South metro news briefs: Resurfacing project will close lanes on Hwy. 13

The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will begin resurfacing both directions of Hwy. 13 in Burnsville from west of County Road 5 to Hwy. 101 in Savage in July.

Work is expected to start the week of July 10. It will result in overnight and weekend single-lane closures in both directions.

Single-lane closures in both directions are expected weeknights from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Aug. 14 and from 7 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday on the following dates:

• July 14-17

• July 21-24

• Aug. 4-7

• Aug. 11-14

Erin Adler

The Rosemount City Council appointed Brian Erickson to serve as the city's new public works director and city engineer at its June 20 meeting.

Fourteen candidates from around the country vied for the position, with the field eventually narrowed to three.

Erickson is the public works director and city engineer in Mounds View. He has also served as the public works assistant director in Northfield and as a commander in the U.S. Navy's Civil Engineer Corps. He has a master's degree from the University of Maryland in structural engineering and a bachelor's degree in Engineering Science from Iowa State University.

He will start his new job in mid-July.

Dakota County has launched an iPhone application to help people find information about the county's departments, services and events. Various departments collaborated to create the app, from the library to the Sheriff's Office to the Parks Department. Users of the app can check for upcoming events, view the jail roster or find property tax information. Users also can create personalized conversation threads to retrieve answers to particular questions, which can be retrieved later.

For more information, visit itunes.apple.com and search for "Dakota County." A video about the app can be seen at co.dakota.mn.us.

Erin Adler

Sections of the Rambling River Park trail in Farmington will be closed this summer to eliminate erosion and stabilize the nearby riverbanks of the Vermillion River. After years of flooding, the river's channel has moved closer to the portions of the trail located north of Schmitz-Maki Arena and south of the Feely Fields, according to a city news release.

After the stabilization project has been completed, the paved trail section will be removed and a new paved trail will be placed. Trout habitat will be restored in the river as well. The project will start in July and is scheduled to be finished in August.

Erin Adler

The Minnesota Zoo hired two new members for its administrative team this spring.

Tony Grundhauser was named executive director of the Minnesota Zoo Foundation, the state agency's nonprofit arm that helps raise contributed income. He replaces Melissa Parker Lindsay, who retired after 11 years with the foundation.

Michelle Geddess also joined the zoo's leadership team as senior director of marketing and communications.

Grundhauser has spent 13 years in higher education, most recently as the vice president of institutional advancement at St. Paul's Hamline University. Before that, he worked for the Nature Conservancy. Grundhauser will lead the foundation's efforts to secure annual operating, conservation and capital funds.

Over the past two years, the foundation raised more than $8 million. About one-third of the zoo's $25 million annual operating budget comes from public funding.

Geddess was hired in May after serving as the director of marketing for the Chicago Park District. In that role, she led efforts to increase brand awareness and promote programs and events.

Liz Sawyer

The Prior Lake Rotary is offering a $2,000 grand prize for its sculpture contest, whose winner will also see his or her work displayed in Rotary Gateway Park. The park is next to City Hall leading into Lakefront Park. Those interested should contact Corey at corey.stich@gmail.com with the subject line "Artist for Rotary Gateway Park." Contest requirements will be e-mailed to those who inquire.

Liz Sawyer