Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
SPECIAL SECTION
September 22, 2016 • Volume 131 • Number 30
Pitcher, Little voice ideas at candidate forum Issues addressed include transportation, taxes
by Laura Adelmann SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Help with your fall to-do list Look inside this edition to find a special section devoted to information to address home improvement questions. Inside this edition
OPINION The next chapter As he moves into the next chapter of his life, Sal Mondelli talks about what he’s learned as 360 Communities CEO. Page 4A
Two city officials vying for the Minnesota Senate District 58 seat representing Farmington, Lakeville and surrounding townships explained their positions on several issues as part of the larger Sept. 14 candidate forum sponsored by the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce. The opponents, Democrat Matt Little, mayor of Lakeville, and Republican Tim Pitcher, city council member in Farmington, differed on ways they would address issues that
included education, transportation and taxes. Pitcher cited concerns about Matt Little the cost and size of government, noting many people are telling him they are overtaxed and there is too much waste in government. He called for reduction of the tax rate, noting that taxes are too high in Minnesota businesses and he recently met three seniors who are “fleeing� to lowertaxed states.
“We absolutely have to reduce the tax burden on our c i t i z e n s,� Tim Pitcher P i t c h e r said, and called for eliminating the tax on Social Security. Little said no tax scheme is perfect, but Minnesota’s economy is thriving with business that is “booming,� and people are buying homes. He also cited a newspaper article that found wages have increased in the last year. He said the more important issue is if people
Queen and king crowned
are getting value for their tax dollars. “We need our tax dollars to come back here and make investments,� Little said. Little said he would also work to help seniors age in place and advocated for investments in transportation. Pitcher said one of the most important issues is education, and called for school choice, noting that all children learn differently. He said he wants safe roads and bridges and cited support for buses instead of trains for senior transportation because it
Squirrel sniper prompts lockdown of schools in Farmington No charges are expected in Monday’s incident
THISWEEKEND
by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
How to get to ‘Avenue Q’ Chameleon Theatre Circle’s production of the Tony Awardwinning musical “Avenue Q� opens Sept. 23 at the Ames Center. Page 15A
SPORTS Runners take the lead Two Farmington High School cross country runners place first and second at Applejack meet. Page 9A
Lizzie Johnson and Ben Smeed were crowned the Rosemount High School homecoming queen and king during a pep rally on Friday, Sept. 16, in the school’s gymnasium. The coronation was just one of many events slated during homecoming week, which included the home football game, a dance and spirit days during the week. (Photo contributed by Jane St. Ores)
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The 27th annual Rosemount High School Marching Band Festival will start at 12:55 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Irish Stadium. The competition will include 10 bands vying for awards in different classes, along with the RHS band performing in exhibition to close the event. Band boosters expect around 5,000 spectators this year. “It is exciting to see and hear all the energy on the Rosemount campus during the festival,� said band co-director Leon Sieve. “Our audience has comments on the beauty of the RHS cam-
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pus and the friendly atmosphere established.� The gates will open at 12 noon to allow people time to find their seats and partake in concessions offered by RHS band boosters as a fundraiser for the band. Funds raised from the event will go toward general marching band expenses. The band also is currently raising funds so its members can travel to New York City to march in the 2017 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. The group was selected from among dozens who applied last year, earning the nod in the spring. Sieve said the festival is a great chance to see what young people can do.
The Rosemount High School marching band performs its Love at First Bite show earlier in the year. (Photo submitted) “It is exciting to see all the There has been a lot of hard creativity of the bands and the work put in by the bands in the level of performance from talSee BAND, 3A ented teenagers,� Sieve said.
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Event to feature 10 bands, along with Rosemount’s exhibition by Tad Johnson
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A man upset about the number of squirrels in his yard caused a ruckus in downtown Farmington on Monday morning. The Farmington Police Department responded to a report of a man walking around outside with a rifle in the downtown area about 8:40 a.m. and treated the situation like an active shooter since it was near schools. According to a release sent to families by the Farmington School District, Boeckman Middle School, Riverview Elementary, Farmington Elementary and Dodge Middle School were on lockdown for about 20 minutes. The incident reportedly happened about three blocks from Farmington Elementary School. “For all we knew, we had a guy walking around with a rifle shooting off rounds,� police Sgt. Bob Sauter said. “We had to assume it was the worst.� It turns out it was a man in his 70s who uses a BB gun to shoot squirrels. “I guess he traps squirrels in his yard and shoots them,� Sauter said. “He felt pretty bad about it. We don’t plan to file any charges.� He was on his own property at the time. Although, he left before officers arrived, but they were able to contact him after
talking with a neighbor. “There’s is a state law, a deadly weapons statute, but it probably wouldn’t apply in this case,� Sauter said. “He didn’t attempt to scare or harm or injure someone.� There’s no city ordinance that would apply. Sauter said there used to be one applying to BB guns and air soft guns, but it’s outdated. “We’re looking at if we need to maybe bring it back or rewrite an old city ordinance,� Sauter said. Sauter said the man with the BB gun admitted that it does look like a hunting rifle. “Manufacturers make them look so real now, you can understand how someone might mistake them,� Sauter said. Sauter still doesn’t think firing any type of gun close to schools during school hours is a good idea. “If you’re out in the outskirts of town and have a couple acres, that’s probably OK,� Sauter said. “But if you live in downtown Farmington, it’s definitely not a good idea.� The district reported all students remained secure during the lockdown. “A modified lockdown is a safety precaution during which all doors are locked and no one is allowed in or out of the school building,� the school’s release said. The Police Department kept the community updated through its Facebook page. Although it turned out to be just a man with a BB gun, many
RHS to host marching band festival SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
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is less of a cost to taxpayers. Pitcher said the Northstar Light Rail line is subsidized $22 per person per trip from taxpayer dollars. “That is not sustainable,� Pitcher said. “And there’s an incredible amount of maintenance that goes along with that, so I’m definitely not for any trains whatsoever, but we do need a really high quality transportation system.� Little said Minnesota is experiencing an “age wave,� noting there is need for improved transportation for seniors. See 58, 3A
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