North town briefs

Winter family fun in Coon Rapids Snow Day at the Dam, a chance for families and individuals to participate in a variety of winter recreational activities, will be held 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park. The event is free. Call 651-429-8007 or go to www.anokacountyparks.com.

Teens are invited to talk to the police Teens age 14 and older from area suburbs are invited to the Brooklyn Center Community Center for free food and entertainment that will feature hip-hop dancing, DJ beat-boxing, and a chance to meet and discuss community issues with police.

The Feb. 27 event will offer prizes, including a drawing for an iPod for those who arrive by 7:15 p.m., said Stefanie Sackor, of Youthrive, a sponsor along with police in Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center.

Area restaurants will donate food, and drawings for gift cards and movie passes will be held. The event runs from 6 to 9:30 p.m. in Constitution Hall at the center, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway.

Council to hold meeting on water runoff plan An annual meeting to update residents on Fridley's storm-water runoff plan will be held during Monday's City Council meeting.

Residents' questions and comments will be taken at the 7:30 p.m. meeting at City Hall, 6431 University Av. NE.

Copies of the plan can be reviewed at the public works director's office in City Hall, at the nearby Mississippi Street county library, or on the city website at www.ci.fridley.mn.us.

In response to the economic recession and expected county funding cuts, the board voted unanimously on Feb. 10 not to accept the 3.4 percent salary increase they had given themselves last October.

To have that vote take effect, however, each county commissioner had to notify county Administrator Richard Johnson individually that he or she did not want the raise. All did so by Feb. 11.

Improving high school attendance targeted The Hennepin County Board has approved a policy aimed at improving high school attendance and reducing dropout rates.

The county will create a team to manage the effort, which will focus on better coordinating county contracts, financing and staffing that can have an effect on truancy and dropout rates. The effort will involve representatives from corrections, human services, the library system and the county attorney's office.

Each year, about 2,000 youths drop out of schools in the county, and high school dropouts generate fewer tax dollars, increase criminal justice costs and tend to be more frequent users of the welfare system.

Hennepin staff will provide technical support to the alliance and assist in census promotion efforts.

When people aren't counted in the census, governments can lose millions of dollars in funding. Census data also is used for planning transit, locating businesses or schools, and allocating congressional seats.

Minnesota may lose a congressional seat if population growth in other states exceeds Minnesota's.

Winter Carnival is set for Baldwin Park The city and the Chain of Lakes YMCA have teamed up to sponsor a 2009 Winter Carnival from noon to 4 Saturday at Baldwin Park, at 400 Keith Drive. The day will include 1- and 5-kilometer runs, Nordic walking demonstrations, a snow sculpture contest, ice skating, an honesty bear hunt and a bonfire.

For more information, and to register for the race, visit www.ymcatwincities.org. Click on Locations and Chain of Lakes tabs.

Awards will be presented at the Town Hall meeting in April. For more information, contact Pat Prindle, YMCA program director, at 763-717-4036 or pat.prindle@ci.mounds-view.mn.us.