County Commissioner Carla Bingham briefed the council on several regional and local service updates affecting Cottage Grove residents.

Bingham said the Newport Transit Center will reopen with a new bus route from Woodbury through Newport to the Newport Transit Center and to the Mall of America beginning Dec. 6, operating hourly from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. An open house at the transit center is scheduled for Dec. 10 from 4–6 p.m. She also noted an expansion of DARTS circulator service into Sample Park and access to local destinations including the library and shopping hub in Cottage Grove. A transit needs study update is expected early in 2026.

On local services, she said Park Grove Library will undergo a major renovation starting in February with an expected closure of about one year; programming will temporarily move to the Cottage Grove Armory and South Service Center. She reported the county appropriated $250,000 to local food shelves after a federal shutdown affected SNAP benefits; Friends in Need and Basic Needs both saw a roughly 30% increase in users. She encouraged residents to sign up for the no‑cost food scrap program (signup at foodscrappickup.com) and to properly recycle holiday lights and batteries.

Bingham said the county and community partners helped secure these service expansions and reminded residents of upcoming holiday events tied to fundraising for food shelves.

Next steps: Open house at Newport Transit Center (Dec. 10); transit study to be completed early 2026; library renovation to begin in February 2026 with interim programming locations outlined.