Briefs: Tour Burnsville police station

Curious residents can learn about Burnsville Community Television (BCTV) at an orientation class Thursday.

The free class includes a tour of the BCTV studio at Burnsville High School, 600 Hwy. 13 E., and information about using the studio to film videos for YouTube, websites and local cable access channels. The class is a pre-requisite to more advanced BCTV classes in studio production, equipment and editing.

Can't make it to this orientation session? The class is typically held weekly on either Thursday evening or Saturday morning. Go to www.burnsville.tv/classes for a full schedule. To register for a class call Tina Wilson at 952-641-1354 or send her an email at tina.wilson@ci.burnsville.mn.us.

The Lakeville Police Department is running a "Cops & Coats" campaign through the end of the month, asking people to donate coats for victims of domestic abuse who are being helped at Lewis House.

People can drop off coats for women and children in collection bins at the Lakeville Police Department, City Hall and the water treatment facility until Jan. 31.

Couples looking for a place to marry or host a wedding reception can reserve facilities within the Dakota County Parks system.

Dakota Lodge at Thompson County Park in West St. Paul and Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center in Spring Lake Park Reserve near Hastings each have a carpeted dining area, kitchen, fireplace and terrace. Dakota Lodge accommodates 160 guests and Schaar's Bluff Gathering Center can hold 75 guests.

Buzz about honeybees is coming to Lebanon Hills Regional Park. JoAnne Sabin of the Minnesota Beekeepers Association is teaching a class on backyard beekeeping Jan. 22 at the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center, 860 Cliff Rd., Eagan. She will discuss honeybee biology, behavior, equipment and purchasing, hive management, swarm prevention, honey harvesting and year-round bee care.

The class runs from 6 to 9 p.m. and is open to anyone age 16 or older. It costs $30 per person. To get more information or register for the course, go to www.dakotacounty.org/parks.

Eagan residents are pleased with city services, according to recent survey results.

Ninety-six percent said the quality of life in the south metro suburb was excellent or good when queried for the 2014 Eagan Residential Survey. Respondents also gave the city high marks for neighborliness, safety, and police and fire protection. Ninety percent approved of the work of the City Council.

But residents also raised some concerns. In particular, people said they were worried about a lack of affordable housing and starter homes for young families. Forty percent said there were not enough affordable rental units in the city, a statistic up 23 points from the survey two years earlier. The lowest rated city service — city trail and sidewalk plowing — had a 70 percent approval rating.