South news briefs: Shakopee City Council offers aid to senior apartments

City Council offers aid to senior apartmentsShakopee's City Council has approved tax aid for an 80-unit senior apartment building.

The project is aimed in part at lower-income individuals and is known as the All Saints Senior Living project. The 84,000-square-foot building is to be managed by Tealwood Management on a three-acre site on Independence Drive, south of County Road 16 alongside the Shakopee Area Catholic School campus.

It is to open by 2013 or 2014, offering independent living, assisted-living and memory-support units.

Shakopee will furnish tax reimbursement of $1 million for as long as 26 years. At least 20 percent of the 80 units would have to be affordable to persons with incomes at or below 50 percent of the median income in Scott County.

Longtime city worker is public works directorLongtime Eagan employee Russ Matthys is the city's new public works director.

Matthys, 46, replaces Tom Colbert, who retired in May after 34 years with the city. The public works director oversees city infrastructure, including roads and sewers.

The City Council chose Matthys from about two dozen applicants. Since becoming city engineer in 1997, Matthys has implemented more than $8 million worth of storm sewer upgrades after a heavy rainstorm in 2000 and has overseen construction of two bridges and 143 miles of street improvements.

"His knowledge of our whole system, his ability to communicate with the community, his civil engineering credentials made Russ the clear choice for the City Council," said Tom Hedges, city administrator.

Matthys' salary as public works director is $126,300. The city will now be seeking someone to fill his former position as city engineer.

Aid for gardeners on pests, herbsThe teaching garden at Scott County's fairgrounds is the site for "Evenings in the Garden," a series of outdoor learning sessions through the summer.

Sessions led by master gardeners take place Thursdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., weather permitting.

Topics include:

June 21: Chickens in the garden, practical information on raising chickens and using them to improve your garden.

June 28: Perennial maintenance, including demonstrations of dead-heading, pinching, pruning, and dividing garden perennials.

July 5: Guided garden tour, and questions about your own garden at home.

July 12: Herbs: grow, harvest, and use in a variety of ways.

July 19: Garden pests

All are free but pre-registration is requested. Go to www. carverscottmastergardeners. org or call 952-492-5410 and ask for Mary.

Civil War tours and tales offeredA series of cemetery walks geared toward Civil War veterans and their stories launches this month with a first outing in Shakopee.

The tours coincide with the 150th anniversary of the war.

The first tour takes place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. June 28 at Shakopee's Valley Cemetery, where a costumed Scott County Historical Society guide will offer stories.

The cost is $12, or $10 for society members. Register through Shakopee Community Education at www.shakopee.k12.mn.us. Meet one block east of the intersection of Sarazin Street & 4th Avenue.

Call 952-445-0378 for more information or e-mail adrtina@scottcountyhistory.org.

Summer buses launch this weekWednesday is the first day for the city of Prior Lake's transit circulator bus.

The Local Laker Link Circulator runs through July 20, costing $2 a ride. Punch cards can be purchased at City Hall offering 12 rides for $20.

The vehicle stops at parks, shopping areas and schools and will operate weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For routes and schedules, go to cityofpriorlake.com or call 952-447-9812 for more information.