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Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Tom Hedges, Eagan's first mayor. 59 pages total. - 1/1/197614EWES, T%OMAS I5} Geri AbMIMSThkTDZ )e( ication earns praise, award Only city administrator Eagan has ever had selected as best in state By Joshua Nichols Sun Newspapers Over the course of his 25 years as Eagan city administrator, Tom Hedges has seen the city grow from 17,000 people to 63,557. Over the course of the past year, Eagan has seen the only city administrator it has ever had rec- ognized twice for his work. The Minnesota City/County Management Association se- lected Hedges May 11 as the first -ever recipi- ent of its Robert A. Barrett Man- ager of the Year Award. The award was created "to identify a manager, administra- tor or coordinator who has estab- lished himself or herself as a role model, leader or mentor in the local government profession." Hedges said he wasn't aware sir Ckr r Hedges he had been nominated for the award, let alone that he had been chosen over 14 other finalists. When association leaders began to introduce the winner during the conference, Hedges began to realize they were talking about him as they described the recipi- ent's years of mentoring, work in the south suburbs of the Twin Cities and finally his alma mater. "I was so taken aback when they announced it," Hedges said. "Piece by piece it fell into place. When I realized they were HEDGES: To Page 14A oc 3- aoo1 March ou love: Daisies, iris, rudbeckia, astilbe, dianthus, nd more in dozens of colors and varieties. 1 with $50 PIIrcI ase end $50 or more at our garden, you'll aarigold pak to brighten your day. 99 ill p will Ever, Pot i we'll fill it up with our premium potting soil. tree Advice ers will help you select the perfect flower, )fifer advice on plant care and suggest idscaping ideas. Just ask. anciscaping and Design Services. il.,., time to rPmPm1-1Pr th Eagan cycle crash A 26-year-old Rosemount man died in a motorcycle accident on Highway 13 in Eagan May 16. Duane M. Gilbertson was driving west on Silver Bell Road near Highway 13 at 9:05 p.m. when he lost control and was thrown from the motorcycle. Gilbertson, who was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, was pro- nounced dead at the scene, according to Eagan Police. The Minnesota State Pa- trol and the Eagan Police Department are investigating the accident. www_head: Eagan man sentenced in fatal Mendota Bridge crash Eagan man sentenced in Mendota Bridge crash the Me to Heil jail sen Dan March in the c of Men Acc Distric Hen in the 1:45 a. ed wi taken Medic she di: Hen in St. injurie A bl the ho showe. t 14A • Apple Valley/Roseniount, Eagan Sun•Current/Wednesday, May 23, 2001 www:mnSun:com ' Hedges From Page 1A talking about me, it was just `-Yikes!' that' kind of feeling inside. It's so hard to tryto • find words to explain how it felt." Less. than a year ago Hedges -was rec- ognized by the Minnesota Association of Urban Management Assistants (MAUMA) with its Outstanding Manag- er Mentor Award for 2000, the first such award the , group has presented. That recognitionstemmed from Hedges' in- ternship program for aspiring city ad= ministrators. When the calls wept out for letters of • recommendation in.support of Hedges', it -was not long before that: ,call was -an swered — in a big way Letters came from': Eagan's current and previous mayors°and numerous managers and administrators. "There is hardly any issue which any administrator or manager could face which Tom has not faced in Eagan,"wrote former Mayor Tom Egan. "As •much as I may respect the professionalism of (the many other managers and'administra- tors in the state of Minnesota), none, in my opinion, can match the competence and -qualifications of Tom Hedges." The Eagan City Council _also recog nized Hedges, proclaiming May, 15- as "Tom Hedges' Day" and having arecep- tion for him before the council meeting.` "We're so, proud that Tom is being rec- ognized for`his: excellence;in . city man agement," Mayor Pat Awada said. "He is a most -,deserving redpient and we are fortunate that he has made Eagan his own, both personally and professionally" Hedges, who said he has never hada day proclaimed in his, honor, said the. re action and support.he has received from friends, co-workers, associates and everyz. body else has been staggering. "It's every gratifying and overwhelm-' ing," he said. "Lots of friends•came out to the reception and there .were lots of peo- ple :there: The thing that struck me is there were people from many walks of life there and that it was not just one.group of people supporting me." Nominationletters also came from state representatives,.. -consultants,. cur- rent and former Eagan employees and the management -team. Several city ad- ----•ministrators who Hedges-has-mentored---- over the years also. showed.their. support. Hedges: said; the: award`- and the sup- :.`_j port he received from the people he,has; ' worked with over' the years, have made ••` him,reflect on the -last 25 years'. "To have so-•niany people:that I have•' worked''with show such great support is very special and it means so much to me.., _ ' It's really made me look back on'all,tliose • people'I have worked with and; all the,. wonderful experiences I.have had in pub- lic administration. It feels good to see that.. I havecontributed and made animpact." www.mnSun.com Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eagan Sun•Current Wednesday, May 23, 2001 13A ■ SHARE YOUR GOOD NEWS WITH EVERYONE! CALL 952-392-6875 TO REQUEST AN ORDER FORM ■ Engagements --2e 1 Hedges works hard to keep Eagan city government moving smoothly By Nancy Conner Staff Writer The pre -Christmas taping of "The Eagan Report" — a cable television talk show about commu- nity affairs, co -hosted by City Ad- ministrator Tom Hedges — was threatening to disintegrate into chaos. A guest from the Minnesota Zoo had shown up without her promised reindeer, disappointing a swarm of young visitors. While she was interviewed by Hedges and Pam Wold, the Christmas tree be- hind them began shaking wildly as the kids turned to some livelier en- tertainment. But through it all — with his thumb -sucking 4-year-old son bal- anced on his knee as the cameras rolled — Hedges conducted a con- genial conversation. "He's pretty much calm and col- lected," observed Eagan city planner Dale Runkle, who works closely with Hedges on develop- ment proposals that sometimes threaten to swamp the booming city's staff. Hard-working, unflappable — Joe Oden/Staff Photographer and Just plain nice. That's how peo- Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges has helped direct the ple describe the 38 year old city city's rapid grow for the past decade. Please see Hedges/2 Continued from Page 1 administrator who has held the po- sition for a full decade. "Tom has done an excellent job for Eagan," Mayor Bea Blomquist said. "He actively promotes the city and council, and Tom rarely ,has irritated people. Rarely. Tom's style is to try to help people, and that's why he was chosen many years ago." When he was hired in July 1976, Eagan had been incorporated as a city only two years and its popula- tion was 16,000, Hedges recalled. What had been a small town with an agricultural tradition has been • transformed into a suburb of 40,000. The growth has allowed Hedges — unlike many of his professional peers — to put down roots and • watch his job grow up around him. • In a career where moving up usually means a move, Hedges has nothad to relocate to find fresh challenges. In fact, he said, the city's growth has given him a rare opportunity to mold an administra- tive staff. "When I came to Eagan in '76, it had no director of public works, no city planner, no finance director," be recalled. "About the first thing I did was say to the council, 'Here are the needs.' It must have been bard for them, but they did go along with this. They provided the tools." Hedges credits his management team's professionalism with mak- ing city government work under edges/ He keeps Eagan g the pressures of phenomenal popu- lation growth. Last year, 961 building permits were issued for single-family hous- es, for example. And construction promises to remain strong this year, with nearly 900 preliminary plats for single-family houses ap- proved at a recent council meeting and numerous retail and commer- cial proposals in the planning stag- es. "Right now if we were to lose Tom, I don't know what we would do," the mayor said. "We would lose our minds. He holds every- thing together." But Hedges has no plans to leave right now, he said in a recent inter- view at his home,a cream -colored rambler sitting on a hilltop in a roly-poly neighborhood of neat, new houses that typifies Eagan. Only two minutes away from City Hall, he relaxed after work with his wife, -Debbie, on their glassed -in porch. The couple — high school sweet- hearts in Spring Lake, Iowa — married in 1970 while they attend- ed the University of South Dakota. Debbie graduated as a registered nurse, while Tom earned a bache- lor's degree in political science with a business minor and then a master's in public administration. He interned in Vermillion, S.D., and then was hired as city adminis- trator of St. Peter, Minn., a com- munity of 9,000 where he stayed until moving to Eagan. He set a goal of working for a city of 50,000 when he decided city administra- rLF" '1`he_same:sorts of things nappy° wty -tnsm. Tt.'c_inef 2 nnnctinn of AearPP tion was for him. "I like to work with people, I like the challenge of problems - ] thrive on it -- and I like to find solutions to problems," Hedges ex- plained. The Hedges cherish their private life and prefer not to debate city issues during social functions. "When we go to a city managers' conference, we find out other, peo- ple do live in a fishbowl, but we try to keep a low profile," Debbie Hedges said. Although he serves at the coun- cil's pleasure and could be fired at any time, Hedges- said he isn't worrried by the fact that other cit- ies, such as Apple Valley, Maple- wood and Shoreview, recently have asked their administrators to leave. "I don't ever work in that fear," Hedges said. "I do as professional a job as I can, and I think you do a disservice to your community if you worry about that. You become political. "I think in some communities the manager thinks he should be making policy, or the city council thinks it should be carrying it out — telling the receptionist how to answer the phone and things like that." Hedges said he also believes his city council has confidence in his management style. "I think the council knows I'm not a liberal spender. I'm cautious," he said. The mayor said most people aren't aware that other city ad- gees Dispatch Wednesday, April 1, 1987 vernment moving smoothly Joe Oden/Staff Photographer Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges, standing, confers with (left to right) Tom Colbert, director of public works, Bob Rosene, consulting engineer, and Joe Connelly, superintendent of utilities. ministrators and managers fre- quently have sought Hedges' ad- vice on how to present information and proposals to the city council. "They'll say, 'Gee, you have a city council that works well. How do you do it?' " Blomquist said. Hedges has served as president and in other offices of the Minneso- ta City Management Association, a 160-member organization of city managers and administrators. He's also a past president of the Minnesota Valley Exchange Club, which he helped charter, and is ac- tive in the Eagan Lions Club. He shared the leadership of a Cub Scout troop for three years with his wife and, as an Eagle Scout him- self, has helped others working toward that rank with projects in Eagan's city government. The Hedges' two sons, Brandon, 11, and Aaron, 4, and their daugh- ter Abby, 9, popped in and out of the porch several times to talk with their parents. "He's strict when it comes to homework," Brandon said of his fa- ther, and Abby agreed. And the children said their dad finds time to play games with them and coach on their track, baseball, soccer and basketball teams. Residential developer Loren Spande called Hedges "one hell of an outstanding guy" to deal with. "It's his born, instilled empathy and understanding for all residents of that community he lives in," Spande said. "He listens to every- body — he listens to every com- plaint." Hedges has toyed with the idea of going into the private sector someday because he enjoys busi- ness, but wonders if he would be happy in a middle -management position. "I'm in charge of 120 people and report to a board of directors, so having to rely on someone else to make decisions would be hard," he said. What he enjoys most about his', job is the annual city budget, part- ly because it uses the accounting skills he learned in college. "I think the part of my job that is creating the most frustration is that there's too much going on, Hedges said. "I would like to spend more time doing long-range plan- ning and getting out in the commu- nity, finding out what the people want." And the other hat he's been wearing in recent months — as co- host of "The Eagan Report" — is just beginning to be fun, Hedges said. "The first time, I was very ner-'. vous. I was sitting in front of three cameras for half an hour and could hardly remember my name." Hedges' interns show their appreciation for experience by Amy O'Marro "Once a Hedges' intern, always a Hedges' intern.'.' The quip by Rusty Fifield ex- presses her feelings and the feelings of 16-city management professionals who gained their first job experience through an internship. Their internship was designed by Eagan City Ad- ministrator. Tom Hedges. - Their appreciation for his program led them to nominate Hedges for the L. P. Cook- ingham Award. The award is given by the International City •. Management Association in honor of those working to develop the- city management profession. " "Mr. Hedges has been the ex- ample for and mentor to a diverseset of individuals with unique talents and developmen- tal needs," reads the nomina- tion. With an endorsement like that, Hedges was chosen as this year's L.P.- Cookingham reci- pient. Jon Hohenstein, Eagan ad` ministrative assistant, con INTERNSHIP: to p.3A. Hearing draws small crowd HEARING: from p.1A. leadership of former Superintendent Bill Force. "Teachers were given time this summer to . write cur- riculums. The teachers said it was some of the most wor- thwhile experience we've done in the district. It's taken 10 years to get to this point to im- prove curriculum," Smola said. Smola asked the board to hire a superintendent ' who would favor the teachers' pro- _fPcsional growth .program. and allows teachers to continue their education in a variety of ways partially financed through the district. "It's something- the district should be proud of that they . give teachers the opportunity to grow professionally," Smola said. The board is expected to an- nounce tonight, Monday, the person who will fili,the position as interim superintendent until a permanent superintendent is found. The interim superinten- dent will be chosen from three candidates, all of them retired chose to seek candidates out side -the district . because i1 didn't want to interrupt func. tion performed by current employees. How long the interim superintendent will guide the district before a permanent superintendent is hired is unknown. The superintendent search committee, consisting of three board members including Board Director Bill Smith who chairs the committee, is inter- viewing consulting- firms. The board will announce at its next Hedges to be honored INTERNSHIP: from p.1A. tacted the interns and compiled their feelings into an award nomination. "The program is the best known in the state," saidHohenstein, who interned from January to June. "It is a real plum to be placed in the program. Here the ex- perience is broad based. An in- tern is involved in every depart- ment. He has an active role in team management. Rather than starting at the bottom of the totem pole, he is looked on as a professional. That is a real bonus for someone just our of school," he added. The program is a result of Hedges own experience when he entered the profession. In a sense, Hedges started his own internship. He was studying fiscal budget and management in the school of public ad- ministration at the University of South Dakota. "I enjoyed working with peo- ple. I wanted to do more with administration in local govern- ment. In local government you can see the changes happen, where in state and regional government it takes forever. I like to see things happen. "That's when I knocked on the door of the Vermillion City Hall. I asked for an internship. I was the first intern in that city. I started free and later worked for minimum wage," he said. Hedges later became Ver- million's administrative assis- tant. When Hedges became city manager in St. Peter, he developed that city's first in- ternship program. Students taking advantage of the pro- gram came from Mankato State University and Gustavus Adolphus College. Thomas Hedges As Hedges moved on to become city administrator in Eagan, he introduced his in- ternship program. "I have always believed in the development of the profes- sion. Hopefully, I can help in training and field experience that will supplement academic work," Hedges said. Eagan's program gives an in- tern a "broad brush" of ex- perience, Hedges said. "The ci- ty is realizing the benefit of a high caliber person. They give a lot to the community," he add- ed. Interns do research, write reports and work with city staff, committees and commissions. "I feel strongly about the peo- ple who have gone through the program. I like to follow people on as they continue in the pro- fession. Past interns call me for recommendations, and advice as they look to further themselves. It is a type of fami- ly," Hedges said. PN �4 . ... AWNING OF �OF FEAR, 40 th ANNIVERSARY equally to tax base pool Redevelopment projects have been exempt. This has enabled Minne- apolis to keep $90 million of tax base out of the pool; St. Paul has kept $56 million, Olson said. Meanwhile, Bloomington and Burnsville, net contributors, have not had any tax base exempted. Other suburbs that have legally kept tax base from the fiscal dis- parities pool are Richfield, Edina, Golden Valley, Hopkins, Minne- tonka, Robbinsdale, St. Louis Park and Wayzata. South St. Paul contributes no dollars by law, and this year will receive $15,462,255 in tax base from the pool. Bloomington Mayor Jim Lindau called criticism of his plan by Min- neapolis and St. Paul hypocritical. formation puts fiscal disparities "in a different light." Lindau said. "I feel I've found diamond when it comes t evidence." Lindau said he's told th Ghermezian brothers, who want t bring a $1.5 billion Fantasy World t Bloomington's old stadium site, th news and they are pleased. The Bloomington mayor said th exempt developments include th Amhoist Tower, the Town Squar Shopping Center and the Worl Trade Center in St. Paul, and th Cedar -Riverside, Industry Square Nicollet Island and Hennepin-Lak redevelopments. Other communities whose to base has been exempt by law in elude: F� Hedges is elected by Don Heinzman "Surviving the state - anticipated deficit" will be the gbal of Tom Hedges- work in the Municipal Legislative Commis- sion (MLC) . Hedges Wednesday was elected vice chairman of MLC and chairman of the operating committee for the suburban lobbying group. He has been Eagan's city administrator for eight years. There will be a struggle for funding, Hedges said. "Suburbs need to protect their ability to gain special revenues and aids from the state," he said. The MLC will monitor the situation and look at ways to preserve funding for local pro- grams, he said. MLC's 15 cities want to be sure they get equitable con- tributions from the state com- pared to the other communities in the state, Hedges added. The MLC was organized two years ago to lobby for the suburbs to gain more local government aids. Eagan con- tributes $8,778 and Burnsville $13,153 to fund MLC. Members include Eagan, Burnsville, Maplewood, Shoreview, Woodbury, Roseville, White Bear Lake, Plymouth, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Edina, Brooklyn Park, Mounds View and Blaine. Burnsville Mayor Connie Morrison was elected chair- woman of the MLC. Morrison defeated Woodbury Mayor Dan Builder. She was not at the annual MLC meeting because she was vacationing in New Hampshire. Morrison does not want to go to war with Minneapolis, said Burnsville Councilmember Dan McElroy, speaking at the meeting on Morrison's behalf. She believes in the suburban concerns of the MLC, he said. • o lobbying group Photo by Amy O'Marro Thomas Hedges was elected vice chairman and chairman of the Municipal Legislative Commission. Morrison succeeds Roseville Mayo' June Demos, the first chairwoman of the MLC. Robert Renner, MLC's chief lobbyist, warned that Min- nesota is headed for an economic dowtown and legislative action might be needed to make corrections. He reminded city managers and councilmembers during the MLC meeting that government should be conservative in budgeting for next year. Mayor Demos said the MLC made the state Legislature very aware of the suburbs. Rep. William Schreiber, IR- Brooklyn Park, chair of the House Tax Committee, told delegates the MLC has been ef- fective because it represents 530,000 people, a significant part the state. Mid -Summer Specials r Dairq Queen WE TREAT YOU RIGHT 423-4554 JUNCTION CTY. 