An ex-football player turned opera singer returns to his hometown this month for the ensemble musical ‘Titanic’ at the Burnsville PAC. SEE STORY IN THISWEEKEND ON PAGE 7A
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan JULY 16, 2010
VOLUME 31, NO. 20
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
www.thisweeklive.com
Announcements/5A
Opinion/6A
Puzzle Page/8A
Real Estate/9A
Sports/11A
Classifieds/12A
Burnsville Bowl is closed Bank seeking buyer of site so familiar to 42 years’ worth of bowlers and partiers by John Gessner
Submitted graphic
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Burnsville Bowl, a 42-year-old bowling and nightclub complex with a colorful history and checkered recent past, has closed. Shuttered on Tuesday, July 6, the business “became a victim of economic times,” longtime general manager Kevin Coleman said. Owner Bob Hatten had failed in his attempts to sell the business, now owned by lender Commercial Bank, Coleman said. Business had been “slow, absolutely,” Coleman said. “But we weren’t having any problems with creditors or anything like that. Bob had gotten to the point where he’d stuck his life savings into it, and he couldn’t go any further.” The bank has hired commercial real estate firm Welsh Cos. to market the 4.5-acre property at 1200 E. Highway 13, said Skip Nienhaus, Burnsville’s economic development coordinator. The county-assessed value of the land and building is $1.45 million. “Our goal, every time there’s a vacancy, is we would like to see it filled as quickly as possible,” Nienhaus said. “This one obviously has a very good location. Hopefully, that will be a plus.” The B-3 (general business) zoning is a “fairly encompassing zoning” that offers marketers many options for attracting future uses, Nienhaus said. “I think that they are open to anything that the zoning allows them to do,” he said. Coleman would like to see the business survive in its present form. “They’re looking for new owners, and hopefully we can get this place back up and running again and make this place as fun as it was in the past,” he said. Coleman said Hatten took ownership in June 1984 and hired him as general manager a few months later.
A new rendering shows the updated plan for the Minnesota Valley Humane Society’s future Eagan facility. The organization still needs to raise about $425,000 to purchase the building.
MVHS benefit canceled after bowling alley closes Pins 4 Paws event was to raise money for Humane Society’s new facility in Eagan by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS Photo by Rick Orndorf
Burnsville Bowl, with its familiar towering sign, has closed.
BURNSVILLE “It’s like breaking up a family,” Coleman said of the closing. “Even the bowlers who are coming in here to get their equipment now, they really have heartfelt sentiments for us and the place.” “If you’ve lived here for a long time,” said Nienhaus, a longtime Burnsville resident, “you definitely knew the Burnsville Bowl.” The nightclub operation changed with the times, from disco in the 1980s to live rock ’n’ roll featuring top Twin Cities bands, Coleman said. In 1989 the club was renamed Hot Shots, which See Burnsville Bowl, 3A
School board plans to pursue a levy this fall District says measure is needed to help balance budget, but won’t stave off cuts by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
In the face of continued fiscal turmoil at the state level, board members of the Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan school district are unanimous in their recognition of the need for another operating levy to dampen the effect of budget cuts. It is an unenviable position: Even if the voters approve the proposed $15.4 million levy this fall, the district will still have to spend down its fund balance and make several million dollars in cuts and adjustments to
DISTRICT 196 balance the 2011-12 budget. The levy would mean fewer cuts, not a lack of cuts, and not even a prevention of future cuts, said Jeff Solomon, the district’s finance director. This is because the state’s proposed $6 billion budget deficit comprises nearly a fifth of the total state budget, according to the office of state economist Tom Stinson. This is a catalyst for the school board to prepare for the worst, while See Levy, 17A
Amanda Erickson, a big fan of the Minnesota Valley Humane Society since she was a child, decided to organize a benefit when she heard the nonprofit needed funds for its new Eagan facility. “I have always had a special place in my heart for MVHS,” she said. “Growing up in a family where pets were not an option – I love dogs, my dad loves his lawn – I would go there to visit all of the animals.” The benefit event, called Pins 4 Paws, was scheduled
IN BRIEF While the fundraising event has been canceled, supporters can still donate money toward the new MVHS facility at givemn. org. Just type ‘Pins 4 Paws’ in the space labeled ‘Find a nonprofit.’ July 25 at Burnsville Bowl. But the abrupt closing of the bowling alley last week has forced her to cancel the event. See MVHS, 16A
Homicide suspect turns himself in Burnsville man arrested on probable murder charge by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A 28-year-old Burnsville man has been jailed on probable cause for a second-degree murder charge after turning himself in to police shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday in connection with the shooting death of a 22-yearold Apple Valley man on Monday in Rose- Jonas Gerald Grice mount. Jonas Gerald Grice was taken into custody without incident at the Burnsville Police Department. He was being held at the Dakota County Jail on Wednesday. The Dakota County attorney’s office was reviewing the case with formal charges
expected by noon on Friday, July 16. After Grice’s arrest, the investigation into the case continues. The Dakota County Sheriff’s Department reported that several tips were received following the release of a composite sketch of the suspect Tuesday night by Rosemount police. Anthony Adam Hartman was found dead by police at about 6 p.m. July 12 after they responded to a report of shots fired at the The Car Spa car wash at 15215 Canada Ave. Prior to the shooting, Hartman was a passenger in a friend’s car when the friend drove to the car wash to vacuum the vehicle, according to police. After arriving at the car wash there was a brief altercation between Hartman and the suspect before the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot
Hartman several times. He died at the scene. “It was a brief altercation, a matter of exchanging glances and a few words,” Rosemount Police Chief Gary Kalstabakken said during a press conference. After the shooting, the suspect then got into his car and drove out of the parking lot onto Canada Avenue before turning northbound on Highway 3 (South Robert Trail). At the time of the shooting, there were five other vehicles at the car wash in addition to those of the suspect and the victim’s friend. There were also several people present in businesses and parking lots that are adjacent to and across the road from the car wash. More information about this story will be posted at www.ThisweekLive. com as it is received.
