The Washington County Board will vote on a resolution Tuesday calling for a special election to fill the Second District seat held by Commissioner Ted Bearth, who died March 10 of a chronic lung disease.
Because more than one year remains in Bearth's term, Minnesota law requires that a special election be held to fill the seat until the next general election in 2018.
County officials said the board has no authority to fill the seat before the special election, so it will operate with four members until Bearth's successor is elected.
Candidate filings for the special election will be accepted May 17-31. If more than two candidates file, a primary will be held Aug. 9; the general election will be Nov. 8.
The winner of the special election can be sworn into office once the canvass board has met and the election is certified in mid-November.
Bearth, 77, was a longtime Oakdale politician and civic activist known for forging strong ties between the county and city governments, particularly in economic development.
The Second District includes Oakdale, Birchwood, Pine Springs, Willernie, Landfall, and portions of Woodbury, Mahtomedi and White Bear Lake.
Kevin Giles
Brooklyn Park
Residents to weigh in on city's future goals
Brooklyn Park is launching a campaign to create a new strategic plan for the community — the Brooklyn Park 2025 Plan — to be shaped by residents' views and goals for the city.
"Do you want more parks? Streets repaired more often? We need to know what you most value about this community and what goals the city should aspire to achieve," according to a city staff announcement.
Residents are invited to attend one of a series of community meetings in the next few months, where they will be able to talk with city staffers. The meetings will be held at different locations throughout the city.
Residents can also comment through a feedback form that will be on the city's website, brooklynpark.org/.
Shannon Prather
Stillwater
Courthouse planning for Prohibition exhibit
The Washington County Historic Courthouse is creating an exhibit on the history of Prohibition in the county.
Staff members are looking for vintage photographs, artifacts, news clippings, brewing equipment and stories that are representative of all of Washington County. The exhibit will be installed in the courthouse's vault exhibit area and run from June 4 through December.
Anyone with items they're willing to offer for display should call Historic Courthouse at 651-275-7079, or send an e-mail to historiccourthouse@co.washington.mn.us/. Items for display will be chosen the week of April 30 and returned to their owners in December.
Kevin Giles
North St. Paul
'Living Streets' plan to go under review
North St. Paul this spring will showcase its "Living Streets" plan, intended to promote physical activity and encourage more people to walk and bike to schools and parks.
In December, the City Council approved two demonstration projects — one on Margaret Street from downtown to Silver Lake Park, and the other on First Street between Richardson Elementary School and the high school.
The Margaret Street project features a bike lane on either side of the road, and the First Street project features a temporary sidewalk between the schools.
A neighborhood meeting on the bike lane project will be held April 12 in the fellowship hall at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 2600 Margaret St. The First Street neighborhood meeting will be held in May at a date to be determined.
North St. Paul is a city of about 12,000 in Ramsey County and separate from the city of St. Paul.
Kevin Giles
east metro
Closings, detours coming on Hwy. 8
Hwy. 8 near Taylors Falls will be closed at times this spring for a resurfacing project.
Crews will work from the west intersection of Hwy. 95/Tern Ave. in Franconia and Shafer townships to the St. Croix River bridge in Taylors Falls.
A new roundabout also will be built at the west intersection of Hwys. 8 and 95.
During construction, Hwy. 8 will be closed to through traffic and detours will be posted for cars and trucks.
For more information, go to tinyurl.com/hrgzaxl/.
David Peterson