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Cedar A•e 432-3262 We Honor American Eagan Chronicle —Week of July 29, 1985 1 Tom Hedges Hedges gets LMC award for leadership City administrator has been with Eagan since 1976 by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges has been named a 2005 Leadership Award winner by the League of Minnesota Cit- ies (LMC). The award recognizes out- standing service by an appointed official in a city of more than 10,000 residents. Criteria for the award includ- ed an official's breadth of vision, unselfish concern for the general good, and influence in raising the prestige of local government service, according to the LMC. Hedges, who has been Ea - See Hedges, 5A 0 UPPER Huny...Buy a Sprinter beta ET'S TRUE! if you act quickly you c return, allowing you to instantly de the year. That means right now is HURRY FOR BEST SELECTION. DO your tax advisor 'Thank you for reading our disclaimer. Miles To Freedom ler schedule maintenance contract value = $400. Miles Lube, Oil 1 SUPER s SPECIAL Includes engine oil replacement up to 5 inspection, 16 point vehicle inspection. A diesel, V10, Hemi V8, fluid disposal, semi-sy Offer good until 12/31/05. Not EG T,H Hedges/from 1A gan's city administrator for 29 years, received the award Dec. 2 at the LMC's annual conference in Rochester. He said the award came.as'a complete surprise:. "I had no idea my staff was nominating me' for the Leader- ship Award," he said. "It takes a lot to surprise me, and boy they succeeded." The LMC cited Hedges' role in overseeing the development of highquality neighborhoods, ex- cellent parks and' trails, and a di- verse commercial base in Eagan. Hedges has mentored than 30 interns during his ca- reer, many of whom went on to become city managers and assis- tants throughout Minnesota. . He'has developed a loyal fol- lowing of those he has men. toredr and worked with, including for- mer Assistant City Administrator Jamie Verbrugge, who is now the Rosemount city administrator. "For those of us who have had the great fortune to be mentored and befriended by.Tom Hedges,. it is .wonderful to see him once ' again receiving public recogni-• ISWEEK December 10, 2005 5A tion for his dedication and integ- rity," he said. "He is the defini- tion of a servant leader, greatly deserving, yet so humble." Hedges was hired as Eagan's first city administrator in 1976 when the city had only 17,000 residents. He has won several awards over the years, including the In- ternational City/County Manage- ment Association Development Award for his mentorship and internship programs, the Min- nesota City/County Manage- ment Association Manager of the Year Award, and the Outstanding Manager Mentor Award from the Minnesota Association of Urban Management Assistants. The City Council even pro- claimed May 15, 2001, "Tom Hedges' Day" in the city of Eagan. "Mr., Hedges' 33 years of public service — including 30 years here in Eagan — provide an enviable record not soon'to be matched by anyone," said Mayor Pat Geagan. Erin -Johnson is at eagari. th is week @ ecm- inc. com. NEWSPAPERS As others debate seasonal naming rights — is it a "holi- day" tree or a "Christmas" tree? — Michael and Shirley Esch• of Burnsville are playing both sides of the driveway. One side of their wow-induc- .ing yard and lighting display features stars, angels and a Na- tivity scene. The other includes • Santa Claus, sleighs, polar bears and reindeer. "It has meaning and pur- pose," Michael Esch said. "There's a secular part and a re- . ligious part." The liveliest part of the dis- play is reprised each year by the Eschs themselves. For one night they dress . as Santa and Mrs. Claus while greeting children and collecting donations for the Community Action Council food shelf. 'This year's event, dubbed "Santa's Holiday in Lights on A4;`R' �� MTh (rff'.c:>cStdc=ah:3itE h 11-7k 0%II4TT 6A .December 10, 2005 THISWEEK EG Santa and Mrs. Claus Couple's annual food -shelf fund by John Gessner wood Drive: , • THISWEEK The house. will be hard tc miss. The Eschs have been col- lecting awards in the city's holi- day lighting contest.since it be- gan five years ago. In 2003 they won the WOW! Award for their knockout display. Five years ago they tied the Santa act in with the lighting display to create an annual fund- raiser for Community. Action Council of Dakota County. The food they collect is delivered tc the food shelf's Burnsville loca= tion, at Destiny Christian Cen- ter. ."Last year we had 1,900 pounds of food raised for the Community Action Council food shelf," said Esch, 53. "The goal this year is 2,500 pounds Visitors are welcome from 5 to 8 p.m. Santa and Mrs: Claus are available for lap -sitting and photos with the kids. Three cos- tumed elves appear in the per- sons of Esch neighbors Debbie 22A Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eagan Sun•Currentlfhursday,' Dec. 15; 2005 Eagan's Tom Hedges earns LMC award Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges has received -the highest honor given to an appointed city official in Min- nesota, the 2005 League of Minnesota Cities Leadership Award, for an out- standing official representing a city -of. more than 10,000 people. Winners are chosen on their breadth of vision, "unselfishconcern for the gen- eral good," and. the influence they have in "raising the prestige of local govern- ment service," according,to LMC nomi- nation criteria. "Mr. Hedge's 33 years of public ser- vice as a city administrator - including nearly 30 years here in Eagan - provide an enviable record not soon to " be matched by anyone," said Eagan Mayor Pat Geagan. The award was presented Dec. 2 in Rochester at the League of Minnesota Cities annual conference and came as a surprise to Hedges. "I had no idea my staff was nominat- ing me for the Leadership Award," said Hedges: "It takes a lot to surprise me, and boy they succeeded," Hedges said .with a laugh. ' ' The League of Minnesota Cities is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to helping cities throughout the state build quality, communities. The LMC Leadership Award was one of the few recognitions that Hedges had not received over the years. _ During his tenure, Hedges has also received the International City/County Management Association Career Devel- opment Award for his mentorship and internship programs, the Minnesota City/County Management Association Manager of the Year Award and the Out- standing Manager Mentor Award from the' Minnesota Association of .Urban Management Assistants. Hedges was_hiredin 1976 as Eagan's first administrator when the population was17,000 residents: Over the years, and as' Eagan has grown to nearly 67,000 res- idents, Hedges has mentored more than 30 interns, many -of whom have become. :city administrators -themselves - • - One' of those mentees .isJarnie Ver- brugge, now the Rosemount city admin- istrator. . "For those of .us who have had the great fortune to be mentored and befriended by ' Tom Hedges, it is wonderful to .see him - once again receiving public recognition for his dedication," Verbrugge said. "He is . the definition of :a servant leader, greatly deserving, yet so humble." - Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eagan Sun•Current/Thursday; Dec. 15,�2005. urses for apaun has indicated he would be'inter sted :in continuing: the class,, Borgen aid. •, - _ - "The want is there; the desire,is there n the part of the students," Borgerisaid: ' Sibley science teacher John Kelly.ap roached Borgen with the idea, for the hemistry of exercise physiology, course'. ecause there is growing interest in the ield among Sibley students. _ "It's really a growing field," Kelly said.. It's a topic a lot of students seem.inter= - sted in pursuing and not justhere, but ontinuing _ on .in. college: It's a" field in . hich 100 percent of graduates are com-. c g out and finding placement." Thecoursewill offer college credit.be... . ause Kelly will teach it with the help of t. Cloud State University. Students who' ake the course will earn credit through he .university that: are generally. trans- erable to other colleges and universities. Kelly said he thinks that will make the ourse more attractive for students who ight.otherwise be turned off by a tradi- ional' AP class that requires an:exarn to receive college credit. "Students will receive credit based off their body' orwork rather than working hard over the course of a whole semester and then being -denied credit -because - they didn't do well on the test," Kelly" said. Adding the classes will cost about $9,000 plus the cost of AP textbooks for the music theory course. Despite the . sometimes complex job .of putting to- 1 gether 'class; schedules because: of the various course offerings at ,the school, Borgen said no, Other coursesare posed'. tobe droplied-because"of the addi- bons:: : :_. -. "We want to address the needs; wants and desires of our students, she said... "It's a puzzle putting it'all together. It's a " lot of hard work, but it's also lots of fun. We: do realize ..that students sometimes have to make choices, .but. we want to -. offer the best choices possible." In other business at the meeting: The hoard approved construction documents: for Pilot Knob, Garlough and Mendota elementary schools.. The documents will' be used in the bid- - - ding process., for the remodeling of the'. three schools -as. part of the district's bond construction.process: -• The bids' will be structured' in such a' w P' M sa T ag P. th yo m th th m to BULLETIN TOM'S TOP 1 1 ACCOMPLISHMENTS • Growing the organization of employees that make the Eagan Team • Mentoring more than 40 interns (keeping him young and engaged) • Building community relationships • Council/Staff Goal Retreats & Senior Manage- ment Team meetings • Partnering with West Publishing to move to Eagan • Working on additional access (interchanges) for the I-35E & I-494 Interstate alignments • Public buildings such as Fire Stations, Police Buildings, City Hall, Community Center, Cascade Bay, Parks and Civic Arena • The Aaa Bond Rating (triple A placing Eagan in the top 6% of cities on a national basis) • 36 years of balanced budgeting • All the retail/commercial/industrial expansion • Community infrastructure projects such as the ring road, water treatment plants, etc. Thank you for sharing in this special celebration with Tom and his family. Tom Hedges, City Administrator July 12, 1976—February 8, 2013 TOM HEDGES' COMMUNITY CELEBRATION FEBRUARY 7. 2013 6:30 P.M. • Welcome by Jon Hohenstein, Eagan's Director of Community Development • Growing Up with a City Administrator as a Father —Brandon Hedges • An Elected Official's Perspective —Mayor Mike Maguire • Video Celebrating Tom's 36 Years in Eagan • Tom as a Leader —Gene VanOverbeke, Retired Finance/Administrative Services Director, and Ken Vraa, Retired Parks and Recreation Director • Tom as a Mentor, Friend, and Colleague — Dave Osberg, Hastings City Administrator and Eagan's Next City Administrator • Presentation of Gift Jon Hohenstein and Cherryl Mesko • Tom's Reflections °pp`s %. Y i-* rr� v_`teevitt pia p -o„ �.. o, Now u (00 Ak.k. .\.‘k\AD c)",c\ 'ZKUY•Ig/cUk NebtX.1.:AUANIA Ch\i/4- 1:A41 ate- C.ornww.v�;, y 1-- �(1f1 stq..C� �Si' `� mvr.-- Sire 's Aci O.tv•sn1.bo\-hock clAbt_gfi e>rt..1. o ,9�-98-tQ+ww �c S-t��.d v �' le l► QQ i bl:t( a sowt... &Liti3DIA-\ce UNLO UxeCtro • What are some of the things the community just takes for granted that were really hard work to accomplish or a longtime in coming? '("eXIM Or t e-r,4 _.4 Q. f• tl C,Mi ...k)‘1\iv.+CV.t.t.j. 6.1SW Aeo,ftr\ Attc#64.tet'-. takkiwa kevkitou r,ciewa1/4 4v\ a3-axa._\sv-is %erThst- tr1/4o. "k4SAIDZS:6 crYA.Zt.(1.5 VS•atkr(14 ryttick Living and working in the community — what wee plus' and minus' of that tcr-L...,* 'Pa s�- i.�o 4114 tar 12L1 JULAL)41 )643k4140- Nak, 11CLS r__ ,cyl 1q442) C fro to p 'n fah, VQ`fi SQ C2' 4 - 4 nink, ifse • "Tom Hedges is the nic2st, most ethical, most decent... person I know..." why is that where does that come from? �p rvvkd\ /1,5 4r pot24.�1dj 5+��''}�.�o�4ec� rk4h4 Ca — mk %(4.tli, Lc 4.Q.(03Y'ev. A> to -L ewn t th iape! - L.c s,/ ,�"'� et?"' . ' • Political pitfalls through the years....aspirations? • '1'4 T Cari ye io W.,< TraKX ,C01..t".10, 64 c4,1„ r; 1....`rt LA-- a--ApeN..J ,at- .6 Pa55 trka,tc cc, 6 p-�� • Proudest achievement to modest for legacy conversation but is there something you hope peoplt remember you for ....about you or that you did? • One thing you'll look back on and wish you had accomplished? 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ToLLA aktao�r► o d��- • osth • • ��hornAcs — lnca9, C�or C 149,0 6 �� S At civil. • How did you hit th ground round runningwhen you arrived from St. Peter? l H' , t w' I. Wes` Ana t3�- t: ,01-.� - '- f1r`or Siitjnt7(t 1kl. �,f(C/I 1 \b4, 4v4A0 p&d GM 1)01/404 YvAl. ?! Rat3 vim. "i• Taxi-- So W��s �`i o 4 O,C `MCh ��r C u. iV\ c rzz ' d.�sfiw vAtcl — V1u0 4 d tk p_ ' A- *0 Vte rtj eL-, CDI'htPY� _ t► 'to 0`SSRAe. S (k. ack • Was the community and the job what you had expected? J lbJ . W (ti Ito ss,�� `, � +okf1o� C{'�"L , AktZkv;70 �Uf&rsitazi v1V..ks , bud (0 QM b..g. • Do you remember your first Council meeting? �,��..►.� t,�a�.1uv+� ��. -�.� vt -h.-r160.:k Oar fa f - mtn+ Cap ---,•CvvriA,‘t.LattOojr-el\ok;ortwslitcm itaet 4.06 ''1.•Do you remember your first/early interactions with residents and what they might have been about Vac 1V41..1 46 t'i1- � ^ • Did the community embrace you, look to you, welcome you initially • You have been such a great mentor/coach for so many of us...Did you have a mentor here or did you need to take on that roll for others? \kr Mill 101/4, a prte _, 88(.1re MI SM. CC I. C( er W , ` I back — VCOAckSdkaltnadUr vaao f6.71 e (a 21 iw 6 ,. 11 s MQ bu. kw-� r t.c.. F..-- ro{ anr, 4,' ,, t • How would you escribe your manage en style ��? 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By JIM ADAMS • jadams@startribune.com It sounds like a saloon scene from another time and place: fist -fighting patrons, one who pulled a gun, and three gun -toting bouncers who were not only unlicensed but were drink- ing during nightclub events. It's gone on for months not in Chicago or Wyoming, but at the Spoon bar and restaurant in down- town Apple Valley. "Nobody in Apple Valley has seen this before," Police Chief Jon Rech- tzigel said. He said police had re- sponded eight times since May 2011 to quell fights, most recently in Octo- ber, when cops from neighboring cit- ies were needed. Rechtzigel has recommended that the City Council not renew the Spoon's liquor license or do so with strict conditions. The city will con- sider the question on Jan. 24. The council voted 3-2 last month to give the Vietnamese fusion res- taurant at 14871 Granada Av. a one - month license for January until it could figure out what to do in the long term. "We're just not used to this kind of thing," said Tom Goodwin, who vot- ed to give the owners, a young cou- ple, one more chance. "This is Ap- ple Valiey, for Pete's sakes. Usually when the cops contact an owner and say 'Fix this,' they fix it. This guy just didn't do it." Owners Kay Theng and his wife, Van Ngo, were born in Indochina and live with their three children in Burnsville. Seated in his medium -size restaurant, Theng, 32, said he told police in November that he has quit renting the place to promoters for hip -hop or other late night events. "We try to cooperate," Theng said in broken English. He said they feel police are harassing them to run them out of town. Theng, who also cooks meals, said police cars have sat a few shops away at night and trained headlights on his front door as customers left. He said officers, some with K 9 dogs, have en- tt I TRULY FEEL SORRY FOR THE PERSON WHO HAS TO tered during lunch or dinner hours and looked around, causing business to drop because diners "think we are doing bad things." Rechtzigel said officers often have parked near the Spoon's strip mall parking lot while patrolling the area, which has numerous fast-food res- taurants popular with teens. "There's been no harassment. We responded to calls for service," he said. He said no problems had oc- curred since Theng agreed to stop Spoon continues on N2 ► SUCCEED TOM HEDGES. IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY. )) Dakota County Commissioner Tom Egan JOEL KOYAMA • jkoyama@startribune.com Eagan City Manager Tom Hedges has shepherded change and growth in the city for the last 36 years and is regardly highly by administrators in other metro -area cities. `There is no other Tom Hedges out there' • At age 64, the Eagan administrator says it's time to retire, leaving the city to replace one of the most respected city managers in the field. By LAURIE BLAKE Tom Hedges, the only city admin- istrator in Eagan's history, is so well known, so well liked and respected, When the longest -tenured city that other city managers applaud his manager in the state retires in Feb- career and city officials only reluc- ruary after 36 years with the city tantly accepted his departure. of Eagan, he'll leave a hole that few "I truly feel sorry for the person could hope to fill. who has to succeed Tom Hedges. lblake@startribune.com It's not going to be easy," said Da- kota County Commissioner Tom Egan, who worked with Hedges for 21 years as an Eagan council member and mayor. The city administrator is the top non -elected official in city govern- ment, often likened to the CEO of a city. Riding out 30 years of changing mayors and council members, Hedg- es presided over Eagan's growth from rural farm fields to a booming sub- urb. The politics weren't always easy, "but Tom was always the calm, cool, collected voice of reason," said Edina City Manager Scott Neal on his blog. "You can't stay in this line of work for 36 years in one town if you're not all those things — and more." "He has just done an outstand- ing job," said Maple Grove City Ad- ministrator Alan Madsen. "Tom is a very ethical man. Very principled. He sets the bar very high for the rest of us." Hedges continues on N3 ► Good Times Park, for indoor play, to open in Eagan • The 2 5,000-square-foot space will be "a convenient place for families to have some laughs together and bum off some energy." By SUSAN FEYDER sources executive who says her in- terest in family -oriented recreation comes from her own experience as A business park in Eagan is about a mother. to become home to an unconven- "I love the idea of seeing kids tional business - a privately operat- play," said O'Meara, whose sons are ed indoor playground that aims to be 12 and 9. "You can spend a lot of time an alternative to play facilities typi- looking for ways to keep your kids cally found in city -operated commu- active." nity centers. O'Meara said that over the years Good Times Park is the brain- she has taken her kids to commu- child of Lakeville resident Bon- nity indoor playgrounds, including nie O'Meara, a former human re- The Blast in Eagan, and concluded sfeyder@startribune.com there was room in the market for a facility that offered different types of play spaces. City officials appear to feel the same way and say they don't view the new indoor park as competition for The Blast, the indoor play facili- ty that opened in the Eagan Commu- nity Center in 2003. Other Twin Cities area com- munity -operated indoor play- grounds include the Eagles Nest in New Brighton, Lookout Ridge in Woodbury and Maple Maze in Maplewood. Perhaps the best known is Edinborough Park in Edina, which has been operating for 26 years and drew almost 160,000 visitors last year, according to Susan Faus, se- nior recreation facility manager. "It's a welcome addition," said Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire, who told O'Meara at a City Council meet- ing last month that the indoor park would have come in handy for fam- ilies looking for things to do during the recent holiday break. O'Meara said she's hoping to get the facility up and running by April in time for the school spring break. The City Council unanimous- ly approved O'Meara's plans for the Park continues on N4 ► FAREWELL PARTY A community retire- ment party honoring Hedges is set for 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 7 with a program at 6:30 p.m. at the Eagan Community Center. Gallery gives Rosemount an art outlet N3 r • • DAKOTA COUNTY • STAR TRIBUNE SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2013 (DCtown square tit I � AROUND TOWN Matt Little sworn in as Lakeville's mayor • The 28-year-old law student and two-year City Council member becomes the city's youngest mayor. A changing of the guard happened last week on the Lakeville City Council. Matt Little, the youngest person to become the suburb's mayor, was sworn in by Min- nesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie Gildea, a fellow graduate of the University of Minnesota -Morris. Little, 28, is a second -year law school student at the Uni- versity of Minnesota who has been working as a law clerk. On the council for less than two years, Little won 44 per- cent of the vote in November, beating incumbent Mark Bel- lows, 58, and longtime Coun- cil Member Laurie Rieb, 54. Little thanked them both at last week's council meeting for their long service. "To be elected mayor of my hometown is a special privilege," he said. "It is not about extremes or ideologies. It is not my way or the high- way" Little told a packed City Council chamber where two other council members were sworn in. "When we disagree, which we will and we should ..: we can talk it out," he said. Little said he wants to blend traditional town square dis- course with online interaction. "We can build a virtual town square where we watch coun- cil members online and discuss critical budget items on Twit- ter or Facebook," he said. "We can bring Norman Rockwell in- to the 21st century." Little hopes to retain a small- town feeling in the growing city of more than 56,000. "We can grow a bigger and better city without losing our small town heart. To do that, people in our town square must work together to solve problems. Everyone has a role to play in creating jobs and eco- nomic growth, in insuring a safe community and streets, and in making City Hall efficient, re- sponsive and effective." Also sworn in, by retired District Court Judge Thomas Poch, was new member Doug Anderson, who said he grew up with Poch in St. Paul where they attended the same Meth- odist church. Poch also swore in the council's now senior: member, Kerrin Swecker, 46, for a second full term. The city is accepting appli- cations for the seat that Little vacated. To request an appli- cation, contact the City Clerk at 952-985-4404 or by e-mail at cfriedges@lakevillemn.gov. EAGAN Finalists to replace Hedges named The Eagan City Council has named four finalists to succeed City Administrator Tom Hedg- es, who will retire in early Feb- ruary The city received 39 applica- tions for the job, and the City Council selected the finalists from 10 recommended by a consultant. All of the finalists have experience in city govern- ment in the Twin Cities area. They are: • Susan Arntz, city admin- istrator of Waconia since 2001 and a former assistant admin- istrator in New Brighton and Chaska. • Matthew Fulton, a former city manager for Coon Rapids and New Brighton and current- ly an organizational consultant in California. • David Osberg, city admin- istrator of Hastings since 1989 and a former city manager and city administrator in St. James and Waterville, Minn. • Robert Padmore, assistant city manager for Sioux City, Io- wa, since 2008 and a former budget and management ana- lyst for Minneapolis. The council will interview the finalists Thursday and Friday. The public will be able to meet the candidates at an in- formal reception from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Eagan Community Center. EAGAN Nonprofit grants now open for applicants Nonprofit groups based in Eagan and serving the Eagan community are being encour- aged to apply for this year's round of Eagan Foundation grants. Grants are typically $1,000 or less, but applicants are encouraged to request the amount they need and back it up with a detailed grant ap- plication. "Our community grant program supports local non- profit organizations that pro- vide support and services di- rectly in Eagan," said Michael Proebstle, chairman of the foundation. "This is a cause we can stand behind and one