JESSICA HARPER JESSICA HARPER LAURA ADELMANN
Retail planned in Cedar Grove 2A Eagan has a new city engineer 5A Two County Board primaries on tap 5A
dakotacountytribune.biz dakotacountytribune.biz
date 14, ##, 2012 2009 JUNE
Volume 30, Number # VOLUME 33, NUMBER 16
Dakota County Tribune Since 1884
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INSIDE BIZ FORUM
Lakeville man’s aerobatics in a stunt plane have taken him all over the land and air to amaze and entertain crowds. AARON 4A VEHLING Photo by Jessica Harper
Renovations have begun on the former Joe Senser’s Restaurant building. A new restaurant, Lone Oak Grill, is set to open July 30 at 3010 Eagandale Place in Eagan.
Restaurant revived New bar and grill to replace Joe Senser’s in Eagan by Jessica Harper
DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The former Joe Senser’s restaurant building in Eagan likely won’t be vacant much longer. Lo- cal restaurateur Joel Lehman plans to revive the site at 3010 Eagandale Place with a new bar and grill. “I’m really excited about it,” Lehman said. “I think it will make a positive impact on the neighborhood, which has really wanted something since Senser’s closed.” Lehman has owned the property since 1999 and decided to open a new restaurant after Senser’s closed last November. Representatives for Senser’s said at the time the restaurant closed due to the tough economy. The closure followed charges against owner Joe Senser’s wife, Amy, who was convicted May 4 in the hit-and-run death of a man in Minneapolis. The new restaurant, Lone Oak Grill, isn’t Lehman’s first culinary venture. For the past 13 years, he has owned and operated Trattoria Da Vinci, an Italian eatery in St. Paul’s Lowertown. Although Lone Oak will be a bar and grill, it won’t be a sports bar like its predecessor.
Lehman said he believes the restaurant – located off Interstate 35E and Lone Oak Road – will thrive due to its high-quality menu and family-friendly atmosphere. Lone Oak’s menu will have a combination of classic American bar favorites such as burgers and fries, and comfort foods such as smoked brisket and barbecue ribs. The eatery will also serve lighter options such as fish tacos, salads and wraps. Renovations are underway and once complete on July 30 the restaurant will include an 80-seat outdoor patio, bocce ball courts and a modern design. Eagan city officials are eager to have a new business fill the empty building. “It’s great to see that space reopen and provide some service to the community,” said Jon Hohenstein, community development director. The new restaurant also comes as good news to the nearby Hampton Inn, which once relied on Joe Senser’s for its room service. “We’re excited for it to open,” said Chris Retterath, general manager of the Hampton Inn in Eagan.
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People need to become more vigilant to help prevent deaths due to drowning in Minnesota lakes and pools. DON 4A HEINZMAN NEWS
The mayor of Apple Valley won’t be a Dakota County Board candidate after she decided not to run in District 7. HAMANN5A ROLAND DAKOTA ARTS this week news
0 KelleyStats:Park in 1.00 AppleMAG: Valley will BWA: 0.0020 Width: 1.4690 hostSymbol musical Symbol Height: 1.0200 concerts Flexo Width: 0.0000 throughout the summer at its bandshell stage. MICHAEL 28A MONROE
Code Type: UPC Version A Customer: 3242-ECM Publishers Order #: P34915-017 P.O. #: Ordered By: Polarity: Positive Up Date Run: 05/29/2002
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Jessica Harper is at jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek. General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Advertising 952-846-2011
Finance director unexpectedly resigns, cites personal reasons for departure by Laura Adelmann
DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Farmington Finance Director Teresa Walters resigned from her job last Tuesday, Walters said in an interview with the Dakota County Tribune. She said she resigned for personal reasons and would like to spend more time with her family while taking time
this summer to consider her options. “I worked very hard there, put in a lot of hours and I have gone above and beyond trying to make things better financially,” Walters said. At last Monday’s Farmington City Council meeting, an audit report found the city’s financial statements complied with all Minnesota require-
ments. Under her leadership, the city received its first two awards for comprehensive annual financial reporting, awarded by the national Government Finance Officers Association, to recognize transparency in financial reporting. The city was forced to abandon a capital improvement finance plan late last
year when a calculation error was discovered. Walters said she was given an inaccurate figure from Dakota County; officials there denied they were responsible, and ultimately City Administrator Dave McKnight took responsibility for the error. Prior to coming to Farmington in March of 2010, Walters, who was 46 when
she was hired, spent a decade as an accountant in the city of Bloomington and was the finance director of Waseca. She said she loved working in Waseca but moving to Farmington allowed her to be closer to her Elko home where she lives with her husband and two school-aged children. “I grew in Farmington,” Walters said. “I appreciate
Farmington because it was an excellent opportunity to be a finance director for a larger city, and I do believe that Farmington is a great community.” McKnight did not return calls seeking comment. Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.