Metro briefs: Homes in Ramsey County, St. Paul make a $5 billion comeback in value

The Ramsey County residential market has rebounded by $4.9 billion since its low point in 2012, the county assessor reported. And on the whole, homes in St. Paul are reviving at a perkier rate than those in the suburbs.

According to County Assessor Stephen Baker, St. Paul hit a low of $129,000 in median home value during the Great Recession, while the median value in the Ramsey suburbs dipped as low as $174,700. The latest figures — $159,400 for St. Paul and $208,100 for the suburbs — represent a 23 percent recovery in the city, as against 19 percent elsewhere.

A growing parity has St. Paul outdoing the suburbs in every category:

• The city is up 7.3 percent in annual market values for all properties put together, compared with 5.1 percent for the suburbs;

• City residential values are up just a bit higher than suburban values, 4.9 percent to 4.3 percent;

• Commercial/industrial property values are twice as robust in the city, up 5.8 percent vs. 2.6 percent;

• Apartment values are up 21.2 percent in the city, vs. 17.9 percent elsewhere in the county.

David Peterson

About 50 residents packed a City Council meeting last week to show disapproval of the council's recent decision to drop its support of a proposed state law that would enforce background checks for gun sales.

Mayor Kelli Slavik said the council decided "that this is not a city issue; that our efforts are best focused on issues that we have control over."

But Plymouth resident Dawn Errede charged that the council changed its position "because of a handful of vocal opponents." Errede urged council members "to seek counsel from all Plymouth residents … not just the gun lobby."

Said Slavik: "I hope you guys are at the Capitol, because they're the ones that are making this decision."

Lumberjack Days will return to Stillwater this summer, although it won't be the large regional festival of the same name that ended in 2011.

The former festival, known for free concerts by famous yesteryear rock bands, fell apart after the longtime promoter issued worthless checks and was subsequently convicted.

A smaller festival was known as Stillwater Log Jam in 2014 and 2015, before the Lumberjack Days name could be legally restored to the city.

"The previous event planner has relinquished all rights and working with the city on the name change has been smooth," said Erin McQuay, one of five members known as "The Locals" who started the new festival.

Musical acts for the July 17-19 event were announced last week. They include General B and the Wiz, Charlie Parr and Black Eyed Snakes on Friday; Ruben, Gramma's Boyfriend, Har Mar Superstar and the Suburbs on Saturday; and Everett Smithson, the Gated Community and Tree Party on Sunday. Details are at www.lumberjackdays.com.

Law enforcement officials are taking to the small screen for a promotional cable TV series called "In the Line of Duty." The bimonthly series launched last month and features leaders from police and fire departments in Apple Valley, Farmington and Rosemount. In the first episode, chiefs discussed the effects of technology on law enforcement and the hiring and recruiting of staff.

"We're hoping to reach all of our residents, anyone who might be interested in what their police and fire departments do for them," said Farmington Police Chief Jim Larsen.

The program airs on government access channels 180 and 188 for local residents. To watch the latest video, go to www.ci.farmington.mn.us/Government/Webstreaming_Webcasts.html.