A
Burnsville festival offers a day jammed with jazz. See Thisweekend Page 7A.
NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan AUGUST 19, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 25
www.thisweeklive.com
Opinion/4A
Announcements/5A
Sports/6A
Thisweekend/7A
Classifieds/8A
Public Notices/12A
$228.9 million for Morrises of Burnsville Largest Lottery jackpot in state history makes couple’s retirement worries vanish by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The stock market was getting clobbered when Thomas and Kathleen Morris of Burnsville met with their financial advisor on Monday, Aug. 8. “So that night I told Tom, ‘The only way we’re going to retire is if we win the lottery,’ � Kathleen said. Four days later, the Michigan natives, married 38 years, discovered their retirement worries had vanished. The couple won the $228.9 million Powerball Jackpot, the largest payout in Minnesota Lottery history. Tom, a sales engineer, had bought five Powerball tickets Wednesday morning in Lakeville on his way to a work assignment in Indiana.
“I wasn’t aware that he even bought a ticket on his way out of town on Wednesday,� Kathleen said. The Morrises discussed their good fortune in an often-giddy and briefly tearful press conference Friday, Aug. 12, at Lottery headquarters in Roseville. “I’d like to say, we have a lot of nice friends that added that it couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple,� Kathleen said, patting her chest and welling up. “That was nice to hear.� Tom said he was preparing to put off pending retirement plans after the recent market downturn. Those plans quickly turned around. “He’s retired – 14, 15 hours ago,� Kathleen told reporters as the couple’s two
adult daughters stood nearby. Tom – who didn’t name his employer but said the company does mechanical contracting and makes packaging conveyors – stopped by the SuperAmerica store at 16161 Cedar Ave. in Lakeville Wednesday morning before driving to Indiana. “They’re always very, very nice to me,� Tom said. “That’s why I pulled in there. It’s a good store. I like their coffee.� He said he generally buys tickets every other week, usually in lots of three. Not this time. In a hurry and with only a $5 bill in his pocket, Tom went for broke Minnesota Lottery photo and purchased five quick- Thomas and Kathleen Morris of Burnsville met the media Friday, Aug. 12, at Minnesota picks. Lottery headquarters in Roseville. Jenny Canfield, right, the acting lottery director, See Lottery, 12A introduced the couple.
Majority of Eagan homeowners may see same city taxes
Eagan market grows
Officials propose 2.9 percent drop in property tax levy by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Jessica Harper
Small growers bring their goods from all over the metro to the farmer’s market in Eagan. A variety of seasonal produce and flowers are available at Eagan’s Market Fest. Market Fest is held every Wednesday from 4-8 p.m. from until Sept. 28 in Eagan Festival Grounds at Central Park.
As Eagan residents continue to feel the weight of the recession, they can breathe a sign of relief in knowing their city taxes may remain flat next year. In a special City Council meeting Aug. 15, City Administrator Tom Hedges proposed lowering Eagan’s property tax levy by 2.9 percent to $27.4 million. “I think our challenge each year is to do the best we can to recognize all revenue sources and keep the property tax at a good level,� Hedges said. “I think it’s very responsible.� Most homeowners would pay the same in the city’s portion of their payable 2012 since property
values are expected to fall. The average home value of $241,744 is expected to drop by $4,048 in payable 2012, according to the city. County officials predict that Eagan home values will continue to fall over the next two years. Residents whose homes maintain their value can expect to pay between $12 and $18 more in property taxes, depending on the home value. Property taxes would not decline because the tax base is shrinking, explained Gene VanOverbeke, director of administrative services. How the proposed property tax levy would affect commercial and industrial properties is still See Taxes, 2A
City credits outgoing director Friends endorse Pawlenty’s exit colleagues with turnaround at arts center inFormer the south metro Elbaum leaving to run New York concert hall by John Gessner
“Jon took over the Performing Arts Center at a time when many people were questioning its Jon Elbaum, credited by value,� Hansen said in a city news Burnsville officials with turning release. “He turned it completely around the city’s Performing Arts around through smart manageCenter, is resigning as its execument and an incredible work tive director. Elbaum, 52, is resigning effec- Jon Elbaum ethic.� Opened in January 2009, the tive Aug. 31 to become executive $20 million center, whose condirector of the Troy Savings Bank struction many residents opposed, was Music Hall in Troy, N.Y. “It was too hard to pass up,� Elbaum still a lightning rod for controversy when said of the chance to run the historic, Elbaum arrived to replace the first exnonprofit concert hall. “It will allow me ecutive director, Wolf Larson. “I had the same experience at the to be closer to a lot of my family.� VenuWorks, the PAC’s management building I opened in Iowa,� said Elbaum, company, will put Regional Vice Presi- who was the first general manager of the dent Tammy Koolbeck in charge while city-owned Bridge View Center in Otit does a nationwide search for Elbaum’s tumwa before coming to Burnsville. Support among Ottumwans was slow permanent replacement. Elbaum, installed by VenuWorks as to build, he said. “When they started to the PAC’s second executive director in figure it out that it was a neat place to March 2010, has improved the money- come, it kind of started turning around.� With pre-construction projections of losing venue’s bottom line and turned around its substandard customer service, annual losses of up to $350,000, Burnsaccording to Burnsville Deputy City ville’s PAC disappointed in its first year, Manager Tom Hansen. See Elbaum, 2A
and beyond see a bright future
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
&
!""'! !
$
Old friends of Tim Pawlenty believe the former governor simply studied the political cards he had left and made a rational decision. He was out of the game. “Governor Pawlenty is a realist,� said former Republican State Auditor Pat Anderson of Pawlenty dropping out of the Republican presidential race on Sunday. Anderson, who served with Pawlenty on the Eagan City Council when both were starting out in politics, views his distant third place finish in the Iowa Straw Poll on Saturday as actually lower when considering former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and newcomer
Photo by T.W. Budig
Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty tries hammer home a point during his speech at the Iowa Straw Poll on Saturday, Aug. 13. Pawlenty dropped out of the Republican presidential race the following day. Texas Gov. Rick PerI don’t think he’s anry in the equation. gry anymore,� An“It really meant MORE derson said. that he was fifth,� ONLINE His departure from For more related the race was graceAnderson said. In recent national stories and ful, she said. Pawlenphotos, go to polls Pawlenty’s sup- thisweeklive.com ty was just in a bad port among Republiposition to raise cans has often been campaign funds, single-digit. Anderson said. “I think he’s been angry. See Pawlenty, 11A
General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
by T.W. Budig ECM CAPITOL REPORTER