South metro briefs: County Road 42 project delayed until next year

The project will fix the bridge deck on County Road 42 over I-35W and build an eastbound turn lane extension for vehicles getting on northbound 35W.

It was postponed because "project development and bidding schedule was not conducive to ensuring completion in 2016," according to a report shared with the Burnsville City Council at the April 22 council meeting.

The change was also announced at a project open house on April 21 attended by some business owners who will be impacted.

The six-week, $2 million project will affect County Road 42 from Aldrich Avenue to Nicollet Avenue.

Erin Adler

For Mendota Heights' new herd of employees, lunch time is all the time. The city has hired nine sheep to take on the task of grazing Pilot Knob in an effort to restore the land and remove invasive plants.

Through the city's contract with nonprofit Great River Greening, the nine sheep began grazing on Monday. The sheep will work for a several weeks and then get two weeks of vacation. When the sheep aren't eating, their hoofs will work seeds into the soil.

"We thought horses would be the easiest, but it turns out that the sheep at the Dodge Nature Center are much easier to work with than horses," said Wiley Buck, Great River Greening ecologist.

The nonprofit plans on bringing in goats in July from the nature center to graze the buckthorn and Canada goldenrod.

The city funds the project with the help from a Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund grant. The city acquired the 8.2 acres of private land on the east bank of the Minnesota River in 2006.

Beatrice Dupuy

Hastings has been named the state's first Bird City as part of a program coordinated by the Audubon Society. Bird City is a pilot program that aims to encourage bird conservation in urban areas, according to an Audubon Society release.

The Audubon Society persuaded Hastings to apply because the city has increased awareness of birds through several initiatives, including creating the Hastings Birding Guide, fostering important bird areas and promoting public birding events, according to the Audubon Society.

The program was modeled after programs in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania.

Erin Adler

South St. Paul city officials will host informational meetings to update the community on Southview Boulevard. The first meeting will take place on Tuesday in the South St. Paul City Hall training room.

The city will host a citizen advisory committee meeting starting at 5:30 p.m. Citizens will be able to comment on the city's final concept layout, which the city adopted in February. After the citizen advisory meeting, South St. Paul businesses are invited to the Business Advisory Committee meeting at 7:30 p.m. to give their feedback on concept plans for the Southview Boulevard and 3rd Avenue improvements.

Beatrice Dupuy

Rosemount is seeking up to seven residents to study its space needs for a growing population.

The city created a task force to take a look at facilities other than parks and recreation buildings, including City Hall, police and public works buildings, for short- and long-term needs.

The task force is expected to make recommendations to City Council about potential changes, timelines for projects and cost estimates.

Residents can apply at City Hall or online atci.rosemount.mn.us by May 27.