The URL can be used to link to this page

Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Articles on street assessments and proposed animal control policies. 18 pages total. - 2/15/1983giv is Ii\aK MAy IU, Iqwg Council debates zssessment policy, y MARK LARSON In the opinion of several city aff and City Council mem- ers, Eagan's decision to with - old appraisal information from le public was upheld by the :ate commissioner of Admini- :ration. In a letter to the city, Com- iissioner Elaine Hansen said was the city's legal right to lassify appraisal data as not •ublic. The data is partly used n determining assessments for treet improvements. The :ommissioner's opinion was :onditional upon the city attor- leys' determination that a civil egal action is actually pend- ng. The request for the commis- sioner's opinion came from Council Member Bea Blomquist, who asserted the city did not have the right to deny her access to the apprais- als prepared for the Oak Chase street improvement. Hansen said, however, it is not entirely clear whether the city attorneys James Sheldon and Michael Dougherty had made the determination civil legal action is pending in the project. At a special City Council meeting, Sheldon said the city had made the determination and therefore the city had the legal right to deny access to the appraisals. (See Appraisals, p.30A) Appraisals (Continued from front page) The city's current assessment policy for improvements allows property owner to be assessed an amount up to the estimated benefit of the improvements, or in other words, the amount their property value increases as a result of the improve- ments. Mayor Tom Egan said the total amount assessed to prop- erty owners in neighborhoods being improved never exceeds the total cost of the project. "(Blomquist) is accusing the city of playing loosely with information and changing the amount of the benefit to serve our needs, but that's not the case at all," said Egan. According to Sheldon, the purpose of the pre -project ap- praisals is to defend against special assessment appeals; the information is collected in anticipation of legal action. Egan said in the eight -year history of the city's public im- provement policy, only a "handful" of assessments out of thousands have been ap- pealed and only one or two ever took further legal action. "Blomquist seems to be put- ting the good of a few ahead of the good of the whole," said Egan. "We're trying to do what's good for the whole community." Blomquist said her major concern was not what may be wrong with the policy, but why the information was being kept from the public. "If the (appraisals) are such wonderful data that will prove it's a fair system in court, then why won't they show it to us?" said Blomquist. Sheldon said releasing the appraisals would put the city at a disadvantage in any court proceeding that challenges the assessments. Blomquist said people have been misled as to why the city has been conducting the ap- praisals. "We go into their homes and tell them we are appraising them for street improvements, but we're really collecting data for potential lawsuits," said Blomquist. Council Member Pat Awada said she agreed people need to be informed of why their homes are being appraised. Egan said there are less than five major street improvements left in the city's overall plan, which was initiated eight years ago. By Yvonne Klinnert Sun Newspapers How should residents be billed for keeping the city's streets, in good repair —through assessments or general :fund money? This is the discussion that continues to crop up for Eagan City Council members,- includ- ing -at their Feb: 9 meeting. During the previous week's meeting, council members w :asked to .write theirs general questions on how ;the city as sesses homeowners,for street re pair, and whether:; it is• a fair process.' According to a memorandum provided to the council Feb. 9, "special assessments allow cities `to. differentiate between the costs that provide a special benefit to a specific property from those costs that provide a e of ;the cost of the street, ere• .. general benefit to�the commum ag ,, ;ty at large' which are usually work " the. memoran " As outlinedby handled through various forms of taxes. (property,' income, sales, duet several issues?.have been; raised recently regarding how' • etc) Generally, when a street is Eagan assesses itsresidents_-for repaired,, it. is coriSi ...ere san street improvements;Financuigis.. improvement to the home, arid the question — should street re - the homeowneris assessed• a haec a10sesn be financed thents or from other certain . amount of 'money' p based on that sources of city funding? The assessment usually as signs a homeowner a percent- ASSESSMENT: To Page 14A By Yvonne Klinnert Sun Newspapers The whole .idea: of,cha iging the assessmeneprocess'for street reconstruction insgan; Eaappears to be coming to an :end after:. months of council' discussion:" For the past several months, the Eagan City Council`has been discussing the_ process the city uses to assess.property :owners for the cost of reconstructing the city's streets: By a' worksession,.