Mayor Melvin Carter's staff dismissed at least three other locations where St. Paul's new garbage-hauling company might store its truck fleet, according to emails from earlier this year Axios obtained.

Why it matters: The dispute over where to keep the trucks nearly halted citywide trash collection this month — and some City Council members want to solve it by forcing the hauler, FCC Environmental, to find a new truck storage yard.

• The emails, which Axios received through a records request, show other city leaders aren't sold on relocating FCC, and that the site will remain contentious for some time.

State of play: The mayor last week vetoed a City Council action that had blocked FCC from using the West Seventh property it purchased last August.

• But FCC has been using it under an emergency declaration from the city as the company still needs key permissions to keep using the site.
• A neighborhood group with visions of redeveloping the area, the Fort Road Federation, plans to keep fighting FCC's presence there.

Plus: A spokesperson for FCC told Axios the hauler has no plans to move.

Behind the scenes: With this showdown looming in mid-January, City Council President Rebecca Noecker emailed city officials to request they look for publicly-owned land they might swap with FCC for the West Seventh site, Axios learned. Officials discussed:

• St. Paul's police impound lot on the West Side.
• The vacant former K-Mart in the North End.
• Another industrial site in Frogtown.

The intrigue: Allies of the Fort Road Federation made calls to try to make a swap happen, the group's director told Noecker in a Jan. 16 email.

What happened: Planning director Nicolle Newton emailed Noecker on Feb. 10 to report that none of the sites were viable.

• The St. Paul Port Authority owns both the K-Mart and the impound lot, and has bigger plans for both sites, Newton wrote.
• The Frogtown site is too small, she added.

What's next: The fight over the current site isn't over, even after the mayor's veto.

• Even if FCC wins city approval for their site plans, the neighbors would have appeal rights — and the hauler also needs permits to add fueling infrastructure.
• That means this matter could again land before the City Council for yet another high-stakes decision.

What they're saying

Nick here. My Minneapolis property tax bill went up a whopping 18% this year. Yikes!

Yes, but: A friend tipped me off to the state's Special Property Tax Refund program, which has been around since 1980, but hasn't been talked about much in recent years because booming development offset the need for bigger property tax hikes.

• But that's changing this year as homeowners across the metro face significant increases tied to plummeting office values, stalled growth and rising municipal labor costs.

How it works: Homeowners whose property tax increased more than 12% and at least $100 this year are eligible for a refund of 60% of the increase above 12%.

• There's no income limit.

Where to start: Right here online. You will need your 2024 income tax return and your 2025 property tax statement, which can be found on your county's website.

The bottom line: Without giving away too much about my home's value, the 15 minutes it took to fill the refund form out was well worth it.

Share this with your accountant

🏛️ The Legislature returns from a weeklong Easter/Passover break today, kicking off a four-week sprint until the session ends.

• Leaders have expressed optimism that they can finish the state budget before the May 19 adjournment deadline, though history isn't on their side.

🔎 More than half of the charter schools reviewed by state regulators in the past five years had "significant governance problems," a Star Tribune investigation found. (Star Tribune)

🏙️ St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter will deliver his 2025 State of the City address at 10 am today. (Watch)

🎙️ Tom Crann, the longtime host of MPR News' "All Things Considered," is leaving the news program next month to become an announcer for YourClassical MPR. (MPR News)

• Flashback: Crann was one of the first announcers for Classical 24, American Public Media's nationally syndicated music service, when it launched back in 1995.

U.S. Bank executive Terry Dolan stopped responding to air traffic control minutes before the plane he was flying crashed into a Brooklyn Park home last month, per a National Transportation Safety Board report. (WCCO-TV)

• Investigators surveying the fatal wreck didn't find any "mechanical anomalies."

Become a member and fuel our mission to make readers smarter and faster on the news unfolding here.

Why it's important: The generosity of our members supports our newsroom as we work on the daily newsletter.

What's in it for you: Insider notes from the local reporters and other perks.

• Happening this week: Members will be gaining exclusive behind-the-scenes insight into our newsroom with an upcoming webinar.

Thank you for trusting us.

Be on the lookout for shooting stars and fireballs, as two meteor showers overlap this week.

What to watch: The Lyrids shower is active now through April 26, per NASA. It peaks tonight and tomorrow night.

• The Eta Aquarids meteor shower is active through May 28 and peaks May 5-6, according to the American Meteor Society.

Viewing tips

👋 Torey here with a recommendation from the day trip I took to Rochester last week.

Where I went: Café Aquí, a bright and tranquil coffee shop tucked inside the Sargent's on 2nd garden center.

What I ordered: I'm usually a latte gal, but since I had already slugged three coffees before hitting the road I decided to taste test a seasonal special: the Honeydew Matcha Tonic ($7.25).

• I couldn't resist adding a cheesy pão de queijo ($2) for a light bite.

My verdict: Consider me a Matcha convert! The drink was zippy and refreshing, with some nice heat from the jalapeño.

If you go: Be warned that the shop is stacked with super cute home and garden goods.