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Citizen Portal News Minnesota
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The runway extension at Lakeville Airport is stalled due to ongoing disagreements with the FAA, but the MAC is pushing forward with a new roadway project set for next year!

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#LakevilleCityDakotaCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #TransportationImprovements #LakevilleCity
FAA delays hold up runway extension; MAC will fund roadway paving next year
MAC and airport staff told the AAALAC on Nov. 20 that environmental review disagreements with the FAA are delaying a planned runway extension, and the MAC will fully fund a separate roadway paving project targeted for next year while exploring interim airfield improvements.
citizenportal.ai
November 30, 2025 at 11:19 PM
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Air Lake Airport faces increased noise complaints as discussions unfold about changing its radio frequency to improve operations.

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#LakevilleCityDakotaCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CommunityOutreach #AviationNoise #LakevilleAirport
Air Lake advisory panel reviews spike in noise complaints and proposed 123.05 radio frequency
At its Nov. 20 AAALAC meeting in Lakeville, staff reported five noise complaints in Air Lake Airport’s third quarter — up from three the prior year — and discussed a proposed UNICOM frequency change to 123.05 with FCC timelines and a public outreach plan.
citizenportal.ai
November 30, 2025 at 11:18 PM
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The ALBERT LEA PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT is launching an innovative survey to ensure every voice in the community is heard before making crucial facility decisions!

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#MN #CitizenPortal #MultimodalOutreach #CommunityInput #EducationAccess #MinnesotaPublicSchools
District task force plans multimodal survey, targeted outreach and translation to shape facility recommendations
Task force members agreed to pilot a short, multimodal community survey (website pop‑up plus targeted listening sessions), recommended SurveyMonkey over Google Forms, discussed translation (Spanish and Korean) and set a follow‑up meeting to review results on Dec. 10.
citizenportal.ai
November 30, 2025 at 10:54 PM
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Albert Lea Public School District is facing a significant drop in student enrollment, raising urgent questions about future facilities and special education funding.

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#MN #EducationPlanning #CitizenPortal #SpecialEducationCosts #EnrollmentTrends #MinnesotaPublicSchools
Albert Lea officials flag steady enrollment losses, warn special‑education costs complicate facility planning
District presenters told a facilities planning meeting that declining birth cohorts and students open‑enrolling elsewhere mean multi‑year enrollment declines; special‑education cross‑subsidy and program distribution will affect any building recommendations.
citizenportal.ai
November 30, 2025 at 10:37 PM
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Forest Lake City Council takes a stand against proposed density increases and affordable housing changes by the Metropolitan Council—could this spark a larger debate on local development?

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#ForestLakeCityWashingtonCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment
Forest Lake council objects to parts of Met Council system statement, requests hearing
Forest Lake voted to submit a resolution objecting to proposed Metropolitan Council changes including a density increase, forecasted household numbers and affordable‑housing allocation bands and requested a hearing with the Met Council's land use advisory committee.
citizenportal.ai
November 30, 2025 at 10:17 PM
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The Forest Lake City Council has hit pause on a crucial cannabis retail permit as they seek clarity on licensing and zoning, leaving the future of local cannabis sales in limbo.

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#ForestLakeCityWashingtonCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #ZoningRegulations #PublicSafety
Council tables Forest Lake Cannabis interim use permit amid code and licensing concerns
The Forest Lake City Council voted to table an interim use permit for a proposed retail cannabis shop at 1467 Lake Street South to allow staff to seek legal guidance from the state Office of Cannabis Management and to pursue ordinance language changes addressing micro business licensing and residential buffers.
citizenportal.ai
November 30, 2025 at 10:13 PM
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After more than 20 years of dedicated service, Minnetonka Mayor Brad Wearsome is honored for his impactful leadership in city planning, public safety, and community collaboration.

