Document - process/ work product - Folder Begins -F44:•!! .
4%...‘
ofl
• • ,,,,b1,f,*!trq,
•!!!! $!{.0,
•
itives driving
und. There's
•
cheY vary by •••'.'
14:;!;•
le7c1ay:com-
ati.Jrday,gritgr7•
Alamol,
offerea!weekZ
Airid?nsk
seem reason •
-
ulrpay 20
L50:' The oth'-..;
'aul Interna-.,?;
3, $21.89.
alley Road,
27.99.
t. Paul, (651);
'orthree-day.
ion St., Hast-
19/$60 for
1XX'
amities location.
concept from •
T.J. Maxx.
Isive selec- •
iinnerware to
s. The store
ay of reduced-
mily. 'n
tblestone
:ollet Avenue,
ERT
nwiig
slfirst.,open.?1,y.
Dse strappy,..
summery.
to the gym. •
• 4
3nd sum-:,
If:1 want4
e., got old:„
ar
M," a Lady.
lei as I tried
like' I iiyas
,hoes.'The
thing to
r.
prices of
l'rn not
-I •
Nant to know
e dinner,
lair. It has
sive ability to
scent of
fried foods.
No. 5's new
pr the hair
a a clever
inel No. 5
is a scented
will not
vith hairstyle
he company
nel claims
will retain
the fra-i .
e attractive
COSS •
;an make.
)11ing.name-
le time:but
4.,
•
'4;
• !: . ;
:. • 17),,ii," • '... ' , ':i '• I
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PIONEER PRESS PHOTOS BY SCOTT GOIHL
•-'-'1-.14-Al Pietsch'understandsithat•government-officiaIS -..'-' latein the afternoon.It's a goodideato call ahead. Spring and fall ':."
'li :'-'• want-- to make '.sure his: nevegarage?ii'!'sfiiintmally;`,":::•;::1 '-:;•'',fenilto be. the; busiest ' times, .1 . . .
sOunc*,but:he!.!didn't 'expecthe.buildIng•ipermit to`cost!". ,-.' c..MOst projects - require at least two, and as many as 10, inspe7"'• -'
,..;V.
, , ,:i4'tW,1,,•,... more than $600!:l'Ai••.',-;:- .:,;',..•::: • : '• .4",!"!;:i7-V,I.V.4.411-f,;:'•'.''''!."' ";.-.:'.''''`..:tioni, which. the homeowner responsible for setting up. No more
t"-:•4!"•!;11;-'1'''''' -";-•!`rfwas..,kind of shocked said ,Pietiela'en'f;Eaganf,ilhorneowner..•:; ';:.than a day's notice is required in the five cities we checked icrosi.
•..,.; Butlguess'.f.he staff "has to-look-over,r,tbe,!plans)ffind...thOs-;!..the ''-tbe;:rnetro area If you call in the morning, there's a good chance .• *,
,
fee.4t's kindof:high,-,but what: do yotidor',11;g04',.':iigt:itItt'g4aP.'"! in'•':Mspector will'make'it to your house the same day
'.;:', NOf'iiiiiehi'-..unlese you're .'willing tO'MO've.'fiiihelcireetrY.'4Uilid-':;! ''':',!".'.'''''''-' ; !--•'-'.-",... ". „IN: . ..,: .11-, r.,:. •••••:.',-,
.. ..L -:,;,...:,:..,:l: ,,.•‘,::-,1•-• :.
mg-t.peruM...requiTements and fees vary sbghtly:fromi,town! to "town,- . . .
buttlultinliitelyAmimi,:ithimicipality 'must- adheie4o,:i.aisatate code..that ,- , pon§ymer,,roporter!Allson Kaplan can be reached at , 1,.;.‘ , !,. , ‘,!,!,. ,,,..• •
setiiiitandardaiforibuilding .decks instill' 'plumbing';“. tt- • • akOOlaniploneerpress.com or (651) 228-5116.
, . . , mg, , se mg up , ! , . ..,. ,.. ::•,, 1, ; ,,,,,,,,! ;
....,.eliatileitfiiiidlYellike.:, , '::' ' ' ' :4•• • •---' •"---•"i 'oci;,''i'll'","' ' ' • . -• 1 ' ,
, , ,-,!••••: lt,,e•-..not4en4f1ei of distihsting,:homeownere,'„,iT;xplains.;Steve :"4,-.:,•i'
• .Hernick,Tassia ,tiO,riireCtor of the statilltepartmenflOf 'Administra-:'..tV:A
tion'SbiiiIi!ing.:cidesTand standards; division, t'We • likeT:1tOthink- of' it".'.'4'.'"!
as part•Of'a`teaideffort.!.tojimake;eMe'leverything thiCneeds49.'.get;'::V.5
done gets 4 dopp.,:e f!ivant q..e,make. 'sureithat,, in the ',', 'end, ;that,: piece.,.:;:i
•-• • of property ,isigoing'-,tO'sWthere!:,fOr:&-41,1ile.'',1,• • AVI'.;:•;•';'.::'.'...15,';.:,-,..4fy
.. Sure enough,"•Pietici'said•that during an on-sitelyAsit; an Eagan ..-..
inspector; spotted a couple of: bolts': positioned incorrectly in • the
garage frame he constructed himself. "It's helpful. You can correct:',-'1J.
things before you get far into the project." • : • q."51`,i; • -: '; !-:..,. !•:!.!..:!,'.:•!1..
It's upto indiyidual towns to : set permit. feei5i EaganV:4::
BY • • !,c.harges!$7.0 for a deck': permit while Wocilbtuy&r.'fee':..iif4 •! ..
ALLISON ''' '.\$50. Onhome additions, :including Pietsch!s;';oew•,garage;;`:,-,`-s.;
KAPLAN • most cities', base their fee on the'. priceiloflthe'' project.'
STAFF :according lo-,a, escalating lee schedules,seti,),,byj the state
WRITER That's. why Pietsch's permit was so expensive. '•". ''' ..... ' '
Oakdalecharges a flat $58.50,:fee for -finishing a basement.
It includes permits for.:building ,asz,welles' forielectricity•and.,.. •,,
plumbineTba1. seems'likea.`good deal'', compared ;,',6S-1 many,. other:;'' .!-!;-: ,. ,.
towns, wheie-you'haire to pay separately'forlelectricity and plumb-':.: '. pplyinglfor- building:permits
Mg permits at 'acost.'..ofanywhere'from.$20.to $40 .apiece. ''' • .
• Call your city's building department find out what paperworK;;.:1,
The : Builders fiAssOciatiorVi"of Minnesota questions where. that.
is required. Most want a set of the plans and information on build -
money .is!.going:ITTife(groUpwhich`,'•represents'$profe.ie—iOnal !tuilders,' ' ''.! Mg materials, and they may need to know your lot dimensions.
is pushinglegisletiOn that would -require cities to .keefPbuilding per- ' .,
' • Doryt be afraid to ask for help. Building officials are good
mit. feesdwithin9iuilding.'departments.-, Otherwise association '.,vice,,.. L.:about answering questions,•and-they have brochures that can be (.!....
president, KethiqPugaczewski•says,,,there i7, asterny.iie Jion:t...O:.4...-.'.':,,... helpful on all sorts of projects; fromhuilding a deck to finishing a''.
.. permit fees- to . fund other city programs . -:-._ k-1‘.. ,-!...:,.,:1 !,..•ili basement- •...'....1.i.!: .!.f • • •:', • •
Several:officials' from.'different cities'say it. wou106 too compli-' ..."- II Ifyou want 'an inspector to stop by at a certain time, call a day
cated•to'ensures.tiery4dollar paidin fees is returnedffo the depart7'....1--: in; advance to schedule an appointment.. ; ' ..-. . •
ment,':.rather than to'.the general 'city, budget;':andf-dould actually '''•'-.-.'.. ":.• Consider applying for a building permit during the winter, when
cause an increaieln permit prices'ic,.:';'... • ;,•:'''''. .••••,,,;,••••••,.... city, building officea'are slower and inspectors may be able to •:,:: • • •
"For the nrice'-'of a permit. we perform a -plan' review..nlus 'two ' ' Spend more time with vou. Permits are•usuallv valid for a year or '
. .-!•. A buil• ding pormlflor Al Pletch's new garage cost theleagarkt gaitownerirne han $600.,!!'l was kind of shocked," he said.
.!••• • ., ,173't .• ••••,,,,,,'.• . . "ki., • ! :..,;:0:, -... ,: ,..2i •,.• •r.4$ ,..,......q..4, . . .
