A public meeting to discuss improvements on County Road 13, on the border between Oakdale and Lake Elmo, will be held Monday, Nov. 30.
Washington County engineers will seek comments on roadway sight lines and safety, shoulder widths, intersections and driveways, erosion concerns and pedestrian/bike accommodations. The proposed reconstruction of County Road 13 — also known as Ideal Avenue/Olson Lake Trail — would happen from County Road 14 (Old Hwy. 5) to County Hwy. 35 (50th Street).
The meeting will be held at Christ Lutheran Church, 11194 36th St. N., in Lake Elmo. The first part of the meeting, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., will focus on the north portion of the properties, homes that touch on Olson Lake and a few blocks south. The second part of the meeting from 7:30 to 9 p.m. will focus on the portion of the project south of Olson Lake.
See www.co.washington.mn.us/County13 for more project information and to view public comments from the September and October meetings.

Kevin Giles

Anoka County

History Day event set at county library

The Anoka County Library will host a "History Day Hullabaloo"at its Mississippi branch in Fridley on Dec. 9.

Students competing in the 2016 National History Day contest can drop by the Anoka County event for help in narrowing and developing topics and identifying library materials. Minnesota History Day staff and college mentors will be present to assist students.

"This type of program demonstrates Anoka County Library's mission in action," said Dan Greensweig, Anoka County library board president. "Students are gathering information, developing ideas for their research and getting inspired about using the library."

National History Day began on an Ohio university campus in 1974, and has spread to include students across the country.

History Day Hullabaloos are coordinated by the Minnesota Historical Society and sponsored by the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA).

The Dec. 9 event will take place from 4 to 8 p.m. at 410 Mississippi St. NE. in Fridley. For more information, call 763-571-1934.

KAREN ZAMORA

Roseville

City launches online citizens forum

Roseville has joined a list of cities launching online discussion forums to allow more citizens to add their two cents' worth on civic issues.

The digital engagement tool, called Speak Up Roseville, went live earlier this month.

The software, officials say, is designed to give residents "the opportunity to give feedback on proposals, participate in discussions, submit ideas and ask questions in a convenient, online format."

So far, city staffers are being diligent about weighing in with responses to comments, and not just perfunctory responses, either; at times they go into some depth.

For instance, one early participant wrote:

"Many of the Heritage Trail sites have been bulldozed or burned down. This past summer, the oldest structure in Roseville, an 1848 brick farmhouse, was burned down. Why doesn't this bother anyone?"

City planner Paul Bilotta weighed in with a more-than-400-word response, outlining the limits of what the city can do when private property is involved but arguing that the city does also push for the right thing to be done.

"The city's involvement is generally constrained to supporting and encouragement for owners that want to preserve their historic properties," he wrote. "There also isn't a standing source of private, nonprofit or public funding available for us to work with in order to proactively acquire historic properties to our knowledge."

Staff report

New Hope

Citizens recommend new City Hall building

A New Hope citizens task force has recommended that the city build a new City Hall and police headquarters.

The group determined that the existing building requires substantial maintenance and that renovation would not solve the problem.

The task force also concluded the police department quarters are inadequate and pose "considerable security and safety issues" for officers and staff.

The project could cost an estimated $17 million. The city held an open house last week to "expose the need to the public," said city spokesman Jerry Beck. The City Council will evaluate community feedback and determine how to proceed.

SHANNON PRATHER