Briefs: New regulations affect pawnshops and precious metal dealers; tattoo artists next

The West St. Paul City Council at its last meeting approved city regulations dealing with pawnbrokers and precious metal dealers. It also reviewed new rules governing tattoo shops.

A moratorium banning new pawnshops had been in place since last year. But at the meeting, the moratorium was repealed and new regulations governing not just pawnshops but also precious metal dealers were put into place.

Stolen property is regularly recovered from the city's lone pawnshop, West St. Paul police say. Regulations were expanded to also include precious metal dealers, because they also have the potential to be places where stolen goods end up.

The new rules require that precious metal dealers be licensed by the city, and if pawnbrokers also deal in precious metals, they need an additional license. Extensive recordkeeping will be required, such as recording the full name, address and photo of sellers in a computer system and reporting it electronically on a daily basis.

Transaction fees also will be required. Pawned items must be retained for 60 days before they can be sold, and precious metal items must be retained for 14 days, except coins purchased for their precious metal value. The rules also regulate hours of operation and the number of licenses available for pawnshop and precious metal dealer licenses.

"This does not stop burglary and theft. This helps us recover stolen property and prosecute offenders," said Mayor John Zanmiller.

Another zoning code amendment that passed at the meeting sets limitations on where a pawnshop or tattoo parlor could be located. It also redefined some terms, such as what constitutes a tattoo, body-piercing and body art in light of new state regulations.

Discussion of a new body art ordinance was continued for another month because some City Council members expressed concerns that prohibiting body art, which includes tattooing and body piercing, from being done in the home was too restrictive.

"I think tattoos have come a long way, and they're not to be demonized as they once were," said City Council Member Jim Englin.

Some of the other provisions of the yet-to-be approved ordinance include prohibitions on procedures like suspension and scarification and limits on the number of licenses available for body-art establishments.

There are no tattoo shops in the city.

Plan for finding new city administratorThe City Council of Mendota Heights has established a search process and timeline for hiring a permanent city administrator to replace David McKnight, who was chosen recently to become the new city administrator of Farmington.

At its last council meeting, it was decided that John Mazzitello, city engineer and public works director, would serve as acting city administrator beginning in mid-August.

Applications for the city administrator job will be due by Aug. 25. The council hopes to select a new administrator in October.

New administrator to start Aug. 29Speaking of David McKnight, he has passed his background checks and agreed to begin work as Farmington's next city administrator on Aug. 29.

The City Council has approved McKnight's contract with a starting salary of $113,000 a year.

He will get city holidays off plus 19 paid time-off days for vacation or sickness.

McKnight, 42, of Farmington, has worked as the Mendota Heights administrator for the past two years.

New trail opens in Spring Lake ParkA 3.4-mile trail has opened this month connecting Hastings' bike trails to Schaar's Bluff in the Spring Lake Park Reserve.

The asphalt connection cost about $1 million, said Bruce Blair, a parks manager for Dakota County. Hastings has about 15 miles of bike trails that loop around the town.

Blair said the Mississippi River Regional Trail runs from South St. Paul to southern Inver Grove Heights. Another 7-mile segment costing about $5 million will be built next year to bring the trail to the edge of Spring Lake Park Reserve. The last 4.5-mile section to Schaar's Bluff is expected to be completed in 2015.

JIM ADAMS, NICOLE NORFLEET