By Bruce Karnick

DakotaLink is back!

DakotaLink is a free transportation service that runs on weekdays (not including holidays) between the Judicial Center in Hastings and bus hubs at Cedar Grove Transit Station in Eagan and the Signal Hills Shopping Center in West St. Paul. The service is unavailable on New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Thanksgiving Friday and Christmas Day.

Transfers to other bus services can be made from the Cedar Grove Transit Station and the Signal Hills Shopping Center. For more details, visit Metro Transit’s trip planner at www.metrotransit.org or call 612-373-3333. Bus stop locations Look for the DakotaLink bus sign at the following locations: •Judicial Center: In front of Judicial Center Building.

•Cedar Grove Transit Station: In the transit station busway.

•Signal Hills Shopping Center: On Butler Avenue, next to Walgreens just east of the Butler Avenue and Robert Street intersection.

COVID-19 precautions

•Riders and drivers will wear masks (one will be provided if you don’t have one)

•Seats will be marked off to allow for social distancing

•Buses will be cleaned after each run Sealing Unused Wells Unused or abandoned wells are a potential threat to health, safety and the environment. These wells are often sealed to reduce these risks. The State of Minnesota has required that abandoned or unused well be sealed by a State of Minnesota licensed well contractor.

When a well is not being used, it must be brought back into use, sealed, or annually permitted as an unused well. Under Minnesota State law, a seller failing to properly disclose a well is liable for well sealing costs for up to six years after the date of the sale.

A well must be sealed if it meets any of the following conditions: Is not in use, Is contaminated, Was improperly sealed in the past, Threatens the quality of the groundwater, Poses a health or safety threat.

Sealing is the process of clearing debris from the well and filling it with grout. Don’t try to do it yourself. A licensed well contractor has the legal authority, necessary equipment, and expertise to properly seal unused wells. The well contractor will complete all the necessary paperwork including permits. The contractor provides the well owner a Well and Boring Sealing Record that is a legal document for the sealing of the well.

Well Sealing Grant Program Property owners in Dakota County may be eligible for a grant to help pay the cost of sealing their well. See the steps needed to complete the grant on Dakota County’s website. For more information, call Steve Scott at 952-891-7537.

COVID-19 Drive-Thru Testing still available Free drive-thru COVID-19 testing is available Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at Dakota Child and Family Clinic and the Northern Service Center.

If you don’t have a vehicle or would prefer to walk-thru, we can still test you.

Testing information Free and open to everyone (no age or location requirements) No symptoms, insurance or ID required. Test results take 3–7 days to process, rapid tests are not available. Testing is administered by professional medical staff. Nose swab viral test (antibody blood tests are not available).

Hours and location Drive-thru testing is free at: Dakota Child and Family Clinic, 2530 Horizon Drive, Burnsville Wednesdays, 3–7 p.m. Sundays, noon –4 p.m.

Northern Service Center, 1 Mendota Road West, West St. Paul Saturdays, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. See the COVID-19 Drive-Thru Flyer. Details also available in Spanish, Somali, Hmong and Vietnamese.

To make an appointment, call 612-223-8838.

When you call, someone will help you find a day and time that works best for you. They will ask for your name and phone number to confirm your appointment. You can make an appointment for yourself, family members and friends.

State funding gives Dakota County a boost for improvements 10/16/2020 Thanks to state funding, we’ll be making $17 million worth of improvements in the near future!

Here’s what’s coming soon:

•We’re doubling Byllesby Dam’s power output by upgrading our turbines.

•We’re enhancing school-area safety on Diffley Road.

•We’re adding miles of recreation space with the creation of the Veterans Memorial Greenway.

•We’re teaming up with our Scott County friends to add a household hazardous waste drop-off site, in addition to our existing Recycling Zone location.

None of this would have been possible without the support of our Dakota County state legislators! We’d like to say a huge thank you to Senator Jim Carlson Representative Sandra Masin Representative Laurie Halverson Senator Matt Klein, M.D. State Rep. Rick Hansen Ruth Richardson for House 52B Minnesota State Senator Karla Bigham Anne Claflin Rep. Tony Jurgens, MN House 54B Senator Dan Hall Representative Hunter Cantrell Dr. Alice Mann for MN House Greg Clausen State Representative Robert Bierman State Representative John Huot Matt Little Representative Jon Koznick Representative Pat Garofalo Dakota County residents can help protect water quality 10/12/2020 Dakota County residents are invited to participate in the Minnesota Water Stewards program, which trains residents to protect and improve water quality and habitat, engage others in water quality efforts, and promote clean water.

Program participants work through in-depth coursework, including water science; the interaction of land, water, and climate; behavior change; and best practices in water efficiency and protection. A culminating capstone project unites the curriculum with action that benefits the health of local waters. Stewards gain experience and confidence to serve as a source of knowledge and influence in their communities.

Program enrollment cost in the Vermillion River Watershed is $125 per person, which covers course fees. The cost will be reimbursed to participants upon certification as a Minnesota water steward. Scholarships may be available for those with demonstrated financial hardship.

The next session begins in January and runs through October 2021. To learn more, visit www.minnesotawaterstewards. org and register for a required online information session.

Information sessions dates and times: Oct. 27, noon–1 p.m.

Nov. 10, 5–6 p.m.

Nov. 17, noon–1 p.m.

Questions can be directed to Jen Dullum at jennifer. [email protected] or 952-891-7086.