How would you rate the Scott County Board on a
scale of 1 to 10 (with 1 the lowest and 10 highest)?

Between 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is scheduled to arrive to restock fish in the Mill Pond. The public is invited to watch.

For more information, go to http://www.jordannews.com/news/animals/mill-pond-officially-reopens-wedn....

Redoing Park Drive could cost more than $425,000.

The Jordan City Council asked for cost estimates for improvement to Park Drive, which runs alongside the Mill Pond and through Lagoon Park. City Engineer Carol Caron presented three concept plans, each of which included 90-plus paved parking spaces, and the council asked that the design include just a couple fewer parking spaces and a little bit more beach area.

"I'm envisioning that beach space is going to be at a premium," Mayor Ron Jabs said. 

Jordan will make another payment on the Well No. 8 project.

Tonight, the city council OK'd spending of $62,007.69 from the bond proceeds it borrowed last year.

The well is located at the water treatment plant, which is near St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in lowertown Jordan.

City Engineer Carol Caron said the well has been fully drilled and televised so that city officials can see its level of production.

"It looks like it's going to be a very good well for us," Caron said. "A lot of water." 

If the Jordan City Council wanted more streetlights along Highway 282, they would cost an average increase of $2,500 apiece.

Months ago, the council authorized Xcel Energy to install a dozen 150-watt streetlights along Highway 282 at a cost of $90,055, or about $7,500 per light. Late last month, the council talked about adding four more streetlights -- two near the intersection of Highway 282 and East Street, two west of Mertens Street and near the highway bridge over Sand Creek.

The Jordan Fire Department got a special event permit for its 125th anniversary party.

A downtown parade begins at 1 p.m., Fire Chief Steve Kochlin said, and bands begin playing at 7:30 p.m. at the fire station, which is located at 501 Varner St. in lowertown Jordan.

Other festivities -- including water fights and other firefighter competitions, games for children, fire truck displays, dancing, beer and wine coolers, pop, bottled water, tacos, French fries, hamburgers, and hotdogs -- will wrap up about 10 hours later, Kochlin said.

A little birdie pointed out the impact of a delete-all amendment on House File 1349. It's the Minnesota House of Representatives omnibus tax bill.

The amendment factors household income into the property tax equation. The link above will send you to a page with a property tax calculator -- that's the most interesting part.

Read the bill by clicking here. 

The Jordan City Council recently passed this mission statement: "The foundation of Jordan is built on a small-town historic presence that
supports quality services, collaboration, leadership, and a well-planned
future." Do you agree with the city’s vision, as stated in the mission
statement?

Just a minute ago, State Rep. Mark Buesgens, R-Jordan, tried to make an amendment that would've added the proposal for a Canterbury Park racino to the omnibus agriculture and veterans policy bill (House File 3683).

It was ruled not germaine to the bill and thus not included.

"Perhaps I went about that last amendment the wrong way," Buesgens said on the House floor. "You have to build a bridge to get across the water."

Economic development in Jordan is healthy, Mayor Ron Jabs noted as an aside during the city council meeting tonight.

For a discussion about this summer's art festival, City Planner Casey MacCallum put together a map with the names of businesses that front downtown Jordan streets. The map was meant to factor into a decision about which sections of roadway to close for the festival, which annually draws about 2,000 people to the historic business district. 

The start of something big often starts with something little.

Businessowners have succeeded in garnering a $1,500 pledge from the city of Jordan to take out an advertisement in a promotional brochure meant to showcase the city's downtown to tourists.

The city council unanimously approved the measure this week, following the recommendation of the Jordan Economic Development Authority to pass the proposal made by Terri Knox, Mara Wallach, and Vicki Anderson.

Building permit revenues are lower than expected, Jordan Finance Director Tom Nikunen told the city council tonight.

The city budget calls for $230,100 in revenues to come from building permits. During the first quarter of the year, only $7,855.62 had been received. That's a little more than 3.4 percent of the annual budget, according to Nikunen's monthly finance report.

"Theoretically, we should be at 25 percent," Mayor Ron Jabs said, "but we're at 3.41 percent."

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jordan has received approval from the city council for the church's fall festival and 150th anniversary gambling permits, as well as a temporary liquor license for the anniversary event.

The church will celebrate its anniversary June 21-22, the same weekend as the Jordan Art Festival. The fall festival is set for Sept. 21.

