South metro news briefs: Shakopee sells empty downtown fire station

Shakopee's City Council has finally agreed on what to do with the city's old downtown fire station.

The building at 334 2nd Av. E. will go to a classic vehicle restorer, Peter Lund, the council decided last week. The price is $320,000. The deal is to close July 12.

Firefighters cleared out of the place last year when a new fire station, Station 2, was ready at 1001 Vierling Dr. W.

After exploring options such as a community center and arts hub, the council decided last fall to sell it.

Officials are warning commuters to prepare for a major disruption for about a month beginning in late July.

Traffic on the already overloaded Hwy. 169 bridge will be throttled back to a single lane in both directions, the Minnesota Department of Transportation warns.

Repairs of the Bloomington Ferry Bridge are expected to run from July 26 through Aug. 23.

For more information, visit the project website at www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/169bloomington. There you can sign up for e-mail notifications.

Information is also available on Shakopee's website at www.ci.shakopee.mn.us/roadcon struction.

A chance to offer your advice on a major new effort to define the metro area's biking needs is coming up in July.

The Metropolitan Council is leading what it's calling a Regional Bicycle System Master Study to improve the metro area's network of on- and off-road bike lanes. That study in turn will flow into the state's upcoming "Bicycle System Plan."

There's a workshop coming up for bike enthusiasts, who can also comment online.

Online, there is an interactive web mapping tool at http://wikimapping.com/wikimap/Twin-Cities-Bicycle-Study.html.

There is also a website at www.metrocouncil.org/Trans portation/Planning/Transpor tation-Resources/Bicycle-Sys tem-Master-Study.aspx.

With all the rain this year, Prior Lake is nearing the point where boaters will have to slow to a crawl no matter where they are on the lake.

The city is warning that the lake is close to the 904-foot level at which a "slow, no wake" limit kicks in. And it's asking folks to limit shoreline erosion and damage by taking it easy this summer.

The lake had reached the 903.6-foot level by late last week.

The Prior Lake/Spring Lake Watershed District has up-to-date information on lake levels on its website at www.plslwd.org.

Sandbags can be purchased at City Hall for $.25 per bag and delivered free as soon as equipment and staff are free, usually within a day or two. For more information, call the city at 952-447-9800.

Starting next week, tennis and skateboard lessons are being offered by the Savage Recreation Department.

The tennis sessions are aimed at teaching kids proper racquet handling, forehand and backhand swings, good sportsmanship and other skills.

From July 8 to Aug. 5, sessions are available to accommodate various age groups and individual schedules. Visit cityofsavage.com/rec or call 952-224-3420 for details and to register.

Beginners age 4 to 12 have a Mini-Shredders camp on techniques and foot placement. Equipment is supplied. The camp is July 8-11 from 9 to 11 a.m.

Boys and girls age 6 to 12 can attend Skateboarding Camp from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 5-8. Bring your own board, pads and helmet.

Four acts will perform at the McColl Pond Environmental Learning and Event Center in Savage's free outdoor music series in July.

Bring a chair and cooler for the performances, which are from 7 to 8 p.m.

The schedule includes the Blue Drifters on Wednesday, July 10, the Teddy Bear Band on July 17, the Eelpout Stringers on July 24 and the Splatter Sisters on July 31.