Thisweek Farmington and Lakeville

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Comedian Ralphie May returns to the Burnsville PAC. See Thisweekend Page 14A

Thisweek Farmington-Lakeville MARCH 4, 2011

VOLUME 32, NO. 1

A NEWS OPINION SPORTS

www.thisweeklive.com

Messages/2A

Opinion/4A

Public Notices/5A

Sports/7A

Classifieds/8A

Announcements/11A

Paradise lost Pizza restaurant was to open in the former Kazolly’s Sweet Shop site by Aaron Vehling A brief history THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Photo by Laura Adelmann

Farmington School Board Member Julie Singewald covered her face and wiped tears as she struggled with emotions at the Feb. 28 board meeting. The board had just passed a resignation agreement with Superintendent Brad Meeks. Board Member Julie McKnight left the board table after the vote. At right are Board Member Brian Treakle and Meeks.

Meeks resigns as Farmington school superintendent Joint decision surprised many, even district staff by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

By mutual agreement with the school board, Farmington School Superintendent Brad Meeks will resign his position by Aug. 31, 2011, a year before his contract was to expire. The surprise action came after the Farmington School Board met in a closed session with two attorneys from the Minne-

apolis law firm Kennedy & Graven. Meeks did not attend the closed session, but returned with the board to the public meeting and sat silent when the board voted 5-1 to accept his resignation. Board Member Tim Burke, who has publicly criticized Meeks’ leadership and decisions for years, cast the dissenting

vote. Afterward, Burke carefully chose his words. “There were aspects of the agreement I wasn’t in accord with,� Burke said, refusing to elaborate. School Board Member Julie McKnight left the board table after the vote. Later, McKnight explained her vote. “I voted in a manner that I thought was in the

best interest of the district and Dr. Meeks. That does not mean that I am happy about accepting his resignation. His accomplishments have been nothing less than astounding. I appreciate everything he has done for the district, and only hope that we find another superintendent that is a visionary with the ability to implement his viSee Meeks, 6A

Hewitt, proprietor of Holly’s Centre Stage Dance at 20741 Holyoke Ave. in downtown Lakeville, developed five years ago a new building to house a dance studio that could accommodate her ballooning enrollment numbers, in addition to other businesses. An arcade, a candy store and Paradise either occupied or were to occupy spaces in that building. Paradise was to open in the fall of 2010 in the former Kazolly’s Sweet Shop site, serving gourmet pizza with a tropical ambiance. At the time, the Falkenbergs did not return a phone call seeking comment on the story about new pizza places, but Lakeville’s Community and Economic Development Director Dave Olson said the restaurant was to focus on take-out more than dinein service. The Falkenbergs currently own and operate a single Paradise restaurant in Savage. Thisweek will have more on this story as details become available.

Paradise will not be coming to downtown Lakeville – at least not in the form of tasty, melted cheese and marinara sauce. In its place is a $25,903.12 default judgment against Paradise Pizza and Grill, which, this newspaper reported last fall, was to expand into Lakeville. Paradise owners Timothy and Rochelle Falkenberg of Lakeville signed a lease with building owner Holly Hewitt, bought equipment and decorated the space with the intention of opening the restaurant. But the space sits unused and Hewitt sued Paradise Pizza and Grill (and its owners) in November 2010 for $23,520.03 in unpaid rent. According to Dakota County court records, Paradise did not respond to the suit and thus awarded Hewitt a default judgment of $25,903.12 (which includes court and attorney fees) on Dec. 23. The Falkenbergs’ attorney did not return a call for comment from Thisweek. The newspaper also called Hewitt, but was not able to connect with her by the time this story was published.

E-mail Aaron Vehling at aaron.vehling@ecm-inc.com.

