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Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Jurisdiction over installatiion of fiber optic cable - 8/7/1996C� tft- tLl i LES LI)! (cYrPK[. *ter 7 / 19h Battle rages over space beneath streets By Lauri Winters Staff Writer The battle over use of right of way — the space beneath public streets — started in February when U.S. West challenged a Redwood Falls, Minn., or- dinance establishing standards for in- stallation of fiber optic cable. A spokeswoman for U.S. West said the ordinance requiring the company to encase lines in concrete conduit or any that limit the city's liability if the cable were to be damaged, exceeds powers granted to cities under state law, The League of Minnesota Cities (LMC), maintains that U.S. West wants the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) to assume juris- diction of city rights of way, thereby setting aside local regulation. LMC officials want cities to retain control. "Cities spend a great deal of time planning and building streets and sidewalks," wrote Tim Busse in the League's May 17 newsletter. "Cities take care of the public right of way be- cause that's what city residents expect them to do. After all, citizens pay taxes for public services." A U.S. West representative said it is not accurate to say the company wants to take rights of way control out of local hands. "We are not trying to take away con- trol from cities," said Mary Hisley, manager of public relations for U.S. West. "We want the Public Utilities Commission to clarify its authority. Our object was to get the regulatory agency to clarify its authority." According to a company press re- lease, U.S. West contends: • State law gives the MPUC exclu- sive jurisdiction to regulate the public right of way. This authority should pre- vent regulation by any other body, such as local government. • A municipality's authority over the public right of way is limited by law to reasonable "police power," and only stipulates where and when power poles and utility lines can be installed. Ac- tions beyond basic control are unlawful infringement on the MPUC's jurisdic- tion. • MPUC has jurisdiction to prevent piece -meal regulation of rights of way by local governments. On May 31, the Fifth District Court dismissed U.S. West's case against Redwood Falls. According to a LMC publication, the judge in the case ruled that MPUC was essentially created to regulate tele- phone service, "but did not take away cities' right to impose reasonable regu- lations and charge a reasonable fran- chise fee for use of streets and ser- vices." That decision has left U.S. West claiming victory, saying MPUC has control over rights of way. However, LMC also claims victory, saying munic- ipalities maintain control. - Hisley said U.S. West officials have not decided whether or not to appeal the judge's decision. Since U.S. West has until the end of August to appeal the court's decision in the Redwood Falls case, the issue re- mains unresolved. Most city, cable company and LMC officials agree that the rights of way issue probably will be on the agenda during the next legislative session and that additional court cases are likely. Motel From Page 1A cil in May, Lawrence Avenue resident Merle Duff referred to the motel as the "Eagan Eye Sore." Neighbors Lynn and Dennis Klingel said they have seen people living out of the rooms and have called it to the Police Department's attention. Eagan Police re- ceived reports of trespassers at the site on Nov. 20, 28 and 30 last year. On April 16, there was a report of open doors and in June there were reports of suspicious activity and damage to the property. "I'm concerned about the health haz- ard," said Lynn Klingel. "For two years va- grants have used it as one giant toilet." The previous fire was contained to one room. Klingel said she doubts whether the neighbors would bother to call the Fire Department in the future. The Kors' plan to reopen the motel came as a surprise to some. "The neighbors would rather have it torn down even though we'd lose our buffer between us and the highway," Klin- gel said. Council members also appeared sur- prised by the news. "Nobody anticipated reuse of an obso- lescent motel," said Mayor Tom Egan dur- ing a City Council work session July 30. Councilmember Ted Wachter said, "I can't see anything wrong with it. It's a The Airliner Motel in Eagan stands boarded up. (Jan Abbott/Staff Pho- tographer) compatible use." The motel falls within the boundaries of a new Tax Increment Finance (TIF) re- development district. TIF financing will be a funding mechanism used by Eagan to do public improvements, correct substan- dard conditions, remove substandard structures and to assemble land for pri- vate redevelopment in the highways 55 and 149 area. Principal: Hopes for alliance with students From Page 1A During his 13-year career in education in California, DeWitt has taught social studies and performing arts; coached foot- ball, baseball, volleyball, badminton and drama; served as dean of students and completed assistant principalships at two growth like I've been through," he said with a smile. Working on meeting the new graduation stan- dards also will be a chal- lenge facing DeWitt in his first year of service at the fffead® UPC 10330 No. 153L HASTINGS, MN New cable TV deal could vastly expand telecommunications By JOHN GESSNER This is not your parents' ca- ble TV system. New vistas in telecommuni- cations await Burnsville and Eagan as they prepare to renew their 14-year-old cable fran- chise, which expires next July. The new franchise agreement could bring high-speed Internet access, an explosion of new channels, narrowcasting and video phone service into sub- scribers' homes, while provid- ing interactive links between homes, schools, libraries, gov- ernment offices and other insti- tutions. "When you add all that up, you're up to today's state of the art, with 750 megahertz," said Tom Robinson, the Bums- ville/Eagan Telecommunica- tions Commission's franchise consultant. Cable officials began meet- ing last week with user groups to determine their needs for the next 15 years. With rapid tech- nological advances, tech - hungry consumers and the con- vergence of telecommunica- tions offerings, cable TV is changing fast, Robinson told commissioners Sept. 25. "Fifteen years — who can imagine our life in 2012?" he asked. "I know from a tele- communications perspective, there will be technologies I'll be using I can't envision right now." (See Cable, p.29A) T POWER SUN- ROOF & IN -DASH CD PLAYER 36 MONTH LEASE SPECIAL 15,000 MILES PER YEAR 51200 TOTAL CASH DOWN Incl. 1st payment Er lic. fees, no sec. deposit required. •75004 "Top Of The Line SLT Package" Auto., Air, Tilt, Cruise, Power (Windows, Locks), AM/FM Cassette. Keyless Entry & Much More. M.S.R.P $20,040 Disc. - 1.441 $18, 599 $1500 TOTAL CASH DOW • 71022 "EQUIPPED NOT STRIPPED" V-6. Air, Auto., Factory Sunscreen Glass, Power Locks, Dual Air Bags, Dual Doors, Tilt, Cruise, AM/FM Cassette. rmimumimminionimEmmemonx,imm...w. Cable (Continued from front page) The franchise agreement will be negotiated with St. Louis - based Charter Communica- tions, which is in the process of buying the Burnsville/Eagan system from U.S. West. Charter will be the system's sixth owner since 1983. A fiber-optic upgrade of the existing coaxial cable system is "a multimillion -dollar propo- sition," Robinson said. How much the commission will seek from Charter in negotia- tions — and the resulting ef- fect on subscriber rates — re- mains to be seen. "Cost is a huge factor," said Robinson, of Philadelphia - based River Oaks Communica- tions Corp. "Cable companies will tell you this, subscribers will tell you this. It's a balanc- ing act." That could mean users pay extra for more advanced serv- ices. "You can't lump it all on just that basic subscriber rate," Robinson said. The upgraded system will likely be a fiber-optic/coaxial hybrid, he said. "We're going from the broad- band, everybody -gets - everything to people eventu- ally being able to choose their own systems," he said. The option of choosing a cer- tain program at any given time is several years down the road — but the technology grows less expensive all the time, Robinson said. "Subscribers indicate that they want those kinds of serv- ices," he said. The commission's attorney cautioned officials not to go overboard. "The inclination of policy - makers is to make them (cable companies) do everything," said Tom Creighton. Federal telecommunications law acts as a check on unreasonable community requests, he said. And some needs may best be met by providers other than the cable company. "Now is the time to dream and vision, but you're headed for a more challenging time when you have to make it all happen, whether with the cable company or another telecom- munications provider," Creigh- ton told commissioners. In addition to meetings with cable users, the commission is planning a phone survey of 400 subscribers. Alt iz Madsen (left) and Martha Schlottke go up for a block during dria Saturday, Sept. 20. The match was part of the Eagle Invi- igh School. Photo by Rick Orndorf lOth- Cable TV ready to enter 2lst century By JOHN GESSNER A consultant for the Burnsville -Eagan Telecom- munications Commission has delivered recommenda- tions for upgrading the cur- rent cable TV system into a 21st-century communica- tions network. The consultant, River Oaks Communications Corp., said the new system should include features such as: • An expanded menu of traditional cable channels; • Data services such as high-speed Internet access; • Digital television capa- bilities, including high - definition television and video on demand; • Telephone services; • An improved, fiber - optics -based institutional (See Cable, p.15A) s: 3ayment. Security it Required %pproved Credit 15,000 MILES PER YEAR INCLUDED $309M0 * $0 DOWN $285MO../$1000 DOWN $258M0.'