Taking the plunge
Skiers earn state berths
Icy waters await bravest among us
Blaze girls Nordic, Alpine teams qualify
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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2012
SAVAGE
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PACER SCOTT COUNTY
Administrator target of probe Outside attorney to look into allegations BY SHANNON FIECKE sfiecke@swpub.com
PHOTO BY ALEX HALL / REPRINTS AT PHOTOS.SAVAGEPACER.COM
Steve Goebel was named the Savage Police Department’s 2011 Firefighter of the Year in January. Fire Chief Joel McColl said Goebel’s mechanical and technological expertise, as well as his willingness to work with the community, played a big role in why he was selected.
Firefighter of the Year has ‘can do’ attitude BY ALEX HALL ahall@swpub.com
W
hen Steve Goebel was named the Savage Fire D ep a r t ment ’s 2011 Firefighter of the Year, he didn’t see it coming. “I didn’t expect it,” said Goebel. “I actually told Chief that it wasn’t warranted.” According to Fire Chief Joel McColl, as well as Goebel’s colleagues, it absolutely was. The honor was announced at the Savage Fire Department’s annual holiday banquet at the Dan Patch American Legion in January. To be named the Firefighter of the Year, a person must be nominated by one of his or her colleagues, and once the nominees are fi nalized, the entire department votes on the winner. Goebel was one of six nominees,
Get to know Steve Goebel I Purchasing manager at Mattamy Homes in Savage I Been with the Savage Fire Department for three-and-a-half years
Scott County has hired an outside investigator to look into a complaint lodged by an unidentified County employee against County Administrator Gary Shelton. At least two County commissioners have been interviewed by the investigator, an attorney who is unfamiliar with Scott County, but came recommended by two labor relations attorneys known to the County. The investigation has been going on for six weeks. County Commissioner Dave Menden of Shakopee, who said he learned of the complaint “through the grapevine,” was unable to convince three Board members on Tuesday to ask another county’s employee relations department to oversee the case. “It should be totally farmed out so that the end result, no one can say we controlled it in any way,” said Menden, noting that “some of the allegations could be quite serious” if proven true. Scott County Board Chair Tom Wolf, who approved the contract for the investigator, said he insisted it be an attorney unknown to the
County. But Wolf wouldn’t support Menden’s motion to hire another county’s employee relations department to oversee the case. Another county board would have to formally vote to take the case, and Wolf questioned whether Scott County would do this for another county if the roles were reversed. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near this,” said Wolf. “I think you’re asking for something that no county will take on,” agreed Commissioner Jon Ulrich of Savage, who was afraid it would delay the process. “A long delay is really unfair to the person complaining and the person being complained against. There’s a cloud,” Ulrich said. “As long as it’s unbiased and fair, it should be handled as speedily as possible.” Shelton, who is on a planned vac ation, was absent from t he meeting. “What other county would even want to get involved if there is no precedent in this? ” asked Commissioner Barbara Marschall of Prior Lake. “It will add time to the process and it’s already disrupting operations here. … I trust the process.” Assistant County Administrator Lezlie Vermillion, who called the Scott County Employee Relations Division “stellar,” said all County employees are treated the same under the County’s complaint process.
Shelton to page 12 ®
I Married his high school sweetheart, Rachel, and they have two kids
together, 6-year-old Mila and 3-year-old Max I A native of South Dakota, Goebel loves being outdoors, especially when
pheasant hunting or fishing I Inspired to join fire department by father-in-law Dale Radanke, who
BRINGING THE BEACH INSIDE
served on the Prior Lake Fire Department for nearly 25 years and McColl said several firefighters had nominated him. McColl said the Firefighter of the Year acts as the “ambassador” for the department, and that the honor often goes to a person who is especially skilled at working within the community. For McColl, Goebel is that guy. “It’s an honor to get it from an organization like this that’s been around for so long and has so many
long-tenured people,” Goebel said. “There’s 40 other people who work hard all year long and do their best, then there’s a few of us who are lucky enough to get nominations … It’s an honor. I just have to work hard and make sure I represent the department and the community with the honor that they’ve given me.”
Goebel to page 11 ®
Santorum wins Savage in straw poll PHOTO BY ALEX HALL / REPRINTS AT PHOTOS.SAVAGEPACER.COM
Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum came in fi rst in the Savage straw poll Tuesday night, with 102 votes. Ron Paul came in second with 77 votes and Mitt Romney was close behind with 74 votes. Newt Gingrich came in fourth with 38 votes. The Republican turnout in Senate District 35 – which includes Savage,
Prior Lake, Shakopee Jordan and Elko New Market – numbered 1,238, according to the straw poll. Also winning Senate District 35 was Rick Santorum with 503 votes. Ron Paul had 314; Mitt Romney, 256; and Newt Gingrich, 165. DFL attendance at caucus meetings was not reported to the Secretary of State.
MORE ONLINE VIEW CAUCUS RESULTS FROM NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES AND STAY UP-TODATE ON LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES BY SEARCHING “ELECTION 2012”:
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Nine-year-old Mi’ari Scott of Shakopee gets a quick lesson on the steel drum from Tropics Steel Drum Band drummer Norbert Augustíne during an event at the Savage Library Tuesday night. The band delighted the small crowd with their brand of Caribbean music and took time in between songs to educate visitors about the finer points of the steel drum. Scott and 11-year-old Avery Abney, of Savage, received free CDs for trying out the instrument.
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