The quarterly town hall/citizens' forum meeting is coming up this weekend -- Saturday, August 6th, in the Maplewood Room at City Hall starting at 10 AM.  Mayor Rossbach and Councilmember Juenemann are hosting, and the formal topic is the police department space needs study.  There's usually a chance for open-ended Q&A as well.

You can get more details on the city website.

Labels: events, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 8/05/2011 10:35:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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Some great news for public safety in the East Metro came out of the bonding bill passed in the special session last night.  Section 12, Subd. 3, includes:

16.26 16.27 Subd. 3.East Metro Fire Safety Training Center 3,000,000 16.28For a grant to the city of Maplewood 16.29to acquire land, prepare a site including 16.30environmental work, predesign, design, and 16.31construct the East Metro Regional Public 16.32Safety Training Facility in Ramsey County, 16.33within the city of Maplewood.

Many thanks and congratulations to chief authors Leon Lillie and Chuck Wiger for their hard work on this, as well as Nora Slawik and other supportive legislators (I hear through the grapevine that Rep. Hausman and Sen. Langseth were especially helpful), and of course, Governor Dayton.  And of course we can't fail to mention Chief Lukin for championing this, the many other East Metro fire chiefs and departments who supported it, the city staff who helped develop the plan and move it forward, and Ramsey County (particularly Commissioner Reinhardt) for supporting the plan and contributing environmental clean-up funds.

Labels: finance, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 7/20/2011 07:59:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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Today's news is the rainfall of the last 24 hours, which has been at the "100 year event" level in Maplewood and many other parts of Minnesota.  The central part of Maplewood seems to have been hardest hit -- an e-mail from staff reports "the heaviest rainfall appears to have fallen in an area from Stillwater Road on the south; TH 61 on the west, Century on the east and County Road C on the north."  The pond by City Hall has overflowed into the community center parking lot; there is a report that lightning may have struck City Hall.  The rainfall has overtaxed the capacity of our storm sewer system, resulting in a lot of water on roads, parking lots, and flooding in what sounds like a pretty large number of homes.

Cars have been caught by the waters in some places and stalled (including Highway 36 near English and also on McKnight under Highway 36 in North Saint Paul, where water was reportedly up to the car windows).  If you see a police/fire barricade out on the roads, take it seriously and don't be one of the folks who drove around it, only to stall out in the flooded road beyond.

Labels: public safety, public works

Posted by John Nephew on 7/16/2011 12:49:00 PM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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The Maplewood Police Department issued this press release today:

On May 15, 2011 Maplewood Police responded to a theft at Super America, 1750 White Bear Avenue. Taken in the theft was an approximately 12” tall plastic donation jar containing donations for the Children’s Miracle Network. The purpose of the donation jar was clearly displayed on it.

The theft, which was captured on store surveillance video, showed the suspect to be a 5’10” to 6’ white male with short hair and a mustache. At the time of the theft the suspect was wearing a black baseball cap, dark jacket and pants (probably blue jeans). Two clips from the surveillance video are attached.

The exact amount of money in the jar is unknown, but the jar appeared to be nearly full. It is presumed the value of loss does not exceed an amount which would move the crime beyond the misdemeanor level, and considering simple theft is not exactly rare, normally such a crime would not be distributed to media representatives. However, the video is pretty good and may lead to a citizen to identifying the suspect. An added factor is that while theft reports aren’t uncommon, it seems to take a pretty pathetic individual to steal a Children’s Miracle Network donation jar, and that just did not set well at all with the officer who responded to the business.

Citizens with information about the theft are asked to, during office hours, contact Maplewood Police at 651-249-2600 and outside office hours through the Ramsey County Emergency Communications Center at 651-767-0640.

Media inquires may be directed to me at 651-249-2603 or via e-mail at dave.kvam@ci.maplewood.mn.us.

Dave Kvam, Deputy Chief
Maplewood Police Department

Here are the surveillance videos:




If you can identify this charity-robbing loser, please do let the police know.

Labels: public safety, video

Posted by John Nephew on 5/25/2011 11:54:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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This past weekend's Star Tribune included an article about the study now underway to look at space needed for our police department and how to address the current overcrowded facilities.

Labels: media, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 5/16/2011 07:48:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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This week's Maplewood Review includes a couple of city-related articles I'd like to call attention to.