• April 6, the city's staff members had compiled a: -packet of`infor mation for the council,` explain-;- ing how Eagan assesses'its prop erty. owners, and also howother cities handle the .assessment process. The, packet contained; an- swers to a number of questions that the council had asked staff members 'to research .It con- tained information thatcouncil.. ,members... beheued that they needed to make a_ good deasiok such as setting out costcompar= isons to the city for doing a pror. ject from special assessments: vs- doing a project paid;for by the' general fund. It explored the city's policy: of .charging. lower. assessments for'streets that lead to townhomes • than for - Streets that lead to 'single farm=;. ly homes, and reported that there -ate 18 .,,Miles of private streets in the city The packet also included in-{ formation on how 15:othersub' urban cities inrthe inetropoli tan area and:the.two core cities: do their street:. assessments; with the_coiclusion' that they "varied widely":Almost:; every city. has a different.process and the procedure', also;imay<.vary within each city, depending on the project. ASSESSMENT: -To Page:13A tr - From -Page IA The council discussed the possibility of conducting assessment hearings prior., to doing the street work, and wlietlier; it would_ he better to discuss. estimates with residents, rather than waiting until the •work :is completed,. and then conduct: a hearing on what the project actually cost. By then, :the question was asked` re- garding just how many projects the city has, yet to coriiplete in its Street recon- struction cycle. Only.a handful, was the response bythe city staff Mayor Pat Awada-added that the: city is in the cycle of fiiishuig tip any street.recon- struction work: that it intenda to do; from here on, it will be a matter ofstreet overlays, which are paid for differently. With the'over- lays, half is'a sessed to the property owners, and half would be Paid tor: by, city's street From Page 1A "The City Council has historically di- rected a property appraisal to be per- formed to determine the property. value increase as a result of the improve- ments," Colbert said. When the calculated cost of the as- sessment exceeds the amount of the value appraised after improvements, the city has historically adjusted that amount, Colbert said. The amount can be determined by a district court judge or jury if the amount assessed by the city is contested by the resident. There were three appeals over ,The past six years from residents in the Oak Chase neighborhood about the assess- ments costing more than the return value. Council members Paul Bakken, Peggy Carlson and Mayor Pat Awada contend that the city has so few road re- construction projects left that a change in policy now would be unfavorable to those already charged the assessment from previous road work. One alternative to paying the special assessment considered was to charge all homeowners in the city a property tax to pay for the road reconstruction. The council had looked into assessing $800,000 per year additional property tax to homeowners, to spread the cost to all Eagan property owners. For a home valued at $115,000, the property owner's assessment would amount to about $28 per year. Council members debated the .policy, starting from the appraisal procedure on down to the final assessing. "It is controversial," said Mayor Pat Awada. "It's not fun for any of us to sit here and assess people for things. But it's made worse when we have controversy within the council. "I believe that the policy is fair, and that it works," she said. With only one reconstruction project left in the next 50 years, the meeting to overturn the policy is a "huge waste of staff time," she said. Council members Sandra Masin and Bea Blomquist, who was the mayor .in- 1983 when the first road reconstruction project and assessment resolution passed, objected to the current policy. "Nobody gets a free road, whether they pay for it through special assessment or not," Blomquist said. "We need to rewrite the policy." "It's definitely alienated a lot of resi- dents, agreed Masin, who said she want- ed to change the policy ever since she got on the council six years ago. She said that there had been nothing done to see if there was consistency in the numbers used for assessment of the road projects. "We have to change the assessment fig- ures," she said. Councilmember