Water main construction projects begin
The tap water produced by Minneapolis is among the best in the world. To make sure homes and businesses get to enjoy that quality, the City of Minneapolis cleans and lines 10 miles of water mains each year. This year crews are working in a few Camden areas: Lowry Ave. N., which includes the 2900 and 3000 blocks of Penn Ave. N as well as Lowry Ave. N from Girard to Russell; and Shingle Creek neighborhood – most water customers south of the creek and north of the railroad yard are affected.
There are approximately a thousand miles of water mains in town, and about three-quarters of them are made of unlined cast iron. Over the years, those pipes collect mineral deposits that, while safe, can decrease water volume and discolor water. To fix this, workers scrape off the mineral buildup in several miles of mains every year. They also add a cement lining to prevent the cast iron water main from future mineral build up. These improvements add about 50 years of life to the water mains and keep the water clear.
Funding approved for libraries
The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners approved a revision to the 2008 capital budget to include capital improvements at several libraries in the Minneapolis system, which merged with the Hennepin County libraries January 1. Remodeling and refurbishing includes $150,000 for North Regional Library. The budget also was amended to accelerate planning, design and development of the proposed Camden/Webber Park Library by moving $2 million in funding from 2009 to 2008.
The commissioners also unanimously approved extended Sunday library hours – from noon to 5 p.m. – for 13 Hennepin County libraries including North Regional.
The expanded hours were made possible with revenues from the Twins’ stadium ballpark tax; Minnesota statute provides that up to $2 million per year of sales tax revenue in excess of amounts needed for ballpark debt service may be used to add hours at Hennepin County libraries.
How to get rid of electronics
Minneapolis makes it easy to recycle household appliances. All residents need to do is put them out with their usual recycling, with a note that says, “Take, Please.” On the next business day, crews will take the devices to Hennepin County for recycling at no additional charge.
Because televisions, stereos, computers, cell phones and other electronics contain lead and other toxins, State Law requires that they can’t just be thrown in the trash.