Metro briefs: YWCA chief executive plans to retire in April

Billy Collins, CEO of the St. Paul YWCA, has announced he will retire in April. Collins has led the YWCA in St. Paul since 1995.

Under Collins' leadership, the organization expanded services for at-risk youth, homeless families, low-income job seekers and fitness members. In 2013 alone, more than 5,700 people were served by local YWCA programs and services.

The YWCA board of directors will work with a search firm to find a new CEO. Collins will assist with the transition to new leadership, the YWCA said in a statement.

"Billy has worked tirelessly to ensure that today's YWCA is stronger than ever," said Debbie Montgomery, president of the YWCA board. "We are honored to have the opportunity to build on his legacy as we begin a new chapter."

Collins' career in the nonprofit and public sectors has spanned 46 years. In 2012 was honored with the Legacy Award from the Pan African Community Endowment Fund, an affiliate of Minnesota Philanthropy Partners.

"I am proud to have been a part of the important work of the YWCA and all that we have done to change minds, bodies and lives in our community," Collins said in written statement. "The YWCA has a strong board and talented leadership team. I know I am leaving the organization in very capable hands."

James Walsh

The budget calls for a 2015 levy of $49.8 million, an increase of $2.3 million or 4.9 percent over the 2014 levy. It limits the 2015 levy increase to capturing new construction tax base, as well as new tax base from decertifying a large tax increment financing district in Chaska.

Officials said the levy increase allows the county to keep up with current levels of services, maintain facilities and address equipment needs. For example, the budget includes funds for staff and books for the new Victoria Library expected to open in March 2015. It also includes new equipment like a tandem truck for snowplowing.

The proposed budget of $94.4 million is a significant decrease over the 2014 budget of $162.2 million, which included $58.8 million for the Southwest Reconnection Project. Carver County is the lead agency on the project, to be funded by local and state funding. It is expected to be completed in 2016.

SUSAN FEYDER

You can't hurry Mother Nature, so Minneapolis park officials are bracing ice skaters for the likelihood that rinks likely won't be open by their scheduled start date on Monday, the first day of the school holiday recess.

According to the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, its crews need 10 consecutive days when the temperature stays at 20 degrees or colder in order to flood and open rinks.

But according to long-term weather averages for Minneapolis, there's no stretch during the winter when that happens. The coldest stretch is from Jan. 11-17, when the daily high averages 21 degrees. The average is no higher than 22 degrees from Dec. 31 to Jan. 25.

Of course, weather varies from averages. Recent temperatures have remained below the Park Board's ice-making threshold only once in the last 10 days, and they're not forecast to stay below that level in the next week.

The Park Board operates 47 rinks for skating, broomball and hockey at 23 parks. It said it hopes to have some open by the end of the month.

Can't wait? Try Lake of the Isles if you're hardy enough. The warming house isn't open — and neither is the rink officially — but the ice has been thick enough to hold ice-flooding equipment and hockey boards have been installed. It's shallow, like Centennial Lakes, so it freezes faster.