These actions took place at the April 7 council meeting, according to the minutes of the meeting, which the council approved this week.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources plans to stock the Mill Pond with largemouth bass, bluegill (sunfish), and black crappies.

“They populate very quickly,” Bendzick said.

At no cost to the city, the DNR nets the fish in the morning and stocks them in the afternoon.

Stocking the pond is part of a three-year lake management plan passed 6-0 by the Jordan City Council earlier this month. Barry Ullmann was absent from the meeting.

The Jordan City Council voted earlier this month to exchange with St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church the right to build a parking lot on the West Street right-of-way for permission for the city of Jordan to use a portion of the property as a staging area during the construction of an addition to the water treatment plant.

Jordan will excavate the parking lot site and place 9 inches of rock in the area at a cost of $10,000. The cost had been worked into the project bid for the water plant expansion.

Interested in the city of Jordan's comprehensive plan for 2008?

Draft versions of the introduction, the natural resources inventory, and the demographic profile are posted online at http://www.jordan.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={C5E359B9-6663-49C4-A953-390238D41058}.

The New Prague City Council will review an economic impact study it commissioned earlier this year in regard to a potential site for Wal-Mart.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. on the second floor of the New Prague city hall. To see the public notice, click here.

With severe weather season approaching, it might be a good idea to review the city's storm siren policy if you're not familiar with it.

This has been updated in the past year or so: http://www.jordan.govoffice.com/vertical/Sites/%7B04B02830-4B09-4682-A96....  

Lawn sprinkling restrictions have gone into effect.

The restrictions follow the odd-even system, plus time restrictions.

A customer whose home or business address ends with an odd number may sprinkle on odd-numbered dates.

A customer whose home or business address ends with an even number may sprinkle on even-numbered dates.

In addition, no sprinkling is permitted between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., regardless of the home or address. A 30-day exception will be allowed for new seed or new sod.

To you, what are the best things about having a revived Mill Pond by this summer?

The Jordan Fire Department is marking its 125th anniversary this year with a citywide celebration.

A parade through downtown Jordan begins at 1 p.m.  

Following that will be firefighter competitions, a fire truck display, games for children, and music from Zuhrah Pipes and Drums and the St. Peter Govenaires Drum Corps. From 8 p.m. to midnight, Bobby Vee will perform.

Activities after the parade will be held at the fire station, 501 Varner St., and food and beverages will be sold throughout the day.

For more information, call the city of Jordan at 952-492-2535. 

Residents of the city of Jordan and Sand Creek Township can dispose of
unwanted household items during the annual spring cleanup day at the
Mini-Met ballpark parking lot.

For more information, go to http://www.jordannews.com/news/activities/jordan-sand-creek-township-hos....

Residents of the city of Jordan and Sand Creek Township can dispose of
unwanted household items during the annual spring cleanup day at the
Mini-Met ballpark parking lot.

For more information, go to http://www.jordannews.com/news/activities/jordan-sand-creek-township-hos....

A meeting of the Jordan Planning Commission is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 10.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Meetings
generally take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the
city hall.

A meeting of the Jordan City Council is scheduled to begin at 6:30
p.m. Monday, June 16. A work session
will follow.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Meetings
generally take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the
city hall.

A meeting of the Jordan City Council is scheduled to begin at 6:30
p.m. Monday, June 2.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Meetings
generally take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the
city hall.

A meeting of the Jordan Parks and Recreation Commission is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Monday, April 28.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Meetings
generally take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the
city hall.

Memorial Day services are planned to celebrate Jordan's fallen soldiers and deceased firefighters.

A meeting of the Jordan Public Safety Committee is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 27.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E.
Generally, city meetings that are open to the public take place in the
city council chamber in the basement of the
city hall.

A meeting of the Jordan Public Safety Committee is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 22.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Generally, city meetings that are open to the public take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the
city hall.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty line-item vetoed the state bonding bill today, but to the relief of local officials, kept $1 million in for the Scott County Public Safety Training Center.

The training center, which is already partially built with local and state funding and ready to begin operations, wasn't part of the governor's bonding proposal. It was only included in the senate's bonding legislation, but still made it into the final bill agreed to by the House and Senate. The center is located at the historic Mudbaden site in Sand Creek Township.

