South metro briefs

Courts recognize librarian, law firmMary Freyberg, Scott County's law librarian, and the Lindquist & Vennum law firm received the second annual Amicus Curiae, or friend of the court, awards for service to Minnesota's First Judicial District.

Freyberg was recognized for developing classes and helping organize monthly clinics for people representing themselves before the courts. Her classes have included sessions on bankruptcy, divorce and foreclosure.

She also has partnered with La Red De Abogados Voluntarios to provide legal assistance to Spanish speakers.

Freyberg has helped people who come before the courts "become better informed and better prepared so they can provide the information needed by the court to make better decisions," said Chief Judge Edward Lynch of Dakota County.

Lindquist & Vennum was recognized for providing volunteer attorneys to serve as conciliation court referees.

Fifteen attorneys cover three half-day conciliation court calendars in Dakota County each week. Their work frees up a judge for other assignments.

The First Judicial District serves seven counties, including Scott, Le Sueur and Dakota.

Residents give city decent marksResidents and businesses gave the city good marks in telephone surveys conducted this spring.

Topics included the quality and importance of city departments and services, crime, property maintenance and traffic.

Among residents, 89 percent rated the overall quality of life in Burnsville as good or excellent, and 93 percent had an overall feeling of safety. Among businesses, 92 percent rated the city's business atmosphere as good or excellent, and 73 percent said they intended to stay in Burnsville longer than 10 years.

To see complete survey results, go to burnsville.org/surveys. To see video of a presentation to the City Council, look at burnsville.org under the link labeled streaming video.

ProAct golf event setRegistration is open for the ProAct Golf Classic, set Aug. 13 at Hastings Country Club.

The annual event is a fundraiser for ProAct, a nonprofit that has served the needs of people with disabilities and other challenges for 40 years.

Cost is $150 per golfer and includes 18 holes of golf, guest passes to the club, and lunch and dinner. A portion of the cost is tax-deductible.

To register, go to proactinc.org or contact Heidi Hanson at 651-289-3149 or hhanson@proactinc.org.

Five cities win environmental honorsThe League of Minnesota Cities has recognized five south-metro cities for participation in GreenStep Cities, a voluntary program designed to help Minnesota cities achieve environmental sustainability goals.

Under the program, cities focus on saving money, reducing energy use, and encouraging innovation in areas including transportation, buildings and lighting, environmental management, land use, and economic and community development.

Eagan, Farmington, Apple Valley, Rosemount and Burnsville were recognized for implementing portions of the program.

Bike sale a successA charity bicycle sale raised $7,789 for south metro mentoring organization Kids 'n Kinship.

Apple Valley resident Rick Anderson spent a year refurbishing 155 bikes, which he then offered for sale at his home in late May. With prices starting at $20, he sold 97 of the bicycles, donated 47 to the Salvation Army and kept 11 high-end bicycles to sell later with proceeds going to the charity.

This was Anderson's fourth bike sale for Kids 'n Kinship, bringing his total donations to the group to $22,014. He will take more bike donations this fall with plans to host a fifth sale next year.

Kids 'n Kinship is a nonprofit that matches children with adult mentors in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Farmington, Lakeville and Rosemount. For more information, see www.kidsnkinship.org.

FROM STAFF REPORTS