Washington County will receive $707,013 from the Metropolitan Council to help pay for 33.5 acres in Lake Elmo that will be added to the Lake Elmo Park Reserve.
In July, the County Board approved acquiring the property at 10112 10th St. N. The total purchase price was $942,684, including recording fees and taxes.
The Metropolitan Council grant partly reimburses the county's Land and Water Legacy money used to buy the land for the park reserve.
The land, which was mostly used for farming, is on the northeast corner of the intersection leading into the county park entrance. A house near the intersection will remain private property, but an adjacent empty farmhouse and outbuildings on the land were included in the purchase.
The Lake Elmo park, covering about 2,000 acres, is the county's largest. It includes an artificial swim pond and picnic area that draws capacity crowds on summer weekends, and a lighted skiing trail for winter nights.

Kevin Giles

Elk River area

Construction to begin on schools

Crews will begin working in the next two years on construction projects for elementary, middle and high schools to "address long-term population growth needs in the district," according to a news release from the construction company.

Stahl Construction is managing four construction projects for the Elk River Area school district to build several additions to the elementary, middle and high schools and a new school in Otsego.

Zimmerman middle and high schools will get an auditorium, science lab and wood shop additions, and Zimmerman Elementary School will have an early childhood addition. Elk River High School will get multiple gymnasiums and an additional special education classroom.

"It's great to see shovels hitting the ground on some of these very important projects that will, for a fact, shape our district's future," said Superintendent Mark Bezek.

KAREN ZAMORA

Woodbury

Blood donors can register online

The city of Woodbury will sponsor a blood drive from noon to 6 p.m. Dec. 4 at City Hall. The blood bus will be parked in front of City Hall, 8301 Valley Creek Road, with the registration table in the foyer.

Donors hoping to save time can use the RapidPass feature, which allows them to complete the pre-donation health history questionnaire online, on the day of donation. For more information, visit the RapidPass page of the Red Cross' website.

To register to donate blood, visit the Red Cross' website and enter the sponsor code "City of Woodbury." Walk-in appointments are also welcome.

Kevin Giles

Roseville

Videos show police officers at work

The "Behind the Badge" video on the city website gives a behind-the-scenes look at Roseville Police Department officers on patrol. The department partnered with CTV North Suburbs to produce the video.

"Behind the Badge" is funded by the Roseville Police Foundation, which advances public safety by providing additional resources to police.

The first episode of the new video series shows five-year officer Kyle Eckert working the night shift. It's available on the city website at www.cityofroseville.com/2922/Behind-the-Badge.

Kevin Giles

White Bear Lake

City seeking operator for municipal marina

The city of White Bear Lake is soliciting proposals for someone to operate and maintain the city-owned, 160-slip municipal marina at 4495 Lake Av. The agreement would begin in January for a duration of either one year or three years, the city said.

"The marina offers a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs to use their imagination and ingenuity to successfully provide a facility that will provide high quality recreational services to the public while generating revenue for the operator and the city," the request said.

The marina, on the west shore of the 2,500-acre White Bear Lake near Hwy. 61, abuts restaurants, a grocery store, a liquor store and three other marinas. It has 340 feet of lakeshore with green space, a trail, a wooden deck and a boardwalk.

Kevin Giles