Peggy Carlson sug- gested the council check back on the market value of the property if the city how much good -it Wilkdo, Web y have one project left," she. said. She siiggested that making changes inthe policy now- would be unfair to most of the residents: of Eagan who are already paying the, as- sessment from previous projects "It can't be too late," Masin said: "Everybody is willing to pay their fair share, but I can't tell you how many peo- ple have complained. "This process is the issue. Let's refine it so nobody has to go through what peo-. ple have 'been. going through," Masin. said. More education on how the process works in making assessments is what is needed, not a policy change, Carlson said. "I have many goals on this council," Carlson said. "One of them is not sitting, here rehashing this policy when we have one project left." After a 3-2 . vote, it was determined that the policy will remain intact. How- ever, the council directed the staff to look into six main procedural areas of imple- menting the assessment. Those areas are: • Education of the public on assess- ment procedures and road reconstruc- tion. • Review the assessment process for driveways in multi -family dwellings. • Determine when final assessment hearings should be scheduled. • Evaluate the public improvement project process. • Determine if city approved apprais- ers can enter. private homes for assess-`' ing. • Determine the best way to notify.,! homeowners of estimated costs for as- sessments — based on appraisal results and cost or the amount per application. As an additional measure, the council directed staff to check with appraisers to. ensure that the figures. the council is using as a baseline for assessments are valid. EAGAN Hirers: Don't feed the bear If you see the animal, back away, DNR says BY MEGGEN LINDSAY Pioneer Press Be on the lookout for wildlife other than squirrels and bun- nies on your next nature hike in Eagan. A couple walking in Patrick Eagan Park earlier this month came across a small black bear on their path. The encounter took place about 50 yards from the trailhead near the Eagan Art House off Lexington Avenue. Park staff on Monday: found tracks along the south shore of McCarthy Lake, and the Min- nesota Department of Natural Resources confirmed the imprints as bear tracks Tuesday. "If there is another encounter — and we hope there isn't - we want the public to just step away and call 911," Police Chief Jim McDonald said. "With all of Eagan's green space, it appears this little guy likes the quality of life here as much as residents do." There are no plans to trap the animal, which did not act aggres- sively. Nevertheless, McDonald is advising neighbors and park, ' goers to use caution. Black' bears are notknown to;, be aggressive, and it is likely the ''beareVentually `will leave • °more rura1Yarea, DNR. urbana• ,? :wrldlrfe'specralist ;Bryan 'Lueth�.; 4 The urges,"those who =hve near -Patrick Eagan Park to: sty i ■ Avoid -leaving garbage out-; °. doors.' • ■ Avoid feeding pets' outdoors. Take in bird feeders at mglitl .• Avoid using park trails at '• t'night, or carry a flashlight and make noise when approaching blind curves:.. . Leave dogs at home:or keep, then` leashed, and if you • see;_. , ,.bear tracks, ,make a .detour to'" ;leave the area. If you do see a bear, never approach it or attempt to feed it, and slowly and quietly back away. Meggen Lindsay can be reached at mlindsay@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5260. ;about programs^an services for chlidren w IlsabllrUes 816i: V orrnandale pIv inneapolis, 952 83890 www pacer org k r start an EX.I.T.E. camp for girls with disabilities. Now, there are three such camps led by IBM women executives and employees; the other two are in Mexico. "We wanted these girls to understand that they can do this," Kraemer said. "We did- n't let them see failure as an option." Lori McGee's daughter, Symone, who has ADHD, attended the workshop for. an 1 experience she couldn't find at Inver Grove Heights Middle ) School. - "She knows that there are kids with disabilities," McGee 3 . said. "It helps to see kids more like you." Bao Ong can be reached at i bong@pioneerpress.com or ) 651-228-5435. HERE Township will be diverted to a pipe near Whitaker Street and Lincoln Avenue in White Bear Lake. — Elizabeth Mohr AFTON • St. Croix history lecture slated How did the St. Croix River become the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin? Historian Nancy Goodman will discuss how politics and the river's location helped form the two states out of the old Northwest Territories. Goodman's 'lecture ,will be ,at 7.,p.m. ,Qct 25 at the; Afton Historical Society" Museum in Afton; it is free and open to the public. Goodman and her husband, Robert, are