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Dakota County

Tribune

Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas

www.dakotacountytribune.com

NEWS

October 13, 2016 • Volume 131 • Number 33

District 4 candidates want more responsive County Board Jenkins, Atkins court votes in the race for open seat by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Disc golf course opens A new nine-hole disc golf course has opened in Empire Township as it follows along the scenic Vermillion River. Page 2A

OPINION Craig endorsed in 2nd District The ECM Editorial Board has endorsed Angie Craig in the race for the open seat in the 2nd Congressional District. Page 4A

THISWEEKEND

Haunted choreography The spirit of Halloween meets the vibrance of dance in Twin Cities Ballet’s “Art in Motion: A Thriller of an Event� in Lakeville. Page 14A

SPORTS Farmington upends Irish The Farmington High School football team pulled off big win with high-scoring fourth quarter. Page 9A

PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 10A

For the first time in 18 years, there will be a new Dakota County Board commissioner representing District 4. Holly Jenkins and Joe Atkins are running for the seat, which serves Rosemount, a portion of Eagan and Inver Grove Heights and has been held by Eagan resident Nancy Shouweiler since 1998. Jenkins, of Eagan, and Atkins, of Inver Grove Heights, enter the race from different perspectives. Jenkins has a financial background and is a longtime community ac-

tivist, while Atkins, an a t t o r n e y, has served in various political offices, i n c l u d - Joe Atkins ing mayor of Inver Grove Heights and a state representative in House District 52B. The candidates met in a forum on Town Square Television in August and outlined the ways in which they were best suited to served on the County Board. Atkins said he worked to put himself through college at the University

Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9A Public Notices . . . . . . 10A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 11A Announcements . . . . 14A

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

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State event attracts top marching bands by Brent Honcharenko SPECIAL TO SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

The Rosemount High School marching band, with their vampirethemed field show entitled “Love At First Bite,� finished first in the 12th annual Youth in Music finals competition, earning the YIM Grand Champion Award and the Class 4A Minnesota High School Marching Band Championship on Saturday, Oct. 8, at US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. “I’m so honored to have been able to perform in US Bank stadium, and The Rosemount High School marching band finished first in the 12th annual Youth it really helped to fuel us in Music finals competition, earning the YIM Grand Champion Award and the Class to perform to our utmost 4A Minnesota High School Marching Band Championship on Saturday, Oct. 8, at See RHS BAND, 6A US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. (Photos by Leo Avenido)

FHS marching band competes in state championship Group places fourth in Class A at US Bank Stadium

The Farmington Tiger Marching Band placed fourth in the Class A competition at the 12th annual Youth in Music State Marching Band Championships last weekend at the US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The band performed its 2016 show “The Rave from the Graves of Vienna.� The event featured 29 of the top marching bands from throughout Minnesota, as well as several bands from Iowa, Wisconsin, and South Dakota. “This has been an exSee FHS BAND, 6A

The Farmington marching band is about to take the field at US Bank Stadium during Youth in Music on Saturday. (Photo submitted)

Enrollment, diversity continues to climb in District 196 by Jessica Harper The Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan School District student body is steadily growing in size and is becoming more diverse each year, according to a recent district report. Total enrollment in the district increased 1.41 percent over the past year to 28,182 as of Oct. 3, according to a report presented to the School Board on Oct. 10. This exceeded earlier projections by about 303 students, said Kim Reis, student information supervisor for District 196. The bulk of the growth occurred in grades K-8, which climbed 2.6 percent from 17,995 in

October 2015 to 18,468 in October 2016. While enrollment rose at the elementary and middle schools, District 196 high schools saw a slight drop of 92 students to a total of 8,386. High school enrollment has fallen by 7.1 percent (639 students) since 2006. Total enrollment in District 196 has gradually increased each year since the fall of 2013 when enrollment was 27,202. As the student body has grown, it also has become more diverse over the past 10 years. Minority students make up 34.2 percent of enrollment in District 196, which is slightly higher than the state total of 30.48 percent. Black students represent the

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largest minority population in District 196 at 13.56, followed by Asians at 10.68 percent, Hispanics at 8.87 percent and American Indians at 1.10 percent. Just a decade ago, minority students made up 18.99 percent of District 196’s student body. The district is also experiencing a growing number of students who speak English as a second language. As of Oct. 3, English language learners made up 6.18 percent of the district population, which is up from 4.51 percent in the fall of 2006. The number of students who qualify for free and reduced meals at District 196 continues to climb.

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Atkins told voters to look at his performance as opposed to promises, citing his bipartisan work in the House and his track record of standing up to the Met Council as mayor of Inver Grove Heights to maintain control over local planning decisions. Jenkins, who has worked for Piper Jaffray, has a master’s degree in finance from the Carlson School of Management and is founder of the nonprofit Wilderness in the City, which has advocated for the preservation of Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan. She said she wants to shine a spotlight on the

RHS earns top honors at Youth in Music

SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

INDEX

of Minnesota and the William Mitchell College of Law. He said he believes in Holly community Jenkins service and giving back to the community. He said he has a record of keeping taxes low as a mayor of Inver Grove Heights. He said he also has a track history of working on bipartisan legislation, including a bill that reduced the number of meth labs in Dakota County and throughout Minnesota.

See 196, 6A

invisible layer of Dakota County government. She said the commissioners work in an isolated manner making decisions that impact the quality of life of local residents. Jenkins said she wants to bring the public back into the decision-making process. “I am determined to change the status quo so people have a say in how our money is being spent,� she said. Jenkins said she is concerned that the county portion of property taxes will increase in the coming years based on spending See COUNTY, 6A

Levy for 2017 may be revised Positive budget news for 2016 could lower Farmington budget for 2017 and beyond by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

When the Farmington City Council approved a maximum property tax levy increase in 2017 of 4.94 percent last month, they noted there was still time to decrease it. During a work session Monday, City Administrator David McKnight shared a plan that would protect the fund balance, reduce the tax levy increase to 3.99 percent and strengthen future budgets. City budget revenues are exceeding expectations this year and expenditures are down, which is projected to leave some extra money. The city could use the positive fund balance to purchase some needed items this year and put money in underfunded accounts, which would remove them from the 2017 and 2018 budgets. It could be used for about $65,000 worth police department equipment and training. Police Chief Brian Lindquist said the money would be used to purchase new rifles; emergency gear such as masks, shields and helmets; training for large regional event response; and equipment for active shooter response. “The last thing we want is for police to go into a situation unprepared with old equipment,� Mayor Todd Larson said. Another $45,000 would be used for Emerald Ash Borer control. Another $40,000 would go toward the building fund and $50,000 toward the employee expense fund, both of which are underfunded. City staff and council discussed what to do with See TAXES, 7A

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