Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Eagan sees benefitsof administrative program Tom Hedges Jon Hohenstein Eagan This Week - 2/11/1985City sees benefits of administrative program
By CHRISTY De TOY
At minimal cr ist, the city of
Eagan is reapinf the rewards of
the city admini ,trative intern-
ship program, a( cording to City
Administrator Tc m Hedges.
For $6 per horn r with no bene-
fits, the city err ploys a person
with a master's degree or a can-
didate for a master's degree in
city administrat: on or an urban
studies -type prop ram. The intern
is employed for s x months to one
year. Hedges noted that an ad-
ministrative a: sistant, which
would carry ou , many of the
same duties, w Auld require a
salary of at least 630,000 per year.
"The city gets equal (benefit)
or more than the students,"
Hedges said.
Hedges, who v as an intern in
Vermillion, S.D., said he was ap-
preciative of the opportunity he
had, and it gav(i him the confi-
dence necessary to carry out ad-
ministrative rest onsibilities.
His internship led to an assis-
tant administra tor position in
Vermillion. Twe] ve years ago he
Landed a job with the city of St.
Peter. While ser ring his admini-
strative position, he took on an in-
tern and brought the program
with him when 1 e came to work
for Eagan almost eight years
ago.
Although Hedf es said he is no
pioneer in foundi rag the program,
he said he could le thought of as a
pioneer -sort in a r!ceptance of the
program.
"Other cities
program more, t
of any that have
months on a rot
said. •
"I don't think is been as well -
received as it sh tuld have.
The interns it Eagan usually
start in January and July, and so
the city gets a " resh start" with
an intern about a very six months,
Hedges said. The city recently
took on Jon Hoenstein, who is at-
tending Mankato State Universi-
ty.
"We look for a good self- starter
with the skills ar d abilities to per-
form. We look f )r someone who
has built skills ,'nd done well in
the classroom -- a top student,"
Hedges said.
"I'm out of thy, office a lot and
don't have timt to give hourly
direction to an . ntern. The pro-
gram is more c f an experience
than training grounds. (The in-
terns) are almot t ready to go out
into the market, ' he said.
Some of the intern's respon-
sibilities inch de conducting
surveys, working with personnel
and budget improvements,
writing reports and, in general,
aiding the admix iistrator.
Hoenstein wil be working on
conducting a special census,
Hedges said. Th i aid that the city
receives from d fferent agencies
is based on the host recent cen-
sus, and Eagan has grown con-
siderably since 1980. A 1985 cen-
sus could rest; It in increased
revenue in aids or Eagan.
"I find an intern is really help-
ful for the city c f Eagan. My job
is performed r tore thoroughly
with an intern. You could drive
yourself crazy t ying to organize
all that has to b done.
"My days are ;o unpredictable.
I can get any wl ere from 10 to 30
phone calls a d; y that last from
two to 20 minut s apiece. I have
so much intern ption. If I didn't
have an intern I would have to
have an assist int. There's no
question that m: job is done more
thoroughly an 1 expeditiously
with an intern,' Hedges said.
He said that he interns have
done quality w rrk for the city.
"These people are so excited,
gung ho and e ger to perform.
are trying the
ut I'm not aware
an intern for six
sting basis," he
They really want to perform
well."
When the interns leave Eagan,
Hedges said he is confident that
they've had exposure to all facets
of city administration and are
prepared to handle the job. "It's
a super experience," he said.
Although the internship pro-
gram was first received with
"mixed emotions," the city coun-
cil is really "high" on the pro-
gram and has seen the benefits,
Hedges said.
"I really enjoy the intern pro-
gram. I think they help this office
perform so much more than we
could do without them."
The internship program in city
administration has worked out so
well that internships have been
branching out to other depart-
ments, he said. Other depart-
ments that have interns or are
budgeted to receive interns this
year are the public works, plann-
ing, and parks and recreation.
"The police department also
employs cadets to help the of-
ficers and get to know the city.
