Dct10 20 16

Page 1

Dakota County

Tribune

Farmington | Rosemount www.dakotacountytribune.com

and the surrounding areas October 20, 2016 • Volume 131 • Number 34

Haunted Woods Trail returns to Rosemount

NEWS School gains attention

Event attracted more than 3,200 in 2015

Officials from across the country visit the Lakeville Area School District’s Impact Academy. Page 2A

OPINION CTIB exit is a good ďŹ rst step Guest columnist William Hume said Dakota County’s exit from a regional transit planning board is a good first step. Page 4A

THISWEEKEND

by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

This year’s Rosemount Haunted Woods Trail on Saturday, Oct. 29, celebration aims to be fun-filled evening for preschool through middle-school aged youths in Central Park. Area volunteers and businesses will pass out candy; nonperishable food donations will be accepted at the trail entrance starting at sundown on Saturday. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the event runs until 8 p.m. People are encouraged to arrive early and plan ahead for parking and walking to the event. It is estimated that more than 3,200 attended last year’s event. An estimated 1,465 were children. Last year’s event collected 1,100 pounds of food. Rosemount Halloween The Haunted Woods Trail will be held in Rosemount’s Central Park. More information about the event is at RosemountEvents.com. (Photo by Tad Johnson) See HAUNTED, 10A

Farmington considers zoning laws review

‘Flying Colors’ exhibition The Lakeville Area Arts Center is playing host to the annual fall exhibition by members of the Minnesota Watercolor Society. Page 19A

by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Author aims to inspire

Duluth author Margi Preus made a presentation and signed books for Rosemount Middle School students on Tuesday on the final day of the One Book, One Rosemount effort organized by the Dakota County Library System in conjunction with the Friends of the Robert Trail Library. Preus offered the history associated with her books, focusing primarily on the journey to the completion of “Shadow on the Mountain,� which was this year’s One Book. Preus also visited with elementary and high school students along with making an evening presentation at the library. (Photo by Tad Johnson)

SPORTS Irish qualiďŹ es for state The Rosemount girls soccer team is headed to state for the first time in nearly two decades. Page 12A

PUBLIC NOTICE 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

Farmington City Council candidates offer their views by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Taxes and commercial development were hot topics during a Farmington City Council candidate forum last week. The event was sponsored by the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce, which had several questions focused on each candidate’s economic ideas and ideals among the four candidates vying for two seats. As incumbents, current City Council Members Doug Bonar and Terry Donnelly touted the positives within the city such as the commercial development of Vermillion River Crossings and recent bond rating upgrade. Bonar said he’s running for a final term to continue the work the council has completed over the last four years. “We’ve made some difficult choices, but we are establishing a foundation we can build from,� Bonar said. Bonar touted his decisionmaking process and his tendency to demand three options for each question. “I look for solutions and select them creatively and challenge

: - < 2$ $ /z $

Challengers question iPads

See COUNCIL, 7A

by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

In a contrast to national races this election, Farmington School Board candidates spent a portion of the forum last week praising each other. They noted the strong field among them and thanked each other for running. Two incumbents Julie Singewald and Jake Cordes were joined by Jacilyn Doyle, John Guist and Steve Wilson who touted their experience and ideas during a forum sponsored by the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce Oct. 12 at Farmington City Hall. They all said one of their priorities is finding a long-term budget solution for the district, but admitted there’s no easy answer. Challengers Doyle, Wilson and Guist suggested evaluating the one-to-one iPad initiative the district implemented a few years ago. The district began leasing iPads in 2012, and the School Board approved another threeyear lease in 2015, which would expire in 2018. There was some discussion by the board to make it a one-to-four iPad-to-student

WE ARE BUYING:

40 /02 $/ 40 02z

!""'! !

conventions,� Bonar said. Donnelly touted his experience and proven voting record. “I’m a level-headed, common sense guy,� Donnelly said. “I vote for what’s best for the city.� Donnelly said he feels the city has some positive momentum going and he would like to maintain the progress the city has made. “We’ve made some tough choices and it’s starting to bear fruit now,� Donnelly said. Challenger Robyn Craig said she wants to give back to Farmington after spending 35 years in business development. She added now that she’s retired, she has plenty of time to help Farmington build up its economic base while working to decrease the tax burden on residents. Craig said those who know her well know she values faith, family, integrity, humility, justice and honesty. Craig noted that as the only woman running, should she win a seat, she would be the only female on the council. Challenger Brett Wilson mentioned several times throughout the forum his desire to see an in-

See CITY, 7A

School board candidates commend each other at forum

Contrasts in style, experience highlighted

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

&

Members of the Farmington City Council suggested taking a fresh look at all of the city’s zoning laws during Monday’s meeting. The last review came in the early 2000s and much has changed since then. The issue came to a head during Monday’s meeting when a Farmington resident asked to rezone his own property. Craig Bongard has had trouble selling his property located at 20522 Akin Road in a residential area.

“This property has been underutilized for so many years,� Mayor Todd Larson said. “We’re trying to get something going and find something that fits.� Larson said the situation has been giving him heartburn for a while now. The owners asked the city to rezone the property from a residential district to a heavy business district so they could sell it as a storage facility. The owner had been using it as his own storage facility for a trucking business, something allowed by a spe-

• All Gold & Silver Coins • Old Currency & Bank Notes • US Coin & Currency Collections • Unwanted Gold & Silver Jewelry • Sterling Silver Place Settings • Professional Numismatist on Staff

Immediate Payment If You Choose To Sell!

ratio for kindergarten through second grade, but it didn’t pass. Doyle said the community is struggling with property taxes and wanted to ensure the iPad initiative was giving students realworld experience. Guist wants the district to operate within its means while still being an inspiring place to work and learn. As a budget-saving measure, Cordes said it’s important to work with the Minnesota Legislature to re-evaluate the funding formula and continue to create partnerships with the city and area businesses. Singewald said a she’s running again to make sure the levy voters approved last year is spent in a way that’s sustainable. She also plans to actively engage the Minnesota Legislature to improve funding formulas. “Farmington sits in a quagmire of laws that puts a burden on taxpayers,� Singewald said. When asked about recent School Board decisions, challengers continued to question the oneto-one iPad initiative, but praised the recent levy referendum that See BOARD, 10A

952-657-5283

: - < 2$- $ /z

14321 Nicollet Crt. Ste 375 Burnsville MN www.GreatLakesCoinsMN.com !ÂŽ ¯ßŽ~ Z 0 2½ ¯ßŽĂ&#x; Z 04"½ $0

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.