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South metro news briefs: Open house about expanding County Road 26 is set

October 28, 2017 at 4:34AM

Dakota County and the cities of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights will host an open house to answer questions and share information about the County 26 Improvement Project, also known as Lone Oak Road/70th Street W. Plans include expanding the rural highway section of the road from two to four lanes. An evaluation of conditions at the Lone Oak Road/70th Street and County Road 63 intersection is also part of the project.

The road runs east-west through Dakota County from Hwy. 13 and extends to the area near the Mississippi River in Inver Grove Heights, where it meets Concord Street/MN 156.

The open house will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Nov. 6 at Veterans Memorial Community Center, community room 1, 8055 Barbara Av., Inver Grove Heights.

For information, go to dakotacounty.us and search "County Road 26."

Erin Adler

Library internship program expands

The Dakota County Library's 90-day paid internship program is now operating at two libraries: Wentworth Library in West St. Paul and Burnhaven Library in Burnsville.

The program works with schools and community nonprofits to recruit low-income youth to apply, according to the county's newsletter.

The pilot program, which runs through next June, required collaboration between the employee relations department and the Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board. It aims to build employment skills among teens and diversify the library system's recruitment.

In their exit surveys, two interns reported that they agreed or strongly agreed that the program increased their knowledge about employment and expectations of employers.

Contact Jennifer Reichert Simpson, Dakota County Library deputy director, at 651-450-2931 for more information.

Erin Adler

Shakopee

Rahr Malting donates $10,000 to fire department

Rahr Malting Corp., the world's largest single-site malting facility, donated $10,000 to the Shakopee Fire Department to outfit a fire engine with Hurst Rescue Tools.

The set includes a cutter, a spreader, a ram and a power unit.

"We're intimately tied together because of the nature of our business," said Jesse Theis, Rahr's chief operating officer. "But we've had a relationship that goes back to 1935."

Rahr Malting, a family-owned business that employs 240 metro area employees, opened a $68 million malt house last year.

Liz Sawyer

Chaska

Pet ordinance expands to allow three animals

Chaska City Council has loosened the suburb's pet ordinance, allowing residents to house any combination of up to three dogs or cats instead of just two.

Though rarely enforced, the previous ordinance limited pet owners to only two furry companions. The policy only applies to dogs and cats — smaller animals like fish and hamsters are not regulated by the city.

Assistant City Administrator Nate Kabat said the updated ordinance would bring Chaska in line with other municipalities.

"It really meets the practice that's going on right now," Kabat said during last week's City Council meeting. "There are folks with three pets in their home, and as long as they're well kept and not causing issues among neighbors, there's no one seeking them out and making it an issue."

Previously, those who wished to have more than two pets had to obtain a permit for private kennels. The city eliminated that practice in August 2016. Now, owners who wish to keep more than three dogs or cats over the age of six months to operate a commercial kennel would still require a license.

Liz Sawyer