Farmington and Lakeville: Thisweek Newspapers

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A NEWS OPINION SPORTS

Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville OCTOBER 21, 2011

VOLUME 32, NO. 34

www.thisweeklive.com

Messages/2A

Opinion/4A

Announcements/5A

Public Notices/6A

Classifieds/10A

Sports/13A

CDA townhomes in Lakeville hit opposition Landowner calls proposed development ‘junk housing’ in lawsuit by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Are county-subsidized townhomes an opportunity to provide affordable roofs over moderate-income-earners’ heads? Or are they “instant slums� as a landowner has described them? A parcel of land behind Lakeville 21 Theatre – on 205th Street and Keokuk Avenue – has become a landscape for this philosophical battle. The Dakota County Community Development Agency (CDA) seeks to develop a 35-unit family townhome development on that property, which is owned by Morgan Square LLC. The county’s CDA developments are private/

public partnerships. To date, the agency has 19 townhome developments all over the south metro, including four in Lakeville. The property near the theater is subject to a covenant created in 1997 by its original owner, Lakeville Land, which sold Morgan Square the parcels more than a decade ago so Morgan Square could build and sell owner-occupied townhomes. The covenant did not initially allow for the construction of townhomes (with wood frames and the like). Lakeville Land had aspirations for the property to become a vital commercial center, according to court records relating to a lawsuit between Lakeville Land of Wayzata and Morgan Square. But Lakeville Land allowed construction of townhomes in 2002, up to

American Legion files for bankruptcy

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Land behind Lakeville Theatre on 205th Street and Keokuk Avenue is the proposed site for new Dakota County-subsidized housing for moderate income families. It faces opposition from a neighboring landowner who says the development will reduce land value and create “instant slums.� 36 lots. lots was approved by the ‘Instant slums’ In 2009, the CDA’s plan Lakeville Planning ComHowever, in an April for housing on the empty mission and City Council. 2010 letter to the CDA,

Lakeville, senior center leader settle defamation suit

Wild appreciation for service, flag

Farmington club will remain open throughout reorganization process

City will pay Linda Walter $1,225 for legal fees she incurred

by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

The Farmington American Legion Clifford Larson Post 189 has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and is attempting to sell its building. According to bankruptcy filings, the American Legion estimated its total assets at $50,000 or less and liabilities of between $500,000 and $1 million. American Legion house committee secretary John Blowers said Highland Bank loaned the organization about $800,000 for repairs not covered by insurance after a 2008 fire. Although the club has paid off about $50,000 of the loan and is current on its payments, it was late filing financial documents, and so the bank has called the loan due. The bank notified the organization in June that it would take possession of the American Legion building and close it if the organization didn’t repay the loan in full by Oct. 17. In an emergency meeting Oct. 12, American Legion leaders agreed to seek protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy; seven of the members paid the $10,000 legal fees to do so. Blowers said Chapter 11 allows the club time for financial reorganization while keeping the club open and operational. He said employees will continue to be paid and the club will do business as usual. “This stops all proceedings against us. It gives us time to reorganize and get our finances in order,� Blowers said, adding the process can take six months to one year to complete, depending on what the court rules. The case began in federal court on Oct. 19. Blowers said that the members are what make up the American Legion organization, and it will continue to operate its community outreach programs and support no matter what happens to the building. “It’s like a church. The building is not the church. It’s the members who make the church,� he said. Laura Adelmann is at laura.adelmann@ecm-inc.com.

William Cooley, managing member of H&W Family LLLP, a Florida-based firm that owns Lakeville Land, wrote that Lakeville Land did not approve of the plans. “I cannot see how the City of Lakeville would allow these ‘instant slums’ to be constructed anywhere in their city,� Cooley wrote to Lori Zierden of the CDA. Cooley said in the letter that his firm had a substantial investment in the adjoining property and the covenant protects the land’s value from “the type of ‘junk’ housing, that you are proposing, to be constructed next to our property.� In court documents imploring the court to act in its favor, Lakeville Land asserts that Morgan Square’s and CDA’s plans for affordable housing will “lower the value of LakeSee CDA, 15A

by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Photo by Rick Orndorf

Sergeant First Class Jesse Howard, Farmington, delivered the stars and stripes to the flag bearer at the Oct. 15 Minnesota Wild hockey game, then saluted during the singing of the National Anthem. Howard is with the Minnesota Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion.

One dispute over the Heritage Center project in Lakeville is over. The city of Lakeville and senior center coordinator Linda Walter avoided a potential d e f a m a - MORE tion suit INSIDE read more by agree- To about this ing to a subject go to s e t t l e - Page 7A. ment, according to Walter’s lawyer, Chris Heinze. He declined to cite the dollar amount of the settlement the city would pay, but City Administrator Steve Mielke said it was $1,225. Mielke said both parties were satisfied with the result. Heinze said Walter was “not interested in prolonging this (defamation suit).� “She would have liked to have received an apology,� Heinze said. “Apparently, the mayor was not willing to give an apology, even though he admitted Walter did not lie to him.�

At a City Council meeting on Sept. 19, Mayor Mark Bellows accused Bellows Walter of lying to him about aspects of the Heritage Center project, which would convert the old, vacant police station into a new senior center, a new home for the Lakeville Historical Society and for Lakeville’s Beyond the Yellow Ribbon veterans-support group. Walter retained Heinze and contemplated a defamation suit because of pain and suffering she said she has experienced as a result of the accusation. At a City Council meeting earlier this month, Council Member Laurie Rieb read a statement that indicated Bellows’ lie accusation did not have anything to do with Walter. The statement said that “the mayor’s reference to a lie was intended to reflect See Defamation, 7A

Public lines up to help blind dog see After fundraiser covered surgery costs, loving home found for Daisy by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

A blind, neglected dog now has sight and a loving family after an outpouring of support by community members last week. Daisy, the 2-year-old terrier who was rescued from an outdoor chain where, defenseless, she was often attacked by wild animals, successfully underwent two eye surgeries this week and is expected to be able to Photo submitted see for the first time in her life. “She can see,� said Laura Cloose, Daisy, a little droopy after surgery this week, has eyesight for the first time in her life. Her vision will improve as the the Rosemount mom who runs Amazing Animal Advocates. “Evswelling goes down.

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ery day she’ll see more as the swelling goes down. I am so happy that it hurts,� The expensive surgery was possible because many people read her story in Thisweek and attended the garage sale fundraiser for Daisy’s surgery. “Checks were coming in left and right,� Cloose said. “There was a line down my driveway of people waiting to hand us checks for Daisy.� Cloose, who runs the nonprofit that took Daisy in, was still smiling as she described the response.

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“The only reason they were there was to donate,� she said. “They didn’t even buy things at the garage sale. People were crying and calling me hand-over-fist. They were telling me how touching the article was. I was crying the whole day. I was so happy.� One little girl donated two plastic Easter eggs and a baby food jar filled with quarters. A St. Paul man said he didn’t have any money, but donated a snow blower he’d just fixed for the sale; minutes later, the snow blower See Daisy, 15A

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