Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
September 8, 2016 • Volume 131 • Number 28
Refinery to start generating power
FEATURED
City approves Flint Hills’ Combined Heat and Power plant plan by Tad Johnson SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Lakeville Art Festival returns The Lakeville Art Festival will feature more than 70 local and regional artists next weekend. Page 7A
OPINION Higher ed policy needed State leaders should reinvigorate a public discussion of the issues centered on a student affordability and access policy. Page 4A
The power is always on at Flint Hills Resources Pine Bend Refinery. Now the oil refinery in Rosemount plans to generate some of that power itself with a Combined Heat and Power plant. The City Council recently approved the company’s plan to construct the 49.9 megawatt CHP plant on its site that aims to reduce the amount of electricity the refinery purchases and reduce its overall air emissions. The concept is that the CHP plant will take waste products from the refining process and turn them into heat, which will turn into power for the refinery.
“The system will use natural gas and heat-recovery to produce roughly 40 percent of the electricity (needed at the refinery) and up to 230,000 pounds per hour of steam for the refinery,� said Don Kern, Pine Bend Refinery facilities manager, in a letter to the city. Since 1997, the refinery has reduced emissions by 68 percent while increasing capacity, according to Jake Reint, the plant’s public relations director. The plant wants to reduce emissions another 50 percent in five years. Kern said that Minnesota has a goal of doubling CHP generation by The Rosemount City Council recently approved the Flint Hills Resources’ plan to 2020, which is currently construct a 49.9 megawatt Combined Heat and Power plant on its site that aims to reduce the amount of electricity the refinery purchases and reduce its overall air emissions. (Image from the city of Rosemount) See REFINERY, 6A
Color me excited
Cities opt out of allowing temporary health care dwellings
THISWEEKEND
by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
A last gasp of summer fun Burnsville Fire Muster will serve up summer fare-style activities and events such as a parade, carnival and fireworks. Page 15A
Kindergarten students at Rosemount Elementary School started of their first day of school with a coloring activity after they settled into their classroom on Tuesday, Sept. 6. Students throughout the Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan School District started the 2016-17 academic year this week as they met new teachers and classmates and even some they already knew. (Photo by Tad Johnson)
Farmington approves 4.94 preliminary tax levy increase New positions added to budget by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
SPORTS Teams off to fast starts The Rosemount Irish boys and girls cross country teams placed fourth at Irish Invite, while Farmington runners also fared well. Page 10A
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 11A Announcements . . . . 14A Calendars . . . . . . . . . 14A News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 763-712-3544
The Farmington City Council approved a preliminary tax levy increase of 4.94 percent for 2017 during Monday’s meeting. The city tax levy would increase by about $400,000 to about $10 million next year. The percentage can’t increase between now and December when the council officially votes on the 2017 budget, but it can decrease. “Really it’s just in a sense setting a high watermark for our budget,� Council Member Jason Bartholomay said. Council members expressed interest in continuing to look for savings, but much of the budget has already been approved through union contracts and debt payments. Based on the average estimated market value of $223,029, the city portion 2017 taxes is expected to increase about $52.72. The total often varies due to Dakota County’s property value estimates. The estimated market value on an average Farmington residential home has increased 3.9 percent from 2016. The percentage will be reflected on the truth and taxation notices
the county mails in November to residents. “It does not mean every property will see a 3.9 property value increase,� Finance Director Robin Hanson said. “Some will see more. Some will see less.� Hanson called the budget solid, comprehensive and balanced, which continues to provide core services and upholds the council’s financial strategies and strategic plan. Mayor Todd Larson encouraged residents to look at the budget documents on the city’s website. “It’s important for everyone to understand where the money is spent,� Larson said. The general fund expenditure increased in human resource costs such as raises and new hires. The city hired a part-time building inspector and full-time receptionist. There is also a new solid waste and maintenance position, which is funded through utility payments. The 2017 budget also includes funding for a information technology systems administrator. Hanson said the city’s reliance on technology has increased and the current workforce is unable to do it all. There were also increases for police and fire department equipment. Money was set aside to purchase a new fire engine so the city can pay cash in 2019 instead of adding to its
debt. Larson said the city left out several items such as a fire marshal and other maintenance projects to keep the increase as minimal as possible. “We’re just going to have to wait for some of those things,� Larson said. “Most of the increase has already been agreed upon and voted upon at council meetings.� Council Member Terry Donnelly said the budget is not something the council just rubber stamps. Between the Police and Fire department budgets along with the debt payments, there’s little wiggle room. “We’ve worked on it for a long time,� he said. “We’ve negotiated in good faith with the employees. Everybody wants their streets plowed and protected.� Donnelly said city staff has worked creatively to hold debt payments low. “Nobody wants to raise taxes, but we want to provide the services to the community they expect,� Donnelly said. “It’s not something I take lightly.� He said the positions they added were long overdue after 10 years of cutting staff. Council Member Tim Pitcher said he does not support a 4.94 percent tax increase, and Council Member Doug Bonar said he has reservations on the amount and See BUDGET, 5A
Both Rosemount and Farmington have opted out of a new Minnesota law allowing temporary health care dwelling units on residential property. The 2016 Legislature passed a bill allowing people receiving care to live in temporary housing structures with a doctor’s note. “There’s a number of concerns regarding the law with those types of uses,� Farmington planning manager Tony Wippler said during a public hearing last month. “There’s merit to looking at options for the elderly, the mentally ill and the disabled, but my personal staff opinion, though, is that this is not the way to go.� Farmington officials grew concerned about the law because there’s no compliance with environmental requirements and it bypasses current city ordinances. Farmington officials are also concerned the law would allow people to reside in a structure that doesn’t meeting building and utilities requirements, and the nominal permit fees would not cover the city’s cost. Wippler said the city has ordinances allowing temporary housing for health care givers in certain zoning districts, such as allowing a small apartment off a home, or the use of a garage’s second story. “Where this is different is this could potentially open up someone living in a recreation vehicle where there’s no building code requirements, no access to water,� Wippler said. “That’s where our main concerns are. There are better options.� The law was scheduled See HOUSE, 6A
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