authors of "Paddle- wheels on the Upper Mississip- pi" and "Joseph R. Brown, Adventurer." She is a resident of Stillwater and a former pres- ident of the Washington Coun- ty Historical Society. For more information, call f 651-436-3500. — Mary Divine neerpress come edenck Meloeporter cover. akota County government'pc" fety Hastings and Farmingto s 651=228 2172 je mail fine!p@ oiorieerpress.com 1 Coyotes blamed for pet attacks Residents wamed against leaving pets unattended BY JOSHUA NICHOLS Sun Newspapers When Eagan residents talk about the wildlife that call the city's natural areas home, deer and birds are usually high on the list while animals like coyotes don't get much love. Incidents like those that have left pets injured in five likely coy- ote attacks since September aren't likely to change that either. Over the past 13 months the Eagan Police Department has fielded 35 complaints about coy- otes in the city. In addition to the recent attacks on five dogs that have been blamed on coyotes, coy- otes were also the likely culprits in the death of a cat and a dog in Eagan last year, said Eagan Offi- cer Jennifer Ruby. The recent attacks have taken place in the city's parks or near natural areas such as Patrick Eagan Park and Lebanon Hills Regional Park. According to reports, a wild animal bit a wheaten terrier named Kirby after his owner let him off his leash in Blackhawk Park. Another dog walker told the dog's owners that he had noticed COYOTES: To Page 14A Coyotes From Page lA two coyotes in the area earlier. In a November incident, a coyote at- tacked a Jack Russell terrier before the dog's owner scared the coyote away into neighboring Patrick Eagan Park. The dog received a puncture wound and some scratches in the attack. Eagan resident Jess Carsello's golden retriever, Jack, was similarly attacked in September when he chased a ball into the woods. The animal was mauled and par- tially scalped by an unseen animal. Carsello, who is an outdoors enthusi- ast, said he doesn't blame the coyote and that he understands that it is humans who are invading their territory. He said he plans to keep a closer watch on his pet though. That's exactly what Eagan Police are recommending. Coyotes are scavengers and opportunistic hunters that will range wherever necessary to find food. They will eat many types of animals that may include domestic pets of various sizes. Police are asking residents to take simple precautions such as not leaving pet food or garbage outside and not leav- ing dogs or cats outside unattended for long periods of time. Residents are also warned against intentionally feeding coyotes. But Eagan residents have little to fear from coyotes, which resemble small, lean, gray German shepherds, said Bryan Lueth, urban wildlife specialist with the state's Department of Natural Resources. "Coyotes are well established through- out the Twin Cities and Eagan isn't any different," Lueth said. "But there's never been known to be a case of a coyote at- tacking a human in Minnesota." That might not set at ease Eagan resi- dents who have been calling the Police Department since reports of the coyote incidents surfaced in early December. "We've been receiving several calls asking what people can do if they see a coyote," Ruby said. "People have asked if they can shoot or trap them and the an- swer is no. Neither is allowed within the city of Eagan." The best thing residents can do if they see a coyote is to make loud noises to scare them away, Ruby said. Residents are also encouraged to note the time, date and location of the sighting and report it to the Police Department, she said. Right now the department is focusing on public awareness and monitoring the situation, Ruby said. The department is also researching control alternatives that have been used in neighboring com- munities. Ruby said she couldn't tell if the coy- ote population has been rising in Eagan, but that part of the increase in reports might have to do with the department's increased public education efforts over the past few years. "Eagan really isn't any different from any other suburb that has similar char- acteristics," she said. "We've got the large parks, the natural areas and the wooded river bottoms that are all attrac- tive to coyotes. It could also be that they are just adapting to having humans around." Coyotes in some areas are indeed los- ing their fear of people, Lueth said. And, as more developments go up in places like Eagan, they are often forced into more contact with humans. Although it appears the number of coyotes is up in the southern half of Min- nesota, the DNR doesn't closely track coy- ote numbers, Lueth said. When it comes to the Eagan attacks on dogs, it doesn't necessarily mean there are that many coyotes calling