After a long discussion, during which residents voiced their complaints and city councilors said they empathized, the city council on May 12 approved a resolution accepting a bid and awarding a contract in the amount of $2,442,134.20 for Laredo Drive area street improvements.

The city's pavement management program recommends that streets in the Laredo Drive area be reconstructed. The area for improvements includes: Laredo Drive, Laredo Lane, Longview Circle, Cimarron Circle and Highland Drive west of Laredo Drive.

This spring the city was awarded a $21,000 grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to implement a water conservation program for city residents.

The result is Chanhassen's version of WaterWise, an amalgamation of rebates to consumers and contests that encourage conservation. The program's goal is to reduce residential water usage by 5 percent this year.

According to a story in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, Minneapolis led the area in building activity in April with 81 units permitted, followed by Blaine with 16 units permitted, Eden Prairie with 15 units permitted, and Chanhassen and Maple Grove with 14 each.

By Forrest Adams

Development of the city’s commercial sector is on schedule to continue this summer as many projects have already been approved and several others are pending city council approval. Here’s the projects you may see and will see this summer around the city.

The city's cemetery is undergoing an upgrade.

"Our goal was to install an entry monument to identify it," said Chanhassen City Office Manager Karen Engelhardt of the Chanhassen Pioneer Cemetery located off Galpin Boulevard.

By Forrest Adams