Thisweek Farmington and Lakeville

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Photo exhibit at the Burnsville PAC features new and historic images from Dakota County. See Thisweekend Page 14A

Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville JANUARY 21, 2011

VOLUME 31, NO. 47

www.thisweeklive.com

Announcements/5A

Opinion/6A

Public Notices/7A

Sports/10A

Classifieds/11A

NEWS OPINION SPORTS

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Coupon Connection/16A

Shared pain: A possible reprieve Conflict in Farmington for activities, varsity sports?

Report: School District 192 delayed information to Board Member Tim Burke

Proposed plan could save some District 194 sports and programs

while increasing fees for all activities

by Laura Adelmann

by Aaron Vehling

THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Farmington School District staff delayed providing information to a controversial board member and reviewed his e-mail and district phone call records to determine his associations, according to the district’s 661page investigative report. The December 2010 report, commissioned by the Farmington School Board, details allegations that Board Member Tim Burke violated school board codes and data privacy laws. The report is being reviewed by attorneys for possible charges against Burke. District staff and school board member interviews in the report also describe how Burke’s numerous data requests were considered to contribute to a hostile work environment, and district staff was instructed to regulate how and when Burke received information he requested. According to Minnesota Statue 13.03, all government data collected, created, received, maintained or disseminated by any governmental entity is public, unless protected by individual privacy laws.

On the heels of an historic face-off against each other at a state competition, the debate teams of Lakeville North and South have proposed a merger to save themselves from elimination. The idea seems to have gained traction and influenced a possible policy switch. As with the gymnastics, golf and lacrosse teams, the debate team submitted to the Lakeville School Board a counter proposal that calls for cost-sharing with parents and new revenue sources, among other things. “If there is a single activity that has a strong tie to classroom and academic performance, it is debate,� said Lakeville South debate head coach Andy Charrier. “Debate is about seeing kids grow in organizational and critical thinking skills and communication ability.� The collective proposals made an impression on the board. At its Jan. 18 study session at Lakeville South, Board Chairwoman Judy Keliher directed district administrators to develop an alternate activities plan

Photo by Aaron Vehling

Lakeville’s lacrosse team was among the groups slated for elimination attending a District 194 School Board study session Jan. 18 at Lakeville South. Attendance was in the hundreds. that would create a sustainable arrangement to preserve varsity sports and activities. The plan was to be submitted to the board by its Jan. 20 study session, which occurred after this newspaper’s deadline. The basic plan, though, is that all activity fees would be increased in the district to keep the varsity

sports and activities slated for elimination. Board Member Jim Skelly initially brought the idea forward, but it soon caught on. Board Member Bob Erickson said the policy is designed to be sustainable, not a short-term fix. It would call for the district to give 25 percent support with the balance covered

Cutting memberships to trim budgets Lakeville City Council looks into canceling involvement in at least one lobbying organization to save on costs by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

As city leaders look for ways to trim expenses, or pay to reinstate public safety positions without adding to those expenses, they have set their eyes on memberships in lobbying organizations. Currently, the city of Lakeville is a member of at least three such organizations: the Association of Metropolitan Municipali-

ties (usually referred to as “Metro Cities�), the League of Minnesota Cities and the MuniciMielke pal Legislative Commission. Membership in each of those has benefits ranging from greater access to transportation dollars and collective lobbying efforts

to liability insurance. Though the city’s property tax levy was flat this year, the City Council is looking to trim expenditures in an effort to reduce taxes. The City Council consensus at a work session two weeks ago was that Metro Cities is the most expendable of the memberships. They have not yet voted on this decision. See Memberships, 4A

No raises for Farmington city workers Insurance payments encourage single coverage choice by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

City of Farmington clerical and maintenance workers unions agreed to pay freezes again for 2011. Although the workers received a 1.75 percent raise last year, under tight budget constraints they agreed to take unpaid time off and essentially forfeited the money, said Farmington Finance Director Teresa Walters. Under the new contract, approved by the Farmington City Council on Jan. 18, the city will continue its flat rate payments for health insurance coverage. The city agreed to cover half of the 10.5 percent insurance increase of family coverage only for 2011. The city will continue General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000

paying employees more than the single coverage actually costs to encourage employees to select it instead of the more expensive family coverage option. With the extra money, employees can purchase additional insurance, deposit it in their retirement plans or take it as cash and have it taxed, said Tracy Geise, a city employee who is also president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union. Geise said she didn’t know how much more the city paid employees to select this coverage, and City Human Resources Director Brenda Wendlandt did not return an e-mail and phone calls seeking comment.

