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Thisweek Burnsville-Eagan OCTOBER 28, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 35
www.thisweeklive.com
Announcements/3A
Public Notices/3A & 14A
Opinion/4A
Sports/8A
Classifieds/9A
Burnsville crime is up – but why? Aggravated assaults skyrocket; police also say adult foster homes are generating more crisis calls by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photo by Rick Orndorf
The company — which operates 1,440 Big Lots stores nationwide and 88 Liquidation World stores in Canada — plans to open 38 more stores by Nov. 14, said Big Lots spokesperson Toni Fink.
Discount retailer’s ‘big’ expansion includes Eagan
An anomaly or the start of a trend? Police Chief Bob Hawkins isn’t sure why serious crime has spiked 8.7 percent in Burnsville this year after several years of decline. Particularly alarming, Hawkins said, is a 209 percent rise in aggravated assaults during the first half of 2011. Those are assaults involving significant injury or use of a weapon. Among other Part 1 crimes, rapes were up 63 percent in the first half of the year and commercial burglaries 166 percent, Hawkins reports.
Police are also dealing with a sharp increase in crisis-related calls fed by a growing number of unauthorized walk-aways by clients of adult foster care homes. City Council members are calling for stronger regulation of the homes and possibly fines for those with repeat problems.
Crime wave? Serious crime has fallen in Burnsville and nationally for several years, Hawkins said. He said he’s eager to talk to other police chiefs about their 2011 numbers. “Hopefully that was just an anomSee Crime, 6A
by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The nation’s largest closeout retailer recently chose Eagan as part of its latest expansion Big Lots opened a store Oct. 20 on 1284 Town Centre Dr. in Eagan. The 20,000 square-foot store is the third to open in Minnesota this year, and among 52 new stores nationwide. The company — which operates 1,440 Big Lots stores nationwide and 88 Liquidation World stores in Canada — plans to open 38 more stores by Nov. 14, said Big Lots spokesperson Toni Fink. Big Lots assistant manager D’Arcie Froelich said she believes Big Lots will complement other Town Centre businesses by offering items that have been discontinued. “People like to come in the store because it’s like a treasure hunt,” Froelich said. “They can find things here that no one else has.” By its very nature, though, once a discontinued item is gone, it’s gone for good. The closeout retailer has few direct competitors and Froelich said she believes Big Lots will face little competition in Eagan. “We’re not here to compete,” she said. “We are here to be a part of the Eagan economy.”
Burnsville man found guilty of murder
IN BRIEF Big Lots is located 1284 Town Centre Dr. in Eagan. A grand opening is set for 9 a.m. Oct. 28 at the store. The company hired 30 employees to work at the Eagan location. Big Lots differs from other discount retailers in that it sells nearly every kind of closeout, discontinued and overstock merchandise including clothing, home decor, furniture, electronics and nonperishable food. Though this business model works well for Big Lots and its consumers, it can present many challenges for manufacturers, said Lorman Lundsten, marketing professor and department chair at the University of St. Thomas. “It hurts manufacturers relationships with other retailers,” he said. Some retailers who pay full price feel they are being treated unfairly when they see Big Lots receiving discontinued merchandise at a significantly discounted price, Lundsten explained. Lundsten is also skeptical that Big Lots will complement its Eagan neighbors. “What you want for a shopping center is fairly similar eco-
Man killed Apple Valley resident at Rosemount car wash by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS Photo by Rick Orndorf
Big Lots opened a store Oct. 20 on 1284 Town Centre Dr. in Eagan. The 20,000 square-foot store is the third to open in Minnesota this year, and among 52 new stores nationwide. nomic level stores that complement each other,” he said. “Here we have a store where people will shop a Big Lots and go away again.” Regardless of these issues, Lundsten predicts Big Lots and other discount stores will continue to grow as consumers hunt for bargains during the recession. “The current economy is a good windfall for them,” he said. “I think they will be around for a long time.” E-mail Jessica Harper at: jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com
eth, on July 12, 2010, at the Car Spa car wash in Rosemount, but then Hartman confronted Grice and both started shoving each other. Doseth said he Jonas Gerald didn’t see the shootGrice ing but heard gunshots as he ran for help. By the time Doseth returned, Grice had fled and Hartman was found lying in his own blood. The defense attempted to say that Doseth and Hartman attempted to trap Grice by closing doors to one of the car wash stalls, which triggered Grice, whom the court found suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, into shooting Hartman. “This was a shocking crime which senselessly took a life of a young man with a bright future,” said Dakota County Attorney Jim Backstrom in a news release. “The defendant had a history of mental illness and violence in his past and should never have been carrying a weapon.” Grice was originally charged with first-degree murder, which was dropped.
