South metro town briefs

Eagan eatery moving to Nicollet Commons The Mediterranean Cruise Cafe, which lost its Eagan location near the old Cedarvale Mall in an eminent domain battle with the city, has a new home lined up in Burnsville.

The Burnsville City Council approved a deal last week to sell cafe owner Jamal Ansari half an acre just north of Nicollet Commons Park. The cafe is buying the land for $165,000, but the city will pay the same amount back to use public restrooms and a pump room that will be built on the lot to serve the park.

The deal calls for construction of the new restaurant to begin this fall and wrap up by May 2009.

Learn about roadwork on Cedar Avenue Dakota County is holding monthly meetings this summer and fall on transit and road improvements planned on Cedar Avenue. The one-hour updates are a chance for residents and business owners to ask questions and hear the latest project updates. Most meetings will take place on the fourth Thursday of the month in Apple Valley at the Dakota County Western Service Center, 14955 Galaxie Av. June's meeting is Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

For more information, go to the city's website, www.ci.apple-valley.mn.us, or call county transit specialist Sam O'Connell at 952-891-7105.

Voters will choose Carlson's successor Peggy Carlson, who said this spring that she would vacate her seat on the City Council this summer, moved up her resignation date one day in order to ensure that her successor will be chosen by election rather than appointment.

Carlson's last day in office is Monday. Voters will elect a new council member in November to serve out the rest of her term, which ends in 2010. The council seats now held by Cyndee Fields and Meg Tilley will also be on the ballot. Filing for city offices opens Tuesday and ends July 15.

Mayor leaving in fall to take teaching post Mayor Kevan Soderberg said last week that he won't seek re-election this fall because he has accepted a job as an air traffic control teacher for the University of Oklahoma.

Soderberg, 50, served six years on the Farmington City Council before he was elected mayor in 2004. He said he'll complete his current term, and may continue to live in Farmington, commuting to his new job in Oklahoma City.

He retired in August after 22 years with the Federal Aviation Administration.

Proposal would limit vehicles on property A new rule limiting the number of vehicles that can be parked on residential property in Rosemount is slated for its second and final reading at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

The proposed ordinance puts an eight-vehicle cap on cars, boats, trailers and the like allowed outside a home. Vehicles would also have to comply with existing city rules for off-street parking.

Dozens of people showed up at a council meeting this month to speak out on the rule, including many of Kasten's neighbors. But city leaders are eager to get more letters and e-mails with feedback before Tuesday, especially since the new ordinance would apply to the whole community, said acting City Administrator Kim Lindquist.

City OKs roundabout A proposed traffic roundabout that drew a good deal of grumbling at the beginning has been approved by the City Council and sent on to the Scott County Board for its assent.

County traffic engineers want to replace a conventional intersection at Lynn Avenue and McColl Drive with a two-lane roundabout, still an unusual creature in Minnesota. Studies found it would be safer and cheaper in the end, if initially more confusing to motorists.

Many of those attending an open house on the topic last winter were opposed, but in the end the City Council last week was unanimous in its approval.

Two lanes of Hwy. 101 expected to re-open The main route into the historic center of Shakopee from the east is expected to reopen to two lanes of traffic by mid-week.

The project includes a 12-foot-wide trail on the north side, and a six-foot sidewalk on the south, as well as leaving the option of a future trail beneath the bridge to allow for a crossing. The total cost is $1.8 million.

DAVID PETERSON AND SARAH LEMAGIE

Landscape nominees due Monday The deadline is Monday for nominees for the city's ninth annual Garden and Landscape Contest, recognizing plantings at homes and businesses that help improve the city's appearance.

Nominees must be within the city, and visible from the street, enhancing the surrounding area. No one can win more than three years in a row.

The City Council considers nominated properties during a special meeting in July, and recognizes winners at a council meeting. The top three in each category also get gift certificates worth up to $150. Categories include single-family home, neighborhood, townhouse/apartment, apartment/condo balcony, and business.