Thisweek Farmington and Lakeville

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A local historian has uncovered a hidden chapter of Rosemount’s past. See Thisweekend Page 9A.

A NEWS OPINION SPORTS

Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville OCTOBER 8, 2010

VOLUME 31, NO. 32

www.thisweeklive.com

Opinion/6A

Announcements/7A

Public Notices/8A

Puzzle Page/10A

Classifieds/13A

Sports/17A

Farmington Council delays staff-cutting budget option Development dive takes city budget along for a ride by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Anxiety-ridden Farmington City Council members on Oct. 4 delayed a staff-cutting decision for further debate at the Monday budget workshop. Several council members said they have lost sleep over the significance of determining ways to shave about $400,000 from the 2011 budget and a proposal to cut one or two management positions in that effort. Cuts are needed primarily because $534,091 in bond payments are due on a $5.5 million bond that built Vermillion River Crossing infrastructure in 2006, just before the real estate market collapsed. Plans were for the escalating payments to be met through commercial development expected at the site, including hotels and retail shops. But the actual development that occurred consisted of few buildings, including McDonald’s and a medical clinic. According to the bond terms, if funds generated by development were insufficient, as they have been, the city must use all available funds and/or raise taxes as much as required to cover the payments.

During the meeting, Mayor Todd Larson said everyone thought former Finance Director Robin Roland had a plan to pay for the bonds, but discovered after she left that was not true. And, according to Finance Director Teresa Walters, the city’s total debt is

about $40 million. Considering the city’s position regarding the bonds, Council Member Julie May said tax increases and cuts are likely; for 2011 the city has planned a 3.73 percent levy increase, totalling about $9.1 million. A final decision will be See Budget, 5A

Citizens, City Council candidates quiz city officials, board Concerns include budget, seal coating by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Farmington City Council members were peppered with tough questions by city council candidates and others during public comment period, Oct. 4. City Council candidates Dave Pritzlaff and Jerry Ristow, both former board members, and in Ristow’s case also a former mayor, were joined by several business owners in questioning a variety of city spending and budget decisions. Collin Garvey, a concrete contractor, cited concerns about city discussions to raise $400,000 annually by

charging properties franchise fees on utilities to cover seal coating projects. Previosuly, the city would assess half the cost to property owners and the other half came out of the city’s road and bridge fund. Now that fund has been depleated. Garvey questioned why the city needed so much money when the most the city ever spent on seal coating in a year was about $200,000. “We’ve never had $400,000 in seal coating done in this town,� he said, calling the figure toally erroneous. See Quiz, 5A

Unofficial ‘queen’ of Lakeville, Charolette Vucinovich, dies Charolette helped found Lakeville Lionesses, community’s Boy and Girl Scout programs by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

During Charolette Vucinovich’s Oct. 2 funeral, a group of women from Lakeville’s VFW Post shared a story that made her son, Brian, laugh. A few years ago, the ladies were working with Charolette at a Special Olympics event at one of Lakeville’s parks, Brian recalled of the story.

“A p p a r ently, one of the kids, he was dejected. He hadn’t done so well in what he Charolette c o m p e t e d Vucinovich in,� Brian, 58, said. “Well, these ladies described how Mom gave him this big hug. Told him he had done great. Well,

another kid that also didn’t do so well had seen this big hug, so he walked up to Charolette and got his hug. All of a sudden, there was a line of 10 kids looking to get hugs.� And that, Brian said, illustrates one of Charolette’s lasting legacies. “She was always smiling and always giving out love,� he said. “She never See Vucinovich, 5A

Photo submitted

Members of the Lakeville Friends of the Environment at last year’s Pedal the Parks event.

