Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS More details on Hy-Vee plans
August 18, 2016 • Volume 131 • Number 25
On a roll at the fair Rosemount levy to
rise about 3 percent
Planning Commission approves plan to place Hy-Vee grocery store in Vermillion Commons after public hearing. Page 2A
Taxes on a median valued home would go up by $25 in 2017 by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
OPINION Too much focus on one contest National media should turn their attention to the number of interesting Senate and House races across the country. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
BeneďŹ t concert in Burnsville The GARAGE is hosting To The Bridge Foundation’s concert to support individuals struggling with chemical dependency. Page 15A
Young people gave the log roll a try as part of the All American Lumberjack Show Kids Camp during the Dakota County Fair in Farmington. The fair enjoyed a string of good-weather days during the all-important weekend days when crowds descended on the fairgrounds for fun, food and entertainment. More photos are inside this edition on page 8A and online at SunThisweek.com/tag/County-Fair-2016. (Photo by Andy Rogers)
The city portion of property taxes are projected to increase by about $25 in payable 2017 for the median value home in Rosemount. That’s according to the first draft of the 2017 budget from July 11 and the projected property tax levy amount would increase by 3.45 percent. The levy is projected to increase from $11.039 million to $11.42 million in 2017 – a change of $380,756. City Finance Director Jeff May said this week that the final number could change after a Sept. 6 City Council work session, when the budget and levy will again be reviewed. After the July presentation, May said the council didn’t direct staff to make changes in the budget. The numbers will further be refined when the proposed budget is completed by Sept. 30 and after tax rate information is released from Dakota County in October. The final budget is due in December. The total tax projected in 2017 for the median value home of $250,700 is $994. It was $1,058 for the median value home in 2008, according to the city. Among the positive economic indicators in Rosemount is a 5.79 percent increase in the city’s tax base, which is the second
largest increase in the county for 2017. An increase in the tax base means that the property tax burden is spread across more properties even as the levy increases. Last year, the city of Rosemount’s tax base increased by 7 percent. Revenue gains projected for 2017 are in building permits and licenses – 13.75 percent rise or $84,100 – and a $100,000 allocation of SKB funds to the general fund to help restore the historical balance of distribution of SKB funds between capital and operating projects. In the coming year, the city expects to hire a new police sergeant, a parks maintenance position and a finance department intern. The new police hire is expected to help eliminate unsupervised shifts, reduce the department’s time on calls to allow for more community policing, and help bolster the investigative division by not using an investigative sergeant for patrol purposes so often. The police budget is one of the largest pieces of Rosemount’s general fund budget. Its budget is projected to increase from $3,689,800 to $3,947,300 – a $257,500 gain. The parks position is being budgeted in an effort to reduce the reliance on outside contracting and part-time salaries. The city is also proposing to hire an assistant city engineer, which would replace a currently contracted position. This move is expected to be expense neutral. See ROSEMOUNT, 2A
Former District 196 librarian dies after citizens academy shooting Mary Knowlton worked at Parkview Elementary School for 16 years by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
tary principal. “She passionately gave her heart to students, teachers and families. Her mission was to get books in students’ hands and to connect them with stories that would help them develop a love of reading.� While she was praised for her work with children, she also was committed to her co-workers. “She went out of her way to personally get to know each of her colleagues at a personal level,� Frovik said. “She asked questions, planned fun outings and celebrated the people she worked with every day. I
can still see her looking at me and asking, ‘How are you?’ and knowing that she really cared and wanted to know.� A Prior Lake resident since 1973, Knowlton worked at the Prior Lake Library before being employed at Parkview. She was on the Scott County Library Board from 1993 to 2001 and continued her commitment to libraries as a member of the Punta Gorda Library Board. “Mary touched so many people’s lives through her work as a school librarian and as a volunteer giving back to the community,�
Frovik said. “She was a quiet leader who always did the best for the people she encountered. She was a gift.� Knowlton worked as a substitute librarian in District 196 until 2013. Originally from Austin, Minnesota, Knowlton graduated from Austin High School and studied at St. Olaf College, the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University-Mankato. Knowlton and her husband, Gary, were married for 55 years.
High expectations for football, soccer, volleyball, girls tennis, cross country and girls swimming teams. Page 10A
Parkview Elementary School’s librarian for 16 years died last week after she was shot during a police citizens academy training exercise in Punta Gorda, Florida. Mary Knowlton, 73, who worked at the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan school in Lakeville from 1998 to 2004, is remembered as a person who was passionate about books and wanted to pass that love on to children. “Mary Knowlton was the center of our school
PUBLIC NOTICE
New city website goes online in Farmington
SPORTS Practice for fall sports begins
The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District.
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by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
An updated website for the city of Farmington is live. City officials have spent the past year working on a city website redesign with CivicLive. Brenda Wendlandt, human resources director, said the majority of the site is done, but they’re still working on some things to make sure it’s working as it should. Using a results from a survey of Farmington residents, designers incorporated users’ priorities, such as program registration, facility reservations, a calendar of events, trash and recycling collection days, parks and trail locations, City Council meeting minutes and the ability
Mary Knowlton at Parkview and she made the library the heart of the building,� said Nicole Frovik, Parkview Elemen-
to submit online forms. There’s a new form to upload photos for the calender contest, said Danielle Cahlander, communications specialist. Cahlander also said the new site makes it easier print from the website and to share pages on social media. The new website also has the ability to convert into a different language throughout the site. Prospective job seekers can apply for positions online, Wendlandt said. With more than half of users visiting the site on either a tablet or smartphone, the redesign also focused on making it more friendly for smaller screens. Residents will also be able to subscribe to city news and the calender and
See KNOWLTON, 2A
The Farmington city website recently went through a redesign. (Photo submitted) sign up for notifications. City Administrator David McKnight said the city has discussed converting the city calendar to all-electronic form, but the City Council was split at this point. “We are the age of printed page and postage,�
Council Member Doug Bonar said. “This is an opportunity for efficiency and should take advantage of it.� Wendlandt said she would continue to monitor interest in a physical and online calender. There will also be a
mobile application available in September, which will provide access to the same services as the new website, available through iTunes and Google Play. Email Andy Rogers at andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com.
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