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#MinnetonkaCityHennepinCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #PublicSafety #CommunityLeadership
Minnetonka honors outgoing Mayor Brad Wearsome for decades of city leadership
The Minnetonka City Council held a formal recognition for Mayor Brad Wearsome on Nov. 24, highlighting two decades-plus of service, local and regional leadership, and projects from trail expansion to public safety initiatives.
citizenportal.ai
November 30, 2025 at 1:34 PM
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The Burnsville City Council has greenlit the ambitious 'Big Hits at the Gateway' complex, but not without a heated showdown over groundwater safety that could shape the future of local recreation.

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#BurnsvilleDakotaCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #BurnsvilleEntertainment
Burnsville council approves land-use permits for ‘Big Hits at the Gateway’ after heated debate over landfill contamination
The Burnsville City Council approved preliminary and final plats, a conditional-use permit and a planned-unit development for the ‘Big Hits at the Gateway’ entertainment complex, while attaching conditions requiring state agency (MPCA/MDH) approvals and a development agreement that memorializes remediation measures.
citizenportal.ai
November 30, 2025 at 7:23 AM
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Lakeville's Student Services is tackling rising enrollments for English learners and special education, revealing new metrics and staffing challenges that could reshape the future for over 2,000 students!

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#MN #CitizenPortal #LanguageAccess #SpecialEducationSupport
Lakeville presentation shows rising EL and special-education enrollments; district working to hire staff and add dashboard metrics
Student Services told the board it will add EL and special-education metrics to the dashboard; staff said about 2,067 students (roughly 17%) receive special-education services, EL counts are rising, the district uses a weighted formula (~1:35) to allocate EL staffing, and the district currently has about 1.0 FTE open for EL and roughly 10 open special-education positions.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 9:46 PM
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Exciting changes are coming to our district, with a proposed $11.4M stadium upgrade and a $15.3M alternative learning center to enhance equity and resources for all students!

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#MN #CitizenPortal #InfrastructurePlanning #CommunityEngagement #MinnesotaFacilities #EducationEquity
Board weighs $11.4M stadium upgrade, $15.3M ALC concept and boundary changes as part of 2035 facilities vision
District staff presented a Facilities Vision through 2035 including an $11.4 million high-school stadium upgrade, a $15.3 million alternative learning center concept at Lakeville South, and multiple middle-school expansion/new-school options; the board discussed advisory-group composition, equity, feeder impacts and a community survey and scheduled further work in early December and January.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
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Lakeville's budget projection reveals a $10,000 per student revenue but warns of rising costs that could strain the district's finances.

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#MN #BudgetPlanning #CitizenPortal #MinnesotaSchools #EducationFunding #StructuralBalance
Lakeville budget outlook: $10,000 per pupil revenue, $400 per-pupil levy room, and a growing structural gap
Finance staff told the board the district receives about $10,000 per pupil in total revenue, roughly 25.5% of that from local levies, and has room for about $400 per pupil in a new operating levy (about $5 million) before hitting the statewide cap; staff warned special-education and EL growth will pressure the general fund.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 9:44 PM
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Lakeville teachers are calling for a fair contract as negotiations hit a standstill, warning that delays could drive talent to neighboring districts.

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#MN #CitizenPortal #TeacherSupport #CommunityEngagement #LakevilleSchools #EducationReform
Lakeville teachers urge fair, timely contract as district moves to mediation; board schedules follow-up bargaining
Education Minnesota Lakeville told the school board negotiations reached an impasse Nov. 5 and mediation is scheduled for Jan. 8; teachers urged a timely settlement and the board agreed to resume bargaining Dec. 11 and defer a public teacher-board forum until after contract resolution.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 9:43 PM
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A groundbreaking study reveals that the Whitewater River valley has accumulated an astonishing 6 to 7 feet of sediment over the past century, reshaping our understanding of land use and river dynamics.

