State legislators joined college dignitaries for a ceremonial groundbreaking May 26 at Anoka-Ramsey Community College to mark the start of a yearlong renovation of a building housing the school's business and nursing programs.
The $16.3 million makeover is expected to be completed by next summer, and it "will be an important asset to the college as we prepare the workforce for tomorrow," said Don Lewis, vice president of administration and finance.
The project will allow the school to expand its nursing program, and business students will get new spaces for group learning and access to more course offerings with the college's four-year university partners.
Tim Harlow
Richfield
City adopts organized trash collection
Richfield became the latest metro city to enact organized trash collection despite some residents' objections.
In public hearings leading up to the vote last Tuesday, residents were split over organized collection, with many concerned about not having the freedom to choose their own hauler. Many were in favor of the single-hauler option, though, because it would reduce the number of trucks on roads and improve sustainability efforts through education on proper disposal..
City leaders were on deadline to make the switch to single-hauler, with Hennepin County requiring residential organics collection starting in January. Officials combined that change with organized collection and assured residents their rates would not rise.
Other metro cities, including St. Paul, Bloomington, Maplewood and St. Anthony, have transitioned to single-hauler systems in recent years. Anoka considered bringing the issue to a vote in the 2022 general election, but recently decided not to pursue a single-hauler system.
