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Louie Anderson is bringing his homegrown stand-up comedy to the Burnsville PAC. See Thisweekend Page 7A
NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan DECEMBER 17, 2010 VOLUME 31, NO. 42
www.thisweeklive.com
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Jobs picture looking up as McElroy exits the state Capitol Pawlenty cabinet member, ex-Burnsville mayor will head state’s hospitality trade association by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
There are less pleasant jobs in state government than the one Dan McElroy will exit this month to become president of Minnesota’s hospitality trade association. The days of engineering wrenching state budget cuts are behind Minnesota’s former finance commissioner, a top official in Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s administration since the Eagan Republican took office in 2003. McElroy has spent the last three years as commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development. And lately, he’s had relatively good news to report in the aftermath of the Great Recession. Minnesota’s unemployment rate as of Dec. 13 was 7.1 percent, well below the national rate of 9.8 percent. The average work week in Minnesota is getting longer, postings on job websites are up and state work-force centers report more hiring, McElroy said. “The short story is we’re better than many other states; we’re not as good as we would like to be,� said the longtime Burnsville resident and former mayor. “We have higher unemployment than prerecession levels, and I’m not satisSee McElroy, 15A
Photo by Erin Johnson
A semi driver attempts to dig out his rig after getting stuck Sunday, Dec. 12, while exiting a gas station at Yankee Doodle and Pilot Knob roads in Eagan.
Winter arrives with a bang Historic snowfall causes some headaches, but bountiful snow means winter activities open this weekend in Eagan by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Submitted photo
Dan McElroy, former Burnsville mayor and state representative, has served Gov. Tim Pawlenty as finance commissioner, chief of staff, senior advisor on innovation and commissioner of the Department of Employment and Economic Development.
“Some people felt they didn’t get plowed early enough, but we did our best to get to everyone we could.�
The same major snowstorm that forced everyone inside last weekend has left in its wake a bounty of opportunities for outdoor fun this weekend. While exact figures aren’t – Tim Plath, Eagan available, it is estimated that transportation and Eagan received between 17 operations engineer and 18 inches of snow Saturday, Dec. 11. That, combined with the track to open just as students single-digit temperatures begin their winter breaks. Residents can hit the tubthat followed, has put the city’s outdoor activities on ing hill at Trapp Farm Park
as of Friday, Dec. 17, and Eagan’s outdoor skating rinks are expected to open Friday, as well. The trails at Lebanon Hills Park have all been groomed and are now open for snowshoeing, kicksledding and cross-country skiing. “The skiing should be pretty phenomenal at this point,� said Krista Jensen, education coordinator for Dakota County Parks. The ice skating trail on See Winter, 11A
Burnsville plow crews log overtime
Paws and Claus
by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Dawn Aase and her dog, Toby, posed with Santa Claus Dec. 14 at Burnsville Center, which offered four nights of pet posing with Santa this holiday season. Santa remains available for visits and photos (sans pets) through 6 p.m. on Christmas Even in the Macy’s Court.
Burnsville street crews logged many overtime hours while doing two complete plows of city streets during last weekend’s snowstorm, said Bud Osmundson, public works director and city engineer. About 30 crew members began their first pass at around 2 a.m. Saturday. Plowing continued throughout the day to keep main roads open, Osmundson said. Crews began a second full plow about 24 hours after the first, Osmundson said. “They’re tired,� he said Tuesday. “They put in about
30 hours this weekend, most of them. The supervisor (Dan Tobritzhofer) put in over 40.� The work isn’t through. Clearing of sidewalks continued Tuesday, and cleanup of excess snow piled at intersections could take another two to three weeks, Osmundson said. “We had tons of snow at intersections,� he said. “I want to caution everybody to just take their time getting places, especially at intersections if you can’t see around the corners.� City Council members praised Osmundson and crew at a council work session Tuesday.
“The speed with which you got this city dug out was exceptional,� Council Member Dan Gustafson told Osmundson. “We don’t have a very large crew, and they were working nonstop to try to clean up the city,� Mayor Elizabeth Kautz said. Based on calls she got, residents were tolerant of the need to plow thoroughfares and collector streets before neighborhood streets, she said. “We ended up helping out the county, because County Road 42 didn’t get plowed until 9 o’clock Sunday morning,� Osmundson said. “We See Plow Crews, 10A
Darlene Miller named Business Person of the Year by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
2007, and in 2006 Miller was named Minnesota’s Small Business Person of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Miller was also named among the 2010 Exceptional Business Women by the Dakota County Tribune Business Weekly. “She is an individual who has the respect of the business community,� said Dick Sjoquist, owner of Burnsville Toyota and a member of the Business Person of the Year selection committee. Miller was selected by the committee of previous award winners for her commitment to the Burnsville chamber and community, Sjoquist said.
After a difficult year, Darlene Miller, president and CEO of Burnsville-based Permac Industries, finally received some good news. She was named Business Person of the Year by the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce. “When I won the U.S. Chamber award, I felt that it was truly like winning an Oscar, but this award meant more to me because it’s from my peers,� Miller said. Her company, which manufactures precision machine parts, was named Small Business of the Year in 2008 by the United States Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. Miller and Permac Industries Community activist have received numerous awards over Miller has been a member of the Photo by Jessica Harper the years. Permac received the U.S. Burnsville chamber for about eight Permac Industries President and CEO Darlene Miller was recently named Chamber Blue Ribbon Award in See Miller, 11A Business Person of the Year by the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce. General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
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