/S2OOO DOWN 3.3 V6, D pkg., auto., air, power (wind./locks/mirrors), tilt, cruise, AM/FM cass., factory sunscreen Includes: 1st Payment. No Security Deposit Required on Approved Credit 42 Month Lease glass, dual airbags 8 sliding doors. •71162 ' Residual value ($13.353.35) 105 per mile over 15,000 per year, payment + tax. plus lic. fees & DOC. MSRP $24,445. NTER WON'T STAND A CHANCE PORT UTILITY & TRUCK SALE 1994 FORD RANGER STX Cable (Continued from front page) network providing high-tech links between government offices, schools and other network users. Network us- ers should also be able to access other networks out- side Burnsville and Eagan. The recommendations are part of the commission's renewal of the cities' 14- year-old cable franchise, which expires next July. The consultant recommends that the next franchisee com- plete the multimillion -dollar upgrade within two years of signing a new agreement. Within three years, resi- dents could be telecom - muting or surfing the Net through their TV screens with a special converter and a keypad. Business and governments along the insti- tutional network could be holding videoconferences. A subscriber survey by River Oaks shows that 63 percent of subscribers have a personal computer in their home, indicating strong in- terest in data services. "Incorporation of data services through the cable system really does appear to be a need and want of the next 10 years," said Mike Reardon, Burnsville/Eagan telecommunications coordi- nator. "We're not just look- ing at cable services. We're looking above and beyond." Even low -tech subscribers — whose only beef is that they can't get The Golf Channel or other specialty programming on the current "channel -locked" system — would benefit. "We have no more room for programming without giving something up at this point," Reardon said. River Oaks recommends that the 450-megahertz sys- tem be upgraded to 550 megahertz of traditional analog capability, with an additional 200 digital megahertz. "We're looking at the re - liabilities and capabilities of fiber -optics to take us into the next century," Reardon said. Half or more of the na- tion's cable TV systems are reaching the same cross- roads, as they renegotiate franchises enacted more than a decade ago, Reardon said. Burnsville/Eagan's current franchisee, Meredith Cable, is considering similar up- grades for its sister cable franchises throughout the Twin Cities area, he said. "... The growth in services and technology for the cable television, telecommunica- tions and computing indus- tries since CATV first came to Burnsville and Eagan dur- ing the early 1980s has been phenomenal," says a con- sultant's report. Profit -making possibilities are also vast, as indicated by the tenuous status of the local system's ownership. The system, which has had five owners since 1983, is now owned by US West, whose subsidiary, Meredith Cable, operates the system. St. Louis -based Charter Communications was in the process of buying US West's cable systems until US West announced that it planned to spin off its cable operations from its phone operations, allowing the telecommunications giant to retain its cable properties under federal law. US West is petitioning the Federal Communications Commission for an exten- sion until July 1998 to com- plete the spin-off. "Charter is fighting the petition," said a Burnsville city staff report. "Apparently the Twin Cities systems are worth more than a quick $30 million settlement, which would be Charter's if the purchase agreement was canceled." i hospital for a few more months. Financially, Rankine does not know if she can afford to stay in Australia. Rankine considered bringing Rob back with her to the United States, but his insur- ance would not cover it. Rankine's fiancee, Dale Pe- tersen, is taking care of her house and her bills while she is out of the country. "Gretchen is doing the best she can," said Petersen. "I'm trying to keep this end okay." Because Rankine took a temporary leave from her job, she has no money coming in to pay her expenses in Australia as well as her monthly bills at home. In light of her situation, Fron- tier Communications has really pulled through. Frontier Communications held a raffle to raise money for Rankine Nov. 21. They got companies and radio stations to donate prizes and tickets were sold for $5. Nearly $3,000 was raised. "We got a real good response for the short time we did it," said Kelly Branscomb, of Fron- tier Communications. The fund-raising does not stop there. In the office, Fron- tier Communications keeps a bucket for co-workers to drop change into. Branscomb said she calls it "Change of Life." The col- lected money goes toward pay- ing Rankine's phone bill which can get rather high with the communications between Aus- tralia and Lakeville. Frontier Communications is also working on a care pack- age to send to Rankine. The able Channel 15 Burnsville - Eagan Access Television 2 in ckey son rs n Girls B.H.S. Boys' Varsity Basketball vs. Brainerd 12/31/97) package will include personal hygiene items, some clothing, ' books and photographs. Branscomb said she tries to contact Petersen at least once a week to get updates on Rob's condition and get lists of what Rankine could use. Frontier Communications is planning to hold a charity dance in January to raise more money for Rankine. "The response by Frontier is so overwhelming," said Rank- ine. "It's just heart-warming to know these people have done what they've done. I've been so touched by their generos- ity." Times have been hard for Rankine. "It's been tough," she said because she is in a place where she doesn't know any- one nearby. Having gone through this ex- perience, Rankine said she has a whole new understanding of brain injuries. Having donated clothing throughout the years to Yester- day's Treasures in Burnsville, which is run by the Brain In- jury Association, Rankine never knew the cause would hit so close to home. "He's never going to be the same person I knew before," said Rankine. But she is glad he is alive. "It's just a miracle," said Pe- tersen. "We're just thankful he's alive. I think he's going to recover. I've been praying for him." For more information on the charity dance or for any dona- tions, contact Kelly Bran- scomb at 898-7458. Academy (Continued) vested interest in the depart- ment," said Pike. "The officers most often deal with the bad elements of society, but that is only 1 or 2 percent of Eagan. Ninety-eight percent of the people are good. We're happy to be able to work with people who are genuinely interested in law enforcement." Academy participants must be Eagan residents or Eagan business owners and be over 18 e.interested •• •• ••(.._(,(I••1 ••(•• ©•00C_3•Z •• .�00•• ••(:c_�.••c • a" • (t)OOOCtXj • •u • • c:Xxx •• UU••(:j ••t';QU O•C •011000011X36 •• Q,OO••LZJ i gp►NTA LOOKS on as reindeer Prancer rests easy at the Eagan s North Pole < Dec. 20. With no snow oBng d ground, hPPo ny rRk and the dorf� s reingo break from their sleigh pui Cable TV ready to enter 2lst century By JOHN GESSNER A consultant for the Burnsville -Eagan Telecom- munications Commission has delivered recommenda- tions for upgrading the cur- rent cable TV system into a 2lst-century communica- tions network. The consultant, River Oaks Communications Corp., said the new system should include features such as: • An expanded menu of traditional cable channels; • Data services such as high-speed Internet access; • Digital television capa- bilities, including high - definition television and video on demand; • Telephone services; • An improved, fiber - optics -based institutional (See Cable, p.15A) A place Vast cc for tho By CHRIS WII Generosity of workplace By LORI HALL Every mother's worst dream is that some harm might come to her child. For one Lakeville woman, this nightmare came true. On Halloween, Gretchen Rankine was notified her 20- year-old son, Rob, was in a serious car accident. He was listed in serious condition and he was in a coma. He was also on the other side of the world An elderly Q the Dakota Cc Society Museu an armful of today's world technology, In way unrelated The man telegraph oper ried a unigl taught a person The device re with dots and in Australia. Rankine had lived in Austra- lia for 17 years working as an elementary school teacher. When she and her husband di- vorced, she returned to the United States, while Rob re- mained behind. Rob was working as a com- puter programmer in Cairns, which is in northern Queen- sland. Riding with a co-worker in a Ford Escort panel van on Hal - help: Ioween, the round -a -bout pickup truck the truck 1, windshield a Rob sustai and his jug, Bred, which of a lot of bl He was tx. pital four he where he is lion. The drive 1 ••('i_-0C-0o03-0 •• :-. oo•• • •G••Lila J •• F)GC •• •• :j0(3•• J=J=J • • 0-0 0-o..0_a_0Fo •4'000000_0o_0 ••(30O••O000 • •e 000011003.3 111111 O 0 CI • • 9_'IX) •0(30e••00-3.T). • • 4 0o0•41 `).0:T) ) •41Qoo00-O..0) Cable... O (Continued from front page) liabilities and capabilities network providing high-tech of fiber -optics to take us links between government into the next century," offices, schools and other Reardon said. network users. Network us- Half or more of the na- ers should also be able to _Sion's cable TV systems are access other networks out- _reaching the same cross- _ side Burnsville and Eagan. roads, as they renegotiate The recommendations are franchises enacted more part of the commission's than a decade ago, Reardon renewal of the cities' 14- said. year -old cable franchise, Burnsville/Eagan's current which expires next July. The franchisee, Meredith Cable, consultant recommends that is considering