‘Journey in Motion’ offers an evening of dance at the Burnsville PAC. See Thisweekend Page 12A.
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan APRIL 8, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 6
www.thisweeklive.com
Real Estate/3A
Opinion/4A
Announcements/6A
Public Notices/6A & 13A
Sports/7A
Classifieds/8A
Voters will decide who replaces Crichton on Burnsville council Council orders expedited special election to fill term by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
An expedited special election will be held in Burnsville to replace the late Charlie Crichton on the City Council. The council voted 4-0 April 5 to prepare an ordinance calling for a special election, with a primary if needed. The council ordered a July 12 vote, which could be a primary or a special election. City ordinance requires a primary if the number of candidates filing for office is more than twice the number of open seats. If the July 12 vote is a primary, candidates will be narrowed to two who will face off in an Aug. 16 special election. The process is different from what most Minnesota cities do to fill council vacancies, according to City Attorney Joel Jamnik. But Burnsville council members said that the typical process – appointing a replacement to serve until the next general election, in this case November 2012 – would shortchange citizens. “I think we’ve heard from many of
our constituents that they would like a voice in this process, and I agree, they should have a voice,” Mayor Elizabeth Kautz said. Council Member Dan Gustafson noted that Crichton was less than three months into a four-year term when he died on March 13 at 83. The popular council member, known by many as a frequent and principled contrarian who fought to keep a lid on taxes and spending, was re-elected last November for a city-record sixth time. His death followed a brief illness. “Charlie’s voice on the council was extremely unique and special,” Council Member Dan Kealey said. He and Council Member Mary Sherry also noted that a special election in November 2012 would open four of five council seats for election – too many for a single election, they said. A special election would cost $30,000 to $35,000, and double that if there’s a primary, according to City Manager Craig Ebeling. Officials said the money will come from the city’s undesignated budget reserve. In its ordinance calling the special election, the council could axe the primary to move things along, according to Jamnik. See Vacancy, 12A
Floods? Burnsville’s Peg Fink has had them up to her rooftop Photo courtesy of Peg Fink
The line shows how high the water rose in 1951 in the cabin where Peg Fink lived with her husband and children.
Longtime resident once lived in a cabin on city’s riverfront by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Floods? Burnsville’s Peg Fink has been up to her rooftop in ’em. This spring’s major flooding in the Minnesota River Valley doesn’t mean much to most people in Burnsville. Unless you’re forced to take the alternate route to Xcel Energy’s riverfront power plant, the high water may be little more than a seasonal
curiosity as you head ily to evacuate five of north on Interstate those years, said Fink, 35W or Cedar Ava longtime Burnsville enue. resident who recently But Fink, now 85, moved into the Eagle and her family lived Ridge Place senior from late 1948 to apartments in BurnsApril 1956 in a small Peg Fink ville. log cabin 100 feet But Northern States from the river and a mile west Power Co., which hired the of Cedar Avenue on what is Finks as caretakers while now known as Black Dog building the Black Dog powRoad. er plant, sent its workers to Floods forced the fam- See Fink, 13A
Work to begin on final leg of Eagan’s ‘ring road’ Work on overpass connecting Duckwood and Federal drives across I-35E will start next month by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The Eagan City Council awarded a construction contract at its April 5 meeting for the final phase of the city’s long-awaited “ring roa” project. Planned for more than 16 years, the ring road aims to ease congestion around Eagan’s busiest intersection: Yankee Doodle and Pilot Knob roads.
The ring road will connect existing streets to form a loop around the Yankee Doodle/Pilot Knob/35E intersections, providing local traffic with alternative routes. The final phase of the project will connect Duckwood Drive with Federal Drive across I35E. The connection will be made with a simple overpass and will not include any additional ramps to and from I-35E. Improvements will also be made to the Pilot Knob/Duckwood Drive intersection, as well as the right turn lane on northbound Pilot Knob at I-
35E. A walking trail will be added to both sides of Duckwood Drive. Businesses on Duckwood Drive will be accessible throughout construction, and traffic will remain open on Federal Drive, said Tim Plath, Eagan transportation engineer. The first phase of the project, completed in 2008, extended Northwood Parkway – located next to Home Depot – across 35E to connect with Central Parkway, located next to the Community Center. The Northwood Overpass now sees more than 5,800 vehicles each day,
The final phase of Eagan’s ring road will connect Duckwood Drive and Federal Drive with an overpass stretching across I-35E, similar to the Northwood Overpass completed in 2008.
according to the city. As with the Northwood Overpass, the city looked to keep construction costs down on this project by moving forward during a sluggish economy and favorable bidding climate. “Based on other bids we’re seeing going out right now, it is a competitive bidding environment, and we gained by constructing right now,” Plath said. Construction is estimated to cost about $4.5 million. The overpass is expected to be completed by the end of November.
Submitted graphic
Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
History in the making William Byrne becomes first elementary school chess team to win junior high school division by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
William Byrne Elementary chess team in Burnsville made history last month when it won a junior high school division tournament. The elementary team became the first March 20 to ever take home the coveted first-place trophy at the South Metro Junior High School Division tournament, beating the reigning champion, Metcalf Junior High School in Burnsville. Both schools are in Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District 191. Metcalf is a perennial regional, state and national powerhouse in chess, making the younger team’s accomplishment all the more notable. “It was unexpected,” said Dan McDowall a William Byrne chess coach. “We didn’t enter with the goal to win. Photo by Jessica Harper It was to get the experience — the fact William Byrne Elementary students practice Monday for the Minnesota State Association Scholastic that we won was a massive bonus.” Championships on April 9 and 10 in Plymouth. The chess team finished as co-champion of the School This is the second time the magAssociation chess tournament in Golden Valley and made history by winning the South Metro Junior net school has competed in the junior High School Division. high school league.
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Homeowner followed burglary suspect, who crashed into house Gun-pointing Brooklyn Park man charged with assault, burglary in foiled heist by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
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Students were excited to receive such an honor. “It was cool to be the first team to win,” said Joseph Mosoti, a sixthgrader at William Byrne. Mosoti has played on the team since kindergarten and said he loves the strategy involved in the game. Ryler McDowall, a sixth-grader who also competed in the junior high school tournament, said he most enjoys meeting students from across the state. The elementary team is comprised of students in grades K-6. “Many of our students are advanced while others are kindergartners just dipping their toes in the water to learn the game,” said Stan Kegel, head coach of the William Byrne team. Participating in chess tournaments helps students learn critical thinking skills and sportsmanship, he said. Kegel and McDowall said they enjoy watching students develop these See Chess, 12A
A Brooklyn Park man was charged Monday with two counts of second-degree assault and one count of first-degree burglary after allegedly pointing a gun at two Burnsville homeowners during a foiled burglary
April 1. house he allegedly Willie Alfonso burglarized, police Brown, 33, was arsaid. rested after crashThe man, who lives ing his SUV into a on the 1400 block house near 134th of E. McAndrews Street and Burncrest Road, arrived home Court. Willie Brown at about 11:50 a.m. Brown was being and found a black chased by the man whose SUV parked in his driveway.
The homeowner parked behind the SUV, blocking it, according to the criminal complaint. He saw a man later identified as Brown exit the house with what appeared to be a box of the homeowner’s belongings. Brown allegedly pointed a gun at the homeowner,
who was still in his vehicle. The man backed up quickly and called 911. He followed in his own vehicle as Brown drove away. A chase ensued that covered about a mile and seemed to go “almost in circles,” according to See Burglary, 12A