I am Baffled by the House and Senates Proposed budget. How is it that the Democratic led House and senate can impose the biggest tax increase on transportation in recent years to fund delapidated roads and bridges . But when it comes to funding these projects they fail to earmark money to roads and a mere 2 million to bridges. But yet earmark 4 million to do a study, a STUDY for a high speed light rail project from St. Paul to chicago. I would like them to explain to us how that helps the road and bridge problem in the state of Minnesota?

Why don’t you use the Jordan library?

Are you in favor of Scott County increasing its sales tax for transportation?

A meeting of the Jordan Economic Development Authority is scheduled to begin at 7
p.m. Tuesday, March 18.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Meetings generally take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the city hall.

A meeting of the Jordan City Council is scheduled to begin at 6:30
p.m. Monday, April 21. A work session
will follow.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Meetings
generally take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the
city hall.

A meeting of the Jordan City Council is scheduled to begin at 6:30
p.m. Monday, April 7.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Meetings
generally take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the
city hall.

A meeting of the Jordan Planning Commission is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 13.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Meetings
generally take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the
city hall.

A meeting of the Jordan Planning Commission is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 8.

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Meetings generally take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the city hall.

A meeting of the Jordan Planning Commission is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 11. 

The Jordan Government Center is located at 210 First St. E. Meetings generally take place in the city council chamber in the basement of the city hall.

For more information, go to
http://www.jordan.govoffice.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={F292D1A9-CFA7-4DB4-87BE-652548D036D3}. 

Here's some of what the Jordan Public Safety Committee has been discussing:

- The committee asked Hope Lutheran Church to revise its proposal for a crosswalk. A design provided to the committee did not connect to a sidewalk.

- A police officer slipped on some ice and twisted his hip. The incident, which was determined to be unpreventable, was covered by workers compensation.

Here's what Jordan's park board has been up to lately: 

- Commissioner Jerry Langsweirdt was appointed chairman and Commissioner Donna Breeggemann vice chairwoman of the Jordan Parks and Recreation Commission this year.

- Langsweirdt, John Glyn, Marty Huss, and Margaret Knutson were interviewed for positions on the park board.

- Breeggemann and Commissioner Ron Beckman discussed writing a letter to Chris Schwingler thanking her for years of work and support.

- Mayor Ron Jabs spoke about the Mill Pond dredging project.

Are you aware that despite the recent passage of the Mass transit tax increase passed by the Mn legislature that it doesnt have to be accepted by the county Commissioners. Meaning that the county of Scott can forgo the implementation and collection of the new mass transit Tax increase. All that needs to be done is to convince the county commissioners to block these tax increases, Thats means to let them know how you feel on the increases by calling them or sending them an email. You can find a list of Commissioners including

http://www.leg.state.mn.us/leg/legis.asp
House bill: HF3383
Senate bill: SF3111

A joint powers agreement related to hazardous materials met the approval of the Jordan City Council tonight.

In a unanimous vote, the council OK'd a document that encourages the governmental entities that are part of the Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency (SCALE) to provide hazardous materials and terroristic threat responses throughout the county.

The Hazardous Materials Response Group would coordinate SCALE members' effort to respond to hazardous materials and terroristic threat incidents. 

Tonight, the Jordan City Council passed an amendment to the local law enforcement mutual aid pact.

The agreement provides for Belle Plaine, Elko New Market, Jordan, New Prague, Prior Lake, Savage, Shakopee, Three Rivers Park District, and Scott County to assist each other by making equipment, personnel, ant other resources available throughout the rest of the county. 

State Rep. David Bly, DFL-Northfield, sent out an update that focused on transportation issues. He represents Minnesota House of Representatives District 25B, which includes Helena Township.

See the PDF attached below.

What’s the best way for you to make up with your neighbors – officials at city hall or those in favor of the church’s position – after a bitter dispute about widening the intersection of highways 169 and 282, near an important historic building?

Jordan paid another $41,078.81 to contractor E.H. Renner for work done on well No. 8.

The 600-foot-dep well behind the water treatment plant, near St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church in lowertown Jordan, will tap into the Mt. Simon aquifer.

The city of Jordan is reapplying for a grant it failed to receive last year from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

If the city is successful, the DNR’s local trail connection program would provide a 50-50 matching grant for a proposed trail system that includes a proposed trail along County Road 66 (aka Old Highway 169) in Jordan that recently escalated in price by about $20,000.

City Planner Casey MacCallum said a retaining wall is necessary along a segment of the county road.