Eagan home. Lueth said it could just as likely be one coyote that has learned to attack peo- ple's pets. Eagan isn't alone in seeing the impact of coyotes. Earlier in December Min- netonka authorities also advised resi- dents to watch their pets because of an apparent increase in the area's coyote population. For more information or to report a coy- ote sighting, call the Eagan Police Depart- AnirnaIirap issue L' faces Eagan Council 6. A r tnVk Cu laiet.u- Eagan officials will consider muskrat trap. Pets allowed to run proposals on animal trapping dur- free are a greater nuisance to chil- ing the City Council meeting begin- dren. Skunks also carry a high po- ning at 6:30 tonight. tential for rabies." City Administrator Thomas Hedges said the options include banning trapping, allowing the state Department of Natural Re- sources to continue enforcing the present state trapping law, or adopting a similar or more restric- tive law as a city ordinance. "The council is considering the issue in response to concerns ex- pressed by citizens about traps," Hedges said. "We have received many letters for and against trap- ping." Wayne Eller, DNR conservation officer, said trappers take raccoon, fox, muskrat, skunk and perhaps some mink in Eagan. "Most trappers set their traps away from homes and public areas," Eller said. "Occasionally, an unskilled young person will set a trap in the open. All peace offi- cers, including Eagan police, are empowered to enforce DNR rules." Across the Minnesota River in Bloomington, there's a trapping ban. However, a property owner may trap on his land if animals cause damage or are a hazard. "We are having a problem with raccoons because a large number are living in the sewers, woods and along the river bottoms," said Bill Forbes, a Bloomington animal warden. "Raccoons dump over garbage, nest in fireplace chimneys and tear their way into attics and garages," Forbes said. "People see raccoons everywhere, especially in the sum- mer, crawling out of the sewers and sitting on the curbs. At the same time, we also have trouble with people setting steel traps." During 21 years of patrolling Eagan, Eller said, he apprehended only three persons, including one 18-year-old and a juvenile, for not trapping properly. "The law, in general, requires that a trapper must have a small game hunting license and a trap- ping license," Eller said. "A person trapping on land where he lives needs a trapping license but not a small game hunting license." The law requires that traps show the name and address or name and driver's license number of the trapper. Trappers must trap only during certain times of the year and obey trespass laws. "Most trappers check their traps in the morning and evening," he said. "Any trap not capable of drowning an animal must be tend- ed at least once in a 36-hour peri- od." He said that trapping is an ani- mal population control method which the DNR uses as part of its management program. "Often you hear about traps being a threat to children and t pets," he said. "But children do not typically play in muskrat sloughs, so children won't get caught by a by Mike Barrett e 47,000-square-foot building includes the 30,000- e-foot library, central administration offices and rooms. Mac Donald and his staff recently moved in previous quarters at the Burnsville library. About ployees will work in the building with Margaret h as the Eagan librarian. ane Blanchard of Hammel Green & Abrahamson, Minneapolis architectural firm, said: "We designed building to harmonize with what is essentially a resi- ial neighborhood and minimize the impact on the en- nment. We built the building into a hill for energy iency and to lessen heating costs." photo -sensitive system varies the intensity of lights )rding to the amount of daylight entering two slanted rat skylights and other windows. Another energy [sure involves six boilers operating independently, ac- ling to temperature requirements. [he building windows open onto the south and east uiing the sunlight and view overlooking Patrick n Park and a small lake," Blanchard said. e library, which opens with about 45,000 books and ccommodate 100,000 books and other materials, is e lower level with access for handicapped persons. levator carries visitors to the mezzanine where eeting room — is the central head - meeting room and ted. The doors and g also has a drive- ost car to Farm ble claim e Company gton. Illinois Like a good neighbor, Stale Farm is there. Jo Lockwo County Libr the county from 1:30 t STATE FARM l�T INSURANCE Complaints -prornpt movin of Eagan animal pound � Citizen .complaints about barking new pound earlier this year after the Abels. They - claimed that the . city pound allowed either party to dogs have prompted Eagan officials receiving