Chameleon Theatre Circle presents its 10th annual New Play Festival on Sept. 11 at the Burnsville PAC. See Thisweekend page 9A
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 VOLUME 31, NO. 28
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
www.thisweeklive.com
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Classifieds/14A
Sports/19A
Ye Old Memories at State Fair City OKs preliminary Fair favorite Ye Old Mill has been in the Keenan family for 97 years by John Gessner HISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
After the heat and humidity that opened the State Fair, Marna Keenan could hardly believe the change in the air on Friday, Sept. 3. Chill winds gusting across the fairgrounds threatened to topple a canopy over the small patio behind Ye Old Mill. The patio is where members of the Keenan clan, which has owned the fair’s longest-running attraction since 1913, take a break from their day’s work. “Last year we had perfect weather every day,� Marna said, bundled up in a warm jacket and jeans. “Never will it happen again.� But fairgoers can always count on Ye Old Mill, thanks to John H. and Marna Keenan of Burnsville, who own Ye Old Mill Amusements Inc. The gentle, four-minute ride in miniature boats through Ye Old Mill’s water-filled concrete channel has become an iconic experience for generations of fairgoers – some of whom, it is claimed, stole
Eagan’s proposed levy increase aims to offset uncollected taxes from delinquent properties by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by John Gessner
Members of the Keenan clan gathered at the family-owned Ye Old Mill on Sept. 3 included John Keenan Sr., back, and from left, Braeden Keenan, Marna Keenan, Reilly Keenan and Jeremy Keenan. a first kiss or even proposed marriage in the pitch-black tunnel. Numerous fairgoers have urged him to never change a thing about the “tunnel of love,� said John, 68.
It’s housed in the same wooden building his grandfather, also named John H. Keenan, opened at the Minnesota State Fair 97 years ago. See Ye Old Mill, 21A
New school year brings new programs, opportunity Districts 191 and 196 tackle different issues while maintaining mission to educate the area’s children by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
As district 191 and 196 students and staff return to school, they will encounter a few changes.
vehicles, the proposed Duckwood overpass at 35E, retiring debt on the new Fire Safety Center or to buy down future tax levies. The proposed levy increase would result in a $27 increase in property taxes for the owner of an average-priced home in Eagan, which in 2011 will be $241,744. Last year, the average home in Eagan was valued at $256,958, down from $275,828 in 2009. The proposed 2011 budget also continues last year’s wage freeze for city employees and eliminates the vacant streets supervisor position, dividing those duties between two other existing staff members. While the city was able to negotiate better employee health insurance costs, which kept the increase lower than originally anticipated, they were still a factor in the budget increase, Hedges said. “The operating budget would have been close to a zero percent increase over 2010 were it not for an increase in health insurance costs,� he said. The proposed budget increase is still lower than the rate of inflation, officials said. The council will review the budget and levy proposal and take public comment at its Dec. 7 meeting, with final adoption scheduled for the Dec. 21 meeting
Eagan’s 2011 property tax levy will increase 2.8 percent over last year, mainly to compensate for uncollected taxes from a growing number of delinquent properties, officials said. The City Council approved Eagan’s preliminary 2011 budget and property tax levy at its Sept. 7 meeting. While the final budget and levy won’t be adopted until Dec. 21, the council approved a preliminary general fund budget of $27.7 million, an increase of a little more than half of one percent over last year. The total proposed levy is $28.2 million. The bulk of the 2.8 percent levy increase – 2 percent – will be used as an allowance for potential uncollected taxes from property value appeals and delinquencies, which are on the rise, according to the city. “It’s the council’s position that the 2 percent allowance is the prudent and conservative thing to do to prepare for this likely contingency,� said City Administrator Tom Hedges. Several other metro-area cities are also including allowances for uncollectable property taxes in their levies, including Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina, Minnetonka and Woodbury, officials said. If the allowance remains untapped, the funds would be used to fund planned-for capital ex- Erin Johnson is at penditures, such as public safety thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
eagan.
