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Dakota County

Tribune

Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas

www.dakotacountytribune.com

November 24, 2016 • Volume 131 • Number 39

NEWS

Downtown plaza study tabled again Parking questions remain

Get in the holiday spirit

by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Inside this edition is a the Dakota County Tribune’s holiday calendar filled with events in the six cities that the newspaper covers. Page 8A

previous books – “The Night Before Christmas in Rosemount� and “The 12 Days Before Christmas in Rosemount� – relied on Nelson, a 2014 RHS graduate, painting scenes of local sites to illustrate the book. Brooks went for a sentimental touch in the first book and a comical approach to the second. This one leans more toward the previous style as it relates how the school has persevered when new district high schools have opened and caused some of its former students and staff to populate those sites. Brooks and Nelson wanted to make their third book special. It’s their largest in dimension and pages, along with being full glossy and having a more expensive binding. “We couldn’t be more proud of this,� Brooks said. “We only (had) one chance to do this right.� Brooks said they felt pressured to deliver a quality product, especially since people were telling them they were buying multiple copies even before it was completed. He said Rosemount has fully supported the first two books, and since this one was about a fixture in the community about to celebrate its centennial, there was more of a reason to get excited about it. “People in Rosemount own Rosemount,� Brooks said. “They

If Farmington eventually builds a plaza in downtown, it’s not going to happen any time soon. The Farmington City Council voted to table a study for a potential plaza next to the Rambling River Center for a second time during Monday’s meeting. A Downtown Redevelopment Plan, approved last April, put a priority on identifying a central gathering space downtown and building a plaza in the parking lot west of the Rambling River Center was an option. A plan to study potential concepts was brought to the City Council Sept. 6, but it was tabled to allow time to see if there was a buy-in from area businesses. It turns out there are still questions. Community Development Director Adam Kienberger reported that several area businesses felt like revitalizing the area was positive and a “rising tide lifts all boats.� But, there were questions about parking and whether the spot was appropriate. Ann Olson, co-owner of Town Sports located downtown, said during the meeting there’s already an issue of parking in downtown even with the current vacant storefronts, and taking away any parking would further hinder business. “None of the backs of the buildings look very good, either,� Olson said. It would be a challenge to beautify the backs of the buildings like the city would hope, she said. Mayor Todd Larson asked if people use additional parking available off Second Street, but Olson said it’s too far for people to park to just come to one store, particularly in the winter. Robyn Craig, City Council Member-elect, who will be seated in January, also spoke during the meeting. She questioned whether the city has looked at other locations for a downtown public gathering

See BOOK, 6A

See PLAZA, 6A

THISWEEKEND

Former Rosemount High School student Andre Nelson and teacher Chuck Brooks will have a book signing for “The Little School That Could� noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 3 at the Steeple Center. (Photo submitted)

Centennial celebrated in new book Former Rosemount teacher, student release ‘The Little School That Could’

Kids holiday book event Bestselling children’s author and illustrator Jan Brett is coming to Lakeville with her new book “Gingerbread Christmas.� Page 15A

SPORTS Area swimmers glide at state Irish swimmers place sixth in the Class AA state meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. Page 10A

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

INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 11A Calendars . . . . . . . . . 13A Announcements . . . . 14A

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

by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

The story of Rosemount High School is one of resiliency. As the 100-year-old school filled to the gills then spawned new schools, it has been difficult, but the challenges have strengthened the resolve of its students, teachers, staff and the community. That’s the theme that runs through former RHS English teacher Chuck Brooks and Andre Nelson’s new book “The Little School That Could.� The book was released in October in advance of the school celebrating its centennial year in 2017. “This was a story I’d been wanting to tell for some time now,� said Brooks, who taught for 33 years, retiring from RHS in 2015. The idea originated from a quick version of the story he assembled for a homecoming pep assembly about 10 years ago. During the “reading,� Brooks conveyed the homecoming spirit of the district’s first school as it would rise to challenges posed by the adversity of other school’s opening. “It was a schmaltzy moment,

Long walks help bring Atkins to County Board Longtime state House represenative wins open seat by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

State Rep. Joe Atkins, DFL-Inver Grove Heights, is a few pounds lighter following his latest campaign. After he decided not to run for another term in the Minnesota Legislature, he won an open seat on the Dakota County Board of Commissioners earlier this month with about 58 percent over the vote. He’ll serve in District 4, which covers all of Rosemount, the southeast portion of Eagan and southern portions of Inver Grove Heights. Atkins said he knocked

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on thousands of doors during his campaign. “I wore out three pairs of Joe Atkins shoes,� Atkins said. “I basically walked to Chicago and back. I call it the new Atkins diet. I lost 14 pounds in the process and I could eat whatever I wanted.� It appears to have worked. He won with 14,960 votes, about the same number of doors he said he knocked on. His main goal of his new job is to adhere to

the Hippocratic oath and “first do no harm.� When he was out on his long walks, he heard that most people felt like the county was on the right track. Although, during his discussions, the No. 1 question he received was “what exactly does the Dakota County Board do?� “It’s not the sort of stuff that jumps right out at you unless you have an issue or a problem,� Atkins said. As a County Commissioner, Atkins will help direct policy and approve budgets that affect county roads, libraries and parks

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which I’m inclined to do, but it was a quick little ditty,� Brooks said. Brooks said he wanted to convey through this story what it was like to be “in a building that began a district, only to have to share that district eventually with three other high schools.� “With each opening, our programs took a knock in population,� he said. “And adults would leave for one reason or another to be at the new school. It was never easy.� Rosie, the “spirit� of the school, narrates the book. Brooks said the biggest challenge was writing a story that didn’t sound whiny or angry. In an effort to make the story charming and not vindictive, Brooks shared it with several former English colleagues. The teacher and student duo’s

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along with the county attorney and the county sheriff. Once residents knew the commission was about, Atkins heard several concerns about safety issues along county roads, particularly Cliff Road and Dodd Boulevard. “People are worried about the safety of the intersection,� Atkins said. He heard about traffic lights taking too long, leaving the County Transit Improvement Board, bus transit concerns, high property taxes and concerns about library hours. He also heard several residents speak about Rosemount’s lack of ice

time. A referendum failed earlier this year that would have paid for a new ice arena. One of the more controversial decisions the Dakota County Board has made in recent years is to build a paved path in Lebanon Hills. It’s still on many minds. When the plan was released in 2013, it included a 6-mile paved trail though the park. Hundreds of members of the public opposed the measure. As a compromise in 2015, the trail was moved from the center of the park to the edge. See ATKINS, 6A

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