The cadet program often leads to
full -time employment with the
Eagan Police Department.
10A FEBRUAR 11, 1985 THISWEEK
CITY ADMINISTRATOR Tom Hedges coaches intern Jon Hoenstein.
Cabin Fever ?
It's Still Not Too Late To Take the Cure
NEW JUNIOR NIGH TEEN CENTER
The Teen Center meets every Saturday
night from 7:30 -11 pm starting February 9
and running through June 1 (closed April 6).
The Teen Center site will alternate between
Metcalf Junior High and Nicollet Junior
High with the first event happening at Met-
calf. Live band events will be held at Cedar
School (Diffley and Nicols Road).
FOR PRESCHOOL CHILDREN
Activity time for 2 year olds
Exploring Science Together (Ages -2 -5)
Cooking with Kids (Ages 2 -5)
PARENTINGIFAMILY LIFE EDUCATION
Budding Self Esteem
Handling Anger Within the Family
Discipline A Developmental Approach
Single Parenting -A Growth Experience
FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN
Babysitting Clinic (Gr 4 -6)
Cheerleading (Gr 4 -6)
Danceline (Gr 4 -6)
Soccer (Gr 4 -6)
PROJECT KIDS
A latch -key program for elementary aged
children. Open Mon. -Fri. from 3 -6 pm at
Neill Elementary School. Cost is $3.50
per day.
FAMILY TOURS
MN Northstars vs. Calgary Flames -Mon.,
Mar. 18
Walt Disney World on Ice -Sat., Mar. 23
And a comprehensive Senior Adults
SKI TRIPS FOR JR. & SR. HIGH
Afton Alps
Sat., March 9, 9:30 -5:30 pm (all students)
Fri., March 22, 1 -8:30 pm (Jr. High)
Welch Village
Tue., March 19, 9:30 -5:30 (Sr. High Only)
Trollhaugen
Sat., Feb. 23, 9:30 -5:30 (all students)
Mon., March 18, 9:30 -5:30 (Sr. High Only)
ADULT TOURS
"Cotton Patch Gospel" at the Old Log -
Thur., Feb. 21
"Stars of the Lawrence Welk Show" at the
Ordway -Sun., Mar. 3
"Grand Artistic Adventure" at the Swedish -
American & Mpls. Art Institutes -
Wed., Mar. 27
ADULT SKI ADVENTURES
Wild Mountain - Thur., Feb. 7
Welch Village -Wed., Mar. 27
FITNESS & HEALTH
Massage -for Health & Stress Management
Swimnastics
Water Exercise
AQUATICS
Superchicken swim classes
Water Adaptation for Babies
Water Adaptation for Toddlers
Swim for Tots
Swim for Tots (Adv. I & II)
Public Swimming
Program at the Sioux Trail School Sr.
Breakfasts, Great Sunday Socials, Classes - Activities of every kind for everybody!
GROUP W TELEVISION TRAINING
Basic TV Production
Studio Production
1/2" VHS Portable Video
Editing
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Working with Personalities
Color Seminars
Put Your Best Face Forward
Coping with Difficult People
Midpoint: Families After Trauma
Three Keys to Weight Control: Nutrition/
Behavior /Exercise
PRIDE IN YOUR HOME
Cozy Country Interiors
Window Treatments
Landscaping Your Home
Home Design Tour -
New International Design Center
CREATIVE CUISINE
Hor D'oeuvres II
"Breaddy Bear" - Frozen Dough Creations
Chicken Delight
Yassou! Greek Cooking
ADULT GENERAL EDUCATION
CPR
Infant & Child Emergencies
Multi -Media First Aid
Going Into Business
Promoting the Small Business
Maximize Stock Market Returns
Money Mgmt. for the Two- Income Family
Citizens Center - including Men's
Consult your brochure.
Register thru the Community Services Office.
COMMUN 1TY SEGRV10ES
887.7213
School District 191
100 River Ridge Court, Burnsville, MN 55337