2016-05 Experience EaganExperience Eagan • May/June 2016 • 1
May/June 2016
Experience EaganExperience EaganExperience EaganExperience EaganExperience Eagan
Often, they are the first people you see when
you sign in to vote on Election Day, and the last,
as you are handed an “I Voted” sticker as you
head for the door. In between, they help voters
register, or check in, provide a ballot and give
instructions. They ensure votes are processed
properly and keep equipment and lines running
smoothly from the time polls open until the last
vote is counted. They are election judges, hired
to ensure that each voting location operates in an
orderly and proper manner. Each election season
the City needs nearly 400 people to serve as elec-
tion judges at the Primary and General election.
The 2016 Primary is August 9 and the General
Election is November 8. Judges must receive
advance training and may serve on either or both
election dates.
On Election Day, judges may work a half-day shift
of about 8 hours or a full-day shift of about 16
hours. A three-hour training session is required
for each judge, held in July or September.
To qualify, you must be eligible to vote, and be
able to read, write and speak the English lan-
guage. In addition, you cannot be the spouse,
parent, child or sibling of a candidate, be tempo-
rarily or permanently living with a candidate, or
be a candidate in the election.
State Law allows election judges to be excused
from work to serve as a judge without loss of
pay. The employee must provide the employer
with 20 days’ written notice. Election judges are
compensated by the City for their service.
Are you available to serve? If interested, please
visit at www.cityofeagan.com/elections and fill
out an application. Questions? Contact the City
clerk at CMScipioni@cityofeagan.com or (651)
675-5034.
Are You Available to Serve?
Nearly 400 Election
Judges Needed
Jon Hohenstein to Retire
Community Development Director has guided great change in 30 years
If someone had trained a time-lapse camera on
Eagan 50 years ago, we could watch a terrific
transformation. Houses would arise where corn
and onions had once grown, a scattering of stores
would morph into major retail and commercial
districts, and two-lane roads would stretch and
expand into major thoroughfares.
Jon Hohenstein, Eagan’s soon-to-retire Community
Development Director, has witnessed and directed
many of those changes over the past 30 years. In
evidence, one of his first Eagan memories harkens
back to 1985, standing under the Yankee Doodle
Road bridge to avoid the rain during the 35E ribbon
cutting.
Hohenstein began as a hardworking intern under
City Administrator Tom Hedges, quickly becoming
an administrative assistant and then assistant to the
City Administrator, working for Eagan for 13 years.
He then took the city administrator position at
Mahtomedi but returned to Eagan in 2003 as com-
munity development director.
Hohenstein reflected on a variety of topics before
his retirement in May. You’ll see from his answers
that this was a position to which he has been dedi-
cated and a team on which he has been glad to
play a part. After all, Eagan isn’t only his place of
employment—he has also lived here since 1988.
What drew you to Eagan—the first time and
the second?
Both times I was really attracted to Eagan by the
same thing, the city’s great potential to grow and
improve. The first time, freeways were about to get
done, and a lot of development was on its way. The
second time around, while much of the high growth
had occurred by 2003 [when I returned], there was
still the potential for commercial and industrial
development; even the remaining, smaller residen-
tial developments are significant. And the City had
just begun to move into the redevelopment phase
with places like Cedar Grove and northeast Eagan.
How does development and redevelopment
actually get done?
Everything that occurred over the past 30 years
involved a team. It’s all the staff, elected leadership,
and property owners who invest, whether in their
homes or businesses. You can do an awful lot of
planning, but plans are just plans unless someone is
willing to invest in them.
How does your team work with residents and
other property owners?
We approach them as customers. Even though
we’re the only source of, for example, a building
permit, we act as if we are competing for their busi-
ness and aim to provide great customer service.
The golden rule is something we bring with us.
Being customer focused always works.
Why has Eagan been so successful in develop-
ing over the years?
We can take credit for certain things—high-quality
services, low taxes, working with agencies that
make sure roadways and so on are available—but
a big part of it is just the benefit of our location
across the river from the airport, close to both
downtowns, part of the 494 strip and so on. Those
things made us competitive for the traditional
economy—manufacturing, transportation, health
insurance and more.
More recently, we’ve focused on being increasingly
competitive in the information economy. DataBank
located here partially because of our amenities and
opportunities, and partially because the Technology
Working Group was thoughtful about identifying
priorities for a colocation facility and carrier hotel.
