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www.SunThisweek.com NEWS Marijuana bill opposed The top two Dakota County law enforcement officials are opposed to a bill that would make it legal for patients to use medical marijuana. Page 2A

OPINION Don’t deny school lunches The 2014 Minnesota Legislature should approve the governor’s proposal to support schools in providing lunch to all students. Page 4A

THISWEEKEND

A Division of ECM Publishers, Inc.

Lakeville February 28, 2014 | Volume 35 | Number 1

Lakeville’s Mary Liz will not seek re-election Holberg: ‘16 years is a long time’ by Laura Adelmann SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Republican fiscal and social conservative leader state Rep. Mary Liz Holberg will not seek re-election to the Minnesota House this fall. Holberg, of Lakeville, announced her decision not to seek a ninth term in office at the Republican caucus in Farmington on Saturday. “It was a tough decision,â€? Holberg said. “It’s certainly a job I love. It’s exciting and you learn new things and I’ve gotten to work with people across the state ‌ but 16 years is a long time.â€? Holberg said she decided it is “time to move on,â€? but plans to remain involved in community issues and volunteering. She said she will not endorse a successor, but invites anyone who is interested to call her to learn more about the opportunities. During what will become her last legislative session, Holberg is hoping several privacy bills she has authored State Rep. Mary Liz Holberg, R-Lakeville, announced on Saturday that she will pass into law. would not be seeking re-election to the Minnesota House. (File photo) See HOLBERG, 19A

Lakeville proposes B & B restrictions Neighbors’ complaints raised issue by Laura Adelmann SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Frozen Apple concert This year’s Frozen Apple music series concludes March 1 with a concert by Michael Monroe at Valleywood Golf Course. Page 20A

Steve Snider’s Lakeville bed-and-breakfast is getting rave reviews on airbnb.com, but a planned city ordinance would shut his business down. Bed-and-breakfasts like Snider’s have drawn complaints from neighbors regarding traffic and a flow of strangers temporarily moving in and out, said Lakeville City Planner Daryl Morey at a Feb. 24 City Council workshop.

“The main concern is ‌ a situation where you have people that are clearly renting rooms in their home for one or two or three days, and there’s a high level of turnover,â€? Morey said. “It’s a commercial business that’s being introduced into a residential area, and that’s a compatibility concern.â€? At the workshop, council members reviewed a proposed ordinance intended to keep hotel-type property uses like a bed-and-breakfast out of residential neigh-

borhoods. Bed-and-breakfast businesses are allowed by permit in agricultural districts, not in single-family neighborhoods, Morey said. Snider said in an interview he talked to Mayor Matt Little about the issue “a while back� and was confident the restrictions were “not going to happen.� He said he is active in the business community and indicated surprise See B & B, 19A

Businesswomen honored

Lakeville School Board Member Michelle Volk questioned district staff about whether policy was followed regarding the Minnesota Student Survey. Volk questioned changes that significantly boosted participation rates and raised concerns that the survey invaded privacy and included questions of morality. (Photo by Laura Adelmann)

Privacy questions raised over student survey Volk: Passive parental consent violated district policy

SPORTS

by Laura Adelmann SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

Panthers net third place The Lakeville North girls hockey team won two games en route to claiming the thirdplace trophy at the state tournament. Page 13A

ONLINE To receive a feed of breaking news stories, follow us at twitter.com/ SunThisweek. Discuss stories with us at facebook.com/ SunThisweek.

Audrey Aronson Johnson, owner of Johnson Companies in Lakeville and a longtime human resources director for several companies, speaks during the 2014 Exceptional Businesswomen Recognition Event on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Lost Spur Golf & Event Center in Eagan. Johnson was one of 10 women who were honored during the event that is in its fifth year. From left are Kari Mitchell, of Rosemountbased Charity Events of Minnesota; Jennifer Smith, of Burnsville-based Innovative Office Solutions, and Karen DeVaughn, of Life Wellness Centers of Lakeville and Eagan. More photos are online at SunThisweek.com. A wrapup story will run in the March 7 edition and a video recap of the panel discussion will be posted online at SunThisweek.com. (Photo by Tad Johnson)

No bees or goats, but urban hens allowed SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Announcements . . . . . 6A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 13A Public Notices . . . . . . 16A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 17A

News 952-846-2033 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000 Delivery 952-846-2070

Some task force members named, others to be added Davis, LaBeau part of school road safety group

Mayor responds to calls for chickens by Laura Adelmann Lakeville is poised to legalize raising chickens in residential neighborhoods. Mayor Matt Little said he has received numerous requests from citizens who want to raise chickens in their backyards, and most Lakeville City Council members indicated support for the idea at their Feb. 24 work session. Beekeeping or raising goats in neighborhoods, also requests the city has received from resi-

dents, were ideas quickly dismissed by council members during the Feb. 24 work session considering urban farming options. Little proposed the city establish an ordinance permitting residential homes the ability to keep a maximum of two hens in backyard pens. Council Members Kerrin Swecker and Doug Anderson agreed with neighborhood chicken-keeping, giving provisional majority support for an See HENS, 19A

Lakeville School Board Member Michelle Volk vowed to alert parents and lawmakers about the 2013 Minnesota Student Survey questions school staff said underwent “major revisions� and Volk said pervasively invade family privacy. She raised concerns about how the Lakeville Area School District obtained parent consent for students given the survey last year, which she noted violates district policy. District staff said the School Board granted permission for them to veer from policy requiring written parental permission for students to take surveys that ask about their or their par-

ents personal beliefs, sex practices, family life, morality and religion. Per board approval, the district obtained “passive consent� from parents, requiring them to sign a form to opt their child out of taking the survey, said Renae Ouillette, student and special services director. Ouillette said past practices required “active consent� where parents signed a slip allowing their child to take the Minnesota Student Survey. She said they hoped the change would allow the district to get more students participating, and gain more statistically reliable results. The change yielded “drastically� increased See SURVEY, 16A

by Laura Adelmann SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE

The city of Lakeville’s School Road Safety Task Force, being established in response to the Dec. 4 fatal accident of a Lakeville North High School junior Alyssa Ettl, will include a Lakeville resident recommended by Alyssa’s father, Matt Ettl. Brent James will join city, county and school representatives on the task force. James has 13 years of experience in traffic safety technology from his job with 3M, according to Lakeville

Mayor Matt Little, who recommended his appointment. Matt Ettl said he knows James because their daughters played sports together, and he only recently learned of his traffic expertise during a recent conversation. “He started rattling off all the entities he’s aware of and talked about roadway funding,� Matt Ettl said. “It sounded like he had a whole bunch of connections.� Little said James will bring See TASK FORCE, 16A

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