West metro town briefs

March 12, 2008 at 5:46AM

EDINA

Thumbs-down for warming-house plan Last week, the Edina City Council rejected resident Carolyn Kohrs' $500,000 donation to replace an old warming house in Lewis Park.

Kohr's proposal, which surfaced last fall, initially would have allowed her to operate a concession stand in the building for 10 years, keeping the profits. Recently, she changed her offer and was willing to donate all proceeds back to the park.

In more than an hour of testimony, about 30 residents lobbied for and against the proposal. Some said it was a creative way to rejuvenate an aging facility while others objected to noise and lights and said the stand could undermine nearby shops and restaurants.

The proposal needed four of the five council votes to pass. Joni Bennett and Linda Masica voted against it.

GREENFIELD

Referendum expenses are snag for charter Some of the debate over Greenfield's charter -- which, if approved by residents, would be its constitution -- has focused on money.

Parts of the draft charter would allow residents to vote on spending limits and in other referendums. Enacting the charter would require a majority vote in a general or special election. But how much would it cost to hold these votes?

In meetings, commission members have guessed that a special election would cost about $1,000. But city employees have different numbers.

If residents vote in person at a polling place, an election could cost almost $3,000, said Audra Etzel, the city's deputy clerk, who has been studying the issue. A mail-in election could cost $6,800 to $7,400.

Voting on the charter as part of the upcoming general election would eliminate most of the expense, Etzel said.

Now the swing vote on a divided council, Loren Harff opposes the charter because he's concerned about these and other expenses: "Power to the people? Pffff," he scoffed. "Do you know how much this thing is going to cost?"

Commission members, however, say those costs are minimal compared to the savings possible if citizens had more control over spending through the charter.

WEST METRO AREA

Chamber gala planned The TwinWest Chamber of Commerce is planning its 23rd-annual gala from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday at The Northland Inn, 7025 Northland Drive, Brooklyn Park. Wine-tasting, ballroom dance lessons and a variety of other activities and entertainment are planned. For tickets, which are $75, call 763-450-2220 or order online at www.twinwest.com.

Home-buying help The Northwest Community Revitalization Corporation plans an informational meeting for moderate-income families interested in affordable homes in New Hope, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove or Robbinsdale.

The organization helps families that meet minimum income requirements buy new and rehabbed affordable homes.

The meeting will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at 4124 Quebec Av. N., New Hope. For more information, call 763-533-5114 or visit www.northwestcrc.org.

HOPKINS

State of the city Hopkins Mayor Gene Maxwell and council members will hold their State of the City event from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, 1111 Mainstreet. The event is free and features food from area restaurants.

MINNETONKA

Environmental talk Minnetonka is introducing a series of eco-seminars under the title "The Academy of Walks and Talks."

The first is set for 6:30 tonight at the community center, 14600 Minnetonka Blvd. It will deal with protecting shallow lakes and ponds. To attend, call 952-988-8400.

JENNA ROSS and MARY JANE SMETANKA

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