North/East metro briefs: Woodbury sells naming right to Bielenberg Sports Center to HealthEast

Woodbury has sold the naming rights to its mammoth Bielenberg Sports Center to a medical nonprofit, HealthEast.

A 14-year sponsorship agreement calls for HealthEast's name to become the "primary name on the facility," in the words of a memo to the City Council.

The city gets $126,785 a year, and after 14 years, HealthEast can extend the agreement for five more years for $307,163 a year. The deal comes on the heels of a number of hiccups in developing the center, including failed plans to install a restaurant and to make it a showcase for professional soccer training.

HealthEast runs four hospitals and 14 clinics in the Twin Cities. City officials say HealthEast may use the facility to host flu shot clinics, screenings and the like.

The facility includes a 90,000-square-foot indoor fieldhouse, three ice rinks, 36 athletic fields and other features. It was initially named for a family important in the city's history, including the first mayor, and officials report that the Bielenberg family supports the change.

Terms of the deal include:

• A total fee of $1,774,990, payable over 14 years;

• City rights to half the gross proceeds from any sale by HealthEast to third parties of naming rights to ice sheets or the fieldhouse.

In 2015 the city approved a lease with Summit Orthopedics Ltd. for improvements and occupancy of then-unfinished space in the building, namely a fieldhouse annex space and second floor lobby space.

David Peterson

The Blaine City Council has approved a new elementary school at the National Sports Center, despite lingering concerns over traffic.

The council approved the school in a 6-1 vote late last month, with Council Member Wes Hovland dissenting.

Several council members raised concerns about school and commuter traffic jams at the April 20 meeting. "I recognize the need for the school. Unfortunately I cannot justify the location," Hovland said.

Prekindergarten through fourth grade students will attend the school. The district plans to break ground later this month, with the school scheduled to open in the fall of 2018.

Hannah Covington

A new Washington County sheriff was sworn into office last week to fill the remaining portion of retiring Bill Hutton's term.

Dan Starry took the oath at the County Board meeting and was awarded a 4 percent pay increase over his salary as chief deputy, the No. 2 job in the Sheriff's Office. He will be paid $149,393 a year.

Starry and Mueller were granted leaves of absence from their previous jobs until November 2018, when voters elect a sheriff. Starry said he intends to campaign for the four-year term.

Hutton, a former Oakdale police captain, became sheriff in 2006 and was re-elected twice after that. He began a new job as executive director of the Minnesota Sheriffs' Association.

Kevin Giles

Debate on a controversial proposal to close the Forest Lake Police Department in favor of law enforcement services with the Washington County Sheriff's Office will continue Monday.

A marathon hearing last week failed to reach a consensus on whether the city might contract for services with the Sheriff's Office. Hundreds of residents attended, most voicing their opposition. More than 6,000 residents who want the police department kept intact have delivered a petition to city leaders.

Forest Lake, a city of about 20,000 residents, has had a police department since the 1930s. The Sheriff's Office already contracts with several Washington County cities, including Hugo, Scandia, Mahtomedi and Afton.

Monday's meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall, 1408 Lake St. S.