Briefs: Buck Hill snow-making gets a boost

The Buck Hill ski hill in Burnsville will boost its snow-making capacity before winter with a $157,000 expenditure to double the size of the city water main serving the hill.

In the next few weeks, the city will install a 16-inch water main to Buck Hill that will deliver up to 8,000 gallons of water per minute. The current 8-inch pipe has a maximum flow of 2,000 gallons per minute, said city project engineer Jeremy Strehlo.

The city approved the installation with the understanding that Buck Hill would pay for it.

The pipe runs under the boulevard, requiring excavation of about 800 feet of a bituminous trail, Strehlo said. The trail will be closed for a week or two, he said.

The city does not have concerns about the extra use of water because Buck Hill will tap it in the winter, when residential water use is lower, he said.

Buck Hill general manager Don McClure said expanding the ski hill's snow-making capacity is part of larger future expansion plans that will not begin this winter.

Free collections of hazardous wastesRound up leftover paint, fluorescent light bulbs and other household hazardous waste and drop it off at two free collection events in Dakota County this month.

Items that can be dropped off free of charge include pesticides, rechargeable batteries, cleaners, gasoline, oil and other household chemicals.

At the Burnsville collection, residents also can drop off household electronics, including televisions, vacuum cleaners, coffee makers and microwaves.

Residents who would like to dispose of hazardous wastes and electronics at other times can go to the Dakota County Recycling Zone, 3365 Dodd Road in Eagan.

Open house on Pilot Knob Road plansImprovement plans for Pilot Knob Road will be up for discussion at an open house at the Eagan Community Center on Wednesday.

The meeting from 3 to 6 p.m. will include a presentation on possible changes to the busy corridor between Yankee Doodle Road and Central Parkway/Northwood Parkway. Options being considered include driveway and intersection closures, new local streets, additional lanes and a roundabout.

The open house will be in the Oasis Room at the community center, located at 1501 Central Parkway. For more information about the Pilot Knob Road study, call 952-891-7100.

Free seminars for seniors at the libraryA series of free programs at Dakota County libraries this fall aims to guide senior citizens and their families through health and financial issues.

The first session, "Insurance for the Long Term," will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 13 at Heritage Library, 20085 Heritage Drive in Lakeville. Linda Walker of Volunteers of America will present information on long-term care insurance policies and what to look for when choosing one.

Subsequent workshops are "Understanding Medicare," "Family Caregiving," "Senior Scams and How to Protect Yourself," "Medicare Part D," "Advanced Health Care Directives" and "Legal and Financial Planning for the Future."

All the sessions are free and open to the public. For dates and times or additional information, go to www.dakotacounty.us/library or call 651-450-2943.