complaints from neighbors dogs were disturbing the peace -by terminate the agreement with 30. Ito move the city's animal pound, of Bill and Kim Abel, who had oper- "barking, howling, whining and mak- days' notice, Geagan said. effective Saturday. ated the city's animal pound since ing other loud noises at all hours of 1978 as part ,of their kennel at 3506 the day and night." Responding to.growing citizen com- ', Lakeside Animal Hospital, in the Lexington Av. S. • plaints, police earlier had warned southeast part of the city, will be the Instead of revoking the kennel li- the Abels to quiet the dogs or face a `\ home of any future stray dogs and The agriculturally zoned land owned cense, the city will first .determine possible citation. ,ats captured by city officers. . by the Abels is tucked between con- whether removing the stray animals - dominiums and apartments in a new brought in by city officers is enough The City Council is expected to de- ' he hospital, 'at 4785 South Robert development area in the rapidly to sufficiently reduce noise levels, cide in December whether to renew rail, is owned by Dr. C.R. Fitz, who growing city. said Capt. Pat Geagan of the Eagan the Abels' kennel license, Geagan ntered into the agreement with the - police. said: ity last week. Seventy-one people, listing addresses on Blue Jay Way, petitioned the city ity official ,began searching for a to revoke a kennel license granted to ��. The contract between the city and the Abels for• the operation of the (Rosemount police report Theft Damage to property • 13000 block of Diamond Path: Oct. 16, hunting decoys were stolen, total value $400. • ■ 1300 block of E..145th St.: Oct. 17, $4000 cash was stolen. ®15000 block'of S. Robert Trail: Oct. 18, a grille was stolen from a car. II 14000 block of S. Robert Trail: Oct. - 19, a stereo and rear window louver was stolen from car, total value $129. ■ 15000 block of S. Robert Trail: Oct. 19, engine parts were stolen, total value $700. • 15000 block of S. Robert Trail: Oct. 17, a car was scratched. Burglary Iv 1200 block of Bacardi Av.: Oct. 20, jewelry and a videocassette recorder were stolen, total value $925. Other ■ Six domestic cases and two drunken driving arrests were reported last week. Mendota Heights police report Theft El 2500 block of Delaware Av.: between Sept: 15 and Oct. 13, apop machine was stolen from a trailer, total value $866. Burglary ® 600 block of Laura Court: between Oct. 17 and Oct. 19. 100% Nylon camel color sofa with skirt. Reg. $59995 SALE $34995 Fo i-Das ,6EGiS city of eagan 3830 PILOT KNOB ROAD, P.O. BOX 21199 EAGAN, MINNESOTA 55121 PHONE: (612) 454-8100 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BEA BLOMQUIST Mayor THOMAS EGAN JAMES A. SMITH JERRY THOMAS THEODORE WACHTER Council Members THOMAS HEDGES City Administrator EUGENE VAN OVERBEKE City Clerk The City of Eagan will hold a rabies vaccination clinic at the old City Hall, 3795 Pilot Knob Road, on February 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The cost of the shot will be $5.00. Vaccinations are available for both dogs and cats. 1985 dog licenses may be purchased at the same time. All licenses are due on February 20, 1985. Proof of a current rabies vaccination by a licensed veterinarian is needed. The license cost is $3.00 if the animal is neutered or spayed and $5.00 if not. All dogs must be licensed in Eagan when they are six months old or within thirty days of moving into the City. 1985 licenses from other cities may be transferred for 50. Local licensed veterinarians will be present at the clinic to administer the rabies shot. 1/23/85 -30- THE LONE OAK TREE ... THE SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY city of eagan 3795 PILOT KNOB ROAD, P.O. BOX 21199 EAGAN, MINNESOTA 55121 PHONE: (612) 454-8100 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BEA BLOMQUIST Mayor THOMAS EGAN JAMES A. SMITH JERRY THOMAS THEODORE WACHTER Council Members THOMAS HEDGES City Administrator EUGENE VAN OVERBEKE City Clerk The city of Eagan will hold a rabies vaccination clinic at the old City Hall, 3795 Pilot Knob Road, on January 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The cost of the shot will be $5.00. Vaccinations are available for both dogs and cats. 1984 dog licenses may be purchased a the same time. All licenses are due on February 20, 1984. Proof of a current rabies vaccination by a licensed veterinarian is needed. The license cost is $3.00 if the animal is neutered or spayed and $5.00 if not. Dogs must be licensed in Eagan when they are six months old or within thirty days of moving into the City. 1984 licenses from other cities may be tranferred for 50. Local licensed veterinarians will be present at the clinic to administer the rabies shot. 1/9/84 -30- THE LONE OAK