Metro briefs: Maple Grove hires Wayzata manager for administrator job

Maple Grove is hiring a new city administrator from a nearby suburb.

On Monday, the growing west metro suburb's City Council will formally approve appointing Heidi Nelson, who has been the city manager in Wayzata, to the top city ­position.

She replaces longtime city administrator Al Madsen, who is retiring after 32 years with Maple Grove. She'll start in December and will be only the fifth city administrator in the suburb's history.

She was the only finalist for the top spot after the city received 38 applications. She has served as city manager of Wayzata since 2012. Before that, she worked as deputy city administrator and community development director at the city of Ramsey.

KELLY SMITH

A pedestrian tunnel in downtown Shakopee, once a target for graffiti, now features a new mural memorializing the city's growth.

The project, part of an ongoing effort to revitalize Shakopee's quiet downtown, was completed in less than a year. More than 400 volunteers, 50 donors and one professional artist pitched in on the mural, which was designed by Shakopee High School art students.

The 6,500-square-foot mural is located at the corner of Holmes Street and 1st Avenue, in a tunnel connecting downtown to the Minnesota Riverfront trails.

Its central image, a 70-foot oak tree, spans the tunnel's ceiling.

A community dedication ceremony is planned for Thursday.

Emma Nelson

A veterans career workshop will be held from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 10 at the Washington County Government Center in Stillwater.

Veterans can attend various presentations on job-seeking topics and can participate in individual coaching on improving résumés and interviewing techniques. Other information includes job search trends, career advising and assessments, and veterans' benefits counseling.

The workshop will be in lower level rooms 12, 13 and 14 in the government center at 14949 62nd St. N.

More information can be found at the county's website, www.co.washington.mn.us, by searching "veterans service office."

Kevin Giles

Joining a growing number of suburban cities, Richfield is poised to allow taprooms and brewpubs.

The City Council last week approved a new liquor ordinance on first reading. It would allow brewpubs and taprooms, as well as micro-distilleries and cocktail rooms, in certain commercial and mixed-use areas of the city.

Burnsville, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Lakeville and Anoka are among the Twin Cities suburbs that have loosened their liquor laws recently to tap into the growing interest in small-batch beer and spirits.

Richfield's council is scheduled to give the law a second reading at its Nov. 10 meeting, and city officials say they expect swift passage.

john Reinan

A video about the West Broadway Transit Study will be shown from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, at the Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway.

Metro Transit, in conjunction with the city of Minneapolis and Hennepin County, is conducting the study to identify possible transit improvements on the route, focusing on streetcar and bus proposals.

The video, being shown for the first time, features many people from the community.

For more information, go to www.metrotransit.org/west-broadway-transit-study.

STAFF REPORT