Briefs: Inver Grove Heights college's effort on hunger is topic of talk

A community college's move to help solve the problem of hunger is the subject of a talk today.

Inver Hills Community College Prof. Barbara Curchack has worked with students and with a fellow psychology professor at Metropolitan State University, August Hoffman, to provide food to the needy.

A talk called "A Campus Feeds a Community" will be offered at 11:30 a.m. in room 203 of Heritage Hall on campus in Inver Grove Heights.

The first growing season in 2012 for the Inver Hills-Metro State Interdisciplinary Community Garden "produced more than 1,500 pounds of fresh produce that was donated to the local community," officials say. The site includes a 50-tree apple orchard.

There's more on the garden at www.inverhills.edu/cam puslife/communitygarden.

The payment of utility bills online just got easier in Burnsville.

An upgrade offers a "more user-friendly and convenient way for residents to pay," the city promises.

There's an option as well to set up an ongoing automatic withdrawal. Visit www.burns ville.org/utilities and fill out a form.

Official say online billing saves time and money and is more environmentally friendly than paper bills.

For more information, call 952-895-4480.

Residents of Scott County affected by the work on Hwy. 5 on the western edge of Dakota County are invited to plug in to Dakota's system of updates to find out what's going on.

Detour signs went up as construction started on the Hwy. 5/Hwy. 13 project last week. The first phase concentrates on Hwy. 5 south of Hwy. 13, including Williams Drive in Burnsville.

For e-mailed updates, contract erin.borchert@co.dakota.mn.us, typing "CP 05-41 Updates" in the subject line. You may also call 952-891-7926.

A smattering of cities south of the river have expressed support for legislation offering a new means of paying for street improvements, the League of Minnesota Cities reports.

The concept is called "street improvement districts." It grants cities the right to collect fees from property owners to pay for street maintenance, construction and reconstruction. So far, about 75 city councils have passed resolutions of support, the league reports.

South of the river, cities listed as passing resolutions include Jordan and Mendota Heights. Informal support has come from Farmington and Inver Grove Heights.

Supporters say the goal is to substitute small fees over time at least in part for other tools such as special assessments, which are often crushingly expensive and politically difficult.

The society hosts a casino night on May 23 at 7 p.m. to cele­brate the opening of an exhibit called "Outside the Law."

Among those playing blackjack, roulette and craps will be Shakopee Mayor Brad Tabke and his predecessor, John Schmitt, the society reports.

There also will be Charleston dance lessons, samples of gin and a cash bar with wine and beer as well as appetizers.

Tickets are $5 for society members, $10 for non-members during presale, and $15 at the door. You must be 21 or over to attend. Tickets are online at http://bit.ly/Z2jPm0.

The society is located at 235 Fuller St. S. in Shakopee.