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City Manager Blog

Each week I send out an FYI Update to City Council and staff on the latest happenings within the City of Maplewood.  I would like to share this information with the residents of Maplewood, as well. 

Follow my blog if you would like to be kept up to date on the behind the scenes happenings within the City. 

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May 22

May 19, 2023

Posted on May 22, 2023 at 9:54 AM by Chad Bergo

COMMUNICATIONS AND NEWS FROM THE WEEK:  May 19, 2023

Meetings and Announcements:    

  • The next regular City Council Meeting will be on Monday, May 22nd.  We will have a workshop on May 22nd at 6:30 to review the options for winter snow removal on trails and sidewalks.
  • On June 12, we will host a workshop with the Met Council to discuss the WBA Purple Line Engagement Process. And at the Council meeting will hear about updates from MnDot on Highway 36 Improvement project. We will also have a report and discussion on bringing back Public Comment at City Council meetings. 

 

ADMINISTRATION

Update from Maplewood Mall Management

Hello Everybody,  This is our 5/18 update for ongoing projects at Maplewood Mall.  

Cleanliness of the parking lot & Landscaping

Trash removal is done. Our landscaping company will do another final sweep once the initial project is complete, which should be very soon. They are just about finished putting fresh mulch out 

Additionally, extensive parking lot sweeping was completed overnight on Monday and Tuesday night this week. Overall, we're very happy with how the exterior is looking! 

Potholes 

Pothole repairs in Barnes & Nobles parking lot were just completed. Repairs on JCPenney's will be scheduled soon. 

Security camera set up  

Still in progress, but we're working very diligently to get this done. Tech items for the setup, such as monitors and hard drives, have been delivered to our security company. We've had a few CCTV techs come to the mall this week to advise us on getting this done. Another tech is coming tomorrow to test whether or not old network passwords from Washington Prime Group will be a roadblock for us, or if everything was wiped and we can easily start fresh with a new network. 

For context, Washington Prime Group did have a security monitoring setup, but removed everything when the mall was sold. If getting into their network is an issue, I was told there are solutions. 

I will send another update next Thursday, May 25th.   Thanks, Elisabeth

From Communications

cid:image001.png@01D98A2D.D246D880Leaving his mark on Maplewood 

When Randy Lindblom started as Engineering Technician back in 1988, the Engineering Department had one computer, no cell phones and used ink and mylar drafting.

 

Randy adapted to advances in technology and training and helped lead a team that is completing most projects in house with automatic computer aided design features, robotics and advanced GPS surveying. Read more about Randy’s career… 

cid:image002.jpg@01D98A2D.D246D880National Police Week

Thank you to the Maplewood Officers who participated National Police Week events, they included standing guard at the Peace Officer Memorial in St Paul to honor fallen officers statewide and a ceremony Thursday for fallen Ramsey County Officers (Officer Mitch Condon and Sgt. Rachel Murray, part of our honor guard, are pictured left at Thursday’s ceremony). 

On behalf of our staff and council, I’d like to thank all of our officers for their daily sacrifice and dedication to professionalism.

In 1962 Congress and the Kennedy Administration established National Police Week and the Law Enforcement Memorial Day to pay special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others.

In the Community:
The City of Maplewood participated in Ramsey County’s youth career fair at the Maplewood Mall last week. We met with more than 50 students between 14 and 20 years old, many from our BIPOC Community, explaining how public service careers lead to making a positive impact for others and setting oneself up for a long-term livelihood with a secure retirement. This is part of an on-going collaboration between the City and the Ramsey County Workforce Development Office.  

Welcome to the Community, Kitchen Zone. The new restaurant had its grand opening ceremony Wednesday. It occupies the old Perkins just off White Bear and 7th. It’s an extension of Unison Restaurant and Banquet.  

 

 PARKS AND NATURAL RESOURCES

 

Maplewood’s Arbor Day event is tomorrow, Saturday May 20, 9:30 – noon in the Maplewood City Hall parking lot. 

Visit our stations to learn about:

•             Proper tree planting for tree health 

•             climate resilient trees 

•             AmeriCorps’ AMPACT program 

•             Maplewood’s free tree programs and 

•             The Friends of Maplewood Nature’s Tree Trek. 

•             Crafts, games and prizes!  

•             Sign up to be a Tree Champion (adopt a tree)! 

•             Stop at our selfie station and share to promote tree planting! 

•             Residents may enter to win one of two  Honeycrisp apple trees!

Did you order a tree from the Arbor Day Tree Sale? Tree Pickup will be these dates and times only:

•             Saturday, May 20, 9:00 am – Noon at the Public Works Garage: 1910 County Road B.

•             Monday, May 22, 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

From County Road B, Turn south onto Hazel. Follow the signs downhill past the first building. Look for the cones; the garage will be on the left. Please come with an empty vehicle and bring the postcard you received in the mail.

Can’t make it? Ask a friend to pick your trees up for you. Make sure they bring your postcard. Trees not picked up will be forfeited.

*Attending the Arbor Day event and picking up a tree? It will be less stress for your tree if you pick it up after visiting the Arbor day event.

 Arbor Day / Tree Sale promo: https://vimeo.com/826002208/089e81115a 

 

Thanks for your participation at yesterday’s,  “Advance Meeting”. It was a productive day and so great to spend some informal time together!

See on Monday, Melinda