North Mankato
City Council slows push to raise tobacco sales age
North Mankato city leaders will take more time discussing the legal ramifications and benefits of raising the tobacco sales age from 18 to 21 after they disagreed with part of neighboring Mankato's proposed ordinance.
The cities planned to raise the sales age at the same time since they're tightly intertwined and residents travel back and forth frequently. Now, both are extending their initial timelines for considering the measure.
Mankato's current proposal stipulates that those younger than 21 who are found in possession of tobacco products be "referred to the City or County Attorney's office for diversion or prosecution" — a stipulation North Mankato leaders object to.
"We're not interested in criminalization of possession, we're just interested in restricting the sales," North Mankato Mayor Mark Dehen said.
City leaders will discuss the issue at a council workshop Monday and during an intergovernmental committee meeting Aug. 2, with representatives from both cities. The Mankato City Council also pushed back its public hearing on the issue from July 24 to Aug. 28.
SARAH JARVIS
Monticello
City awarded grant for interstate noise reduction
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has awarded the city of Monticello a grant to build a noise barrier along the north side of I-94.
The 1,895-foot-long, 20-foot-high barrier is expected to cost $1.1 million, with most of the funds coming from the department's Greater Minnesota Stand-Alone Noise Barrier Program. The city will contribute 10 percent of the cost.
