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Dakota County

Tribune

Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas

www.dakotacountytribune.com

January 19, 2017 • Volume 131 • Number 47

Nelson criticizes mining operation

FEATURED

Dakota Aggregates says work on UMore land much quieter now 201

Our Life expo coming soons The Our Life senior living expo will be held April 27 at the Southdale YMCA in Edina. Page 9A-11A

OPINION Columnist looks back at 2016 Columnist Don Heinzman revisits some interesting angles he covered in his 2016 stories. Page 4A

by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Several acres of Rosemount are home to mining operations, which can be noisy and dirty at times. The Rosemount City Council approved several annual extraction permits for area mines during Monday’s meeting, including the largest one Dakota Aggregates. Dakota Aggregates, which operates in the western portion of the UMore Property along County Road 46 and Station Trail, has been the subject of noise complaints in the past and requested a slight modification to expand operations about a quarter mile south of Highway 42 for 2017. The company says it

wants to be good issue with the mine neighbors. since it opened Dakota Aggreand recognizes gates representathat Dakota Agtive Shaun Dahl gregates has taken said the company measures to reduce took several steps the noise, but “it’s in 2016 to reduce Shaun alarming when I the noise for now Nelson wake up at night and in the future. due to the noise,� Council Member he said. Shaun Nelson said he has He said the company logged numerous com- shouldn’t be allowed to plaints over the years. He operate during normal lives within a “few football sleeping hours. fields� of the operation, Mining happens to the which was started after he north and south portions moved in, and he can hear 24/7 while in operation. the equipment when his Most of the truck haulwindows are shut. ing happens through the Nelson spoke as a southern portion of the citizen during the public site. hearing last month and reNelson said he’s been in frained from voting Tues- contact with Dakota Agday at the suggestion of gregates and recognizes the city attorney, he said. the significant amount of Nelson said he’s taken taxes the company pays

to the city, but he said he would put citizens first before big business. Kim Lindquist, Rosemount community development director, said last year’s review included a lengthy conversation about the noise at the site, prompting a noise study. Dahl said the company paid for a sound study specialist last year and has taken several steps to dampen the noise. It built a 30-foot berm, which is larger than originally planned, dampened the noise on machines and rearranged equipment. “Frankly we feel we did a good job,� Dahl said during the public hearing last month. “We think the changes that were recommended by the sound study specialist were ac-

curate and made a difference.� According to city documents, the sound consultant noted that sound from traffic along Highway 42 exceeds the noise coming from the mining facility. The noise reading data from July 2016 was compliant with Minnesota Pollution Control Agency standards. “I don’t think there’s any question we’ve made a dramatic improvement year over year from 2015 to 2016,� Dahl said. A condition of the approval was that another sound monitoring study will be conducted in residential neighborhoods this summer, Lindquist See MINING, 17A

THISWEEKEND

The right time for Mr. Right How Lewis plans to make the most of a good time to be a Republican by Sam Brodey MINNPOST

ment: there might be no better time to be an ambitious freshman Republican. MinnPost caught up with Lewis about what he, and his party, might accomplish.

Area sports teams action

There are a few things on the to-do list of every brand-new member of Congress: learn your way around, angle for good committee assignments, furnish an empty office with chairs and desks and staffers. And if you’re Jason Lewis, your to-do list also includes repealing the Affordable Care Act. Not all freshmen members of Congress get to contribute to their party’s top agenda items from the get-go. But Lewis, the new representative of the 2nd Congressional District, and his fellow freshmen, arrive in a Washington in which the White House and Congress will soon be controlled by the GOP. The former conservative talk radio host who called himself Minnesota’s “Mr. Right� finds himself in D.C. at the right mo-

Rosemount and Farmington sports teams look ahead to the upcoming playoffs. Page 12A

Ice action heats up

Singleton Street to play As part of the Rosemount Area Arts Council’s Bluegrass Concert series, Singleton Street will play at the Steeple Center. Page 19A

SPORTS

From AM to D.C. Before the election, not a whole lot of Minnesota political insiders on either side imagined that Lewis and Trump would be packing their bags for Washington at the same time. Both candidates, brandishing their outsider credentials and penchants for controversy, rode a wave of anti-establishment dissatisfaction to improbable wins in November. In that sense, Lewis is just right for this political moment, which rewarded the kind of controversial rhetoric and partisan warfare that he practiced for over two decades on the radio. But Lewis has also

Rep. Jason Lewis: “There are 435 Type A persons in the House of Representatives. The idea that one of them is going to go there and get their way on everything is ludicrous on its face.� (MinnPost photo by Sam Brodey) framed his experience on the radio as a process of engaging with ideas. Indeed, he had hundreds of hours to debate and elaborate on his philosophy of government, which he describes as Constitution-

centered, “small-l� libertarianism. Sitting in his office in the Capitol’s Cannon Building — still in the process of being decorated — Lewis talked about the sharp differences be-

SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 14A

INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 12A Public Notices . . . . . . 14A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 15A Announcements . . . . 18A

News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 763-712-3544

A fee is charged at some locations to cover distribution costs.

Farmington forward Darby Grengs moves the puck up the ice during a recent South Suburban Conference boys hockey game against Lakeville South at Schmitz-Maki Arena. The Tigers were 5-7 overall and 3-4 in the South Suburban Conference after defeating Eagan 4-2 on Jan. 12. (Photo by Mike Shaughnessy)

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during the project because a large gas line is in the way and would cost about $1.5 million to replace, but they could look at it in the future. Morast also said that the project will meet the city’s requirements for storm water drainage. Rosemount Mayor Bill Droste asked during the City Council meeting Tuesday if the project would prevent flooding across the road, something that happened about 15-20 years ago. Morast said it should. Construction is planned for the summer of 2018. Staff will be in attendance to explain the project, gather input and answer questions.

An open house regarding McAndrews Road improvements is scheduled for 4:30-6:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at Rosemount City Hall, 2875 145th St. W. Dakota County along with the cities of Rosemount and Apple Valley are planning to convert 2.2 miles of County Road 38/McAndrews Road from Pilot Knob Road to South Robert Trail/ Highway 3 to a three-lane highway with a center left-turn lane and dedicated right-turn lanes. Dakota County has been planning on working on McAndrews Road for some time, according to John Morast, Rosemount city engineer. He said they’re not Email Andy Rogers at planning on completing andy.rogers@ecm-inc. any trails along the road com.

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See LEWIS, 17A

McAndrews road work open house set by Andy Rogers

PUBLIC NOTICE

tween pontificating from a studio and holding a congressional seat, calling it a humbling and solemn responsibility. He is aware that any


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