At the Jan. 11 Farmington City Council meeting, Council Member Julie May commended city staff for agreeing to no raises in 2011, but cited concerns about the flat-amount method the city has for calculating health insurance payments. She advocated for the board to move later this year to paying a percentage of the cost rather than a flat fee. Under a percentagebased system, those selecting single coverage may lose their free health insurance benefit, Geise said. “If the single have to pay anything, they’re not going to be happy,� Geise said. Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com.

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by parents, Erickson said. Sports that generally cost more to the district, such as gymnastics or hockey, would have a surcharge attached to their activity fee. “It’s cost-neutral,� Erickson said. “It requires each sport to evaluate their costs.� See Reprieve, 4A

State law requires requests for government data be complied “in an appropriate and prompt manner.� A copy of the report is now being reviewed by the 2011 school board, which includes three new members, to determine if further consideration of its full findings are warranted.

Report ďŹ ndings According a district employee whose name is removed from the report, information requested by “Mr. Burke and his croniesâ€? was “intentionally delayed because they are not certain what he will do with it and to whom he will send the information.â€? When information was delayed, Burke’s requests allegedly escalated and he verbally harassed staff to the point of intimidation. The district began some monitoring of Burke’s communications, according to the report. A staff member said Burke’s district e-mail account was reviewed, and district principals were told to be careful about talking to Burke. School principals’ phone call records were See Conflict, 8A

Wicklund reaches the end of the Appalachian Trail Lakeville man completed the 2,178-mile hike on Dec. 19 by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Well, he did it. The last time Thisweek spoke with Freeman Wicklund of Lakeville, he was less than a week away from completing a 2,178-mile hike along the Appalachian Trail, which extends from Georgia to Maine. He said in the original Thisweek story that he anticipated a Dec. 20 finish. So people have wondered: Did he make it? Wicklund finished a day earlier, nine months to the day after the start of his trek. Friends whom he had met in Kent, Conn., held a party for him to celebrate. “It was fantastic to see several of my friends in Kent and several hiking friends who came to celebrate my completion of the hike,� Freeman said. “We had a big vegan dinner. I am vegan, so that was really appreciated.� The party, hosted by Dick and Charlotte Lindsey, with whom Wicklund stayed for a handful of weeks while he recovered from a foot injury, was a special experience for Wicklund. “We told trail stories and had a wonderful time,� he said. The Lindseys gave him

Photo by Aaron Vehling

Freeman Wicklund of Lakeville recently completed a hike along the entirety of the Appalachian Trail, which extends from Georgia to Maine. a large Appalachian Trail poster that everyone at the party signed. They also gave him a Kent-made, hand-crafted watering can in the shape of a bird. It was “such an awesome finish to a great adventure,� Wicklund said. Since arriving home, he’s had a renewed focus on personal sustainability – the type of resilience and creative perseverance on which he had to rely while hiking alone through long forested expanses and isolated mountain peaks. Wicklund said he has been growing sprouts, planning an organic garden, harvesting and preparing wild edibles, utilizing public transit to end his personal car use, and

“going through all my stuff, paring down my possessions so I can live more simply.� Wicklund said that when he gets more settled he will start “paying forward all of the kindness and love that helped me along during my hike.� He wants to help people by building sustainable homes and growing organic gardens. “The trip was a wonderful experience,� Wicklund said. “It opened my eyes to new possibilities and ways of living that I am looking forward to exploring in the coming days and years ahead.� E-mail Aaron Vehling at aaron. vehling@ecm-inc.com.

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