Briefs: New Rosemount Transit Station opens

The new Rosemount Transit Station at 14550 Burnley Av. opened last week.

Construction of the station began in September. It has parking for 102 vehicles.

Minnesota Valley Transit Authority service from the new station will be the same as the service that had been operating from the Rosemount Community Center: three peak-period morning trips to downtown Minneapolis and four peak-period afternoon trips from downtown Minneapolis.

Flex Route 420 offers all-day service between Rosemount and Apple Valley.

Additional express service may be added next year to Minneapolis and St. Paul if federal grants are received.

Police warn about dinnertime burglarsIn the wake of three recent burglaries in southern Burnsville, the city's Police Department is asking residents to call 911 if they see any suspicious activity in their neighborhoods.

The burglaries, which started Dec. 13, were in the areas of West Park Drive, Westcliffe Drive and Early Lake Place. Investigators believe that the burglaries happened between 6 and 6:30 p.m. and that the burglar first rang the doorbells to see if anyone was home. If no one came to the door, the burglar broke glass to get in through patio doors or windows.

$250,000 sought to expand parkingBurnsville is seeking a $250,000 grant from Dakota County Community Development Agency to help pay for the addition of 40 more parking stalls at the heart-of-the-city parking ramp.

The parking ramp currently has 240 parking spaces. The new spaces would be added not as another deck above the current structure but as an addition on the side of the ramp.

The extra spaces will be needed because attendance has increased at the Burnsville Center for the Performing Arts, a hotel is proposed for the area, and commercial leasing has increased in the heart of the city, said Community Development Director Jenni Faulkner.

The estimated cost of the parking addition is about $1.3 million.

The city will apply for the county grant in January and is likely to hear if it's approved by April, Faulkner said.

Second place went to Glen and Melissa Stoffel on Knob Hill Road. Third place went to Michael and Shirely Esch at 1120 Aspen Drive.

Business signs allowed during constructionTo help businesses cope with the reconstruction of the County Road 5 and Hwy. 13 interchange in 2013 and 2014, Burnsville will suspend enforcement of its sign ordinance to allow businesses to place their own signs in a visible spot between April and November during construction.

"The city is very sensitive to the business issues that a project like this can create, as some motorists are sure to avoid the area during construction and others may hesitate to exit off of County Road 5 or Hwy. 13 because they are unsure how to get to a business," said city Public Works Director Steve Albrecht.

"The project will be providing orange construction signage directing motorists to business districts and will provide detour routes during the project to help motorists find businesses."

Man assumes name for advertisingA man who's become known for being paid to wear various t-shirts provided by his sponsors has found something else to sell: His name. And a Dakota County nonprofit is getting $4,500 out of the deal.

Sadler has been called "the human billboard" because of his business, I Wear Your Shirt. Businesses would pay to have him wear their promotional t-shirts for a day.