Burke analysis exceeds expectations Explorer Ann Bancroft treks to Lakeville Estimate was for initial investigation; further review adds to cost by Laura Adelmann THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Costs for acting on the investigation of whether Farmington School Board member Tim Burke violated School Board codes and data privacy laws are mounting. Attorney review into the almost 700-page report, which cost the district a discounted rate of $10,000, has added another $10,899 to the bill. More costs are expected as the thick report is being reviewed by Hastings attorney Sean McCarthy at the request of the city of Farmington. McCarthy has not yet submitted a bill and was not able to be reached Monday. Farmington ended up with responsibility for investigating whether charg-

es could stem from the report after the School Board’s request to Dakota County for review was denied because it typically doesn’t handle those types of cases. Seeking to avoid a conflict of interest, the city referred the report to Fluegel Law Firm, where in early January, it landed on McCarthy’s desk. The school district’s legal bills have been reflecting the costs of the inquiry. Originally, School Board Attorney Mick Waldspurger estimated the investigation would cost a maximum of $10,000. But the bill from Minnetonka attorney Jim Martin for conducting the investigation and creating the report was about $14,300; he agreed to reduce it by about $4,300 as

a courtesy. In an interview, Waldspurger said when the board approved going ahead with the investigation in November he told the board costs could rise. “When I made that presentation to the board, I also advised them not to put in place a hard cap because (costs) could go above that ‌ and putting a cap in place could jeopardize the investigation,â€? Waldspurger said. He said his firm’s bills to the School Board vary greatly depending on the amount of time the board and others request of him. “I never gave this notion that, hey, we’re never going to go a penny above ‌ Mr. Martin’s cost,â€? he said. Photo submitted

Laura Adelmann is at laura. adelmann@ecm-inc.com.

City budget talks spill over into liquor stores Lakeville seeks to determine the financial impacts of its municipal operation by Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

As the Lakeville City Council debates various measures to trim its budget, it has directed staff to look at every city function. One of those that has caught the public’s attention is Lakeville Liquors, the city’s off-sale liquor operations. Mayor Mark Bellows wants the staff to conduct a comprehensive financial analysis of the stores’ prof-

itability. Lakeville Liquors is the most p ro f i t abl e municipal liquor outfit in the state, Mark bringing in Bellows $1.1 million in profit last year for the city on sales of about $14.8 million, according to the 2010 annual report. Contrary to regional media reports, Bellows said: “I am not saying ‘get out of municipal liquor.’ � As Lakeville Liquors heads toward potential expansion, including a possible $1.9 million investment in a site at the County Road 70 and I-35 interchange,

Bellows said he wants to make sure the investment is worth it to taxpayers. While the liquor stores bring in money for the city, what would a private operation offer? Bellows said a merchant such as Haskell’s or Costco could provide tax revenue for the school districts, as well as the city – something Lakeville Liquors does not. “In this economy, you have to ask those hard questions,� he said. In addition to the financial analysis, Bellows wants to look at legislative trends and options. “There’s a perennial push (from lobbyists and legislators) to put wine and beer See Liquor, 5A

World-renowned polar explorer Ann Bancroft (left) signs one of her books for Martine Hadfield during a One Book One Lakeville event at the Lakeville Area Arts Center on Thursday, Feb. 24. Minnesota folk singer Ann Reed opened for Bancroft, who was the featured speaker. During the presentation, Bancroft, the first woman to reach the North Pole on foot and by sled, discussed the trials and tribulations of trekking across the North and South Poles. She is planning a new excursion to Antarctica featuring women from six continents.

Wulff earns re-appointment to Met Council by Tad Johnson & Aaron Vehling THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS

Gov. Mark Dayton intends to re-appoint current District 16 Metropolitan Council Member Wendy Wulff to her seat on the regional planning board. “I am very excited,� Wulff said on Wednesday when the appointment was announced. “Excited to continue the work. I look forward to meeting my new colleagues.� When Wulff was appointed to the council

by Republican Gov. Tim P aw l e n t y in April 2009, she was reWendy Wulff q u i r e d to vacate the seat on the Lakeville City Council she had held since 2002. Prior to her appointment, Wulff was involved in regional and state issues, including land use and transportation, and served on two Met Council advisory committees.

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“I want to continue to do the best possible job for the region that I can do,� Wulff said. “I didn’t have targets or anything before I got there.� As the District 16 appointee, Wulff represents most of central and southern Dakota County, including Lakeville, Rosemount, Farmington and Apple Valley, along with surrounding townships. After a five-day review period, required by statute, Wulff will be appointed to the council Monday, March 7.

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