in which our organization fo- cuses our efforts." Since 1991, the Eagan Foun- dation has donated more than $900,000 through student scholarships, local initiatives and community grants, the group says. For more details on ap- plications and criteria, see www.eaganfoundation.org. Applications are due by Feb.. 15 and can be mailed to: Eagan Foundation Inc., c/oCommu- nity Grants Committee, P.O. Box 211192, Eagan, MN 55121. Awards will be announced in early spring. For more infor- mation, e-mail admin@eagan foundation.org. HASTINGS Riveness appointed Retired Council Member Ed Riveness has been ap- pointed by the Hastings City Council to the seat vacated by Mike Slavik's election to the Dakota County Board. The council voted 6-0 last week to appoint Riveness, who left the body in 2008. Riveness, 80, has agreed to the council's request that he not run for his appointed seat when the two-year\term ends, said Mayor Paul Hicks. Two City Planning Com- mission members, Tom Bul- lington and Mark Vaughan, have objected to the appoint- ment because the council didn't allow residents to ap- ply for the seat. The city's Charter Commission may re- view the appointment proce- dure. Hicks said , the current charter . language, though vague, gives the council need- ed flexibility. DAKOTA COUNTY January Jump !Start to draw job seekers The Dakota -Scott Work Force Center is offering Jan- uary Jump Start, a conference for job seekers, on Jan. 24. The one -day event will run from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Da- kota County Northern Ser- vice Center, 1 Mendota Road W. in West St. Paul. It will feature keynote speaker Stevie Ray, of Stevie Ray's Improv Company, talk- ing about "How to Think on the Spot" with tips to calm the nerves during interviews. There will also be work- shops on a variety of topics, including interview prepara- tion, using LinkedIn and job searching for older'workers. Space is limited and reg- istration is required. Reg-. ister online at www.positiv elyminnesota.com/dakota scottworkshops. If you need special accommodations, call 651-554-5844 or send an e-mail to stacyklein@co.dakota.mn. us at least 72 hours prior to, the event. STAFF REPORTS Apple Valley to decide fate of troubled Spoon restaurant 4 SPOON FROM Ni promoter events. But given the past year's serious inci- dents,"We are watching close- ly," he said. Theng's attorney, Michael Padden, said a liquor license, is crucial to his clients staying in business, but they may give up and litigate the matter. • Fire department inspectors have warned but not cited the Spoon for 27 fire code viola- tions since January 20ll. The violations include repeatedly obstructing fire exits and ex- ceeding the 265-person maxi- mum capacity, Fire Chief Ne- alon Thompson said. He said the owners removed tables and chairs to comply with oc- cupancy limits, but when in- spectors returned months lat- er, the extra tables and chairs were back. That narrowed aisles and would impede pa- tron egress in a fire emergen- cy, Thompson said. Theng said the authori- ties keep changing his occu- pancy limits, which have var- ied from 280 when he arrived about two years ago to as low as 217 people. He denied re- turning the extra tables. , Rechtzigel said the eight se- rious incidents occurred when the Spoon was rented to pro- moters for hip -hop or other events. The promoters pro- vided the music, their own se- curity and collected a cover charge at the door. A police report noted that on Sept. 3, a promoter hired three guards, ages 23 to 26, who car- ried loaded handguns and were not licensed security guards as state law requires. The trio, who had.permits to carry guns, also .weredrinking while on duty, said police, who broke up three fights that night. "Our biggest issue was the lack of any security," Rech- tzigel said, "and what securi- ty there was obviously didn't know what they were doing." Theng said the three guards JIM ADAIyLS • jadazns@startribune.com The Spoon bar and restaurant has been the site of eight senous inci- dents, all when it was rented out for events, Apple Valley police said. furnished by the promoter showed him their gun per- mits, which he thought was adequate. The last major disturbance was Oct. 27, when a party bus brought revelers to the Spoon. Patrons scattered that night when a man brandished a handgun, the police report said. Police never found the gun but broke up fights in- volving about 25 people. Re- chtzigel said about 10 squad cars were needed, including backup from neighboring cit- ies, to gain control. The report noted that a po- tential problem was avoided last Maya Minneapolis police called With word that known gang members had planned a rap music party, another pro- moter event, at the Spoon. Po- lice told Theng, who canceled the event. Council Member Goodwin said some cultural differenc- es may be involved, and offi- cials have tried repeatedly to explain restaurant regulations to the couple. "We are trying to give this husband and wife one last chance to get it right," he said. "But they have to un- derstand how serious it is." Jim Adams • 952-746-3283 dakota Co s,:t ty HELPFUL,NUMBERS Star Tribune Fax • 612-673-4359 Delivery questions • 612-673-4343 CONTACT THE STAFF Dylan Belden, Team leader 952-746-3280 dbelden@startribune.com Laurie Blake Dakota County, Eagan, Burnsville 952-746-3287 laurie.blake@startribune.com Jim Adams, central Dakota County 952-746-3283. jadams@startribune.com Heron Marquez, Education 952-746-3281 hme@startribune.com Susan Feyder, business development 952-746-3282 • susan.feyder@startribune.com Ron Haggstrom, prep sports 612-673-4498 ron.haggstrom@startribune.com Mike Maslow, advertising 612-673-4106 mmaslow@startriliune.com CORRECTIONS The Star Tribune is committed to correcting errors that appear in the newspaper or online. Concerns about accuracy can be directed to correcti ons@startribune.com. You may also cell 612.673-4414. POLICE REPORT APPLE VALLEY DEC.26 Burglary. A forced -entry bur- glary was reported on the 14600 block of Glazier Ave- nue. DEC.28 ' Obstructing the legal process. An adult was arrested for giv- ing false identification to po- lice on the 15100 block of Ce- dar Avenue. DEC.29 , • Disorderly conduct. An adult was arrested for disorderly. conduct and interfering with a police officer on the 15300 block of Cedar Avenue. DEC.31 Burglary. A forced -entry bur- glary was reported on • the 13600 block of Holyoke Lane. JAN.1 Assault. An adult was arrest- ed for assault with a danger- ous weapon on the 5100 block' of W. 148th Path. Weapons violation. An adult was arrested for possession of a dangerous weapon near the intersection of W. 140th Street and Cedar Avenue. JAN. 2 Burglary. A burglary of an oc- cupied dwelling was report- ed on the 15500 block of Dun- hill Lane. JAN.3 Obstruction of the legal pro- cess. An adult was arrested for giving false identification to police on the 14600 block of Galaxie Avenue. . JAN. 5 Disorderly conduct. An adult was arrested for disorderly conduct on the 800 block of McIntosh Drive. BURNSVILLE DEC. 26 Criminal sexual conduct. A 50- year-old Burnsville man was arrested for criminal sexu- al conduct and domestic as- sault. Order for protection violation. A 42-year-old Burnsville man was arrested for violating an order for protection. Burglary. A23-year-old St. Paul man was arrested for burglary and theft on the 1000 block of W. Burnsville Parkway. DEC. 28 DWI. A 23-year-old Eagan man was arrested for DWI. DEC. 29 Drug activity. A 19-year-old Burnsville man was arrest- ed'for possession of marijua- na and having an open bottle in a motor vehicle after a traf- fic stop. • DEC.31 Assault. A 27-year-old Farm- ington man was arrested for assault of a peace officer, dis- orderly conduct, terroristic threats and obstruction of the legal process after a traffic stop for a seat belt violation. EAGAN JAN.2 • Theft. Two catalytic convert- ers and four •rotors were re- ported .stolen on the 1900 block of Seneca Road. JAN:5 Burglary. A television, elec- tronics and jewelry were tak- en from a residence on the 4000 block of Johnny Cake Ridge Court. The burglars broke a window to gain en- try, and blood stains were left near the broken window. Motor vehicle theft. A wom- an was arrested on suspicion of motor vehicle theft in con- nection with an ongoing case at .Wal-Mart, 1360 Town Cen- tre Drive. Assault. A woman was ar- rested for assault, terroris- tic threats and obstruction of justice with force at Wendys, 4640 Nichols Road. JAN. 6 Burglary. A checkbook and other items were reported stolen from three vehicles on the 4000 block of States Av- enue. JAN.7 Property damage. A basement was flooded at a residence on the 4200 block of Rahn Road when someone put a hose in- to the basement and turned a faucet on. ROSEMOUNT DEC. 31 Disorderly conduct. An 18- year-old Rosemount man was arrested for disorderly con- duct, obstructing the legal process and underage alco- hol consumption on the 15300 block Darjeeling Court. Underage alcohol consump- tion. A 17-year-old Rosemount • girl was arrested for under- age alcohol consumption on the 15300 block of Darjeel- ing Court. JAN.4 Disorderly conduct. A 19-year- old Apple Valley man was ar- rested for disorderly conduct near the intersection of W. 151st Street and Chippendale Avenue. Drug activity. A 15-year-old Robbinsdale girl was arrest- ed for possession of drug par- aphernalia on the 3300 block of W. 142nd Street. Underage tobacco possession. A 17-year-old Rosemount boy was arrested for possession of tobacco by a juvenile near the intersection of W. 151st Street and Cimarron Avenue! Items are selected from police reports and are not intended to provide a comprehensive picture of. crime. BUSINESS BEAT Eagan gets more retail,. restaurant • City approves expansion plan for Diffley Marketplace that includes a day-care center and dental clinics. By SUSAN FEYDER sfeyder@startribune.com The Eagan City Council has approved an expansion plan for Diffley Marketplace that includes adding a full -service restaurant and a 9,424-square- foot multi -tenant building to the retail complex. The existing two -build- ing retail center was built in 2008 and has been owned by an entity of Oakbrook, Ill. - based Inland Real Estate Corp. since 2010. Anchored by a Cub Foods, the center's other ten- ants include an Anytime Fit- ness and a Dunn Bros. cof- fee shop. The new restaurant and re- tail building will be construct- ed on two adjacent parcels and will be designed to look like the existing center. Rick Plessner, an Inland vice president, told the coun- cil that potential tenants' for the newretail building include a day-care center, a dental of- fice, an orthodontic clinic and a frozen yogurt shop. Earlier plans for that par- cel called for a bank or finan- cial institution, while previous plans for the other parcel were for a fast-food restaurant with a drive -through window. Plessner said Inland now would like to,have a sit-down restaurant with outdoor seat- ing and possibly on -sale li- quor. He said his firm is in dis- cussions with a restaurant op- erator, which he declined to identify. Strong building year in Lakeville, Residential construction dominated building activity in Lakeville last year, fueling.a sharp rise in the value of build- ing permits to almost $130 mil- lion compared with about $88 million in 2011. The city issued commercial and industrial permits valued at $10.1' million in 2012. That compares with $17 8 million in 2011, which included permits issued for the new 152,000- square-foot Wal-Mart that opened in October of 2012. The largest increase in 2012 was in single-family home per- mits, which rose from ll8 val- ued at $36.3 million to 279 val- ued at $83.6 million. Last year's single-family permit total was the largest since 2004. Last year's residential per- mits also included Kingsley Shores Senior Living, a $17.6 million, 101-unit senior hous- ing project along Kingsley Lake west of I-35 and south of County Road 5. Business assistance program comes to Dakota County Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers, a Minneapolis -based nonprof- it organization, has expanded its Open to Business program to Dakota County. The program provides fledgling businesses access to technical assistance as well as small business. loans. As part of a financing plan, borrowers canreceive help in planning, organizing and managing their businesses. The program got its start in Minneapolis and over the past several years has expand- ed to other cities in Hennepin County. In the past 10 years the program has loaned more than $6.7 million to about 550 entrepreneurs for start-ups or expansion projects. The program in Dakota County is being funded with $130,000 from the Dakota County Community Devel- opment Agency and 10 part- ner cities. ' According to the Dako- ta County. Chamber of Com- merce, the program will of- fer loans up to $25,000..For more information, contact Laurie Crow, Dakota County Open to Business program co- ordinator, at 952-484-3107 or Icrow@mccdmn.org. Please send your Dakota County business news to susan.feyder@startribune.com. MORE NEWS, NOTES AND EVENTS AT WWW.STARTRIBUNE.COM/SOUTH (DC) artsisure dota county SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2013 • STAR TRIBUNE • DAKOTA COUN: FREE EVENT OF THE WEEK Author talk Peter Vodenka will discuss his book u. defecting from communist Czechoslovakia at 6:30 p.b. Tuesday at the Robert Trail Library in Rosemount. Gallery space gives Rosemount an art outlet • The city's library and arts council worked together to open the new space in the Robert Trail Library. By LIZ ROLFSMEIER Special to the Star Tribune As DeAnne Parks paints, she jots down notes on index cards that she keeps on her ea- sel. She writes down bits of po- ems. Or Bible verses. On cards under her current project, a large painting with vivid cir- cles and rays of light, she's writ- ten words and phrases includ- ing "cells," "community" and "old timey music circles." 'All of my paintings are about community, joy, hope, faith, love ... or one of those things," she said. Because of her focus on community, Parks seems an ap- propriate artist to feature at the first show of the Rosemount Art Gallery, a new dedicated gallery space that opened in January in the Robert Trail Li- brary. The first show features three Rosemount artists: Parks, Cheryl Kluender and Rita Cor- rigan. "This is really our first pub- lic art display in Rosemount," said John Loch, program chair- man of the Rosemount Area Arts Council (RAAC). Loch, also a member of the Friends of the Library, contacted the library about setting up a gal- lery space, and he said the li- brary "got on board very, very quickly." Jamie Jurgensen, branch NOTES LIZ ROLFSMEIER DeAnne Parks, whose works are on display at the new Rosemount Art Gallery, worked in her studio in the Lowertown area of St. Paul. manager at the Robert Trail Library, said the library used funds from its ongoing book sale to purchase a hanging sys- tem. "It's such an exciting collab- oration," she said. "We're just really excited that we can add local art. We think everyone will benefit from it." The new space allows about 120 feet of space for exhibits. "The entire north wall is bro- ken up with windows," Loch said, "but other than that, it's a completely blank space" Johnny Cash tribute in Lakeville A Minnesota native will bring his internationally known Johnny Cash tribute show to Lakeville on Feb. 2. Philip Bauer, who got his start in show business by win- ning the Minnesota State Fair talent contest in 1985, has toured globally and been a featured performer in Branson, Mo. The show, sponsored by the Lakeville Area Arts Center and the Lakeville Rotary Club, is at 7:30 p.m. at Lakeville South High School. Limited seating is available. Tickets are $28.50 for preferred seating and $23.50 for balcony seating, and are avail- able at www.lakevilleareaarts center.com or at the Lakeville Area Arts Center, 20965 Holy- oke Av. Call 952-985-4640 for more information. DAKOTA COUNTY Open house to look at Lebanon Hills plans Residents are invited to re- view and share comments on the Lebanon Hills Regional Park master plan update dur- ing an open house from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the park's visitor center, 860 Cliff Road, Eagan. A presentation will be- gin at7pm. The plan includes potential resource management improve- ments, possible alignments for the park's connector trail, possi- ble improvements to other trails, and potential improvements to Philip Bauer as Johnny Cash visitor destination areas. Lebanon Hills is the most - visited park in the Dakota County parks system, drawing more than half a million vis- its in 2011. It consists of near- ly 2,000 acres bordering Eagan, Apple Valley and Rosemount. FROM STAFF REPORTS Send your Dakota County arts news to dylan.belden@startribune.com. "There's great light," said Parks. "It's a large, bright, well - lit space." Artwork will switch out ev- ery few months. After the first exhibit, the space will open up to other Dakota County artists. Jurgensen said she's especially CALENDAR HOME AND HOBBIES VINTAGE MARKETPLACE: Antiques, vin- tage finds, home decor and seasonal items. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thu. -Sat.; 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. next Sun. 302 Oak St., Farmington. 651-463-3401. MUSIC BLUE FELIX: With Nuisance, Heavens Gate, Screaming Mechanical Brain and Terror Overising. 6 p.m. Fri. Neisen's Sports Bar and Grill, 4851 W. 123rd St., Savage. 952- 846-4513. CHERRY DIRT: 9:30 p.m. next Sun. Arizo- na's, 1244 Canterbury Rd., Shakopee. 952- 277-0282. DORY DRIVE 9 p.m. Sat. High Five Sports Bar & Grill, 14103 Irving Av. S., Burnsville. 952-435-5502. EAGLE RIVER: 9:30 p.m. Fri. Arizona's, 1244 Canterbury Rd.,Shakopee. 952.277.0282. FOREIGNER: 8 p.m. Fri. $45-$55. Treasure Island Casino, 5734 Sturgeon Lake Rd., Red Wing.1-800.222.7077. JASON PAULSON BAND: 9 p.m. Fri. High Five Sports Bar & Grill, 14103 Irving Av. S., Burnsville. 952-435-5502. KILLER HAYSEEDS: 9:30 p.m. Sat. Neisen's Sports Bar and Grill, 4851 W. 123rd St., Savage. 952-846-4513. LAM JAM: 9:30 p.m. Sat. Arizona's, 1244 `There is no other Tom Hedges out there' A HEDGES FROM N1 Because of his legend- ary length of service, the task of finding his replace- ment is drawing more atten- tion than the typical city man- ager search. The city coun- cil hopes to hire someone by February, and many people are curious to see who steps onto the stage. "There is no other Tom Hedges out there," said Tom Colbert, who retired last year after 34 years as Hedges' pub- lic works director. Hedges is a natural people person whose warmth defuses conflicts and brings people to consensus, Colbert said. "His ultimate gift is getting people to work together." Thinking of himself "much like the pastor of a church," Hedges extended his role beyond City Hall. Whether coaching kids' sports, going to church, attending the Rota- ry or doing his grocery shop- ping, Hedges always wore his city manager hat and talked city business with residents wherever they found him. He was just 27 when hired as Eagan's first administra- tor. He knew going in that the community's develop- ment would be his to manage and saw at once that he would have to secure freeway access if the community was to grow properly. Digging in, he present- ed plans and arguments that persuaded the Minnesota De- partment of Transportation that Eagan was not a sleepy, drive -by rural area needing only a couple of freeway exits, but an up-and-coming com- munity worthy of multiple ac- cess points to interstates 494 and 35E and Cedar Avenue. Hedges remembers winning that point with MnDOT as a key accomplishment. After the freeways opened, Eagan's growth exploded. "The entire city was open for development," said Col- bert, thinking back to the 1980s. City Council meetings regularly stretched to 1 or 2 a.m. as people poured into city hall to contest the loss of open land and assessments for roads and sewers. As a measure of how high the growth pressure was, Egan remembers that on a sin- gle evening the City Council approved 1,200 single-fami- ly lots. "That was the kind of pressure we were under. You needed someone with Tom's style to control things." Businesses and commer- cial -industrial builders de- manded attention to their ap- plications as well, Egan said. He credits Hedges for having the presence needed among senior managers at West Pub- lishing to encourage the com- pany's expansion in Eagan. The firm, now Thompson Re- uters, is Eagan's largest em- ployer. One feat Hedges did not pull off was bringing the met- ro horse -racing track to a 500- acre site in northwest Eagan. Council members wanted it, so Hedges waded in. But in the end, Shakopee landed the track. The happy ending was that the time spent studying and preparing the site made it attractive to major businesses, including Northwest Airlines, which brought jobs and tax base to the city, Egan said. Openness and honesty have been key to Hedges' success, said Lakeville City Admin- istrator Steve Mielke , who started out as a young intern for Hedges. "This is a profes- sion where over time you have to say no to people. You can't say yes to everything. Tom has the ability to communicate with people in a way that they end up respecting him, even if they don't like the answer." Iowa roots Hedges, the only son of Charles and Rosemary Hedg- es, was born and raised in Spir- it Lake, Iowa. His interest in city government began at age 12 when his mother worked for a time in the city clerk's of- fice. He enjoyed hanging out at City Hall with the police chief and utilities superintendent. "It was a very positive influ- ence on me," he recalled. After playing every sport the high school had to offer and captaining the football team, Hedges moved on to college as a business major at the Uni- versity of South Dakota, where he was drawn to classes on government administration in between accounting and eco- nomics. While there, he met and married his wife, Debbie, who earned a nursing degree. After graduating from the business school in 1971, he considered law school but was lured into a master's program in public administration when offered a paid teaching fellow- ship. With his new degree in hand, he was drawn to Minne- sota by a tiny ad in the Star Tri- bune for a city clerk/adminis- eager to be able to feature stu- dent artwork. "The sky's the limit," Loch said. Parks works as an artist -in - residence at Thomas Lake El- ementary in Eagan and teaches art to kids with depression is- sues. She said she likes that art- work will be on display in a pop- ular hangout for local youth. "That place is just packed with middle-schoolers after school," she said. "The arts center is right next door to the library, so that's a plus, too," said Kluender, vi- sual arts chairwoman for the Rosemount Area Arts Coun- cil. Her works will also be dis- played. The Steeple Center, a mul- tiuse facility adjacent to the li- brary, is a hub for the arts coun- cil's activities. The council re- cently received a $10,000 grant to display artwork at the cen- ter, a project currently in pro- cess. Loch said that because the Steeple Center is a mul- tiuse space with limited wall space but large amounts of floor space, they plan to focus on having standing displays in the center of the facility, which will display for shorter periods of time. "We see the library being for the long exhibits," Loch said, "and the Steeple Center for shorter displays." "We're really kind of thrilled because three months ago, there was no place to display any kind of arts [in Rosemount]," Loch said. "RAAC is doing so many cool things," Parks said. "It's made living in Rosemount wonderful because they've done so many things. I can't believe what they've done in five years." Liz Rolfsmeier is a Twin Cities freelancer. Canterbury Rd., Shakopee. 