Burnsville passes ordinance regulating thrift stores

The Burnsville City Council last week adopted a new ordinance regulating thrift stores larger than 5,000 square feet.

The ordinance requires the stores to have all operations indoors and have a drive-through unloading lane for donations at the rear or side of the building. Drop-off traffic may not back up onto the street.

Garbage and recycling must be enclosed or screened.

Apple Valley plans to replace about 25 man hole covers on Cedar Avenue by early June at a cost of $3,000 to $5,000, said city engineer Colin Manson.

The new cast iron covers will replace old ones that did not fit well. The new fittings will bring the manhole caps up to street level in line with the final layer of pavement that will be applied to Cedar in advance of the launch of the Cedar Avenue busway June 22, Manson said.

Lane restrictions will be in effect during the paving and manhole work.

The last segment of the North Urban Regional Trail has finally been located.

The county agreed to work with the school district to address any issues that may arise on the trail construction.

The bike and walking trail will thread through West St. Paul, South St. Paul and Mendota Heights, running between the Big River Regional Trail along the Minnesota River on the west and the Mississippi River Regional Trail along the Mississippi River on the east.

Seven of the 8 miles of the trail are already built. The final mile will skirt Dodge Nature Center property in West St. Paul and the high school property. Construction of the 10-foot wide trail segment is scheduled to begin this spring.

Burnsville is looking for more input from residents as it considers selling advertising space on the city's website.

The city is distributing a five-question online survey asking for opinions on the ads and gauging interest in buying ad space, according to a news release.

Registration will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday for the Burnsville Ice Center summer skating lessons.

Lessons will be on Wednesday nights beginning June 12 at the Ice Center at 251 Civic Center Parkway. Private lessons cost $145 and group lessons cost $98.

For more information or to register online, go to www.burnsvilleicecenter.org or call the center at 952-895-4651.

Local bike enthusiast Rick Anderson will hold his annual bike sale on Saturday in Apple Valley.

For a fifth year, Anderson has fixed donated bikes and will sell them at his home, with all proceeds benefiting south-metro mentorship program Kids 'n Kinship.

This year, Anderson will have 110 bikes for sale for cyclists of varying ages and skill levels. The sale will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 12738 Ethelton Way in Apple Valley.

The Apple Valley City Council was set to decide last week to spend $899,650 for energy saving improvements in city buildings.

Through a contract with Ameresco for lighting fixture upgrades, window film, roof replacements and other improvements, the city expects to see yearly energy savings of $43,768. The money spent would be paid off within 20 years when the expected 20-year savings in energy would come to $1.3 million.

Hastings has been awarded grant money to be used for environmental cleanup at the vacant H.D. Hudson Manufacturing building.

The site is located west of downtown Hastings and the new Hastings Bridge site. The $240,000 grant was awarded in early May by the Dakota Community Development Agency.

The Hastings Economic Development and Redevelopment Authority recently reviewed a proposal for a possible hotel and restaurant, along with a residential model. Artspace, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit developer, will be conducting a feasibility study in early June, touring the Hudson building as a potential site for a public arts center.

The city continues to seek additional developers for the space "to ensure a best-fit plan that will utilize the space for public use and increase the vitality of the Hastings Historic Downtown district," stated a city news release.