similar up - the next franchisee com- grades for its sister cable plete the multimillion -dollar franchises throughout the upgrade within two years of Twin Cities area, he said. signing a new agreement. "... The growth in services Within three years, resi- and technology for the cable dents could be telecom- television, telecommunica- muting or surfing the Net tions and computing indus- through their TV screens tries since CATV first came with a special converter and a keypad. Business and governments along the insti- tutional network could be holding videoconferences. A subscriber survey by River Oaks shows that 63 percent of subscribers have a personal computer in their home, indicating strong in- terest in data services. "Incorporation of data services through the cable system really does appear to be a need and want of the next 10 years," said Mike Reardon, Burnsville/Eagan telecommunications coordi- nator. "We're not just look- ing at cable services. We're looking above and beyond." Even low -tech subscribers whose only beef is that they can't get The Golf Channel or other specialty programming on the current "channel -locked" system — would benefit. "We have no more room for programming without giving something up at this point," Reardon said. River Oaks recommends that the 450-megahertz sys- tem be upgraded to 550 megahertz of traditional analog capability, with an additional 200 _ digital megahertz. "We're looking at the re - to Burnsville and Eagan dur- ing the early 1980s has been phenomenal," says a con- sultant's report. Profit -making possibilities' are also vast, as indicated by the tenuous status of the local system's ownership. The system, which has had five owners since 1983, is now owned by US West, whose subsidiary, Meredith Cable, operates the system. St. Louis -based Charter Communications was in the process of buying US West's cable systems until US West announced that it planned to spin off its cable operations from its phone operations, allowing the telecommunications giant to retain its cable properties under federal law. US West is petitioning the Federal Communications Commission for an exten- sion until July 1998 to com- plete the spin-off. "Charter is fighting the petition," said a Burnsville city staff report. "Apparently the Twin Cities systems are worth more than a quick $30 million settlement, which would be Charter's if the purchase agreement was canceled." Mu. (Continu area, ar. be on di the mu! far Rhea "We teaming said. ' and sug thing, v you hel becaust doing s them tc they -e with." Page hibits charge additic plays, work i societ• supple estimr with end o' "Wt educa kids'r toac creatt maki, derst thing provi As a IX Scho ies i dent tory pone how then was old Iyze frog In abil ety Man is charged with Eagan theft A 51- ear -old man was charged with theft after allegedly xf+CufrenWVedtesda�, o rt, 1997' -a hborhood for almost 50 years ie Improvement trust by stopping by or calling us msultation on your window and lrge or small we will give you our e for a quality solution." taam 55420 oom in Bloomington -n-5pm, Saturday 9:30am-1:30pm 494 +N Winning Smiles. the River Since 1982 antic Specialists, P.A. r9+ldults tilt Consultations diary Appt. Available D.S., M.S. assn. of EAGAN NW Corner of Pilot Knob Rd & Diffley Rd 454-6274 PRIOR LAKE SE Comer of I6Oth St. & Hwy 13 447-6088 to nursing home living: in Northfield offers 24 hour ng for those with memory loss. Lanka Care Center 815 Forest Avenue Northfield, MN 55057 507-645-6611 S tail prices 1g es e le ;s< 7 Cities explore enhanced cable services By Amy Barnett Minnesota Sun Publications Speedier Internet access, increased tele- vision channel selections and interactive communication are among the enhanced services cable subscribers could see in the future. The Burnsville/Eagan Telecommunica- tions Commission, a cable advisory group for the two cities' councils, currently is studying what types of services are needed by the community. The study parallels the transfer of the cable system's ownership from US West's Continental company (which also continues to use the Meredith Cable name to reflect the previous owner) to Charter Communication of Missouri. That should be complete by the end of the year. At the same time, the commission is in the process of renewing the system's fran- chise agreement, an operational contract that requires certain services as well as the return of 5 percent profits to each city. The current franchise ran for 15 years, back to when cable television was intro- duced in Eagan and Burnsville. During that time, six different companies have taken over the system, said Mike Reardon, cable/telecommunications coordinator for Burnsville and Eagan. The agreement ex- pires next July. "Phis is a great window of opportunity. We've actually been waiting for a couple of years to do this," Reardon said. Renewal of a franchise allows cities to ask for services that may not have been includ- ed in the previous agreement. Those ser- vices, however, must be in response to a com- munity need proven and documented by the commission, Reardon said. If not, the opera- tor may refuse to provide the service — and the case could end up in court. Another risk is that city councils making final decisions on the franchise may not agree with a com- mission's recommendation, he said. To gather that proof and subsequently decide what services are important, the commission has had community work- shops and forums, taken surveys and will conduct focus groups. Based on phone calls Reardon receives from subscribers, it is obvious additional channels are needed, he said. Currently, Burnsville and Eagan's system has 67 channels — not enough to accommodate the growing options that appeal to sub- scribers. All channels are in use, and in order for anything new to be added some- thing else has to go. Inevitably, someone is going to be displeased, Reardon said. The hope is that the channel capability be increased, expanding from a 450 mega- hertz system to 750 megahertz. Ideally, that would be done through replacing the coaxi- al backbone of the system with fiber optics. A hair -thin glass fiber, the material can carry 80 to 100 channels. If six fibers were bunched together, the capacity would be 500 channels, said Tom Robinson, a con- sultant based in Colorado and hired to con- duct the needs assessment. While not all those channels would be added at once, several could be adopted to meet determined needs of the community, he said. In addition to increased capacity, fiber optics provides benefits such as increased transmission speed, less interference and interactive communication. Technology has evolved to make digital services avail- able as well, Robinson said. Using the cable infrastructure, sub- scribers could see benefits in a number of new options, including the following. • The ability to pick desired and unde- sired television channels. • Video on demand, where subscribers can dial up a movie at any time they want to view it. • Near video on demand, where movies are aired every 15 minutes. • Internet access via the computer, without the wait. • Enhanced wireless telephone commu- nications. • WebTV, where the World Wide Web can be accessed through the television. • More computerized communications options with government entities like city halls, schools and libraries. • Digital television, which has a higher quality picture than the current analog pic- ture. • Video phone, where those engaged in a telephone conversation can see each other on a monitor. Drawbacks of expanding services through fiber optics and digital communi- cations comes down to financing. "It's about four times more expensive than what the subscriber is willing to pay," said Robinson, adding that eventually the cost of fiber optics will, like everything else, decline. Reardon hopes that the franchise re- newal, to be completed by next July, will in- clude a clause urging a system rebuild within the next three years. That will bring up Burnsville and Eagan's system to what is happening elsewhere, Robinson said. SultaiTent How to reach us: Send news items or letters to the Tues., Jan. 8, '80 St. Paul Dispatch (w) 5 Eagan wants in on cable TV district Eagan officials say they want to be included in some future cable television district. Last week, the council also unanimously voted to consult neighboring communities in northern Dakota County about forming their own cable district. Meanwhile, Cottage Grove, Woodbury and Oakdale officials say they're pulling for cable TV, too. Eagan's action was aimed at the state Cable Communications Board which at 11 a.m. Friday may approve or disprove a plan by Capitol City Cablevision Inc. to serve suburban communties. Capitol, a St. Paul firm, pro- poses to serve 15 communities and another 27 nearby communi- ties are aware of the plan with at least half of them expressing interest, says Chris Donaldson, the state board's executive direc- tor. AMONG THE 15 cities Capitol wants to serve are: Lilydale, Mendota Heights, Mendota, South St. Paul, West St. Paul, Newport, St. Paul Park, North St. Paul, Lauderdale, Falcon Heights, Roseville, Mounds Donaldson Smith View, New Brighton, Maplewood and Little Canada. However, Donaldson said, "The state board may not amend Capitol's proposal. The board must approve or disapprove it." Recommendations by state cable board staffers and the Met- ropolitan Council also will be considered. If the board approves Capitol's proposal, Donaldson emphasized that would just allow cities with- in district boundaries to choose whether or not they want cable TV. "IF A CITY DECIDES it wants cable TV, then that city may choose a firm," Donaldson said. "The territory," he stressed, "doesn't belong to anybody." Indeed, at Eagan, Councilman James Smith declared: "We should invite