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Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan JULY 22, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 21
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
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Opinion/4A
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Announcements/6A
BEATING THE HEAT
Photo by Rick Orndorf
Sports/7A
by Jessica Harper
resulted in 300 layoffs in 18 months between 2008 and 2009. Since then, Blue Cross has turned around, ending 2009 with $132.1 million in net income. The company’s earnings continued to grow the following year, which ended with $271 million in net in-
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota CEO Patrick Geraghty astonished everyone last week when he announced his plans to take up the same position in Florida. Patrick “I decided it was a good Geraghty business opportunity as well as a good fit personally,� said Ger- come. Geraghty took home $1.5 million aghty, who will leave the Eagan-based in compensation that year, making nonprofit Aug. 1. The transfer will make it easier for him the highest paid Minnesota nonhis wife to care for her elderly parents, profit leader, according to the Star Tribune. who live on the East Coast. Geraghty said he believes the comGeraghty starts his new job in September, replacing former CEO Robert pany’s push to cut costs while improvLufrano, who retired from the Jack- ing quality care led to its recovery. As CEO, he promoted an initiative sonville-based nonprofit last spring. Pamela Wheelock, chair of the that rewarded health care providers Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Min- for cutting costs while still delivering nesota board of trustees, will step in high-quality care. Allina and Fairview were the first as interim president and CEO upon to jump aboard. Now seven providers Geraghty’s departure. Geraghty became head of the non- have signed contracts. His greatest accomplishment, Gerprofit health insurance giant in 2008 amid $15.7 million in losses, which See Geraghty, 12A
Public Notices/12A
Keep cats indoors, cops say Coyotes blamed for two more pet deaths in Eagan by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Eagan police are reporting two separate incidents of cats who were likely killed by coyotes within a day of each other. On Wednesday, July 13, a family on Walnut Circle found the partial remains of their pet cat, Buddy. Buddy, who weighed 20 pounds, was an older cat who would often spend the night outdoors. His owner reported him missing two days before his remains were found several hundred feet behind his home, which is in a heavily wooded area near Cliff and Johnny Cake Ridge roads. On Thursday, July 14, a resident of Skater Circle found the partial remains of an unknown cat in her backyard. The resident reported that she has seen coyotes in her yard on many occasions, and they have been coming closer to her home recently. Her neighborhood is near
Nate Kaiser of Apple Valley (top) wowed his friend Isaiah Ewald of Burnsville with a flip off the diving board at Redwood Community Pool in Apple Valley on July 19. With the heat index near 110, area pools proved popular places to cool off. For more photos, go online at www.ThisweekLive.com.
Blue Cross CEO moves to Florida
Classifieds/8A
Blackhawk Lake, which has seen heavy coyote activity for the past several years, said Eagan Animal Control Officer Karen Grimm. Reports of pets – both cats and dogs – being attacked and/or killed by coyotes in Eagan is nothing new. The last pet killed by a coyote in Eagan was in June 2010. In 2009 a dog was killed by a pair of coyotes, and between 2003 and 2005, five pets were attacked and three were killed by coyotes. Coyotes are a fact of life in Eagan and have had established populations in the Minnesota River Valley for about 20 years, according to the state’s Department of Natural Resources. They are opportunistic feeders who will look to pets if their natural prey is scarce. Police urge pet owners to take precautions to prevent their pets from becoming victims. Dog owners should always supervise their dogs
while they are outside, especially near wooded areas or parks, and never leave them tied up unattended. Cat owners should simply keep their cats indoors at all times. “It is not safe for your cat to be outside,� Grimm said. “Coyotes are the more sensationalized issue, but we’ve had six cats killed by cars and several open missing cat reports. It is just not a safe world for cats to be outside anymore.� According to the DNR, there has never been a report of a coyote attacking a human in Minnesota. Coyotes are curious but timid and are typically scared off when people yell, make noise and wave their arms. A map of recent coyote sightings in Eagan can be found on the Animal Control page of the city’s website, www.cityofeagan.com. Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
Sticking with John Kline Burnsville resident who’s been with congressman since the beginning is now his district office director by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Following congressional protocol, U.S. Rep. John Kline took one staffer along to newmember orientation after his first election in 2002. The hand-picked young assistant, Brooke Dorobiala, followed Kline to Capitol Hill and still works for him today. Longevity and experience have their rewards. In May, Dorobiala was named director of Kline’s district office – a high-profile job in an office focused mostly on constituent service. She’s the Republican congressman’s second district director, replacing Mike Osskopp, who left to start his own company. “I have a great working relationship with Congressman Kline,� Dorobiala, now 30, said in an interview at Jensen’s Cafe in Burnsville, just across
Photo by John Gessner
Burnsville resident Brooke Dorobiala is the new director of U.S. Rep. John Kline’s district office. Burnsville Parkway from the district office. “After working with him for so many years, I would say he’s a great member to work for. And I think he
trusts my judgment.� Raised in a Republican-leaning household in Woodbury, Dorobiala started See Dorobiala, 12A
Renovations on schedule at Burnsville High School by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
While construction projects remain stalled around the state, renovations at Burnsville High School are moving along on time. Renovations have already begun on the 56-year-old building’s science labs, world studies classrooms and administrative offices. “The science labs are our number one priority,� said Jon Deutsch, director of operations and property for the BurnsvilleEagan-Savage School District. “This is the area where there’s no
room for more kids.� The growing student body was, in part, what prompted the School Board to approve the $13 million project in August 2010. Enrollment at Burnsville High School has grown to 2,300 students, making it one of the largest in the state. The improvements will also bring the building up to code. Work on the 405,553-squarefoot building is led by three Burnsville High School graduates. Eric Anderson, intern architect with ATS&R and 1995 graduate
of BHS, said he is thrilled to be working at his alma mater. “It’s a bit eerie,� he said. “I remember learning from the teachers here, now I’m learning about the walls.� The plans, which were approved by the Minnesota Department of Education, also include upgrades to the heating system and bathrooms. The building will be made more accessible to people with disabilities, lockers will be replaced, the cafeteria will be enlarged and reconfigured, and a larger, more
open commons will be created. Planning rooms will be near the commons for teachers to create their lessons. “By the time the project is done, we’ll have more department collaboration which builds that sense of collegiality,� said Dave Helke, principal of Burnsville High School. The first and second floor will be opened up to give it a more modern, inviting feel, district officials said. “This will be easier to supervise and a safer environment,� Ander-
son said. Additionally, all administrative offices will be relocated off of the newly created main entrance. Construction bids have come a little under budget, said Lisa Ryder, business director for District 191. The project will be funded by facility bonds and locally levied funds that can be used only for maintenance projects, such as building upgrades. E-mail Jessica Harper jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com
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Run the arts center in-house, outgoing chairman suggests Jacques says VenuWorks, advisory commission not needed
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THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
After serving for a year as its first chairman, Paul Jacques has resigned from the Burnsville Performing Arts Center Advisory Commission.
And he sees no reason for the commission to continue. His recommendation? Get rid of VenuWorks, the company that manages the center, hire an executive director and take the operation in-house as a
city government function. “If the city took it over, I don’t think you would need the commission,� said Jacques, who resigned on June 27. “I think that would be redundant.� Jacques thinks the cen-
ter needs more aggressive marketing to build an “angel fund� to produce shows on its own without putting taxpayers at risk for losses on shows. He thinks Jon Elbaum, who manages the center
for VenuWorks, is more of an “operations guy� who doesn’t fit the bill. Despite boat-rocking comments following his departure, the retired bank executive says his chief reaSee Jacques, 11A
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