By Lori Carlson, Editor 

With help from a developer, the Scott County Community Development Agency (CDA) is proposing to redevelop the corner of Main Avenue and County Road 21 currently occupied by a flower shop and two other businesses.

By Lori Carlson, Editor 

Deciding that “change for change’s purpose isn’t always good,” the Prior Lake City Council on Monday agreed to maintain the status quo for garbage hauling in the city.

The ongoing debate about whether – and how – to change the city’s method of garbage collection is back on the agenda at tonight’s Prior Lake City Council meeting.

Council members will consider approval of a report regarding garbage hauling. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 4646 Dakota St. 

By Lori Carlson, Editor 

With the budget plan currently on the table for Prior Lake, the average homeowner would pay about 96 cents more next year in city property taxes. But some City Council members said Tuesday that they would like to see a zero-percent increase – or even a decrease – on residents’ 2009 city tax bills.

The Prior Lake City Council will begin detailed discussion of the 2009 budget during a workshop starting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, in the Parkview Community Room at City Hall, 4646 Dakota St.

Council members have discussed in recent meetings the need to reign in spending and look for additional revenue options as the economic slow-down continues.

The Prior Lake City Council has approved the purchase of a $350,000 rescue truck for its new fire station near county roads 42 and 21.

By Lori Carlson, Editor 

The city’s Local Laker Link bus service and the Blue Xpress transportation partnership between Prior Lake, Shakopee and Scott County have had great success in the last year, possibly due to the increase in gas prices and a higher demand for transit services, said Jane Kansier, the city’s building and transportation services director.

By Lori Carlson, Editor 

Making way for a “big-box” liquor retailer to take over a strip mall on Commerce Avenue, a divided Prior Lake City Council approved MGM Wine and Spirits’ request for a liquor license on Monday.

Watzl’s Beach reopened Sunday after an E. coli test came back within the normal range, said City Manager Frank Boyles.

City officials had closed the beach after testing on July 29 showed an E. coli level of 400 cells per milliliter of water. The city’s practice has been to close the beach if the level exceeds 235 cells per milliliter.

By Lori Carlson, Editor 

City leaders hope by the time elections roll around, residents won’t be confused by several changes in polling locations.