proposals in- stead of just hooking on to the first one in the neighborhood." Elsewhere, Burnsville and Hastings officials say no cable firm has made formal proposals to them and their councils have not sought cable TV. A representative of one cable firm, Mickelson Media Inc. of New Ulm, stopped by the Inver Grove Heights city office recent- ly, city officials report. But no formal proposal has been received. In Rosemount, Metro Cable Inc. serves that city as well as nearby Apple Valley, Farming- ton and Lakeville. Donaldson noted that many other cable TV firms are in- volved in the St. Paul -Minneapo- lis area market. Among them are: ATC, Ingle- wood, Colo.; Cable Communica- tions Systems, Inc., Hector; Croix Cable Television, Minneap- olis; Custom Cable TV, Chaska; Minneapolis Cablesystems Inc.: Niall Communications Group, Belmont, Wis.; Northern Cablevi- sion Inc., Bloomington; St. Paul Cablevision, a division of Heri- tage Communications, Des Moines, Iowa; Telephone and Data Systems, Madison, Wis.; Teleprompter Corp., a New York firm with St. Paul offices; Todd Communications Inc.. Edina; Vi- acom International, New York City; Warner Cable Corp., a New York firm with Minneapolis offices. Donaldson estimates that cable TV firms may invest about $100 million in the Twin Cities area over the next two to three years. ay the day you were g to warn your r about shoplifting Eagan's talent' -get used to cable by Bob Paulson r "I'm considered `talent,' but I think that's overstating it a little," said Tom Hedges, city administrator and host of the cable TV show, "The Eagan Report." Hedges and Eagan resident Pam Wold appear on the Group W cable TV program, which is designed "to provide the viewer or resident an inside look at city government," Hedges said. kt Hedges, Wold and everyone else - working on the program are volunteers. "We were a little nervous," ' Hedges said. "But I just try to be myself." "I was very nervous," Wold said. "It's very . difficult to act yourself when -=•you're so. nervous." 0 "' Ralph Campbell, ad- ministrator for the Burnsville - Eagan cable commission, said '' he is impressed with the pro- gram's quality. "The crew is really doing a great job," Camp- bell said. "The teamwork is very high, even though they have only been together three times." Associate producer Ron Jensen said crew members took classes through Group W to t learn how to use the equipment. Jensen said he and producer Bob Cooper write the introductions and questions for Hedges and 1- Wold, but that Hedges and Wold can change the script if they wish. "Each time, these so-called scripts get shorter," Wold said. "We're more apt to wing it (than we would in a professional 41 • production)," Jensen said. This month's "Eagan Report" was the second produced. "Even in the second show," Campbell said, "we're starting to see Tom and Pam get a little friendly with the camera. One of the big- gest problems people have with TV is that the cameras are just black dots with red lights on top. You have to convince yourself that (they) represent people." "It is pretty much an ad lib type of show," added producer = Cooper, "in four. to six months I z,Fw Submitted photo hope to have a crack crew," he shown on channels 3, 10 and 12, said. but Campbell said the show will Hedges said he and Cooper are eventually be seen only on chap - trying to make the show in- ;,. nel 10, the municipal access teresting by sending cameras to channel. tape community events in- Campbell and Cooper said eluding the opening of Interstate they are looking for more 35E. "I don't want to pretend to volunteers to work on local cable become a professional," Hedges programs. Interested persons " said. "But we plan to make it the `i' can call Campbell or Group W, best show we can." Future pro- Campbell said. grams will include police and ti fire chiefs as guests as well as Editor's note: Bob Paulson is an other city officials. intern from. the- University- of "The Eagan Report" has been , Minnesota : ; a ; , i" • y� N The bright lights are ready. So are the three camera angles. The Eagan City Council is about to take to the air. Beginning Nov. 4, council meet- ings will be broadcast live — and also replayed later — by the Burnsville -Eagan Cable Commis- sion. But the prospect of televised proceedings has raised questions about the legal implications of tap- ing the council's deliberations. At last week's meeting, the coun- cil decided that the broadcasts will not be considered official records of council meetings. However, be- fore reaching that decision, the council talked about maintaining virtual control of the broadcast and changing the way the official meeting minutes are kept. City Manager Thomas Hedges presented the council with a num- ber of variables regarding the cable broadcasts. The council could have made the broadcasts a formal record of the meetings, keeping them in a video library. It also could have exerted some con- trol over whether the meetings would be re -broadcast, or how long they could be stored. Eagan is studying legal problems with roadcasts � By Thomas B. Koetting .y, t'ud li-t-t-rce_64) fti.-4-<- Staff Writer j If you get into a court of law or some official debate, is this the official minutes? 9 i Thomas Hedges Eagan City Manager "If you get into a court of law or some official debate, is this the of- ficial minutes?" Hedges asked. "Would these prevail?" The council decided that city at- torney Paul Hauge will continue to keep the official minutes of the meetings. The Burnsville -Eagan Cable Commission will retain con- trol over the broadcasts, and can re -broadcast or store the tapes as it wishes. Ralph Campbell, cable adminis- trator for the system, has said council meetings would be broad- cast live and then re -broadcast at various times in the interim be- tween meetings. "The tape has always been meant to be just educational," said council member Ted Wachter. "It's a means of communication, of getting the word out," Hedges concurred. However, Hauge acknowledged that the tapes could come back to haunt the city. Some people al- ready appear at the meetings with tape recorders or personal stenog- raphers, so video recordings of the meetings will likely show up in court some day, he said. "My guess is, if the tapes are around, the city or a developer will make use of them at some time, and will drag them in by subpoe- na," Hauge said. He said that once in court, the debate would focus on whether the tapes were made by a qualified operator and whether they were reliable and of good quality. Council member Jim Smith also asked that Hauge and the staff check into the practices of other cities facing the same question. "There've been cities that have had this for 20 years," he said. "You know, the wheel has been in- vented, so let's see what they do." Those checks will probably rein- force the council's actions. The only other city in northern Dakota County with televised council meetings is Hastings, and those vi- deo tapes are not considered for- mal minutes. The same is true throughout most of the metropoli- tan area. tc gan in has grown from about 1,000 members in 1970 to al- most 6,000 baptized members now (see accompanying story). He is on a committee of American Luthern Church representatives that is talking about establishing three new Lutheran congregations in western Burns- ville, Savage and Lakeville. Jerry Sheveland, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville, said worship attendance at his church has grown from about 450 six years ago to close to 1,200 now. Berean, which started 23 years ago as a Bible study Please see Churches/2 Art school draws on excellence for growth By Sean T. Kelly Staff Writer The School of the Associated Arts has been around St. Paul in one form or another since 1924, but its small size and introspective ap- proach have made it little noticed by the larger community. Jerome Gallagher, who returned to his native St. Paul this summer to become the school's new direc- tor, would like to give the school more visibility, enhance its offer- ings and expand its enrollment. "We have only 134 students so we definitely need to grow, but we're not exactly sure what that means," he said. "We want to grow but still remain relatively small, building on the excellent quality WP alrParfv have " Prince of Pe By Jeann Linsley Staff Writer The Rev. Mervin Thompson likes to do things in a big way. Thompson's church, Prince of Peace Lutheran in Burnsville, is one of the largest and fastest growing Lutheran churches in the country, according to Thompson and officials of the American Lutheran Church. Scott Miller of Bloomington, displays "death and motion" SUNDAY. OCTOBER 22. 