Town briefs

Grant will further downtown efforts Although it hit some turbulence along the way, the city of Rosemount's request for a major grant to help kick start the revitalization of its historic downtown has been approved.

The biggest single grant, in a cluster of Metropolitan Council grants to cities adding up to almost $6 million, will go to support a downtown development project with shops and offices on the ground floor, underground parking and apartments on upper floors. The grant is for $1,587,500.

The money, approved by the full council last week, will help buy land, reshape streets, create new sidewalks and street lighting, and more. The goal is to re-create the look of a 19th century downtown, and to signal what later development in the same area will look like.

The Rosemount project gets the biggest sum, but it also encountered the greatest number of questions. Members of the Republican-dominated council dislike using eminent domain, the right of government to seize private property provided the owner gets a fair price.

At the last minute, however, the city was able to negotiate a price with the owner of the parcel needed to complete the project and avert eminent domain proceedings.

Affordable rental units are on the way The Metropolitan Council also awarded $210,000 to help make possible the construction of 25 affordable rented townhouses in Farmington. The Twin Ponds project will be owned and managed by the Dakota County Community Development Agency.

The grant was among $1.9 million awarded to affordable housing projects -- three ownership, six rental -- providing 300 new or rehabilitated homes to families unable to pay market rates.

New policy restricts expense accounts The city has adopted a new policy to "tighten our controls" over expense-account meals and travel.

The policy limits the cost of meals that staff members may charge to the city.

"We previously didn't have meal maximums," said the city's spokeswoman, Amy Barnett. And it clamps down on approvals for work-related travel.

Henceforth, for instance, dinners in Minnesota may cost no more than $18 with tip, and, outside the state, $30, with alcohol not covered. Department managers or the city administrator must authorize any conference or training session in advance.

High school locked down after threat Administrators locked down Prior Lake High School for two hours Tuesday morning after learning of a threat at the school.

Kristi Mussman, a spokeswoman for the Prior Lake-Savage School District, did not disclose the nature of the threat but said school officials and Savage police determined that the threat did not warrant evacuating the building, at 7575 W. 150th St.

However, it was significant enough that students were kept in classrooms with their teachers while authorities searched the building, she said.

"We do take these threats seriously because you never know," Mussman said.

Classes for about 2,000 students in grades 9 to 12 were stopped at about 9:30 a.m. and resumed at 10:51 a.m.

This was the second threat at the school this year. In September the building was evacuated for several hours after a bomb threat.

TIM HARLOW

City Council weighs 'social host' law The City Council referred to its newly created Community Safety Task Force on Monday night the question of whether the city should have a law making "social hosts" responsible for drinking by underage people.

The issue has become visible in recent months because Chaska and Mankato have approved ordinances making it a misdemeanor.

Prior Lake Mayor Jack Haugen raised the issue a couple of weeks ago, saying there's too much underage drinking in and around the city. As in Carver County, where other cities have urged the county to adopt the rule, other council members in Prior Lake asked whether the county or state should take that step.

Tribal leaders return All three members of the decision-making group that oversees the day-to-day affairs of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community have been reelected to four-year terms, the first time that has ever happened.

The three members of the tribe's Business Council are chairman Stanley Crooks, who will get a fifth consecutive term; vice chairman Glynn Crooks, and secretary/treasurer Keith Anderson.

The tribe is the largest employer in Scott County, with 4,100 people working at Mystic Lake casino and its other enterprises.

The election was Dec. 11.

Tribe giving $25,000 toward holiday cheer A nonprofit organization serving residents of Scott, Dakota and Carver counties is the recipient of the largest of many gifts the Sioux Community is awarding to brighten the holidays for the disadvantaged, the tribe announced this week.

A gift of $25,000 is going to the CAP agency, which serves children, families and senior citizens. Altogether, the tribe is giving $233,446 to 44 social service agencies, most of them in the Twin Cities. The money will be used for toys, clothing, food, and other gifts.

David Peterson covers Scott County and can be reached at 952-882-9023 or dapeterson@startribune.com. Kevin Duchschere covers Dakota County and can be reached at 952-882-9017 or kduchschere@startribune.com.