Two area high school grads’ musical journey brings them back home for Burnsville’s Art & All That Jazz fest. See Thisweekend Page 7A
Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville AUGUST 12, 2011
VOLUME 32, NO. 24
A NEWS OPINION SPORTS
www.thisweeklive.com
Messages/2A
Opinion/4A
Announcements/6A
Public Notices/6A
Classifieds/8A
Sports/12A
An upending of Dakota County the status quo Fair kicks off
Lakeville Finance Committee closer to reality
District 194 superintendent’s contract has no severance, retirement health benefits by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
In the words of a Minnesota native son, Bob Dylan, “The times they are a-changin’ � in Lakeville public schools. W h e n fo r m e r L a kev i l l e superintendent Gary Lisa A m o r o s o Snyder left the school district July 1 to head WHAT DO the Minne- YOU THINK? sota Asso- Comment on ciation of this story at School Ad- thisweeklive.com ministrators, his contract provided him with about $360,000 in the form of severance, sick leave and 10 years of health and dental insurance. But that was the swansong of such benefits. Incoming superintendent Lisa Snyder and the School Board have negotiated a contract that lacks provisions for retirement health insurance and severance. As for sick leave, Snyder accrues it but cannot take it with her if she leaves the district. The board approved the contract at its meeting Aug. 9. “I believe this is a wonderful contract,� said Board Chair Judy Keliher. “It was a really collaborative effort. I was pleased with it.�
Changes There are other changes to the three-year contract. Whereas Amoroso earned $191,000 a year by the time he left the school district, Snyder will enter it earning $169,500 (or $148,000 pro-rated for the 10-and-a-half months she will actually be working in
this fiscal year). This is still a pay rise from her former position in Merrill, Wis., where she earned $144,000, but is a significant drop from Amoroso’s salary. In the 2012-2013 school year, her salary would increase to $175,000 and in 2013-2014 it would go up to $180,000. There is still a provision for performancebased compensation, but a number has not yet been determined, said Board Member Bob Erickson. He added that the board wants to work with her for some months in order to better determine a baseline on which to judge the performance. Amoroso’s contract called for performance pay to be a percentage of his salary (or about $5,000 a year). Another difference is that Snyder will be required to have an annual physical examination. This is to encourage wellness, said Director of Administrative Services Tony Massaros. The results of the physical would not need to be shared with the board, he added. The retirement plan (known as a “401k� in the private sector and a “403b� in the public schools) has changed as well. Under Amoroso’s contract, the district matched up to $2,000 in annual contributions. Under Snyder’s that number goes up to $8,500. Erickson said he and Keliher, along with Massaros, were the primary negotiators of the contract. School Exec Connect, the district’s search consultant, wanted to be involved in the process, See Status Quo, 14A
Eight men chosen to advise Lakeville on planning and policy issues by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
Photos by Rick Orndorf
Aria Stiles plays her violin in the 4-H Share the Fun, Performing Arts, Clowning and Communication Contest at the 4-H Arts Stage on Tuesday at the Dakota C o u n t y Fair. Laura Stiles (at PHOTOS ONLINE right) from For more photos Chub Lake from the Dakota B e a v e r s County Fair, go to receives her thisweeklive.com ribbon at the 4-H Dairy Cows judging at the fair on Tuesday. The fair continues through Sunday, Aug. 14.
Farmington graduate is national law enforcement program leader by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
General 952-894-1111 Distribution 952-846-2070 Display Advertising 952-846-2011 Classified Advertising 952-846-2000
Trevor Ausen does exactly that,� Ausen said. While at the academy, Ausen attended lectures, took tours and participated in drills. “My time at the academy was one of the greatest weeks of my life and definitely one of the greatest trips that I have been on,� he said.
Ausen joined Burnsville’s law enforcement explorer post program in 2007 and when budget cuts closed the program in 2009, he joined the Minnesota State Patrol Explorers program. This spring, he was elected the youth representative for the Minnesota Law Enforcement Explorer Association, and is entering his sophomore year at St. Thomas University this fall. He is working toward a degree in criminal justice and a minor in German. After college, Ausen hopes to become a police officer and work his way up to a national agency. “Since attending the academy I am leaning towards the FBI,� Ausen said. Laura Adelmann is at dceditor@frontiernet.net.
Rosemount business moves to Lakeville Relocation triples the building size for the design/build cabinet and millwork shop by Tad Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS
JD Woodcraft, a business that used to occupy a 12,000-square-foot space in Rosemount, has completed its move to a 27,000-square-foot building in Lakeville. The design/build cabinet and millwork shop for both residential and commercial customers previously was located at 2605 160th St. in Rosemount for the past five years. It takes over the former Perma Groove building at 21044 Heron Way in Lakeville. Owner Jason Davenport said the business had been looking for a new space for about the past three years; everything from building new to existing space in the south metro. It executed a purchase agreement for the property about three months ago. A month worth of planning went into the move that took about two weeks to complete. “It was looking too big, but it ended up being just right,� Davenport said. “Along the way of doing our space layout we realized how much we really needed.� The move allowed the company to add millwork machines and expand its finishing and machining areas, See JD Woodcraft, 14A
ďż˝
A 2010 Farmington High School graduate has earned a leadership role in a national law enforcement program held in Washington, D.C., this summer. Trevor Ausen, 19, was chosen as an Academy Leader and received a special commendation for leading his team in bomb threat response during the July FBI National Law Enforcement Explorer Leadership Academy. Ausen, who earned his Eagle Scout rank in 2006, grew interested in a law enforcement career because he wanted a job where he could help people. “Ever since I was a Cub Scout, I have always enjoyed helping people and being a positive influence and role model. Being a police officer is a job that
Formation of citizens’ Finance Committee is coming along. The Lakeville City Council and city staff have appointed eight men (seven active and one alternate) to serve on what will be Mark a group that Bellows will offer advice on financial planning, policy and practices. The committee’s recommendations to the council will include: • Short- and long-term financial planning, • Local, state and national trends in finance and the economy. • Legislative issues, including levy limits and property tax relief programs, • Review of quarterly financial reports and comprehensive annual financial report. The committee is an idea that has been brewing for awhile. Some local business owners, along with Mayor Mark Bellows, saw the success of the Lakeville school district’s own financial advisory committee and wanted to emulate that at the city government level. Bellows has said that the committee will help business owners in the community feel confident in local government. “Part of the outcome is to save tax dollars,â€? Bellows said at a work session in June. Council Member Matt Little has opposed the formation of the committee. He argues that the creation of another layer of government is unnecessary. “What we’d be tasking them to do is what we’re supposed to do,â€? Little said. “We’re elected to cut the budget.â€?
Experience Here are the members, who have a variety of expertise and experience. Douglas Anderson – Experienced finance executive, Anderson has been a Lakeville resident for 24 years and is chief financial officer for Hamline University. Ben Coons – Offers 20 years of business experience in communications, sales and service. Coons is a resident of Prior Lake and is the owner of Advanced Wireless (in Lakeville). Scott Einck – MBA from Drake University with experience in portfolio management, Einck has been a Lakeville resident for eight years and works for Wells See Committee, 14A
ďż˝ ďż˝ ďż˝
ďż˝ ďż˝ ďż˝ ďż˝ ! " # ! " # $ %& '
&
!""'! !
$
$% & ' ! ' ( " )
$% ( & )* ďż˝
" *