952-277-0282. SHAUN MITZEL: 9:30 p.m. today. Arizo- na's, 1244 Canterbury Rd., Shakopee. 952- 277-0282. STONED ACOUSTIC: 7:30 p.m. Fri. Jo Jo's Rise & Wine, 12501 Nicollet Av. S., Bu rnsvi I le. 952-736-3001. TIM SIGLER: 9:45 p.m. Fri. $8. Jersey's Bar & Grill, 6449 Concord Blvd., Inver Grove Heights. 651-455-4561. UNCLE CHUNK: 9:45 p.m. Sat. $7. Jer- sey's Bar & Grill, 6449 Concord Blvd., Inver Grove Heights. 651-455-4561. URBAN JAZZ EXPERIMENT: 7:30 p.m. Sat. Jo Jo's Rise & Wine, 12501 Nicollet Av. S., Burnsville. 952-736-3001. UTTER CHAOS: 9:30 p.m. Thu. Arizona's, 1244 Canterbury Rd., Shakopee. 952- 277-0282. THEATER THE SECOND CITY: 8 p.m. Sat. $19. Mystic Lake Hotel and Casino, 2400 Mystic Lake Blvd., Prior Lake. 952-445-9000. ART NIRTHFOLDE VISITORS BUREAU: Works by David Lefkowitz and Doug Bratland. Northfield Arts Guild, 304 Division St., Northfield. 1-507-645-8877. OUR BURNSVILLE: An exhibition by the Da- kota County Historical Society. Burnsville Performing Arts Center, 12600 Nicollet Av. S., Burnsville. 952-895-4685. DIVERSIONS ABC WEEKEND: Celebrate reading and wildlife fun with storytime, keeper talk and a chance to meet Snoopy. 10 a.m. Sat. -next Sun. Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley. 952.431.9500. ICE CASTLE: Walk through this structure of shimmering archways, tunnels and walls that reaches more than 40 feet high. Family of four package for $25. Noon-7 p.m. today, next Sun.; noon-10 p.m. Mon. - Fri.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat. $5-$10. Mall of America, Interstate 494 and Cedar Av. S., Bloomington. 952-883-8810. MINNESOTA ZOO: Multiple trails featur- ing hundreds of species and the black bear exhibit that includes Minnesota veg- etation, pool and climbing trees. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today -next Sun. $12-$18. 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley. 952-431-9500. WHAT'S UP DOC? SCOTT COUNTY MED- ICINE: See how medicine has advanced since 1853, when Scott County was found- ed. $2-$4. Scott County Historical Society, 235 5. Fuller St., Shakopee. 952-445-0378. IOEL KOYAMA • jkoyama@startribune.com Hedges said his interest in city government began when he was 12, hanging out in City Hall in his hometown, Spirit Lake, Iowa. trator in St. Peter. "I thought 'Well, what the heck?" he said. At the age of 23, Hedges be- came St. Peter's first city man- ager and remains "forever grateful" to St. Peter for giving him his start in the field. The best, most satisfying part of the city administrator's job has been inspiring and mo- tivating staff and watching them succeed, Hedges said. At 64, he feels it's time to retire because he and his wife want more flexibility to travel and spend time with their chil- dren, grandchildren and aging parents. Having encountered most every challenge a city has to offer, Hedges plans to consult after he retires. Other manag- ers have sought his advice con- fidentially for years. As the City Council looks for his replacement, Hedges is thinking about how to assist the new administrator without upstaging him or her. "I will be forever supportive," Hedges said. "What I don't want to be is the other pastor in the sanc- tuary" Pleased that a recent com- munity survey found residents happy with life in Eagan, Hedg- es said the challenge for the new administrator will be to "keep that energy moving." Laurie Blake • 952-746-3287 N4 • DAKOTA COUNTY • STAR TRIBUNE • SUNDAY, JANUARY 13, 2013 (DC) sports dak.!:.. coun « NOW'S A GOOD TEST TO SEE IF WE TAKE THE LESSONS WE LEARNED IN THE FIRST HALF AND APPLY THEM IN THE SECOND HALF. )) Lakeville South coach Natalie Darwitz Photos by RICHARD TSONG-TAATARII • rtsongtaatarii@startribune.com Callen Naasz reached for the puck as she battled Breck defenders Megan Sweet (10) and Leah Schwartzman (44). Naasz, a senior captain, is key to Lakeville South's success. I ear- • Lakeville South, with a nice mix of seniors and underdassmen, hopes to keep improving. By AARON PAITICH Special to the Star Tribune As the girls' hockey season motors along, Lakeville South is now facing its South Sub- urban rivals the second time around. That not only means the stakes are higher but that the playoffs are on the horizon. "A little bit more is on the line now. It's crunch time," said second -year head coach Natalie Darwitz, a former U.S. Olympian. "Now's a good test to see if we take the lessons we learned in the first half and apply them in the second half." Playing all 51 minutes and being more consistent are things that Lakeville South, sitting at 10-5-3, needs to con- tinue to improve upon. Sus- tained intensity and finishing ability will be crucial for the Cougars as the season pro- gresses. This group features five se- niors that lead and a good mix of ninth -graders and sopho- mores who have taken on key roles. "I like our mix," Darwitz said. "Hopefully, it's a good _l= g :0: t pas Ari Reid (17) and Breck's Leah Schwartzman raced for the puck in a recent game. Reid, a forward, leads the Cougars in scoring with 21 points through 18 games. blend going down the stretch here." Speed is a team strength. The Cougars don't give op- ponents much time to get the puck out of their zone. The buzzing helps create turnovers and ultimately spearheads an up -tempo transition game, which can catch opposing de- fenses off guard. Senior captain Callen Naasz is a prime example. "She's your quick -fast play- er who can change the mo- mentum in a game in just one shift," Darwitz said. "She's def- initely a threat when she's play- ing well." Callen, who teammates call "Cay Cay," is solid in the faceoff circle and helps set the tone of the game. "When Cay Cay's on, our team's going to be on," Dar- witz said. "Here's the deal: When we're in a key situa- tion, Cay Cay's going to be on the ice." Three steady lines have pro- duced fairly equally across the board for the Cougars. Naasz centers Chloe Bat- ta and Haley Ravndalen. Na- asz has 10 goals and 10 assists through 18 games. Batta has added 14 points and Ravn- dalen ll. Morgan Morse, with 17 points, centers Annabeth Smith and Ari Reid, who has a team -leading 21 points. Janna Good Times Park for families to open in Eagan PARK FROM N1 25,000-square-foot play cen- ter in a commercial building at 3265 Northwood Circle. The space was formerly occupied by the American Red Cross but has been vacant since Oc- tober 2011. O'Meara said she spent about nine months looking for sites, focusing on parts of the south metro area with easy access to Eagan, Burnsville, Lakeville and Apple Valley. Al- though the facility won't be in a retail center, it will be close to the busy commercial inter- section of Denmark Avenue and Yankee Doodle Road. O'Meara stresses that adults will be required to su- pervise their children at the facility and also sign a waiver. She will be the park's only full- time employee. "It's not a drop-off," she said. In fact, O'Meara said she's designing the park as a place where families, includ- ing adults, can play togeth- er. "The concept is having a convenient place for families to have some laughs togeth- er and burn off some ener- gy. The principle is unstruc- tured play." Monthly membership fees will range from $20 to $45, depending on the number of children in the family. The cost for a one-time visit will be $8 per child. O'Meara said she also hopes to offer annual memberships and group rates, although those fees have not been determined yet. The facility will have a gym and an open field. Plans call for traditional play equip- ment, like monkey bars and slides, as well as more unusual features like a giant inflatable jumping pillow and overhead projectors that will display three-dimensional hologram games onto floors. O'Meara said she spent about two years researching various types of playground equipment, por- ing over catalogs and meeting with area equipment vendors and park directors. She said the cost of remodeling and outfitting the indoor park will total about $550,000. O'Meara said her business plan projects becoming prof- itable within the first year. She said she might explore opening up indoor parks in other communities, possibly through franchising. She believes her facility will complement, rather than com- pete, with The Blast, whose play equipment is tailored mostly for younger children. The community facility isn't packed all the time like it was when it opened 10 years ago, but it is still a popular ameni- ty, said Cherryl Mesko, super- intendent of Eagan's park and recreation operations. The Blast's space-themed climbing structure tends to fill up when other activities in the adjacent gym are going on, she said. City Administrator Tom Hedges agrees there's room in Eagan for both indoor parks and said he'd be interested in taking his grandchildren to the new facility. "The Blast has been very successful, but the more op- portunities like this we can provide for families, the bet- ter," he said. "Venues like this help advertise our communi- ty." Susan Feyder • 952-746.3282 Haeg centers Jordan Gill and a trio of forwards who rotate through the lineup. Kalley Ravndalen leads all blue -liners with four goals and 13 points. Darwitz is let- ting Chloe Crosby and Claire Wallenta battle it out at goal - tender. "They're both getting an opportunity, and they're both stepping up," Darwitz said. "That's something down the stretch we'll need. Goaltending is a huge factor in any champi- onship team." If Lakeville South is to be a conference or section cham- pion, it will have to get past a familiar foe — crosstown rival Lakeville North. The Cougars lost the first of potentially three matchups with the Panthers on Jan. 3, in a 3-2 game. Lakeville South fell behind 3-0 early but ral- lied and had chances to tie but couldn't convert. The Cougars and Panthers will face off in their final regu- lar -season matchup Feb. 2, with a potential conference cham- pionship on the line. They al- so could meet for the section crown. For now, the focus is on growing every game and work- ing toward those goals. "We just want to play good hockey at the right time," Dar- witz said. "I like our progres- sion." QUICK Q&A HALEY HOUSH VISITATION • SR. BASKETBALL Visitation senior guard Haley Housh has scored more than 1,000 career points during her high school basketball career. She is on the verge of be- coming the school's all-time leading scorer. Here is some insight on Housh, who also plays lacrosse: What is the best movie you've seen in the past year? There's just way too many. I recently saw "Django: Unchained" and really liked it. Three songs I never skip on my iPod ... "What Goes Around" by Justin Tim- berlake; "Call It What You Want" by Foster the People; "Dancing in the Moon- light" by King Harvest. What are your three favorite apps? Pandora; Instagram; Yahoo's Spor- tacular. Who do you like to follow the most on Twitter, and why? My older brothers because they think they are a lot funnier than they actually are. Three words or phrases my friends or teammates might use to describe me? Leader; competitive; goofy. At my first varsity prac- tice, I felt ... somewhat intimidated by the upper- classmen and their humor, but it only took about five minutes to adjust. To get focused for a game, I ... listen to Eminem. What is your goal for the remainder of the basket- ball season? My main goal is to have a great season as a team and to make my teammates look good while having fun on the court. Also, making it to the section finals would be a great way to end my high school career. How do you balance school and sports dur- ing the year? It's hard to balance the schoolwork, especially at Visitation, but having a study hall is nice for getting busy work done before games. Do you have a secret tal- ent — and if so, what is it? I have an unusual ability to remember and quote movie lines. RON HAGGSTROM On sale Jan. 18 @ i i a m An Intimate Evening With CLINT CT\ii THURSDAY, APRIL 11 BURNSVIL.LE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ,+gun NicuIl* Ave Burnsville, MN A11 Age, Ali 4.-ats ;wpm Tickets: In person at the BPAC Box Office, via'I'icketmaster at 800.982.2787 or Ticketmaster.com CLINTBLACK.COM JADEPRESENTS.COM Thomas L. Hedges City Administrator City of Eagan Thomas Hedges has served as administrator for the City of Eagan since 1976. Since that time, he has made key decisions that have both facilitated and shaped Eagan's dramatic growth. The city administrator's job description is quite similar to a corporation's chief executive officer. With the help of two assistants and an administrative secretary, Hedges manages six City department heads, which in turn oversee the City's 196 full-time employees. Through his leadership, Hedges has played a significant role in drawing large businesses to Eagan, the most notable being West Publishing and Northwest Airlines. As administrator, Hedges helped coordinate the building, hiring and maintenance required by Eagan's tremendous growth. Much of that task involved city services, which expanded to meet the needs of a population that quickly quadrupled in size. Hedges is a member of both the International and Metropolitan City Managers Associations. His other notable memberships include: Lions Club, Rotary Club, American Society of Public Administration, Minnesota Valley Exchange Club, Eagan Chamber of Commerce and the Boy Scouts of America. The city administrator holds a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in education/business administration from the University of South Dakota. He was formerly a city administrator for the City of St. Peter. A youth sports enthusiast and former coach, Hedges is on the board of directors for the Southwest YMCA. In addition, he serves as director and founder of the Eagan Community Foundation. Hedges is married and the father of three children. Growth & Service Active & Engaged Water Usage High Through Hot Summer In the spring of 2012, rain kept lawns moist and the community's water use was down. But once the rain ended, the hot summer of 2012 began. Throughout the summer, Eagan's water utility saw very high use by residents and businesses as the temperature remained high. In fact, on all but three summer days in 2012 use exceeded the average high use per day (13.24 mil- lion gallons) of the previous year. The highest 2011 single day water usage of 20.88 million gallons was exceeded to times in 2012. The Eagan utility pumped out its highest amount of water on July 2, which brought the system to 83% of its capacity as temperatures crept toward too degrees. Double Miles (and more) for Paving Program The City's long-standing Pavement Management Program continued with the revitalization of 21 miles of streets in 22 neighborhoods (affecting about 1,60o properties) in 2012. The typical average for summer pavement projects is eight projects in eight neighborhoods impacting 80o properties. To date, the City's streets revitalization program has improved over 190 miles of roadway in 170+ Eagan neighborhoods since 199o. These projects also pro- vide a window within which utility, storm sewer, and pedestrian facilities can be improved. City parking lots at Goat Hill, Northview, Rahn, and Clearwater Parks, and about 12 miles of vari- ous walking trails adjacent to streets and within City parks were given new pavement surfaces with pedestrian accessibility improvements. Fire Department Prepares to Serve for next 50-Years New equipment, personnel and a new look were all visible in the Eagan Fire Department in 2012 as the department began preparing to recognize its 5oth Anniversary of serving the community, in 2013. Replacing outmoded equipment, adding vehicles that enhance proven operations or providing addi- tional functionality were key factors when selecting new or replacement apparatus. Some of the equip- ment includes: 1 A Snozzle master stream that allows fire- fighters to spray water at a structure to a height of 55 feet. Due to its versatility and effectiveness, this is the third of this type vehicle owned by the department. 1 A 2012 Jeep brush truck, designed for far off road calls in areas like Lebanon County Park and the Minnesota River Valley, was built and partially funded by an Eagan resi- dent that owns Burnsville OffRoad. The truck was displayed at the international Fire Chief Conference in Denver. 1 Gopher Resources donated a hybrid truck for fire investigations. A new heavy duty Hydraulic tool for station #2 to assist with the 15o vehicle extractions the department averages annually. Public Education and Fire Prevention got an enhanced focus with the hiring of a part-time Fire Prevention Specialist who will help coordinate the department efforts on National Night Out, the High School Mock Crash program, Youth Safety Camp, 1 and numerous community safety training and events. The firefighters uniforms also got a new look in 2012 incorporating new helmets, funded through community business donations, which provide enhanced safety features for firefighters and a higher visibility color. A new design for Class B uni- forms was selected in a traditional dark blue similar to those worn 50-years ago when the department was established. The old Fire Station #2 was sold in 2012. The new Station #2/Fire Safety Center played host to a variety of events including an event attended by U.S. Senator Al Franken, the 2012 State of the City Address, the department's annual Ice Cream Social and it's Fire Prevention Month Open House. Crime Down, Community Service Strong in Police Department Unofficial crime statistics tracked by the police department through December 2012 show a decrease in reported crimes in the City. When comparing these new statistics to 2011, preliminary data indicates a slight decline in overall crime. The number of reported crimes dropped from 3,365 in 2011 to 3,257 by the end of 2012, a 3.2 % decrease in crime. Official crime numbers for the City will not be avail- able until later this year and will be published in the Police Department's 2012 Annual Report, avail- able via the City's Web site in April. Although crime statistics overall have shown favorable trends, the department has seen a notable increase in instances of citizens experiencing some sort of mental health emergency. In fact, since 2007, there has been a 35% increase in mental health -related cases. The department and community had strong partici- pation in National Night Out in August with police personnel attending 164 parties and visiting with some 10,000+ neighbors out celebrating and learn- ing crime prevention ideas. As neighborhoods and open areas share closer proximities, Eagan has seen and increase in the sightings and activity of coyotes. To help educate the public about these animals, the department brought in a speaker from the national Humane Society who spoke with 120 interested residents. A new Police K-9 officer named Badger (name suggestions came from local school kids) began duty in 2012 with his human partner Officer Andy Helgerson. Eagan Shattered Voter Turnout Record Eagan residents take voting seriously, as a rule, but in November 2012 they outdid themselves as nearly 84% of registered voters turned out to on Election Day, shattering the previous high mark of 81.2% turnout in the 2004 presidential elec- tion. Not only did Eagan top its own record turnout, but exceeded the state-wide estimate of 76% and beat the national turnout of 57.5%. 1 Open Access Business Fiber Network Building Speed World -class communications are central to Eagan's economic development and quality of life. Eagan has one of the highest growth rates in high tech and knowledge worker jobs in the Twin Cities region, and while large companies can purchase the high speed Internet and data connections they need, small and mid -sized Eagan businesses expressed concerns about a lack of affordable options. In 2012 the City of Eagan completed the build out, through busi- ness areas of the city, a 16.2 mile wholesale fiber optic network called AccessEagan. Set to debut in 2013, the high speed high capacity network is open to any retail provider that wishes to offer high capacity broadband services to Eagan companies. The City has attractive point-to-point circuit rates for providers, and businesses will be able to connect to the provider of their choice with too megabit, Gigabit, and 1oGig circuits on request. Find out more at www.accesseagan. com. Healthy Eating and Active Living Designation On March loth, 2012, the City Council took action to become a supporting member of the Twin Cities Obesity Prevention Coalition and approved a resolution declaring Eagan to be a Healthy Eating and Active Living Community. This dec- laration stated that the City will seek oppor- tunities and establish mechanisms to support individual, community and environmental efforts to improve the public's health by encouraging the development and implementation of policies and practices that support and promote healthy eating and active living among citizens in the City of Eagan. The Advisory Parks Commission worked with City and County staff to develop initiatives that will promote healthier eating choices in public facilities. The Commission and staff will continue to evaluate additional healthy eating and active living options for future consideration by the City Council to benefit Eagan citizens. Eagan 2012 Annual Report • March April 2013.3 Eagan Named GreenStep City — Earns Step 3 Designation Eagan was one of the first Minnesota Cities to achieve Step Three designation of the GreenStep Cities program to implement energy use reductions and best practices. Eagan was lauded at the League of Minnesota Cities Conference in June, for accomplishing 20 of 28 best practices in sustainabil- ity, so far. Earlier steps involve passing a GreenStep City resolution and implementing up to eight of the program's best practices. "Step Three" cities had to implement 16 or more sustainable best practices focused on cost savings, energy reductions, and innovation. Eagan's zo best practices include par- ticipating in a benchmarking database, conserving drinking water resources with updated ordinances, replacing traditional traffic signals with energy effi- cient LED lights, and incorporating access to locally grown food in a City park. Not only is kilowatt usage per square foot dropping in government buildings citywide, but energy expen- ditures and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) emissions are also down. As an example, from March of 2011 through February of 2013, kilowatt usage at the Civic Arena is down 42%, energy costs per square foot are down 14% and CO2 emissions are down 4.5. At City Hall, emissions are down 15%. ECC & Market Fest Composting Project a Success In order to determine whether the Eagan Community Center (ECC) was a viable candidate for a pilot composting program that would divert some of the traditional garbage to compost, the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) did a garbage evaluation at the facility in December 2011. They found the site to be a good candidate and the pilot program began in July 2012 with a sec- ond waste evaluation conducted six weeks later to measure changes. The results were far better than anticipated: 1 The December waste sorting evaluation found 27% of what was going to the landfill was true trash 73% had the potential to be diverted or at least mitigated 1 Of that 73%, 45% was food or compostable waste 1 In the August waste sort the ECC was cap- turing 78% of available compostable mate- rial thus reducing the true trash going to the landfill. 