Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS Cyclist remains hospitalized Reward offered for information on rural Dakota County hit-andrun driver who struck cyclist from Eagan. Page 2A
OPINION Making an impact 360 Communities CEO Sal Mondelli shows the ways in which the Dakota County nonprofit can help others have an impact. Page 4A
March 17, 2016 • Volume 131 • Number 3
Pitcher receives GOP endorsement in District 58 Farmington City Council member will seak state Senate seat by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Farmington’s Tim Pitcher, 55, received the GOP endorsement to run for the state Senate seat in District 58 during the district’s convention Saturday. Pitcher, a City Council member in Farmington, was vying for the nomination with Lakeville’s Mike Freundschuh and Mark Priore as well as Farmington School Board Member Melissa Sauser. After
five votes during the convention, Pitcher was the leader every time. He is Tim Pitcher running for a seat currently held by Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville, who has held the seat since 2010. Thompson is relocating to North Carolina for a job promotion. Pitcher volunteered for Thompson during his
2014 bid for governor. “I cannot fill his shoes,” Pitcher said. “I will be wearing my own shoes, but they are similar to Thompson. ... I really respect and admire Dave.” Pitcher said when he ran for City Council in 2014, he knocked on nearly every door in Farmington and it helped prepare him for his state Senate candidacy. “It really helped me understand what the residents are concerned about and I definitely look for-
ward to hearing from residents about their concerns again,” Pitcher said. District 58 has a history of voting for Republican candidates. The seat was held by Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington, before Thompson’s term. District 58 spans parts of Dakota and Goodhue counties and includes numerous townships and the cities of Farmington and Lakeville. Lakeville Mayor Matt Little is the only Democrat
to announce candidacy for the seat. In his release announcing his nomination, he stated he is in favor of letting people keep more of what they earn. He is prolife and a defender of the Second Amendment. His priorities for Minnesota include increasing the safety of its roads and bridges, reducing traffic bottlenecks, protecting personal property rights, protecting freedoms, imSee PITCHER, 6A
Duchscher resigns from District 196
THISWEEKEND
Longtime board member steps down after move to Farmington by Jessica Harper SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
‘Golden Pond’ in Lakeville Expressions Community Theater is set to present the stage classic “On Golden Pond” at the Lakeville Area Arts Center. Page 15A
Farmington Stadium was the location of the 2015 Farmington graduation last year. Several Farmington students and community leaders spoke during the public comment portion of Monday’s School Board meeting to urge the district to reconsider starting the reconstruction of the Farmington Stadium until after graduation this year.. (Photo by Andy Rogers)
Students disappointed Farmington graduation won’t be at stadium School Board sticks with original construction timeline despite protest by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
SPORTS Dakota United wins state title Floor hockey team takes home the PI trophy for the first time in 10 years. Page 9A
Seniors at Farmington High School aren’t happy about holding their 2016 graduation somewhere other than Farmington Stadium. By the time they would be receiving their diplomas, the stadium is scheduled to be one big construction zone. The School Board approved a timeline last month that would begin construction May 23. The board considered changing the
timeline during Monday’s meeting following several public comments in support of starting construction after graduation. But after much discussion, the majority of the School Board voted to stick with the original timeline. Several students audibly expressed their disappointment following the vote. School Board members considered the extra cost by starting late in the construction season, the scope of the project, the fact that the majority of graduations have been held indoors due to weather, current safety issues with the stadium, and the possibility of the project taking much longer than expected to make their decision.
Board Member Melissa Sauser voted for a May 23 start date during the initial vote last month, but changed her mind. She said she was under the impression that all parties had been informed when she voted, but based on the reaction, she felt there was a communication issue and it was “time to pay the piper” and start construction after graduation. Board Member Steve Corraro voted no to starting May 23 last month and advocated to change the date again. But Board Members Julie Singewald, Jake Cordes and Laura Beem stuck with the original timeline. Board Member Tera Lee was abSee GRADUATION, 6A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 10A
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Dakota County OKs Lebanon Hills pipeline by Jessica Harper DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Plans for a second natural gas pipeline through Lebanon Hills Regional Park will likely come to fruition after a Dakota County Board committee unanimously accepted plans for the $48 million project. The Physical Development Committee, which is comprised entirely of board members, directed county officials on March 8 to draft an agreement with Northern Natural Gas. The Nebraska company first approached the county about installing a new pipeline five years ago, but its plans stalled for a few years because Xcel Energy didn’t have the demand for natural gas that it now has. “We are very pleased with where we are versus where we were several years ago,” County Commissioner
Northern Natural Gas plans to build a pipeline from Rosemount to Burnsville, which would cut through Lebanon Hills Regional Park. (File photo) Tom Egan said. “They were able to address significant environmental conditions that we were concerned about.” Northern Natural Gas’ plans in 2011 called for as much as 300 feet of clear cutting through the park and trenching. It now plans to bore underground, which company
representatives say will reduce environmental impacts of the project. The 20-inch pipeline will span 7.8 miles underground from Rosemount to Xcel Energy’s Black Dog power plant in Burnsville and will run alongside an existing pipeline that is located in an easement owned by Northern Natural Gas. The company’s existing pipeline predates Lebanon Hills and has been operated by Northern Natural Gas since 1930. The pipeline is part of the Black Dog plant’s conversion from coal to natural gas, and construction on the new line is expected to begin in spring 2017. Residents and environmental groups have expressed concerns about possible tree-clearing and soil erosion that could contaminate nearby bodies of water once the See GAS, 6A
After serving on the Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan School Board for nearly two decades, Rob Duchscher has resigned due to a recent move outside the district. Duchscher, who has served four terms on the board, moved to Fa r m i n g ton late last month forcing him to Rob step down. Duchscher State statute requires school board members to live within the district in which they serve. “It was a hard decision, but a good decision,” he said. “It’s a really good move for my family.” Duchscher announced his resignation, which is effective immediately, at a March 14 School Board meeting, which was followed by a standing ovation by parents, students and district employees who were in attendance. Duchscher said the move enabled him and his wife to downsize their home and be closer to their daughter and 8-monthold grandson who live in Farmington. Duchscher said he initially didn’t expect to move so soon but his five-bedroom home in Rosemount sold faster than expected. Duchscher and his family lived in District 196 for 34 years — first moving to Eagan in 1982 and then Rosemount seven years later. He was first elected on to the School Board in 1999. During his 16-year tenure, Duchscher served as board chair six times, most recently last year. Duchscher said he will miss working with district employees and students and the opportunity to participate in annual high school graduation ceremonies. “I’m a big advocate of public education,” he said. “I will miss being a part of a district that — quite See 196, 6A