATEST
This Saturday, September 17th, 8:30a - 12:30p (approximately)
To participate, please email kspreiter@mendotaheightsmn.gov.
Master Gardeners and the City are going to be planting seven curb-cut raingardens throughout the Ivy Falls East neighborhood with native plants as part of the City’s Road Improvement project. Master gardeners, staff, and homeowners will also be participating. The project will treat stormwater from the roads and other impervious surfaces, reducing runoff and pollution to Ivy Creek and the Mississippi River, as well as providing pollinator and wildlife habitat, and beautifying the neighborhood!
Please bring a clean hand trowel, work gloves, closed-toe shoes, and it would probably be a good idea to wear a hat and sunblock as well.
Master Gardeners and other volunteers will meet at 8:30am at the cul-de-sac at Winston Circle. Staff will hand out assigned garden locations with planting map and plant list to our volunteers, who will then travel to individual gardens to meet homeowners.
Sign up for future volunteer opportunities HERE
Tonight is St. Thomas Academy Homecoming football game and the school has a fireworks permit for tonight (Friday September 16, 2022)during their football game. Nearby residents may hear the fireworks and should be aware.
 Are you looking for ways to connect with your neighbors? The Mendota Heights Volunteer program is the place to look! Sign up on the city website and get connected to upcoming events and activities that need volunteers. More information on the city website:
Sign up HERE for the following opportunities:
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Event volunteers are needed for fall park events
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Natural Resources volunteers are needed for fall invasive and restoration projects
 Help protect pollinators in your yard by planting a pollinator-friendly landscape feature. You can help protect the MN State Rusty Patched Bumble Bee, Monarchs, and other at-risk and endangered pollinator species by installing pollinator habitat such as a native pollinator garden, trees, and shrubs. Lawns 2 Legumes is now offering cost-share grants to private landowners to help cover the costs of installing a pollinator project. Lawns 2 Legumes is taking applications for grants now through January 18, 2023. Click HERE for to apply and for more information.
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
Centre Pointe Street Improvements
The contractor completed the first lift of paving this week in the Centre Pointe Business Park, and Waters Drive. Curbing was installed on Carmen Lane and the contractor is preparing the base for paving. The contractor also completed the base work on Dakota Drive to repair soft areas. The contractor will be paving Dakota Drive and Carmen Lane next week. Please also see updates on the city website at www.mendotaheightsmn.gov/projects
Reminder southbound I-35E closing this weekend for bridge painting
If your plans include traveling on I-35E near Mendota Heights/Eagan this weekend you can expect a detour between I-494 and Hwy 77/Cedar Ave. as crews paint the Hwy 55 bridge over I-35E.
Beginning 9 p.m. Fri, Sept. 16, southbound I-35E will be closed between I-494 and Hwy 77/Cedar Ave. In addition, the I-494 ramps to and from southbound I-35E will be closed approximately one hour before the road closes.
Please follow the signed detour using westbound I-494 and southbound Hwy 77/Cedar Ave. to bypass the closure.
All lanes and ramps are expected to reopen by 5 a.m. Mon, Sept. 19.
You will still encounter lane closures in both directions of Hwy 55 as well as off-peak weekend lane and ramp closures on I-494 and I-35E near Eagan and Mendota Heights, as crews finish up their work.
When possible, motorists should avoid cutting through neighborhoods and help keep the community safe by using posted detour routes.
Construction is expected to be complete by October.
All traffic impacts are tentative and weather dependent.
More information on current construction projects at the city website: HERE
Upcoming recycling events
- September 17, 12-3pm : Wescott Library
Recent highlights:
- The South St. Paul Compost Site is open and accepts grass clippings, sod, leaves and other yard waste. Visit their website 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.
A great solution is to plant drought tolerant native plants! They will thrive when most of our other landscape plants are struggling. Here are just a few natives that will make your landscape shine during a drought:
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Wild Petunia (Ruellia humilis) blooms profusely in the heat- June- August, likes sunny dry sandy soils, and does well in difficult areas like along the edge of a sidewalk or driveway.
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Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) grows in full sun and is a host plant for Monarchs.
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False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) is a tall native with a cheery yellow daisy like flower for a part shade to full sun that blooms July-September.
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Bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) is an important food source & favorite of many native bumblebees, deer resistant, & blooms in full sun June-August. The endangered Rusty Patch Bumblebee was found on this plant in MH again this year!
- Native grasses such as Little Bluestem, Prairie Dropseed and many native sedges not only add texture to your landscape but also food for birds.
There are also many natives to choose for shady landscapes too! Drought tolerant native plants will reduce your water bill, provide beauty, and much needed food for our pollinators and birds. Many more native plants are needed to help our pollinators and birds so why not try beautiful and low maintenance native plants in your landscape?
Above: Wild Petunia, Whorled Milkweed, Little Bluestem, Heliopsis and Monarda
 Be on the lookout for Red Hailstone, a herbaceous vine that has started to show invasive tendencies in Minnesota, growing up to 18 feet in a year and smothering vegetation, much like Kudzu. It gets its name from the red fruit produced by the male plant. Red Hailstone has a single, bell-shaped, yellow flower that blooms from July to September. Leaves are alternate, toothed, and heart-shaped, growing up to 2 ½ inches long. Red Hailstone grows quickly, and attaches itself easily to surrounding vegetation using its many downy-hooked hairs. It has been spotted smothering woodland edge vegetation and habitat, as well as invading farm fields. Red Hailstone has been found in surrounding counties, and has been found in southern Dakota County.
Control methods for Red Hailstone:
- Red Hailstone is a new invasive species to Minnesota, and best control methods may not yet be known. Red Hailstone is rhizomatous; so while chemical treatment may be used for control, the best method is removal of the tubers below the soil’s surface.
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To see current distribution and report a siting, refer to EDDMapS. For more information contact: Krista Spreiter, Natural Resources Coordinator at: 651-255-1123 or by Email: Kspreiter@mendotaheightsmn.gov.
Recent highlights
Weekly Crime Report
Incident reports 9/9/2022-9/15/2022
Previous Weekly Crime Report/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 dakota911mn.gov.
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 mendotaheightsmn.gov/police. Completed forms and general questions can be submitted via email to pdrecords@mendotaheightsmn.gov.
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Saturday, September 17 • 7:30pm - Two Rivers High School
Movie in the Park is back at Two Rivers High School. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and get ready to enjoy The Lego Movie underneath the stars. In the event of inclement weather check social media and the city website for updates. All children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult. FREE
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