Metro briefs: Burnsville's Islamic community center prepares for move

The center has occupied a facility off McAndrews Road since November. Community center leaders said they didn't learn until they started planning renovations that only office space is allowed there — anything else is a violation of city ordinance.

Attempts to alter zoning rules to allow for a community center and prayer hall were voted down at a March 29 Planning Commission meeting, in keeping with the recommendation of city staff and comments from residents concerned about traffic and parking at the site.

At last week's City Council meeting, architect Rick Lavelle asked for an extension of the move-out date, citing a need for time to find another property and negotiate a lease. After hearing comments from residents opposed to the extension, the council opted not to give Madina any additional time. "I would encourage you to quickly find another place to locate," said Mayor Elizabeth Kautz. "And please do not rent a space or lease a space that you have not checked with our staff."

Emma Nelson

Eden Prairie is the latest city to ask the state for a waiver to give a pay raise to its city manager.

Under state law, city and county employees can't earn more than 110 percent of Gov. Mark Dayton's salary, or a limit this year of $165,333. But they can request a waiver from the commissioner of Minnesota Management and Budget to pay city or county managers/administrators — the top CEO-like positions — more than that.

West metro cities such as Bloomington, Edina, Minnetonka and St. Louis Park have all done that to pay their city managers more than the salary cap. Now, Eden Prairie's City Council unanimously approved the same request last week, asking to compensate City Manager Rick Getschow with an annual salary of up to $170,000. Getschow, who started in Eden Prairie in 2011, leads the suburb's more than 300 employees.

Hennepin County will be the second county in Minnesota to pass a bee-friendly policy.

The County Board is expected to approve a resolution Tuesday declaring the county a "pollinator-friendly county," directing staff to limit systemic insecticides such as neonicotinoids on county-owned property and requiring new plants and trees be neonicotinoid-free. The county says that it has reduced insecticide use since passing a pest management policy in 2002, and maintains and restores more than 1,300 acres of natural areas with critical pollinator habitat.

Ramsey County was the first county in Minnesota and among the first in the nation to pass a similar resolution, according to the nonprofit Pollinate Minnesota. Several cities within Hennepin County — from Shorewood to St. Louis Park — have done the same, targeting neonicotinoids that many conservationists blame for the decline of honeybees.

KELLY SMITH

A citizen rescuer and eight employees of the Washington County Sheriff's Office received commendations last week for saving lives.

Hutton presented other lifesaving awards to Sgt. Wayne Johnson, jail correctional officer Antoni Przybyla, and deputies Nicholas Bradt, Brad Volk, Sara Peulen, Breana Fry and Randy Helms.

Letters of appreciation went to three citizens who had helped secure a rifle and ammunition after a fatal shooting in Mahtomedi in January 2015: Darcy Ronayne, Jesse Mercier and Felicia Murray.