Thisweek Farmington and Lakeville

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The musical comedy ‘70, Girls, 70’ comes to the Lakeville Area Arts Center. See Thisweekend Page 5A

A NEWS OPINION SPORTS

Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville

Se Special issue is inside th

DECEMBER 10, 2010 VOLUME 31, NO. 41

www.thisweeklive.com

Lakeville Messages/2A

Opinion/4A

Puzzle Page/6A

Sports/7A

Announcements/12A

Classifieds/9A

Amid controversy, Humane Society will close Closing, failed capital campaign, brings grumbling about mismanagement by John Gessner THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Minnesota Valley Humane Society officials say a bad economy and rising costs are to blame for the closing of its Burnsville animal shelter on Dec. 31. Some volunteers suspect bad management has much to do with the closing, which comes after suspension of a failed capital campaign to raise money for a new site in Eagan. But the MVHS’s executive director says donations have eroded while the number of animals the organization has taken in has held steady or increased in recent years. “MVHS has been around for 30 years,� said Lynae Gieseke, who was a volunteer and MVHS board member before

being hired as executive director in 1998. “We’ve always lived very close to the edge. What does that tell you: Maybe the south metro area just doesn’t want to support a Humane Society and animal shelter.� The MVHS was founded in 1981 and established the shelter in Burnsville’s old City Hall building at 1313 E. Highway 13 in 1991. The organization has 15 employees and has placed more than 50,000 animals in homes over the last two decades. The MVHS says rising demand for services and rising health care and operational costs are competing with a falloff in donations. The organization gets about half its revenue from donations and the rest from adop-

tion and surrender fees, Gieseke said. “It’s the economy,� she said. “Smaller shelters like ours, they’re hurting. Even in good years, budgets are always tight. But now in the Great Recession, it’s even more pronounced. When you’ve gone through all your reserves, your savings and so forth, it’s a struggle to meet payroll.� The MVHS cut its budget from about $1 million in 2009 to $800,000 in 2010, she said. The shelter stopped sterilizing animals in October 2009, and last year it began closing its doors to the public on Mondays and Tuesdays. “I think they really have their hearts in the right place, but no business savvy,� said Kristin

Photo by Rick Orndorf

The Minnesota Valley Humane Society shelter in Burnsville has placed more than 50,000 animals since opening in 1991. The organization failed to raise enough money to move from its cramped, outdated Burnsville site to a new building in Eagan. Heidberg of Minneapolis, a volunteer dog-walker at the shelter since 2002. “I think a lot of us

feel angry and frustrated and a little bitter� when MVHS ofSee MVHS, 3A

Holiday on Main saw large Lakeville to consider cuts Council takes business concerns into turnout despite the weather City account, offers to alter proposed budget Nearly a foot of snowfall did not stop people from attending the weekend event

by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Lakeville made national news for its nearly 12 inches of snow last weekend. In some other places, that could break an event. But not in Lakeville. Residents proved last Saturday, Dec. 4, that they are true die-hard Minnesotans with an excellent attendance at the downtown Holiday on Main celebration. The event, which featured Santa Claus, real reindeer, a horse-drawn trolley, carolers, shopping deals and more, had more than 1,000 attendees, said Judy Tschumper, director of the Downtown Lakeville Business Association, which sponsors and organizes the event. “It’s the biggest one (event) since I’ve been here,� she said, adding it was her fifth year involved in the annual event. Given the nature of the event, the snow served up an added dose of ambiance to an already idyllic wintry festival. People formed long lines awaiting an audience with Santa and Mrs. Claus and to ride the horsedrawn trolley down Holyoke Avenue. Tschumper said she heard from

Photo by Rick Orndorf

A horse-drawn trolley rides through downtown Lakeville during the Holiday on Main event on Saturday, Dec. 4. Nearly a foot of snow did not stop people from coming. downtown business owners that they saw increased business during the event. This is a stark comparison to Black Friday, she said. That day was fairly dead. Scott Erickson, owner of the Ben Franklin store, said he saw increased business. “It’s definitely a good promotion,� Erickson said. “We need Santa to come a couple times a year.� Tschumper said her favorite part of the event was the children.