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#MN #CitizenPortal #AgriculturalPractices #MinnesotaRiverValley
University of Minnesota researchers reconstruct century of sedimentation in Whitewater River valley
A University of Minnesota team reported that legacy agricultural erosion deposited roughly 6–7 feet on average across parts of the Whitewater River valley, using archival cross‑section surveys and soil borings to inform models projecting future river response to land use and changing precipitation.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 8:46 AM
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A groundbreaking tool that harnesses LIDAR technology has identified thousands of potential water-storage sites in Minnesota, revolutionizing local decision-making for wetland restoration.

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#MN #CitizenPortal #WaterStorage #EnvironmentalPlanning #MinnesotaWaterResources
BWSR presents GIS and modeling tool to identify water‑storage sites and speed local project decisions
The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) demonstrated a PTM‑app integrated framework using LIDAR to map drain basins and tens of thousands of candidate water‑storage sites; the tool generates hydrographs in real time and supports watershed engagement and prioritization.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 8:39 AM
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Scott County's specialty courts are transforming lives with expanded eligibility, focused support, and success stories that highlight the power of housing and mentorship in reducing recidivism.

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#ScottCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #ScottCountyVeterans #HousingSupport
Scott County outlines treatment and veterans court outcomes; program expands referrals, stresses housing and peer support
County staff and judges updated commissioners on specialty courts Nov. 18, reporting expanded eligibility after 2024 statutory changes, improved life factors (housing, employment, child contact) for graduates, and emphasis on transformation houses, curfew checks and peer/mentor supports to reduce recidivism.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 8:01 AM
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The Minnesota Legislative Commission is taking a bold step to refine conflict-of-interest rules, aiming to enhance member participation and expertise in proposal reviews.

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#MN #CitizenPortal #MinnesotaConflictOfInterest #CivicAccountability #LegislativeReform
LCMR asks staff to draft narrower conflict‑of‑interest statute and to codify project‑manager/personal‑payment prohibition
After months of internal debate and a member survey, the commission asked staff to draft statutory language replacing the 2023 amendment with a clearer prohibition: members may not serve as a project manager for or personally receive funds from proposals considered by LCCMR.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 7:58 AM
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The Scott County Ditch Board is grappling with the future of County Ditch 4, facing potential abandonment as rehabilitation bids soar above $140,000.

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#ScottCounty #MN #PublicPolicy #CitizenPortal #ScottCountyDrainage #WaterConservation #InfrastructureRehabilitation
Scott County Ditch Board weighs abandoning Ditch 4 after rehabilitation bids top $140,000; continuation scheduled
County Ditch 4 hearings resumed Nov. 18 as staff reported a full rehabilitation bid of $141,125 and presented assessment scenarios showing large per-parcel impacts. The board voted to meet with Credit River officials and continued the public hearing to Dec. 16 at 8:00 a.m.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 7:52 AM
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Big changes are coming with the draft 2027 RFP as the commission adopts new funding priorities and refines the meeting calendar for better efficiency!

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#MN #MinnesotaCommission #CitizenPortal #FundingPriorities #StrategicPlanning #MemberEvaluation
LCMR adopts draft 2027 RFP and gives staff direction to refine meeting calendar
The commission adopted the draft 2027 Request for Proposals (with staff technical edits) and provided direction on a compromise meeting calendar: staff will mix early release timing with a mid‑season presentation schedule and return refined dates for member review.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 7:49 AM
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The Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources is pushing for a significant shift in land acquisition rules, aiming to streamline the DNR's role and extend review times from 10 to 30 days.

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#MN #CitizenPortal #MinnesotaResources #LandAcquisition #LegislativeReform
LCMR directs staff to draft bill narrowing DNR approval of ENRTF land acquisitions, extending review time
The Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources voted to ask staff to draft legislation to revert Minnesota Statute 116P.17 to its original 2010 scope — limiting DNR commissioner approval to lands intended for DNR conveyance — and to extend the commissioner review window from 10 to 30 days.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 7:46 AM
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Measles has made a comeback in Scott County, with health officials urging immediate vaccination as local coverage falls dangerously short of protective levels.

