Fall 2020 Hometown Messenger

Partnering to protect history

Stormwater reroute project aims to preserve area's historic burial mounds This spring, the city embarked on an ambitious project to reroute stormwater through a historical and archaeological sensitive area along Highway 101. Stormwater discharge from the south side of the highway was causing erosion and threatening burial mounds in its flow to the Minnesota River.

Fall Clean Up Day returns Oct. 24 Back by popular demand, the city will be hosting a fall Clean Up Day event Saturday, Oct. 24. The drop-off event invites residents to recycle unwanted items to ensure proper disposal. “The continued interest and support for Clean Up Day really shows residents’ interest in recycling and disposing items safely,” said Public Works Superintendent Bill Egan. Clean Up Day is a twice-a-year program, funded in part by gate fees and a Scott County recycling grant. The event is a partnership among the Public Works Department, Republic Services and our recycling vendors – all of whom staff the event and haul away the collected items. “As more cities move away from curbside events, we’re glad we can offer residents an affordable option for getting rid of unnecessary items,” Egan said. “We know lines can get long, but we appreciate our residents’ patience and strive to make the event run as smoothly as possible." The fall Clean Up Day event will be from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Public Works building. A list of accepted items and fees is available on the city website at www.ShakopeeMN.gov/cleanupday. IF YOU GO... WHAT: Fall Clean Up Day WHO: Residents of Shakopee, Jackson Township and Louisville Township. WHEN: 7:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24 WHERE: Public Works Yard, 400 Gorman St. COST: See website for more info. MORE INFO: www.ShakopeeMN.gov/cleanupday DID YOU KNOW? Residents can shred paper and recycle textiles free of charge during Clean Up Day. No need to wait in line.

To address the concerns, the city plugged a culvert flowing through the Steel Mounds burial site and redirected the flow east through a new storm sewer pipe in the highway median. This allowed the water to flow to the river through a stabilized ravine east of The Landing-Minnesota River Heritage Park. Before starting work, the city hired Blondo Consulting to investigate the area for archaeological remnants to identify the most sensitive areas. Crews used ground penetrating radar, soil probes and shovel tests to locate possible buried artifacts. Engineers used the results to identify the storm sewer alignment to prevent further degradation of these historical and cultural resources.

The $1.55 million project relied on multiple partners, including funding from a Minnesota Historical Society Cultural Heritage Grant, Scott County, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Lower Minnesota River Watershed District and the city. MEMORIAL PARK BRIDGE REPLACEMENT In conjunction, the city also conducted an archaeological study of portions of Memorial Park in preparation for constructing a new trail bridge and widening the trail to support pedestrian, bicycle and snowmobile use. Nearly 50 percent of the shovel tests were positive for cultural material, including bone fragments, lithic and ceramic. Engineers will use the result to make minor trail adjustments to avoid the historically sensitive areas. Construction plans are nearly complete as the city awaits Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and wetland mitigation approvals. The city hopes to bid the project yet this fall with possible construction starting over the winter. Free fall yard waste events canceled Due to COVID-19, the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility will not be holding its free yard waste drop-off days for Scott County residents. The recycling facility is open limited hours to accept yard waste for a fee. Crews lay new storm sewer pipe in the median of County Highway 101.

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