South news briefs: Shakopee to oppose tribe's land expansion

SHAKOPEE

City to oppose tribe's land expansionShakopee will oppose the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community's latest attempt to take more land off the tax rolls.

But in addition to a newly elected mayor who's eager to improve relations, top city staff members are speaking in glowing terms about behind-the-scenes progress.

The tribe's neighbors have long considered it needlessly secretive. Moves to more freely share information about its future plans are "a very positive thing," City Administrator Mark McNeill told council members last week.

Added Michael Leek, the city's point man on the issue: "They are talking about aggressively moving forward [on formalizing joint planning] which is a very positive development."

Council members hesitated, though, on a number of grounds, not least of which was the fuzzy nature of the long-range land-use plans that tribal officials showed the city in private meetings. The plans were described as drafts, still subject to revision.

Although the current land-into-trust applications involve only about 150 acres, the tribe is believed to want to eventually make that move with the entire 1,600 acres or so that is still not held in federal trust.

Significantly, the city opted against opposing the trust applications on the grounds put forward by Scott County Attorney Pat Ciliberto, who described the applications as violating a U.S. Supreme Court decision.

The County Board agreed to make that case, but the city is distancing itself from the contention.

Not only the tribe but also the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs seem to think the case doesn't apply to this situation, Leek said.

"As a staff, we believe it would take a great deal of research to demonstrate otherwise. I think the comment was made [in a meeting the city attended] that the county simply raised the issue in a sort of superfluous way and really didn't do much by way of analysis on whether it applies to this specific case."

Kautz honored for arts leadershipThe U.S. Conference of Mayors has recognized Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz with a 2012 Public Leadership in Arts Award.

Kautz was one of three officials -- the others were Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and Mayor Frank Ortis of Pembroke Pines, Fla. -- to win the award presented by the nonprofit Americans for the Arts during the annual winter meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Kautz said in a press release: "I have been blessed to work with so many business and community leaders who make the arts in all forms a priority. I share this award with them."

Tribal leadership shift takes placeThe Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community has chosen a new set of leaders, making one change.

The three-person group the tribe calls its "business council" will have a new vice chairman, Charlie Vig, who now heads up its gambling operations.

Chairman Stanley Crooks retains that position, as does Secretary-Treasurer Keith Anderson.

The offices are held for four years at a time. The business council oversees day-to-day operations.

Quick, get out and skate outdoors now!Unseasonably warm weather delayed the opening of Shakopee's outdoor rinks and warming houses until last Friday. Weather permitting, the rinks will remain open through Feb. 20.

Outdoor rinks and warming houses are available at Lions Park (1103 Adams St.), Scenic Heights Park (1195 Ruby Lane), Westminster Park (801 Valley View Drive E.) and Hiawatha Park (625 7th Av. E.). Warming house hours are Monday through Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 8 p.m. The warming houses will be open from 1 to 9 p.m. on Feb. 20.

For more information, go to www.ci.shakopee.mn.us/warm ing_house.cfm.

Goodwill store to add 35 jobsGoodwill plans to open a new store in Lakeville on Saturday, and marketing director Lisa Ritter said the store will hire about 35 full- and part-time workers.

The store features a drive-through donation center that will be open daily. Each Goodwill store also has on-the-job training and skills development for workers while providing both new and donated clothing, jewelry, furniture, electronics, housewares and toys.

The Lakeville store will be Goodwill's 25th store in Minnesota.

Classes help families of the mentally illA free 12-week class is being offered soon for family members, partners and friends of persons with mental illness.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness is offering the class, which covers major depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, borderline personality disorder, panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

The goal is to help people better understand the illnesses, discuss resources, build communication skills, reduce stress and find support.

You must register, and there's a limit of 25 in a class. To learn more or to register, call 952-890-1669.