Eden Prairie citizens looking to dodge the election day lines are in luck, as early voting for the November 5 General Election has officially kicked off, according to a report published on Eden Prairie's city website. Residents can cast their ballots in person at City Center up until November 4, with details available on the city's elections page. Additionally, photography enthusiasts have until September 25 to submit their work for the City's Community Photo Contest, with the winning snaps set to grace the pages of "Life in the Prairie" among other city publications; further details can be found on the contest's homepage.
On the fitness front, the city is inviting residents for a workout with a twist at the free POUND for PROP event, it's taking place at Staring Lake Amphitheatre on September 28, and the only entry fee is a non-perishable food item to benefit PROP's food shelf initiative. The forthcoming GIVE Gathering, scheduled for September 28 at Aerie Stadium, boasts a partnership trifecta comprised of the City, Eden Prairie Community Foundation, and Eden Prairie Schools, all aiming to match residents with volunteer opportunities amid the Eden Prairie Schools 100 Years Citywide Celebration.
For those concerned with the environmental footprint of their homes, a free Electrify Everything webinar is on the horizon, set for September 30, it aims to educate homeowners on ditching fossil fuel appliances in favor of electric options, paired with actionable information on tapping into financial incentives designed to ease this transition—interested parties can RSVP via Eventbrite. In related news, the City Council was briefed on the strides made toward their Climate Action Plan's ambitious target of community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050, with a complete rundown of the sustainable initiatives available on the SustainableEP webpage.
The Eden Prairie Fire Department reports a minor decline in service calls, numbering 2,282 through September 18, down slightly from the same period the year prior, and eagerly anticipates the addition of three new fire engines slated for a March 2025 delivery, ordered in back in 2022; while on the staffing front, the city welcomed new faces with Phil Morgan being sworn in as a police officer after a six-year tenure at Gilbert Police Department, Arizona, and Isaac Sprecher joining as utility maintenance operator after his work with the Broomfield, Colo. Utilities Division. City meeting updates indicate a void in the schedule for the rest of September, save for the cancellation of the Planning Commission meeting planned on September 23.