1995 SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS SUBURBAN EDITOR: Les Suzukamo PHONE: 228-5475 FAX: (612)228-5500 SUBURBS M 3C Eagan officials decide best route to residents is a direct one hen city governments want to know what people want, maybe the best thing to do is just go out and ask them. That's the direct approach Eagan plans to take in the next few weeks. Beginning Monday, Eagan officials will be sitting down with business representa- tives from all over town to an- swer questions and swap ideas. Eagan is lucky enough to have several 800-pound goril- las, including Northwest Air- lines, West Publishing and Unisys. Big developers al- so are active in Eagan, both in making places for people to live, as the community has grown from 10,000 in 1960 to its current 57,000, and in creating places for those people to spend their money. And, as Eagan matures, more small-business own- DEBRA O'CONNOR STAFF COLUMNIST ers have entered the marketplace to fill the gaps left by the major retailers. These meetings are for both the multimillion -dollar gorillas and the woman starting out with a single es- presso machine. "It's a trend that cities are seeing as cities grow and change," said Eagan communications coordina- tor Joanna Foote. ''As people want to be more active in their government, government has to be more re- ceptive. We have residents and businesses who have been with us that entire time, and obviously they've changed to meet the needs of their neighborhoods. The city would like to do the same." Some businesses, for example, may feel threatened as Eagan addresses the needs to conform to its long- term comprehensive plan. Foote expects lots of ques- tions about how that will affect businesses that don't fit with the scheme. "You may be required to upgrade or do different things in your business," Foote said. "If the new zon- ing doesn't allow for their business, what does that Retail site may rise from gravel pit BILL GARDNER STAFF WRITER Once Apple Valley was mostly a gravel pit. Now the largest grav- el pit is being shut down, and de- velopers want to build a 140-acre retail site on the land only a cou- ple of blocks from the heart of the City. It's a gigantic piece of open land just east of Dakota County's busi- est intersection — County Road 42 ,and Cedar Avenue. Developers are t ` talking about "big box" retailers like Wal-Mart, although no specif- ic plans have been made. "'It could accommodate quite a ment. The company now has moved its gravel operations to a 300-acre site south of County Road 42. The new development, at 140 acres, would be about as large as the nearby Southport Center, which has a Target Greatland, Cub Foods, Best Buy and Media Play, among other businesses. A Rain- bow and Kmart are located across Cedar Avenue from Southport Center. The proposal before the plan- ning commission is still a bit vague, Kelley said. "We'd like to have a better idea on who is going to be in there," he Proposed retail development A gravel pit owned by Fischer Sand & Aggregate in Apple Valley is closing, and developers want toput a retail center on 140 acres. mean? We want businesses to know that the city is real willing to work with them. We'll meet state reg- ulations without killing or hurting our businesses." Monday's meeting is from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Dart Transit, 800 Lone Oak Road. The Oct. 30 meet- ing is from -4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Yankee Square Inn, 3450 Washington Drive; the Nov. 16 meeting is from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Royal Cliff Conference Center at 2280 Cliff Road; and the Nov. 20 meeting is from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Cedarvale Shopping Center in the lower level conference area. The city has sent out mailings to 1,500 Eagan busi- nesses. but those who were missed. or companies thinking about moving to Eagan, also are welcome to attend. The informal meetings are a.joint effort of the city and the Eagan Chamber of Commerce, and the moderator will be Don Chapdelaine, former chamber president. Eagan officials swiped the idea from one of their next -door neighbors. In the past year, Burnsville has had two sets of meetings to find out what's on the minds of the city's residents. Council members and staff fanned out across the city and put on their lis- tening hats in April and September. Burnsville is going a step further with a new posi- tion, "neighborhood coordinator." This person, who will be paid by federal funds administered by Dakota County. will try to get residents of one of the city's regions to become more active in the community at :.large and to act as a clearinghouse for neighborhood . problems. The neighborhood is west of I-35W, south of County Road 42, east of County Road 5 and bordering Lake- ville on the south. It has low- to moderate -income ,families living in a mix of older single-family homes, ,apartments and mobile homes. Deputy City Manager Tom Hansen hopes the plan will be an effective, long-term approach to bringing those neighbors into the larger community. The sub- . -orbs have the advantage of time and resources. "There's nothing so critical that it cries out for a quick, Band-Aid reaction," he said. School lunch menu information is provided try the school districts. Here are the menus for the week of Oct. 23. DISTRICT 6 • ELEMENTARY Monday: Oven -baked chicken, whipped pota- toes and gravy, peas and carrots, bread sticks. applesauce. Tuesday: Italian dunkers, antipasto salad. Ital- ian ice, fruit. Wednesday: Toasty dogs. green beans, rel- ishes, fruited gelatin with whipped topping, dessert. Thursday: Pizza, fries, salad. peaches. Friday: Ravioli pockets, garlic toast, salad. ice milk sandwich, pineapple. SECONDARY Monday: Nacho supreme or chicken nuggets. fries, relishes, frurt. SCHOOL MENUS Thursday: Scrambled eggs. tri-taters, juice. cinnamon roll, milk. Friday: Cheese pizza, salad, fruit cobbler, cup cakes, milk. MIDDLE SCHOOL Monday: No school. Tuesday: Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes or green beans, fruit,•milk. Wednesday: Pasta bar, relishes, French bread, fruit, milk. Thursday: Scrambled eggs, cinnamon roll, tn- taters, fruit, milk. Friday: Chicken patty sandwich, flies or corn, fruit. milk. SECONDARY Monday through Friday: • Construction Company — A vanety of food bars — pizza, potato. pasta. Mexican, or soup and sandwich — different each day of the week. Each offers fruit, vegetable, bread (when annronnatp) ant milk ,n a,Uiifinn en ad, fruit or dessert, milk; alternate — brunch lunch. Wednesday: Cheeseburger, cheese pizza, toot -long hot dog, chicken fillet sandwich, vegetable or salad, fruit or dessert, milk; alternate — taco bar. Thursday: Chicken nuggets with biscuit, ham- burger, pepperoni pizza, hoagie sandwich. vegetable or salad, fruit or dessert, milk; altemate — turkey dinner. Friday: High schools — no school: all others — burrito, mini corn dogs. cheeseburger, sausage pizza, vegetable or salad, fruit or dessert, milk: alternate — pasta bar, DISTRICT 197 ♦ Monday: Elementary — chicken patty sand- wich, tater tots, salad, peaches. milk; ele- mentary alternate — pizza and salad bar: secondary — sausage pilla. vegetables. dinner roll, pears, milk; alternate — salad 6 234 --(e4tqotona.r-e_te--A.., 1 Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1985 St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch New Eagan TV show features city officials, guests on cable By Thomas B. Koetting Staff Writer There is a new qualification for city officials in Eagan — look com- fortable in front of the camera. A new cable television program began this week in Eagan that pro- ducer Bob Cooper hopes will serve a high level of community news and information without a side dish of boredom. "Eagan Report" was taped last week and aired Monday, with Eagan City Manager Thomas Hedges as host. The program's for- mat starts with a quick overview of the latest Eagan -related news, followed by a reader question mailbox, a guest section, a City Council review and a schedule of upcoming city events. The show will be taped monthly, but will be broadcast at different times throughout the month on cable Channel 3, Hedges said. City officials, including the director of public works, the parks director and the city planner, will be fea- tured as guests on the show. "I'm figuring we can go 18 months before we have to start repeating guests from the city gov- ernment," Cooper said. "At that point, we'll sit back and see where we want to go." Hedges will host the show each week, and will be joined on camera by Pam Wold, who Cooper de- scribed as "acting like Ed McMahon to Hedges' Johnny Car- son." Wold will read questions for Hedges, help introduce guests and be free to join in the conversation throughout the half-hour show. For Cooper, the production was a chance to put his film expertise to work on a volunteer basis for the city he has lived in for 20 years. A free-lance filmmaker, Cooper has had 17 years of experience as a sports cameraman and 15 years of experience producing sales and marketing films. He is a full-time Univeristy of Minnesota police- man. "I think it's going to provide in- formation that Eagan residents couldn't get any other way," Coo- per said. "I told the crew after the first show was finished, 'You know, it's not perfect, but if it was, where the hell would we go from here?' " Group W, the city's cable televi- son company, provides the studio and the equipment, as well as tech- nical advice for the program. The show has a crew of more than a dozen volunteers, Cooper said. Cooper said that some other sub- urbs had tried informational shows — and Burnsville is planning to start one on the same Group W cable system — but that he had found them dull and uninspiring. To avoid that, Cooper plans to use multiple camera angles and on - sight reporting of events. "The difference, hopefully, will be the smoothness of the produc- tion," he said. 11111111ft uld tell lies no pal at all St. Paul Pioneer Press and Dispatch Wednesday, Oct. 23, 1985 DRAGONS AND BUTTERFUES r-- All St. Paul area schools are invited to sub- mit materials to Communications Skills De- partment, St. Paul School District, 360 Col- borne St., St. Paul, Minn. 55102. Fox A giant red fox, hunting in a big meadow, watching out for traps. Jason Gruenhagen Afton -Lakeland Schools The Radio Box on the counter, being so noisy, talking. Making music, ahhh. Katy Knutson Afton -Lakeland School Orion I am Orion. You can find me in the night sky. I get bored standing still. I feel like a statue stand- ing there. I am an image of a man. I wish I were a real man. My soul is Betelgeuse. My friends are my dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor. My ene- mies are Taurus the Bull and Draco the Dragon. I have a secret: The universe never stops. Michael Wood, Grade 4 Horace Mann School The Horse available Tax "A) is le — pped, raking tax elec- red at Apple Valley on the following dates: Jan. 27, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Feb. 7 and 12, 6-8:30 p.m.; Feb. 10, 17, and 24, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; March 26, 6-8:30 p.m.; March 30, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; April 1, 6- 8:30 p.m.; and April 6, 10 a.m.