South metro briefs: Hastings police adopt guidelines for body cameras

The city's police department drafted guidelines for body camera usage based on the League of Minnesota Cities' model policy. The new guidelines also include context from legislation passed last summer that regulates practices such as data storage. No one spoke on the policy during the public comments period.

In January, the City Council approved a pilot body camera program. During the pilot study, each officer used one of eight body cameras for two months between February and August, then evaluated the experience. The police department plans to buy 15 more cameras — totaling 23 cameras — Chief Bryan Schafer said.

Residents can apply to serve on citizen advisory committees next year.

The open positions are on the University of Minnesota extension committee, library advisory committee, personnel board of appeals, planning commission, public art citizen advisory committee, special board of appeal and equalization. Mandatory meeting times and qualifications for each committee vary.

The application deadline is Friday. Information is available at www.co.dakota.mn.us.

Natalie Daher

A new suburban transit route is making stops at major workplaces in Scott and Anoka counties.

SouthWest Transit primarily operates public transportation in Carver County. Schedules are available at swtransit.org.

Natalie Daher

Chaska

City Council approves final plans for $6.2 million sports dome

In November, the Chaska City Council approved final plans for the Eastern Carver County district's new sports dome. Voters OK'd the project by passing a $66.7 million referendum in the fall of 2015.

By day, Chaska Middle School East students will use it for gym classes because they're short on space, said Mayor Mark Windschitl. Chaska Middle School East and Chaska Elementary students will also have access. The fields will be open to community-based and extracurricular sports teams the rest of the time.

The dome will be up for about half the year and removed during the warmer months. Completion of the dome is expected in the fall of 2017 and to be usable for sports that winter.

"We've been talking about it for a long time," Windschitl said. "It's just something that's clearly needed."

Erin Adler

Carver will now operate on a council-manager, or Plan B system — an arrangement that appoints a city manager and gives them more authority over personnel, purchasing and daily operations — instead of the mayor-council, or Plan A structure, that it had before.

Most Minnesota cities use the mayor-council structure, Mareck said, though the council-manager structure is common in the southwest metro.

Mareck can now approve purchases and sign contracts up to $20,000 in value. He's also charged with hiring and firing employees.

Carver will still have a mayor, and the City Council now focus on the legislative side of things, Mareck said.

He said the City Council suggested the change. Chanhassen, Chaska and Victoria each have a council-manager form of governance.

Erin Adler

The Peterson farm was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 because of Peterson's experimentation with growing apples. It was the home of a 19th century Swedish immigrant whose diary inspired a beloved novel series and musical in Sweden.

Wendy Petersen Biorn, executive director of the historical society, said that as of last week, the society still needs $24,700 to fund the report.

Erin Adler