TREE THE SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY ) city of eagen 3830 PILOT KNOB ROAD, P.O. BOX 21199 EAGAN, MINNESOTA 55121 PHONE (612) 454-8100 Contact: Holly Duffy, 454-8100 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: BEA BLOMQUIST Mayor THOMAS EGAN JAMES A. SMITH JERRY THOMAS THEODORE WACHTER Council Members THOMAS HEDGES City Administrator EUGENE VAN OVERBEKE City Clerk Copies of the 1985 edition of the Eagan phone directory are presently being distributed to all residences in the city. The directory is a public service project sponsored by the Eagan Volun- teer Fire Department Relief Association. Enclosed with the phone directories is a copy of the 1985 map of the City of Eagan. Because of the city's rapid growth, residents of Eagan should find both the updated map and the 12th edition of the directory very helpful. Residents who have not received their copies by March 1 should contact the relief association by phone at 454-0521 or by mail at 3940 Rahn Road, Eagan, MN 55122. 2/18/85 -30- THE LONE OAK TREE ... THE SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY city of eagan 3830 PILOT KNOB ROAD. P O BOX 21199 EAGAN, MINNESOTA 55121 PHONE (612) 454-8100 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: BEA BLOMQUIST Mayor THOMAS EGAN JAMES A. SMITH JERRY THOMAS THEODORE WACHTER Council Members THOMAS HEDGES City Administrator EUGENE VAN OVERBEKE City Clerk Interested residents are encouraged to apply for positions on the City's Advisory Planning Commission. Advisory Park & Recreation Commission and the Joint Burnsville/Eagan Cable Com- munications Commission. The Advisory Planning Commission meets the fourth Tuesday of each month to review development plans and make recommendations to the City Council. Three appointments will be made to this commission. The three year terms of Lloyd Krob and Pamela A. McCrea are expiring and the one year alternate position, cur- rently held by Roy Taylor, is also expiring as of December 31, 1984. The Advisory Park & Recreation Commission meets the first and third Thursdays of each month to advise the City Council regarding park dedication by developers, purchase of additional park land, development of existing park land and City recreation programs. Three appointments are required to fill the expiring three year terms of Richard Carroll, Sandy Bertz and William C. Jackson. (More) THE LONE OAK TREE THE SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY The Cable Communications Commission meets the second Thursday of each month to oversee the administration of the joint Burnsville/Eagan cable television system. Three appointments will be made to this commission. The two year terms of Bob Cooper and Ron Voracek are expiring and the one year alternate position, currently held by Lloyd Krob is also expiring. Residents of Eagan who wish to apply for one of the above positions should submit a letter expressing their interest to the City Administrator, 3830 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan, MN 55122, before December 31, 1984. Interviews will be held the evening of January 8 and appointments will be considered at the 1985 organi— zational meeting of the City Council scheduled for January 15, 1985. 12/10/84 —30- 2 V Dog days bring bay from Eagan residents t� close dogpoUnd By Rob Hotakainen :Staff Writer Folks who moved to Minnesota's' fastest growing city in search of the quiet suburban life style now say ' • they're suffering physical; and emo- •tional distress as the dog days of summer surrender to fall. They're blaming it on the dogs. Legend has it that dogs are prone to spells of madness and that people tend to become listless as they cope. with hot, sticky weather. Ancient :Greeks, Romans and Egyptians blamed the steamy weather on Siri- :us, the dog star that rises with the :sun in late summer. Modern-day Eaganites blame their misery on the howls, barks and 'whines coming from a kennel tucked between the condominiums and apartments that serve as a statement of the city's progress. They want the :city's animal pound closed — now. Seventy-one•people on Blue Jay Way have petitioned the city to revoke a kennel 'license granted to Bill and Kim Abel, who have operated the city's animal pound at their "farm" on 3506 S. Lexington Av. since 1978. "They bark all night. Usually one starts,. then they all gang in," said Flora Wittles, who moved into her condominium at 3575 Blue Jay Way five months ago. 1 t,5 ,5779/2 Her response to the noisy dogs is to keep her doors and windows shut and to turn up the volume- on her television set. "It's especially bad for myself and the lady upstairs," she' said. "They're right out our patio." Wittles and her neighbors claim the Abets are violating a city ordinance and that the dogs 