Thisweek Burnsville and Eagan

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A Lakeville musician is celebrating one year of being cancer free with Jug Jam, a June 27 concert to raise funds for breast cancer patients SEE STORY IN THISWEEKEND ON PAGE 7A

A NEWS OPINION SPORTS

Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan JUNE 25, 2010

VOLUME 31, NO. 17

www.thisweeklive.com

Announcements/4A

Opinion/6A

Puzzle Page/8A

Real Estate/9A

Sports/11A

Classifieds/12A

Housing construction to begin on Carriage Hills Lennar gets final go-ahead for first phase of Stonehaven development by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

The embattled golf course that once was Carriage Hills will soon be overtaken by Bobcats and bulldozers as a new housing development gets under way on the property. Construction is expected to

EAGAN begin this week on the first phase of Stonehaven, a Lennar development that will ultimately consist of 363 mixed housing units on 115 acres, with 35 acres preserved as open space. A previous plan approved for the land – submitted in 2008 by Wensmann Homes before it went out of business – called for 480 units of mixed-use housing on 120 ares, with 30 acres preserved as green space.

While the Lennar plan lowers the overall density, critics have charged that the added open space is less useful because it’s mainly around the perimeter of the development. But Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire said he is comfortable with the plan. “To their credit, Lennar has worked hard with neighbors to reduce housing density, plan walking trails and preserve relatively more open space,� he said. “They have proposed what should be an attractive development in Eagan

BURNSVILLE

for both new and existing residents.� Stonehaven is billed as a multigenerational neighborhood that will offer a wide variety of homes for all ages and income levels. The first of its four phases will include 39 single-family homes and a pool house/amenity center and is expected to be completed by November, said Tim Fohr, marketing manager for Lennar Minnesota. The second phase, which will add more single-family homes as well as twin homes, is expected to

begin construction next spring. Future phases will bring row townhomes and a multi-level senior housing building to the mix. Homes will range in size from 1,700 finished square feet to more than 3,300 finished square feet and will be priced from $200,000 to about $550,000. All of the homes will be built with energy efficient windows, lighting, appliances, insulation, and heating and cooling systems, according to Lennar. That Lennar is even able to See Carriage Hills, 4A

Lion tamers

City Council’s Dan Gustafson files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy ‘Being an elected official does not give you any immunity from the economy in this country,’ he says by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000

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Photo by John Gessner

Chinese dancers from Ha Family Entertainment presented “The Dance of the Lions� June 19 at the annual International Festival of Burnsville. The event, held at Nicollet Commons Park, featured 10 acts and a host of international foods and other attractions.

Water rate hike aims to encourage conservation Price increase, mandated by state, takes effect July 1 by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Between watering the lawn, filling the pool, and washing the car, the summer months bring a marked increase in water usage. As of July 1, residents will start paying more for using more water.

The city of Eagan is raising its water rates this summer as part of a state mandate to encourage conservation. The legislation, passed in 2008, required cities to adopt a new rate structure by 2010. Eagan’s current water usage rate is $1.40 per thousand gallons. To develop the new rate

structure, the city looked at the historic water usage of each home during the winter months and established a baseline. As of July 1, water usage below that baseline amount will be charged at the existing rate of $1.40 per thousand gallons, while any usage above that amount will be charged at $1.75 per thousand gallons. “If your regular usage is 20,000 gallons in the winter, then it jumps to 60,000 in the sum-

mer, your bill will be $14 more under the new rate structure,� said Tom Garrison, Eagan’s communications director. Commercial/industrial buildings and townhomes typically have separate irrigation meters for lawn watering that will automatically be applied at the higher rate, said Chief Financial Officer Tom Pepper. Pepper said he does not expect the change will bring addiSee Water, 12A

Array of experiences represented on new arts center commission Thirty-nine residents apply; City Council selects nine

BURNSVILLE

by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Executives, actors and an arena-management veteran are among the first appointees to the Burnsville Arts Center Advisory Commission. The City Council appointed nine members June 22 to one-, two- and three-year terms. The council decided to appoint a commission after a rocky first year for the $20 million, city-owned center, which opened in January 2009. A shortage of bookings led to larger operating subsidies

than projected. And an accounting firm’s review found numerous problems with handling of accounting, financial reporting and contract-compliance procedures. The center is managed by Iowa-based VenuWorks. Council members said a commission would add a window of oversight and expertise through which they could get a better handle on operations. They sought applicants with expertise in areas including business operations, event planning and the entertainment business. Appointees also include a representative of Friends of the Burnsville Performing Arts

Center, a center user-group representative and an arts community representative. Thirty-nine Burnsville residents applied for the nine seats. “I guess we were all really surprised – nearly 40 applicants for the Burnsville Performing Arts Center,� Council Member Dan Kealey said, praising the mix of youth and experience among applicants. The center has been widely criticized, but one appointee, Kathleen Cleveland, wrote, “This is an opportunity to represent the voice of the silent majority that value the high quality of life that is enhanced by the arts and culture of the Burnsville Performing Arts Center.�

The council appointed staggered terms so they don’t all expire at once. One-year appointees are: • Garrick Dietze, an actor and producer who serves on the board of the Chameleon Theatre Circle, the resident company of the center’s black-box theater. He’s a campaign specialist for Internet Broadcasting in St. Paul. • Steve Preus, executive director of the Presbyterian Homes Foundation, which raises funds for the senior living communities and home-care services of Presbyterian Homes and Services. • David Ulrich, director of marketing and events for SpecSee Commission, 12A

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Blaming economic forces that he says doomed his former freight business, Burnsville City Council Member Dan Gustafson is seeking Chapter 7 bank- Gustafson ruptcy protection. Gustafson, 57, is claiming $1.28 million in debts and $223,375 in assets, the largest being his $212,000 home at 1305 Lacota Lane. With his $700-a-month council job as his only employment, Gustafson said he’s seeking work in government affairs or with a nonprofit. Gustafson said he has a hearing next month on the request to discharge his debts. “I went into depression last year for a while,� said Gustafson, who claims 30 years’ experience in the freight business. “I went from having a decent company with good income to a company in deep trouble and no income. That was pretty depressing. My friends have truly helped me along.� The two-term council member said his financial troubles are no secret to fellow council members or City Hall staffers and don’t affect or reflect his performance as an elected official. “Even through I’ve been suffering privately with the things I have to deal with, the city has been moving forward. And during this time the city financially has been doing quite well,� Gustafson said, citing the premier Aaa bond rating Burnsville earned this spring. The largest of numerous claims listed in his June 10 filing is $266,000 owed to Concert Group Logistics, the Illinois freight-forwarding firm with which Gustafson had an Eagan franchise. The firm took over the failing franchise last July and cancelled his contract, Gustafson said. Claims include $151,379 owed to the Lindquist and Vennum law firm and $125,047 owed to New Jersey-based Allstates WorldCargo. Gustafson had an Allstates franchise in Eagan for seven years starting in 1999. He said he steered the franchise from monthly losses to profitability and annual revenue that peaked at $5 million. But Gustafson said he grew dissatisfied with the parent company and racked up large legal bills with Lindquist and Vennum as he sought to extricate himself from a long-term contract. He ended up agreeing to pay $2,000 a week for three years to end the conSee Gustafson, 9A


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