MOUND

Program marks third year of stocking walleye in lake

The Westonka Walleye Program will hold a fundraiser next month to support its efforts to restock Lake Minnetonka with walleyes, a campaign that is now entering its third year. Johnny Range, an avid Mound angler, started the program in 2013 in frustration over decades with few or no walleyes, the state fish, in the metro area's largest and most popular lake. The Department of Natural Resources has approved the program's efforts to restock the lake, where walleyes have declined over the years due to invasive species and shoreline development. The DNR every other year has been putting walleye fingerlings in Minnetonka, which is also stocked with muskies. Range's program stocks walleyes that are more expensive and on the large side, 8 to 13 inches, but he says that they have a better survival rate. Tickets for the fundraiser, to be held 6 to 9 p.m. April 28 at the Gillespie Center in Mound, cost $20 a piece and will be available at the door or beforehand at Cabin Fever, DH Custom Rods & Tackle, Shoreline BP and Wayzata Bait and Tackle. For more information, go to 472fish.org/.

KELLY SMITH

EDEN PRAIRIE

City urges pet owners to pick up pet waste

As the snow melts, Eden Prairie police are asking residents to pick up pet waste, a nuisance that is in violation of city code.

Officials say the problem becomes apparent each spring when many dog walkers seem to neglect picking up the waste, perhaps thinking it will decompose.

Instead, it can pile up in parks and wash into nearby creeks and lakes, where it poses a bigger water quality problem than wild animal feces due to the higher concentration of pets.

Most cities have ordinances requiring pet owners to pick up pet waste on public land. In Minnetonka last year, the city took steps to remind pet owners about their duty, launching a pet waste pickup campaign and reminding residents on an Interstate 394 billboard and in newsletters.

KELLY SMITH

CHASKA

Town hall to address local homelessness

A Chaska grass roots coalition will host a "Homeless In My Hometown" town hall forum and panel on Saturday, March 12, featuring city officials and outreach groups.

The One Community initiative is an effort to open up a dialogue in the community on homelessness. Service organizations that are focused on homelessness, including Bridge for Youth and the Carver County Community Development Agency, will offer information at the forum, moderated by Chaska Police Chief Scott Knight.

The event starts at 2 p.m. with a town hall forum followed by the panel presentation and a question-and-answer session. It will be held at the Chaska Community Center, 1661 Park Ridge Dr.

BEATRICE DUPUY

OSSEO

City gets drop box for unused medicine

A medicine drop box for disposal of prescription pills and over-the-counter medicines has been installed in Osseo, making eight such drop boxes in Hennepin County.

The box, added by the Osseo Police Department in partnership with the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office, is located at 415 Central Av. All types of medicine, vitamins, supplements and pet medicines are accepted.

The drop boxes help residents dispose of pills in a safe manner rather than flushing them down a drain or throwing them out, which can harm wildlife and contaminate water bodies. Storing unused medicines also is considered unsafe, as it may facilitate prescription drug abuse.

The other Hennepin County drop boxes are located in Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Minnetonka and Spring Park. For more details, go to Hennepin.us/.

KELLY SMITH

WACONIA

Meeting slated for island park designs

Carver County Parks is hosting its third public meeting on Wednesday, March 9, to discuss designs for Lake Waconia Regional Park and Coney Island. The public will have the opportunity to comment on the preliminary master plans.

The county purchased Coney Island in February from The Trust for Public Land and entered into a charitable pledge and donation agreement with the Norman and Ann Hoffman Foundation. The agreement states that the county will continue to preserve the island for the public.

The Hoffmans, who recently owned the island, attended the Carver County Board meeting on Tuesday, March 1, to present a donation of $900,000 to the board. The money will be used to clean up and improve the island.

The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Lake Waconia Event Center, 8155 Paradise Lane.

BEATRICE DUPUY

BLOOMINGTON

Condo, townhouse loans offered by city

Bloomington is offering low-interest loans to condominium and townhouse associations to help complete needed improvements to common areas.

Improvements allowed under the Housing Improvement Area program include roofing, siding, landscaping, roadways, parking lots, water lines, painting and decks. Loans are competitive and a limited number are available.

For more information and to apply, visit http://bit.ly/1RHxmhf/.

JOHN REINAN