Additionally, something goes back to a Tom
Hedges’ priority: the value of relationships, of con-
versations and interactions with people on a variety
of levels. That’s a key aspect of Eagan and one that
Dave Osberg and others carry forward. We strive
to be an approachable entity. I expect that will con-
tinue.
Finally, there are businesses, school districts,
community organizations and interests that look
beyond themselves and their bottom lines to sup-
port things that are good for a lot of people.
What redevelopment projects stand out?
Cedar Grove is certainly important, and there’s
work left to do, but a lot has been done. The other
significant redevelopment is in northeast Eagan,
around the Grand Oak Business Park and Spectrum.
What’s there today fits the noise environment, the
rest of the business area and the freeways much
better than what was there prior.
In terms of Eagan development today and tomor-
row, what do you see?
continued on page 2
Jon Hohenstein
Drinking Water
Report Online Soon
Each year, the City of Eagan provides a
report on its drinking water quality with
information about water source, treat-
ment, demand, hardness and contami-
nants. The report will be available mid-June
at www.cityofeagan.com/drinkingwater.
VOTEVOTEVOTE
Experience Eagan • May/June 2016 • 2
Don’t Fall Victim
to Tax Scammers
Someone calls, claiming to be an IRS agent and
threatens to come arrest or deport you if you don’t
pay up immediately. This is just one of the fright-
ening new techniques that scammers are using
to trick people into giving them money, usually
through a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. They
may also leave “urgent” callback requests through
phone “robo-calls,” or through an email.
Scammers often alter caller ID numbers to make it
look like the IRS or another agency is calling. They
use IRS titles and fake badge numbers to appear
legitimate.
Protect yourself from these scams by knowing the
telltale signs of a scam.
The IRS will never:
◗ Call to demand immediate payment
◗ Call about taxes owed without first having
mailed you a bill through the U.S. mail service
◗ Send an email about taxes owed
◗ Demand that you pay taxes without giving
you the opportunity to question or appeal the
amount they say you owe
◗ Require you to use a specific payment method
for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
◗ Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the
phone or in an email
◗ Threaten to bring in local police or other law-
enforcement groups to have you arrested for
not paying
If you are contacted by someone claiming to
be from the IRS asking for money:
◗ DO NOT give out any information by phone.
Hang up immediately
◗ DO NOT click on any links, provide personal
information or respond to an email. The IRS
does not send e-mails
Call the IRS at 800-829-1040 if you believe you actu-
ally owe taxes. IRS workers can help you.
Tax scams can happen any time of year, not just at
tax time. For more information on “Tax Scams and
Consumer Alerts” and the Taxpayer Bill of Rights
which protects all taxpayers, visit IRS.gov.
Have You Been Wondering Too?
Eagan’s Code Enforcement staff hears a lot of ques-
tions from the public. We’ll answer some frequent
ones. Have other questions? Call (651) 675-5687 or
visit cityofeagan.com/codeenforcement.
I keep my boat at my house in the summer and in
storage in the winter. Can I park it on the grass
out front or by my driveway?
In Eagan, boats, trailers, and other vehicles can be
stored on the driveway, but not on the front yard
grass. Other options are side or rear yards behind
the front line of the home.
My neighbor’s house is vacant and their grass is
long. Can I cut it for them?
To protect yourself, and your lawnmower, please
report the address of vacant or occupied properties
instead. Staff will investigate and notify the respon-
sible party. If the grass is not cut, a contracted
service will perform the mowing and the property
owner will be billed.
My neighbor has a pile of junk behind his shed. It
faces my property, but my neighbor doesn’t have
to look at it. Can he keep it there?
No. Please report this address to Code Enforcement
and staff will inspect the property and provide the
owner with proper disposal options for wood, appli-
ances, and other refuse items, as well as composting
requirements for grass and leaves.
You can also report code violations on the City web
site at cityofeagan.com/codeenforcement.
Today, we’re looking throughout the city for oppor-
tunities to create better pedestrian connections
and more walkable relationships.
We are a suburban community, so a car is probably
always going to have a large part in many interac-
tions, but if some interactions take us out of our
cars, then that’s what creates face-to-face contact;
that’s what creates community.
We’re also paying attention to meeting a broad
spectrum of needs. How do boomers want to live,
retire, age in their homes or downsize? How will
neighborhoods stay vital as that natural evolution
occurs? How do communities attract people with
a range of needs and expectations for their homes
and neighborhoods? Will the home that someone
has today be attractive to the next family? It’s nec-
essary to think about all of these things, because
the choices people make about where they live and
work are increasingly important.
