Minnetonka city leaders decided last week to explore plans to renovate the city's fire station and police department, and build a new fire facility.

In a city report, officials said renovation is the most feasible option to address the departments' needs. The project could cost $25 million, according to preliminary cost estimates, and would be paid for with bonding.

The City Council, in a work session meeting where no formal action was taken, decided to seek more detailed plans and cost estimates while reiterating that no decision had yet been finalized.

The City Council isn't expected to take any action on the plans or hold any public hearings on the project until 2018.

"It makes sense," Mayor Terry Schneider said later about the renovations. "It's something that's needed."

Minnetonka's central fire station, built in 1974, and police department, built in 1989, haven't been expanded or extensively renovated, and city officials are concerned about the security of the aging facilities.

The police department, which has 78 employees, has a need for adequate locker room facilities for men and women. Department officials want more secure parking for squad cars and more storage for items of evidence, according to the city staff.

The fire department, which has eight full-time staffers and 80 paid on-call firefighters, also needs better gender-specific locker room facilities and secured entrances, among other improvements.

KELLY SMITH

HENNEPIN COUNTY

Longtime veterans office director retires

Milton Schoen, longtime head of the veterans services office in Hennepin County, retired on Jan. 31 after nearly 23 years as director of the office.

James Baxter, the current accreditation and compliance officer with the county's Human Services and Public Health Department, will serve as interim director while officials conduct a job search for a permanent director in the next few weeks, a county spokeswoman said.

KELLY SMITH

MINNEAPOLIS

County puts Century Plaza up for sale

The fate of a 1930s-era downtown Minneapolis building owned by Hennepin County could be determined this spring.

The county issued a request for proposals on Jan. 25 to potential buyers of Century Plaza, 1101 3rd Av. S. The four-story building on the edge of downtown housed services by the county's Human Services and Public Health Department, but in the last few years those services have been moved to regional service centers around the county.

The building, located on nearly 3 acres — a full city block — was built in 1932 as Miller Vocational High School. It was renovated in the 1980s as offices before the county bought it in 1996. County officials decided not to spend money to renovate the building, saying that it had reached the end of its "functional life span." Selling the building will return it to the county's tax rolls.

Proposals are due by March 28, and the County Board will review them in April and May before taking action by summer. The county plans to vacate the site by May.

KELLY SMITH

PLYMOUTH

City, Rotary host free CPR, AED trainings

The Plymouth Public Safety Department and the Rotary Club of Plymouth are offering free training this month on the use of CPR and AED (Automated External Defibrillator).

The next Heart Safe Plymouth training session will run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Feb. 15. Other training sessions will take place from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on March 1, March 15, April 5 and April 19.

Since the free training began in Plymouth in 2012, more than 3,600 residents have been taught CPR and AED use.

The sessions will be held at Plymouth City Hall, 3400 Plymouth Blvd. Space is limited to 30 participants per session, and registration is required at heartsafeplymouth.eventbrite.com.

KELLY SMITH

Chanhassen

Paisley Park to hold 5k race honoring Prince

The inaugural Paisley Park 5k will usher 400 runners past the music legend's home and recording studio April 23, jamming to the beat of Prince's greatest hits.

The charity race is meant to honor Prince's giving spirit by donating the majority of its proceeds to the K-12 Chanhassen/Chaska music program. It will take place the same weekend as Celebration 2017, a tribute concert at Paisley Park marking the anniversary since his death.

Prince died April 21 of an accidental overdose of the painkiller fentanyl. He was 57.

To register, visit www.strong-enough.org/race-day-information.

LIZ SAWYER