!. AL.
.•.. --!,!..•.....,-- . -.••!...,,,..,. ,.....,.,., ' •.: i. ' .'''•: :ii..P.- ' ..,:•.v.!•,‘ •,;" :fr,venIthe,mostr„adept.do-it-yourselfersafeLzeqMtedby0-,:r: Ihitmo#'•.'subUrb,sdon't have,'enough inspectors- for .one .to:stay in,-.'7.: -...:,....---•
i. statelaw;toibesupeiliisedroni"inajor hoMe.Improye.':-., 4. eioffice all,day.;:they're out examining projects The best 'time to ' •',.• : /4.4"-- •: ,
ment;projects,•11rough..city,perinits,,andimspections.,-rf;,' '': catCh'anlinspector in the office is usually early in the morning or
• '
I •
..,.....::::';,, •
•" Wanted: Your
•
bureaucracy -
busting stories
HaVelyou'ever!had
• trouble getting '
...copies of. a birth.
certificate or Social .„
Security card? Or
• getting an original?
We are seeking
your advice on how
to minimize hassle
for these •
sometimes
necessary chores.
• Monday's the
deadline for your
input, and a story on
'ihis.topic will be
Wednesday, April 4.
Please call Allison
Kaplan, (651)
,228-5116; or mail
letters to' herat the j.
Pioneer Press; 345 7:
• :Cedar St. St'Paul,
MN 55101. Or
e-mail akaplan@
ploneerpress.com. ;••4
' 1••••
•,! , • .
:" • Our schedule for !
l',-publishing.these
story topics, which
..;
. •
11
11.
: I
i;
may change later,
• Feb: 21: Passports '
By Jodi L. Wallin
Sun Newspa rs
63L3[C'p l ; lnr_S CC-7t i
• City "homeowners who need to make
repairs due to lastyear's storm can no '.:
,longer receive building permits for free
Since June of Iast" Year, more than
1,000 building permits have been issued.:
without costto homeowners; in Eagan to
help facilitate repair, on damaged homes
in "the "city. That practice was discontin-
ued at the July 6 City Council, meeting.. .
•Homeowners may continue to make
repairs, however; the fees to obtain the
building permit are again in place.
The council determined that the city, of
Eagan was the only remaining -city in the
metropolitan area continuing the free
permit practice:
The council also'acted,on anumber of
'other public safety -issues. -.-
Police liaison officers that serve Henry
enranna c1-17(dentS in .
agars d�lesotltU..b
c A c ivm. d- -►_�{--i4 .
Eagan,'' Mendota Heights and West St.
Paul, will be funded by a joint agreement
between those cities and School District
197.... _
ding permits in one year
• The two year joint funding agreement
was approved by the 'council July 6.
Eagan will provide the training fora full-
timepeace officer, whose primary duties.
will be to' prevent, delinquency and ,pro-
tect the lives-. and property of those. at-
tending -the school, in addition t'o general
law enforcement duties. -
For the liaison officer at Henry Sibley
High School in Mendota.Heights for the
1999-2000 school year, the school district
wilipay $26,635 of the wage costs; while.
the city of Mendota 'Heights_ will con-
tribute $7,964 and: Eagan $5,193. The.
-payments of, each contributor will in-
crease slightly the following year, by an
overall $545.:The agreement will beau-
tomatically •renewed each year after
2001. 'unless" one of -the .parties termi-
nates"the agreement:
The council also approved a Safe and'
Sober giant application for $18,241 to_ en=.
force'traffic lawsfrom-Sept:' l to Oct. 31.
The:goal is to reduce- youth alcohol con
sumption,;, enforce, DUI laws and speed
laws, and increase enforcement o_ f occu
• pant protection laws. .
Plans were approved for a traffic sig-
nal light at the intersection --of Wescott: •
t Road • and Lexington Avenue:: The • final •
bids will be opened.at 10:30 a.m:'on Aug.:
12.
In other business:
Public hearings will:be scheduled.on
• Aug. 3 for three projects: in .the city. The
final .assessmer►ts for the -Northwood
Parkway streets and utilities:,iinprove-
• meets will take place then,:as will the•pe=
tition to vacate drainage and.utilityease-
ments in the OakbrookeAddition and
Highland Park areas. -
uttered Monday -Thursday July
26-Aug. 5, at indoor pools in Apple Valley
and Eagan.
Lessons feature-American`Red Cross
ater1 curriculum.for.swimniers of all ages. In-
fants. and toddlers -may enroll in
Parent/Tot, Minnow, or Fish levels; school
-.iV ..vie-v►cp-all makes_and models.. _
Legal Notices
Public Notice
(Official Publication)
Public Storage, Inc.
20296 Apple Valley
- 15075 Foliage Ave.
Apple Valley, MN 55124'
NOTICE OF SALE AND DISPOSAL OF
PROPERTY
Notice is hereby given thatthepersonal.property listed
below will'be sold at publicauction held on July 28, 1999
at 15075 •Foliage Ave., Apple Valley, MN 55124. at
10:00 a.m. The description of the goods and name of the '
person(s) whose personal property is to be sold is as fol- •'
lows: •
Nicole Barnabo - Space Number 380
Ladders, pet carrier, floor jack, tires, stroller, wheel barrel
. (July 14'& 21, 1999) C2/ Storage AV •
14001 Pilot o oa pp ey.
A $65registration fee includes -a flag.,,
j
to keep. Instructor.is Patti Greene, coach =`
of the 'Eastview _High School Marching*
Band Flag Corps.! 1
Information/registration; 651-683-8590.
Summer dance classes
offered in District 196
Spaces are available in:"The Skippers"
for children ages 3 to 41/2; "The Leapers"
for children ages :41/2 to 6; and "Taps and
Pirouettes: Beginning Tap and Ballet" for
children who were in kindergarten -grade
two during the past school. year.
Classes meet Monday -Thursday, July 26-
Aug. 5, at Black Hawk Middle School, 1540
Deerwood" Drive in .Eagan (call for class
times). Parents will be invited to the last ses-
sion for a demonstration of skills learned.
Information: 651-683-8590::
Youth, grades 6-to 8
invited_tn_fiartep_ 11.acc__.-
Dale Peterson
Last day nears for city's first inspector=
By CHRISTY CLAPP
When Dale Peterson answered
an ad • in the newspaper for a
• building inspector 17 years ago,
he probably never thought he'd
spend almost two decades with
the city of Eagan. -Eagan's first
building inspector will see his last
day when he retires Dec. 31.
Peterson was hired as a part-
time inspector in August 1969. By
December of that same year, his
position was expanded to full
time. It's been non-stop growth
for the planning department ever
since. .
"I was tired of -being ,a'carpen-
- ter and small contractor," Peter-
son said of his move to inspector.
When he started, he was;the in-
specting department. Today, the
department consists of eight full-
time and two part-time em-
ployees. He said the department
has discussed finding even more
part-time 'help, but it's difficult
since most people want full-time
work, unless they're semi-
retired. - •
With the additional employees
has come the evolution • of the
position. As head of the .building
inspection department, Peter-
son's responsibilities are now
mostly administrative. He -over-
sees his department, government
buildings and signs erected in the
city, excluding pylon signs,
BUILDING .INSPECTOR Dale Peterson will mark his
last day with the department on -Dec. 31. Peterson
started outas the city's first inspector 17 years ago.
"We have to see to it that the
signs are where they say they're
going to put them and that signs
don't pop up where they're not
supposed to. be," he said.
About two years ago Peterson's
job changed from mostly field
• .work to •what he calls "paper
pushing," although he still goes
on site occasionally as a mediator
between a builder and his depart-
inent. He said he much -prefers
working in the field.
The department inspects
single-family homes, ' public
buildings and commercial and in-
dustrial buildings. Last month
alone, the department inspected
78 single-family homes. About 100
were inspected in September. He
said his department just finished
inspecting the Northwest Orient
Airlines headquarters . building
and now is working with UNISYS
on. threenew buildings. The
department is also working with
the new Deerwood Elementary
School' . _
. Peterson said the most impor-
tant part of his jbb_is-•"trying to
see to it that a homeowner gets a
good, decent house." •
The •inspection department
checks for "life safety items," he..
said, such as electrical wiring,
plumbing and building structure.
Inspectors check for safe wiring,
environmentally healthy plumb-
ing and structurally_stable build-
• ings. •
Inspectors have a mandatory
state_code they have to follow
that was instated in the early
1970s. When • Peterson began with,
the city there wa`s no such code.