Will Steger, Pedal the Parks help showcase environment Lakeville Friends of the Environment hosts second annual Pedal the Parks to highlight Casperson Park by Derrick Williams THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

In 2007, a group of residents teamed up to form the Lakeville Friends of the Environment. And while many of the 25 or so residents that form the group have concerns about the environment, their mission is much more simple than dealing with global warming and carbon emissions. “We’re interested in preserving and improving the quality of the environment right here in Lakeville,� said Debbie Nelson, one of the group’s founding members. “Individually, we’re concerned about the big picture, I’m sure, but as a group we center our thoughts on Lakeville.� From cleaning North Creek near North Park to storm drain stenciling to providing toxic toy testing during an annual event, Nelson, 54, said the group does what it can to keep Lakeville’s environment clean and beautiful. “We love Lakeville and love the environment. It’s not really a political thing,� she said. And Nelson said you can’t think about the environment in Lakeville without thinking about the community’s

parks and trails. “What we have here is wonderful and should be celebrated,� Nelson Will Steger said. That’s one of the chief reasons the group will be hosting the second annual Pedal the Parks event at 1 p.m. on Oct. 10 at Casperson Park. “We’re trying to showcase our parks. We want to celebrate our parks and trails,� said Nelson. “It’s also meant to bring awareness of the beauty around us and what we can do to maintain it and make it better.� And the group is generating some fanfare with the event. Noted Arctic explorer Will Steger will be guest speaking at the event. “He came and spoke for us at an event in 2007 and we had more than 600 people come,� Nelson said. In addition to Steger, there will be a three- and 10-mile bike ride through Casperson Park, bike safety checks, music and food. While the event is free, Nelson said a $10 per family donation is encouraged.

“We’re trying to raise some awareness about bikes as an alternative form of transportation,� Nelson said. “You can get there from here on a bike.� Nelson said Diane Craig, a local bike rider, will be speaking at the event to talk about how she uses her bike as a primary mode of transportation. Nelson said the event is designed to coincide with Oct. 10 (10-10-10) being a global day of environment action. “Almost 180 countries in the world have something going on,� Nelson said. “It’s great that we can participate in something that big here in our community.� Nelson said the Bike Alliance of Minnesota is a partner for the event. Participants are encouraged to arrive at Casperson Park, located at 19720 Juno Trail, at 1 p.m. to register for the ride. Steger will speak at 1:30 p.m. For more information, the Lakeville Friends of the Environment can be found on Facebook.com, or people can call (952) 250-3320. E-mail Derrick Williams at: lakeville.thisweek@ecm-inc. com

Lakeville ‘maverick’ to be featured in documentary Software consulting firm’s business model relies entirely on college students by Jessica Harper THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Martin Hebig may look like a typical computer geek, but he’s a true maverick who dares to sidestep the norm. The Lakeville resident built an entire business model around convincing Fortune 500 companies to trust college students with their software consulting. Maverick Software Consulting exclusively employs computer science students to test and develop software for its only client, Thomson Reuters in Eagan. “It’s rewarding to see how the job experience can change students’ lives,� Hebig said. This unique business model caught the attention of bestselling author and documentary filmmaker Robert Cringely, who will feature Maverick Software Consulting in his upcoming

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Photo by Jessica Harper

Martin Hebig, founder and president of Maverick Software Consulting, built his business model around the concept of hiring exclusively college students to provide IT consulting for its clients. To date, the company has one client – Thomson Reuters.

PBS documentary, “The Cringely 2010 (Not in Silicon Valley) Startup Tour.� The documentary features startup companies from across the nation and is scheduled to air in January. Cringely is the author of the best-selling book “Accidental Empires: How the Boys of Silicon Valley Make Their Millions, Battle Foreign Competition and Still Can’t Get a Date.� His work has also appeared in the New York Times, Newsweek, Forbes, and other magazines. On his blog, Cringely describes Maverick’s business model as “an amazing one ... — one that employs American programmers yet meets or beats the cost of using programmers in India or China.� Although Maverick Software Consulting has only one client, Hebig has successfully made his

company a profitable venture. The company is currently working on a deal to add a second client, Hebig said. Maverick currently has 80 students working out of four offices — three at University of Minnesota campuses and one at the University of WisconsinMadison. Each office generates about $1 million in annual revenue, Hebig said. Hebig describes the partnership as a win-win for both Thomson Reuters and the students. At $25 an hour, it provides Thomson Reuters with information technology services at a cheaper rate than offshore services charge. At the same time, it gives students the real-world experience that will give them a competitive edge in the job marSee Maverick, 5A

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