Briefs: Woodbury, Stillwater Rotary Clubs raise money to fight youth homelessness

The Woodbury, Stillwater Sunrise, and Stillwater Noon Rotary Clubs have joined efforts to raise money to help Washington County's homeless youth population. As a result of the clubs' efforts, Canvas Health's Homeless Youth Program will receive more than $18,000 to continue its services.

Pam Johnson, who oversees Canvas Health's Homeless Youth Outreach program, said the donation will help local youth ages 16-21 and will be used for food, clothing and shelter, allowing youth to stay in school, get a job and ultimately reach independence.

Canvas Health's Homeless Youth Outreach Program offers outreach and engagement, reunification with family/kinship, scattered site housing, connection to resources for food and clothing, employment search and assistance, lessons on financial responsibility, connections to health and dental care, truancy prevention, assistance with higher education and connections to shelters. The program also is currently recruiting for host homes. The outreach coordinator can be reached at 612-695-8183.

Tax-deductible contributions can be made out to Canvas Health and sent to Canvas Health Development Department at 7066 Stillwater Boulevard, Oakdale, MN 55128 or online at CanvasHealth.org/DonateNow.

Some Woodbury residents have recently inquired about work taking place at various pond locations surrounding Evergreen East and West parks and the Tamarack Nature Preserve, city officials said.

The city is dredging sediment from the bottom of the stormwater ponds, regular maintenance that helps improve water quality, the city said. However, organic material removed from the pond is releasing an unpleasant odor. Trucks will be removing the material from the site and the project should be completed by the end of the year.

Anyone with questions can contact the Engineering Division at 651-714-3593 or engineering@ci.woodbury.mn.us.

In turn, the city will convey to the county a conservation easement over the property and title to 75 feet of the property along Bailey Road for use as a road and a trail.

In 2013, the County Board approved a contribution of LWL bond funds to Woodbury to buy 29.25 acres of land. In July, the city bought the property for $723,194. The city recently approved the easement and completed the management plan.

Washington County will work with the city of Lake Elmo to improve Lake Elmo Avenue through the downtown part of the city. The county will pay $228,273 of the $826,223 cost for appraisal services.

The $6.5 million project will correct roadway deficiencies, such as poor drainage and parking shortages, and limited sidewalks. It will include pavement refurbishment and underground infrastructure improvements. The city will install sanitary sewer along the roadway.

The part of the project to rebuild city streets will occur in 2015, with work on Lake Elmo Avenue occurring in 2016 and final cleanup and landscaping planned for 2017.

The board supports the reappointment of Harry Melander, a resident of Mahtomedi, to represent District 12 on the council, and Sandy Rummel, a resident of White Bear Lake, to represent District 11. Both districts encompass cities in Washington County.