"In 1972, every city had, its own
special rules. The "seven -county
metropolitan area • is the only
area where the state building
code is mandatory -- aside from a
few cities, like Duluth. It's much
easier now that .there's a state'
code." • '
Peterson said his department
rarely has trouble enforcing the
code with contractors or builders.
- He added that most builders
working in the area follow code
closely.
Peterson, 62, said he thought it
was time for a "younger person"
to fill his shoes. "The job is start-
ing to get more and more compli-
cated. I thought (retirement)
would be a fun thing to do about
now. I plan on doing a little bit of
leisurely travel," he said. •
Petersonwill be in full retire-
ment for the next five or six
months and then consider part-
time consulting work. "I'm going
to shoot from the hip," he said.
Doug 'Reid of the inspecting
department will be taking over
Peterson's responsibilities until a
'replacement is found in a few
months..
The transition between the new
and old department head should
be a smooth one, he said. "I'm
very proud of the•departnient. I
think I did a good job of develop-
ing it. They're all •a great bunch
of people. I'll miss the people."
Limit one Intro urrer per customer.
Not valid with other coupons.
Expires 1-5-87
Jun Place
-- tanning Audio.
VALID AT EAGAN SALON ONLY
VISIT OUR BEAUTIFUL NEW STUDIO AT
YANKEE SQUARE SHOPPING CTR.
YANKEE DOODLE & PILOT KNOB ROAD
454-5500
CALL TODAY FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT
ONLY UNTIL CLOSING
ON CHRISTMAS EVE
Shop With 1. s And Compare
&Tf a/deafieh' 1
454-4100
EAST OF CEDAR AVE.. OFF HWY. 13
Watch Repair CEDARVALE MALL
jewelry Repair Eagan All work done
Appraisals - on the premises.
SANTA CAN'T RUN
FOR THE
DAKOTA ELECTRIC
ASSOCIATION
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
BUT MAYBE YOU CAN
Any Dakota Electric Association member who has a
membership in one of the shaded districts on the map
below is eligible for nomination. Candidates run from
their districts; those elected at the DEA Annual Meeting
serve at large. To apply for nomination, contact a
member of the Nominating Committee. Application
deadline: 4:30 p.m., Jan. 23, 1987. Annual Meeting:
March 28, 1987, at DEA headquarters in Farmington.
1986-87 NOMINATING COMMITTEE
Chapel Hill
Baptist Church
Meeting at :
Diamond Path
Elementary School
14445 Diamond Path
Rosemount, MN 55068
Sunday School 9:15 AM
Morning Worship 10:30 AM
REV. JOHN PETERSON
435-8003
L'r ate- C' —>c- az
Peterson winds up hisinspectiontinspection
by Amy O'Marro
Dale Peterson's voice and
footsteps echoed through the
hollow chambers of the
skeleton -looking house as he
walked through the structure,
studying its beams and fasten-
ings.
As Peterson, 62, finished in-
spections last week, he was also
winding up his 17-year-career
as chief building inspector for
Eagan.
Watching Peterson make his
rounds through the splintery
wooden frame, a vistor has lit-
tle doubt that Peterson will re-
main close to the city depart-
ment. For Peterson was the
first member of the building in-
spection department in Eagan.
He started as a part-time
building inspector in 1969, after
vorking 22 years as a carpenter
and contractor. He checked
homes, commercial buildings
and huge industrial offices
throughout his career, checking
both the soundness and the safe-
ty of the structure. He
sometimes checked the con-
struction 14 times before it was
completed.
In recent years, as the inspec-
tion department grew and as
building boomed in Eagan,
Peterson took over ad-
ministrative duties, yet con-
tinued his inspecting duties
from time to time. The demand
for inspections rose from about
12 building inspections a month
to 70.
Nov that he has retired,
Dale Peterson
Peterson said he and his wife
are planning more than relax-
ing in their Mendota Heights
home. "My wife has always
wanted to travel, to see some
warmer climates," he said.
Doug Reid, assistant building
official, has been temporarily
named to take Peterson's place,
while the city looks for a perma-
nent replacement.
Peterson said he intends to
keep a watchful eye on Eagan.
He is considering working as a
consultant for the city depart-
ment.
IPPIPPIPMTMei%onist at Burnsville
Racquet Club. Besides just a
greater number of people com-
ing to the club, members are
clamoring to get into aerobic
classes, she said.
Classes start at 6 a.m. and run
until 10 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Thirteen classes on the
weekends are packed as well.
"There's more to exercise
than just looking beautiful," said
Mary Claggett, aerobic coor-
dinator for Northwest Racquet
Clubs. "It's great to see how peo-
ple's attitude change as their
bodies change.
"At first, they might be fitting
their exercise in around other
daily activities. Once they get in
to it, they schedule everything
else around their exercise
time."
Claggett said more men are
joining aerobic classes. "There's
less stigma attached to men do-
ing aerobics than there use to be.
It's no longer a `sissy' thing to
do."
Klondike
Kate is
Nancy
by Amy O'Marro
The Winter Carnival's casino
is sure to be a blast this year,
especially when it is run by a
Klondike Kate from Eagan.
Nancy Bauer's rendition of
"God Bless America" so im-
pressed Winter Carnival judges,
that Nancy took the Klondike
Kate title hands down.
And what made Bauer vie for
the title? "We had so much fun
at the casino last year, that I
gained weight but it's surpns
the number of them who come in
and don't know how to get
started" losing it, she said. The
Club staff works out a program
for members who want to lose
weight and regain their shape.
In addition to the usual health
club activities, a wallyball
league offers people a chance to
expend energy and have fun too.
(Wallyball is a form of volleyball
where the ball is hit off the walls
over a net on a racquetball
court.)
Willard said another reason
people flock to exercise
establishments is to prepare for
sunny winter vacations. "The
first thing they usually go for is
the tanning bed. They're also in-
terested in getting in shape for
their swimwear."
U.S. Swim & Fitness in Eagan
has also seen an increase in
member participation this
month. The facility is open 24
FITNESS: To Page 2A
Mary Claggett, aerobics coordi
Sue Breckner, both instructors
week at the Burnsville club.
Codes limit city's control over builders.
By CHRISTY DeJOY
Recently, the city council
suspended building permits -for
Tollefson Builders .and many
homeowners approached the
council' asking for an 'immediate
revocation of the contractor
license also: •
• — The council voted to 'continue
the decision until city staff could
investigate homeowners' com-
plaints further: The reason for -
the council's caution is because
the matter is not cut-and-dried.
Many of the complaints should be
. dealt with between homeowner
.and contractor and•shouldn't.iri-
. volve the city, according to the
. council. .•
• From a legal standpoint, the ci-
• ty can only act on infractions of
city building codes by the con-
tractor, according to City ,At-
torney Paul Hauge.
• At the March 4 council meeting
• residents who had purchased
homes from Tollefson aired com-
plaints ranging from cracks in •
ceilings and wet basements to im=
properly laid shingles and stain
used on the exterior- of homes.
Many of the problems aren't the
concern of the city because they
are cosmetic. rather than struc-
tural. • • ..
Before occupancy, each house
is checked out by city building in-
spectors. Inspectors study struc-
tural stability, environmental
health: factors and setback re:
quirements.
• "We worry about safety and
stability," according -to inspector
Doug Reid. • -
"Building •codes are -minimum
, standards to build a house. They
are minimum so all.houses-aren't
alike and the contractor -and'
builder can build the home they
want, Reid said. •
• Some'of the items on an inspec-
, tor's check -list are foundation
and concrete footings, insulation,
window. size requirements, con-
. struction of frame and walls,
heating, :plumbing and safety
. features like smoke detectors,
handrails and fire -exits. -
"We don't deal with -cosmetics,
-like the types of windows used,
siding, trim, carpeting or other
c �
•
floor covering or doorways," he
said. -
A:frequent complaint to the in-
spection department is leaking
basements. Reid said wet
basements. often result from set-:
tling of soil under and around the
home, and it's the homeowner's
responsibility, not the city's. .
"We can't deal with Workman-
ship," he'said.
When an inspector spots a pro
blem in an area that is covered in
the building codes, theinspector
will either have the ' contractor'
repair the problem immediately:
or will issue a red tag *Ared tag.
stops all other work on the house.'`
until the problem has been cor-
rected. Red tags are undesirable.'
because they question the. quality
,of that builder's product andhold
up other work, Reid said about
five to 10 tags are issued each
week.