Does development ever end?
There are cities much older than Eagan that still
have a lot to do. Minneapolis is not done. Richfield
is not done. That’s true whether it’s as dramatic
as full teardown-replace redevelopment or as
interesting and innovative as adaptive reuse like
the Waterview Office Tower becoming CityVue
Apartments. It’s not necessary to develop the same
things everywhere. But in a suburban context, how
do those pieces fit into one another? How do you
both respect property owners’ rights and a commu-
nity’s values?
Balancing the many needs and interests goes on
indefinitely. The upside for our community and team
is there’s a lot left to do. You don’t finish. You don’t
want what were once new developments to dimin-
ish or fall into disrepair. You encourage people to
continue to reinvest.
Looking ahead, what are your plans?
My wife is also retired, so we plan to spend time
with family and friends. We have plenty of projects
to keep us busy. Also, I’ve had a meeting most
Tuesday nights for the last 30 years. I don’t mean to
say I won’t miss the people or the organization, but
it’s time to do other things on Tuesday nights. NCIS
is on at 7 o’clock, you know.
Jon Hohenstein...from page 1
Eagan Police Help Stop Credit Card Skimming
When you pull up to the pump, in Eagan, keep an
eye out for a yellow SkimStop sticker. Eagan Police
have started a new initiative to crack down on cred-
it card skimming, called SkimStop.
Skimming is a crime in which thieves plant small
devices in gas pumps that steal your credit card
data when you swipe your card to pay at the pump.
The SkimStop program encourages gas stations
to use a special double sided security tape on the
pumps to indicate that the pump has not been tam-
pered with. Participating gas stations agree to have
employees check pumps daily.
Businesses taking these
security measures will dis-
play SkimStop sticker. The
program was developed by
the Eagan Police Department
and is already being picked
up by other law enforcement
agencies and has potential
to go statewide. Whenever you see the SkimStop
sticker, know that your information is being pro-
tected. For more information and the locations of
participating businesses, search Facebook or Twitter
with #SkimStop so you can fill up, worry free.
Be Safe While Biking
As the weather warms up, more people are out
enjoying the outdoors and riding their bikes.
Remember these safety tips before you ride:
◗ Obey all traffic laws, signs, and signals
◗ Wear a helmet and make sure it fits properly
◗ Keep to the right side of the roadway
◗ If riding with others, ride single-file
◗ Learn and use hand signals for turns and stops
◗ Avoid riding after dark. If you must, equip your
bike with a headlight and taillight or reflector
◗ Never squeeze between two vehicles
◗ Do not carry passengers on a single bike
◗ Never hitch on to a moving vehicle
◗ Keep both hands on the handle bars
◗ Be cautious and ride defensively
When Jon Hohenstein (right) was initially hired as an Intern for City
Administrator Tom Hedges (pictured left) in 1985, he likely had little
idea he would become a strong guiding hand for Eagan’s development.
Experience Eagan • May/June 2016 • 3
LakeFest: Reel Fun
What’s more fun than watching your kids’ face as
he or she reels in their first fish? Add live music,
some displays of amphibians and reptiles, a large
tank full of native game fish, face painting and fish-
themed crafts all at Schwanz Lake on a June after-
noon and you’ve got LakeFest!
LakeFest is a festival hosted by the City’s Water
Resources division, on Saturday, June 11, from 10
a.m. to 2 p.m. at Trapp Farm Park.
It is a day filled with fun family activities focused in
and around the park’s beautiful Schwanz Lake.
Other attractions include fishing off the pier (poles,
bait, and instruction provided), live music by the
Upper Miss River Cajun Band, Fire Department
rescue boats, water science experiments, and
a craft station featuring fish printing by the MN
DNR’s MinnAqua program. Performers from Climb
Theater, and staff from several other nature and
water-focused organizations providing information
and activities. Be sure to bring your tackle box and
swap your lead for non-lead fishing tackle through
the Get the Lead Out Program.
Food and frozen treats will be available for pur-
chase. There will also be a volunteer trash pickup
around the lake from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Visit
cityofeagan.com/volunteer to sign up. Find out
more about the event, get directions to Trapp Farm
Park and more at cityofeagan.com/LakeFest.
Nearly 100 of the area’s top artists will bring their
work, representing multiple, diverse mediums to
this premier event. The Eagan Art Festival, a free
event held on June 25 and 26 at Eagan Central Park
is free to attend and offers exceptional art available
for purchase directly from the artists, family activi-
ties, music and art demonstrations over two days.
