Ballet Royale is bringing the work of three local visual artists to life in a Feb. 11 show at the Lakeville Area Arts Center. See Thisweekend Page 14A
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville FEBRUARY 11, 2011 VOLUME 31, NO. 50
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Lakeville’s Kirkpatrick was Energy Hog visits schools a ‘renaissance statesman’ Former human rights commissioner, substitute teacher inspired many in the community by Aaron Vehling
and how he touched all of our lives.� L i n d s a y On Jan. 30, Kauchick, a neighLakeville lost a man bor and close friend who many consider of the family, dedia father figure, a cated an essay for coach, a pillar of school to James. She the community and was at the house that a man of immense final day. She wrote integrity. that she had been He helped young in denial about the people enjoy math, illness of the man inspired them to exshe considered her cel in soccer, took on second father. She tough equal rights thought the doctors issues in Minnesota, would cure him. served in the Army “I began to take on multiple contihis illness really hard nents and organized and I just could not Caribbean cruises understand why for dozens of his something like this closest friends. Photo submitted would ever hapJames Kirkpatrick III, 58, died in James Kirkpatrick III of Lakeville was pen to someone his Orchard Lake a substitute teacher, career Army major, so young, espehome with 30 fam- commissioner of human rights and, accord- cially when his first ily members and ing to several people in the community, an grandchild was on inspiration. the way,� Kauchick friends at his side. wrote. “When his fiHis son and sonsin-law carried him downstairs slowly as the nal days had arrived, all of his friends and whole house broke into song. As the Cre- family gathered around him praying for mation Society came to get James, the sun peace and comfort over his almost lifeless crept up over the horizon as if to serve as body. I cried more than I had ever cried beboth an act of assurance to the bereaved fore.� Before he succumbed to cancer, James’ and as a welcome mat for the man who some refer to as a “renaissance statesman.� life fit several chapters: Minnesota human “It was beautiful,� said Wanda Kirkpat- rights commissioner, administrator for forrick, James’ wife of 34 years and the direc- mer Attorney General Skip Humphrey, 20tor of diversity and equal opportunity for year Army veteran, substitute teacher in the Metropolitan Council. “The rest of the District 194, father, soccer coach, founder day we talked about how wonderful he was See Kirkpatrick, 6A THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photos by Rick Orndorf
Farmington school children celebrated Energy Week Feb. 7 -11 by visits from ‘Energy Hog,’ who taught about the importance of reducing energy waste at home and at school. Farmington Elementary first-grade teacher Maureen Hudak (above, right) displays her cash savings for answering all her energy questions correctly during a Schools for Energy Efficiency assembly Feb. 8. SEE coordinator Anne Anderson (center) was the game show host and Farmington Elementary principal Ben Januschka was the other contestant. Farmington students and staff have reduced electrical use by 8 percent district-wide, resulting in an estimated $192,486 in avoided costs. Four district buildings have collected the ENERGY STAR label including Farmington High School, Levi P. Dodge Middle School, and Akin Road and North Trail elementary schools. For more photos, go to ThisweekLive.com.
194 Board approves budget cuts
Board votes on fees for saved programs
Some industrial tech, music positions saved but overall fine arts take a hit by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The elimination of fifth-grade band and elementary art specialists, but the salvaging of a middle school industrial tech and a band position, are among the characteristics of the Lakeville School District’s approved budget-adjustment plan. After a month of a dozen or so meetings, the Lakev-
ille School Board approved its $15.8 million budgetadjustment plan at its Feb. 8 meeting. Almost 100 positions will be cut, affecting the staffing of co-curricular activities and athletics and enlarging class sizes at most levels. About $2 million in federal Jobs Fund money will save 17 positions in K-2 classes so the number of students per class in those
grades will stay at 24 for K-1 and 28 for second grade. Plans for the closing of an elementary school began last week. On March 8, the board is expected to vote to close and repurpose an existing building. “This is a very tough situation,� said Board Chairwoman Judy Keliher. “We’re in our ninth and 10th years of budget cuts and what we must do is continue to pro-
vide quality education for our students.� Keliher said Lakeville is the 10th largest school district in the state but 43rd out of 48th in spending per pupil. “We have a great school system for the dollars we invest,� she said. The cuts total $6.8 million for the 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 school years. The See 194, 7A
by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
So here we are. The Lakeville School Board has come to an agreement over a fee structure that would save high school athletics and activities slated for elimination under a Jan. 5 budget proposal. The decision came at the last minute during the Board’s final budget adjustment work session Thursday, Feb. 3. In previous weeks, the Board announced it was looking at tentative plans for keeping many of the See Programs, 12A
City depletes 2011 contingency Farmington city employees donate off to colleague in need funds for firefighters’ pension time Mike Nibbe continues his fight against cancer Council seeks to reduce city’s 2012 pension obligation
by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Seven weeks into 2011, Farmington’s $45,841 contingency fund balance for the year has been spent. That money, as well as another $5,697 of the city’s approximate $2 million fund balance, will help cover investment losses in the firefighter’s pension fund. After Farmington officials passed a budget with $131,175 for the 2011 pension fund contribution, the state found a calculation error in December that increased the obligation to $187,713. Because council members ratified the Fire Relief Association’s lumpsum benefit level, the city
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is legally obligated to the contribution amount. “We recognize the error does not remove the penalty from us to pay it,� Farmington City Administrator Peter Herlofsky said. Because the city’s accounting firm, Kern DeWenter, Viere Ltd., was responsible for submitting the form with the incorrect figure, KDV paid $5,000 for interest on the additional obligation and time spent trying to resolve the issue. During and after Monday’s meeting, elected city officials cited concerns about the sudden budget hit. In an interview, Mayor Todd Larson said he just learned about the situa-
tion last week and said his first thought was “here we go again.â€? At the meeting, City Council Member Christy Jo Fogarty said the city has had to pay more out of its budget to cover this obligation in the past, and they need to meet with the Firefighter’s Relief Board to negotiate reductions. “This is becoming a habitual debt for the city,â€? Fogarty said. “It’s really tough on our budget. ‌ I just want to find a way to approach the fire department to see what we can do to ensure that this doesn’t happen again in 2012, because frankly we can’t afford it.â€? The city contributed about $70,000 to the fund See Pension, 12A
by Laura Adelmann
Photo by Laura Adelmann
Mike Nibbe, a 24-year city employee, struggles daily in his two-year fight against terminal cancer. He said he considers colleagues family members for all the support they give him. It took only a few hours for employees to donate enough of their paid time off to Mike to reach the six-month maximum. He uses the time to recover between treatments.
THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Despite facing their own economic pressures, Farmington city employees have donated six months of their paid time off, the maximum time allowed, to help a colleague battling for his life. Blinking back tears, Mike Nibbe, 45, described the depth of what his colleagues’ support has meant to him as he struggles to stay strong in his continuing battle with terminal colorectal cancer. “Ever since I walked through these (ice arena) doors, I was accepted as one of their own,� said Nibbe, a Red Wing resident and 24year Farmington Ice Arena employee. “They are my second family.� The hockey-loving husband and father of three
said he was shocked with his cancer diagnosis two years ago, which came after he had stopped by a dropin clinic for what he thought were minor symptoms. But instead of receiving a quick prescription, he and his wife, Tanya Nibbe, found themselves in an emergency room, where a doctor told the stunned couple he had
incurable, Stage 4 cancer and had only two months to live. “They told us from day one ‌ you can get rid of the tumors, but they come back bigger, stronger and meaner. They actually learn to enjoy the chemo you give them. That’s why we’re out of options,â€? Tanya said. See Employees, 7A
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