Briefs: West St. Paul wants feedback on Robert Street landscape plans

West St. Paul is looking for feedback on proposed landscaping designs along the Robert Street corridor.

The city will host an open house for residents from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at West St. Paul City Hall.

The city is considering several alternative designs, including new sidewalks, pavers, curbs, retaining walls, trees, boulevards and medians. Each could affect property owners and tenants through changes in easements, rights of way, initial construction costs and ongoing maintenance fees.

The open house will present the construction plans and staging for the various proposals, whose costs range from $1.3 million to $5.6 million.

The final recommendation for the boulevard tree layout also will be presented at the open house.

The right northbound lane of Hwy. 61, between 4th Street and the CP Railroad Bridge, will be closed for three weeks beginning Monday.

The project involves bridge rail repair, according to a state Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

Burnsville reminds residents to adhere to water restrictions to ensure an adequate water supply.

The city's water treatment plant pumps about 20 million gallons of water a day to keep up with demand in the summer. That compares to an average of 6 million to 8 million gallons per day in the cooler times of year.

No lawn, garden sprinkling or irrigation is permitted any day between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Before 11 a.m. and after 3 p.m., homes with even-numbered addresses may water on even-numbered days and those with odd numbered addresses may water on odd-numbered days.

For more information, visit www.burnsville.org/watering.

The park suffered a three-week closure brought about by torrential June rains and flooding.

The park, located at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers, closed on June 22 when water inundated the main road within it.

The park office and the Thomas Savage Visitor Center reopened last week, along with the Snelling Lake beach area, fishing pier and the trail around Snelling Lake.

The beach has been groomed, and the water has been tested.

Picnic tables and play equipment that were underwater have been washed with a disinfectant and rinsed with a power washer, officials said.

On Picnic Island, downed trees and silt deposits had to be removed. Shelters and buildings there also needed to be cleaned and sanitized after being underwater.

On Pike Island the east end was still flooded and downed trees, silt and muck were blocking trails.

The park entrance is on Post Road off Hwy. 5, west of the main terminal exit for the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Check the visitor alert on the park's Web page at www.mndnr.gov/fortsnelling for updates or call the DNR Information Center at 651-296-6157 or 1-888-646-6367 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.