By Forrest Adams

Responding to pressure from property owners in Chanhassen who allow recreational slug hunting on their property, councilors Monday night voted not to restrict it.

By Forrest Adams

A $600,000 partnership between School District 112 and the city of Chanhassen received council approval Monday night.

The partnership calls for the construction of a baseball/softball complex with a covered grandstand and field lights at new Chanhassen High School.

The lone dissenting vote came from councilor Vicki Ernst, who raised numerous objections that she said were based on correspondence between her and Chanhassen residents.

Approval of the master agreement between the City of Chanhassen and Independent School District 112 regarding use of athletic fields at Chanhassen High School is on the city council consent agenda.

The meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 28, at 7 p.m. The agreement involves a city investment of $600,000 to improve the district's baseball/softball stadium complex. The city investment would come from a surplus of park dedication funds. In return, the city would gain second-priority scheduling for all of the district's new athletic fields.

What's your opinion of this partnership?

Chaska City Administrator David Pokorney announced his resignation Monday night. He will be leaving his position with the city as of Aug. 4.

Pokorney told the council that he wanted to leave while the city was at its peak. His departure will be on good terms.

The council voted reluctantly to accept Pokorney's resignation Monday night. Matt Podhradsky was subsequently appointed interim city administrator. Pokorney will remain on the city payroll as a part-time employee while the city seeks his replacement.

From the City Council work session on July 14
By Forrest Adams

The three identified needs for Highway 5 are to enhance mobility, improve safety and provide sufficient system linkage.

Congestion in Highway 5 is expected to grow over 50 percent by 2030. The crash and fatality rates for Highway 5 are over 20 and 70 percentage points higher respectively than the statewide average rates for comparable roadways; and Highway 5 is the primary east-west route that connects Chanhassen, Victoria, Waconia and Norwood Young America to the metropolitan area.

By Forrest Adams

City councilors balked at a proposal Monday night to enact odd-even lawn sprinkling restrictions year round, but only after grilling city staff in search of a reason why they should support it.

"I hate to have the approach that we’re being very heavy handed," said Councilor Bethany Tjornhom.