"Most things we find aremiss-
ed items, things (the builder)
may have forgotten or overlook-.
ed," he said.
The time for homeowners .to
make sure their home is exactly •
how they wadi it is beforesianin¢
want signing
any agreements. Reid suggested
that the prospective buyer sit
down . withthe contractor and
discuss details of the house, such
as the style of cabinets and floor-
ing and lighting allowances.
"The biggest problem is when
(homeowners) didn't get what
they thought they would have.
You house won't be exactly like
the model you walked through,"
he said. - • .
"We look at structural stability
.and safety. People buying homes
worry more about the operations
of the house. And if something
isn't written down in,the contract,
it's hard to say .who's right .or --
wrong.' A person who buys a
-house knows -the •layout, but they.
won't admit they don't, know-
everything and they trust
• everyone.
"When a person buys a car they _
know exactly what options
they're getting. And then you see
someone paying. $60,000-$200,000
for a house and they have no
financial guarantees for - their
home," Reid said.
Many,,F the misunderstandings
of misunderstandings
surface after closing, he said.
People think' certain things were
included and they either weren't.
in the home and contract, or they
were installed and an extra
charge for the options was tacked.
onto the final price.
"And just because it's a new
house doesn't mean you're not go-'
ing to have nail pops, squeaky
floors or rattling pipes," he add-
ed. •
Reid said homeowners should
contact the contractor first with
problems and then call the city if
the concerns are of a safety or
structural nature. Sonie safety
problems that would be of con-
cern to the city and in violation of
codes would be missing handrails
-or smoke detectors and heating
or sewage pipes leaking poison- •
ous gases, which could lead to
headaches or even death.
Some structural complaints
would be problems for the city to
deal with, while others are due to
normal settling of the house or
wood that has shrunk or is still
drying out. - -
4 ' v- ' o 4 4 - d 1'. ;- 4 4 ;,.
41 44444404 4-4 . a44 o.44444Ss 4'
avg.
LOBSTER
MEAT
(SCAMPI) .
$49.
LARGE
SCALLOPS
$49
LB. r LB.
1.1'/i Ib. pkgs. 1.1'/o Ib. pkgs.
SIMEK'S
Pork Sausage
LINKS
10 LB. BOX 3 LB. BOX
$119 -$ 39
LB. I LB.
LB. tavg.
FARMLAND
Thick Sliced
BACON
121b.. $ 1 39
box
REG. $1.69 Ib. I LB.
BATTERED
ONION RINGS
5 LB. BAG 2-3 LB. PKG.
$ 39 $ 59
LB. LB.
LB.
INDIVIDUAL BONELESS
CHICKEN
BREAST
18-8 oz. $2395
9 Ib. box
REG. 9267°
BREADED ••
21 SHRIMP
in a BASKET
$1 59
8 OZ. ' EACH
Mlao_Andabie ... Cold Water Lobster Tail, Prime Rib, :King Crab, Chicken Nuggets, Onion Rings A Much More.
as
S M
GOLDEN VALLEY 593-5762 NOURS:
NILLCREST CENTER 111-0082 Mon. -Wed.
YANKEE SQUARE 452-8660 9:00 to 5:30
W. ST. PAUL 455-3176 Thurs.-Fri.
ST. PAUL PARK 459-5518 9:00 to 7:30
ROSEYILLE 481-2883 Saturday
EAU CL.." ° r (715)835-4904 9:00 to 4:30
SAMPLES SERVED DAILY We Accept Food Stamps
MON. B.TUES. ARE DOUBLE AD. DAYS!
MEATS • SEAFOOD
WEDNESDAY ONLY *
SUPER._SYY!
JOHNSONVILLE FRESH
BRATWURST
BUY1 POUND GET2ND.POUND
$1,9 99.
LB.
®M®®Cita®®EJC:13
2A MARCH 17,1986 -THISWEEK
MAACO SUPREME
PAINT. SERVICE
REG. $399.95
FOR 00ONLY
Chemise! Cleaning, Thorough Surface
Sanding, Mathine Sanding Most Chips and
. Scratches, Prime and Block Sand Feathered
Areas as Required, Full Coat of Primer •
Sealer, Refinish with Durability Plus
Catalyzed Enamel, Apply Integrated Coat of
Gloss Extending U.V. Sun Screen, Oven
• Bakt:d Rnish. -
At participating centers.
LITTLE CANADA
3235 Country Drive
Next to Knox on 694)
484-8421
MINNEAPOLIS
2005 E. Lake St.
721-6448 •
ST. LOUIS PARK
7004-06 Oxford St.
(behind Methodist Hosp.)
925-3314 -
BURNSVILLE
12236 Riverwood Dr.
11 blk. W. of
Burnsville Bowl)
894-1238
W..ST. PAUL -
B1 E. Wentworth
455-0003
FRIDLEY
148 Osborne Rd.
(between Univ 6
E. River Rd.)
_ 574-1830
Body side molding and phi striping
_with Supreme Paint Special Reg. 69.90
now $3995thru March 28,1986
HOURS: Mon. -Fri. 8-6
OFFER EXPIRES APRIL 15, 1986
Reid
(continued from front)
when there is a problem . or
disagreement.".
Another area of communica-
tion that Reid is hoping to im•
-
prove is-with.the public.. "We're.
getting into public information. I
want to start a first-time .home
buyers session covering what
they should be looking out for and
be aware of when they're buying
their first home. We're: number .
one (in the state) in construction
and we should offer something
like this," he said.
And it doesn't appear that the
city's growth is slowing down.
• Compared to 1986 year-to-date _
figures, the city is 24 houses short
in 1987, but . the year-to-date
• valuation this . year is at
• $48,300,000 compared to last
year's $25,970;000.. The difference
is due to a lot of commercial
development this. year.
• Reid also wants to be involved'
in changing and updating various'
building codes: He said he'd .like
to make some more restrictive
•
and others less so.
A building inspector's job is to
keep abreast of new: building pro:.
• ducts and technology- as. 'well.
"It's an ongoing (project) .just
trying to keep up with them," he
•.said.
So far, . the chief inspector en-
joys being a. part of the manage-
ment • team. at cityhall."Every-
body's watching out for and -help-
ing each' other. Teammanage-
ment is the biggest. thing that's
helping to hold.this city together
with the growth:"
Dist. 196 may be
smoke -free p.11A
THIS WEEK
NEWSPAPERS
Volume 8, No. 9
Three Sections
April 27, 1987
Section A
THREE SECTI
News • Sports • General
Real Estate Section
Classified Section 84
4,4,„
kAGA
Head inspector builds
on experience with city
By CHRISTY CLAPP
Many people would think Doug
Reid is crazy for accepting the
job of chief building inspector in
the fastest growing city in the
state. It's a job where stress and
overtime are in abundance. But
Reid knows what he's getting into
and is enthusiastic about the new
position.
Reid has served as acting chief
building inspector since January
when Dale Peterson resigned
after 17 years in that capacity.
Reid also has almost a dozen
year's experience with the city of
Eagan as assistant building in-
spector and fire marshal.
When Reid started with the city
in 1975, the building inspection
department consisted of him and
Peterson. The department has
o three full-time inspec-
tors, a construction analyst and
four part-time contractors. Reid
anticipates needing more full-
time help. When the contractors
were hired, it wasn't known
whether the growth was just a
temporary spurt. Years of strong
growth have proven that isn't the
case, he said.
Reid, 39, said he has the full
support of his staff in taking the
department head position. In
fact, some in the department
were miffed that an outside
search for an inspector was con-
ducted and felt Reid should have
automatically been offered the
job.
However, Reid said he was
glad that a search was conducted
and that he was part of the can-
didate pool. "I felt better for
myself. I have more of a con-
fidence in the direction that we
are going. (The city) had a
chance to see me (as acting in-
spector) for a few months, so we
must be doing the things they
want us to do," the lifelong
Eagan resident said.
One of Reid's goals for the
department is better communica-
tion with the building contractors
who work in the city. The first
contractors' meeting was held
recently and another is planned
for December. The informal
meetings are to review problem
areas that contractors and the in-
spection department may be hav-
ing with each other. He said such
regular meetings are useful
because normally "the only time
we're dealing with a contractor is
Reid
See p.SA
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RANGERS
20 To Choose From!
I
N EAGAN -•
Subdivision request prompts
study of covenants, setbacks
By BETTY McMAHON
Staff Writer
EAGAN -- The city council,
Tuesday, Sept. 21, turned down
for a second time a request by
David and Patricia Odell to sub-
divide their one -acre lot in Mc-
Carthy Ridge.
