ST. PAUL

Dady leaving City Hall for U government affairs post

Erin Dady, Mayor Chris Coleman's chief of staff for the past four years, is leaving St. Paul City Hall at the end of the month to become head of government and community affairs for the University of Minnesota.

As one of University President Eric Kaler's chief assistants, Dady, 37, will lead the office in charge of relations with federal, state and local governments for all five U campuses.

"I'm excited about the mission of the university, the academic excellence that's going on here and the quality of the people," said Dady, who is earning a master's degree in business administration at the U and plans to finish next year.

Dady, who lives in downtown St. Paul, was finance director for Coleman's first mayoral campaign in 2005. She was the city's marketing director for five years and worked on efforts to bring the 2008 Republican National Convention to St. Paul.

Her proudest accomplishments, she said, include getting $25 million in state funding for the Lowertown ballpark and winning paid parental leave for city employees. She begins at the U on Jan. 5.

KEVIN DUCHSCHERE

Minneapolis

New data portal makes info available to the public

The city of Minneapolis' new open data portal made its debut last week, providing information on subjects ranging from fires and police incidents to air quality study results.

Most of the records were previously available only to people who submitted formal requests to the city. The city says it is now one of 38 states and 46 cities and counties that make open data portals available to the public.

Other information available includes: 311 incidents, crime statistics, open rental licenses, open liquor licenses, digital inclusion survey results, city boundaries and neighborhood revitalization program budgets.

Data can be downloaded in charts and maps, and will be updated with more current information.

Erin Golden

Shakopee

Taxes to rise, partly for downtown improvements

A desire to boost infrastructure improvements, notably in the city's historic downtown area, is helping push property taxes higher in Shakopee.

The City Council last week adopted a $23 million operating budget for next year that brings with it an overall tax hike of about 3 percent.

Among the reasons:

• Bumping up spending on infrastructure improvements such as street reconstruction and trails from $750,000 in 2014 to $1 million.

• Setting aside $500,000 for downtown improvement projects, including infrastructure and work on properties.

• Adding two full-time and two part-time positions and expanding the IT Department.

The total tax levy is $16.8 million, up 2.7 percent. The final levy is down from the preliminary amount set last fall.

Staff report

Anoka County

County Board gives itself a 2% salary increase

Anoka County Board members voted recently to increase their salary by 2 percent. The board also voted to increase the county attorney's and sheriff's salaries.

The vote was 4-1, with Commissioner Matt Look opposed. Two other members were absent from the meeting.

Board members' salaries will increase from $61,444 to $62,367. Sheriff James Stuart's salary will increase from $137,355 to $140,102, and County Attorney Tony Palumbo's from $143,820 to $155,000.

During the Nov. 25 meeting, Look said that keeping employees happy is important, but that the 2015 pay increase was also "concerning" to him.

Commissioner Scott Schulte said the pay increase is just part of running the county. "[We have] to look at constituents and say we have hardworking employees. They aren't just leaning on shovels. They are working and earning their dollars," Schulte said.

"There's a cost in doing business."

Staff report