South metro briefs

South St. Paul has received $500,000 from the state to study the prospects for a southward extension of the flood wall that protects businesses along the Mississippi River.

Businesses north of Interstate Hwy. 494 are protected by a flood wall, but those south of the freeway along Concord Street do not have the same protection, said South St. Paul City Engineer John Sachi.

The money, which must be matched by the city, will pay for an engineering study of the feasibility, cost and benefit of extending the wall. Leftover money could be put toward the design, Sachi said.

The businesses along Concord have not been flooded since 1969, but the ditches around their properties fill with water and they must have flood insurance, Sachi said. The businesses protected by the flood wall are not required to have flood insurance, he said.

The study is expected to begin late this year and be completed next year.

Garden plots available Plots remain available for public use in the new community garden at Inver Hills Community College campus.

The garden is a joint effort of Inver Hills and Metropolitan State University to grow food for local food shelves and provide plots for students and residents to grow their own food.

For more information or an application, contact Barb Curchack at bcurcha@inverhills.edu or 651-450-3739, or August Hoffman at august.hoffman@metrostate.edu or 651-999-5814.

Clean out the basement The city of Burnsville will be collecting old appliances, electronics and other household items for recycling on June 2.

Residents can bring the appliances, electronics, bicycles and mattresses to the Burnsville Maintenance Facility, 13713 Frontier Court, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. that day.

Bicycles will be accepted free of charge to be refurbished and given to families in need. Fees for other items include $5 for appliances, $10-$25 for electronics and $15 per mattress.

Dakota Valley Recycling is coordinating the event as part of "I Love Burnsville Week."