Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS Airlake runway could expand Concept plans for the airport in Lakeville extend the runway 751 feet without realigning Cedar Avenue. Page 3A
OPINION Lawmakers, Dayton must work together on transportation State depends on reliable, safe network. Page 4A
April 13, 2017 • Volume 132 • Number 7
Rosemount Applebee’s to close after 12 years Last day will be April 14 by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The Applebee’s Bar and Grill in Rosemount has announced it’s permanently closing April 14. The restaurant has operated off Highway 42 at 15015 Cimarron Ave. for the last 12 years. In a message on Facebook, the Rosemount Applebee’s posted: “We have been very grateful for all of your patronage for the 12 years we have been
a part of the Rosemount community. Come join us this week and help us go out with a bang!� The close was reportedly due to an increase in rent. “The city is disappointed that Applebee’s was unable to reach an agreement with its landlord to remain open,� said Logan Martin, Rosemount city administrator, in a statement. “We look forward to working with other potential tenants for this choice location on County Road 42. And we continue to work toward adding more din-
ing options to the restaurants that have opened in Rosemount in the past 10 years.� There are about 2,000 franchises nationwide as of 2015, according to Applebee’s corporate website. In 2016, 46 Applebee’s locations closed. According to a news release last month by DineEquity Inc., the parent company of Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants, Applebee’s domestic systemwide comparable same-restaurant sales deSee APPLEBEE’S, 6A
Photo by Andy Rogers
Applebee’s in Rosemount has announced it is closing permanently April 14.
To record or not to record?
THISWEEKEND
Farmington School Board debates work sessions by Maren Bauer SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Love and loss in a time of war Lakeville author Loretta Ellsworth discusses her new novel, “Stars Over Clear Lake,� which will be released by St. Martin’s Press in May. Page 17A
Photo by Andrew Miller
U.S. Rep. Jason Lewis, R-Woodbury, spoke at the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce event April 10 in Apple Valley.
Lewis’ first 100 days on the Hill Congressman discusses his first months in office at chamber luncheon by Andrew Miller SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
SPORTS Spring season underway Many new head coaches for varsity softball teams in the South Suburban Conference. Page 10A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District.
Though Congress failed to pass the American Health Care Act, U.S. Rep. Jason Lewis, R-Woodbury, stands by his support of the bill. “I will be the first to admit our side did not do a good job of messaging,� said Lewis, speaking April 10 at a Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce event at Valleywood Golf Course in Apple Valley. The health care bill, which was withdrawn in March after failing to gain enough House Republican support, is something the first-term congressman believes would have worked to resolve the “crisis in health care� brought on by the Affordable Care Act enacted during the Obama administration. “I spoke passionately on the floor See LEWIS, 6 A
Photo by Andrew Miller
About a dozen protesters stood outside the clubhouse at Valleywood Golf Course in Apple Valley prior to U.S. Rep. Jason Lewis’ speech at the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce luncheon April 10. They told a reporter they wished to discuss health care, women’s rights and other issues with the first-term congressman, and wanted to encourage him to hold an in-person town hall meeting.
In an era of fake news, alternative facts and deleted emails, apparently “open and honest� is not synonymous with “transparent.� This week at the Farmington School Board regular meeting, board members discussed whether or not round table work sessions should be recorded. Three board members voted that work sessions should be recorded, while three voted they should not be. The motion failed. The idea of unrecorded work sessions adheres to other local district practices. District 196 video records regular School Board meetings and has them available on the YouTube channel; everything else is unrecorded. Amy Olson, director of communications at District 194, said that anecdotally, she believes most local districts adhere to the model of recording regular board meetings but not recording other meetings. Eanes ISD in Texas, ranked the second best district nationwide by Business Insider, does not video record any of their meetings. However, all of their meetings, whether they be regular board meetings or study sessions, are recorded. If it is posted to the public, the district records it for the public.
Jake Cordes, Farmington School Board chair, argues: “Our conversations would be unvarnished. As was shared several times last night, people have the natural tendency to hold things back when they know they are being recorded. We had a retreat facilitator who held things back because he knew he was on tape; he also indicated that it is in his experience that very few boards who have the round table format work sessions record them. In the past we have had many unrecorded retreats that I felt were very productive and led to successful, high functioning boards. “My second reason is that there would be an additional cost to the district if we were to switch to a round table format and still audio record the meetings. We would have to rent microphones to use in a round table format and devise some sort of way to retain the recordings. “At the end of the day, I look at how successful the City Council has been in the last few years. They have an unrecorded work session format in which they can do deep dives on the issues. Then they have an efficient business meeting the following week. They are able to get a lot done because of this format.� See RECORD, 6A
Rosemount security worker has four-legged helper Gordon Finley and Frankie keep students safe at high school by Paul Rignell
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SPECIAL TO SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Retired after nearly 20 years as a U.S. Marine and a later career in information technology, Minnesota native Gordon Finley now works part time weekdays in a security role at Rosemount High School. As part of his daily shift, it is Finley’s responsibility to ensure the students disperse peacefully from the school halls after their final class hour ends
at 2:15 p.m. He secures all doors that are supposed to be locked after school hours. There is also some desk work where he records student attendance data that he gathers from substitute teachers working any given day (regular faculty record their own attendance data). Unlike many other school security officers, Finley works with a partner – and a protector. Finley’s partner is the fourlegged Frankie, a border collie-springer spaniel mix
who has been part of Finley’s family and home in Eagan for five years. Frankie has accompanied his owner to work throughout this school year after the dog was certified as a service animal last July through Patriot Assistance Dogs, a training program based in Detroit Lakes. The organization recently received a $10,000 Photo submitted gift from a group of philanthropic motorcycle rid- Rosemount High School security worker Gordon Finley and his dog, Frankie, are with Belle Meene, who sees See FINLEY, 6A Frankie every day on her way home and it makes her day.
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