What’s Your Story?
Every person and every piece of art has a story to
tell. So the theme of this year’s Eagan Art Festival is
“What’s Your Story?” At the festival, 12 Minnesota
authors will help recognize and celebrate the liter-
ary arts. Hands-on activities for all ages include
bookmaking for children and “illuminated” pages
for teens and adults. Be sure to make your way
throughout the festival site to find the “Story
Stations” placed to engage attendees in sharing
their stories.
Be dazzled by top-notch entertainment, opening
on Saturday with the Emmy Award winning Jack
and Kitty, children’s entertainment. Other bands
Harry Mueller had a problem. Water flowed off of his
garage roof and drained onto the sidewalk. When it
froze in the wintertime, it created a slippery hazard.
He wanted to figure out a way to redirect the water.
Then he remembered some friends had spoken
about a rain garden class they’d taken. Harry won-
dered if this could be the solution to his problem.
Fast forward. Not only did Harry take a class and
learn how to (fairly quickly and easily) redirect the
water to channel under his sidewalk, but he also
learned how to build a rain garden and now enjoys
the benefits and the beauty it brings to his yard.
Harry, and other Eagan homeowners have been tak-
ing advantage of a series of classes offered each
year from the Dakota County Soil and Water District
and through the City of Eagan Water Resources
staff.
Free Water-Smart Landscaping class
June 13, 6:15 – 8:00 p.m. at Eagan City Hall.
“This is sort of an intro-to, class,” says Gregg
Thompson, Eagan’s Water Resources Specialist who
will teach this course. “Sometimes people are simply
wondering if they should aerate, fertilize or what to
Water Less, Mow Less, Stress Less
Find solutions to your yard issues at a Water Smart class
plant in an especially shady spot,” says Thompson.
“This class will cover a wide variety of issues and
provide some easy solutions.”
Register today to attend a free Water-Smart
Landscaping class. See local examples of how com-
mon-sense lawn and landscape practices can create
functional and beautiful yards that are low-input
and use rain as a resource. Learn practical land-
scape tips to have a healthy and sustainable lawn
and landscape.
Perhaps, like Harry Mueller, you’ll come away with
just the solution you need for your yard. Register
now at cityofeagan.com/watersmart.
22nd Annual Eagan Art Festival
June 25 & 26 festival asks; what’s your story?
include Riverside Swing Band and You Oughta
Know throwback 90’s music.
Art Festival: Saturday, June 25, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00
p.m. and Sunday, June 26, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
There is plenty of free parking on site at 1501
Central Parkway, and at neighboring sites. For a
complete entertainment schedule, and other event
details, visit eaganartfestival.org.
It’s Spring at the historic Holz Farm and a
great time to hang out on this 1940s-era
farm/park. The whole family will enjoy learn-
ing and exploring the many facets of farm
life like hayrides, pony rides, music, balck-
smith and rope-making demonstrations,
antique equipment displays and more.
HOLZ FARM
SPRING FESTIVAL
Sunday, May 15, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
4665 Manor Dr. (near Hwy. 3 and Cliff Rd.
cityofeagan.com/HolzFarm
Odd/Even
Watering
Saves water,
protects resources
Eagan’s odd/even day
watering plan is always
in place for outdoor
water use.
1. Check your address -
does it end in an odd
or even number?
2. If it does, water on
even numbered days
only. If it ends in an
odd number, water on
odd-numbered days
only.
Questions?
cityofeagan.com/oddeven
Photo courtesy of Harry Mueller
Come Back Inside
Historic 1914 Town Hall Open House
Sunday, June 12, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDTWIN CITIES MNPERMIT NO. 4902* * * * * ECRWSS * *Residential Postal Customer3830 Pilot Knob RoadEagan, Minnesota 55122Page 1
Jon Hohenstein to retire
Nearly 400 Election Judges Needed
Drinking Water Report Online Soon
Page 2
Eagan Police Help Stop Credit Card Skimming
Don’t Fall Victim to Tax Scammers
Be Safe While Biking
Have You Been Wondering Too?
Page 3
Water Less, Mow Less, Stress Less
22nd Annual Eagan Art Festival
Free Family Fishing, Music & More at LakeFest
Page 4
Buy-Local “CSAs” Coming to the Eagan Art House
Save the Date for National Night Out!
