Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
March 3, 2016 • Volume 130 • Number 52
Residents, environmentalist worry over pipeline plan
NEWS Pro-wresling fundraiser
Northern Natural Gas plans to install a 7.8 mile pipeline from Rosemount to Burnsville
The American Wrestling Federation will bring its show to Farmington High School on March 15 for a fundraiser. Page 2A
OPINION Art program is a winner An exhibit of youth creations at a Twin Cities arts center should be replicated at other locations throughout the state. Page 4A
by Jessica Harper
it. The new pipeline would follow an existing 16-inch pipeline that is within a 60-foot easement owned by Northern Natural Gas. The vast majority of the pipeline that would cut through the park would run within this easement, said Mike Loeffler, Northern’s external affairs director. Construction of the $48 million pipeline is scheduled to begin in spring 2017. Dakota County officials have been in talks with Northern Natural Gas, County Parks and Recreation Director Steve Sullivan said, and the County Board is scheduled to discuss the issue at its March 8 meeting. “We are working with them to make sure to protect the quality of nature based recreation in the
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Plans to build a gas pipeline that would cut through Lebanon Hills Regional Park has residents and environmentalists worried. Northern Natural Gas intends to run a 7.8 mile underground line from Rosemount to Burnsville. The pipe would transport natural gas, which Xcel Energy would use to generate electricity at Black Dog power plant in Burnsville as it moves away from coal. Northern Natural Gas representatives say that instead of tearing through residents’ backyards and parkland to lay the 20-inch pipe, the company plans to drill underground to install
Northern Natural Gas plans to build a pipeline from Rosemount to Burnsville, which would cut through Lebanon Hills Regional Park. (File photo) park,� Sullivan said. Since the pipeline would be within an existing easement, there’s not much residents and the county can do the prevent the new line from being built.
Residents and environmental groups say they worry about possible tree-clearing and soil erosion that could contaminate nearby bodies of water once the pipe is installed. Whether the company will need to create temporary access roads for construction and long-term maintenance are also concerns, these groups say. “We’re just hopeful that instead of forging through, they are looking at other options that have minimal impacts,� Eagan resident Holly Jenkins said. Many residents are extra protective of Lebanon Hills after a controversial decision by Dakota County to add a paved trail in the park. See GAS, 6A
THISWEEKEND
Sagen leaves imprint on annual shows Former vocal music instructor at three different high schools earns Legacy Award
Little drummer, big talent A 9-year-old music prodigy from Lakeville is set to showcase his talents at a March 12 concert at the Parkway Theater. Page 15A
by Tad Johnson Caucus-goers at the Senate District 57 site at Eastview High School in Apple Valley waited in line to file into their precinct room in an effort to cast their presidential straw ballots and conduct the caucus meeting. (Photo by Tad Johnson)
ing out, especially those convening our precincts, this would not have happened,� Senate District 57 GOP officials said. “A special thank you goes to our 11 student volunteers from Apple Valley High School who did such a wonderful job helping people find out which precinct they were in.� At Eastview, Republicans packed into the auditorium to hear speeches by Senate District 57 candidate Cory Campbell and state Rep. Tara Mack, who indicated she would be seeking a fifth term in the House. More than 2,400 DFLers patiently but enthusiastically waited
It’s hard to imagine that anyone would have left more of a legacy in Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Schools than Judy Sagen. The longtime v o c a l music instructor at three different District 196 Judy Sagen schools launched annual variety show style musical extravaganzas at each and those programs endure as the most anticipated and well-attended each year. In honor of her 37 years of work in the schools and a lifetime’s worth in the communi-
See CAUCUS, 6A
See SAGEN, 6A
Caucuses turn out big crowds Republicans, DFLers vote for Rubio, Sanders in straw polls
by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
SPORTS Boys hockey on tostate The Farmington High School boys hockey team defeated Lakeville North in the Section 1AA final. Page 9A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 10A
Senate District 57 Republicans and Democrats voted in nearly the same manner as those statewide in the presidential straw poll during Tuesday’s caucus night. The district, which includes all of Apple Valley, Rosemount, Coates and a northeast portion of Lakeville, had its Republicans vote 39.45 percent for Marco Rubio, 29.07 percent for Ted Cruz and 18.4 percent for Donald Trump. The percentage for Rubio was about 3 percent higher than the state returns, while Trump’s was about 3 percentage points lower. On the DFL side, Bernie Sand-
Run aims to raise mental health awareness Founder Julio Salazar wants people to know there’s hope by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
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ers carried District 57 55.4 percent to Hillary Clinton’s 44 percent. Sanders won the statewide contest 62.7-36.4. Turnout was high for both the parties. The 2,195 District 57 Republican votes cast was almost four times as many tallied in the 2008 caucus. The GOP held caucuses at two different locations — Eastview High School and Rosemount High School — to the DFL’s one site, but that did not prevent people from waiting in lines to enter some precinct rooms. Many of the classroom spaces at Eastview were filled to standing-room only. “Without our volunteers help-
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A common remedy for feeling blue is to go outside and get some exercise. The Break the Stigma project hopes to give people hope for happiness while getting some exercise by sponsoring a 10K and 5K race May 1 at Whitetail Woods Regional Park, 17100 Station Trail, Farmington. The organization’s goal is to educate others that mental health issues are treatable. Founder Julio Salazar struggled with mental health issues for many years before reaching out for help. “I really struggled with depression, anxiety and (obsessive-com-
pulsive disorder),� Salazar said. “I reached out to a professional. Probably the best thing the doctor told me was he reassured me that depression is very normal and treatable. I was able to get on medication and talk to a therapist and doing the right thing to be healthy.� By 2013, he was improving and decided to give back and created Break the Stigma. “I wanted to educate people that there’s no shame in asking for help for mental illness,� Salazar said. “If you have cancer you have to do something about it to get better. It’s not different.� One of the more common prescriptions for depression and other mental health issues is exercise, so a trail run fits the theme. “It helps quite a bit from the physiological standpoint,� race director Sam Rush said. Proceeds from the race will be used to fund Salazar’s run to
Break the Stigma leaders Steve Connelly, Kevin Chem and Julio Salazar are sponsoring a trail run May 1 at Whitetail Woods in Farmington. (Photo submitted) spread his message across the Midwest. Last year Salazar ran across Minnesota to spread his message. He averaged about 34 miles per day and it took seven days. This year he’s taking his mes-
sage to Wisconsin. He’s planning to run from Algoma to Hudson from May 7-14. Salazar is currently running about 40 miles a week to prepare, See RUN, 7A
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