Photo exhibit at the Burnsville PAC features new and historic images from Dakota County. See Thisweekend Page 12A
Thisweek Apple Valley-Rosemount JANUARY 21, 2011
VOLUME 31, NO. 47
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/4A
Announcements/5A
Real Estate/7A
Classifieds/9A
Legal Notices/13A
NEWS OPINION SPORTS
A
Coupon Connection/14A
New frontiers in flapjacks City Council finalizes
search for new member Three finalists for open Rosemount City Council seat interviewed Wednesday by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
By now, the new Rosemount City Council member has already been named, and the board has begun to focus on tough decisions that lie ahead. On Wednesday night, after this edition had gone to press, Rosemount City Council members were to name the applicant chosen to complete the remaining term of former Council Member Kurt Bills, who was elected state representative in November. Last Saturday, the council narrowed the list of 18 candidates to three finalists: Pamela VanderWeil, Robert Leuth and Matthew Kearney. After interviews on Wednesday starting at 6:30 p.m., an announcement was expected to be made following council discussion. For the latest updates on the decision, visit www. Thisweeklive.com. Rosemount council members dedicated three days to conducting half-hour interviews with each applicant, and during a special session last Saturday narrowed the applicant list by writing down their top five candidates. City Administrator Dwight Johnson compiled the lists to determine the top
Photos by Rick Orndorf
Jensen Petros from Westview Elementary served up some golden brown pancakes using his invention, a modified spatula he calls the “Flip Mix All in One,� at the District 196 Inventors Fair on Jan. 15 at Eagan High School. Sponsored by District 196’s Gifted and Talented Program and intended to encourage creative problem-solving skills, the inventors’ fair was open to all fourth- and fifthgraders in the district. At right: Greenleaf Elementary student Osaidelomo Ogbeide demonstrated his invention, “The Multi-back Scratcher,� to judge Barbara Smith.
vote-getters. Matthew Kearney and Pamela VanderWeil made the top lists of every council member; Leuth was named on all but one list. Other applicants who were named by one or more of the council members as finalists were: Shawn Mulhern, Patrick Staley, William (Bill) Olson, Jamal Abdulahi, Paul Ness and Ryan Johnson. City Council candidate Tim Judy, who came in a close third in the general election, applied and interviewed for the open seat, but was not called back for a second interview. The council’s decision to hold interviews instead of just naming Judy has drawn criticism from some community members. Deb Kaczmarek, a 34-year Rosemount resident, said although the council’s process was legal, it didn’t allow the people’s voices to be heard. “I think Tim deserved to be appointed. ‌ He went out there and ran (for office),â€? she said. “I think it’s really unfortunate, the people ‌ had spoken in the election and I like to have people’s voices heard.â€? “The voices of the people are too muted in this town,â€? she added.
Kurt Hansen, who lost in his race for mayor in the November election, has also criticized the council’s process to fill the open seat. “The action they have taken is specifically to avoid having Tim Judy on the council, because he’s an independent thinker,� Hansen said. In a November work session, then Rosemount City Council members recommended against simply appointing the next-highest vote-getter in the election, stating that the two-year term is a new position with different circumstances. They also emphasized the need to fill the seat based on what is in the best interest of the people, and ensure the appointment process be open to any interested citizen. Members expressed a desire to avoid making any judgment based on political motivations. To determine the appointment, the council held openmeeting candidate interviews, asked each candidate identical questions and invited them to join commissions and informed them of opportunities to become involved in public service. Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com.
Pond in Lac Lavon Park will help cleanse water in Keller Lake Apple Valley, source of the runoff, will build pond, trail by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A two-acre pond in Burnsville’s Lac Lavon Park will capture runoff from Apple Valley that now flows untreated into Keller Lake. The untreated runoff from 480 acres of Apple Valley neighborhoods helped put the lake, most of which is in Burnsville, on Minnesota’s impaired-waters list.
The Burnsville City Council approved a joint-powers agreement Jan. 18 under which the city will donate the land and Apple Valley will build the future Whitney Pond. The project, scheduled for this year, is one of several Apple Valley will undertake to help cleanse the water in Keller and Crystal lakes. Both cities are members of the Black
Dog Watershed Management Organization, which in 2003 recommended a stormwater pond to capture pollutants from the Apple Valley runoff. “Really, it’s a win-win,� said Burnsville Council Member Dan Kealey, who serves on the watershed organization’s board. “We get cleaner water in our lake. We donate some land, and they get to pay the bill.� The pond will complement the popular Lac Lavon Park, Kealey said. Apple Valley will build a walking trail around
the pond. The pond will remove an estimated 53 pounds of phosphorous a year that now flows directly into Keller Lake. Water flows from Keller Lake to Crystal and Earley lakes, which will also benefit. Excess phosphorous degrades water quality and causes summer algae blooms. Original plans from 2009 called for a 2.6-acre pond that would straddle ApSee Keller Lake, 13A
Benefit set for local teacher battling brain tumor Fundraiser Jan. 30 for Kristie Foreman will feature concert by Peder Eide by Andrew Miller THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Kristie Foreman got some life-changing news last fall. A substitute teacher at Paideia Academy in Apple Valley, Foreman was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor following an MRI scan in September. While surgery less than a week after the diagnosis removed 95 percent of the golfball-sized tumor on the right temporal lobe of her brain, Foreman is now undertaking chemotherapy treatments over the next six months to help shrink and slow the growth of the remaining tumor. Foreman has taken a leave from teaching as she battles the tumor, and it’s uncertain when she’ll be able to return to work. Her husband, Duane, has reduced the hours he works at Yellow/Roadway Trucking to help care for his wife. “We’re just walking by faith,� said Duane. “I’m working the minimal time to take care of her.� To help offset medical expenses the Rosemount family has incurred, a benefit fundraiser has been planned for Sunday, Jan. 30, at Eastview High School in Apple Valley, the school where the couple’s two General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
oldest children, Adam and Aaron, are enrolled and are involved in the football and wrestling programs. The fundraiser, which runs from 3 to 8 p.m., includes a pasta dinner provided by Stephano’s and a concert by Christian singer-songwriter Peder Eide, along with a silent auction, children’s activities such as face-painting and games, and a raffle drawing for a flat-screen TV. Advance tickets for the benefit are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under and can be purchased at www.kristieforeman.com; tickets will also be available at the door ($20/adults, $10/children). For more information or to pay by check or cash, e-mail Pam Lanhart at pklanhart@ msn.com. Individuals or businesses interested in donating an item for the silent auction can contact Sharon Lebo at matshar@frontiernet.net. The Foreman family provides updates on Kristie’s condition through a Caring Bridge website, www.caringbridge.org/visPhoto submitted it/kristieforeman. Diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in September, Kristie Foreman of Rosemount is undergoing six months of chemotherapy to shrink and slow the growth of the tumor. Andrew Miller is at andrew.miller@ecm- Foreman, pictured with husband, Duane, had been working as a substitute teacher at inc.com. Paideia Academy in Apple Valley; it’s uncertain when she’ll be able to return to work.
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