1 At these levels of sorting the ECC can reduce 18,z5o lbs annually of compostable material from the landfill. Due to the early success of the building's compost- ing project the Eagan Market Fest was added to the composting program. To provide additional public awareness and education, volunteers were avail- able on site to supplement the signage, to help the public understand how to: sort by compostable materials, recyclable materials and true trash. EPA, MnTAP and Dakota Valley Recycling, volunteers and staff were all key players in the success of this proj- ect. Future expansion of the program, to other City facilities, is planned to continue the effort to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills. Dogs Get a New Play Environment In the summer of zo12 the City opened its first off -leash dog area (OLDA) in Thresher Fields Park. Concept of an OLDA in Eagan was first brought forth nearly 15 years ago. At the time, there was not an appropriate location within an existing City park and the concept of what an OLDA could be was still evolving. In 2o11, the Advisory Park Commission, interested residents and staff began the process of planning and site selection. A six -acre section of Thresher Fields was selected because of its size, nonresiden- tial location and existing amenities. The rugged character of the site posed some challenges but was seen as a unique feature in the realm of OLDA's and was quickly embraced. Development began in spring of wiz. Park staff delineated a boundary and a series of trail corridors that would be respectful of the natural conditions while also providing a quality experience to dogs and their owners. Perimeter fencing and gates were installed, nearly % mile of trail were cleared and mulched, erosion control measures were imple- mented, directional and rules signage was devel- oped and site furnishings installed. At the sugges- tion of dog owners a separate gated area for small dogs was included as well as gates that control access to the adjoining lake. The OLDA opened to the public in July. Since opening, the response to OLDA has been overwhelmingly positive. Nearly 50o annual per- mits have been purchased, far exceeding first year expectations. Information on permits is available on the City Web site or by calling (651) 675-5500. Eagan 2012 Annual Report • March April 2013.4 By the numbers... 28 participants in the Eagan Citizen's Academy got a first- hand look at police opera- tions, skills and training and experienced a ride -along with an officer as a part of the program 43.33 miles of roadway have been adopted for clean-up by 57 resident or businesses ADOPT - A - STREET 226 trees, zoi shrubs, 1,245 perennials and 11,594 annu- als were planted (at Cascade Bay, Community Center, City Hall, Maintenance facility) with another 500 trees pruned by Eagan Forestry staff 500 pumpkins were brought for recycling and compost- ing by 24o families at Eagan's first -ever pumpkin drop-off, coordinated by Dakota Valley Recycling 1,992 adult softball games were played on Eagan fields in 2012, 3,697 pounds of shoes were dropped off by residents for Dakota Valley Recycling's annual shoe recycling event Nov 12-18. 4,058 fire hydrants in Eagan 38,615 frequently asked questions were accessed by the public from the City Web site 1,377,367 miles were driven by City vehi- cles and equipment 3,640,400,000 gallons of water were pumped (from groundwa- ter aquifers, treated, and distributed to residents and business) through the Eagan water utility system in 2012. More Annual Reports Residents interested in more detailed versions of department Annual Reports can access them later this year on the City's Web site. Mayor Mike Maguire Councilmembers Paul Bakken Cyndee Fields Gary Hansen Meg Tilley City Hall (651) 675-5000 • (651) 454-8535 TTY www.cityofeagan.com 41911 City of Eapll 2012 lllllual Roport By many measures, reconfirmed throughout zo1z, Eagan remains on the right track. For the fourth consecutive time, Money Magazine named Eagan to its top zo Best Places to Live in America list issued every two years. The City's biennial citizen survey found that 97% of those polled regard the quality of life here as excellent or good. In the 2012 elections, both incumbents, (Councilmembers Cyndee Fields and Meg Tilley) ran unopposed to retain their places on the City Council. Although there have been some business losses, such as the announced closing of the Lockheed Martin facility and slightly elevated vacancy rates elsewhere in Eagan, the business commu- nity is showing signs of resurgence. There have been significant new entries in the corporate landscape, including the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) facil- ity which manages the power grid for multiple states. Promising plans for transforming much of the Cedar Grove Redevelopment District into an upscale outlet center are moving full speed ahead. Facility expansions like those at EcoLab and Blue Cross, and new jobs added at Prime Therapeutic, the U.S. Postal Service Bulk Mail and Payroll facilities and Factory Motor Parts have helped Eagan's unemployment rate remain lower than State and National averages. The City has also seen increased reinvestment in proper- ties, including the refurbishing of the Balentrae Apartments, several new entries in the restau- rant sector, and building permit activity at levels not seen since 2o07. All of these are indicators that the community is thriving, engaged and satisfied. Each year, the City of Eagan provides an Annual Report to its citizens to outline some of the accomplishments, events and highlights of City operations within the previous year. The City Council and staff are pleased to provide this information and are always available to assist the public in any way they can. Page 1 Succession & Satisfaction Page 2 Developing Nicely Page 3 Growth & Service Active & Engaged Page 4 A Natural Fit By the Numbers Succession & Satisfaction Team Transition In 2012, the City of Eagan has seen more staff transi- tion through retirement than in any single previous year. Anticipating this turnover, the City Council and the Senior Management team began work on suc- cession planning more than two years ago to insure organizational stability was retained and a smooth transition could be accomplished. Even earlier still, the organization placed a strong emphasis on grow- ing and nurturing the talent that exists internally and because of this, a majority of the vacated top level positions, were filled by existing personnel fol- lowing competitive and open hiring processes. The retiring senior staff members listed below account for 217 years of service combined. Hedges Named Communicator of the Year & Caps 36-Year Career In May, Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges was named Communicator of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators. The Award recognizes his many years of helping build public trust in government by effectively presenting accurate, timely and meaningful information. This award is among many Hedges has received in his 36-year tenure with Eagan and 41-year career as a City Administrator. Hedges announced his inten- tion to retire in September zotz and facilitated his last City Council meeting on February 5, 2o13. Tom Hedges Gene VanOverbeke Tom Colbert Matthys Named MN City Engineer & New Director of Public Works Eagan's City Engineer since 1997, Russ Matthys, was also honored in 2012 with the prestigious Engineer of the Year Award from his peers —the City Engineers Association of Minnesota. The award recognized his work to mentor students interested in the engineering field as well as his many accom- plishments working on City projects and with the community. In June, Matthys was selected as Eagan's Director of Public Works, following the retirement of Tom Colbert, who had served in that position since 1978. City Ranks Highly in Satisfaction Survey Eagan residents like living here even more than they did two years ago. They want more clothing stores, and desire a careful eye on taxes, but they overwhelmingly approve of the City services they receive. Those are among the findings from the latest biennial survey of Eagan residents by an inde- pendent research company which describes Eagan as "the showpiece of the County." 1 93% think things in Eagan are on the right track, the highest figure in the metro area of communities surveyed by Decision Resources. 1 City services all have high ratings, ranging from 97% who rate Fire Department services as excellent or good, to 86% who say the same about snow plowing —numbers well above the norm for other communities. 1 In fact, the 9o% job approval rating of City staff overall and the staff courtesy rating (93%) are the highest in the metro area. 1 The City Council itself has an 86% approval rating, placing it in the top five metro wide. Position (in order of retirement) Retiring Staff Member Years with Eagan Hired for Position Utilities Superintendant Wayne Schwanz 27 Jon Eaton from City of Bloomington Information Technology Manager - Kristi Peterson 24 Dan Cook promoted internally Police Sergeant Linda Myhre 31 Internal promotion Police Detective Lori Tripp 32 Internal promotion Public Works Director Tom Colbert 34 Russ Matthys promoted internally Administrative Services Director Gene VanOverbeke 33 Dianne Miller Assistant City Administrator takes over Administrative Services duties. Tom Pepper promoted internally as Finance Director City Administrator* Tom Hedges 36 Dave Osberg from City of Hastings, to begin March 2013 September 2012 for retirement date in February zo13 Eagan 2012 Annual Report • March April 2013.1 Developing Nicety The value of Eagan building activity in 2012 was nearly $iio million, the highest since 2007 and an 85% increase from the previous three years. Eagan employers increased their total job numbers in the City to its highest level ever, replacing and surpass- ing jobs lost during the recession despite the loss of employees at Delta Airlines, Lockheed Martin and Mesaba airlines. Nearly every category of development activity saw significant increases in 2012, including 154 new residential units and 141 new or renovated commer- cial buildings. Highlights of these developments include: Completion of the 37,00o square foot expansion of Ecolab's Schuman Research Facility. Renovation of the former Buffets Inc. head- quarters building for an expansion of Prime Therapeutics. Renovation of the 905 Yankee Doodle building for the Murphy Warehouse Company. Beginning of construction on the 47-unit Northwood Townhomes rental project by the Dakota County CDA. Substantial renovations began on the Ballantrae Apartments and were approved for the Eagan Gable rental townhomes. Relocation and renovation of the 77,000 square foot Eagan Technology Center for the two divisions of Lockheed Martin that will remain in Eagan. Completion of the new Urgency Room medical facility on Denmark Ave. Completion of the new Discount Tire facil- ity at the former gas/convenience store site on Pilot Knob Rd and Duckwood Dr. 1 Renovation completed of the former Taco Bell building in Town Centre for Sherwin Williams. 1 Completion of the new Eagan Retail Center at the former Holiday Station Store at Cliff Rd and Rahncliff Rd. 1 Interior renovations completed for the VA Health Care Region 23 headquarters and Great Lakes Education call center in the Grand Oak development. 1 New headquarters and call center for Stream Global operations completed in the Northwood Business Park. 1 Full renovation of the former Joe Senser's restaurant for the new Lone Oak Grill near Lone Oak Rd and 35E. 1 Beginning of construction on the next phase of the Nicols Ridge Townhomes in Cedar Grove and additional phases of the Stonehaven development at the former Carriage Hills Golf Course. Revitalizing Cedar Grove The Cedar Grove Redevelopment area continued to be the focus of redevelopment efforts for the City in 2012. The Eagan Economic Development Authority (EDA) completed all acquisition, demoli- tion and environmental investigation necessary for redevelopment to begin in early 2013. The City and its Master Developer, Pratt Development, were approached by Paragon Outlet Centers to consider a new regional upscale retail outlet center on a large portion of the core Cedar Grove site. After significant design considerations, the EDA approved a preliminary purchase agree- ment to sell 29 acres to Paragon for the anchor development and a concept plan that uses struc- tured parking to preserve nine additional acres for future development projects. The City approved a preliminary subdivision and Planned Development zoning for the project in November. The design plan will include a 444,00o square foot facility consisting of six buildings con- figured with a walkable interior racetrack design. The project layout and design reflects a number of aspects of the original goals established for the area including pedestrian walkways, the use of ver- tical and horizontal features to create focal points, combinations of small and medium shops within walkable proximity, and connections to the existing BRT Cedar Grove Transit Station and its west end. In preparation for the project, initial grading was completed in the Fall 2012 to allow necessary utility and road relocations. Site work will continue with a groundbreaking likely this Spring in anticipation of a grand opening by November 2014. Communication Options Strengthened with Citizens Effectively communicating with citizens has always been a high priority for the Eagan City Council and staff. Only the methods of communications have changed through the years. Whether speaking directly to an audience at an event like the State of the City address or to neighbors at a City Council meeting, or virtually through a computer or on a phone call, connecting residents with the informa- tion they need is the goal. In 2012, the City was pleased to learn that the City newsletter outpolls all other local news sources as the principal source of information about the City for residents, and the number who said the City Web site is their primary source of information for City news was more than two times higher than the metro norm. The Web site averages 1,40o visitors each day. The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) facility which manages the power grid for multiple states broke ground in the Boulder Lakes business campus in northeast Eagan in 2012. The City's facebook page also gained momentum and at year-end had .,486 followers of its daily posts. This number increased from 602 in 2011. A pilot Pintrest account hosting Eagan Community Center Wedding information and ideas was also suc- cessfully launched. More than 7,700 live or recorded City meetings and featured programs were viewed by the public via Webstream from the City Web site, allowing the public to stay abreast of City actions and operations when it is most convenient to them. E-TV Provides Strong Showing In its fourth year, Eagan's Community Television Station, E-TV, continued to build upon the success of previous years. Coverage of every City meeting con- tinued, including expanded coverage of some off - site meetings such as the State Of The City address from the Fire Safety Center. Local school coverage also grew to include 16 sports and activities from football to robotics. Community events coverage included a wide range of events from the 4th of July Funfest parade to 2012 Election coverage. 25 local concerts were recorded and aired. This included the very popular "Voices of Celebration" holiday special which fea- tures concerts from 10 Eagan church choirs, edited into a single program. In addition, E-TV covered the- ater productions, debates, graduations, political and business forums and much more. Feature stories and longer programs such as the Fire Department's "Burning Issues" have also been produced and aired to highlight some of the interesting people that live and work in Eagan. Two YouTube channels provide an alternate viewing format that stretches beyond Eagan. One channel features longer and the other features shorter for- mat programming. E-TV was also awarded several Minnesota Association of Government Communicators' awards including two Awards of Excellence for a Fire Safety Center Video and coverage of the Holtz Farm Family Christmas. The Summer Video Camp for youth filled three week- long sessions, even after expanding the capacity of each class by 20%. Eagan 2012 Annual Report • March April 2013.2 �xperle�ce Eaan January/February 2013 Tom Hedges: 36 Years of Administering and Honoring "The Eagan Way" Few who live here will dispute that Eagan is some- thing special. Having been recognized repeatedly as a top place to live in America, achieving the difficult to attain "Aaa" bond rating indicating its financial stability and having some of the lowest City taxes and spending for a community of its size in Minnesota, there is much to like. That is consistently confirmed by residents in satisfaction surveys. While he would never take credit, much of this stability and achievement —many would say— can be attributed to the steady guiding oversight of Eagan's long time City Administrator, Tom Hedges, who will retire after 36 years of service to Eagan. He is believed to be the longest serving administrator in the state. Over the past decade, Eagan City Councils and oth- ers have referred to an idea called The Eagan Way. It denotes a practice of providing a focused menu of City services, delivered well and at a reasonable cost; making decisions with the good of the commu- nity in mind; and maintaining a culture of respect in all we do. Those qualities are also embodied by Tom Hedges and are reflected throughout his career. In his State of the City Address this year, Mayor Mike Maguire focused on The Eagan Way. "Many of these accomplishments are due in no small part to the foundation for success put in place by the leaders who have come before us and those who have mentored us. But the glue, the bailing wire, the cement - if you will - that holds all of this enterprise together," continued Maguire, "is Eagan's first and only City Administrator, Tom Hedges." Dakota County Commissioner Tom Egan has worked with Hedges in all but the first two years of Hedges tenure in Eagan, serving as a Councilmember and then Mayor from 1978 to 1998 and as a Dakota County Commissioner representing Eagan since that time. Of Hedges, Egan emphatically states, "Tom is a consensus builder and a people person. He is the most respectful, and inspirational individual. Tom is someone of great intellect and integrity and there are very few people who have worked with him or worked for him who have not been inspired by Tom Hedges. He is one of the formative forces that has made Eagan the strong community it is today." Jim Miller, Executive Director of the League of Minnesota Cities had this to say of Hedges: "I think the ultimate honor that can be paid to any pro- fessional is that he or she is the first person who comes to mind when their profession is discussed. That clearly is how I and so many others view Tom Hedges. Tom is the personification of the city man- agement profession," says Miller. "He has done his job with unparalleled competence and always with the highest ethical standards. His example has been what others of us in this profession aspire to achieve." Former Governor Tim Pawlenty, who began his political career as an Eagan Councilmember, refers to Tom Hedges as the nicest person he's ever met. As he comes to the close of a brilliant career in February, a very mod- est Hedges is already blushing. Becoming a Civic Leader From his days as the High School starting quarterback in Spirit Lake, Iowa —to his final Eagan Senior Management Team meeting —Tom Hedges, has demonstrated a focused agenda: Surround yourself with good people. Trust them. Encourage and empower the team to accomplish things of which it can be proud. Share what you've learned. Give credit where credit is due. "I've just always really liked people," says Hedges, "helping people, finding good people to work with and assisting people in growing their skills. It's just always been a part of who I am, I guess." As a kid, Tom's Mom took a job at City Hall and he rode his bike there to check in. He recalls that he became very comfortable around the City staff. "I guess it sort of stuck," says Hedges. Later, in college, after gaining a degree in Political Science and Business, Tom contemplated becoming an accountant or attending Law School. "Debbie and I were already married and we were consider- ing what additional years of school would mean," Hedges said. Having taken some local government classes, he was asked to become a graduate assis- tant in the Government Administration program for $ioo a month. He took the position, and began work on a graduate degree in that field. When an internship was required, he approached the City Manager of Vermillion, SD. "They couldn't pay me and they didn't have an office space so I worked in the Administrator's office behind him at the credenza," recalls Hedges. "The upside was, if he had a meeting with his staff, the Mayor or a resident, he just asked if I wanted to sit in, and that was an invaluable experience." One day in 1972 when buying a pack of gum in downtown Vermillion, Tom also bought a Minneapolis newspaper. In it was a tiny ad for a City Clerk/Administrator in St. Peter, MN. He applied and was hired as that community's first City Administrator, at age 23. In his four years there, Hedges had many firsts. The previous clerk, who had also applied, resigned, leaving Hedges on