Thisweek Farmington and Lakeville

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Live, from Chicago, comedy comes to Burnsville on Saturday night. See Thisweekend Page 8A.

A NEWS OPINION SPORTS

Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville APRIL 29, 2011

VOLUME 32, NO. 9

www.thisweeklive.com

Opinion/4A

Announcements/6A

Sports/7A

Mother’s Day/9A

Classifieds/10A

Public Notices/15A

Despite challenges, things are getting better Lakeville Mayor Mark Bellows delivered his State of the City address April 27 by Aaron Vehling

“It’s not what happens but how you respond to it,� Bellows Lakeville is a different place said. “The city has a history of than it has been: its people are meeting challenges.� getting older and having fewer children, the community is A toolbox of incentives Some of the businesses that weathering some tough economic times and doing more on less. have survived the recession are Growth is not what it used seeing light at the end of the tunto be, but the city is addressing nel, he said. For example, Overthese challenges through a series bye Transport is expanding into of reforms, incentives and real- a site left vacant by the shuttering of 84 Lumber. ity checks. Gander Mountain and MaltMayor Mark Bellows spoke on these themes on Wednesday, O-Meal are expanding their sites April 27, at his State of the City as well. Both companies will add address to Chamber of Com- dozens of jobs, Bellows said. For its part, the city is looking merce members at Crystal Lake at ways to connect with residents Golf Course. The challenges are legion: and businesses owners alike. One is to streamline approvlayoffs, unemployment, lower tax receipts and lower median al of development projects, he property values, the latter having said. This includes a single-famdropped 7.5 percent since 2009. ily zoning district that will allow THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

approval of smaller lots. “This decision was made based on feedback from developers,� Bellows said. To further gauge developer opinion, Bellows said, the city will hold a developers’ summit in June. To cut down on the cost of government, the city has reduced its workforce by 10 percent over the last few years, Bellows said. This includes the reduction of 18 full-time staff members. Despite this, he said, the city has been able to maintain quality public services. Another solution the city has to foster economic growth is a Photo by Aaron Vehling “toolbox of incentives,� which is Lakeville Mayor Mark Bellows part of the city’s three-year ecogave his State of the City address nomic development plan. at a Chamber of Commerce The plan will help the city luncheon at Crystal Lake Golf “to retain existing and attract Course on Wednesday, April 27. new business, as well as help fa-

cilitate the expansion of existing businesses,� Bellows said. “Our EDC (Economic Development Commission) is just some of the sharpest people in the community.� The EDC is also forming a marketing subcommittee this summer, Bellows said, to formulate a business marketing strategy. It is currently accepting bids for consultants. Bellows said that as Lakeville changes – as it gets more diverse, older and more streamlined – the city council wants to encourage community participation. “Our underlying strength,� he said, “is our greatest resource: the businesses and residents of Lakeville.� Vehling is at aaron.vehling@ecm-inc. com or www.facebook.com/thisweeklive

A rabbit performance Lakeville police to get reprieve Without administrative help, it takes the department seven to 10 days to turn around reports by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Photo by Rick Orndorf

“The Velveteen Rabbit� is Lakeville North High School’s latest dramatic performance. Showing this weekend and next weekend, “Rabbit� is a tale about a toy rabbit who wants nothing more in life than to be real. Find more photos on our website at www.thisweeklive.com.

Police officers in Lakeville could be spending quite a bit less time at the desk and more time in the streets. Restoration of the police records technician position, which the council had voted to eliminate in 2009, has been controversial, largely because of City Council Member Matt Little’s attempt to donate half his council salary toward the position. The $4,000 Little had pledged still meant $24,000 would need to come from the general fund. However, thanks to some creativity from leaders in the police department, officers will get some reprieve after all. Even though the council voted against Little’s donation, the reality is it

had already set aside the $24,000 during budget adjustments last month. In addition, the position was included in the budget for 2012. But to utilize the existing $24,000 and save money overall on benefits, Police Chief Thomas Vonhof suggested at a recent council work session that the city hire two 24-hour, part-time positions on a staggered timeline. The first would start in July with the second sometime in the fall, he said. The move would not only free up the police to carry out their enforcement efforts in the field, Vonhof said, but would also allow for weekend service at the front office of the police station. Vonhof did not initially request the positions to start this year. Little brought it up in the context of his donation and

his campaign focus on public safety. But the need is indeed there. Vonhof said that when the police records tech position was cut a few years ago, the department went from a 24-hour turnaround on reports to seven to 10 days. “Our business is about having the right people and the right information at the right time,� he said. “If reports are sitting in the queue waiting to be typed, cases are not being solved.� Vonhof said much of the reports technician’s duties involve what are called “evidentiary statements.� The would come from interviews with people involved or related to crimes. “These are for admission in courts,� he said. “That’s pretty important.� See Police, 16A

Economy rough on pets in need, Tensions surface at 192 School Board retreat organization trying to help them Members set goals, addressed concerns by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Tensions among Farmington School Board members surfaced at an April 20 retreat as members acknowledged challenges they face working together. Identifying themselves as a public body in conflict, board members are in a “stormy� period, as defined by Katie Klanderud, the Minnesota School Board Association’s director of board development, who facilitated the meeting. Board members expressed their desire to work as a cohesive team, but tension was thick at times as they shared frustrations about past board actions, perceptions some have developed and working with each other. Board Member Julie Singewald voiced frustrations that the newest mem-

bers, including Chair Tera Lee, all have officer positions while she and Board Member Julie McKnight, both incumbents, do not. Singewald, who was nominated by McKnight for chair in January but received no board support, said she was “blind-sided� after that vote. She accused the new board members of collaborating about board decisions in violation of Minnesota’s open meeting law. New board members resolutely denied violations, with Board Member Brian Treakle explaining that discussions were held after new members were elected, but had not yet taken the oath of office. Several members also appeared to agree that recent e-mails sent as “reply all� by Board Member See Retreat, 16A

Last Hope garage sale set, donations sought by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Farmington-based animal rescue organization Last Hope has been turning away as many dogs and cats as it takes in since the Minnesota Valley Humane Society closed Dec. 31. “We are constantly getting calls from people who have 11- and 12-year-old animals. There’s no way we can place them‌Minnesota Valley (Humane Society) would probably have taken them,â€? said Last Hope President Bev Orr. Last Hope, a 26-year-old nonprofit, relies on about 80 volunteers to provide foster care in their homes for dogs, puppies, kittens and cats until the pets are adopted; the need is great, and they are always looking for more foster homes. Since Last Hope’s founding, it has placed 38,000 pets, but Orr said the economy is making it increasingly difficult to place animals and they are turning needy animals away because foster homes are full. “I don’t know what’s happening to those animals,â€? Orr said. While the need is increasing, adoptions are slowing. Last Hope adoptions dropped from about 1,500 in 2009 to 1,375 last year. This year, it is proving most challenging to find homes See Pets, 6A

Photo by Laura Adelmann

Last Hope volunteer Bev Pogalz holds Brody, a Chihuahua she fostered through Last Hope. Brody was adopted during a Saturday adoption day at the Apple Valley Petco, and she is preparing for her next canine in need, a doxie.

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