The council will instruct the ci-
ty attorney to research whether
restrictive covenants existing on
the property are still enforceable
and whether the current garage
meets setback requirements.
At issue are covenants
established when McCarthy
Ridge was platted in 1952. They
require houses to be built on
minimum one -acre lots. McCar-
thy Ridge is located in the bluff
area overlooking the river, off
Hwy. 13, south of Lone Oak Rd.
The attorney for the Odells
maintains the covenant issue is a
non -issue. "Those covenants
cease to be in effect and have no
bearing on the property," he
said. The Odells are "merely at-
tempting to do what the law and
ordinance of Eagan permits them
to do," he said.
"The question is, does it meet
all requirements of the or-
dinance? It does. Under these cir-
cumstances, the council should
not disapprove the request," he
said. "If they do deny, they are
saying you must have consent of
neighboring property owners."
Neighbors have objected to the
plan because the divided lot size
would be smaller than one acre.
Terrance Votel, 3040 McCarthy
Ridge, spoke for about 10
neighborhood residents at the
meeting.
"McCarthy Ridge is an area
fully developed, mature and
stable. They are proposing a
development almost
geographically in the center of
McCarthy Ridge," he said. "The
covenants are historical and
should be honored as such. They
are enforceable and permanent."
"If all a potential development
had to do was meet minimum re-
quirements, then we wouldn't
need a city council to exercise
discretion. The lives of a lot of
people are at stake here," he
said.
Council member Thomas Egan
said, "I don't want it to come
across that I'm in favor of all the
Odells are doing. I think this
should be researched."
"Restrictive covenants are a
judicial matter and should not
come before the city council," he
said. "We can only look at plat-
ting, zoning matters and so forth.
This is beyond our jurisdiction."
Council members agreed and
sent the matter to the city at-
torney.
Council members also discuss-
ed whether the location of an ex-
isting garage on the lot would in-
terfere with the proposed second
lot. The council expects to resolve
this problem by researching the
setback requirements.
The council also sent developer
Wally Gabbert back to the draw-
ing board to rework his proposed
plat for Sheffield Addition, an
undeveloped area north of Cliff
Rd., about one-half mile west of
Dodd Rd., south of Wilderness
Run Rd.
Gabbert requested approval to
plat 44 single-family lots in the
area. The area is still a planned
unit development, designated but
not actually zoned R-2, or mixed
residential. Single family lots
must be zoned R-1.
The council said the 4.65 densi-
ty Gabbert was proposing was too
much for an area that requires
0-3 units per acre. The council
also objected to the lot frontage of
50 feet.
Council member Ted Wachter
said, "I favor 60-foot lots." Coun-
cil members agreed and made a
motion to continue the matter
while the developer, Gabbert
Development, Inc., works with
the staff to increase lot width to a
minimum of 60 feet.
ed sidewalks in front o $a ota
Central Offices.
HEARD Don Brown,
maintenance and utilities super-
visor, report the street lights at
the Co. Rd. 42 and Canada Ave.
pedestrian crossing are installed.
APPROVED the sale of the old
sewer plant property to BBPZ
partnership for $25,000.
AGREED to pay half of the cost
(not to exceed $3,900) for the con-
struction of a right turn lane off of
Hwy. 3 into Rosemount Woods.
APPROVED the purchase of a
welder for $771.26 as requested by
the maintenance department.
DIRECTED the water
drainage problem on the 145th St.
bike trail be corrected.
HEARD Knutson report that a
Rosemount location was one of 30
possible sites selected for hazar-
dous waste disposal within the
metropolitan area.
APPROVED the resolution on
state highway bonding.
DELAYED action, following a
public hearing, on White Lake
Acres preliminary plat until it
receives recommendations from
the planning commission and
representatives from the
development appear.
Homes to be visited feature
super insulation, double walls,
heat exchangers and radiant non -
mechanical heat systems, earth
berming plus solar panels.
ANYONE NEED
A CABOOSE?
NORTHFIELD -- The Nc
thfield Historical Society will st
at public auction a nitro:
caboose Saturday, Oct. 16, at
p.m. The caboose was given
the society by the Soo Line whi(
has recently purchased the Mi
neapolis, Northfield and Souther
Railroad, formerly the histor
Dan Patch line.
The car was built by Haske
and Barker in 1906 and spei
most of its days on the Wisconsi
Central railway, which also ha;
become part of the Soo Line. I,
weighed 27,800 pounds when it
was built, is 35 feet long, nine feet
wide and has a cupola. A recent
paint job is red, with target
yellow ends, and it carries both
the MNS and Soo Line emblems
k _ev7z
posa
,in the older wing of the Orchard Lake
Elementary School at an estimated cost of
i90o.
Opening day student enrollment figures
were reviewed by Superintendent McGuire.
The total enrollment is very similar to that of
the past year.
Summary material involving estimated
local tax levy for 1983 and estimate of fund
balance, revenue and expenditures for fiscal
1983-84 was discussed by the board. More
apecific information pertaining to local pro-
cGuire of the DCAVTI staff; architect
Lucke; student Audie Swedeen.
Chairman Switzer called the meeting to
order at 7:35 PM.
Transportation supervisor Jarvi displayed
the award presented to Ray Swedeen, Auto
Body instructor, as National Instructor of
the Year and introduced Mr. Swedeen. Mr.
Swedeen gave a brief summary of the Auto
Body program equipment. After watching
slides of the program the Board moved to the
program area to see the equipment.
James Ernest Huebner, 1092 Monroe St. S.,
Prescott, WI and Brenda Marie Bodin, 819
llth Ave. S. Apt. 8, Hopkins.
Arne Charles Shulstad, 7335 Clayton Ave.
E., Inver Grove Heights and Mary Jo
Eisbrener, 520 1st Ave. S., South St. Paul.
Terry Mitchell Quinnell, P.O. Box 245,
Lakeville and Janice Marie Pogatchnik, 1482
Woodhill Rd., Burnsville.
Jeffrey James House, 1192470thSt. S., Cot-
tage Grove and Diana Verna Staehnke,
same.
Larry George O'Dell 1712 W a2nd St In-
iscovery. Parties agreed
to resolve matter without the court.
William I. McLaughlin, et al vs. Thomas J.
Schendel, et al. Motion by plaintiff for tem-
porary injunction under advisement.
Tom Edens and Marlene Edens vs. Fair-
way Foods. Motion by plaintiff for order
quashing the demand for change of venue
under advisement.
Tonka Tours, Inc. vs. Jay Chadima, et al.
Motion by plaintiff for summary judgment
under advisement.
Carson Pirie Scott & Co. vs. E. Dennis
Tripplet, etc. Motion by plaintiff for order
Randy L. Potter. Possession of sme
amount of marijuana in motor vehicle. $
suspended.
Joseph R. Yahnke. Speed. $27.50.
Donald D. Baher. Operate motorcyc
without protective eyewear dismissed.
Marc D. Payne. Littering. $45 suspertde
Perform 15 hours volunteer service appro
ed by School District 191 by Sept. 18.
Russell J. Lehbo. In park after hours. $1
Peggy S. Tharp. In park after hours. $15
James G. Johnson. In park after hour
$15.
Brian E. Callahan. Speed. $27.50, Expire
co-
1)AKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Newspaper vending machine
discussedby Eagan. council
By NANCY ADAMS
Staff Writer .
EAGAN — The problem began
last year, but escalated this spr-
ing with the sudden proliferation
of single newspaper sales boxes
cropping up "on every street cor-
ner," Mayor Bea Blomquist has
said.
The council directed staff to in-
vestigate, which resulted in the
appearance of three represen-
tatives of the St. Paul Pioneer
Press and Dispatch at the Tues-
day, June 15, council meeting.
Last year, the council authoriz-
ed city staff to send a letter to
that newspaper, informing them
of Eagan's requirement for a
special use permit before install-
ing newspaper vending
machines. Thecity received no
response.
Approximately three weeks
ago, according to Thomas
Hedges, city administrator, 25
more vending machines were
located in the city, many of them
on public street corners and .at-
tached to street. lights. Another
letter went to the Pioneer Press
and Dispatch, telling themthey
were in violation of • council pro-
cedure. -
The position of the St. Paul
newspaper is that, under the con-
stitutional right of• the first
amendment, their newspaper has
the right to disseminate news on
public property and therefore the
placement of newspaper
machines on public right of way
is appropriate without a special "What the deal is, is you've flood- and engineering departments
permit, Hedges said. ed the area and now you want to isolating safety hazard boxes.