his own to learn the ropes. Tom prepared the City's first budget, learned how to execute an election, codify ordinances, create poli- cies for Council adoption, and much more. "I would go before the Council and present infor- Tom Hedges (L) gives a tour of the just completed Police Station to the City Council in 1978. (Mark Parranto, Ted Wachter, Jim Smith, Mayor Herb Polzine and Tom Egan). In 1995, this space was reconfigured as the first level of the current City Hall. mation," Hedges recalls. "I created agenda packets distributed in advance so we didn't have to read minutes aloud at meetings. They really liked the improved processes." These experiences proved invaluable when Hedges became Eagan's first City Administrator. Surround Yourself with Good People If you ask Ted Wachter, a Councilmember, carpen- ter and Eagan dairy farmer in 1976 when Hedges was hired, it was his beverage choice at the inter- view lunch that sealed the deal. "He really stood out," Wachter said of the Council's interview with Hedges. "It was his direct answers. His honesty." But when he ordered chocolate milk, Wachter says he knew Hedges came from good stock. "And he never proved us wrong in our choice. He's been the best man for the job and just a wonderful person." Hedges' hiring, just two years after Eagan incor- porated as a City, came as a significant change from the Township. The City Council was made up of farmers, or residents of Eagan's emerging suburban -style neighborhoods. The small City staff was used to reporting directly to the Mayor or a Councilmember. "Some of the staff wasn't too pleased about having to report to me," recalls Hedges." They liked how things were." But Hedges soon proved himself a good manager and a team builder. "It had a lot to do with work ethic, I think, says Hedges. "There wasn't a Council, Planning or Parks meeting in the first ten years that I didn't attend. I learned about the community, the departments and who did what. I listened to the staff, found out what was working well and where we needed to do more and I think they appreciated that." He also remembers being amazed that Councilmembers, Planning and Park Board mem- bers and other residents were giving hundreds of hours to their community. "They would drive out and walk every parcel that was being considered Experience Eagan • January/February 2013.1 Recycle Holiday Lights and CFL Bulbs at Eagan Locations Do you have holiday lights that no longer work? Bought new lights and no longer want the old ones? Don't toss them in the trash. Instead, "Recycle Your Holidays" at partici- pating locations. Since 2009, the Recycling Association of Minnesota has worked with businesses and public facilities to set up drop-off sites for lights and cords during the holiday season, free of charge. Every part of the Tight strand is recycled —the cords are stripped down to collect the copper wire, and even the little lights are broken down to reclaim the glass and metal. In Eagan, one place to recycle holiday lights is at The Recycling Zone —the Dakota County recycling cen- ter located at 3365 Dodd Road. This facility offers holiday light recycling year-round. Broken and unwanted holiday lights and electrical cords —such as extension cords —are accepted for free through this program. Visit Eagan's recycling department Web site, www.DakotaValleyRecycling.org, for hours and a complete list of drop-off locations in the area. Or call (651) 675-5o11 for more information. Recycle CFL Bulbs Too! Compact fluorescent lights, or CFLs, are great because they last longer and use less energy than incandescent bulbs. But did you know that they have to be recycled? Fluorescent lights contain a small amount of mercury, which means they can't go in the garbage. Currently, only about 2% of CFLs get recycled. However, there are many places to properly dispose of CFLs in Eagan, including two City facilities: Eagan Community Center 1501 Central Parkway Lower level reception Mon. -Fri., 5:45 a.m. - 9:45 p.m. Sat. 8:0o a.m. - 8:oo p.m. Sun.lo:oo a.m. - 8:oo p.m. Eagan City Hall 383o Pilot Knob Road ist floor (Engineering) desk Mon. -Fri., 8:oo a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Bring in your burned out CFL bulbs of any size or type (no tubes accepted) during open hours to these two locations. If a CFL breaks, seal the pieces and glass fragments in a sealable plastic bag before bringing it in to recycle. Bring fluorescent tubes to The Recycling Zone (3365 Dodd Road). Learn more about CFLs by visiting www.DakotaValleyRecycling.org or calling (651) 675-5011. EAGAN COMMUNITY CENTER Eagan Community Center Turns 10 A year filled with fes- tivities is in the works to celebrate the loth birth- day of the Community Center. "As we celebrate ten years in this central gathering place," says Mayor Maguire, It is hard to imagine Eagan without a Community Center. It seems fitting for our celebration to focus on the community that created that success. " The Eagan Community Center actually opened twice. In May 2o03, the amenities that would set the standard for community centers everywhere, were quietly revealed. The first wedding, mul- tiple Blast birthday parties and community events also occurred that month. Since then, over 700 couples have celebrated their big day at the Eagan Community Center and prime wedding dates are booked as far as two years in advance. In September 2003, with a big bang, a giant commu- nity event met with huge success. The fitness center also opened for business. Several charter members still call the ECC home to stay fit and healthy. Melissa Wind, Event and Operations Supervisor, is an original ECC staff member. "People have been enjoy this place since we opened our doors; Eagan is really fantastic that way. I still love the reaction of new visitors when they see this building —they are always impressed." Watch for monthly promotions, the introduction of new Blast packages and pricing, celebratory events throughout the year, community appreciation pro- motions each month and a special little surprise for guests on the loth of each month through 2013. It is with a cheerful Happy Birthday and a huge Thank You that the ECC turns 1o...let the celebration begin! Citizen's Academy I couldn't believe all that goes into a Police Officer's job," says Melissa Guttormson, a recent Citizens Academy participant. "Especially on the ride along —you see how they are watching the drivers around them, listening to the Police radio, checking the computer and so many other thing I couldn't even keep up with —it's amazing to see." Have you wondered what it's like to be a police offi- cer? Here is your opportunity to take an in-depth look at their jobs. On January 7, the Eagan Police Department will begin accepting applications for its i8th annual Citizen Academy. The program started in 1996, and has received extraordinary reviews from graduates of past academies. The 2013 session will be held Thursday evenings March 7 through April 25 from 6:00 - 9:0o p.m. This program is designed to offer citizens an insight into modern day policing through hands-on training conducted by Eagan Police Officers. Participants get an overview of the department's history, a police canine demonstration, and learn about investigations related to narcotics, homicide, and other cases Eagan Police Officers manage. Those in the program will learn about internet safety and how police officers evaluate when to use force during arrest situations. A highlight for many is an opportunity to patrol the City with a police offi- cer for four hours. The Citizen's Academy Program is open to Eagan residents or those who work in the City. Because of the sensitive nature of the training, applicants must be over the age of 18 and will be subjected to a criminal background check. Applications are available at the police department or may be obtained from the City of Eagan's Web site at www.cityofeagan.com/citizensacademy. Applications will be accepted until January 31, or until the academy is full. Space is limited to 25 par- ticipants. For more information regarding the program, con- tact Officer Desiree Schroepfer or Crime Prevention Specialist Jill Ondrey at (651) 675-570o. Space Heater Safety During these cold wither months, many will turn to space heaters to take the edge off the chill. Space heaters are a popular and inexpensive option, how- ever, they can play a role in fire losses and potentially be fatal during dry winter months. Nationally, heating is the second leading cause of home fires, fire deaths and fire injuries. Fixed or por- table space heaters are involved in about 4 out of 5 of these heating fire deaths. Stay safe and warm this winter: 1 When buying a heater, look for one that has been tested and labeled by a nationally recog- nized testing company, such as, Underwriters' Laboratories Inc. (UL). Follow manufacturer's instructions for use and maintenance. Keep the heater three feet away from drapes, furniture or other flammable materials. Area of Fire Origin: Couch in front of space heater Place the heater on a level surface away from areas where someone might bump or knock it over. 1 Keep electric heaters away from water. Never use them near a sink or in the bathroom. 1 Space Heaters must be plugged directly into a wall outlet; never use an extension cord with a space heater. Never leave space heater on overnight or use unattended. Experience Eagan • January/February 2013.2 Hedges...from page 1 for development. It was great, but once the free- ways opened up and development took off, I knew we just wouldn't be able to keep this up." Hedges says he would lie wake at night worrying about how to ask the Council to hire more staff, without having them think he was trying to build his own empire. But the Council saw the value of additional staff and trusted the plan Hedges envisioned to deliver results. Within two years, Tom Colbert, Director of Public Works was the first director hired by Hedges and the Council. A year later Gene VanOverbeke, Finance Director, was added and in 1980, Ken Vraa, Director of Parks and Recreation rounded out a team that would remain together for nearly 25 years. In a i983 Star Tribune article referring to his staff, Hedges said, "I think you'd be hard-pressed to find a group of professional individuals who work togeth- er in an organization better than it does here." Years later, he came to refer to this group as "The Dream Team." Encourage and Empower the Team Those first years for Hedges were about transition from township to an emerging urban landscape. Preparing for growth, he made trips to Washington D.C. to lobby for freeway funding and access and create the City's first five-year Capital Improvement Plan to help boost its bond rating. But the 8os would emerge as a "development tsunami." Delays caused by lengthy disputes over Interstate placement and a natural gas moratorium suspend- ing housing construction gave a bit of a develop- ment reprieve and allowed Hedges to gather and prepare his staff. With these issues resolved, the floodgates to Eagan now opened. Tom Egan recalled one meeting when i,2oo lots were approved. A planning staffer during this time was quoted as saying, "Our marketing program con- sists of answering the phone." Tom Hedges' holiday letter to his i10 staff members in i986 gives a glimpse of the times: This past year of record growth in our communi- ty was busy for all of us. Building Inspections are packed... the front counter has in excess of 600 calls in a day. The new water treatment plant started operations. All of this and the water/ sewer connections, parks to develop and main- tain, additional fire prevention, more streets to repair, sweep and patrol are the result of many hours of planning, processing and developing the fastest growing community in the State of Minnesota... It takes the hard work and dedica- tion of all of you to make this community grow and prosper. Business developments were also key. Blue Cross, Coca-Cola and Sperry Univac were all expanding their Eagan facilities. Hedges helped woo West Publishing away from St. Paul. Later in the decade, Eagan became home to Northwest Airlines' head- quarters. Add to that bids for a stadium (which later emerged in Minneapolis as the Metrodome), a horserac- ing track (Canterbury Downs) and an enclosed "Eagandale" shopping mall. When these did not materialize, other businesses quickly stepped in to take their places thanks to open land and easy access to the airport and freeways. At each juncture, Hedges would bring together his staff to determine the best plan for every project, the best outcomes for the community and how to provide services and infrastructure at a cost that was acceptable. "I think you have the best outcomes when you build relationships with people, listen to their con- cerns and be a consensus builder," says Hedges. "That's the best way to get positive results." As young families moved in, the pressure for schools, parks, play facilities and athletic associa- tions grew too. The City needed to buy land for fire stations and City buildings, preserve land for reser- voirs and future wells and find a site for an Eagan high school. Sometimes developers would come in with ideas that didn't fit, or their timeframe was quicker than the Council or staff was comfortable allowing. But Hedges and the Council held steadily to Eagan's new Comprehensive Guide Plan. In a 1986 Pioneer Press article, Hedges said, "The best strategy is to keep a plan and an image in mind for the City. You want it to be good and healthy. A good, balanced community is important." Finding balance with his work and home life has always been important to Hedges, too. When Tom and his wife Debbie moved to Eagan in 1976 their first son, Brandon, had recently been born. Tom's family grew as the community did, and by i983 when the Wescott Library opened, the couple took their second child, five -year -old daughter Abby —just learning to read —to the opening cel- ebration. Third child, Aaron was nine in i991, when Scoutmaster Hedges took his troop on a tour of the newly opened South Water Treatment Plant. All three kids attended Eagan High School, which opened in i987. There were very few landmark events in Eagan that the family did not celebrate together. "My wife, my family has always been very support- ive of me and I couldn't have done this job without that understanding," says Hedges. "My kids always cringe, though, when I meet someone who wants to talk about Eagan. They know they may have to drag me away from another conversation!" Unlike a lot of his professional peers, Hedges never had to move to a larger community for his career to grow —Eagan grew up around him and its citi- zens started asking for the amenities being devel- oped in neighboring communities. City Councils, Hedges and his staff went to work to find ways to provide amenities like the Civic Arena, Cascade Bay, expanded public safety buildings, water treatment plants and the Community Center in a way that pro- vided the best quality at a cost acceptable to the community —The Eagan Way. Share What You Learn Awards and accomplishments for Hedges are not hard to find. In 1976 he was named President of the Minnesota Association of City Managers; In 1995, the Boy Scouts honored him as a Community Builder. In 2000 he was named an Outstanding Manager Mentor by his State professional orga- nization; In 2001 Hedges was also recognized as Manager of the Year by his fellow members of the Minnesota City and County Management Association; most recently, in 2012, he received the Communicator of the Year award by the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators for his strong belief and practice of government transpar- ency and open dialogue with citizens. Perhaps the award that means most to Hedges, however, came relatively early in his career when in 1985, he was presented with the L.P. Cookingham Award from the International City and County Tom Hedges has received many awards in his 36 years as Eagan's Administrator including this one as 2012 City Communicator of the Year by the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators. Management Association. The award honored his successful mentorship of 16 interns who had gone on to work in the field of local government adminis- tration —that number has since grown beyond 30. "I'd been in St. Peter only about two years when I realized, I wanted to pay back some of the mentors I had and share the things I've learned. I hired my first intern —he was a year younger than me," Hedges laughs, "and he's retired now!" Through the years, Hedges has continued this prac- tice and says that interns are strong assets to the organization bringing in a fresh set of eyes, good energy, new ideas and he says, they keep him young. "Sometimes it's like being with my grandkids, now, as the interns ask; why, why, why? And that's just great. If I don't have the answers, maybe I shouldn't be doing this," he quips. Give Credit Where Due Pat Geagan has a unique perspective, having worked for Hedges as Police Chief and later as his boss as Eagan Mayor. He explains that Hedges was sup- portive and an exceptional mentor in both roles. Geagan also states that Tom has an uncanny ability to accomplish so much, but never fails to give the credit for those accomplishments to the Council, his staff, and to the community. "And that," says Geagan, "is a skill rarely found in others." Why retire now? "There would always be a two - page list." Hedges says, "Things just never stop in Eagan. It's been a great run but it's a good time for me and my family to step back, and time for some- one else to take a turn in this great community." And his legacy? Hedges notes that some might point to buildings, parks and facilities as the tangible markers —and he certainly takes pride in what has been accomplished. "But," he says, "building a team of people, helping them to grow as individuals... building a quality culture to pass on, is what is most meaningful to me." Reception to Honor Tom Hedges The community will have a chance to con- gratulate Tom Hedges on his years of service to Eagan at a celebration in his honor on Thursday, February 7, from 4:3o to 8:3o p.m. (program at 6:3o p.m.) at the Eagan Community Center, 1501 Central Parkway. Experience Eagan • January/February 2013.3 Indoor Softball is a Hit at Eagan Civic Arena It's officially Winter. So, softball enthusiast have two choices: either find a comfy spot on the couch until the Spring thaw... or head over to the Eagan Civic Arena for arena softball. According to Eagan resident Mike Palmer, who has had a team since the sport began at the Civic Arena six years ago, arena softball is a faster paced game than the outdoor version. "Players swing at nearly everything and keep the ball in play almost continu- ously. Balls bounce off the arena walls —it's almost like being inside a pinball machine. It is a lot of fun and a great workout." Registrations for teams and individuals are now being accepted for returning players and anyone who would like to try this unique indoor sport. Games are played on Wednesday and Sundays and are scheduled as double-headers. The season is from March until early May and men's, women's and co-rec leagues are available. Individuals without a team will be placed on a draft list. If you're looking for a way to keep the ball in play until Spring, visit www.eagancivicarena. com or use the QR code with your smart phone app to view a video and rules of the game. Don't delay, leagues fill up fast. Save the date for Murder, Mystery, Mayhem & Dinner The Second Annual Mystery Dinner Theater The Eagan 55 plus/Seniors are part- nering again with the Eagan Theater Company for another "who done it", full of mystery, mayhem and murder. Come join the fun, and guess who the culprit is! Prizes will be awarded to the best sleuths. w o CD < Cr) cr)FCwo CIDCCoa�= CI) CI — CC C/ • Z a_ cc z N 0 Eagan Community Center Cost: $40, includes dinner and performance Doors open at 6:0o p.m. for socializing, cash bar. 6:45 p.m. dinner is served with show to follow. Tickets will go on sale February 4, 2013. Call (651) 675-550o for more info or to purchase tickets. Page 2 Recycle Holiday Lights Eagan Community Center Turns 10 Citizen's Academy Space Heater Safety Page 3 Hedges Retires Page 4 The Second Annual Mystery Dinner Theater Indoor Softball is a Hit at Eagan Civic Arena Take a Kid Ice Fishing Help Us Help You this Winter Councilmembers Paul Bakken Cyndee Fields Gary Hansen Meg Tlley Load up your thermos with hot chocolate and come learn about the joys of ice fishing on Saturday, February 16, from z:oo - 4:0o p.m. with experts from the City of Eagan Water Resources Division and Minnesota In -Fisherman's Club volun- teers. All fishing poles, bait and equipment will be provided or you can bring your own. Don't forget a chair or bucket to sit on. This event is free and is entirely outdoors at Blackhawk Park, so dress in layers for the weather. No fishing license is needed for this event in honor of the MN DNR's "Take A Kid Fishing Weekend." The clinic is open house style so come when you like and stay as long as you like. Registration is free, but you are asked to register by calling Eagan Parks & Recreation at (651) 675-5500. For more infor- mation on Take A Kid Fishing visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Web site at www.dnr.state.mn.us/takeakidfishing. Dig out hydrants Make sure the hydrant near your home is clear of snow so firefighters can access it in an emergency. Firefighters must use valuable minutes trying to locate and clear hydrants rather than fighting a fire if hydrants are not kept clear. Keep garbage and recycling containers clear of the plow's path by placing them at least 3 feet behind the curb as designated by City code. This distance can still be reached by the automated arm of gar- bage vehicles. September 17, 2012 Dear Mayor and Councilmembers: A short thirty six years ago, the seated Eagan City Council in 1976 gave me an opportunity of a lifetime to serve as the first City Administrator for Eagan. I was honored and blessed then and continue to be for the opportunity to serve our Community of Excellence through a portion of five decades. My thanks to the City of St. Peter for hiring a young 23 year old as their first City Administrator —an experience that gave me four years to learn and grow. The years have been witness to considerable residential and commercial/industrial development, creating the best park system in the state, several public buildings that provide for utility infrastructure, as well as a City Hall, Police offices, and the Fire Safety Center. The Community Center, Cascade Bay and Civic Arena have served many of our residents during the past 10-15 years. I continue to marvel at the trail system that winds throughout our community, and we enjoy neighborhoods that represent the pride and energy that makes this community the best city in Minnesota. While I am proud of the physical infrastructure that has been built in