A Burnsville man was convicted on Wednesday of second-degree intentional murder after a Dakota County judge rejected his mental illness defense. Jonas Gerald Grice, 28, who pleaded guilty to the charge on Oct. 7, will appear for a sentencing hearing Jan. 4, 2012, after a pre-sentence investigation is completed. The sentencing guideline for intentional second-degree murder is between 29 and 40 years in prison. If the mental health defense would have been successful, Grice could have been sentenced to a state mental health facility. When Grice shot Anthony Hartman, 22, of Apple Valley, Grice claimed in his court trial defense that he was suffering from a mental illness to the extent that he did not know the nature of his actions or that they were wrong. During the trial, it was argued that Grice allegedly tried to pick a fight Tad Johnson is at editor.thisweek@ with Hartman’s friend, Bradley Dos- ecm-inc.com.
Other problem properties came before Country Village complex None reached same level of sanction as Country Village, whose owner has problem property in Shakopee by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
While one Burnsville apartment complex made headlines this month for mold, pests and disrepair, the city has a history of pressuring landlords to deal with problem properties. As buildings age, there may be more to come. After a disgusted City Council voted Oct. 18 to suspend the rental license for Country Village Apartments at 3809 Sibley Street, Fire Department officials hinted to reporters that
other properties are in their sights. The city isn’t naming names, Deputy City Manager Tom Hansen said. “Do we get complaints about other properties? Absolutely,” he said. “Are we looking at other properties? All the time. That’s what we’ve got a building inspections department for and a fire marshal for.” Millpond (now Willow Pond), Horizon Heights, Chancellor Manor, Connelly Estates (now Colonial Villa) and Charleswood
(now River Ridge) are examples of properties that have come under city scrutiny and been turned around, some under new ownership, Hansen said. “Every one of those we’ve just mentioned has turned around and become a success story,” he said. But none faced the level of sanction imposed on Country Village owner Lindahl Properties LP. The council action forbids any new rentals at the 138-unit complex for two months or until the complex is brought
up to city code. All rental licenses in Burnsville are up for renewal in December. City officials found dozens of property and fire code violations they packaged into 129 cases. Inspectors found 80 instances of mold and water damage; 98 instances of damaged doors, windows and tile, and holes in walls; 28 instances of faulty plumbing work and repairs; 28 instances of faulty electrical City of Burnsville photo work and repairs, as well as nonworking fans, air This photo, of mold growing in an occupied Country Village apartment, is one of dozens taken by Burnsville inspectors. See Apartments, 6A
Arts center projected loss higher than last year’s by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
A year-end 2011 operating loss of $386,000 is forecast for the Burnsville Performing Arts Center. The projection is higher than General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
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last year’s actual loss of $368,000, but an improvement over a $526,000 loss in 2009, the center’s first year of operation. “This could get better” before year’s end, BPAC Advisory Commission Chair Sal Mondelli told the City Council at an Oct. 25 work session. He noted that the center lost $75,000 in rental revenue for 2011 when School District 191 decided to close its Envision Academy arts magnet school. Otherwise, “We’ve done a very nice job of continuing to increase the revenue,” Mondelli said. BPAC officials are projecting a $366,000 loss in 2012.
Mondelli said the sale of naming rights for the facility or parts of it is being pursued, along with foundation grants. He and BPAC Executive Director Brian Luther were before the council to give a quarterly update on the city-owned venue. Luther began work three weeks ago after being hired by the center’s management firm, VenuWorks. The third BPAC director, Luther replaces Jon Elbaum, who left Aug. 31 to become executive director of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Troy, N.Y. John Gessner is at burnsville. thisweek@ecm-inc.com.
District 196 candidates inside Seven candidates are running for School Board in Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District 196. Joel Fay Election Day is Albright Coggshall Nov. 8. Candidates are vying for four seats, each with a four-year term. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jackie Candidate pro- Gary Magnuson files can be found Krueger on Page 5A. Not pictured is candidate Steven Butler.
Rob Duchscher
Bob Schutte