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Mounds View City Council July 10, 2017 <br />Regular Meeting Page 4 <br /> <br />Commander Ryan O’Neil thanked the City Council for their time. He then presented the Council <br />with statistical information on the County’s VCET (Drug Task Force), noting his organization <br />was grant funded. He reported St. Paul, Roseville, Maplewood, White Bear Lake, New Brighton <br />and Ramsey County were all members of the task force. He described the make-up of the <br />organization and invited the Council to visit with the team. He commented on the goals and <br />mission of the task force noting their main focus was to keep drugs and guns off the street. He <br />explained the new trends with respect to the abuse of prescription and illegal drugs. He noted <br />that accidental overdoses were on the rise, along with the use of Narcan. He provided further <br />comment on the great work being done by the task force and encouraged the Mounds View City <br />Council to join VCET. <br /> <br />Council Member Meehlhause requested further information on the advantage of having a <br />member on the task force. Commander O’Neil stated the advantage would be for the City to <br />receive a prompt response time while also having a member of the task force dialed in to the drug <br />scene in Mounds View. Police Chief Harder explained he would like to see the Police <br />Department taking a proactive stance versus a reactive stance when it came to guns and drugs in <br />the community. He believed it was vital for law enforcement to stop the threat at the source. <br /> <br />Council Member Gunn asked if the task force was seeing a problem with doctors writing false <br />scripts. Commander O’Neil stated this could be an issue that needs further attention. <br /> <br />Mayor Mueller understood there was a statewide concern with drug use. She asked how <br />residents could bring concerns from their neighborhood to the drug task force. Police Chief <br />Harder encouraged residents to call 911, which would involve the Mounds View Police <br />Department and concerns could then be passed along to VCET. <br /> <br />Matthew Oquist, 8408 Groveland Road, asked if there was any location in the City where <br />prescriptions could be turned in. Police Chief Harder discussed the prescription drug take back <br />program being sponsored by the County and encouraged all Mounds View residents to bring their <br />unused prescription drugs to the Ramsey County Sheriff Department’s office. <br /> <br />Mayor Mueller thanked Commander O’Neil for his time and presentation. <br /> <br />C. Introduction – Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce Director – John <br />Connelly <br /> <br />John Connelly, Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce, introduced himself to the City <br />Council. He provided the Council with an overview on the Chamber of Commerce and <br />commented on the local economic opportunities in Mounds View. He reviewed the core goals <br />and mission of the Chamber, stating it was good to be working in this area and engaging with the <br />local businesses. <br /> <br />Mayor Mueller thanked Mr. Connelly for his time and presentation. <br /> <br />9. COUNCIL BUSINESS