Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
SPECIAL SECTION
March 23, 2017 • Volume 132 • Number 4
New city buildings recommended Task force says Rosemount needs a new police station, public works building by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Businesses tell their stories Inside this edition is a special section devoted to the local businesses and the stories behind their place in the community. Inside this edition
OPINION Sunshine every day of the year Minnesota news organizations are working hard to bring light to government actions. Local residents can do their part, too. Page 4A
Rosemount has outgrown many of its facilities. That’s what a Facilities Task Force, put together by the Rosemount City Council last year, said during a presentation during Tuesday’s council meeting. City Hall, the Rosemount Police Department and the Public Works De-
partment are particularly cramped. With the Metropolitan Council expecting Rosmeount’s population to increase by 20,000 people in the next 13 years, it could get worse. “We believe a new facility for the police department and public works is imperative,� Sharon Peterson, president of the Rosemount Facilities Task Force. “Their space is ex-
tremely confined.� City offices and the Rosemount Police Department essentially share the same campus at 2875 145th St. W. in Rosemount. The city has grown around City Hall since it was built about 57 years ago. “Today, this space is too small,� Peterson said. She said the spaces are inefficient and the police
Welcoming spring as One Milan Mandir celebrates the Holi festival with participants from all over the world
‘Side Show’ at Ames Center Chameleon Theatre Circle presents a musical based on the true story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. Page 15A
SPORTS Consolation titles for two Dakota United and Burnsville/Farmington/ Lakeville teams came away with consolation trophies at last weekend’s state adapted floor hockey tournament. Page 10A
renovating it some more. In the short term, the task force recommends the city add about 3,000 square feet to the existing police station. It would be paid for using the $1 million in capital improvement plan funds set approved for 2017. “It would increase workspace for offices and some potential meeting See BUILDINGS, 13A
Shannon Park principal to retire Guthrie has been school’s leader for 17 years
by Maren Bauer
THISWEEKEND
often use the detention center in Hastings Dakota County facility because the Rosemount department has just two dentition areas. The police need more room for interviews and meetings along with a larger woman’s locker room, larger lobby area and more office spaces. The space been renovated several times, and the task force recommend
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
On this chilly March day, the day before the official first day of spring, people dance to the Holi music, a fusion of what sounds like electronic dance music and Bollywood, while covered in colored powder. The celebrators smile and laugh incessantly and dance in groups, in conga lines, or on their own just lost in the rhythm. The festival-goers have lost The Milan Mandir themselves to the joy of Grand Annual Holi the moment — heartFestival was held Sunwarming despite the cold. day, March 19, at MinI ask to speak to Satya nesota Hindu Milan Balroop, the temple’s genMandir in Farmington. eral secretary, and as I The event included wait for someone to find games, colors, pichaher, the festival’s particicari, gulaal, music and pants come up to me with food. “abrac,� the colored powPhotos by Maren Bauer der, smearing it onto my cheeks, my hair, my back, my arms. It feels like these strangers I’ve never met are blessing me with the hope of joy as they celebrate spring’s coming. I’m typically not a big fan of strangers touching my face, but it’s hard to deny a grinning child who has just the hint of mischief in the glint of his eye. The Hindu tradition of celebrating Holi marks the welcoming of spring, and a time to burn away the evil spirits. Satya Balroop, of Eagan, shares what she loves about the festival: “I love how it brings life into this dull, greyness. I love when people come out and
As much has he’s looking forward to retirement, Michael Guthrie gets emotional when talking about it. Shannon Park Elementary in Rosemount is Michael where he’s Guthrie spent most of his adult life working. He started as a firstgrade teacher at Shannon Park. “I always joke that it was the best job I ever had working with those firstgraders,� Guthrie said. “But I really like all ages. The kids were always my focus. I’ve enjoyed coming into this building for all these years. That’s what gets me out of bed in the morning, knowing that I get to work with the best kids and the best staff in the world.� He spent two years as principal at Parkview Elementary before coming to Shannon Park Elementary as principal for the last 17 years. It’s going to be tough
See FESTIVAL, 13A
See GUTHRIE, 13A
The festival
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 12A
Dakota County officials stuck in CTIB Question of fairness in transit funding leads to impasse to dissolve regional board by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
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It appears the Counties Transit Improvement Board won’t break up after all. With Dakota County unwilling to approve dissolution of the regional transit agency and no additional meeting slated before a March 31 deadline to decertify its taxing authority to the Department of Revenue for this fiscal quarter, CTIB will likely stick together at least for another three months, according to Dakota County Commissioner Tom Egan.
The next quarterly deadline is June 30, but Egan doesn’t know if the impasse will be broken by then. “Is something going to happen in the next 90 days? I don’t know,� said Egan, an attorney, who hinted during a Tuesday phone interview that a mediator might be needed to resolve the dispute. “There are going to have to be some softening of positions. Feelings have been strong. “The good news is this allows us more time to negotiate, and the bad news is we continue to pay the
tax,� Egan said. Dakota County is holding up the dissolution of CTIB as the county attempts to garner some of the money it says it has contributed over the years to the regional transportation project agency. The county wants $29.1 million as part of the break up, but the four other CTIB counties — Hennepin, Ramsey, Anoka and Washington — are offering $16 million. The discrepancy, according to Hennepin County Commissioner See CTIB, 9A
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Officials from Dakota County huddle during a break in a March 3 Counties Transit Improvement Board meeting. From left standing are County Manager Matt Smith, physical development director Steve Mielke, communications director Mary Beth Schubert. Sitting are Commissioners Mary Liz Holberg and Tom Egan.
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