Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas www.dakotacountytribune.com
February 26, 2015 • Volume 129 • Number 52
NEWS
District 192 puts numbers on potential referendum levies
Rosemount man opening brewery in Lakeville
District looking for operating, facility and technology increases
Restaurant will also open in former Ace Hardware spot. Page 2A
OPINION New ideas for students Conference at DCTC offers up information on educating students on career options. Page 4A
by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The Farmington School District presented more specific numbers on its operation, facility and technology budgetary needs and potential referendum levies during Monday’s School Board meeting. Farmington Director of Finance Jane Hauska presented the Farmington School Board with both the low estimate
containing the minimum of needs along with its high estimate that would fulfill all needs during Monday’s meeting. They were preliminary numbers used for discussion only. “We need to come up with a solution for these needs, not tonight, but at some point down the line,� Hauska said. Using an average home price of $250,000, the operational, facility and technology levy for bare bones would be a combined $192 increase per year and the high end would be $353. The administration is hoping to put it on the ballot in November. It
would likely include several questions. “What we’ll be asking the community is a lot,� Board Member Melissa Sauser said. “From what I understand what’s being presented here is a dream list, everything that we’d like to see done. I think we definitely need to scale back and look at our priorities and what our needs are, because this is a lot to ask.� Sauser also said that a survey to residents last year noted support for security enhancement, deferred maintenance projects and to maintain the current level of technology, although they weren’t willing to increase
taxes significantly. She also noted that Farmington’s tax base is limited due to a lack of a larger commercial and industrial tax base when compared to neighboring cities. “Even though Lakeville might get a few hundred dollars more per pupil than we do, the (residential taxpayers) may not be paying as much of that as they do in Farmington,� Sauser said. Hauska also said many numbers could change based on what happens at the Minnesota State Legislature. Superintendent Jay Haugen said there’s a glaring piece of infor-
THISWEEKEND
Country music star Clint Black is bound for Burnsville next month with a March 11 concert at the Ames Center. Page 17A Connor Zak, grandson of Farmington Sno-Tigers president Ken Zak, pleads for snow in 2012. This winter has been almost identical due to lack of snow disappointing many outdoor enthusiasts. (Photo submitted)
No snow, no fun It was a lost season for outdoor enthusiasts by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Rosemount gymnasts compete at state Schile takes silver on floor exercise, 16th all around. Page 10A
See LEVY, 6A
Driver involved in Farmington homecoming hazing incident pleads guilty
Clint Black in Burnsville
SPORTS
mation they don’t have yet, which is a budget for 2015-16 and beyond. He said the district is projecting a budget shortfall for next year and beyond. The district will hold community roundtables with hopes of receiving input on priorities and finances. The first one is scheduled for 7 a.m. March 17 at Farmington High School lecture hall. Two others are scheduled for 5 p.m. March 19 at the North Trail Elementary, and 6 p.m. March 24 at Boeckman Middle School. At Monday night’s meeting, Hauska high-
Although it’s not everyone’s favorite season, for the people that make the most of it, this winter has been a disaster. The Twin Cities area generally receives 50-60 inches of snow during the winter, but there were many bare patches of ground through much of this winter in Farmington. There’s still time for a few more snowflakes, but the end of winter is near with ice rink warming houses closing down and people packing up
their snowmobiles until next year. The Farmington Sno-Tigers, a 75-member snowmobile club, normally prepares about 150 miles of trails in the area. This year they have had nothing to groom. Ken Zak, club president, said none of the 300-400 miles of trails in the south metro have been groomed. “Usually like to see 8 inches of snow, but that never happened,� Zak said. “The trails are open and legal to ride, that is if you want to wreck your snowmobile.� Avid snowmobilers have traveled to northern Wis-
consin, upper Michigan and northern Minnesota between Tower and Red Lake to find adequate conditions. Zak said people will still snowmobile in the area, but the club is actively trying to keep people off certain trails that run through private land. “Some of it goes through their grass,� Zak said. “They don’t like people riding through, digging that up. There’s a respect we have for the landowners not to go through until the groomers do.� The Sno-Tigers club was See SNOW, 6A
The 17-year-old female, of Farmington, involved in a homecoming hazing incident on Sept. 28, 2014, pleaded guilty to gross misdemeanor offense of criminal vehicular operation (gross negligence resulting in bodily harm) on Tuesday. The misdemeanor count of assault in the fifth degree (intent to cause fear) was dismissed. The female was the driver of a vehicle that was involved in a crash during a prank war at the beginning of homecoming week. Two juniors were locked in the trunk at the time. The driver is a juvenile, so her name was not released. Judge Michael Mayer sentenced her to six months of probation and 25 hours of community work service. As part of the conditions of her sentence, she must attend the safe driving course at Dakota County Technical College, attend a victim empathy class, and write letters of apology to four victims. There were 15 other youth and young adults involved in this incident. They have all accepted the County Attorney’s Office Youth Accountability Program (diversion from prosecution) for the offense of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. This program will require these youth to attend an educational class, pay restitution if owed and complete community work service hours. “We are pleased to have resolved this matter and that all of the youth involved have accepted responsibility for their actions,� Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said. “We are hopeful the victims and the community can move forward.� Backstrom thanked the Farmington Police Department for its thorough investigation of this case and Assistant County Attorney Nicole Nee who prosecuted it. — Andy Rogers
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PUBLIC NOTICE Sun Thisweek and the Dakota County Tribune are official newspapers of the RosemountApple Valley-Eagan School District.
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A
Kline meets with area franchise owners Recent NLRB decisions causing some concern by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
A group of franchise owners met with U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Burnsville, at Rosemount’s Anytime Fitness on Monday to discuss challenges within the industry and recent action by the National Labor Relations Board. A recent ruling by the NLRB may affect labors relations between franchisors and local franchises. The fear is that franchises will be turned into essentially company emU.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Burnsville, met with Elise Mademann, middle, who owns ployees, reducing their inAnytime Fitness in Rosemount with her husband Jeff, along with other area franchise dependence.  The current law recbusiness owners on Monday to discuss labor relations. (Photo submitted)
ognizes franchises are independently owned and operated businesses, insulating franchisors from liability in a situation where a fitness club member is injured because of negligence of a franchisee or employee. Franchises have had control over employment, including wages, and while the franchisor focuses on the brand and advertising. The meeting was closed to the public, but following the meeting, Kline released a statement: “The Obama National Labor Relations Board’s radical agenda is hurting See KLINE, 8A
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