Live in South Como or Energy Park? Want to have more influence in your neighborhood? Here's your chance: Run in next month's special election to fill a vacancy on the District 10 Como Community Council board.

Community members in Sub-District 4 can file as a candidate until Monday Sept. 7. (The boundaries for Sub-District 4 are Dale on the east, Snelling on the west, and the two sets of BNSF railroad tracks on the north and south.)

The winning candidate will serve until April 2021, filling the remainder of the term being left vacant by Bob Jacobson, who is moving out of District 10.

Do you value this weekly newsletter and other ways the Como Community Council helps you connect with our neighbors and beyond? This newsletter is just one way we stay in touch. It demonstrates our work to keep everyone in the loop; our belief in supplying reliable, factual information; and our commitment to accessible, transparent, and two-way conversation. We do all this because it makes us a stronger neighborhood.

You can express your appreciation by supporting the time and effort it takes us to deliver these results. If you have the means, please contribute financially toward a better community. You can donate easily online. Or bypass the service fees and send your contribution directly to: Como Community Council, 1224 Lexington Parkway N, Saint Paul, MN 55103. We deeply appreciate it.

Saint Paul is seeking members for its new Tenant Protections Implementation Committee. Members will work from September through March 2021 to create education and engagement tools to spread the word about the city's new rental ordinance. The ordinance takes effect March 1, 2021. The implementation committee is reserving seats for renters, landlords or managers of different-size properties, and business and advocacy representatives. Applications are due by next Friday, Aug. 21, at 5 p.m.

City Council on Aug. 12 approved $7 million in conduit bonds, through the Saint Paul Port Authority, to help finance construction of a new middle school building and other facilities on Hmong College Prep Academy's Brewster St. campus. In addition, on the same day, the city's Housing and Redevelopment Authority recommended $36 million in conduit bonds for the charter school. Of that amount, about $19.2 million is for the new construction; the remainder refinances bonds the school took out in 2012. City Council expects to vote on the HRA bonds Aug. 26.

Conduit bonds are a tax-free form of financing sold to investors on the private market. The city issues the bonds and collects an administrative fee; the school is entirely responsible for paying the debt obligation.

This month's way to demonstrate Como Kindness: The Booth Brown House is looking for volunteers or partners to breathe new life into their residents' community space. This Salvation Army program, at Como and Pascal, provides emergency and supportive housing for teens and young adults. It is looking for:

If you can buy an item, donate an item, or donate money, contact Erin Foss by email or by calling 651-251-3502 x105. If you can donate time or want more information, contact Steven Godfrey by email or by calling 651-251-3502 x102.

Renters and homeowners often overlook the nice chunk of change they can get from the State of Minnesota this time of year. Don't miss your opportunity this year: The initial filing deadline is this Saturday, Aug. 15 (though the state will accept paperwork for an additional year).

For renters, it's the Renter's Property Tax Refund. The program is based on the fact that some of your rent helps your landlord pay property taxes. State residents can qualify if they have a household income of less than $62,340. For a Como resident with a median household income and a median rent, the refund would be about $400. 

For homeowners who live in their house, Minnesota offers the Homestead Credit Refund, based on property taxes paid in 2019. There are two kinds of refunds; it is possible to get both: 

Previously reported:

The State Fairgrounds close to the public beginning this Monday, Aug. 17, so vendors can set up for the sold-out Minnesota State Fair Food Parade. The Fairgrounds expect to re-open to the public on Thursday Sept. 10.

Cars filled with people stuffing their faces with Fair favorites crawl through a 1.5-mile route the next three weekends: Aug. 20-23, Aug. 27-30, and Sept. 3-7. Most days, gates open at 9 a.m. at Hoyt and Snelling. Gates remain open past 5 p.m.

Until then, it's the final weekend of Dinosaur Adventure Drive-Thru. The not-quite-Jurassic Park event runs in the Grandstand through this Sunday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. daily. $40 for a carload of up to seven.

The Saint Paul Police Department's Western District holds its monthly community meetings this Tuesday, Aug. 18, at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. at Western District headquarters, 389 N. Hamline. Masks and social distancing will be required. Attendance is limited to 20.

If you go, you'll meet command staff, hear about crime trends in the city, be able to raise individual concerns, be able to grab all the crime prevention fliers you can use, and be able to take home gun locks and "20 is Plenty" lawn signs.