Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS One-Tile project stirs emotions The large mosaic painting called “Journey� was dedicated in Rosemount on Sunday at the Robert Trail Library. Page 2A
OPINION Join to prevent violence There are many ways people can prevent domestic violence in Dakota County and beyond. Page 4A
and the surrounding areas October q, 2015 • Volume 130 • Number 30
District 196 property tax levy max drops slightly Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board seeks maximum allowed by the state by Jessica Harper SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School Board is seeking the maximum property tax levy permitted by the state, which fell slightly from last year. On Sept. 28, the board unanimously approved a preliminary payable 2016 property tax levy of $77.8 million. This is a 1 percent decrease from 2014 when the district’s tax levy limit was $78.5 million. The district’s 2016 preliminary
general fund levy totals $62.2 million. School districts statewide are seeing on average, a 4 percent increase in tax levy maximums. A slightly lower levy limit was set for District 196 because it will begin to receive more equalization aid this school year thanks to legislation passed in 2014. Property wealth in the district has also increased over the past year. The district’s adjusted net tax capacity is $173.1 million, which is a 12.4 percent in-
crease from last year. “What we’re seeing is a very stable tax picture for our district,� District 196 Finance Director Jeff Solomon said at Monday night’s meeting. “I think this is something, as a school board, you can be very proud of.� How the slight levy decrease will affect taxpayers is still unknown, Solomon said. The district’s property tax levy fell steadily from 2010 to 2013 when property values just started to recover. In 2014, the
district’ property tax levy increased by $4.46 million to $78.24 million when voters approved an operating bond referendum. The district’s 2016 preliminary tax levy doesn’t include the proposed 14year, $180 million building bond and capital improvement levy referendum that will be on the ballot in November. If the referendum is approved, taxes on the average valued home of $250,000 are estimated to increase by about $12 a month. These estimates
don’t factor the 1 percent decrease in the board-approved tax levy. The School Board is expected to certify the final property tax levy Dec. 14. Property taxes account for 19 percent of District 196’s total revenue. It receives most of its funding from state aid, which accounts for 62 percent of revenue. Jessica Harper is at jess i c a . h a r p e r @ e c m - i n c. com or facebook.com/sunthisweek.
A career that’s no fantasy
THISWEEKEND
Rosemount resident parlayed virtual sports teams interest into work he’s loved by Tad Johnson
He’ll talk fantasy football with his 1500 ESPN cohort Anthony Maggio, and sports writing and broadcasting A collection of self-described sports with John Gross. nerds launched a little magazine called Mitchell said the Fantasy Football Fantasy Football Weekly in 1992. presentation will offer a brief history, At a time when the most comtips and time for answering mon method of sharing sports questions. statistics was the fax machine, He has been impressed with the within a year the company had number of young people who are turned its print product into the playing fantasy sports, which he website FanBall.com. says includes a fair amount of When Richfield High School reading and math “if you want and University of Minnesota to be good at it you have to pay political science and history Bo Mitchell attention to it every week.� graduate Bo Mitchell joined the Having fantasy sports teams is company in 1994, he had no idea fan- a good way to get boys reading, accordtasy football would grow to be played ing to Mitchell, since there are so many by 75 million people worldwide advice columns online that assist and become a multi-million dolfantasy sports owners in making lar industry whose growth seems roster decisions. to know no limit today. Mitchell said when he was Mitchell, who is still dispensgrowing up, the sports pages in ing fantasy football advice on the newspaper were his favorite 1500 ESPN-radio, has turned thing to read. his sports interest into a life of He encourages young people work, having covered Twin Cit- Anthony to read as much as they can beies professional teams, and is Maggio cause it helps them become betnow vice president of a compater writers. ny that provides