- 2 p.m. For more information, call 891-7045. D IN TO ... oat (15 TO MORE kN JUST 'I LLE/EAGAN SCHOOL DRTS ... ..H, MUCH MORE! JRNSVILLE/EAGAN 3S TELEVISION Dakota County Tribune/Thisweek named Eagan's legal newspaper Residents named to city commissions By BRENDA HAUGEN The Eagan City Council des- ignated the Dakota County Tribune/Thisweek Newspapers as its official newspapers for 1996 at its Jan. 16 meeting. The city's legal notices and agendas will be printed in the Dakota County Tribune as well as Eagan Thisweek. In other annual organiza- tional business, the council named candidates to openings on its advisory commissions. According to Mayor Tom Egan, this year marked "one of the largest turnouts in recent years" in regard to the numbers of Eagan citizens interested in serving on the commissions. And there was quality as well as quantity, as evidenced by the voting of City Council members. It took several bal- lots in some instances to nar- row the field of candidates down. "(There are) a lot of excel- lent candidates," said City Administrator Tom Hedges. According to Hedges, the council conducted many inter- views before voting on the candidates during its regular meeting. Candidates chosen for the city's various commissions in- clude: Airport Relations Commis- sion — Steve Soderling, three - Week Of: January 22nd - January 28th (Programs are subject to change without notice.) year term; Jane Vanderpoel, three -year term; Joseph L. Har- risor, two-year term; Ted Gladhill, alternate. Joint Burnsville/Eagan Ca- ble Communications Com- mission — James E. Blair, three-year term; Bob Cooper, three-year term; Bill Ista, two- year term; Maggie Jensen, two-year term; Jeff May, alter- nate So Id Waste Abatement Commission — Daniel K BreNa (resident), three-year term; John Tapper (resident), three: -year term; Jim Weinzet- tel (hauler), three-year term; Rick Patraw (resident), alter- nate Economic Development Commission — Eldon John- son, one-year term; Dave Vogt, three-year term; Julie Stack - house, three-year term. Advisory Planning Com- mission — Carla Heyl, three- year term; Dee Richards, three-year term; Larry Frank, one-year term; Don Schindle, alternate. Advisory Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Commission — George Kubik, three-year term; Michael Vin- cent, three-year term; Randall J. Ahern, three-year term; Tim C. Callister, two-year term; Daryle Petersen, two-year term; Guy W. Kolnhofer, alter- nate. Cable Channel 15 Burnsville - Eagan Access Television . Tuesday 23 Wednesday 24 Thursday 25 Friday 26 Saturday 27 Sunday 28 Com. Bulletin (IP) Com. Bulletin (IP) Com. Bulletin (IP) Oak. Co. Comm. BHS Boys' Community 8:00 I James Blond Nile Beat BHS Boys' Meeting (IP) Hockey vs. Bulletin Board 8:30 a Theatre Basketball BHS Boys' Lakeville (IP) (In Progress) 9:00 vs. Chaska Hockey viewer Request: 9:30 vs. Kennedy Call 894-9813 Romeo 10:00 II BHS Boys' EHS Boys' Stories of The and 10:30 nine Hockey vs. Basketball Mississippi BHS Boys' Juliet 11:00 Kennedy vs. Chaska Hockey Air Force News 11:30 s vs. Kennedy Normandale News, BHS Bays' 12:00 12:30 Minnesota Como Zoo Pres. Collectin' Stull West. Wrestling Hockey Mayor Tom Egan appointed Council Memher Shawn Hunter as acting mayor for 1996. As acting mayor, Hunter will preside over meetings and other city activities in Egan's absence. The council also adopted its meeting schedule for 1996, keeping the traditional 6:30 p.m. starting time for its meet- ings. Meeting will continue to be held the first and third Tuesdays of the month. The only changes from that regular schedule are March 4 instead of March 5 because of cau- cuses; May 20 instead of May 21 because of school board elections; and Nov. 4 instead of Nov. 5 because of election day. Changes also were made in some standing committees. Among the changes are: Finance Committee Hunter (chair), Egan. Public Works Committee — Council Memher Ted Wachter (chair) and Council Memher Pat Awada. Personnel Committee Council Memher Sandra Masin (chair) and Wachter. Hedges pointed out that these three committees study issues, but cannot take action on them. Grace Nursery School to hold registration Registration for the 1996-97 school year at Grace Nursery School (GNS) in Apple Valley will be held Jan. 24-27. Those families currently en- rolled or with children who have previously been enrolled at GNS may register Jan. 24-26 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Num- hers will be handed out at the school Jan. 24 at 7:30 a.m. Par - Ls' Ives Eagan's CAN connects community members and community services By ERIN HEMME FROSLIE More ideas are better than one when it comes to brain- storming and problem -solving to improve a community. That is the premise of the Commu- nity Alliance Network (CAN), a newly formed non-profit group in Eagan. CAN is an organization that hopes to bring together com- munity groups and community members who have similar in- terests, concerns and goals. "Every organization provides its niche services," said Mi- chael Vincent, director of the CAN. "There's just not a way for the community to get tapped in." Sandy Masin, a City Council member who has been suppor- tive of the organization, said CAN is an umbrella organiza- tion that can inform other or- ganizations about what each does. "We have a whole lot of community organizations, but no one place for them to come together," Masin said. A success story According to Shannon Bailey of Dakota County Public Health, CAN is not a new con- cept. She said there are similar coalitions like it in almost every city in the county. "There's this belief that the people living in a community have the most invested in it," Bailey said. "These groups empower citizen leadership." One organization that has experienced the power of its citizens is the Rosemount Partnership Program (RPP). Chair Sheila Klassen said RPP began five years ago when a group of single moms in a low-income housing (See CAN, p.14A) 'Payment + tax, rebate to dealer. on approved credit. 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SALE P '94 FORD Short Box Pkg.. 5 s Cass., tool box. only SALE PRICED Just Off 1-35V1 North of Hw CAN (Continued from front page) neighborhood complained there were not enough activities for their kids. What started out as a neighborhood concern, soon blossomed into ideas to im- prove the entire community. "We realized whatever hap- pens in one neighborhood af- fects the entire city," Klassen said. "We needed to work with the talents, skills and resil- iency of everybody." Today, with the help of sev- eral grants and community en- thusiasm, RPP has grown. One of its most successful projects is the Middle School Teen Night, which RPP organized for two years until the Rose- mount Parks and Recreation Department took it over. "It's been a huge success," Klassen said, "and now it has a home that ensures it will continue." What Klassen has discovered is that when people have a concern or an idea, they don't always know where to tum. RPP can offer suggestions. After years of patience, hard work and networking, RPP is finally able to encourage dia- logue between the business community, the faith commu- nity,the school community, the city government and the people who live in the city. From this, programs like job shadowing and eighth -grade graduation have been estab- lished. "It creates this connective- ness to community," she said. "It's putting problem -solving at the community level and not relying on government and non -profits." CAN's birth Like RPP, the idea for CAN was conceived during attempts to improve one part of the community — the develop- ment of a teen center. "A culmination of different people wanted a community center or teen center," Vincent said, "but there was nobody to organize the group. The chal- lenge was to find a way to meet that need." Presently a few students and a few adults are involved in brainstorming ideas for a teen center. "A lot of teens are looking for a place to just hang out with their friends at night and during weekends that's away from school," said Karen Luchka, a sophomore at East-., view High School and one of the teens- involved in the proj- ect. According to Chris Dallager, president of the Lions club and a member of the core teen cen- ter group, the teens brainstorm ideas for activities and possi- ble plans for a teen center. The adults then contribute ideas on how to approach organizations to see those ideas become re- ality. "But what we really need is more teen involvement, an or- ganized effort from parents and representatives from the busi- ness community," he said. "Everyone should have a say in this." That's the idea behind CAN. Ee; Xie.4.,GIiedc, 7>/Y7 Future plans Future plans for CAN include that it will offer a centralized networking resource by collect- ing information and creating a system through which commu- nity members and organiza- tions can navigate. Vincent said that by using voice mail community mem- bers could connect to informa- tion about different service& offered by the community. "Let's say you want to find some activities for your 73- year-old mother," Vincent said. "You call CAN and select the `seniors' option. That would list programs offered by the YMCA or Parks and Recreation. When you choose a specific program, the voice mail can outbound your call to the organization that offers it. "The advantage is you don't need to have a variety of num- bers." Plus, it would serve as a