Briefs: Burnsville Peforming Arts Center is selling naming rights to local firm Ames

Ames Construction of Burnsville and the city of Burnsville have agreed to a deal for naming rights for the Burnsville Performing Arts Center. Ames Construction has been a family-owned Burnsville business for more than 50 years.

How much Ames will pay for the naming rights to the 1,014-theatre was not revealed. The city said details of the deal are still being ironed out.

Mayor Elizabeth Kautz and members of the City Council celebrated the development at the council meeting last week.

Kautz praised Ames as "a wonderful company that started here in Burnsville and wants to give back.'' She thanked the Ames family and the company. New signs will be designed for council approval later this fall. The company name on the center means they consider it a "winning product,'' Kautz said.

"Very few companies can could afford to do it,'' said Council Member Bill Coughlin. "What a wonderful name to be attached to the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.''

Council Member Dan Kealy said he had been envious of the Ames Arena in Lakeville and appreciated the company's gesture in Burnsville.

The new West St. Paul sports dome has brought in more money than expected this year and looks to have a lucrative fall schedule ahead, city officials said last week.

Council members indicated they are likely to renew the management contract with the current dome management team for one year.

Council Member Ed Iago said he was disappointed that the managers ignored requests from the city to remove some of the vending machines from the lobby of the dome because they conflict with the concession stand sales.

One vending machine sells a chewy candy that is "the number one thing they can't get out of the [synthetic turf] grass," Iago said.

Public Works Director Matt Saam said the company had responded to city complaints about keeping the dome clean and having sufficient staff on duty.

West St. Paul proposes to raise liquor licenses by $600 to $7,000 next year and the city will hold a public hearing on the proposed change Sept. 23. The city's goal is to have the licenses at $10,000 by 2016.

Argosy University in Eagan and the National Institute for Social Media (NISM) have signed an agreement to partner in offering a new social media training course.

The course will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Oct. 3 to Nov. 5 on the Argosy campus at 1515 Central Pkwy. The course is available to the public and also qualifies for three upper-division undergraduate credits at Argosy.