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Newspaper Clipping - Newspaper Clipping Scan - Eagan mayors 1978 to 2010's. - 1/1/1978Patch T/ Transfer Patch by Dan Gearino Staff Writer Mayors' task force wants more affordable housing A group of metro -area mayors is proposing bold steps to create and encourage more affordable housing. The group, called the Mayors' Regional Housing Task Force, was convened by the Metropolitan Council and includes 16 mayors from core cities, older suburbs and growing suburbs. Local members of the group include Elizabeth Kautz of Burnsville, Cathy Busho of Rosemount and Duane Zaun of Lakeville, who was co-chair of the group along with Sharon Sayles-Belton of Minneapolis. The group's final report included several recommen- dations, including: • Government officials should ensure that local plan- ning and zoning enables affordable housing. • The cost of building houses should be .reduced through changing govern- ment policies and practices. • Substantial additional funding is needed for afford- able housing. The group presented its findings to Met Council Chair Ted Mondale Nov. 29. "The council estimates that one out of five house- holds in the region lives in homes that are not affordable to them. In other words, they're paying more than they can afford," Mondale said in a prepared statement. "Ironically, it's an issue exac- erbated by today's robust economy." Eagan Mayor Pat Awada, an outspoken critic of the Met Council, said she wonders how the mayors' recommen- dations could ever be imple- mented. She said the ideas sound good in theory, but will be clearly unworkable once there is a price tag. Additionally, she said she partially blames the Met Council for the lack of afford- able housing because of what she describes as the council's effort to limit expansion of the metro area. State of the City: 'The future is now' Mayor speaks about technology, open space and citizen involvement in his final address by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS In his final State of the City address, Mayor Pat Geagan en- couraged civic involvement and warned of increasing partisanship that could hurt Eagan's ability. as a community to make decisions for the common good. "For me, it has been an honor to serve, because I know that this city council struggles mightily to weigh what's best for all of Ea- gan, not just what's good for one neighbor or neighborhood," he said. Geagan delivered' the annual address on March 16, titled "The Future is Now;' outlining the city's recent accomplishments as well as upcoming challenges. For the first time, the mayor's speech was broadcast live over the Internet, highlighting the city's efforts to bring new tech- nology to its citizens. The city has convinced Qwest to more fully extend DSL ser- vices in Eagan and is studying what the private sector can offer in wireless options, he said. A city task force is also study- ing how the U.S. is falling behind other industrialized nations in true, high-speed broadband ser- vices, he said, with some coun- tries enjoying speeds up to 10 times faster than those available in the U.S. "We are working with the Chamber and the business com- munity to figure out how to at- tract world -class Internet speeds to Eagan;" he said. Geagan noted the city's- con- tinued trend of keeping property taxes and government spending low while leading the Twin Cit- ies in job growth last year. In ad- dition, Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges recently won a. state leadership award, and the city received national awards for its new water treatment plant and its efforts to educate citizens about airport noise. Geagan also noted the city's emphasis on preserving open space — Eagan has 4,500 acres, more than double the national standard, and citizens have indi- See City, 18A Photo by Erin Johnson Mayor Pat Geagan highlighted the city's successes and challenges during his 2006 State of the City Address on Thursday. City/from 1A cated they want to preserve even more. "This City Council, I think, has proven that we're willing to go to the mat and explore all av- enues to preserve such spaces if we can," he said. But escalating land prices, with "some properties fetching up to $220,000 per acre, will make it increasingly difficult to preserve open space in the future, he said. "If we are going to maintain our commitment to keeping taxes low, the public should understand there are limits to what the gov- ernment can do," he said. There are other challenges ahead for Eagan, as well, he said. Airport noise remains a seri- ous issue since the opening of the new runway, he said, and more progress must be made to miti- gate it. Commercial building permits in the city have nearly doubled from one year ago, but the health of Eagan -based Northwest Air- lines and Mesaba remain a con- cern, as does transportation fund- ing for road improvements. Achieving a balance in hous- ing