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#ScottCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #VaccinationEducation #MeaslesAwareness #CommunityHealth #ScottCountyPublicHealth
Scott County health officials warn after first local measles case; urge vaccination as coverage lags
Public health officials told the county board on Nov. 18 that measles is resurging nationally and that Scott County reported its first confirmed case after overseas travel. Dr. Wilcox said local MMR coverage (about 84.8%) falls well short of the roughly 94.6% needed to prevent spread and urged vaccination and provider outreach.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 7:45 AM
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The Lakeville City Planning Commission has taken a significant step towards sustainability by recommending a new indoor composting and recycling facility that promises to transform waste management in the area.

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#LakevilleCityDakotaCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #SustainableDevelopment
Planning commission recommends PUD for Dakota Waste Solutions indoor composting and recycling facility
Lakeville planning commissioners voted to send a Planned Unit Development (PUD), preliminary plat and rezoning for a 37-acre indoor composting and recycling facility at 215th and Kaparia to City Council; the applicant said MPCA and county licensing remain to be finalized.
citizenportal.ai
November 29, 2025 at 1:27 AM
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In a close 3-2 vote, the Stearns County Planning Commission has put the future of 40.5 acres near Lake Moriah in play, as a family seeks to rezone for their changing needs.

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#StearnsCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #CommunityDevelopment #LandUsePlanning #EnvironmentalSustainability
Commission narrowly approves Jones rezoning to R‑10; item heads to County Board
The Planning Commission voted 3–2 to forward Carol and Clark Jones' request to rezone roughly 40.5 acres in Linden Township from AG‑40 to R‑10; staff noted the site is in a shoreland overlay and has a LISA score of 39.05, and commissioners split on spot‑zoning and neighborhood compatibility concerns.
citizenportal.ai
November 28, 2025 at 11:21 PM
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Students from Recori FFA took center stage at a public hearing, passionately debating the pros and cons of on-farm anaerobic digesters that could transform local waste into renewable energy.

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#StearnsCounty #MN #CitizenPortal #StearnsCountyAgriculture #CommunityInvolvement
Recori FFA presents pros and cons of on‑farm anaerobic digesters; planning panel commends students
A Recori FFA Ag Issues team staged a practice public hearing and presented the benefits and risks of on‑farm anaerobic digesters; ABC Renewables and the Christiansen family outlined benefits including RNG production and digestate use, while nearby residents raised concerns about nutrient loading, truck traffic, odor and property values; the commission commended the students.
citizenportal.ai
November 28, 2025 at 11:13 PM
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Mound City Council just approved a $7.24 million bond for critical street and utility projects—what does this mean for your wallet?

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#MoundCityHennepinCounty #MN #PublicFinance #WaterSewerRates #CitizenPortal #MoundCityUtilities #InfrastructureDevelopment
Council approves $7.24M bond issuance, property tax abatements and 2026 fee schedule after debt and rate presentations
The council adopted a street reconstruction overlay plan and approved general obligation bonds and property tax abatements; staff and consultant Ehlers presented a 2026 water/sewer rate study showing residential quarterly increases of roughly $28–$49 depending on usage.
citizenportal.ai
November 28, 2025 at 7:54 AM
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Richfield has just secured a $6.16 million bond to transform Veterans Park and enhance the Woodlake Nature Center, backed by a strong AA+ rating and a remarkably low interest rate!

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#RichfieldCityHennepinCounty #MN #PublicFunding #CitizenPortal #CommunityInvestment
Richfield awards $6.16 million sales tax revenue bond issue for parks and nature center
Council approved awarding a $6,160,000 general obligation sales tax revenue bond (Series 2025A) with a 'AA+' rating and ~3.07% true interest cost to fund Veterans Park improvements and Woodlake Nature Center work.
citizenportal.ai
November 28, 2025 at 6:48 AM