Thanks to Turbo Tim’s Anything Automotive for their support. Turbo Tim’s is pleased to join the West St. Paul community! Our goal here is to be a positive presence for all, not just car owners! Construction season is underway in West St. Paul, complete with the usual commute backups and headaches. Here’s a glance at some of the most significant projects for this summer and fall to prepare for. And a friendly reminder from City Council Member Lisa Eng-Sarne that construction “is not a tragedy but an inconvenience.” West St. Paul Road Construction List: This is a list of the ..read more

We’re able to hire local photographers for stories like this thanks to member support. Hundreds of people came out to Moreland Arts and Health Sciences Magnet School last night for a community painting party for their new mural. It was part of Moreland Made, an annual event to showcase student artwork. Greta McLain with Good Space Murals led the effort, with students, families, and community members taking a paint-by-numbers approach to over a hundred panels that will eventually make up the mural. Read more about the mural’s process and design. Moreland Mural in Process Here’s a look at the pa ..read more

Neighborhood news makes for a stronger community. Thanks to our members for making it possible. A trio of local organizations want to recognize local community heroes. Know someone worth highlighting? Nominate them for the Warrior Hall of Fame, Optimist of the Year, or WSP Pride’s Community Advocate. “Recognizing exceptional local leaders and volunteers shows our community’s appreciation for their service,” said Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins, who nominated the 2022 Optimist of the Year Robert Hansen. “As importantly, it often inspires others to step up, too, making West St. Paul an eve ..read more

Neighborhood news happens with neighbor support. Join now to support our work. A new mural will soon span the entire back side of Moreland Arts and Health Sciences Magnet School. Students and parents are spending art classes adding color to the exhibit with oversight from muralist Greta McLain of Good Space Murals. The wider community is also invited to help paint the mural at the Moreland Made event on April 25. How We Got Here First proposed in 2022, the mural idea has taken three rounds of fundraising through Raise Craze, with overwhelming dedication from staff, students, and the community ..read more

Thanks to Dakota County for their support. An economic development update and conversation about potentially moving work sessions back to the conference room were the main items covered, as well as swearing in two new police officers, approving an Xcel franchise agreement, declaring No Mow May, and a closed session for labor negotiation strategy. Economic Development Update As part of continued strategic planning during the Open Council Work Sessions (OCWS), staff gave an update on economic development, including: 150 Thompson: An update on the 150 Thompson project (former YMCA/Hy-V ..read more

Thanks to our members for making coverage of West St. Paul City Council meetings possible. Economic development strategy and Council rules are the big items on the agenda for Monday’s meeting, as well as swearing in two new police officers, an Xcel franchise agreement, No Mow May, and a closed session for labor negotiation strategy. Economic Development Update As part of a continued effort to tackle strategic planning during the Open Council Work Sessions (OCWS), staff will give an update on economic development, including: An update on the 150 Thompson project (former YMCA/Hy-Vee ..read more

Thanks to Minnesota Locks and Inver Grove Ford for their support. Dakota County hosted an open house to share phase two improvement plans for Thompson Park and gather community input. The significant changes—with a potential $20 million price tag—include expansion of the Thompson Park Center building, amphitheater, nature play area, trails and amenities, gardens, paddle rental and launch, and more. Share input: If you missed the open house, Dakota County is accepting online comments. Why: This is the next step in the 2020 master plan for Thompson Park. After the highly suc ..read more

Thanks to Zak’s Auto Service and Blue Sky Bookkeeping for their support. The ISD 197 School Board approved a new contract for operating engineers, a health insurance increase, and updates to strategic plan updates. The short agenda made for a brief, 29-minute meeting. Operating Engineers Union Contract Settled The school board unanimously approved a new union contract for operating engineers for 2023-2025, which includes about 50 employees. Salaries will go up 3% each year, plus pay increases for certain categories based on longevity and licensure. There’s also an addition ..read more

We are proud to announce our first ever internship here at West St. Paul Reader. Megan Noggle, one of our recent contributors and first student writer, is now our first intern. When: Noggle started a 20-week, paid internship in April that will run through August. Who: Noggle has written a dozen stories for us since January 2022. She’s a graduate of Two Rivers High School and will be studying journalism at Concordia College in Moorhead in the fall. What: Noggle will continue to do more writing for us as well as get a broader picture of the work that goes into a news site, including editing, pr ..read more

Thanks to West St. Paul Chiropractic and Jameson’s Irish Bar for their support. The City Council met in an Open Council Work Session to discuss the park systems plan and hear an update about the pool. They also discussed strategic planning items, such as routine service delivery and community engagement. During the main city council meeting, they held a public hearing on the Benard Street East reconstruction. Police Chief Brian Sturgeon presented about residency and recruitment to the West St. Paul police force. Parks System Plan The city of West St. Paul began working on e ..read more