Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount www.dakotacountytribune.com
and the surrounding areas June 2, 2016 • Volume 131 • Number 14
Farmington Farmers Market aims to grow at the fairgrounds
NEWS Longtime FHS teacher retiring Instrumental music teacher Jeff Gottwig plans to travel and play trumpet after 30 years in education. Page 2A
Fresh goods available every Thursday starting June 9 by Andy Rogers
OPINION
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Opening the school door The recently concluded legislative session “opened the door� to new opportunities for Minnesota’s district public schools. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
New album for oboe, bass duo Apple Valley couple Rolf Erdahl and Carrie Vecchione, who make up the duo OboeBass!, recently released their fourth recording. Page 15A
The Farmington Farmers Market will have a new home this summer. Vendors selling their produce, meat, apples, salsa, eggs, herbs, barbecue sauce, honey, plants and baked goods will set up shop 2:30-6:30 p.m. every Thursday from June 9 to Sept. 29 at the Third Street entrance in the Dakota County Fairgrounds, 4008 200th St. W. Mark Henry, Dakota County Fair Agricultural Society president, said he heard the city might not be able to run the market at its usual location downtown Farmington in 2016. “We reached out,� Henry said. “It’s a big area down here at the fairgrounds with lots of parking. It might reduce some congestion. The Farmers Market has been a great thing for the community and we wanted to keep it alive.� Cynthia Muller, executive assistant at city, said the Farmington Farmers Market is now being run by the Dakota County Fairgrounds rather than the city due to a shortage of city staff. Henry said the fair- Email Andy Rogers at grounds are a natural fit. andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com.
A time to remember
A Memorial Day ceremony at the Farmington Corinthian Cemetery featured the laying of a wreath. Several speakers encouraged the audience not to forget those who have served. (Photo by Andy Rogers) Area military veterans groups (right) hosted the Rosemount Memorial Day 2016 service in Central Park on Monday. The event included an address by Ruth Hovland, who wrote a book about her uncle, a World War II pilot whose plane was shot down in Austria before reaching its bombing target in Germany. Hovland encouraged people to document the stories of their own relatives who have served in the armed forces. More photos are on Page 16A. (Photo by Tad Johnson)
Lakeville’s Twitter post violated federal law City Administrator apologizes, directs its removal by Laura Adelmann SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
SPORTS Tiger lacrosse wins again The Farmington High School boys lacrosse team will play Lakeville North in Section 1 semifinal. Page 9A
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 10A
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9A Public Notices . . . . . . 10A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 11A Announcements . . . . 14A
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 763-712-3544
Lakeville City Administrator Justin Miller tweeted a public apology May 25 after a campaign photo and message of Mayor Matt Little at a fundraiser was posted on the city’s Twitter feed. “That was posted in error and was immediately removed once brought to my attention,� Miller wrote on his personal Twitter feed. “We apologize for the error.� Little is running in Senate District 58 as a Democrat against Republican Tim Pitcher, a
“Everyone thinks about the midway and the demo derby, but agricultural societies were formed specifically to promote agriculture and that’s been lost,� Henry said. He said most of the same Farmers Market vendors of past years will be back. The fair’s society also reached out to secure a few new vendors. “We want to make sure it’s a success,� Henry said. “A lot of people appreciate the Farmers Market. This is a win-win.� Confirmed vendors include The Herb Man, So Ho Co, Oak Valley Creations, Great Harvest Breads, Brand Farms, Banana Bobs, Clem’s Homegrown Popcorn, Eroc’s, Castle Rock Growers, Jeff Keesey, Lady A’s cupcakes, Glewwe Castle Brewery, Sam’s Salsas and Jams and other area produce vendors. The Farmers Market will be closed on Aug. 11 to make way for the Dakota County Fair. The “Ask a Master Gardener� program is scheduled to have staff at the Farmers Market on June 16, June 30, July 7, Aug. 4 and Sept. 8.
member of the Farmington City Council. Republicans publicly blasted the city’s re-post as a violation of the federal Hatch Act, which bans municipalities from using its official authority to influence or interfere with or affect the result of a partisan election. The act also bans local governments from directly or indirectly coercing or attempting to coerce contributions to a political campaign in a partisan election. Miller said the city’s Lakeville City Administrator Justin Miller said this communications depart- tweet featuring Mayor Matt Little at a political fundraiser for his state Senate campaign was re-posted on See TWEET, 6A the city’s Twitter feed in error.
Five candidates set up council primary in Rosemount by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Five candidates are running for two four-year seats on the Rosemount City Council, which sets up a primary election Tuesday, Aug. 9, when the field would be narrowed to four candidates for the general election in November. Incumbents Vanessa Demuth and Jeff Weisensel are seeking reelection, while the challengers are Wade Miller, Brenda Rivera and Heidi Freske. The filing period closed Tuesday, May 31. Weisensel is seeking his third term on the council. He has been the city’s Port Authority chairman since 2010 and a member since 2009. He serves on the Dakota Com-
munications Center Board, is a Youth Commission council liaison, and is a member of the National League of Cities Community and Economic Development Committee and Leadership Fellows Advisory Group. He was chairman of the city’s Planning Commission from 2001 to 2004 and was on the commission from 1997 to 2004. He is a past Rosemount Wetlands Ordinance Task Force member, Dakota County Extension Committee chairman and member. Demuth is seeking her second term on the council. She serves on the city’s Environment and Sustainability Task Force and the Port Authority. She is a member of the Metro Cities Metropolitan Agencies Water Policy
Committee and is an alternate on the Dakota Communications Center Board of Directors. Demuth was a Planning Commission member from 2009 to 2012. Miller is a former chairman of the city’s Planning Commission. He served on the commission for five years. He currently serves on the city’s Environment and Sustainability Task Force. Only two council member terms are expiring. Council Members Shaun Nelson and Mark DeBettignies have terms that expire on Dec. 31, 2018, along with that of Mayor Bill Droste. The Dakota County Tribune will have a story in an upcoming edition that includes more information about the challengers.
District 192, teachers reach tentative agreement by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The Farmington School District announced last week that the Farmington Education Association and the district reached a tentative agreement for the 2015-17 contract representing teachers. Details of the agreement were not made available. The teachers will first vote on the agreement. After that, the Farmington School Board will vote at its next meeting to finalize the contract. Maryann Thomas, the district’s director of human resources, said the district won’t be sharing any information until the meeting, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 13 at Farmington City Hall. “The parties want to thank everyone for working together to reach this settlement,� a news release stated. The two sides have been discussing a contract for almost a year and have met nearly 20 times. Email Andy Rogers at andy.rogers@ecm-inc.com.
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