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Dakota County

Tribune

Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas

www.dakotacountytribune.com

INSIDE

December 8, 2016 • Volume 131 • Number 41

Council tables budget consideration Projected 3.99 tax levy increase on Dec. 19 Farmington agenda by Tad Johnson and Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Holiday worship guide inside Sun Thisweek and the Dakota County Tribune offer a guide to area religious services and events during the holidays. See special insert

The Farmington City Council tabled its consideration of approval the 2017 budget and tax levy on Monday in an effort to have a full council present at its next meeting. Council Member Terry Donnelly was not present Monday when city staff presented a projected 3.99 percent increase in the city’s tax levy for 2017. Donnelly was unable to be at the meeting due to an out-of-town

committment, according to City Administrator David McKnight. The council will have to approve the budget at its Dec. 19 meeting in order to meet county and state deadlines. Council Member Doug Bonar made the initial suggestion to table the budget and levy approval. The motion to table was approved unanimously as council members cited this was the most important decision they make each year. The $353,568 tax levy increase is due in large part to increases in wages and benefits as part of previously approved employment contracts. The proposed levy increase would result in a $42.48 increase for the city portion of the average

valued residential home in Farmington. That value of $223,029 is a 3.9 percent increase over 2016. The city portion of taxes for the average valued residential home is $1,208.30 or $3.31 per day, according to Finance Director Robin Hanson. “It does not address all of the city’s needs,� Hanson said. “Difficult choices were made to prioritize competing needs.� She said the budget continues to provide core services and meets the short-term goals and long-term planning strategies of the council. The budget includes the addition of a part-time building inspector, full-time front desk/receptionist, an full-time information technology position, additional

firefighters and another maintenance position paid for with utility funds. The budget eliminated funding for the Heritage Preservation Commission, something current Heritage Preservation Committee members advocated against earlier this year. Two members of the Heritage Preservation Committee expressed their disappointment about the elimination of funds for the committee. Committee member Dave McMillen said the committee provides a valuable service protecting heritage property and lifestyle, and said its consultant provides invaluSee FARMINGTON, 6A

OPINION

Levy to increase 3.52 percent

How will the state use funds? Columnist Joe Nathan has some ideas about how to best to spend additional funds slated for Minnesota schools. Page 4A

Rosemount adds some staff; wage, benefit costs rise

THISWEEKEND

by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

The Rosemount City Council approved a property tax levy increase for 2017 of 3.52 percent during Tuesday’s meeting. The levy will increase the city’s portion of property taxes annually by about $18 on the median value home of $250,700 in Rosemount in 2017. The increase is due in part to a new park maintenance position and new police patrol sergeant along with wage and benefit increases based on approved contracts. The new patrol sergeant was added in an effort to handle increased police calls, reduce response time and reduce unsupervised shifts. “We’ve noticed over the past year or two that our metric indicated we need to add a position,� City Administrator Dwight

Seasonal shows and more The Ames Center in Burnsville is offering an array of holidaythemed concerts and other performances this month. Page 15A

SPORTS

Village holiday sets the scene The Christmas in the Village event at Dakota City Heritage Village in Farmington welcomed some overnight snow on Sunday when the annual event had its second full day. The event, which includes horse-drawn trolley rides, a visit with St. Nicholas, food in the General Store and other early 1900s era experiences, continues this weekend: 1-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, and Sunday, Dec. 11. To view more photos of the scene last weekend, visit www.Sunthisweek.com. (Photos by Tad Johnson)

See BUDGET, 6A

Finding a leader Making new memories Defense drives Irish girls Rosemount opens South Suburban Conference play against Eastview. Page 10A

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

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

District 194 Board to start superintendent search by Laura Adelmann SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

The Lakeville Area School Board will begin discussions regarding the hiring process for District 194’s future leader at its Dec. 20 meeting. Superintendent Lisa Snyder unexpectedly announced her resignation Nov. 24, and her last day is to be June 30 when her three-year contract expires. When the district conducted its last superintendent search to replace Gary Amoroso in 2011, it hired SchoolExecConnects, an executive search firm, for about $20,000, according to District 194 spokesperson Amy Olson. The firm gathered in-

put from multiple stakeholder groups to develop criteria and screened approximately 150 applications, said Education Minnesota-Lakeville President Don Sinner. Five finalists were selected to be interviewed out of a pool of 29 screened applicants, according to a July 11, 2011, Sun Thisweek story. All candidates were working as superintendents except for one who was in an associate superintendent position. Two candidates were from Minnesota, and others were from Michigan and Iowa. Snyder was superintendent of schools in Merrill, Wis., prior to being hired. Important attributes for the superintendent candidate then were discussed at a June 2011 See 194, 7A

Noelle (left) and Erica Johnson were two of the participants in a Front Porch Players performance during Christmas at the Steeple Center “Minnesota Christmas – Memories Old and New� on Saturday, Dec. 3. The variety show style performance included music, singing, dance by groups that included the Second Act Players as the “Silent Monks of Rosemount,� Allegro Choral Academy, the HotDish women’s singing troupe and Dance Connection. (Photo contributed by Mark Freier)

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