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Home My WebLink AboutCitySlick_November_2012by Kaylin Martin, Communications Assistant In the last few weeks, Edina Police investigators have submitted the paperwork to charge 11 suspected burglars who have been active in Edina since June. “We’ve never charged this many or have had this many burglaries cleared in this short of time,” said Detective Dave Carlson. “We got lucky, because we had cases that we could follow up on. We collected the evidence we needed to convict the suspects.” Some of this evidence includes either DNA or fingerprints left at the scene, witness accounts, surveillance footage or recovering stolen property in possession of the suspects. The suspects include 19-year-old Quinndarius Marquinn Jackson, who was arrested on Aug. 10 and charged with financial transaction card fraud after he was caught using a credit card that had been reported stolen. Jackson has been connected to more than 25 summer residential burglaries and thefts from autos in northwest Edina. “It’s gratifying to charge this many burglaries,” said Carlson, “and to provide closure for the victims.” A newsletter for the City Council and employees of the City of Edina CITYSLICK p1 Volume 15.14 11|9|2012 INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2 Around The Water Cooler 3 A Day In The Life ... 4 Where Are They Now? 4 Staff Notes Nov. 9, Doug, Braemar Golf Course Nov. 10, Amy, Braemar Golf Course Nov. 11, Jeff, Engineering Nov. 13, Terry, Public Works Nov. 18, Doug, Fire Nov. 19, Jeff, Police Nov. 19, Bruce, Public Works Nov. 21, John, Parks & Recreation Nov. 22, Courtney, Administration Nov. 23, Sue, Edina Senior Center Nov. 26, Gina, Braemar Golf Course Nov. 27, Marc, Police Nov. 29, Susan, Administration Nov. 29, Patrick, Fire Nov. 30, Jerry, Park Maintenance Nov. 30, Donna, Parks & Recreation Police Charge More Burglars Than Ever Before Two Edina firefighters and an Edina police officer are in New York to help those in need after Hurricane Sandy ravished the Northeast. Paramedic/Firefighter Ryan Quinn, Fire Lt. Jeff Siems and Police Officer Eric Carlson are in Queens, N.Y., as part of the Minnesota Disaster Medical Assistance Team (MN-1 DMAT). They will be out east for two weeks helping out in the New York borough where more than 130 homes were damaged or destroyed by a large fire during the storm. “Even though we’re halfway across the country, we’re fortunate to be able to provide assistance to those affected by Hurricane Sandy,” said Police Lt. Jeff Elasky. The overall purpose of MN-1 DMAT is to supplement a national medical response by assisting state and local emergency responders. Members of MN-1 DMAT respond to major emergencies and federally declared disasters including natural disasters, major transportation accidents, technology disasters and acts of terrorism. Volunteers of MN-1 DMAT train regularly to ensure they are prepared when called to duty. For more information about MN-1 DMAT, visit www.mndmat.com. Edina Fire, Police Personnel Help Hurricane Sandy Victims CITYSLICK p2 Braemar Golf Course Braemar Golf Course is still open, so set up a tee time! Don’t forget to shop the sale in the Pro Shop with 40 percent off all golf apparel and 10 to 50 percent off golf equipment. The Northwoods Boutique will be open at the Clubhouse though Nov. 11. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Edina Art Center The Edina Art Center invites you to its annual Gifts! Gifts! Gifts! sale. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, special guest artists will be on hand to meet, greet and demonstrate. Those artists include Brad Benn, potter and fish mold maker; Kendall Bohn, coloring books; Joel W. Carter, sculptor; Barbara La Valleur, photojournalist; Sandra Shaughnessy, potter; and Barbara Steen, mosaic artist. Warm cider and cookies will be served. Edina Liquor Edina Liquor just wrapped up the food drive that we have participated in for the last five years with all the donations going to our local food shelf, VEAP. Our 2012 goal was to increase our donations by 20 percent. We ended up increasing our donations by 50 percent! We collected $1,573 in cash donations and 500 pounds of food at our three stores in the month of October. We also hosted a paper- shredding event at Edina Liquor – Southdale on Oct. 20 and collected $120 in cash donations and 375 pounds of food. So, our grand total was $1,693 in cash donations and 875 pounds of food. We also shredded 6,250 pounds of paper at the shredding event. A big “thank you” goes out to the staff for helping to collect donations at the stores, and especially the part-time staff at the Grandview store for collecting $1,355 in cash and 400 pounds of food. Liquor Operations Director Steve Grausam was invited to give a presentation along with two other members of the Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association at the annual administrator’s conference of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association