School property taxes could increase slightly

“Seeing the children coming through all dressed up in cute little outfits,� she said, “that’s always fun to see.� She attributes the success of the event to all the dedicated people involved, the residents and the weather. “It was a beautiful day,� Tschumper said. “The setting was wonderful.� E-mail Aaron Vehling at aaron.vehling@ ecm-inc.com.

Farmington’s 2011 budget set; adminstrator to be laid off Levy increase reduced from 3.73 percent to 3.42 percent by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Rise would be about $27 for a median-priced home in Lakeville by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Lakeville school district residents could see a slight increase in property taxes next year. That is primarily because of an increase in debt payments related to general obligation bonds on facilities projects such as the construction of Lakeville South High School. At the Dec. 7 Truth in Taxation meeting, district business director Mark Klett said that for a median-priced home in Lakeville (about $250,000), taxes will increase General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000

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about 2.2 percent, or $27 a year. For a million-dollar business the increase is about $180, he said. Klett did not have numbers for residents in the Scott County portion of the district, but said he will look toward posting those on the district’s website. School finances in the state of Minnesota are a maze involving various individual funds, many of which are restricted in size and scope by state laws. The largest of District See Taxes, 14A

A couple dozen business owners turned out at the Lakeville City Council’s Truth in Taxation meeting on Monday, Dec. 6, and their message was unified: Business owners feel under siege and feel the city should tighten its belt. Though most of the city’s property owners are slated to see status quo or even slight reductions in their property taxes, businesses will see an increase because of state property taxes. After hearing some convincing testimonies, the City Council said it would consider another look at the budget to isolate areas where spending could be cut. Of the attendees, a handful of business owners offered opinions about the city’s proposed budget at the hearing. Lakeville business owner Grant Jacobson stood on the dais before the City Council and city staff. He told them that Lakeville is not business-friendly and that taxes on his business were too high. He implored the council and city staff to make cuts in the 2011-12 budget. “This is about residents working harder than ever, trying to make it in this economy,�

Jacobson said, adding the city needs to try doing more with less, too. Todd Bornhauser, executive director of the Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce, echoed that sentiment some. “This was an opportune time for the council to say ‘let’s re-evaluate the size and scope of city government,’� Bornhauser said. “Let’s talk about our core services – what truly is important, what truly is our mission.� He asked the council to consider something like a 3 to 5 percent cut “across the board.� “If you sense frustration from the business community, then rightfully so,� Bornhauser said. The proposed budget features no city tax levy increase, although businesses would see a property tax increase because of State General Property Tax and Fiscal Disparities increases. City Finance Director Dennis Feller said in a memo to the council that of a business’s total tax bill, the city’s portion is 14 percent. At the meeting, Feller explained what exactly the state’s Fiscal Disparities property tax is. About 31 percent of the See Budget, 14A

After months of tense negotiations, Farmington City Council members on Monday night adopted a 2011 budget that eliminates the position of administrative services director. Combined with other reductions, the change allowed council members to cut the levy by a total of $470,841, bringing the levy to $8.5 million. The city’s total 2011 budget will be $9.1 million, with $45,841 left in contingency funds for unexpected events or circumstances next year. Farmington Finance Director Teresa Walters said the budget covers all of the city’s debt payments for next year. With this budget, Farmington property owners next year will see a 3.42 percent property tax increase

on the city portion of their tax bills, instead of the preliminary 3.73 percent increase set in September. As a result, the levy means the average home, valued at $199,800, will be charged an additional $1.98 per month for city taxes, said Walters. Without the cut, the same homeowner would have been charged another $2.23 per month in property taxes for the city portion of their property tax bill. Keeping tax bills down has been the driving force of council members, while City Administrator Peter Herlofsky has worked to preserve city jobs. Since July, the council had asked him to cut a senior-level staff member, at one point recommending either the position of administrative services director, held by Lisa Shadick, or the economic develop-

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ment specialist position, held by Tina Hansmeier. In an interview Tuesday, Hansmeier called 2010 a really tough year. Shadick, who started with the city as an assistant liquor operations manager in 1996 and was promoted to administrative services director in 2002, declined to comment Tuesday morning. Human Resources Director Brenda Wendlandt said the city is reviewing how to distribute Shadick’s responsibilities to other staff members, a process that Herlofsky said would take time. Herlofsky said Tuesday that city workers are remaining professional and doing their jobs, but added, “I don’t think anybody’s happy about it.� Herlofsky did not elaborate See Levy, 12A


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