Eagan, I find that it is the infrastructure of people that gives me greatest satisfaction. All the elected and appointed leaders are to be thanked, along with the City of Eagan team members that are out in the community every day, the many volunteers, business leaders, service groups and the servant leaders who make Eagan better every day. There are many memories thanks to the incredible number of good people I have had the honor to meet and work with that make Eagan so special. On a personal note, my wife, Debbie, has been a confidant, a supporter of the City Administrator's work, and a great mother to our three wonderful children. I thank the four of them for all of their patience, the many community events they attended over the years, and understanding the long hours the position requires. I plan to "adjourn" my full time duties with a target date of February 1, 2013. I will be available to assist with the transition. Yes we are planning to continue our residency in Eagan; there is no plan for a "homestead" in Iowa! With the st of Appreciation, Thomas Hedges City Administrator Partial List of Those Who Were Mentored By or Interned With Tom Hedges (in alphabetical order) Kathleen Bailey, City Administrator — City of Blue Earth Rusty Fifield, Consultant — Hoisington Koegler Group Amy Hertel, Manager of Strategic Development, Research & Evaluation —The Minneapolis Foundation Jon Hohenstein, Director of Community Development — City of Eagan Joyce (Pruite) Hottinger, Assistant Human Resources Director — League of Minnesota Cities Stacy Kreuser, Assistant City Administrator — City of Falcon Heights Daniel Mundahl, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer — Bethany Lutheran College Steve Mielke , City Administrator — City of Lakeville Dianne Miller, Assistant City Administrator — City of Eagan Claudia Liddle, Mortgage Loans Acquisitions — Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Jacob Nicklay, Senior Energy Specialist — Target John Olinger, City Administrator — City of Lindstrom Dave Osberg, City Administrator — City of Hastings Elizabeth Ryan, Vice President — Family Housing Fund Kurt Ulrich, City Administrator — City of Ramsey Genee Walz, Project Manager at America's Cities, Pew Center on the States Jeff Weldon, City Manager — City of Brookings, SD Liz Witt, Administrative Assistant and Deputy Eagan City Clerk, retired Jason Ziemer, City Administrator of Maple Plain City of Eagan Prc�� Rclemc September 19, 2012 Contact: Tom Garrison Director of Communications Office (651) 675-5008 Cell (651) 470-1692 tgarrison(c�cityofeagan.com Eagan's Longtime Administrator Will Depart After 36 Years The only City Administrator Eagan has ever had, Tom Hedges, announced his intention to step away after 36 years of service to the community. Hedges made his announcement at Wednesday night's Eagan City Council meeting, stating that he will step down approximately February 1, of 2013. He wanted to give elected officials plenty of time to find his replacement, and the City Council authorized the search firm of Brimeyer Fursman to begin efforts region -wide to find suitable candidates to become Eagan's next Administrator. Hedges was hired in 1976 at the age of 27 to become Eagan's first administrator, charged with helping Eagan convert from a township form of government to a city positioned for explosive growth in the 1980s and '90s. Hedges came to Eagan from St. Peter, MN, which gave him his first job out of graduate school in 1972, at the age of 23. Hedges reflected on that past in his remarks to the City Council, stating: "I'm grateful for those who gave me my first chance, and I've always tried to remember that. Yes, Eagan has had a lot of tremendous development and now redevelopment during my time here. But what I've really enjoyed is fostering future leaders, growing the talents and skills of this organization and —as Walt Disney said —'pointing them towards a certain goal." Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire thanked Hedges for his 36 years of commitment and contribution to Eagan. Maguire assured residents that the Council will find a capable successor, "but we won't ever duplicate what 'Mr. Hedges' has accomplished in Eagan" as perhaps the longest tenured city manager in the state. "More than any single individual, Tom Hedges built Eagan into the city that it is today, and for that, our community —past, present and still to come —owes Tom a deep debt of gratitude. I'm but one of many Mayors and Council members who have been truly honored to work with and learn from Tom. On behalf of our entire community, we wish Tom well on his next chapter in life." Mr. Hedges has won just about every prestigious award his profession has, including the 2011 Government Communicator of the Year in Minnesota, the inaugural Manager of the Year Award (2001) from the Minnesota City and County Management association, the prestigious Career Development Award from the International City and County Management Association (1985) and the Outstanding Mentor/Manager from the Minnesota Association of Urban Management (2000). Those last two awards underscore the fact that Administrator Hedges has mentored more than 40 individuals who went on to become city managers or department directors in their own right. In addition to growing people, Hedges efforts have helped Eagan move from 19,000 population when he began to 65,000 residents today and has seen the addition of major employers. "I've been blessed to have the trust of 13 different City Councils, eight mayors, along with the department directors and staff over three and a half decades," Hedges said. "I think I've been part of more than 1,300 Eagan City Council meetings during that time, some going until 2:30 in the morning." "Because the job is not 9-to-5," Hedges added, "someone asked me to calculate the actual years I've put in beyond the 36 years it shows on paper for Eagan. If compared to a regular work week, I think that is more like 43 years in actual time." The search firm will develop a profile of the position and what officials are looking for from a future administrator. Once approved, that will lead to a job description so the position can be advertised this fall, and interviews held later this year, and a final selection in early 2013. # C•� ., City Administrator r; Starts In Eagan'—" TOM HEDGES By HELEN HUNTER Staff Writer EAGAN -- Tom Hedges. Eagan's first city administrator. assumed his duties July 12. Formerly St. Peter's city ad- ministrator, Hedges will be responsible for effective" recom- mendation in the areas of policy making, staffing and expen- ditures where council action is required. In his position as ad- ministrator. Hedges is expected to plan and direct the administra- tion of city functions as delegated by the council, including supervising the municipal office and administering all depart- ments under his jurisdiction. Hedges has been kept briefed on city activities since being hired in mid -May and has been involved with city planning dur- ing this time. The major areas in which Hedges will immediately be in- volved are working with the pre- paration and plans for the new police facility, work on Johnny Cake Ridge Rd. and I-35E. and energy committee activities. In arriving at a planned pro- gram budget for 1977, he stated it will be a more formalized budget than the city previously has used. He also plans on making capital improvement projections for the next five years in an effort to gain a better bond rating for the city. This will ultimately save the city money since they will able to secure a better i Hedg volvement and excitement in their city. That feeling of friendli- ness and closeness I found in St. Peter seems to be as great or greater in Eagan. I like working with people; it makes my job more interesting. I hope resi- dents will feel free to call the ad- ministrator's office when they have a city -related problem." The position carries a salary of $24.000 with a $100 per month car allowance and reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. The city will also pay Hedges moving ex- penses from St. Peter. Hedges received his masters degree in public administration in 1972 from the University of South Dakota and has been employed by the City of St. Peter since graduation. Although pre- sently commuting from St. Peter. he plans to move with his wife Debbie and 10-month-old son Brandon to Eagan when he secures housing. CLEARANCE SALE "o c i Too Many Items To List Them All MEN'S AND BOYS' ATHLETIC SHOES 888 Quality constructed nylon uppers with leather trim and rugged, durable soles. In handsome blue or flashy reds. Men's sizes 61/2-12. Boys' sizes 21/z-6. MEN'S & BOYS' TUBE SOCKS MEN'S SIZES BOYS' SIZES ) 6 pr. for $550 6 pr. for $5 Cushion comfort cotton and nylon. Men's sizes in all white or white with striped top. Boys' sizes in white with striped top only. KodeI Polyester & Cotton TOWELS SH CLOTHS Wash Cloths Reg. 590 2for $1. olorful 10046 cotton terry 20" x 40" I • matching 12" x 12" wosh cloths. re4mwt.i,- 1140 Connecticut Avenue Northwest Washington DC 20036 International City Management Association Mr. Thomas L. Hedges City Manager 3795 Pilot Knob Road Eagan, Minnesota 55122 Dear Mr. Hedges: Area Code 202 293-2200 May 25, 1976 On behalf of the membership and staff of ICMA, please accept our congratulations on your appointment as city manager of Eagan. Assumption of a new position is always challenging and I want you to feel free to contact us if we can be of any help to you. In reviewing our records, I have discovered that ICMA has not recognized Eagan as a municipality which -provides for a position of professional management. Recognition of your position by ICMA, the professional association of appointed chief administrative officers, is of importance not only to you as a professional manager, but to your municipality as well. Recognition means your municipality will have the distinction of being listed in the Directory of Recognized Local Governments and will be identified for all professional managers as a community which provides a legal framework conducive to the practice of professional management. Also, you will personally benefit from ICMA recognition since serving in a recognized community makes possible your Corporate Membership in ICMA. ICMA can be important to you because of the many opportunities membership offers for your personal and professional growth. In order that your municipality can receive the distinction of being recognized and that you may be eventually eligible to participate in ICMA as a Corporate Member, I suggest you initiate recognition of your position, using the forms enclosed with this letter. Just complete the form and return it to ICMA along with copies of the legislation estab- lishing your position and outlining your responsibilities. 2 ICMA then will review the documents with respect to our recognition criteria, a copy of which is enclosed. The review will be conducted by the ICMA staff, the association of professional managers in your state, and an ICMA regional vice president. Should recognition be established, it will be under either the council-manager or general management criteria. Once your position has been recognized, you will then be invited to apply for Corporate Membership which will make you eligible to vote and hold office in ICMA. If you have any questions about the recognition process, please feel free to tact me. Sinc Laurence Rutter Director Membership Services Center Enclosures cc: John T. Irving, City Manager, 4141 Douglas Drive, Crystal, Minnesota, 55422 (State Association President) Clarence E. Maddy, Jr., Administrative Assistant, 209 City Hall, Duluth, Minnesota,55802 (ICMA Regional Vice President) ._>)Q12.• AS CITY ADMINISTRATOR — Pia m Tom Hedges has exciting, challenging job EAGAN CITY administrator Tom Hedges directs the func- tions and services of the city from his desk at city hall. Hedges says it is not uncommon to change directions a number of times a day in many non -related matters. By JUDY STRACHAN Staff Writer EAGAN -- "Exciting and challenging." That's how Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges views his job. As city administrator, Hedges is responsible to the city council and 'supervises the police chief, city attorney, city clerk, direc- tors of public works, parks and recreation, finance, city planner, fire chief, building official, ad- ministrative intern, ad- ministrative secretary and in- directly supervises all city employees. Eagan has approximately 70 full-time employees and about 40 part-time people. The city hall facility has about 20 staff members, and that number ex- pands with growth demands, says Hedges. Originally from Spirit Lake, IA, Hedges received his BA and master's degree in public ad- ministration from the University of South Dakota. Before coming to Eagan, Hedges was the assis- tant to the city manager in Ver- million, SD, and was the city ad- ministrator at St. Peter from 1972-76. He came to Eagan in July of 1976. Hedges and his wife, Debbie, a registered nurse now caring for their two children, Brandon, five, and Abby, two, live in Eagan, as required by the city. Hedges said that the operating budget and the capital im- provements budgets are the big- gest projects in his responsibility each year. "Managing more ser- vices with less dollars is our big- gest problem," said Hedges. "In a growth community such as Eagan, our challenge is to main- tain services and provide new services without over -taxation." Eagan could be one of the fastest growing communities in the county and the state, and when the new Cedar Ave. bridge opens, and other roads are im- proved, the area could really mushroom. "Sometimes it seems that Eagan is the fastest growing area in the world, to me," laugh- ed Hedges. What is a typical day for a city administrator? "There probably isn't a typical day," said Hedges, as he shuffled papers on his desk. "It's not uncommon for me to change directions on a number of items a day. I deal with person- nel, memos, finance, staff meetings, mayor and council con- tact, and get updates on legisla- tion affecting the city, as well as attending city and county meetings." There also are several evening meetings, as the administrator must attend council, staff and committee meetings, lasting anywhere from two to six or seven hours. "The council meets twice a month for regular meetings, and with the amount of business they have to act on, the demand on their time is quite high. I have a lot of admiration for council members. It's quite a commitment on their part," noted Hedges. As the administrator, Hedges has to • have "a handle on the direction of the city and coor- dinate all city services. It's very important to work with all department heads to plan for the present and the future together. We have to balance the needs," explained Hedges. "It's an ongo- ing job." "All of our department heads are very dedicated to the city, and that's important to me and to the city," said Hedges. "They're a dedicated bunch." What's the best part of the job? "I like to work with people," said Hedges. "Answering questions, giving help and advice, and tak- ing complaints are the most in- teresting. I try to be sensitive to their needs and resolve problems if I can. There isn't always a solu- tion," explained Hedges, "That's when I become frustrated." "Most of these things are a ;matter of communication," he noted. "If people just let us know, we'll try to get things resolved." "This is an exciting place to work. I really enjoy the work and the people," he said proudly. "I meet a lot of interesting people and have a very supportive wife." Jeffrey's Hair Designs (Formerly Mr. Clifford's) Sioux Trail Center Burnsville 890-5558 August Only 20% OFF ALL PERMS, COLORS, FROSTS Monday-Saturdoy, Open 3 Nights A Week COUPON SPECIAL with Jeff/Pat Humphrey/Judy Stage/Niko Falak 10 % Off Haircuts coupon Good Till Seat. 1st �®-�� Includes Shampoo ti Blow Comb Styling 8 Where YOU Count .. . ...in a Catholic community of students, faculty and parents. ...in a 42year college preparatory, career directed, remedial or accelerated program. ...in o disciplined, co-educational environment stress- ing Christian values. YOU count at Brady Come Join Us! Register now for the Fall term, beginning Aug. 25 Archbishop Brady High School 1200 Oekda a Ave. West St. Paul 457-8791 Thomas A. Gagliardi, Principal P.S. We're proud of our North Central accreditation( VILLAGE PIZZA PARLOR 14917 Garrett Ave. — 432-3838 Located in Apple Place — Dine In or Take Out NOW OPEN FOR LUNCH - WED. THRU SUNDAY LUNCHEON SPECIAL WED.. THURS., FRI. 11:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M. $2 8" PIZZA - SALAD - SM. BEVERAGE Only 75 2 t t 2 2 2 5 E t 5 I E s 3 2 MRe MMIUMMMM MM MMMM PA fa www CeUPeN MMMkrimmalem MRom FREE PIZZA Buy any 16" Pizza and receive a 10" single ingredient Pizza FREE www www 'ww (Addltloncll Toppiny', Extru) One Coupon Per Group or Order COUPON_ EXPIRES_ AUG. 31, 1980 w w,n ww ww wvow w ww w Ire 'MINIM M ww e MICR THE IMPORT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT! (/ jils r"9 No Ado, 0„ (5 door shown) 1960 FIAT STRADA CUSTOM 3 DOOR Stock No. 8210 EPA City 25 Hwy 35 Equipped with rear window wiper, metallic point, tinted gloss, rear window defroster, cloth interior, digital clock & toch, wheel trim rings, reclining buckets wide accent stripes and much, much more. SALE PRICE $6265.00 1900 ELECTRA-LIMITED 4 DOOR Stock No. 8074 EPA City 15 Hwy 22 Equipped with 350 V8, auto., oir, p.s., p.b., power door locks, tilt, cruise con - trot, 6-way power seat, AM/FM stereo, ;vinyl top, INS moldings, elec. rear •defroster & much, much more! List $11,301.00' Less $1,930.00 SALE PRICE $9371.00 GNo yr 1900 BUICK CENTURY 4 Stock No. 8169 EPA City 20 Hwy. 27 Equipped -with 232 economy Ve, auto., p.s., p.b., air, rear defroster, tinted gloss, rodiol wsw, H.D. battery, AM radio, deluxe wheel covers, and much, much more! • List price $8020.410 Less 930.00 SALE PRICE $7090.00 Na mn;,cks G� f r 1980 BUICK REGAL CPE Stock No. 8185 EPA City 20 Hwy 27 Equipped with 231 economy V6, auto., oir, redid wsw, H.D. battery, tinted gloss, AM radio, cloth interior, and much, much more. List $785757 Less'$932.57 SA LE PRICE 16923.00 USED CARS '7/ CORDOBA - $3895 '79 MONZA CPE - $4495 '75.CHEV. hepdo Landau - $2395 '76 MONARCH 4 dr.. $2695 - . '77 REGAL - $3893 - 2 to choose from '76 TORINO Brougham 4 door . $1895 73 ELECTRA 2 door - $1795 '73 PLYMOUTH "Gold Dswe/' - $1095 75 VOLVO 164E • $4394- 73 DODGE CORONET Wagon, 47,000 ad. mi. - $1695 '73 CADILLAC COUPE DeVILLE, Very Clean - $1695 76 DODGE ASPEN WAGON - $2695 79 CHEVY BLAZER - $5195 77 CHEVY LUV pieYup, 10,000 act. mL • $4595 75 IL[CTRA333 4 doer. Locally awn- ed since new, extremely Mod $2195 76 ELECTRA LIMITED LANDAU. Moon root, leather, tope, chrome wheels, spars never down - $3695 '74 CHEV. Camaro, 37,000 od. mi. - $2895 '73 LTD 4 dr. - $1895 '76 CUTLASS SUPREME - $3495 '74 PORSCHE 914 - $3995 '78 REGAL LIMITED - 35195 pMirG* Rockets' bU OF / A 1 block west of Menards. 3600 Hwy 13 Sales 894-2170 Service 894.4780 GMAC 8 BANK FINANCING AVAILABLE THISWEEK AUGUST 25, 1980 Volume 17, No; 24 20 years of service 4.ap,„/-//, /n August 11, 1996 City administrator's job -grows with the Eagan community By BRENDA HAUGEN When Eagan's first city ad- ministrator was hired 20 years ago, the relatively rural •com- munity included about 16,000 citizens, many farms and a city staff of about 45 people, including police. Today, Tom Hedges — the first and only city administrator to serve the Eagan community — leads a staff of about 200, A man known to thrive on • which serves a city approach- challenges, Hedges said it's inga population of 60,000. this changing community that's kept .him around so long. As Eagan has grown and matured, Hedges' responsibilities within - the city have done the same. "Eagan has kept me so in- credibly busy and challenged," Hedges said. "The life cycle of the community grew almost like my life cycle." When Hedges first arrived in Eagan, the . city had two fire stations. Today it has five. _ Twenty . years ago, there was no communicationsdepart- ment, no engineers on staff and no cable TV personnel. "We didn't -really have a fi- nance department," he added. "We had the operation, but not a formal department." The Police Department was different, too. According to (See Hedges, p.10A) Nepns Ail CWith p4 Sed o aSt ymentsse Air conditioning, rear defrost, console Et arm rest, 60/40 split, rear fold down seat, tilt, ore. #65165 INCLUDES - Power sunroof Et CD Player. Magnum V8, auto., power (windows, locks, mir- rnr' Hedges (Continued from front page) Hedges, 20 years ago there wasn't much patrolling done at night. "And the dispatchers were not 24 hours," he said. Among the other changes in city staff was the hiring of a water ' quality resource coordi- nator around 1990 to help look after the 365 water bodies found in the city, Hedges said. "That's (the water bodies) a huge asset for the community," he said. With concern for the envi- ronment came recycling as well, and the city hired a communications and recycling coordinator. "Recycling came into exis- tence in the late 80s," Hedges said. And as the community de- veloped, shifts in Hedges' job followed. "The nature of the work has changed so drastically," he said. Hedges' role today is more in the area of leadership than the actual hands-on work he did — from answering phones to run- ning off and delivering council packets — 20 years ago. Now City Hall is getting into the World Wide Web, Hedges said. The city focus also has shifted from development to- ward service, he added. But, while it may appear 'He (Hedges) really stood out. It was his direct answers. His honesty stood out the best of all. And he wanted to do something . for the city.' — Ted Wachter otherwise, being a city admin- istrator hasn't exactly been a lifelong dream of Hedges'. The Iowa native earned an undergraduate degree in gen- eral business at the University of South Dakota (USD). His graduate work in public ad- ministration included a gradu- ate assistantship at USD. "They wanted us to intern someplace," Hedges ex- plained. While many headed to such places as Washington, D.C., to learn about big government, Hedges decided to intern with the city of Vermillion, S.D. "I just truly enjoyed it," Hedges said. But he wasn't sure city gov- ,u: CITY ADMINISTRATOR Tom Hedges listens to a member of his staff. Photo_ by Rick Orn- dorf ernment was a field in which he wanted to stay. That was true even as he took his first city administrator position in St. Peter, where he stayed for 4 1/2 years. It was in St. Peter that Hedges was discovered by a recruiter looking for a city ad- ministrator for Eagan. "I must have just met their profile at the time," Hedges said. "I didn't even know where Eagan was at the time." Eagan was described as a community "with some growth potential, I was told," Hedges said. The recruiter also said Eagan "was a diamond in the rough," a statement Hedges said he didn't quite appreciate at the time. But Hedges applied and in- terviewed with the City Coun- cil. Present Council Member Ted Wachter was on that council as well, and he re- members the process clearly. According to Wachter, the council narrowed the list of candidates to five, and the council spoke to each of those candidates individually. After- ward, each council member drew a name of a candidate and took that person to lunch. Wachter drew Hedges' name. "We shared lunch and had a glass of chocolate milk," Wachter said. But even before lunch, the decision on who would be Ea- gan's first city administrator was really already made, Wachter said. The council unanimously offered the job to Hedges, Wachter said. "He really stood out," Wachter said. "It was his di- rect answers. His honesty stood out the best of all. And he wanted to do something for the city." The decision was easy for Hedges, too. "There was no question about it being the right decision," he said, adding that time has proved his decision right. "Eagan has just felt good. It felt right." In the 20 years since the de- cision to hire Hedges was made, Wachter hasn't regret- ted that choice, he said. Wachter added that he's never heard a derogatory comment regarding Hedges that entire time. And no one can question Hedges' work ethic, Wachter said, pointing out that Hedges puts in long hours, including many Saturdays. "I want to be useful," Hedges said. "I give it a lot of time and energy." "His job comes first," Wachter said. "His leadership and guidance has carried us over many a large mountain." "I've always enjoyed working with people and solving prob- lems," Hedges said. But as far as his job being his first priority, Hedges would ar- .