This was of particular interest - deal." ' Just as it seemed the council
to a representative of the. Min- Egan had .some questions, in- and the St. Paul Pioneer Press
neapolis Star and Tribune, who ferring the St. Paul Pioneer • and Dispatch had 'come to an
said last year they paid the per- Press and Dispatch were using amicable resolution` of their dif-
mit fee (the $40, now $50 per news the first amendment to deny the ferences, another problem came
• rack) to locate a rack in Eagan. city's right to•protect the public up. Delo, while representing the
The council's position, as voic- from a safety problem presented- newspaper itself, did not repre-
ed by both ' Blomquist, council by putting .the boxes where, they sent the owners of the vending
member Thomas Egan (who is could distract dirvers or cause an machines.
an attorney), and city attorney accident because someone was il- ' Blomquist was irrate. "Then
Paul Hauge, is the city has the legally parked 'while making a why aren't we talking to the in -
right to regulate placement of the purchase. dependent distributors? I agree
newspaper boxes to protect the "Vending machines are full 24 with the constituent. What he
public safety, health and welfare. hours a day. These things have (Delo) "has done is threatened us
One incensed resident of the something in them protected by ,with a lawsuit. We've never been
Surrey Heights area, where two the first amendment approx- afraid of lawsuits before. Why
vending machines were recently imately five hours a day; other- should we begin now?" she ask -
located, asked the council, "Do wise they're an eyesore and ed.
they (the Pioneer Press and obstruction," he said. Delo said the newspaper had no.
Dispatch) have the legal right to Councilman James Smith sug- control over the location of the
put these out without reference to gested, since the machines are boxes once they are turned over
anyone?" • now in place, it would be proper to distributors.
for the owners of the boxes to ap- ' "You've somehow taken ad-
Hauge cited a pending case in ply for a permit and see what vantage of this city — and you've
Hastings where the St. • Paul happens. done it in many cities. We're not-,
newspaper has succeeded in' Delo.said, "On a blanket basis alone," said Blomquist. ' "You
preventing that city from remov- that can be done, but not on a box have the right to distribute
ing their vending machines, us- by box basis." papers, but not at the expense of
ing a temporary injunction. Egan responded, "Either you the safety of our city. None of. our
The resident protested again, work with: the city and the city's residents have come in here and
"If you don't stop them, what's to ,-rules, or you don't." Delo said -the taken advantage of us this way
stop me from selling decoysin newspaper was looking for a' and gotten away with it," she
the middle of the street? These practical set of ground, rules. said.
boxes were put there without any -Smith suggested, as a concession,
reference to anyone and they are a one time blanket permit fee\of The council approved Smith's
attached to public.property." $500 for however many racks motion, recommending staff,
Jack Delo, circulation director, were determined by staff, city police and engineering depart -
who spoke for the Pioneer Press police, and the newspaper were ment work with . the newspaper,
and Dispatch, said it is the policy not safety hazards. and that permits be made. The
of the company to place the boxes Egan noted because the. city council will review the matter at
first, then work with the com- has a special use permit govern- , the July 6 council meeting.
munity after the boxes are in ing thevending machines, the ci- After the discussion was dos -
place. 'He said it was a prior con- ty could be considered negligent ed, Paul Hauge, city attorney,
sent issue, that a local govern- in allowing the vending machines was asked, "Is the council's deci-
ment could make it a political to stand without the permits. sion precedent setting?" He
issue where the boxes were Smith suggested rewording a answered, "It clearly is piece -
located. ""We put the boxes in motion by Egan to submit recom= dent setting. I'd be surprised if
first, then try to work out an ar- mend that the Pioneer Press ,and the Minneapolis Trib doesn't
rangement if there are objec- Dispatch request specific loca- come in. They were scared off by
tions," he said. tions, have staff work with them the permit fee before. The
Council member Jerry Thomas and determine advisable loca- blanket fee would be to their ad-
capsulized the situation, saying, tions with the police department vantage."
---'-i-1,-v u'i i-iitiy` 0-"u c
5.90B ,Si 1e7
FARMINGTON, MINNESOTA, THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 17,1982
title
ool went up and over the bar
ield, meet Friday, June 11 at
p was high enough to earn
mp. The Apple Valley boys'
ason Wolfe, and Tim Kubes
sports section. (Photo by
Festival proposal
mpton woods
By BETTY -McMAHON
Staff Writer
HAMPTON — Promoters want
to develop a Greco-Roman
festival on a 240-acre site in the
northwest corner of. Hampton
township, on the south side of
Hwy. 50, in an area -known as "the
Hampton woods."
The proposed festival is pat-
terned after the Renaissance
Festival held annually near
Shakopee. The theme relates to
early;, Greek -Roman culture,
however, rather than 14th to 17th
century England (the Ren-
aissance Festival theme). The
festival would take place six
weekends in late summer and
early fall.
According to Julius Smith, an
Edina attorney who is one of four
prospective developers, the
festival would feature a passion
play in addition to games, enter-
tainment.and food. •
• Permanent 'stone and brick
buildings would be built to create
an early Greek -Roman illusion,
he said. Stages and food booths
would also be erected.
Smith 'has a financial interest
in similar festivals near Houston
and'Columbia, MD., and a former
interest in •the Shakopee
Most opposition comes'from peo-
ple who live close to the proposed
site.'
Mary Leibfried said she does
not want it because, "We feel that
'we wouldn't be able to get our of
our driveways ;at all during the
six weekends." The Leibfried
house, on Hwy. 50, "is the second
house from the proposed site.
"I have nothing against, the
festival as such, but with 30,000
people, expected, and with people
camping out on , the grounds, I
don't feel we could leave our
houses for the weekend and 'not
fear there would be some kind of
vandalism," she said.
Leibfried also said she talked
with University of Minnesota
representatives who told her the
number of people would kill the
oak trees and destroy the wildlife
in the woods'.
Linda and Dale Miller . raise.
purebred hogs on a 27-acre farm
almost directly across the road
from the proposed site. Since the
Millers sell most "of their
breeding stock in August and
September, the time the festival
would run, "It would be virtually
impossible .to do most ,'qf .our
business," Linda Miller said.
Traffic control is by far the
most commonly voiced objection.
promoters who were considerin
relocating in Lakeville.
Johnson said the Lakeville
planners were concerned that
I-35W would not be able to handle
the traffic' that would be directed
toward the- festival. "If I-35W
can't handle the traffic, how do
they. `expect Hwy. 50 to?" she
said. Hwy 50 in the site area is a
two -land highway with narrow
shoulders, bordered on both sides
by trees.
Smith said, "The only thing we
can -do is work with the county
and the state and see if they con-
sider. it (traffic) a problem." He
said he checked with the state
and it didn't consider traffic as a
problem. '
The group has not contacted
the Dakota Sheriff's office, accor-
ding to Richard Thul, chief depu-
ty. "I had recent discussions with
the sheriff (Rod. Boyd) and he
said he had not been contacted"
r
am, ♦1DIV11
i'Iease see I rannnyi
channel.
Hundreds of people in St. Paul and its suburbs have
taken advantage of the opportunity.
They have presented themselves and others as sing-
ers or sky -divers or single parents with helpful hints
for others on everything from toys to toilet training.
They have recorded and shown city council meetings,
football and basketball games, 4-H projects in Blaine,
Please see Access/ 2
Richard Marshall/Staff Photographer
Agnes Klegin, 74, is getting back in shape after surgery a year ago.
Wellness Room boosts fitness
By Nancy Conner
Staff Writer
Don Dayhuff, 70, breezed into
the gym, whipped off his coat,
stretched a few minutes and
bounced through a series of jump-
ing jacks.
Then he stuffed a dollar bill into
the coffee can inside the entrance
is the South St. Raul Community
SOUTH ST. PAUL
Wellness Room and began working
his way around the exercise equip-
ment. A dozen other people in
sweat suits were also using the
equipment.
"I think this is the most exciting
thing we have had for quite a
while," Dayhuff said.
He works out three mornings a
week as part of his walking and
jogging routine and now has talked
friends into joining him at the ex-
ercise room.
"I like to publicize it — there's
too many people sitting at home
doing nothing," Dayhuff said, wip-
ing sweat off his neck.
