Briefs: Commissioners OK new county district boundaries

The Dakota County Board approved new county commissioner districts this month in preparation for the 2012 elections.

The seven districts have shifted, based on population as determined by the 2010 U.S. Census, to adhere more closely to city boundaries in most cases. Six of the seven county board seats will be up for election -- four because their terms are completed and two because there was enough change in their district to require an election.

The one seat that will not be on the ballot is District 2, which covers South St. Paul, West St. Paul and parts of Inver Grove Heights. It is held by Kathleen Gaylord.

Citywide garage sale this weekend Hastings will hold a citywide garage sale from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Signs will be posted around town for the sale locations, which include the LeDuc Historic Estate, 1629 Vermillion St. in Hastings.

The estate will sell antiques, collectibles, period furniture and plants from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. LeDuc sale proceeds will go towards estate educational programs for children. For more information, call 651-437-8764.

Poetry reading at LeDuc Estate The LeDuc Estate also will host local poet Bill McCarthy on Tuesday. He will read and talk about his and other writers' poetry at 6:30 p.m.

Non-working fire hydrants pose concern The public is invited to a meeting Monday to discuss maintenance of private fire hydrants across Burnsville, which city officials have found to be lacking.

A recent study by the city found that 10 to 20 percent of the more than 1,000 privately owned and maintained fire hydrants in Burnsville may not be functional. The responsibility for maintaining those hydrants falls on the property owner.

The city maintains another 2,500 public fire hydrants.

The City Council plans to discuss the issue further in June, and the meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall is an opportunity for the public to provide input.

For more information, contact Public Works Director Steve Albrecht at 952-895-4544 or steve.albrecht@ci. burnsville.mn.us.

Eagan was the only city to receive such a grant in the PCA's latest round of funding.

The money, to be matched with in-kind services by city staff, will fund work on Bur Oaks Pond and Bald, Carlson, Cliff, Hay, LeMay, North and O'Leary lakes and their surrounding watersheds. None of the lakes is currently listed as impaired, but many are near or over thresholds for phosphorus, which causes excessive weed growth.

The work will focus on controlling pollution generated by runoff that carries pollutants to ground and surface water.

Retiring sergeant honored for service Retiring Eagan Police Sgt. Linda Myhre was honored by 360 Communities this month for her work with survivors of domestic violence.

The south metro nonprofit presented her with the Community Caring Award at the third annual Sexual Assault Awareness Walk on April 25.