Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount www.dakotacountytribune.com
and the surrounding areas December 17, 2015 • Volume 130 • Number 41
District 196 OKs levy max District 192 passes
NEWS Three more charged Three more people have been charged in the case of two Lakeville teens who went missing in April 2013. Page 2A
OPINION Reform to help local districts U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Burnsville, writes about his contributions to the new federal education law. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
Expected tax increase is due to voter-approved levy by Jessica Harper SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan School District will seek the maximum property tax levy allowed by the state next year. On Dec. 14, the School Board unanimously approved a $44.8 million payable 2016 property tax levy. The district’s total levy will increase by $7 million due to a 10year, $50 million capital improvement levy passed by voters in November. Without the capital improvement levy, the district’s
total levy would have dropped by 1 percent, said Jeff Solomon director of finance and operations for District 196. Due to the increase, taxes on the average valued home of $250,000 will likely increase by about $144 between payable 2015 and payable 2016, which is about $12 more a month. The capital improvements levy will pay for technology upgrades that would include expanding Wi-Fi capacity, maintaining interactive classroom equipment See 196, 6A
$4.3M increase to tax levy Referendum biggest factor in increase by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
After hours of discussion, dozens of meetings and thousands of votes, the Farmington School District’s property tax levy for next year is final. The Farmington School Board unanimously approved a $4.3 million increase on its portion of the property tax levy, a 22.1 percent increase from last year, during Monday’s meeting. Most of the increase is due to two referendum questions voters
approved last month. Approximately 57 percent of voters approved a $433 per pupil increase in the operating referendum, increasing the tax levy by about $2 million. The $45 million bond referendum increased the levy by $1.3 million. Property taxes on a house with an estimated market value of $225,000 in 2016 will increase by $316. If voters hadn’t approved the two questions, taxes would have increased by $85 on
Farmington shares several concepts for downtown redevelopment Farmington task force still in the early stages by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Local holiday entertainment Area residents in search of holiday shows will find plenty on offer at Burnsville’s Ames Center and the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Page 19A
SPORTS Rosemount edged by Eagan Less than a half point seperated the Irish and Eagan in a gymnastics meet last week. Page 13A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District.
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 13A Public Notices . . . . . . 14A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 15A Announcements . . . . 18A
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Several concepts for the future of downtown Farmington were on display during an open house at City Hall on Tuesday. A task force was formed earlier this year to explore a potential redevelopment plan of downtown Farmington, as many citizens feel it has untapped potential. Tuesday’s open house was the first of several, according to Farmington community development director Adam Kienberger, who was hoping to get some input from the citizens. “We wanted to see if we’re on the right track,” Kienberger said. “We want to see what people think are good ideas, or bad. Or, to see if they have any ideas we didn’t consider.” City staff members along with Jeff Miller from Hoisington Koegler Group Inc., whom the city hired as the project consultant, were on hand to answer about 40 citizen questions. “Overall I felt it was very positive,” said Tony Wippler, Farmington planning manager. “We’ll go back to the task force with the comments and regroup.” Some of the issues the task force found in downtown Farmington is there are too many vacant buildings, not enough green space, and no central meeting place. Downtown is not always convenient to navigate, and the overall awareness of downtown for residents is low because it’s off the beaten path particularly for those
See 192, 7A
Garofalo: zero tolerance for emergency personnel interference by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
who live in northern Farmington. The current mix of businesses doesn’t attract many families and there are not enough unique shops to be a destination. One solution is to improve the mobility of pedestrians, bikers and drivers by improving intersections and creating new pathways and trails. The committee would also like to take advantage of the many historic buildings in downtown, some of which are empty. Some of the other concepts included a river walk, new green spaces, building a town square, and creating more space for restaurants or coffee shops that would want outdoor seating. Kienberger stressed that this is just the concept phase of the project. Kienberger said people often See DOWNTOWN, 7A
Residents survey several redevelopment concepts for a downtown Farmington on Tuesday night at Farmington City Hall. (Photo by Andy Rogers)
A history of giving back Family plans to locate its fifth Culver’s in Rosemount by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Though the first Culver’s didn’t open until 1984, the Culver family traces its roots back to 1961 when George and Ruth Culver purchased a restaurant. Since its founding 31 years ago, Culver’s has retained its old-school flair as its food is prepared quickly, but not quite at the speed of fast food restaurants. In addition to these roots, the family that plans to open a Rosemount location – its fifth Culver’s in the Twin Cities – has a history of finding spots in or near downtown areas. Orono residents John From left, Joe Laudenbach, Maria Veach, John Laudenbach, Amanda Braml and and Jan Laudenbach’s Matt Laudenbach stand outside one of their current four Culver’s in the Twin Cities. The family plans to open its fifth in Rosemount. (Photo submitted) See CULVER’S, 6A
Minnesota state Rep. Pat Garofalo, R-Farmington, is advocating zero tolerance and automatic jail time for those interfering with emergency medical personnel. He announced plans to introduce the Public Safety Personnel Protection Act during the next legislative session, which begins March 8, 2016. The legislation would enhance criminal penalties for those who interfere with public safety personnel who are trying to render medical assistance. He said the last thing medical responders, such as police officers, firefighters or paramedics, should have to worry about when responding to a medical emergency is someone impeding medical treatment. Like all laws, it’s meant to be a deterrent. “The focus on this is to get people to obey the law, not necessarily put more people in prison,” Garofalo said. He said he’s looked at similar legislation in other states, such as Colorado, for inspiration. “There’s been aggravated sentences before,” Garofalo said. “What this bill does, in the past you had a physical assault. If you interfere with them rendering medical care, there’s a minimum mandatory sentence.” He confirmed he was inspired by recent events. “Obviously there’s been some high-profile incidents cases in the nation and in Minnesota where there was an attack on a public safety worker,” Garofalo said. “We want those who are thinking about attacking (a public safety worker) that there are no excuses, no exceptions, they’re going to go to prison.” During an incident in Minneapolis last month, Jamar Clark was allegedly interfering with paramedics who were responding to an assault report. “I would say it was part of the motivation, but not solely,” Garofalo said. He said he’s received an overwhelmingly positive reaction particularly public safety workers.