Please 0.3 Wellness/6
Jody Wittnebel, producer of a
tapes an animal care segment r
Today's prep sports
■ Guards Tom Knoblauch and Tc
make the Como Park basketball teal
tive, share Prep Athlete of the Week
• Other notable performers: LE
White Bear Lake, Becky Solt of H
Drees of St. Thomas Academy and
of Columbia Heights.
• Boys and girls basketball, hoc
tling polls. Plus, standings and statis
DAKO1
DIGEST OF NEWS F
Eagan resident
shopping center
Eagan homeowners opposed to
ping center at Interstate 35E and
their way.
After hearing from 11 opponen
— 35E Diffley Center — the Eal
voted 4-1 against a zoning chang
project's developers.
Controversy had erupted over
acre site from agricultural to a r
center, because the city's Comprel
Guide Plan calls for the parcel to
low -density residential.
The 35E-Diffley Center proposa
get store and a Northwest Rac
Health Club as major tenants in
foot shopping center.
Hastings turbine still
Little barges float through shall
--err
nspec ;ors
Continued fronn Page 1
structural stability, life safety and
environmental health," Reid said.
Fortunately, both inspectors
said, most contractors in the area
are good and the number of com-
plaints are minimal'.
Reid said his department has its
hands, full just keeping up with the
300 to 400 single-family homes
being built .right now, plus com=
mercial buildings. The unusually
mild weather has kept hammers
pounding and power saws squeal-
ing all winter throughout the grow-
ing subdivisions.
The boom also has been keeping
the staff especially busy, because
every house gets a minimum of 12
or 13 inspections, from the footings
to the chimneys, Eagan City. Ad-
ministrator Thomas Hedges said.
"We have four full-time inspec.''
, a
DAKOTAI, WEST
Editor: Patrick Sweeney
Assistant editor: Donald Nelson
• Staff writers:
Michele Cook
Nancy Conner
' Jeann Linsley
Les Suzukamo %
Editorial phone: 228-5475
Advertising representatives:
Kathy Ingulsrud
Helen Joyce
Joe Schoenig •
Advertising sales: 228-5365
Circulation: 291-1888
Deadline: Noon Wednesday for
publication the following,
Wednesday. Please send news
items to Neighborhoods, . St.
Paul Pioneer Press and
Dispatch, 345 Cedar\ St., "St.
Paul, Minn. 55101 • '
They haven't
gone into
enough
research about
whit this builder
is selling. They
go too, much: by ,
sight 9 -
Jan Severson
tors, and a contractual inspector
for all electrical work," Hedges
said. "And also for our peaks and
t valleys we hire consulting inspec-i
tors, such as inspectors who are re-
tired, for our peak times."
When a buyer contacts the city
to report a building code violation,
the city usually calls the contrac-
tor, and most times that's all it
takes to get the problem fixed. If
necessary, however, a city can
take a contractor to court.
But when buyers call about
items that aren't covered by the ,
building code, the inspectors can't
do much more than sympathize.
In an effort to head off, corn-
plaints, Eagan is planning a meet-
ing this" spring .of inspectors, con-
tractors and real estate agents to
hash out their roles and find ways
to improve communication.
"If you are building close to a
thousand houses a year, you are
going to have some problems, but
you want . to cut down the number
of problems," Reid said.
Reid said he also would like to
hold an informational meeting for
potential buyers to alert them to
information they ;should have be- ,
fore entering a purchase contract.
Often it's a matter of throwing all
assumptions out the window.
One man, for' example, °called to
complain that the outside of his,
new house was missing a. few'
things.
"We asked, 'Can we see your
contract?' There was nothing in' it
about sod, downspouts, sidewalk or
shrubs," Reid said, adding that the
man then • explained he moved
from a house with all those items
and . "just figured the new house
, would have them. •
Reid said he also finds it strange
that people will, plunk down
4100,000.for a house but won',t part
with an extra-$125 for, a -drawing
that shows 'how that particular
house will look on the chosen lot.
Jan Severson, department secre-
tary, fields many questions from'
new home buyers and said she be-
lieves people simply don't under-
. stand what they have bought.
"They haven't gone into enough
research about what this builder is` ,
selling," she said. "They go . too -
much by sight. -They go into a mod-
el, and they assume it's going to be
. in their house."
One such complaint was . that a .
model had brown window frames
and the buyer's house had white.
"It's not a code violation, which
is all we get into," Severson said.
"That's a purchaser problem. They
are very frustrated sometimes and
want to blow off steam because
' they do feel helpless." • -
GET THE WANT AD.HABIT
—
IT' PAYS!
em
Tips can
help you
be smart
home buyer
Before prospective home
buyers take the plunge into new
house construction, building in-
spector Doug- Reid of Eagan
suggests they consider the fol-
lowing tips:
■ Learn , everything you can
about buying a new 'house
through adult education classes,
reading and talking with
_ knowledgeable"people..
• Pick_a good builder by get
ting to know his reputation andr•
asking 'severalreferences' what
pleased . and displeased them''
about their houses.
■ Know exactly what ' you;
want before you start- building,
because making last-minute.
changes can be costly: ..
■ First choose the lot you like"
and then select a house design=
that suits it to ,avoid potentially,
expensive earthmoving.
■ Remember ,that . a model
home does not necessarily show
exactly the- way your house.
would be built and how it .would;
be equipped. le Ask Ask the builder'for detailed
plans and specification sheets to
avoid later misunderstandings
about what should be included
in the house. -�
PK�'EER HiFS.SDAICOTA WEST
•
EAGAN ■
APPLE VALLEY ■
ROSEMOUNT ■
LAKEVILLE ■
BURNSVILLE ■
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Inspectors say new home buyers lack `savvy'
Doug Reid, an Eagan building inspector, checks the plumb-
ing and insulation in a new home. Reid and other local build -
Sully Doroshow/Staff Photographer
ing inspectors say new home buyers should check contrac-
tors' spec sheets carefully.
By Nancy Conner
Staff Writer
People sometimes spend more
time shopping for a car than for a
new house.
That's the observation of Eagan
building inspector Doug Reid,
whose booming city issued 961 sin-
gle -home building permits last
year. And building inspectors tend
to hear a litany of things that frus-
trate people after they've moved
into their new homes:
The front door was supposed to
be red.
The window frames are white,
not brown.
The front yard doesn't have any
shrubs or sod.
There's a hole in the basement
floor but no sump pump inside.
Most buyers who are trying to
nail down responsibility for these
frustrations would have been bet-
ter off using more savvy at sale
time, Reid said.
"People go out and shop seven
different car dealers, but they'll
buy a house and have no specifica-
tions," Reid said, shaking his head
incredulously.
His opinions are echoed by build-
ing inspectors in other cities, such
as Apple Valley, where Dennis
Miranowski said inspectors hear
complaints from the new occu-
pants on subjects ranging from
carpet color to type of wood trim.
"The biggest thing is to ask that
builder for a spec sheet — a mate-
rials list — and sit down with that
builder and go through it line by
line before they sign their name to
the bottom," Miranowski said.
in Tips to help new home buyers
avoid disappointments. Page 2
Model homes may differ in
many ways from what the builder
delivers to a buyer, he noted.
"They look at a model and see
oak, but in the specs it might say
fir," he said, adding that some
home buyers later call his office to
complain, "Look, I bought a new
house, and I didn't get what I paid
for."
People tend to focus on the plans
and get blurry vision when it
comes to the spec sheets, which
may look too complicated to deci-
pher. Building inspectors say
they'd get fewer calls from frantic
new occupants if those details had
been read.
Reid pulled a blueprint at ran-
dom from a drawer, unrolled it and
began pointing to potential com-
munication breakdowns between
builder and buyer.
"See, it shows roof vents but
doesn't say how many, so if the
buyer doesn't have a book of speci-
fications, you don't know," he
noted. "And here, in the upstairs
bath, it doesn't show the type of
flooring."
But a building inspection depart-
ment's role does not include solv-
ing these types of misunderstand-
ings, explained Reid, who is
serving as acting chief building in-
spector. Cities enforce the uniform
building code that applies to the
seven -county metropolitan region
and most of the rest of the state.
"What we are inspecting for is
Please see Inspectors/2
2DW /FROM THE SECTION FRONT
St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch
Wednesday, Feb. 11, 1987
Access/ Public creates their own cable TV programs
Continued from Page 1
band concerts at Roseville's Central Park, choir con-
certs at White Bear Lake's Central Junior High School
and performances by the Kitchen Band at Sioux Trails
Senior Center in Burnsville.