liai- son between community mem- bers and community organiza- tions and services. Vincent said interested or- ganizations can join CAN at no cost and great benefits. "It's a partnership between everyone who has an invest- ment in the community," he said. And by providing an easy way for community organiza- tions and community members to connect, Vincent hopes new visions for the city will surface. "We have a super city... su- per city staff and police," Vin- cent said, "but it takes more than just them. Our vision is to work in coordinated efforts." CAN's number is 905-0085. i, Burnsville/Eagan producers receive state honors Three local producers re- ceived state awards April 10 for their TV-33 productions and five others were finalists at the 1995 Minnesota Community Television Awards. Mike Butler won as a volun- teer producer in the Talk Show series category for "Collectin' Stuff with Butz and Witz" (see related story). The late Karen Brooks of Burnsville, who produced the "Wednesday in the Park" summer concert series for TV- 33, won for best volunteer pro- duction in the Performing Arts Productions/Event category. Her award -winning show was "Tricia and the Toons." Mike Reardon of Burnsville won as a volunteer in the Sports Event category for. his work on the Burnsville -Eagan high school boys' basketball game. Reardon, who has pro- duced Burnsville boys' basket- ball cablecasts for nine sea- sons, has been a state award finalist three times and pro- duced some 150 sporting events. Awards finalists were Bruce Abrahamson of Burnsville, volunteer producer in the Sports Event category for cov- erage of Burnsville High School hockey; Mike Tabbert of Burnsville as a volunteer in the Programming by Youth category for coverage of Burnsville High School volley- ball; Peggy Lund of Blooming- ton as volunteer producer of "The Peggy Lund Show;" Rich Market of Eagan as a profes- sional producer in both the Promo and Music Video cate- gories; ;and Mike Owens of Ea- gan asa professional producer in the About Sports category for his program on the Don, Shelby Invitational Bass Tour- nament. Market and Owens work for Meredith Cable as public access television facili- tators. Karen Brooks "Karen, I guess, could be viewed as the grande damme of Burnsville/Eagan public ac- cess," said Cable Coordinator Mike Reardon. "She'll be sorely missed by many peo- ple." A fixture on the access scene for nearly a decade, the 61- year-old Burnsville resident died of cancer Feb. 4. The Cable Communications Commission has established the Karen Brooks Memorial Award "to honor her and someone who exemplifies her community producing princi- ples," Reardon said. Well-known for her work at Burnsville and Eagan City Council meetings, Brooks started as a still photographer, said her husband, Chuck. She was a member of the Minne- sota Valley Photography Club. "Cabh sent out a notice say- ing the!, were looking for peo- ple int;rested in video," he (See He fors, p.12A) 1 Eyi, crt.AP C;( erg— I lc BRIDGING TNB DAP:FROM COUNTRY TOWN TO SPRAWLING SUBURB Co,nmunicatiOflS viewed as top priority PR firm may work on city's image By Sue Hegarty Staff Writer Good news isn't traveling as fast as city officials would like it to in Eagan. "We've got a good story to tell, but nobody knows the story," said Joanna Foote, the city's part-time communications coor- dinator. For example, a recent study of the city's Police Department found that Eagan's violent crime rate per capita is the same today as it was 20 years ago. Frozen property tax rates from 1995 to 1996 are another example of good news to taxpay- ers. To help get the word out, the Eagan City Council soon will de- cide whether to hire an Eagan - based public relations firm to de- velop a communications plan for the city. The proposal would authorize Roy and Sherie Wallace of The Wallace Group to earn up to $25,000 to research and produce a communications plan for the city. The process, known as imaging, has been done in other communities. For example, the city of Brooklyn Park launched a corn- munity-wide communications GRI LES 5 EYE DUB from Uni $IL Editing the latest edition of the Eagan News are Roy and Sherie Wallace of The Wallace Group (left) and Mary Welder, an account representative for the Eagan -based public rela- DAILY REFLECT from Northwest rl1: YeA- BRIDGING THE GAP: FROM COUNTRY TOWN TO SPRAWLING SUBURB Image: Variety of tools used to reach residents From Previous Page largest city in the state with about 60,000 residents, com- pared to Eagan's 57,000. Length of residence in a com- munity may be a piece to the communication puzzle. Perhaps one reason for the perceived gap in communications is because 75 percent of Eagan's residents have lived in the com- munity less than five years, said City Administrator Tom Hedges. A variety of communication tools are used to reach residents, including an Internet address. Experience Eagan /Discover Us is the city's official quarterly publication. It contains up-to- date information on issues relat- ed to Eagan, as well as schedules of park and recreation programs. About a year ago, The Wallace Group began working with Sig- nal Bank in Eagan to produce Eagan News, a bi-monthly com- munity service newsletter. City officials said they want to know where and how residents want information delivered. If the council approves the hiring of The Wallace Group, one of the first steps to ascertaining the public image will be a survey of residents. "Rather than hire full-time staff, the city can pay for services as needed. We can present a point of view and help the city to see itself," said Roy Wallace, a member of the city's Advisory Planning Commission. Sherie Wallace, a member of the city's Advisory Parks, Recre- ation and Natural Resources Commission, said few people may realize the city's commit- ment to building neighborhood parks. "That didn't happen by acci- dent," she said. If hired by the council, the Wallaces said they would resign from their volunteer positions. "Our role would be to facili- tate and to obtain community opinion," said Sherie. Besides trying to improve communication with its resi- dents, Eagan is reaching out to business owners in an effort to become more "user friendly," said Hedges. A series of Reach - out meetings in October and No- vember were designed to ad- dress questions or concerns of the business community. Those who were instrumental in helping Eagan develop during the 1980s construction boom have come back to discover that Eagan has stricter guidelines re- garding architectural and land- scaping standards. "We can't hide that it is dif- ferent. It's important to provide new information. It's not intend- ed as a bureaucracy," Hedges said. Some changes are due to gov- ernmental regulations, while others are directly linked to higher expectations and commu- nity standards, Hedges said. At the urging of its business community, the council is exam- ining how it can better inform adjacent property owners when there is a proposed change in land use. "We've learned the notifica- tion process is important," Hedges said. The council soon will explore how it might post temporary signs at the subject properties in addition to required legal notifi- cations. One thing has become clear to administrators, they said. Com- munication needs to keep pace with the rapidly changing, newer population of community stake holders. BRIDGING THE GAP: FROM COUNTRY TOWN TO SPRAWLING SUBURB Communications viewed as top priority PR firm may work on city's image By Sue Hegarty Staff Writer Good news isn't traveling as fast as city officials would like it to in Eagan. "We've got a good story to tell, but nobody knows the story," said Joanna Foote, the city's part-time communications coor- dinator. For example, a recent study of the city's Police Department found that Eagan's violent crime rate per capita is the same today as it was 20 years ago. Frozen property tax rates from 1995 to 1996 are another example of good news to taxpay- ers. To help get the word out, the Eagan City Council soon will de- cide whether to hire an Eagan - based public relations firm to de- velop a communications plan for the city. The proposal would authorize Roy and Sherie Wallace of The Wallace Group to earn up to $25,000 to research and produce a communications plan for the city. The process, known as imaging, has been done in other communities. For example, the city of Brooklyn Park launched a com- munity -wide communications G L 5EYEDU from Uni $1 DAILY REFLEC from Northwes Buy One, Editing the latest edition of the Eagan News are Roy and Sherie Wallace of The Wallace Group (left) and Mary Welder, an account representative for the Eagan -based public rela- a n .Su n %rcert- /g BRIDGING THE GAP: FROM COUNTRY TOWN TO SPRAWLING SUBURB Image: Variety of tools used to reach residents From Previous Page largest city in the state with about 60,000 residents, com- pared to Eagan's 57,000. Length of residence in a com- munity may be a piece to the communication puzzle. Perhaps one reason for the perceived gap in communications is because 75 percent of Eagan's residents have lived in the com- munity less than five years, said City Administrator Tom Hedges. A variety of communication tools are used to reach residents, including an Internet address. Experience Eagan l Discover Us is the city's official quarterly publication. It contains up-to- date information on issues relat- ed to Eagan, as well as schedules of park and recreation programs. About a year ago, The Wallace Group began working with Sig- nal Bank in Eagan to produce Eagan News, a bi-monthly com- munity service newsletter. City officials said they want to know where and how residents want information delivered. If the council approves the hiring of The Wallace Group, one of the first steps to ascertaining