in New Hampshire on Oct. 22. This organization represents all of the states that control some aspects of alcohol at the state level. There are currently 18 states in this group. Grausam’s part of the presentation focused on the community aspect of liquor operation and where the money goes within the City. Edinborough Park Families had a spooky good time at the Halloween Party at Edinborough Park. More than 180 people attended the event on Friday, Oct. 26. Participants played games in the Great Hall, climbed into the Peak and made Halloween memories at this annual event. Fire October turned out to be an active month for the Edina Fire Department. As part of Fire Prevention Month, firefighters participated in more than 30 public education events, including fire prevention talks at schools, fire station tours and fire truck visits. The Edina Fire Department responded to six structure fires in October and several other fires. Firefighters used an Ara Safety Pro device for the first time in one of the fires, which, when activated, releases a non-toxic agent that can suppress and contain – and even put out – fires. While not suitable for every situation, it is another tool in a firefighter’s toolbox and will continue to be evaluated. A new ambulance also arrived at the station in October. The new rig replaces an ambulance that was purchased in 2000 and was no longer efficient and very costly to repair. The new ambulance features a tighter turning radius, better braking, better access to equipment and automatically deployable tire chains for winter driving. Human Resources Open enrollment has begun! This year’s open enrollment period began Nov. 1 and continues through Nov. 30. Information regarding benefits options and online enrollment instructions was emailed to employees on Nov. 1. Employees are strongly encouraged to attend an open enrollment session to hear a review of their benefit options, as well as a more detailed explanation on the change to vacation accruals that was previewed in the September issue of City Slick. Remaining sessions will be held: • 8-9 a.m. Nov. 13, Council Chambers • 3-4 p.m. Nov. 13, Council Chambers • 1-2 p.m. Nov. 14, Council Chambers AROUND THE WATER COOLER Following is a summary of some of the projects of some departments, divisions and facilities. Other areas of the City will be featured in upcoming issues. Continued on Page 4 ... CITYSLICK p3 Since the City Hall and Police I.T. departments merged in 2010, Waterstreet has expanded her skillset and cross-trained with the other I.T. staff members to provide the best service possible to all City employees. “It’s been interesting [to cross-train]. It seemed insurmountable. There was a lot more going on on the other side I wasn’t aware of,” she said. In an average day, Waterstreet spends a large part of her time responding to Police network problems and fixes. She says security and making sure the computers and networks are working is a daily challenge – one that requires constant maintenance. She also spends some time researching new types of technology, its potential and how it may be used within the City. “Technology is ever-changing,” she said. “It will be interesting to see how the City’s technology evolves.” Waterstreet lives in Eden Prairie with her husband, Keith. They have two sons, Kevin, 25, and Kyle, 28. She likes to spend time reading, cooking, bowling and playing the occasional round of golf at Braemar Golf Course. She also spends time volunteering at her church and at the Summit Place nursing facility in Eden Prairie. “It’s been great and I have worked with a lot of wonderful people” she said. She said she really enjoys working with the younger generations because “it’s rejuvenating.” Waterstreet thinks she may retire in the next 10-or-so years, at which time she might do more volunteering and other activities she enjoys – just no knitting. In the meantime, Waterstreet is looking forward to helping to plan and celebrate her eldest son’s wedding. When Joan Waterstreet graduated from Montevideo High School, she had no idea what the future held for her. Everything fell into place, giving her a fun, enjoyable and long-time career. “Had I gone to college, I wanted to be a school teacher,” Waterstreet said. “I never thought I would be where I am today.” After graduating high school, Waterstreet went to Alexandria Technical College for one year for secretarial studies. “In that era, if you had a good secretarial job, you were in a good place,” she said. Once she moved to the Twin Cities, Waterstreet began at Valspar as a secretary before becoming Production Coordinator for private label brands. After several years, she began at Campbell Electronics as a secretary/bookkeeper. Once her first son was born in 1985, Waterstreet was hired by the Edina Police Department as a Secretary. After a few years, she was promoted to Office Manager. She worked closely with Lt. Roger Olwin, who was charged with leading the installation of the