South metro briefs: Farmington school board member will resign

Lee is resigning to take a job teaching language arts at Farmington's Boeckman Middle School. Two years remain in her term, and her seat will be filled after the November election.

Board members Julie Singewald, Jake Cordes and Laura Beem each have terms expiring in December. Cordes recently said he would seek re-election this fall.

Erin Adler

After six years on the force, a dog named Echo is retiring from the Burnsville Police Department's K-9 unit this fall.

Echo started working with the department in 2010, according to the city's website. Burnsville police started using K-9s in 1982 and have had thirteen different dogs since then.

K-9s are used mainly for their scent and tracking abilities, whether that means finding a lost person or detecting narcotics. They can also be used for force.

Burnsville's K-9 unit is composed of two teams, each including one officer and one dog. In 2014, Echo was joined at the department by another K-9, Rex. Both were imported from Eastern Europe and trained for 12 weeks at the St. Paul Canine Training Center.

Emma Nelson

Starting Monday, Dakota County will charge a $10 fee to collect and recycle televisions and computer monitors at the county's Eagan recycling center.

The cost to recycle electronics is climbing because of lower market prices for copper and plastic, a statement on the county's website said.

Other electronics can still be dropped off for free at the Recycling Zone, 3365 Dodd Road in Eagan.

Electronics aren't accepted in curbside recycling because they contain heavy metals such as lead, cadmium or mercury.

The food trucks will still roll at Taste of Shakopee, despite the cancellation of this year's Derby Days, which it typically kicks off.

The event, from 5 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 5, will feature food, beer, live music and a business exposition on 1st and Lewis streets and the parking lot across from Bill's Toggery. This location marks a change from Huber Park, and the Shakopee Jaycees organized this year's event.

"We wanted the community to still come out and still have something there since Derby Days isn't going to happen," said Tina Swanson, the event chairwoman.

The Derby Days committee announced its cancellation in February amid an investigation over finances but said the event is planned for 2017. A hearing for former Derby Days President Jack McGovern, who was charged with fraud and theft, is scheduled for Aug. 17.

Natalie Daher

Council members voted to move ahead with YTS Companies for treatment. The city first discovered an emerald ash borer beetles in the spring. Staff then removed three infected trees. The city approved its emerald ash borer action plan in 2015, which called for treating healthy trees and removing infected trees.

YTS has worked with St. Paul, Apple Valley and Prior Lake. YTS has treated 900 trees a year for St. Paul, according to West St. Paul officials. West St. Paul expects treatments to last for two to three years. West St. Paul has budgeted $30,000 toward its emerald ash borer treatment plan for 2016.

Beatrice Dupuy

After nearly being canceled due to a lack of funding, the annual Concerts in the Orchard series will feature an outdoor show in Hastings every week this August.

The Dakota County Historical Society sought additional funding sources to keep the series afloat, and will host it for the first time this year.

The Sunday evening concerts will be held in the apple orchard on the Leduc Estate, at 1629 Vermillion St. in Hastings. They are free and open to the public.