the public image will be a survey of residents. "Rather than hire full-time staff, the city can pay for services as needed. We can present a point of view and help the city to see itself," said Roy Wallace, a member of the city's Advisory Planning Commission. Sherie Wallace, a member of the city's Advisory Parks, Recre- ation and Natural Resources Commission, said few people may realize the city's commit- ment to building neighborhood parks. "That didn't happen by acci- dent," she said. If hired by the council, the Wallaces said they would resign from their volunteer positions. "Our role would be to facili- tate and to obtain community opinion," said Sherie. Besides trying to improve communication with its resi- dents, Eagan is reaching out to business owners in an effort to become more "user friendly," said Hedges. A series of Reach - out meetings in October and No- vember were designed to ad- dress questions or concerns of the business community. Those who were instrumental in helping Eagan develop during the 1980s construction boom have come back to discover that Eagan has stricter guidelines re- garding architectural and land- scaping standards. "We can't hide that it is dif- ferent. It's important to provide new information. It's not intend- ed as a bureaucracy," Hedges said. Some changes are due to gov- ernmental regulations, while others are directly linked to higher expectations and commu- nity standards, Hedges said. At the urging of its business community, the council is exam- ining how it can better inform adjacent property owners when there is a proposed change in land use. "We've learned the notifica- tion process is important," Hedges said. The -council soon will explore how it might post temporary signs at the subject properties in addition to required legal notifi- cations. One thing has become clear to administrators, they said. Com- munication needs to keep pace with the rapidly changing, newer population of community stake holders. 6A Apple Valley/Rosemount, Eagan Sun•Current/Wednesday, Aug. 7, 1996 Who should control where underground cable goes? C (r 1/4„i1-1 c �� By Lauri Winters Staff Writer Access to fiber optics has been com- pared to the laying of railroad tracks more than 100 years ago, by one city ad- ministrator. Future business prosperity for cities will rely on the availability of fiber optics to carry high-speed computer transmis- sions, just as communities thrived or withered depending on where railroad tracks were laid, said Brooklyn Center City Manager Michael McCauley. "Fiber optics is an economic pre -con- dition for many industries," said Mc- Cauley. "Accessing electronics is the means of doing business and providing access to fiber optics is necessary to at- tract industries." But where those fiber optic lines are laid — and who has control over the ground above them — has become a con- troversial issue. City officials say cities should have control over the rights of way where cable would be laid, while fiber optic companies say the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has that control. According to a petition to the MPUC, U.S. West objects to city ordinances reg- ulating rights of way on the grounds that the requirements imposed exceed what is "necessary for prudent management of the public rights of way." Examples of requirements beyond what U.S. West contends is appropriate include: • Encasing fiber optic cable in con- crete. • Establishing limitation of liability agreements. • Providing information on the uses to which buried cable would be put. • Making security deposits pending Cities say they should; companies think otherwise satisfactory completion of construction. • Acknowledging municipal authority over the use of rights of way. • Paying fees per linear foot of in- stalled cable. The controversy has led to the forma- tion of a League of Minnesota Cities rights of way task force. It also has led to at least one lawsuit. The League hopes to raise $200,000 from its members, in addition to a $125,000 allocation from its current budget, in an effort to keep control of rights of way in local hands. Brooklyn Center has agreed to con- tribute $1,576 for legal representation, lobbying legislators and a statewide in- formation campaign to educate resi- dents. Many other cities also have ap- proved similar allocations. While on the surface the right of way issue may not seem to affect the average taxpayer, there are several implications for residents. McCauley explained some of the connections. Part of the public right of way is road- ways and cities are responsible for building and maintaining those roads, he said. In order to install fiber optic cable, a roadway would have to be dug up, then the road resurfaced. "Every time you cut the street, you degrade it," said McCauley. "Patched streets fail faster [than others]." Any roadway disturbance means in- creased maintenance and reconstruc- tion costs for cities. Such expenses are funded through property taxes and spe- cial assessments. However, selling or leasing access to the public right of way also can be a money -making proposition for cities. Some cities are already trying to cut deals with cable companies. For example, Paragon Cable is near- ing completion of franchise agreements for the installation of fiber optics with the Southwest Cable Commission, which represents Edina, Richfield, Min- netonka, Eden Prairie and Hopkins, ac- cording to published reports. Blooming- ton, which is not part of the cable com- mission, is next on the list for contract talks with Paragon. Gary Carlson, director of intergov- ernmental relations for the League of Minnesota Cities, said right of way use is a management issue. "Somebody has got to govern how the space is used or you will have subter- ranean anarchy," said Carlson. But some city officials see regulation as more important than bargaining with the cable conglomerates. McCauley said one of the first steps in regulating the use of rights of way is to establish a set of statewide standards that can be administered locally. "We need statewide parameters where local governments control place- ment of cable," he said. These statewide standards would be similar to the Uniform Building Code, McCauley said. Local governments would administer the standards and de- termine where, when and under what conditions companies could install cable. Uniform cable laying standards also could clarify if the city or cable fiber optic company is responsible when ca- bles are damaged during construction work, he said. Cities want cables pro- tected by a casing so they are not dam- aged if either a resident or the city digs in the area. However, casing cables adds to in- stallation expense and increasing costs, not something cable companies want, McCauley said. When streets are reconstructed in the future, cities could install protective, multi -chambered conduit, he said. Then when a telecommunications company, such as U.S. West or a local cable com- pany is ready to lay its line, the city could provide access to the conduit through a manhole and not dig up the street. And, they could charge for access to the conduit to help recover the cost of its installation, he added. But access fees and protective conduit have been deemed by cable companies as being beyond the scope of municipal au- thority. Requiring the use of protective con- duit makes it more expensive to install fiber optic cable, confirmed Diane Wells, a rate analyst for the MPUC. Utility companies can pass added costs on to customers, thus charging more for service, she said. The MPUC, which regulates gas, electric and tele- phone rates, would be required to rule on requested increases. Wells said municipalities are justifi- ably concerned about the use of public rights of way. Cities already use the right of way for water, sanitary sewer and storm water lines. Public utilities, such as natural gas, also are underground. In some areas so too are electric, telephone and cable television lines. With advancing technology and deregulation of the telecommunications industry, more companies want access to the public space. Wells said, "There is only so much space down there." Daylong coffee break at Maggie's Coffee drinkers and non -coffee drinkers alike enjoy the pro- gressive rock sounds of Seth (left) and Josh Larson of Apple Valley as part of the all day Espress Fest '96 at Maggie's Caffe Espresso in Town Centre July 27. The festival featured several area musicians and is planned to be an annual benefit. This year's proceeds went to support Coffee Kids International. (Sub- mitted Photo) Relay for Life helps fund cancer research By Deb Schewe Staff Writer There's a lot to be said for laughter — it cuts the tension in a room, it creates friendships, and, some say, it heals. At the Relay for Life, a benefit for can- cer research, few people doubted the power of laughter. As Sharon Doucette of Savage wiggled her wig, she talked of how laughter — mixed with determination — has pulled her from the jaws of death twice. A speaker during the all-night event July 26, the red -head jokingly talks about the time she went to Signal Hills Mall in St. P. . ' • , ding the Though approaching her condition with a sense of humor, there is a serious side to Doucette. She encourages people to be aware that cancer can strike any- body, regardless of age. "You're never too young to get cancer," she said. "The 'Big C' is not necessarily a killer if you catch it early enough." Women should do regular self -exams, she said. If they believe something is wrong, see a doctor immediately. Being aware of her body is another thing that she believes helped save her life. After being diagnosed with cancer, plans were made to begin chemotherapy three weeks after surgery. 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