Apple Valley updates: Fire Station 2 award, parks‑referendum projects, pool rebrand, recruitment and open house dates

City staff and project partners briefed the Apple Valley City Council on a series of community updates Thursday, including presentation of a construction award for Fire Station 2, schedule highlights from the 2023 parks referendum, a naming reveal for the remodeled aquatic center, upcoming recruitment for paid on‑call firefighters and a county‑led open house on a safety project.

Ben Newland of Terra Construction told the council the Minnesota Construction Association selected the city’s Fire Station 2 as a winner in its publicly funded project category; Terra accepted the award on the city’s behalf and presented the plaque at the meeting. Project manager Anya Beck credited collaboration among the contractor, the fire department and city administrative staff for meeting award criteria including cost and schedule management, safety and innovation.

City staff previewed several 2025 parks projects funded by the 2023 referendum: a youth baseball and softball complex at Hayes Park, reconstruction at Redwood Park, upgrades at Kelly Park, trail rebranding at Cobblestone Lake Park, improvements at Johnnycake Ridge Park, reopening of the remodeled Apple Valley Family Aquatic Center and construction of additional pickleball courts and a concrete skate park. The city rolled a video announcing the aquatic center will be renamed “Splash Valley Waterpark” and directed residents to applevalleymn.gov/splashvalley for details.

Fire Chief Matt Nelson said the department will accept applications for paid on‑call firefighters in April. He told the council applicants need not have prior training to apply but must be at least 18, hold a high school diploma or GED, live within four minutes of a fire station (the city conducts drive‑time checks with department personnel to confirm eligibility) and hold a driver’s license. “You just need to be 18 years of age or older, a high school diploma or GED, live within 4 minutes of 1 of our fire stations, and have a driver's license,” Nelson said.

City Engineer Brandon Anderson and Dakota County staff will host a public open house on March 11 from 4 to 6 p.m. at City Hall about planned safety improvements on Pilot Knob Road at Upper 140th Street; the county is seeking community feedback before final design with construction targeted to start in summer 2026.

Police Chief Nick Francis announced the department’s teen academy will run in April on Thursday nights starting April 3 (registration is open, capacity typically in the mid‑20s). City staff also reminded residents that Dakota Electric customers are receiving letters about the franchise agreement renewal and the city will publish explanatory material on its website; the council said franchise fee revenue has been used for projects such as burying overhead electrical lines and supporting street reconstruction.

The council recognized longtime planner Alex Sharp, who has accepted a position as community development director in Wayzata, and gave staff a brief recap of Winterfest events and community volunteers who supported the event.

No formal council action was required on the items summarized; city staff said more information will be posted on the city’s website and the stated events are open to public participation.