Eagan Market Fest 10th Anniversary Season
Moonshine Park Featured at Arbor Day
Mayor
Mike Maguire
Councilmembers
Paul Bakken Cyndee Fields
Gary Hansen Meg Tilley
City Administrator Dave Osberg
(651) 675-5000 • (651) 454-8535 TTY
www.cityofeagan.com
Experience Eagan
Mark your calendars and make a date with the neighbors for National Night Out on
Tuesday, August 2.
Registration will be available online on Wednesday, June 1 at cityofeagan.com/
nno. The first 124 neighborhoods will receive a 4-pack of Twins tickets, donated
by the Eagan Citizen’s Crime Prevention Association. Tickets are to be used in a
drawing for residents that attend their neighborhood celebrations.
For more information, visit cityofeagan.com/nno or contact Crime Prevention
Specialist, Jill Ondrey at (651) 675-5727 or jondrey@cityofeagan.com.
Save the Date for National Night Out!
facebook.com/CityofEagan
@CityofEagan
Fresh events, music & local favorites
Wednesdays – Eagan Festival Grounds
June 1 – August 31, 4 – 8 p.m.
Sept. 7 – 28, 3 – 7 p.m.
cityofeagan.com/marketfest
Market Fest’s 10th season brings new flavors for
your table and for your spirit with diverse theme
nights and more hands-on activities. Come meet
friends, buy fresh produce and tap your toes every
Wednesday evening through September.
June Concerts & Theme Nights
June 1 Season Opening: Virgo Supercluster;
Nashville artist Jeff Dayton & Friends
June 8 Porcupine Creek; Bill & Kate Isles Band
June 15 Family Night: Kidsdance DJ Entertainment
June 22 Apple Valley High R&B Band; BluPrint
June 29 Market Fest 10th Anniversary Celebration:
Geoff Elvee Trio; Memphis & The
Meantimes with Mick Sterling (Tribute to
Sun Records)
You’ve heard about Community Supported
Agriculture or CSAs for local produce. You pay up-
front to support the grower and they pay you back
with a variety of fresh produce throughout the
growing season. Now that concept is being trans-
lated to the art world as Community Supported Art
(CSA). Initiated by “Springboard for the Arts” in St.
Paul, the formula has been replicated in some thirty
cities in North America over the past five years.
Now it’s coming here to Eagan.
Coordinated by the Eagan Art House, this fresh idea
introduces the community members to six local
artists, who will each produce artwork just for the
CSA. Community members can own a share of the
project and receive a “basket” of artistic bounty for
$175 per share. The artwork produced will be one-
of-a-kind, unique pieces that you won’t be able to
purchase anywhere else.
Market Fest Season 10Buy-Local “CSAs” Coming to the Eagan Art House
Support local artists and they’ll share their bounty
Shares go on sale on May 17, at cityofeagan.com.
The selected artists will represent a variety of
media and may include photography, watercolor,
acrylic painting, pottery, fiber or jewelry. For more
information about the six selected artists, visit
eaganarthouse.org.
Shares will be on sale through August 15.
Distribution of the shares will be at the annual
Harvest of Art Celebration at the Eagan Art House
on Sunday, September 11. Pick up your “basket” of
art, meet the artist and support local art in Eagan.
For more information, contact the Eagan Art House
at arthouse@cityofeagan.com or (651) 675-5521.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota
through grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and
Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative
appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Moonshine Park
Featured at Arbor Day
Moonshine Park, on the shores of LeMay Lake
has recently expanded. Now you can help “dress
up” the new park as a part of the 2016 Arbor Day
Celebration on Saturday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m. This is Eagan’s 30th year of celebrating Arbor
Day. Help plant trees, shrubs or perennials. Tour
the new park, talk with Forestry specialists, and
pick up a free tree seedling. Stay for the recogni-
tion of last year’s Arbor Day poster contest win-
ner and the announcement of this year’s winning
poster.
Especially relevant this year is the opportunity to
ask questions about emerald ash borer manage-
ment, which was found in Eagan in late 2014.
Moonshine Park is located at 1317 Jurdy Road, adja-
cent to the Moonshine Retreat Center. Admission
is free.
Last issue we told you about the Pilot Knob Road
construction project slated for this summer. Get
the latest information throughout the construction
season on this and all other City construction proj-
ects from the new Construction Finder interactive
map at cityofeagan.com/construction. You can also
sign up to receive project updates, road closures
and detour information sent directly to your email
by subscribing at cityofeagan.com/subscribe.
Get Construction Updates