first computer network in the Police Department in 1989. City Hall’s network was installed a year later. When Olwin retired in 2000, the Police Department needed someone to oversee and administrate the network. “I didn’t have any previous experience with networks before that project,” Waterstreet said. Because of her knowledge from working with Olwin, she was hired as the I.T. Coordinator. Now, 27 years after being hired, Waterstreet is still amazed at how prominent electronics became in daily life. “When I started out, we were still all paper,” she said. “We have come a long way since then.” A DAY IN THE LIFE OF ...I.T. COORDINATOR JOAN WATERSTREET by Jordan Gilgenbach, Communications Coordinator‘It’s been great and I have worked with a lot of wonderful people.’ CITYSLICK p4 by David Katz, Communications Intern Before retiring, Raymond “Ray” Phillips logged 30 years of service with the Utilities Division of the Public Works Department. Looking back on those three decades, what stands out to him more than anything is the great diversity of the work and the many skills employees must develop. “I really became a jack of all trades,” he said. “In retirement, I wanted to test my talents in a slightly different, fun way.” Phillips decided to dedicate some of his newly found free time to remodeling his own home in Shakopee. “I’d heard of [Public Works retirees] taking on major pet projects like this and being really pleased with the results. I figured, ‘Why not?’” He is making steady progress on the remodel, but is in no special hurry to be done. “I really like to stay busy,” he said. He is already looking into potential part-time job opportunities for the future. beganemployment:1981 WHERE ARETHEY NOW? year ofretirement:2011 present “Where Are They Now?” is a feature meant to give employees an idea of what their former colleagues are doing in retirement. If you know of a retiree who might want to be featured in “Where Are They Now?,” call 952-833-9522. If you have any questions regarding the online enrollment or need a copy of the Open Enrollment Benefits Guide, please contact an HR team member: Candy, 952-826-0404; Jessica, 952-826-0402 or Terri, 952-826-0406. Planning to retire next year? Have a sticky benefits situation? Just need help understanding your benefits options? Schedule an individual consultation with our broker from Gallagher Benefits Services (GBS). They will be available 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 15 and noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 20 at City Hall. Parks & Recreation As winter approaches, leagues are being formed for four-man hockey and mixed broomball. Interviews have begun for Ice Rink Attendants. Youth with various disabilities are wrapping up the AR&LE Fall Bowling Club in November. Participants mention that the highlights of the program are being a part of a team, learning new skills and having fun with the great AR&LE staff. Police The Edina Police Department held a safe driving event at Edina High School on Oct. 15, which was a big success! Held in conjunction with National Teen Driver Safety Week, more than 1,000 students stopped by the event to test out the “drunk goggles,” drive a golf cart with an officer while texting and navigating a course, and explore the SWAT team’s Bearcat vehicle. With the help of a $2,000 AAA grant, the Police Department was able to hold a drawing for an iPad 3, iPod Touch, iPod and iPod Nano. A big thanks to Officer Kenna Dick and the safe driving committee for organizing the event! The Edina/Eden Prairie Law Enforcement Explorers Post took home some plaques from a state tournament Oct. 19-21 in Duluth, Minn. The Post took second place in traffic accident investigation and crime scene search, fourth place in search and arrest and hostage negotiations and fifth place in traffic stop. The Police Department is in the process of hiring two new patrol officers and has narrowed the search down to four qualified applicants. We’re hoping to have the two new officers hired by mid-December and ready to hit the streets on Jan. 1. Around the Water Cooler Continued from Page 2 ... STAFF NOTES Richard Harr began work on Oct. 25 as a Community Service Officer for the Police Department. Harr graduated from Edina High School and has been a member of the Edina/ Eden Prairie Explorers Post for the past four years. He is currently attending the University of St. Thomas to pursue a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Jerry Hershey, who began his career with the City of Edina Public Works – Utilities Division in 1978, retired from his position on Wednesday, Oct. 31. EMPLOYEE MILESTONES Debra Fields, South Metro Public Safety Training Facility, 5 years. (Nov. 26, 2007) Doug May, Centennial Lakes Park, 10 years. (Nov. 4, 2002) Vera Norine, Parks & Recreation, 15 years. (Nov. 24, 1997) Jim Peluf, Public Works, 15 years. (Nov. 6, 1997) Scott Vadnais, Fire, 15 years. (Nov. 12, 1997) Scott Thompson, Police, 25 years. (Nov. 12, 1987)