Scott County did well in the recent allocation of federal transportation dollars for the Twin Cities region.

The county snagged approximately $13 million from the pot of federal funds distributed every two years by the regional Transportation Advisory Board.

Last month, the board allocated roughly $135 million in transportation dollars to metro projects. All but one of the projects Scott County applied for received funding.

The biggest boon for Scott County is millions of dollars to improve Marschall Road (County Road 17).

A meeting on the education module of the SCALE transportation plan is scheduled for 5 p.m. today, Monday, March 8 at City Hall, 4646 Dakota St.

City Council, Planning Commission and Economic Development Advisory Committee members may be in attendance.

SCALE is the Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency. For more information, visit www.scaleinfo.org.

By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent

Lightning fast Internet could be possible for area homes and businesses if locals can convince Google to make Scott County a testing ground for high-speed fiber.

Google is looking for one or more communities across America to become trial sites for its ultra-high-speed broadband network.

Scott County Sheriff Kevin Studnicka has officially announced his candidacy for re-election this year.

“It has truly been an honor to serve as your sheriff over the past three years, and we’ve accomplished many of our goals,” Studnicka said. “We’ve been very proud to witness our office turn into one of the most progressive and innovative in the state. But there are many more goals still yet to achieve in the future - our next step is to turn our office from to a great one to an exceptional one."

Scott County Attorney Pat Ciliberto has announced he will seek a third term in office.

In his re-election announcement, Ciliberto said Scott County has seen an unprecedented growth in crime with the rising population, and he will continue to work with law enforcement and others to meet the challenge effectively.

A group from the Scott County Association for Leadership and Efficiency (SCALE) will travel to Washington, D.C., on Feb. 24 to lobby for funding for Highway 13 corridor improvements.

"The efforts of SCALE and being engaged has really helped, along with the delegation to Washington," said Scott County Public Works Director Lezlie Vermillion at a recent meeting. "This roadway is bigger than just one city, and Washington is recognizing that."

By Shannon Fiecke, Correspondent
As Scott County tries to civilly commit a seventh resident to the state’s sex-offender treatment facility, it is preparing to possibly take one back.

The county has been told it might receive one of the first waves of patients ever to be released from the Minnesota Sex Offender Program.

More than 550 Minnesotans are housed at the program’s two facilities. They are mostly paroled sex offenders who were indefinitely committed for treatment by the courts.

A $1 billion bonding bill introduced late today by the Senate DFL includes $1 million to finish off the Scott County Regional Public Safety Training Center.

Left out of a smaller bonding list proposed earlier by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, the project in Sand Creek Township made the Senate list, edging out another $2.5 billion in projects. 

The training center was also absent from a similar bill unveiled by the House DFL earlier today, which is the start of the 2010 legislative session.

By Lori Carlson, Editor
In the 13 months that social host ordinances have existed in Scott County, 13 people have been investigated for providing a venue for underage drinking.

Social host ordinances make it a misdemeanor for homeowners or hosts of parties to knowingly allow minors to obtain, possess or consume alcohol on their property, regardless of whether the “host” provided the alcohol.

A public information meeting on plans for the reconstruction of County Road 44 is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12 in the cafeteria at Hidden Oaks Middle School, 15855 Fish Point Road, Prior Lake.

Scott County is preparing plans for the road project between Fish Point Road in Prior Lake and County Road 27 in Savage, and on County Road 27 from north of Creekwood Road to south of 154th Street, expanding the roads to four lanes.

The first phase of construction is scheduled to being in spring 2011.
For information about the meeting, call Chris Chromy at (952) 890-0509.