South metro briefs: Dakota County approves Lebanon Hills updates

Lebanon Hills Regional Park is getting a $3 million face-lift between now and November 2017.

A Dakota County Board committee of the whole approved a slate of upgrades Oct. 18, including a trail loop at McDonough Lake, an open-air A-frame structure at Portage Lake and a new bridge at Bridge Pond.

Members of the public had opportunities to weigh in on the plans in June, July and September, and the board approved preliminary designs in August.

Emma Nelson

A Jordan patrol officer may soon ink a contract as the school district's full-time school resource officer.

The City Council voted unanimously to create the position at its meeting on Monday. Last summer, the city scaled back its "Cops In Schools" program, which it created in response to the Sandy Hook shooting in 2012.

The four-year contract for the resource officer begins this year at a starting salary of $81,000. The officer is responsible for protecting the safety of elementary, middle and high school students, running the DARE program, and promoting safe practices online.

Lakeville's volunteer firefighters are getting bigger pensions.

In September, the Lakeville Fire Relief Association submitted a request to the city for pension benefit increases in 2017 and 2018. The increases — of $348 and $378, respectively — will raise annual pensions to $7,225 next year and $7,595 the year after.

The firefighters' pensions have gone up nearly every year for more than a decade. The amount held steady at about $6,200 between 2009 and 2011 but has risen steadily in the years since.

The Lakeville City Council gave the pension hikes preliminary approval in a routine vote at its Oct. 17 meeting.

Emma Nelson

Buetow received an "unsung hero" award last month at Pantages Theater in Minneapolis. He has organized the Shakopee Torch Run, which celebrated 13 years, and is also active in Prior Lake's Polar Plunge.

NATALIE DAHER

The final public meeting for Farmington's referendum is Wednesday at the city's Maintenance Facility on Municipal Drive.

The city will ask voters on Nov. 8 for $10 million to support sports and recreational facilities.

NATALIE DAHER

The Minnesota Municipal Power Agency wants to build a new plant to generate electricity in Chaska, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has opened its public comment period on the project's environmental impact.

The facility would be built on 2 acres of a 12-acre parcel and include five natural gas-fired electrical generating units, capable of producing up to 50 megawatts of electricity, the MPCA said.

Written comments about the project must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 to Nancy Drach at the MPCA (520 Lafayette Road N., St. Paul, MN 55155-4194). For questions, call 651-757-2317.

Erin Adler

The Dakota County Historical Society wants residents to share their stories about daily life during WWI to help create a new exhibit. An independent researcher has been hired with grant money to help research the project. The exhibit will include information about the war itself, but the larger goal is to compile local and personal stories.