Taxes headed back up in 2011
District 191 District 191 is undergoing a couple noticeable changes this year. First, there is the new gifted and talented magnet at Eagle Ridge Junior High School in Savage and the introduction of a grab-and-go breakfast program at Burnsville High School (BHS). BHS is participating with the University of Minnesota in a yearlong study to increase participation in the school breakfast program. Food service director Roxanne Williams said Burnsville has a fairly low on-site participation, about 6 or 7 percent, and the $11,400 grant from the U of M will allow BHS to offer a “breakfast-to-go� menu. “When kids get off the bus and come in the main entrance, they will be able to receive breakfast,� William said. The students will have access to a bag of milk or juice and a
budget and tax levy
Burnsville council approves 5.6 percent maximum hike after austerity measures in 2010 by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Oak Ridge student Porter Awad assists Superintendent Jane Berenz as she walks to greet students outside of the school building at Oak Ridge Elementary in Eagan. main entree (such as a muffin or of students,� Williams said. egg sandwich), Williams said. Why the emphasis on break“We put it in the main entrance fast? According to Williams, high because we hope to capture a lot See Schools, 20A
In stark contrast with this year’s austerity measures, Burnsville will raise 2011 city taxes by up to 5.6 percent and avoid deep budget cuts next year. The City Council voted 3-2 on Sept. 7 to certify a maximum levy increase of 5.6 percent. That would raise an extra $1.48 million, for a total levy of $27.97 million. Final council approval of the 2011 budget and levy is expected Dec. 7. The levy can’t exceed 5.6 percent but can be reduced. A public “open house� on the budget will be held Nov. 30 at 4 p.m. at City Hall. Owners of properties already contributing to the tax base would shoulder 1.7 percent of a
5.6 percent increase, according to city staff. The rest would come from resumption of taxes flowing to the city following decertification of a tax-increment financing district in the Southcross Corporate Center (3.3 percent), and from taxes generated by new construction (.5 percent). City taxes on an average-valued home ($208,000) would rise by about $30 under a 5.6 percent increase. City taxes on the same property were cut by about $25 this year, the city says. The figures presume an 8.4 percent loss in property value from 2010 to 2011. City taxes on $1 million of commercial/industrial property would rise by about $455. A 5.7 See Taxes, 8A
Eagan group aims to help job seekers transition into new careers by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
After a 19-year career at Macy’s department store, Connie Cobb, 45, of Eagan suddenly found herself unemployed. She was laid off in March from her job as a regional manager for service alterations and tailoring. With her industry dwindling in the recession, Cobb decided to seek a new career path. “I didn’t want to get stuck in a dying niche,� she said. Cobb said she now is pursuing a new career in processing or product development. However, changing career paths is much more difficult than she
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expected. The most challenging part is being able to harness and identify marketable skills, Cobb said. After months of searching, Cobb realized she needed help. So she decided to reach out to a job transition group at her church, Easter Lutheran in Eagan. Although the group is housed at the church, it is secular, free of charge and open to the public. Cobb, one of eight volunteers who help organize the meetings, said the group offers support and has helped her stay motivated. “There’s no room for a pity party,� she said. Cobb said the group has helped
her learn new skills such as how to effectively search online, something that was previously foreign to her. “My system in the past was to apply, and I’d get the job,� she said. “I hadn’t used the Internet for a job hunt before.� The group was founded in 2008 by Catherine Byers Breet, owner and founder of Arbez, an Eaganbased career counseling firm that specializes in career transitioning. “The goal is to help people get out and connected, and educate, empower and inspire them,� Byers Breet said. Since its formation two years ago, it has accumulated 562 memSee Transition, 8A
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Photo by Jessica Harper
Members of the job transition group at Easter Lutheran Church in Eagan met on Sept. 7 to share leads. The group was formed by Catherine Byers Breet, owner and founder of Arbez, an Eagan-based career counseling firm that specializes in career transitioning. Byers Breet and guest speakers share various tips on job hunting.
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