the statistical lifeblood Mitchell regrets that fantasy sports for the NFL, NASCAR, Fan Duel and weren’t part of the fabric of his sports countless other websites. interests growing up. “A lot of it has worked out,� said The leagues, which were “invented� Mitchell, who has lived in Rosemount in the 1980s, didn’t catch on until the for the past eight years with his wife, Internet became widely used. Kari Mitchell, owner of RosemountNow it’s a juggernaut of sports inbased Charity Events of Minnesota. terest, especially the NFL. Because of Bo Mitchell will get to talk about his the weekly nature of the NFL, Mitchell “hobbies� on Saturday, Oct. 10, when said it has the perfect structure for fanhe delivers two presentations on Sports tasy games. Day at the Robert Trail Library. See MITCHELL, 6A SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Fun at the Medieval Fair Eagan’s Caponi Art Park took on the spirit of the Middle Ages during the annual Medieval Fair held Sunday, Sept. 27. Page 17A
Tiger royalty crowned Despite the rainy weather, which forced the cancellation of the homecoming parade, the party went on inside the Farmington High School recital hall last week. Mitchell Grengs and Jennifer Miller were crowned the 2015 Farmington homecoming king and queen during the coronation ceremony. Jennifer Miller, top right, moments after her globe lit up indicating she was named the 2015 Farmington Homecoming queen. (Photo by Andy Rogers)
SPORTS Irish defeat Farmington The Rosemount High School football team to play against top-ranked teams to close out regular season. Page 10A
Three area men charged in trafficking sting 21 arrested for soliciting sex from undercover police by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 12A
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 10A Announcements . . . . 12A Public Notices . . . . . . 12A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 13A
News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2019 Classified Advertising 952-392-6862 Delivery 763-712-3544
A fee is charged at some locations to cover distribution costs.
Three area men were charged along with 18 others in connection with a recent undercover sex trafficking sting called Operation Guardian Angel. Joshua Berry Wood, 39, of Rosemount, was charged with two counts of felony prostitution in Dakota County, while Kevin Michael Aylward, 49, of Burnsville, and Brent Allen Fredrickson, 38, of Eagan, were charged in Washington County of unspecified counts. Wood was one of six males charged in Dakota County who responded to online advertisements and set up sexual encounters with those whom they thought were 17- and 15-year-old girls. The advertisements were set up by Operation Guardian Angel agents coordinated by Sgt. Grant Snyder, juvenile trafficking
investigator with the Minneapolis Police Department, and the individuals were arrested once they arrived at a hotel. “They suffer extreme collateral damage to their families, children, life and community, so in general with this detail, it’s hard to celebrate,� Snyder said. He said he wished people with this desire would reach out and get help before hurting others. “But if they continue to click that mouse, if they respond to those ads — we’re going to be there and we’re going to find them,� Snyder said. According to the criminal complaint, Wood responded to an advertisement set up by an undercover officer on Backpage.com in the escort section via text on Sept. 10. Wood discussed paying for sex with both a 17- and a 15-year-old girl with what he thought was
Hastings Police Chief Bryan Schafer, right, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom, center, and Sgt. Grant Snyder, juvenile trafficking investigator with the Minneapolis Police Department, spoke to reporters Tuesday morning about an anti-trafficking operation on Sept. 10 that led to six males charged with prostitution. (Photo by Andy Rogers) their “pimp.� He arranged with Wood, he acknowl- his arrest, he was in posto meet them at the Coun- edged he had sent the text session of the cellphone, try Inn Hotel in Hastings, messages, but said he only condom and $180 in cash. where he was arrested. came to the hotel to help During an interview the girls. At the time of See BUST, 7A
9 ! / – – @ Â&#x;† Ă? f:Ă„Ă?
vÂœj“V 1jvV )VrVKÂœj{v * ( Â&#x; i Â&#x;Â&#x;vQP Â&#x;€a
&
!""'! !
$
f]:Ă€ Ă˜f A ÂŁw˜Ă?‚ *Â…ÂŽÂœĂ? –œJ A ÂŁwі] *Â…ÂŽÂœĂ? –œJ A ÂŁtÇĂ?‚
˜tĂ‘Â„Â˜t΄ÑtĂ‘t -Ă?ÂœĂ€f ÂœĂ’Ă€Ă„Y
œ–]:ۄ-:Ă?Ă’Ă€]:Ă› ˜:“ „ ÂŁĂ&#x;¨“
ÙÙَ:¨¨ŽfĂ˜:ÂŽÂŽfĂ›ÂŽÂ…ÂľĂ’ÂœĂ€ÂŽSœ“