Dakota County town briefs: Inver Grove Heights City Council considers outlawing the feeding of deer

The Inver Grove Heights City Council is considering an ordinance to outlaw the feeding of deer in the city.

Residents have complained about the high numbers of deer and the damage they are causing to the landscape.

The Department of Natural Resources says that overfeeding deer may encourage large numbers to congregate in feeding areas, making it easier for diseases to be passed among them. Feeding can also cause a disruption to their normal travel routes, which in turn may cause an increased potential for traffic accidents.

There will be three readings of the proposed ordinance before it would take effect.

The council will take feedback on the proposed regulation. If you have questions or concerns and can't attend a council meeting, call 651-450-2512 or e-mail jteppen@invergroveheights.org. To read the proposed ordinance, visit the city's website at www.invergroveheights.org.

BURNSVILLE

Plan to protect drinking water will get updated

Burnsville will hold a public information meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27 at City Hall to discuss the city's plan to update its drinking water protection program.

The city is required to update its well protection plan every 10 years. It was first written in 2002 to identify all potential sources of contamination and outlines all measures put in place to prevent contamination.

The initial plan — which was approved by the Minnesota Department of Health — outlined protection boundaries around wells, identified a boundary for the water supply management area and identifies areas that could potentially threaten the water supply.

The next step is to update the plan and ensure that all safety measures are in place by May.

For more, call 952-895-4552.

NORTHERN DAKOTA COUNTY

Talking about Robert Street transitway

As studies of a possible Robert Street transitway continue, residents are being invited to share their opinions on "initial alignment alternatives and their development" at a pair of sessions this week.

The Dakota County Transportation Department and the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority will hold open houses about the plans, which involve the possibility of a yet-to-be-determined form of public transit on the Robert Street corridor through West St. Paul and into St. Paul.

The sessions are:

• 4:30–6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Room 110 of the Dakota County Northern Service Center, 1 W. Mendota Road, West St. Paul. A presentation will begin at 5 p.m.

• 6–8 p.m. Thursday at the Neighborhood House, Ferber Room, 179 E. Robie St., St. Paul. A presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The study aims to determine possible improvements to transit service between downtown St. Paul and communities in northern Dakota County such as West St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights and South St. Paul.

For more information about the study, visit www.robertstreettransit.com.

LAURIE BLAKE and DYLAN BELDEN