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See him, feel him. Chameleon Theatre Circle presents the rock musical ‘Tommy’ in Burnsville. See Thisweekend Page 9A
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville
this issu
MAY 13, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 11
www.thisweeklive.com
Messages/2A
Opinion/4A
Announcements/10A
Public Notices/10A
Sports/11A
Classifieds/12A
Plan set for hiring new ISD 192 superintendent Board expects district leader to begin July 1 by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
The right place at the right time Lakeville Area Arts Center celebrates 10 years as downtown cultural hub by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
From Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London to the Walker Arts Center and Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis, centers for the arts have offered people a connection to a greater meaning outside themselves. In Lakeville in the late 1990s and early 2000s, groups from all over the community came together to fund, design and create such a place at a site that was as
much sacred as it was the center of artistic expression. This year, a decade after the official opening of the Lakeville Area Arts Center at the former All Saints Catholic Church, the city celebrates an experiment in community action that has yielded many rewards. It was a perfect storm: There was a more robust economy, a growing population of people willing to donate time, energy See Arts, 8A
Photo by Rick Orndorf
More than 2,000 residents flock to the Lakeville Area Arts Center grounds each year for the Rotary’s Taste of Lakeville food and wine celebration, which was held Thursday, May 11. The LAAC, which hosts many different types of events, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.
Meeting with search consultant Ken LaCroix on May 9, Farmington School Board members defined an aggressive timeline to find the district’s next superintendent and set the position’s pay range between $170,000 and $180,000. The board agreed to a candidate interview process that involves district staff and community members, with an anticipated start date of July 1 for the new district leader. Under Superintendent Brad Meeks’ separation agreement, signed Feb. 28, Meeks can remain in the district until Aug. 31 to help train the new superintendent, although he could leave earlier if he chooses. At the meeting, board members described their ideal superintendent candidate as an experienced visionary leader who is passionate about education. They are also looking for a charismatic, strong communicator who can help heal the community and make sure all sides are
Photo by Laura Adelmann
Consultant Ken LaCroix worked with Farmington School Board members May 9 to set the superintendent search process. heard. LaCroix will also meet with teaching, administrative and support staff to discuss the process and ask for their opinions regarding attributes desired in a new superintendent. Two community forums will be held – May 23 at 5:30 p.m. and May 24 at 6:30 p.m. – to inform the public about the process and allow people to present the characteristics they would like to See Hiring, 8A
Cleaning up Lakeville
Plan adds house district to local area Senate district proposed containing portions of Burnsville, Lakeville and Savage by T.W. Budig ECM CAPITOL REPORTER
The state House on May 6 passed its legislative redistricting plan on a 69-to-58 vote, with lawmakers in the House alcoves and retiring room studying maps of the 201 redrawn legislative districts. The plan would give the cities in Thisweek Newspapers’ coverage area one more state representative, squeezing it into a full senate district for Burnsville and portions of Lakeville and Savage. Burnsville’s House District 40A is currently paired with 40B in Bloomington to the north. The plan divides Lakeville in a new way.
corner is in 36B. The new plan puts a IN BRIEF northcentral portion of Lakeville in a district with To view the proBurnsville, which has tendposed redistricting ed to lean more Democratic map, go online to www. in past elections than the ThisweekLive.com. rest of Dakota County. In related news, the Another northeast porHouse Redistricting tion of Lakeville is attached Committee congresto a house district with sional redistricting map Apple Valley, which would released Monday, May drop a portion of southern 9, still showed the 2nd Burnsville that is in the curDistrict containing all of rent 37A. Dakota County. The rest of the map has The 2nd District is some changes for Eagan, currently represented by Rosemount and FarmingU.S. Rep. John Kline, Rton. Lakeville. Eagan will comprise most of a new senate district Currently most of with two house districts as it Lakeville is in House Dis- does currently. trict 36A, while a southeast Apple Valley and Rose-
mount will share a senate district, with the east portion of Apple Valley remaining in a house district with Rosemount. Farmington and the rural areas to its south and east will remain in a house district that is part of a senate district with most of Lakeville. The question whether the courts, rather than lawmakers, ultimately will redraw the state’s political map necessitated by the U.S. Census remains open with some lawmakers. House Tax Committee Chairman Greg Davids, RPreston, while endorsing the efforts of the redistricting committee, said redisSee District, 16A
Photo submitted
These Lakeville Boy Scouts were the last left standing of the 22 scouts and 11 adults who cleaned nine miles of the Progressive Rail line from 185th Street to Holyoke Avenue and County Road 70 over the course of seven hours on Saturday, May 7. They cleaned an additional four miles of roadway from the intersection of Holyoke Avenue and County Road 70 to the intersection of Highview and 175th Street. Those pictured are, front row, left to right: Taylor Courteau-Andrews, Cody Simmons, Devon Lausche and Robbie Crevoiserat. Back: Deon Lausche and Brian Crevoiserat. Dave Fellon of Progressive Rail and Lakeville Environmental Resources Specialist Ann Messerschmidt helped the scouts with their cleanup efforts.
Local officials join to celebrate groundbreaking of senior housing Building expected to open this fall by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Local officials joined in Farmington on May 4 to kick off development of Vermillion River Crossing, a $6.5 million, 66-unit, 77,020-square-foot senior housing complex expected to open this fall. Construction for the project, located on Duschane Parkway south of County Road 50 and west of Denmark Avenue, is to begin at the end of this month. A project of the Dakota County Community Development Agency, Vermillion River Crossing will include 32 one-bedroom units and
34 two-bedroom units. The building will feature underground heated parking, a community room with a kitchen, fitness room, club room and a screened porch. Units will be equipped with air conditioning, appliances and emergency response systems. Under its smoke-free designation, no smoking will be permitted anywhere inside or outside of the building or on the building grounds. This is the Dakota County Community Development Agency’s first affordable senior housing
have applied for housing. “I’m so excited about this project,� said Farmington Mayor Todd Larson, adding that he anticipates it spur more development in the area. Council Member Jason Bartholomay, Farmington Economic Development Authority chair, agreed and called the senior housing building “hugely important.� “I think this is going to spur our economic development and show our comcation deadline is June 30. Among those attending mitment to seniors as well,� were Dakota County com- Bartholomay said. project in Farmington. ing (651) 675-4440. All ap- missioners, Farmington Seniors ages 55 and up plications will be placed into City Council members and Laura Adelmann is at laura. are invited to apply by call- a lottery drawing; the appli- senior citizens, some who adelmann@ecm-inc.com. Photo by Laura Adelmann
At the Vermillion River Crossing groundbreaking ceremony were, from left, Farmington Mayor Todd Larson, City Council Member Christy Jo Fogarty, Dakota County Board Chair Joe Harris, Dakota County commissioners Will Branning, Kathleen Gaylord and Tom Egan, who also serves as chair of the Dakota County Economic Development Agency.
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