South metro news briefs: Shakopee, Lakeville make list for job-seekers

A consumer advocacy site has listed Shakopee and Lakeville among the top 10 places for job-seekers in Minnesota.

NerdWallet assessed:

• Growth in the working-age population — ages 16 and older — from 2009 to 2011.

• Median household income, to see if workers made a good living, and homeowner costs, including mortgage payments, to check on a reasonable cost of living.

• The unemployment rate.

The results can be found at www.nerdwallet.com/blog/2013/best-places-minnesota-job-seekers/.

Shakopee Mayor Brad Tabke clobbered his challenger in a nearly 2-to-1 landslide, according to final results certified late last week.

The mayor had framed both his own and the council elections as a referendum on his sometimes controversial tax deals aimed at luring thousands of jobs to town.

An ally, Kathi Mocol, was the top vote-getter among a field of several candidates for City Council, with 1,962 votes, and Mike Luce also won a seat on the council, with 1,636 votes.

There were two open seats on the panel after incumbents chose not to run. Each gets a four-year term.

Other results: Aaron Weyer, 1,427; Mark Reimler, 1,186; and Jordan Olson, 1,160. The turnout rate was 22 percent, about the same as 2011.

More than 2,000 residents dropped off yard waste this past spring and fall at an organics recycling facility run by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community.

The drop-offs ensured that the waste was disposed of properly and turned into compost, officials say. Waste haulers, food manufacturers, grocers and school districts also took part.

A crafts class for kids this weekend will center on harvest wreaths and collages.

Kids' Kraft, on Saturday, Nov. 23, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Scott County Historical Society, also will include a reading of "Strega Nona's Harvest," by Tomie dePaola.

The event is free, but registration is requested to ensure adequate supplies.

To learn more or to register, call 952-445-0378 or e-mail sherrick@scottcountyhistory.org.

Several positions as board members for the Savage Arts Council are open at the group's annual meeting on Nov. 25 at the Savage Arts & Cultural Center.

Residents of Savage and other communities in Scott County are invited to volunteer.

The board "determines strategy, develops plans and implements art programs, events and activities that support regional arts within Savage and Scott County communities for 2014 and beyond," an official announcement said.

The council just took a step up from virtual to real with the creation of a 2,000-square-foot location at the Savage public library. It will add art classes and small-venue cultural events starting early next year.

The nonprofit was launched in 2006 to support local and regional art programs and activities including Scott County Art Crawl, Savage Art Show & Competition, City Art Wall Exhibits and Minnesota River Arts Fair.