"Startruck" is a north suburban teen-age parody of
you -know -what. "First Tuesday" is a live call -in show
to public officials in Cottage Grove and Woodbury.
"The Oliver Charley Story" portrays the life of a 95-
year-old naturalist forced to leave his farm when it
was acquired for Afton State Park; the documentary
airs for the first time wildlife films that Charley made
30 years ago.
Public access shows bring viewers into local church
services of varied creeds and also into teen-age call -in
programs with questions like: "What television per-
sonalities would you like to have for parents?" (An-
swers included Geraldo Rivera, Mr. and Mrs. Brady
Bunch and Barbara Walters.)
There are lectures and debates on poverty, soil con-
servation and world peace, how-to's on gardening, ex-
ercise and cooking a turkey. There are Spanish lessons
for preschoolers in Stillwater and tips on maintaining
an American -style apartment for Hmong residents of
eastern Ramsey County.
There was even a hernia operation shown on a
Michigan man called Uncle Ernie, who produces a
regular home-made children's show.
"It was wonderful," said Amy Remington, the Rose-
ville public access coordinator who ran Ernie's hernia
display on north suburban cable. "If people tune to
public access they'll see it's the strangest, most inter-
esting, creative channel. There's nothing else like it."
What amazes some people even more than the pro-
grams is that the equipment for public access is free.
Video cameras, lights, sound equipment and editing
machines to make one's own programs are available
in St. Paul and suburban communities. Equipment can
be borrowed, like public library books, from the cable
companies or the local non-profit agencies established
to run the access service.
"Our biggest problem is getting the word out, be-
cause people don't believe it's free," Remington said.
Training to use the equipment and produce the
shows is sometimes free, too.
As for content, almost anything goes on the access
shows, except for obscene, slanderous or commercial
material.
"We haven't had to deal with any obscenities," said
Remington. "I've had some things that are real left
wing and real right wing, but that's what we can do on
gram, and "The American Atheist Forum."
People submitting programs to Cable Access -St.
Paul must sign a form stating that they are responsi-
ble for the appropriateness of their shows. St. Paul's
access director, Neal Gosman, suspects one or two
programs he has run might have bordered on the com-
mercial, particularly "Body Express," an exercise
program produced by a woman who runs an exercise
studio.
Gosman is trying to get more nonprofit organiza-
tions and community groups to take advantage of pub-
lic access, along with individuals.
Quite a few institutions are getting into access.
Churches are the most conspicuous. Then there are
such agencies as the county extension service, Family
Service of Greater St. Paul and the Minnesota Council
on Black Minnesotans.
"There is no vehicle for minority cultures to reflect
their perspective," said the council's director, Victor
Propes, who has started producing a series of inter-
views with black scholars called "Focus On."
"Cable gives us an opportunity to put that perspec-
tive on an issue, and the price is right," Propes said.
"We don't have money but we have the time and the
bodies. To us it's essential."
Some communities have additional access channels
designated for certain groups. On St. Paul's channel
for deaf viewers — which so far runs printed notices
of community events but no action programs — Steve
Brunelle runs early morning weather reports and
"Deaf Trivia" questions about people and events. "A
lot of deaf people don't know their own heritage,"
Brunelle said through a sign -language interpreter.
The printed notices are another way anyone can put
messages on cable television. Access departments ac-
cept announcements for any public activity that is not
clearly commercial. There is no fee.
The public access channels typically broadcast only
four or five hours a day, usually late afternoons and
early evenings. The programs are usually printed on
the screen other times during the day.
Some access supporters say that's not good enough,
that the programs should be run 24 hours a day, that
more people need to be making programs and watch-
ing them.
Nobody knows how many viewers public access
draws. But a trivia phone-in quiz called "Accessibly
Live in Columbia Heights" recently drew 63 callers in
one hour. A Little Canada City Council meeting on live
cable stirred one viewer so much that he jumped in his
car and drove to the city hall to make his own com-
ments on the spot.
Joe Oden/Staff Photographer
Linda Feist of Roseville (left, foreground) directs cameraman Walter Doehne, St. Paul, while
producer Cathy Polanski, St. Paul, looks on during a video production at Family Service of
Greater St. Paul. Bobbi Drewiske is the receptionist.
grams for the few. It definitely is the first and last
opportunity in the TV medium that gives the right to
make programs by the general public for the general
public."
To Ben Selister, access director in White Bear Lake,
"Community television everywhere that it's available
is a bargain. It's a tremendous resource. People get
into it so quickly and produce things that will be of
interest to the people of their area for so little."
Many public access supporters are afraid that the
cable companies will cut public access because it adds
to subscribers' fees without bringing in revenue.
"I don't think public access has lived up to its poten-
tial in many locations," said John Eddy, chief operat-
ing officer of North Central Cable Communications
ment, many people are making tapes at home and are
not interested in having them cablecast on the cable
television system," Eddy said. He added that some
industry officials tell him "it is a costly endeavor ant
if there's no one watching it and no one using it it
some point somebody is going to say, 'What justifies
the dollars and time commitments that are berg
spent?'"
"I see an increasing number of people taking advan-
tage of the opportunity," said Gene Jaberg, who says
he has to schedule further and further ahead to bor-
row equipment for shows he makes at the Roseville
access studios.
Jaberg, a communications professor at United Sem-
inary, New Brighton, has been fascinated by the possi-
t-0 „DFR.
EN1
BUILDING PERMITS STATISTICS
BY TYPE OF BUILDING
TWELVE MONTH SUMMARY FOR JAN, 1968 THRU DEC; 1968
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
NUMBER OF PERMITS
TYPE OF BUILDING EAGAN TWP
TOTAL NUMBER OF BUILDING PERMITS 350
NEW BUILDINGS 322
TOTAL RESIDENTIAL 216
PRIVATE HOUSEKEEPING 216
ONE FAMILY 209
TWO FAMILY 0
APARTMENTS-3 OR 4 FAMILY 0
APARTMENTS-5 OR MORE FAMILY 7
PUBLIC HOUSING 0
PRIVATE NONHOUSEKEEPING 0
TOTAL NONRESIDENTIAL 106
AMUSEMENT AND RECREATIONAL 0
CHURCHES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS 0
INDUSTRIAL 12
PARKING GARAGES 20
RESIDENTIAL GARAGES, CARPORTS 48
SERVICE STATIONS. REPAIR GARAGES 0
HOSPITALS, INSTITUTIONS 0
OFFICES, BANKS, PROFESSIONAL 1
PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES 2
SCHOOLS, OTHER EDUCATIONAL 2
STORES, OTHER MERCANTILE 1
STRUCTURES OTHER THAN BUILDINGS 12
OTHER 8
ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS 28
TO HOUSES AND APARTMENTS 20
TO OTHER BUILDINGS 8
NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS
TOTAL NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS 390
PRIVATE HOUSING UNITS 390
ONE FAMILY 209
TWO FAMILY 0
APARTMENTS-3 OR 4 FAMILY 0
APARTMENTS-5 OR MORE FAMILY 181
PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS 0
VALUATION OF PERMITS IN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS
TOTAL VALUATION OF BUILDING PERMITS 16,319
NEW BUILDINGS 16,109
TOTAL RESIDENTIAL 4;941
PRIVATE HOUSEKEEPING 4;941
ONE FAMILY 3;659
TWO FAMILY 0
APARTMENTS-3 OR 4 FAMILY 0
APARTMENTS-5 OR MORE FAMILY 1,282
PUBLIC HOUSING 0
PRIVATE NONHOUSEKEEPING 0
TOTAL NONRESIDENTIAL 11;168
AMUSEMENT AND RECREATIONAL 0
CHURCHES AND OTHER RELIGIOUS 0
INDUSTRIAL 2;331
PARKING GARAGES 29
RESIDENTIAL GARAGES, CARPORTS 85
SERVICE STATIONS. REPAIR GARAGES 0
HOSPITALS, INSTITUTIONS 0
OFFICES, BANKS, PROFESSIONAL 5;740
PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES 75
SCHOOLS, OTHER EDUCATIONAL 2;601
STORES, OTHER MERCANTILE 40
STRUCTURES OTHER THAN BUILDINGS 256
OTHER 11
ADDITIONS AND ALTERATIONS 210
TO HOUSES AND APARTMENTS 51
TO OTHER BUILDINGS 159
NOTE - VALUATION TOTALS MAY BE OFF DUE TO ROUNDING