Threepeat: Eagan again named one of best cities City was ranked 15th this year by Money magazine by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
For the third time since 2006, Money magazine has named Eagan one of the best small cities in which to live. The city was ranked 15th on the list of 100 this year, a move up from its ranking of 17th in 2008 but a slight drop from 12th place in 2006. Another Minnesota city, Eden Prairie, was ranked No. 1. The magazine said Eagan works hard to be family-friendly. “Come summertime, local families flock to Cascade Bay, the state’s largest outdoor municipal water park, or The Blast, a play area designed especially for toddlers,” the article stated. “For the parents, there’s the city’s ‘Market Fest.’ Every Wednesday during the summer and fall, this festival offers fresh produce, a selection of handcrafted artisan items from various vendors, and concerts.” The magazine’s rankings include cities with populations between 50,000 and General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
EAGAN
Communications Director Tom Garrison, adding that the city is still very pleased to have been included on the list for a third time. Eagan and Eden Prairie were two of five Minnesota cities that made it into the top 20 this year; Plymouth was ranked 11th, Woodbury was 13th, and Apple Valley was 20th. Mayor Mike Maguire congratulated Eden Prairie and the other Minnesota cities named in the magazine’s top 20, and said everyone in Eagan shares a part of this success. “Eagan’s consistent showing in the top 20 is a gratifying testament to the partnership between our city, its citizens and its businesses,” he said. “It represents the enduring commitment we all share to a high-quality community by whatever standard you measure it.”
300,000 and are based on housing affordability, school quality, arts and leisure, safety, health care, diversity, and several ease-of-living criteria. Economic factors are weighted most heavily, according to the magazine, which showed Eden Prairie had job growth of 12.61 percent from 2000 to 2009, compared to a 2.57 percent job loss for Eagan. But the city disputes those figures, pointing out that Eagan led the sevencounty metro area in job growth from 2000 to 2006. City officials said jobs data from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development show a 14.66 percent job increase during that period, with Eagan employers among the highest producers of non-retail jobs in File photo the Twin Cities, including high-tech jobs. Cascade Bay is just one of the amenities that makes Eagan Erin Johnson is at eagan.thisweek@ecm“We’re not critical of it, we’re just conone of the 20 best small cities in which to live, according to fused by that number because we don’t inc.com. Money magazine. know their methodology,” said Eagan
R YLAND T WIN C ITIES . COM
NOW THRU AUGUST 1ST The Time Is Now For
Summer Savings! &
!""'! !
$
FREE FINISHED
BASEMENT*
*Incentive of free basement is available on applicable to-be-built homes only. The value of the incentive varies by community and product line. Prices and plans are subject to change, and offers can end, without notice. The home depicted is a model and the actual home, landscaping lot size, floor plan and materials may vary. See sales counselor for details. Total amount of savings varies by community and homesite. This offer valid on contracts written between July 17 and August 1, 2010. Availability of homes and homesites is subject to change. To receive incentive, buyer must obtain mortgage loan from Ryland Mortgage Company and close with Ryland Title Company. Promotion deductions taken at time of purchase agreement only.This program cannot be combined with any other Ryland Homes paid incentive. See sales counselor for details. Prices and plans are subject to change without notice. © 2010 The Ryland Group, Inc. MN Builder License number 20035443. 7/16•2261460R•ABF