"Maplewood's insurance deductible drops to norm" covers the recent LMCIT decision to restore normal coverage terms to Maplewood, something I'd say is an important sign of the progress we've made as a city during my time in office.

"Bergeron memorial dedicated in Maplewood" describes last Sunday's dedication of the Fallen Officer Memorial, and includes some very nice photographs by the Review's staff photographer, Linda Baumeister.

Lastly, though it's from an earlier issue, I wanted to call attention to the announcement of an essay contest from the Maplewood Human Rights Commission. Share the word with any elementary, middle school, and high school students you know!

Labels: events, finance, media, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 5/05/2011 10:23:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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At 1 PM this afternoon, a ceremony was held at City Hall to unveil the Maplewood Police Memorial on the first anniversary of the murder of Sgt. Joe Bergeron. Here are a couple of snapshots I took.  (Click on an image to see it larger.)


The beautiful, somber memorial was funded with donations -- including donated materials and labor, contributions of unused vacation time by city employees, and many contributions from businesses and individuals in our community (for example, at last weekend's very successful fundraiser).

To paraphrase Chief Thomalla's remarks, we can hope that it is forever known as the Bergeron Memorial, that its polished granite need never be adorned by another fallen officer's bronze image.

Labels: events, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 5/01/2011 05:21:00 PM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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Just a quick reminder: The Police memorial fundraiser is today, from 2 PM to 10 PM.  See the details on the city website, and please attend.  If you can't make it today, do note that there's a "donate online" button on that page.

Labels: events, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 4/23/2011 01:26:00 PM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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With the police memorial fundraiser coming up this Saturday, it seems like a good time to link to the April episode of Your Police Report, which is produced by the Maplewood Police Department and GTN.  As the GTN website synopsizes this episode: "Your Police Report travels to Litchfield, Minnesota, to Brodin Studios. Brodin Studios is where the memorial to Sgt. Bergeron will be created. Retired officer Steve Heinz also talks about the upcoming benefit for Sgt. Bergeron and the upcoming National Law Enforcement Memorial."



Be sure to come out on Saturday to the memorial fundraiser at the Maplewood Community Center.  You can buy raffle tickets for valuable prizes, and there will also be a silent auction, among other things!

Labels: events, media, public safety, video

Posted by John Nephew on 4/20/2011 09:16:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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From tomorrow (April 18th) through April 29th, you can help contribute to the cost of building the Maplewood Police Fallen Officer Memorial by dining at Applebee's in Roseville. Applebee's will donate 15% of your bill to the memorial, but you need to bring them a flyer that you can get at City Hall. The flyers were placed at the reception desk, motor vehicle counter, and on the lobby table.

Labels: events, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 4/17/2011 03:58:00 PM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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This week's Maplewood Review has an interesting story, and unlike most of my recent blog entries, it's not related to organized collection.

Labels: media, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 3/31/2011 07:36:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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Mark your calendar: On April 23, from 2 to 10 PM, a fundraiser will be held at the Maplewood Community Center, with proceeds going to fund a Fallen Officer Memorial to remember Sgt. Joe Bergeron and honor his sacrifice.  The event will include a silent auction and a raffle.

You can find more information on the Police Department's web page.

Even if you can't make it to the event, donations are welcome, whether in cash (just make your check payable to the Maplewood Police Benefit Fund) or silent auction items. Contact the police department at 651-249-2600 for more details.

As I understand it, the Fund has been organized as a 501c3 charity, so donations are tax-deductible.

Labels: events, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 3/15/2011 07:34:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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One of the pleasures of the City Council job is when we give recognition to heroes in our community, such as the two groups of life-savers who were recognized at recent council meetings for their actions in saving two lives in Maplewood.  Cory Streeter tells their story in this week's Maplewood Review.

Labels: media, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 3/12/2011 07:35:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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At our February 28th council meeting, a resident in Visitor Presentations asked “Has anybody been run over by a garbage truck? No.”