__, gue that point. "It's important for me to have time with my family," he said. "The job can be very consum- ing. You have to achieve a - balance. "I have a lot of energy. I'm full of energy." He has used that energy working with corporate citizens such as Blue Cross Blue Shield, Northwest Airlines and West Publishing. "West Publishing's reloca- tion and growth — that was a real highlight," Hedges said. "It was fun to be part of that." He's enjoyed watching Eagan become a community in the true sense of the word, with Fourth of July festivals, an an - (See Hedges, p.19A) (Continued) nual arts and crafts fair, places to shop and a high school. Moving to Eagan 20 years ago, Hedges said Eagan didn't have the sense of cohesiveness it has now, which was an ad- justment for him and his wife, Debbie. "That was a definite change for us," he said. But since then, Tom and Debbie, who've been married 26 years, have raised their three children — Brandon, 20, Abby, 18, and Aaron, 14. They've been active in their church and their children's schools. In addition, Hedges has been part of the Rotary Club where he's been on the board and has served as treasurer. He's also an at -large member of the Lion's Club, has served as president of the Exchange Club, and now serves on the board of the Eagan Foundation, a group he helped pioneer, and the Southwest Area YMCA. He's active with the Eagan Chamber of Commerce as well. As if that's not enough, Hedges has coached track, soccer and other sports teams over the years. An Eagle Scout, Hedges remains active in the Boy Scouts, too. "I've been involved in scout- ing all my life," he said. But no matter what he's do- ing, he's still representing the city of Eagan and his position as city administrator, he said. "It's all kind of networking with your city," he explained. Like a minister, the city ad- ministrator doesn't represent his position just from 9 to 5, he said. "They don't stop being a minister when they walk out of the church," he said. If Hedges expects a lot of himself, he expects a great deal of his staff as well. He credits his staff, many of whom have been with the city of Ea- gan nearly as long — and some even longer — as he has been, with the way the city runs and with how it serves its customers. "Tom has always gotten the utmost work from everyone who works for him," said Mayor Tom Egan. "I get a lot of satisfaction out of knowing someone is more comfortable in a neighborhood because of what we've done as «., „ undnPc maid `I get a lot of satisfaction out of knowing someone is more comfort- able in a neigh- borhood be- cause of what we've done as a city.' — Tom Hedges stressful, "but the payoff is be- ing part of the community." "He has not lost his common stature with the taxpayer," Wachter said. "I think the community has responded well to him. He's a great adminis- trator." "Great" is only one of the many adjectives Egan said he'd use to describe Hedges. Egan, who's worked with Hedges as a council member or mayor for more than 18 years, said Hedges is sensitive, caring, compassionate, intelli- gent, and has outstanding management skills. "I could use every positive adjective in the dictionary," Egan said. "Tom always knows what it takes to resolve politi- cal issues without becoming political himself." According to Egan, Hedges has been involved in much of the planning that has made Eagan what it is today. "He is responsible for so much of that himself," Egan said. Hedges is a resourceful leader who has provided the city with credibility, according to Egan. If people can trust anyone in the community, they know they can trust Hedges as "someone who is telling you the truth," Egan said. Truthfully, Hedges said he's surprised to be in Eagan after 20 years. He said when he first moved here, he planned to be in Eagan four to six years, then move to a bigger city. But he's been able to live in that bigger city without having to move because of Eagan's continuous TOM HEDGES holds a meeting with part of his staff in his office in the Eagan Municipal Center. Photo by Rick Orndorf `I could use every positive adjec- tive in the dictionary. Tom (Hedges) always knows what it takes to re- solve political issues without be- coming political himself.' — Tom Egan growth. "What Eagan has provided me is a real unique opportu- nity," Hedges said. According to Hedges, he's never openly sought another position since he's been with the city of Eagan, but other cities and people from the pri- vate sector have been inter- ested in him. Wachter said he has no problem with Hedges being the city's first and only city administrator. "As far as I'm concerned, it can stay that way," Wachter said. "I hope it does." Eagan continues to provide Hedges with challenges as it moves into the 21st century. He said the city is ready for more commercial develop- ment, which can be seen in Eagan Promenade. Another challenge will be dealing with youth in the community as the great num- bers of young children become teen-agers, Hedges said. "And they need attention," he said. "We can't just let them loose on the streets." The city also needs to exam- ine issues such as housing as the community grows older and more folks enter the 55-plus age bracket, Hedges said. So where will Hedges be in another 20 years? He doesn't know if he'll still be in Eagan or not. While Eagan is home to him and his family and they enjoy living here, Hedges said he can't close himself off to other opportunities. Perhaps he'll take part in a career en- hancement program through a college. Maybe he'll take time to pursue his hobbies and in- terests. He definitely wants to have more time with his fam- ily. Wachter said he can see Hedges as a teacher. Regardless of what he does or where he goes, Hedges said he now understands why the recruiter saw such a bright fu- ture for Eagan. "This community is a dia- mond," Hedges said. "He helped shine that dia- mond," Wachter said. EXERCISE Does Your Heart Good. American Heart Association: I religion Becoming Catholic The Church of St. John Neu- mann, 4030 Pilot Knob Road in Eagan, will begin the proc- ess for bringing people into the Catholic Church at 7 p.m. Sept. 3. The process begins with 10 weeks of inquiry sessions. If you are interested in becoming Catholic or would like more information, call Sally Hof- meister at the parish office at 454-2079. Women's Aglow Deb Kramer, a business owner who has ministered to working women, will speak at - the Tuesday, Aug. 20 meeting of Burnsville Women's Aglow Fellowship, to be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Victory Vineyard Church, 13798 Park - wood Drive, Burnsville. Women's Aglow is an inter- national, interdenominational organization. On -site child care is free. Information: Kari Schiltgen, 454-7023. Open house Dakota Unitarian Universalist Church will host an open house from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Aug. 25. The open house will offer re- freshments, a tour of church facilities and celebrate the church's new home at 4040 Beau D' Rue Drive in Eagan. All friends and newcomers are welcome. For more information, call 220-4045. Outdoor service Apple Valley United Church of Christ (UCC) and St. Mark's UCC in Bloomington will hold an outdoor church service Aug. 25, 10:30 a.m., at the Redwood Community Center Park in Apple Valley. The service will involve mu- sic, stories and intergenera- tional activities. All are wel- come to join the two congrega- tions for this special event. Redwood Community Center is located at 311 County Road 42 in Apple Valley. For more information, call 953-1294. PETER SCHROCK'S FAMILY SWIM SCHOOL "Learning to Swim Well, An Asset for Life" Babies to Adults Inquire About Our WARM WATER EXERCISE CLASS 6225 EAGAN Africa (Continued) year stay with two or three months back (in the United States)," Karen said. The Nosses are using this time, not only to visit friends and family, but to gather sup- plies for their trip back to Af- rica and to let people locally, know what they're doing and how they can help. For more information on do- nating items or volunteering time to help pack a shipping container, call Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Eagan at 454-2344. To donate medical supplies, contact Global Health Ministries in Minneapo- lis. For more information on missionary programs, contact your local evangelical church. Letter (Continued) cerns are. For years, Joanne Seaberg has worked with kids in trouble, trying to find ways for the kids and their families to mend the rifts between neighbors. I support Joanne Seaberg for state Senate because we need people like her who dedicate their time and take construc- tive action in the community. I know mediation is only one of the many areas Joanne Sea - berg has worked to problem - solve in this area, but I support this kind of citizenship and leadership. She would make an excellent senator. I will be vot- ing for her in the Sept. 10 pri- mary. LESLIE MILLIKAN Eagan Want to advertise your business? Purchase a display ad in Thisweek Newspapers. 894-1111 Knits (Continued from front page) years ago, and followed a regular knitting pattern for a number of years. Then she discovered Norwegian knit- ting, which is more difficult because of the complexity of the patterns and different needles, and she has been, literally, hooked ever since. "When I found Norwegian knitting, I then began look- ing more into my Norwegian heritage," she said. "I like the Norwegian knitting be- cause I like the challenge of a difficult pattern." Each sweater takes about 1 1/2 months of evenings spent knitting to complete and Rockswold said she completes about six a year. "I am an insomniac though, so it gives me something to do; it keeps me out of mischief," she said. And if she tires of knitting, she has another Scandina- vian -influenced hobby, petit point, to turn to. This is a painstaking activity as well. Petit point, Rockswold ex- plained, is a very intricate form of stitchery. Whereas regular stitching has 11 stitches per square inch, petit point has 30, so it is extremely detailed. Like the knitting, it offers a chal- lenge Rockswold enjoys. "You have to be willing to accept a challenge," she said. "I learned from my mother to finish everything I began, even if I didn't like it, so I finish everything." Her persistence has paid off. Both the sweaters and petit point pieces Rockswold entered in this year's Dakota County Fair won first -place ribbons, which she will add to the others she has accumulated over the years. She has never finished an exhibit with less than first -place honors, has acquired several grand -champion awards at different fairs, and won DANCE sweepstakes for her petit point. She will enter several pieces at the Minnesota State Fair later this summer. As Rockswold developed her Norwegian hobbies, she also developed a strong in- terest in her roots and heri- tage. Since picking up the knitting, she has become a volunteer genealogist for the Valdres Lag, representing a central portion of Norway. People with ancestors there contact her and she con- ducts a background study to find original roots and a gene line from Norway's past to America's present. In doing this, she has compiled a 350-page family book for her heritage, which she found traced all the way back to Norwegian royalty. She also looked into her husband, Palmer's, back- ground. His ancestors are from a northern portion of Norway. Several years ago, Palmer wrote about the Norwegian transition be- tween Norway and the Un- tied States in "Per," a book which is now in its seventh printing. "It is about the immigrant experience of a Norwegian farmer who moved to North Dakota," Rockswold ex- plained. "He (Palmer) never really knew his father, so he tried to explore his Norwe- gian roots through this book." Rockswold said she and Palmer are currently plan- ning to make their seventh trip to Norway, in 1999 when they will attend a 100th anniversary celebra- tion of the first Valdres im- migration to America. Rockswold is already look- ing forward to going back to Norway. "I feel as though I could be a tour guide, I have been there so often," she said. "It is expensive, but the people are very generous and hospitable; it is a very beautiful country to see." I.i:liYiIT1 `Hedges Alumni' recognize their mentor City administrator wins statewide award by Dan Gearino Staff Writer Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges has been honored for his decades of mentorship through the city's internship program. Hedges is the inaugur- al recipient of the Minnesota Association of Urban Management Assistants (MAUMA) Outstanding Mentor Award. Eagan interns have gone on to become city administrators and assistant city administrators all over the state, including Hopkins, Hastings, Mahtomedi, Mound and Redwood Falls. According to the MAUMA citation, graduates of the Eagan internship are known among public administrators as "Hedges Alumni." Several of these alumni nominated Hedges for the award. Tom Hedges Hastings City Manager Dave Osberg was an intern in Eagan from 1981 to 1982 and wrote one of the letters of nomination for Hedges to be considered for - the award. "I consider Tom one of the best in the business," Osberg said. "He taught me so many things about how to treat people and how to manage a city." MAUMA is a 90-member group of assistant city managers that works closely with the state association of city managers. Jamie Verbrugge, assistant city administrator in Eagan, also wrote a letter of nomination for Hedges. "I think it's wonderful that Tom got the award," he said. "Tom has real dedication to good government and helping others" In 1985, Hedges was recog- nized as among the best in the country when he won the L.P. Cookingham Career Development Award from the International City/County Management Association. Hedges — who has served as city administrator in Eagan since 1977 — is out of the office this week and could not be reached for comment on the award. moo sAtzlect Crisis Nursery.: provides local families emergency child care by'john 'Siicansky Staff Writer • The Crisis Nursery in..Apple Valley has been. serving the Dakota County. area for the. -last, 15 years and.currently is in need of. volunteers. The nursery originally began .serving St. •Paul and Ramsey County, but •an Apple Valley office was opened to provide . more access to people south of the river, according to .Ann Cadwell, coordinator of volun- teer:services. •The nursery is located on I47th Street in the Apple -Valley office center. It is also part of the, Children's Home Society of • Minnesota, which is a nonprofit organization. .The Apple Valley nursery is' one of six than serve the Twin Gitiesarea. , -• >- y.. tom Accordingao,Cadwe11 iV is a Slesai.d`the nursery needs a ' 'everything is kept confidential. little time to figure out where to • "People are afraid that we. place the children and provides will take their kids away, but we day care during the week 'for sit- can't legally do that," she said. uations that are not urgent or However, Cadwell said, if the immediate. nursery recognizes' evidence of Cadwell said that if the. need abuse to children by parents, is urgent because there is a dan- nursery staff members are ger present that threatens the required by law to report it to children, parents should call 911 the authorities, but it is not their 'responsibility 10 remove. the child.from the family. .The nursery, while not a part of Dakota County, does work in - partnership with county pro- grams. Cadwell said she works to educate the public to minimize Misunderstandings in the com- munity. Cadwell said that currently the only advertisement. for the nursery is by word-of-mouth. `The phone riumher for the nurs- ery is (612) 432-5528. • She said the nursery works . with the Community Action first. Cadwell said another exam- ple of -the nursery's service is to help parents who are experienc- ing a crisis. "If you need to get your house in order because your children are driving you crazy and you need a couple hours to cool down, we can provide a place to watch your children to give parents a short break," she said. Some other common reasons the nursery gets used are if a parent needs to go to a meeting such as an Alcoholics Thugratu1a tiop • The Minnesota City/County Management Association has named Tom Hedges the 2001 Minnesota Manager of the Year. The award was presented Friday morning at their annual conference. Ile was nominated by Mayor Awada and the nomination packet included letters of nomination from a wide variety of individuals with whom Tom has worked in his 25-years of service to the City of Eagan. In honor of the award, the Mayor and City Council have declared: Please join us in honoring Tuesday, May 15 as Tom Hedges' Day in the City of Eagan! The community is invited to a celebration in his honor from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. on the front lawn at Eagan City Hall. Refreshments and Entertainment will be provided. Following the celebration, a formal presentation will be made at the 6:30 City Council meeting. Tom I[edges, Manager of the Year 2001 14A Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eagan Sun•Culrent Wednesday, May 23, 2001- Hedges From Page 1A talking about me, it was just `Pikes!' that kind of feeling inside. It's so hard to try to find words to explain how it felt." Less than a year ago Hedges was rec- ognized by the Minnesota Association of Urban Management Assistants (MAUMA) with its Outstanding Manag- er Mentor Award for 2000, the first such award the group has presented. That recognition stemmed from Hedges' in- ternship program for aspiring city ad- ministrators. When the calls went out for letters of recommendation in support of Hedges', it was not long before .that call was an- swered - in a big way. Letters came from Eagan's current and previous mayors and numerous managers and administrators. "There is hardly any issue which any administrator or manager could face which Tom has not faced in Eagan," wrote former Mayor Tom Egan. "As much as I may respect the professionalism of (the many other managers and administra- tors in the state of Minnesota), none, in my opinion, can match the competence and qualifications of Tom Hedges." The Eagan City Council also recog- nized Hedges, proclaiming May 15 as "Tom Hedges' Day" and having a recep- tion for him before the council meeting. "We're so proud that Tom is being rec- ognized for his ;excellence in city man- agement," Mayor Pat Awada said. "He is a most deserving recipient and we are fortunate that he has made Eagan his own, both personally and professionally." Hedges, who said he has never had a day proclaimed in his honor, said the re- action and.support he has received from friends, co-workers, associates and every- body else has been staggering. "It's very gratifying and overwhelm- ing," he said. "Lots of friends came out to the reception and there were lots of peo- ple there. The thing that struck me is there were people from many walks of life there and that it was not just one group of people supporting me." Nomination letters also came from 'state representatives,: consultants, cur- rent and former Eagan employees and the management team. Several city ad- ministrators who Hedges'\has mentored over the years also showed their support. Hedges said the award and the sup- ' port he received from the people he has worked with over the years have made him reflect on the last 25 years. "To have so many people that I have worked with show such great support is very special and it means so much to me. It's really made me look back on all those people I have worked with and all the. wonderful experiences I have had in -pub-;, lic administration. It feels good to'see that I have contributed and made an impact." r ecl'cation earns praise, awar Only city administrator Eagan has ever had selected as best in state By Joshua Nichols Sun Newspapers . Over the course of his 25 years as Eagan city administrator, Tom Hedges has seen the city grow from 17,000 people to 63,557. Over the course of the past year, Eagan has seen the only city administrator it has ever had rec- ognized twice for his work. The Minnesota City/County Management Association se- lected Hedges May 11 as the first -ever recipi- ent of its Robert A. Barrett Man- ager of the Year Award. The award was created "to identify a manager, administra- tor or coordinator who has estab- lished himself or herself as a role model, leader or mentor in the local government profession." Hedges said he wasn't aware Hedges he had been nominated for the award, let alone that he had been chosen over 14 other finalists. • When association leaders began to introduce the winner during the conference, Hedges began to realize they were talking about him as they described the recipi- ent's years of mentoring, work in the south suburbs of the Twin Cities and finally his alma matey. "I was so taken aback when they announced it," Hedges said. "Piece by piece it fell into place. When I realized they were • HEDGES: To Page 14A service at City -Hall The American Legion Post will conduct services May 28 Memorial Day services will begin at 7:30 a.m. in front of the flag pole at City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Road in Eagan.