Scott County Road 9 has been closed due to flood waters covering the roadway, according to Scott County Highway Engineer Mitch Rasmussen.

The closed portion of the road is from near Highway 169 to 185th Street W. in Jordan. Rasmussen said the road will remain closed until further notice.

A portion of Carver County Road 45 (aka Scott County Road 9) has also been closed.

Shannon Fiecke of the Shakopee Valley News reports:

Mark Themig, the parks manager for Scott County, has reason to beam.

Last month, Scott County landed its first federal grant for a recreational trail.

And it’s a lot of money.

In its first-ever known try at federal highway dollars, Scott County parks was allocated $1 million, the maximum amount possible, to connect two state trails along the Minnesota River in Shakopee.

Rural residents across Scott County will gather this evening for their annual town meetings.

The meetings, which are run directly by the residents, decide routine business, such as what banks and newspapers to use for the coming year. Citizens also review last year's budget and approve the proposed budget and levy for next year, either at today's discussion or in a meeting continued to this fall.

There are also four townships holding elections today: Jackson, Cedar Lake, Credit River and New Market. The others have moved to fall elections.

Forrest Adams of the Chanhassen Villager reports:

Before forging ahead with a state bonding bill, Gov. Tim Pawlenty this week urged legislators to come to grips with $1.2 billion budget deficit.

In his budget plan, outlined last month, Pawlenty would fill the deficit hole by making cuts in state aid to local units of government, to the health and human services budget, and to state agencies and other programs. It also relies on money from the federal government.

Lori Carlson of the Prior Lake American reports:

Concerned that Mediacom’s recent lawsuit against the city of Prior Lake could have implications for cable TV franchise agreements statewide, Sen. Scott Dibble (DFL-Minneapolis) is leading a charge in the Legislature to clarify the existing cable franchise law.

A press release from the Scott Soil and Water Conservation District:

The Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) in Jordan welcomes a new employee this month. Dan Miller of Minneapolis has been hired as the Water Resource Education Coordinator to provide educational services throughout Scott County regarding stormwater pollution prevention strategies.

A press release from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture:

ST. PAUL -– Minnesota ranks in the top ten of states with the largest number of certified organic farms according to a new survey by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. The 2008 Organic Production Survey also found that while organic farmers enjoy higher sales of their products, they also incur more expenses to raise them compared to U.S. farms overall.

DNR QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Q: With discussions about the 2012 farm bill coming up soon, what are some of the issues the DNR is interested in seeing Congress tackle?

On Feb. 2, Minnesotans narrow the list of gubernatorial candidates during caucus meetings.

For more information about local caucuses or to find your caucus location, click on the PDF attached below.

The Minnesota Legislature reconvenes next week.

So what is the south-of-the-river agenda? From the regional public safety training facility in Sand Creek Township to Scott County roads, find out what local officials are pushing for, in the PDF attached below.