I'm aware of at least one Maplewood fatality involving a pedestrian killed by a garbage truck. Apparently it's not an unknown occurrence, to judge from a recent tweet from the National Solid Waste Management Association:

Five people were killed last week in five separate accidents involving garbage trucks. Please be careful on the route!!!!!!
8:23 AM Dec 14th, 2010 via Facebook

Labels: organized collection, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 3/10/2011 12:08:00 PM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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Last week the Maplewood Review took a look at the changes coming to Maplewood's Fire Department.  The change in the staffing model (switching the paid-on-call firefighters to part-time employees working specific shifts) begins this month.

Labels: media, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 3/06/2011 07:35:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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The winter and all the snow that has been socking it to other parts of the country brought to mind one update the City Council received in early December about the benefits we're seeing from upgrading our technology and policies for dealing with the snowy-icy Maplewood streets this season.

To quote the staff report:

1. In 2010 a total of $15,000 was invested to upgrade the fleet with the latest technology in salt/sand controllers/spreaders. This investment is proving to be well made with a $2,500. - $3,000 savings in materials for each 3” plowing event... and we should also see a savings during “deicing only” events. We are seeing a very quick pay back. 
2. We have reduced materials used for deicing by about 50% per event compared to past years when the application rates were based only on operator judgment.
3. We haven’t been receiving the calls to come back and reapply materials; this was a normal call in the past. This has also saved on the after hour and weekend call-outs.
4. Trucks are able to stay out plowing on designated routes longer because there has been no need thus far to return to the shop for a second load of material... one load is now more than enough need to treat a route.
5. Operator satisfaction since staff can actually see the deicing material working. The prescribed calibrated application rates result in using the salt most efficiently given a number of variables.
6. The winter driving conditions have greatly improved on our roads, especially main roads.
7. It has helped the Sewer Superintendent with training and tracking material usage by each operator.

What does this mean? It means a reduction in operating costs and a reduced impact to the environment by using less salt.

Saving money and reducing damage to the environment are good news any time, but especially in these days when we are always facing the balancing act between budgetary challenges and the need to take better care of our wetlands and waters.  Compliments are due to all the staff involved in acquiring and implementing this new technology.

Labels: environment, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 2/09/2011 10:02:00 PM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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This year the Maplewood Fire Department is making some big changes to how it operates, transitioning the paid-on-call firefighters to part time positions with specific shifts.  The December episode of Spotlight on Maplewood features our fire chief explaining the changes.  If you missed the open houses last week at the Parkside and Londin Lane stations, this is a good way to get the information straight from the source.

The episode has been playing on the city's cable TV channel (channel 16), but it's also available streaming through Vimeo, which allows me to embed it in my blog here:

Labels: media, public safety, video

Posted by John Nephew on 1/25/2011 12:48:00 PM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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This past week's Review has a couple of Maplewood articles worth calling attention to.

The first, "Maplewood saving money with new medical contract," covers the new agreement, approved by the City Council at our last meeting, between the City and St John's Hospital, for medical direction and training for our paramedics.  The cost savings are of course a good thing (and may help hold down the growth in ambulance charges), but I also am pleased to see the City collaborating with our local hospital.

A second article profiles Dr. Marlene Palkovich, who serves on Maplewood's Police Civil Service Commission.  We are very fortunate to have someone with such an impressive professional background and experience as a volunteer for our city.

Labels: media, PCSC, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 9/25/2010 04:05:00 PM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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I had the honor this afternoon of standing in for Mayor Rossbach (who was out of town) at the "Ready or Not Emergency Preparedness Fair" hosted by Boy Scouts Troop 902 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Little Canada. Besides a beautiful ceremony to remember the heroic first responders of nine years ago, and recognition for the first responders who serve today in our police and fire departments and similar roles, the church parking lot was filled with assorted demonstrations related to public safety.

One such demonstration was from the Little Canada Fire Department, and I recorded some video to share.

Labels: events, public safety, video

Posted by John Nephew on 9/11/2010 09:16:00 PM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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Tonight is National Night Out! This is a great chance to get out and meet your neighbors. Police and fire will be trying to make it to every party in the city, and other city folks will be making the rounds as well. (In the past, members of the Environmental and Natural Resources Commission have spent the evening distributing recycling bins, for example.)

You can now find a map of all this year's National Night Out neighborhood parties in Maplewood on the city's web page. Find the one nearest you, and stop by this evening!

Labels: events, public safety

Posted by John Nephew on 8/03/2010 09:37:00 AM Email to a Friend | Permalink | Comments
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