Briefs: Cedar Grove Station improvements to be discussed at Eagan open house

Commuters who use the bus to get to work, school or play can learn about planned improvements to the Metro Red Line Cedar Grove Transit Station at an open house from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Project staff members will be available at the Cedar Grove Station, 4035 Nicols Road in Eagan, to go over the preliminary designs and construction schedule and answer any questions.

Modifications to the station include adding a passenger platform in the middle of Hwy. 77 (Cedar Avenue), with an enclosed skyway connecting to the existing station area on Nicols Road. The goal is to improve travel times for the Red Line and some express bus routes on Hwy. 77 by eliminating the need for buses to exit the highway to pick up and drop off passengers.

The construction is scheduled to take place in 2016. Open house brochures will be available online by Thursday. Go to www.metrocouncil.org/cedargrovestationimprovements.

Duke, a German shepherd dog that works for the Apple Valley Police Department, has been awarded a ballistic vest thanks to the nonprofit group Vested Interest in K9s Inc., and Jordan Illsley, an Apple Valley resident who donated $950 for the vest.

The mission of Vested Interest in K9s is to provide bullet- and stab-protective vests to law enforcement dogs throughout the country. The vests cost $950 and have a five-year warranty.

Rosemount's annual spring cleanup day, which lets residents dispose of items not normally accepted by their garbage hauler, will be from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday in the east parking lot at Dakota County Technical College.

The city will be working with J.R.'s Advanced Recyclers to collect and dispose of electronic equipment and appliances. There is a fee for some items. Residents must pay J.R.'s and the city separately.

The event is for Rosemount residents only; a driver's license or other proof of address are required. Payment is by cash or check only.

For more information, call 651-322-6005. For a price list and other details, go to www.ci.rosemount.mn.us.

An event billed as a "public convening on climate change" will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Diamondhead Education Center, 200 W. Burnsville Pkwy.

"Climate Minnesota: Burnsville," is sponsored by Climate Generation: A Will Steger Legacy, the city of Burnsville and Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191.

Climate Generation has started a two-year public education project, including "convenings" throughout Minnesota to talk about the impacts of climate change, solutions and adaptations already happening.

Guest speakers at Tuesday's event include John Abraham, professor of thermal sciences at the University of St. Thomas; Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz; Muhammad Jiwa, of Minnesota Interfaith and Light; Anna Bertch, a student at Nicollet Junior High School; and Andy Holdsworth, head of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources climate change adaptation team.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is asking for public comment on a sewer rehabilitation and replacement project in Burnsville. Comments will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. May 27.

The Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES), which operates regional sewer and wastewater treatment systems in the Twin Cities, will be restoring or replacing 31,000 feet of sewer lines in separate phases. The next phase will start in the summer and fall of 2015.

MCES currently is working on a project in the Sunset Pond Park area of Burnsville that involves installing a liner inside the existing regional sewer pipes. That work does not involve excessive excavation.

Work will take place in the late fall and winter between Court Place and Judicial Road to install a new, larger diameter sanitary sewer pipe. Other projects will continue in the city through the summer of 2017.

These regional sewer pipes empty into the Seneca Water Treatment Facility in Eagan.

Those interested in commenting on the projects can go to www.pca.state.mn.us/oxpg691.

Registration forms for the South St. Paul All-City Garage Sale are now available.

They can be found at City Hall, 125 3rd Av. N.; the South St. Paul Library, 106 3rd Av. N.; Central Square Community Center, 100 7th Av. N., and on the city's website at www.southstpaul.org.

The sale can be held June 25, 26 or 27. All proceeds from the registrations fees will go to community programming. For more information, call 651-554-3230.

STAFF REPORTS