'are disturbing the peace by "barking, howling, whining and making other loud noises at all hours of the day and night." • A public hearing before the Eagan City Council to consider revoking the kennel license is set for Oct. 21, said Tom Hedges, Eagan city administra- tor. Meanwhile, he. said, the city is escalating its search for a new loca- tion for stray animals picked up in the city limits. "We'll get shut down — that's for sure," said Bill Abel. "I kind of re- sent it, but that's progress. What are you going to do about it?" The, pound and kennel, known as Silver Emblem Kennels, can hold 19 animals and has been used to house dogs„ cats, rabbits, goats and other animals. The Abets are paid• $3.50 per day for each animal taken to the pound by city_officers. The city's progress already has chased away the deer, raccoons and pheasants that played on the Abels' five -acre tract only eight years ago. And since moving to the agricultural- ly -zoned land in 1978, the Abels have watched the. nearby swamp being overtaken by the condominium dwellers. "That used to be out in the boon- docks three or four years ago," said Eagan Police Chief Jay Berthe. "Our country setting is leaving us quick out here.... These are the first com- plaints we've had. This is a whole new experience for us." But such issues are to be expected for a city that continues to outpace all others in Minnesota in population growth. Planners estimated the city's population at 35,311 as of April 1, up by 14,611 since 1980, said Pat O'Con- nell, planning assistant with the Met- ropolitan Council. The agency ana- lyzes population data for the seven - county metropolitan region. Among all Minnesota cities with pop- ulations of at least 10,000, Eagan and -Eden Prairie rated as the 'fastest growing, based on 1984 figures, ac- cording to a spokeswoman for the state demographer's office. • Responding to growing citizen com- plaints, police warned the Abels to quiet their dogs or face a possible , citation. Berthe said the- police :de- partment will not make an arrest, Staff Photo by Art Hager but that a woman has threatened to make a citizen's arrest if the dogs continue to disturb peace in the neighborhood. The Abels said they have offered to move the • kennel for $50,000. City s-ae SC0 Flora Wittles stood outside her condominium and looked toward the Eagan animal pound. "They bark all night," she said. officialssaid they have talked to animals. "A couple of, them are in - local veterinarians in Eagan to see terested. That's an avenue for work - whether they will take in the stray ing something out here," said Berthe. Great for Decks' 1 1 a, Sug. Ret. 51664 411CWERNER 31. Ladder Stabilizer Ire;6913 °%1 Lets You Work i(I'1� . Behind the Ladder ice"( , All the Way to the• Model Top. Sug. Ret. $3159 #77 n." 922.9000 Is & Supplies 495 .249 Sealant (26 oz. can) 599 VISA HURRY, SALE' ENDS SEPT. 8 Hours: 7:30-5 p.m. Daily Sat., 8:30-Noon (WITH MFR'S REBATE) The Ultimate in Acrylic 'Adhesion and Flexibility! REG. PRICE SALE PRICE LESS MFR'S REBATE . roc11704-1 52.1-4707 So. 869-7581 776-1585 14.50 7.99 -7.00 16' Aluminum;;,• Extension 4995 Ladder ND-716 Sug. Ret. 57442 24' Aluminum Extension• 7095 'Ladder . 90-1124-2 Sug. Ret. $13637 OUR POLICY: dudtpS,.dxn.n..o, mad no, ea out o.o.dn,ow Dodos our art prow. to. au. [mows. ,avppmY pmamu ante Soma rums on al May not ,,,amour...„d.o,,.p,.e..,,np ea.. nettan WWII" pau.'to Ida con.emer Some ina.o.nd.m deal.,, mry nm p,,., .n • 0324-AM compliments Our staff of professional interior designers helps translate your dreams and ideas into a visual stateinent that is yours alone. Our design service Is always ' free of charge! 404 integrity! The Ethan Allen difference. The tradition that stands behind our superior craftsmanship, value in' real savings. We're more than just a furniture store. ..a splendid, timeless array of home furnishings including furniture, clocks, lighting, wallcoverings, draperies, carpeting, rugs, accessories and so much more. An invitation to dine....eloquent in the heritage of 18th century America...crafted of Cherry and accented with rich, brass appointments Georgian Court, our most popular dining room is now sale priced as well as many other selections and accessories during our Summer Sale. REG SALE 60".Oval Ext Table' (opens to 96") 819 75 699.75 Queen Anne S,de Char ' 289 75 244.75 Table Four Side Chars 1978 75 1649.75 Queen Anne Arrnchar 339 75 279.75 52" Buffet 1029 75 ...... ,849.75 52" Bulfet/Ch,na (2 Pcs )..J2229.50 1829.50 Host Char (from) 349 50 289.50 •Custom made protective table pads elso on sale. Carriage House An Ethan Allen (:allelic' 1044 Highway 110, St. Paul Tel: 452-1160 Hours: Mon, Wed, Thurs 10:00am-9:00pm,• Tues & Fri 10am-6pm • Sat 10am-5pm • Closed Sun Fo LDFR t-.o LDER EN DS