Briefs: Indoor shooting ranges proposed for Oak Park Heights

The Oak Park Heights City Council is considering a proposal to open a sporting goods store and shooting range inside an abandoned Denny Hecker auto dealership.

The empty 56,000-square-foot Ford building at 12969 60th St. would come back to life, but with a new look, if Minnesota Outdoor Shooting Sports wins approval for the project. The project would include the store, two indoor gun ranges, a small gym and lounge, offices, storage/warehouse space and a coffee shop with exterior patio.

The building's shape would remain much the same, but improvements would include warmer colors, a new entrance canopy, landscaping and a "water feature" at the entrance.

Large gun ranges would dominate interior space, but no outdoor ranges would be permitted, City Administrator Eric Johnson told the City Council. The proposed sporting business is next door to a proposed Pizza Ranch restaurant.

The Cottage Grove City Council earlier this month amended its parking ordinance to reduce the number of months in which on-street parking is restricted during snow removal.

The ordinance changed the period in which residents are prohibited from parking on the street — between the hours of 2 and 6 a.m. — to "between November 1 and March 31," shaving two months off the restricted period, officials said. Previously, on-street parking was banned between Oct. 1 and April 30.

Police will not immediately start enforcing the amended ordinance, which went into effect Oct. 9, but instead place fliers on violating vehicles "as an educational tool," officials said.

FMR ecologist Karen Schik will be on hand to coordinate the group's "Buckthorn Bust," helping volunteers "restore this landscape by hauling or cutting brush," according to a Washington County news release.

Lunch will be provided. For more information, call 651-222-2193 Ext. 24.

Motorists should avoid the construction zone at the intersection of Hwy. 36 and Hwy. 95 from Sunday at 6 p.m. to Monday at 5 a.m., the Minnesota Department of Transportation said. During this time, crews will complete a major traffic switch as part of the St. Croix bridge project.

Motorists should expect delays throughout the construction zone. Southbound Hwy. 95 traffic will use a signed detour. Northbound Hwy. 95 traffic will not have a detour, MnDOT said.

When the traffic switch is complete, motorists will see a new ramp with a traffic signal between Hwy. 36 and Hwy. 95, new lanes on Hwy. 95 with portions of single-lane and two-lane traffic in each direction, and single-lane traffic on the new eastbound lanes of Hwy. 36.

Washington County will work with Hagen, Christensen and McIlwain (HCM) Architects, a Minneapolis firm, for engineering and design services to plan improvements to the public works north shop.

HCM's work can't exceed $202,500, the County Board decided when it approved the contract Oct. 15.

Commissioners have reviewed the condition of the shop, which is in Stillwater Township and houses public works offices, garages for the county's heavy equipment, and space used by the Sheriff's Office.

The public works staff has asked HCM Architects to provide an existing wastewater system evaluation and action plan; preliminary design for remodel, re-use, and expansion of the shop, final design report and package. The work should be completed in early 2014.

The Woodbury Police Department is looking for applicants for its Police and Fire Explorer programs, aimed at young people interested in a career in law enforcement or fire service.

A volunteer application can be downloaded from the city's website. For more information, contact the Administration Department at 651-714-3500 or hr@ci.woodbury.mn.us.

Valley Outreach is celebrating a renovated building that will offer its clients healthier food choices on its Food Shelf and streamlined shopping for its Clothing Closet. The renovation will be on display during an open house on Wednesday, Oct. 30, from 4-7 p.m.

The improvements were made possible with grants from the Pohlad Family Foundation and Greater Twin Cities United Way, and in-kind help from PowerUp, a youth health initiative of the Lakeview Foundation.

Christine Tubbs, executive director of Valley Outreach, said the organization is working toward a goal of ensuring that 70 percent of the items on its food shelves represent healthy food choices. "We know that many of our clients would like to have a greater selection of fresher foods, such as fruits and vegetables, along with the traditional packaged foods they are used to," she said.

For more information, visit www.valleyoutreachmn.org or call Kris at 651-342-5558.