ANOKA COUNTY

Historical Society looks at state hospital, Wahl's life

The history of the former state hospital in Anoka will be the subject of a program at 2 p.m. March 14 at the Rum River Library, 4201 6th Av., Anoka. The presentation by the Anoka County Historical Society also will touch on the debate about treatment of mental illness. The program is free and open to the public.

On March 28, a documentary about Rosalie Wahl, the first woman to serve on the state Supreme Court, will be screened at Circle Pines City Hall, 200 Civic Heights Circle, Circle Pines. Tickets are $7 ($5 for society members) and registration is required. For more information, call 763-421-0600 or go to anokacountyhistory.org.

STAFF REPORT

DAKOTA COUNTY

Gun permit applications went down in 2014

The Dakota County Sheriff's Office accepted 3,052 gun applications for permits to carry, purchase and renew in 2014, the agency said. That number was down 33.9 percent from 2013 and about the same as 2012.

The notable increase in 2013 — to 4,620 permits — was attributed to the December 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., which spurred many gun control discussions and debates.

According to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, permits issued in the state were down 31 percent in 2014. Dakota County had the third-most permits issued, behind Hennepin and Anoka counties. As of Dec. 31, there were 13,127 permits issued in Dakota County.

STAFF REPORT

EDINA

Hovland is new chief of transportation board

Edina Mayor Jim Hovland has been chosen to serve as chair of the Transportation Advisory Board. Hovland is one of 17 elected officials on the 33-member board, which reviews and selects local transportation projects for federal funding. Hovland's selection was announced by Metropolitan Council Chairman Adam Duininck.

"I have the utmost respect for and confidence in Mayor Hovland," said Duininck. "He has a leadership style that brings people together to work toward consensus and I know he will do a great job." Hovland has served as Edina's mayor since 2005, and was first elected to the Edina City Council in 1997. "I am honored to be considered for this appointment by the council," said Hovland.

JOHN REINAN

MINNETONKA BEACH

Event to benefit Lake Minnetonka programs

The Lake Minnetonka Conservation District will hold its 48th annual Save the Lake banquet next week, raising money for programs on Lake Minnetonka.

The event, which will start at 6 p.m. March 19 at the Lafayette Club, benefits the Save the Lake Fund, supporting programs outside of the agency's budget for public safety, environmental and recreational needs on the lake. The event includes dinner, a keynote from state Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Landwehr and a live auction.

Tickets cost $60 per person; reservations are due by March 9. For more info, go to lmcd.org.

KELLY SMITH

woodbury

City adopts 'aggressive' approach to water use

Woodbury is pledging to try to keep its water use flat through 2030, even though it expects to grow by 15,000 people by then.

The city will stress the need to dial back on lawn sprinkling. Water use leaps from 4 million gallons a day in winter to 10 million in the summer, mostly because of lawns.

An inch of water a week, including rainfall, keeps grass healthy, said Klayton Eckles, director of engineering and public works.

The price of failing to use water sustainably, the city warns, could be to pipe it from the Mississippi River, tripling the cost vs. pumping from aquifers.

The city is working on strategies to meet its goal, including two-day-a-week sprinkling at some public sites. It will urge citizens to use "responsible lawn irrigation practices."

david peterson