Briefs: Burnsville narrows city manager search field

Burnsville City Council will interview three finalists Tuesday for the city manager position just vacated by Craig Ebeling.

Thirty two people applied for the job.

The three finalists are Heather Johnston, Burnsville's Director of Administrative Services and Chief Financial Officer; Mark McNeill, Shakopee city administrator; and Walter Wysopal, city manager of North St. Paul.

Ebeling's last day was Friday. Public Works Director Steve Albrecht has been named interim city manager until Ebeling's replacement is hired.

Dakota County Simple Steps and A Healthier Hastings 4 All will sponsor a wellness initiative that will kick off with an event from 11 a.m. to noon April 1, at Regina Medical Center, 1175 Nininger Road, Hastings.

Participants can learn about Simple Steps and A Heathlier Hastings, take a 15-minute walk around the Regina campus and enter drawings for health-related prizes.

The Simple Steps walking program, which is in its sixth year, has participants record their walking time online to be eligible for prizes. Online resources like walking tips and maps of interesting walking routes in Dakota County are available to those in the program. Since 2007, more than 4,000 participants have logged upward of 12 million minutes of walking.

The public will have a chance to give its input on possible construction projects April 1 when Hastings City Council will be hold a public hearing to receive comments on the city's proposed 2013 Infrastructure Improvements program.

The hearing is set for 7 p.m. at Hastings City Hall.

The plan includes construction on 10th Street East & Progress Drive; Conzemius Park; CP Adams Park; the Vermillion River Levee; and a small portion of Malcolm Avenue.

Saving one of the oldest schoolhouses in Minnesota will be the focus of a Friends of LeDuc of Historic Hastings meeting and presentation set for April 9 at 7 p.m. at the LeDuc Historic Estate, at 1629 Vermillion St. in Hastings.

The program is expected to address the history of the restored Valley School of Denmark Township and the urgency in ensuring that it will be a "treasure for generations to come." Denmark Township Historical Society's Mavis and Bob Voigt will head the presentation.

Rosemount Police Officer Shawn McMenomy and Firefighter Carl Bourdages have been named the city's public safety employees of the year.

The awards were announced March 23 during an observance at the Rosemount American Legion Post. Public safety employees of the year are nominated by their colleagues and selected by department managers.

McMenomy, who joined the Rosemount Police Department in 2011, was recognized for his work ethic. A colleague said he "embodies the character and ethics of this department and serves as a model officer for this agency."

He was recognized as a team player who carries out his duties in a consistent, calm, and humble manner and who understands all aspect of the role of a police officer. Colleagues said that McMenomy understands the importance of building relationships in the community and "always treats everyone he encounters with politeness, respect and dignity."

Bourdages was recognized as Firefighter of the Year for making himself available to the Rosemount Fire Department at all hours, on top of his commitment to his full-time job. Along with responding to many service calls, he is part of the department's prevention and education services. He was also part of the team that recently installed 200 smoke detectors obtained through a grant. Bourdages often volunteers to represent the department at block parties and station tours. Bourdages joined the department in 2005.

The Rosemount High School boys lacrosse team is collecting items for a food drive to benefit the Rosemount Neighborhood Family Resource Center.

The players, beginning Monday, will be distributing labeled empty grocery bags throughout Rosemount. The players will collect the bags with donated food Saturday April 6 and bring them to the resource center, where they will sort and place the food to ready it for donation.

Staff reports