Osseo's 102-year-old water tower has been officially added to the National Register of Historic Places, following years of lobbying for the designation.

The listing, which took effect June 5, recognizes the historic significance of the tower in downtown Osseo. It also opens the door for grants to help support its upkeep.

"By recognizing the significance of your property and planning for its preservation, you are participating in a national movement which aims to preserve, for the benefit of future generations, our cultural heritage," wrote Amy Spong, deputy state historic preservation officer, in a letter to Osseo Mayor Duane Poppe.

The 100-foot-tall water tower was built in 1915 to protect the city in case of fire. It functioned until 2003 — the city now buys its water from Maple Grove — but a whistle on the tower still sounds daily at noon and 6 p.m., a holdover from an era when it was used to call farmers in from the fields.

The water tower is one of just seven historical towers of its kind, with a rounded 50,000-gallon hemispherical bottom, still standing within 50 miles of Osseo.

The city had considered tearing it down, but resident Kathleen Gette started a grass-roots effort to save it, research it and nominate it for the national register.

Now the water tower will be listed, repaired and repainted, and a plaque will be placed on it to commemorate the designation.

"History isn't about old buildings, it's about people and their stories," Gette said in a statement. "The tower's listing in the National Register of Historic Places is a tremendous honor for Osseo and its residents."

KELLY SMITH

MINNETONKA

Schneider receives top state award

Minnetonka Mayor Terry Schneider has received one of the League of Minnesota Cities' highest honors.

Schneider, who has been on the City Council since 1992, received the C.C. Ludwig Award last month. The league cited his long tenure with the city, his leadership on an ordinance allowing for smaller lot sizes and a conditional use permit for the city's first Islamic Community Center, and his support of the Southwest light-rail transit line.

Schneider, who first served on the city's park board in 1977 and has served as mayor of the 50,000-resident west metro city since 2009, is not running for re-election this year. City Council Member Brad Wiersum and Ashwin Patel are running to succeed Schneider when his term ends in January.

KELLY SMITH

EXCELSIOR

Event will focus on Big Island homes

An event Monday will focus on the history of Big Island and the residents who have lived on the large Lake Minnetonka island.

The event, sponsored by the Excelsior-Lake Minnetonka Historical Society, will begin at 6:45 p.m. on the steamboat Minnehaha, leaving from Excelsior. Resident Joni Scheftel will discuss growing up on a hobby farm on the island.

Big Island has about 50 seasonal homes and a public park. The event is part of the historical society's monthly Tapping History series showcasing local history. For more details or to buy tickets, go to elmhs1.eventbrite.com.

KELLY SMITH

Chaska

Golf tournament to benefit St. David's

A charity golf tournament on Monday will benefit Minnetonka-based St. David's Center.

The annual event, Tee Up for Tomorrow, will be hosted by former Minnesota Viking and Hall of Famer John Randle and his wife, Candace, and will take place at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska.

The tournament will benefit St. David's Center, a nonprofit that serves nearly 2,600 children and their families in community and center-based programs.

The center is expanding into Minneapolis, opening a nearly 10,000-square-foot space at Westminster Presbyterian Church to serve about 200 children with programs such as infant mental health services and a day treatment for young children who have faced trauma. The $4.5 million building is set to open in March off the Nicollet Mall.

The Randles got involved with St. David's after the organization helped their 2-year-old son.

KELLY SMITH

MINNEAPOLIS

Career fair to be held at North Side library

Hennepin County will host a free career fair on Monday, helping job seekers connect with companies that are actively recruiting employees.

The career fair will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hennepin County North Regional Library, 1315 Lowry Av. N., Minneapolis. Job seekers should bring copies of resumes and wear professional attire.

The fair is sponsored by the Hennepin County Work and Economic Resource Center. For more information, go to hennepin.us/employmentservices/.

KELLY SMITH

COLUMBIA HEIGHTS

Nadeau will become Maplewood chief

Columbia Heights Police Chief Scott Nadeau has been named Maplewood's new director of public safety.

Maplewood officials chose Nadeau late last month over about 20 applicants. He will be replacing Paul Schnell, who recently retired, and will begin his new job Aug. 7.

Nadeau has been the police chief in Columbia Heights since 2008. He previously worked in the Brooklyn Center police department.

"Maplewood is a really progressive community," Nadeau said, offering "new challenges and new growth opportunities."

Hannah covington