stock will continue to be a challenge for Eagan, with a need for more starter homes for young families and one -level homes for seniors. "From entry level to -higher end, we need both low-income housing and upscale options like those seen in the new Steeple- chase development," he said. As Eagan approaches build out and begins focusing on rede- velopment, the city views emi- nent domain as an important tool, he said. "In Eagan we have always looked at this tool as a last resort to be applied prudently and con- servatively," he said. "My pur- pose here today is not to debate the strengths or weaknesses of eminent domain, but to ask the public, the business community and lawmakers to be most care- ful with any changes they enact." Geagan said that in his 30 years of public service — as a police officer, police chief and mayor — he's learned that people make a genuine difference when they get involved in their gov- ernment, their neighborhood and their community. He asked the citizens of Eagan to support honest inquiry by their elected officials and to insist that their government listen, partner, and compromise if need be. "Insist that we respond with what's best for Eagan," he said. "If you do that, if you get involved, Eagan will be a city that inspires and leads, not just, in 2006, but for decades to come." The State of the City address can be viewed in its entirety at www.cityofeagan.com. Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc.com. Changing of the guard The first City Council meeting of the year on Tuesday, Jan. 2 began with Eagan's newly - elected officials taking the oath of office. Above: Former Mayor Pat Geagan administers the oath of office to his successor, Mayor Mike Maguire, as Maguire's wife Janelle and son Ian look on. Left: Maguire helps swear in returning Council Member Paul Bakken, who previously served on the council from 1998 to 2001. Council Member Peggy Carlson, re-elected to her third term, was also sworn in. Photos by Rick Orndorf Mayor's State of the City address: Tough times present opportunity GRANT BOELTER • SUN NEWSPAPERS When Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire was sworn in a little more than two years ago, good news seemed to be easi- er to find in the headlines. While that's true, Maguire said he wanted to relay the message to residents in his third State of the City address as mayor that it's not that bad, at least in Eagan. "There are cities that are taking these economic time closer to the bone. Eagan is not one of these cities," said Maguire in an interview prior to his speech. "We're doing OK. We start from a position of strength." With property values declining and levy limits placed upon the city by the state over the next two years, Maguire said the city will have to make some cuts. But the situation might not be in as dire a position as some might assume. Acknowledging present challenges, Maguire said he's concerned that people 3/ / In the Community, With the Community, For the Community Eagan FROM PAGE 1 In his speech, Maguire outlined the goals recently approved by the City Council. He said he felt like those goals were the most ambitious of the four sets of goals - one each biennium - that's he's been a part of since being elected to the council in 2002. "There's a lot that I'm excited about and there's a lot, quite frankly, that we're intimidated by," said Maguire. He identified two items in those goals - fostering redevelopment in areas such as Cedar Grove and developing a better technology infrastructure - as two areas he's most excited about. In the next two years, Maguire said he wanted to see more progress made to bring advances in Internet speeds and other technology infrastructure to ensure that Eagan remains a leader in attracting high -paying knowledge -work jobs. "The more we can do to advance Eagan's infostructure, the better off we'll be," he said. "I think that one can be the legacy of this council and the city at this time," Maguire said of that goal. Some other points of interest in Maguire's speech include: • While residential construction was on the decline in Eagan in 2008, the city saw commercial construction remain strong. Rasmussen Business College expanded its campus, Health East opened a new clinic in town and two new grocery stores opened. • Facing 6 percent unemployment in January, significantly worse than two years ago. • Maguire noted the Eagan Resource Center in Mount Calvary saw a 60 percent increase in the number of families using the food shelf from 2007 to 2008. Maguire called on the members of the community who were still in good shape and the cor- porate sector to provide more support. • The city is not in the top five in the county in foreclosures, but Eagan had 271 homes sold in sheriff sales last year. The average sale price from homes fell $51,000 from a year ago. • Maguire made note of the city's recent purchase of an anemometer to sample wind data to see whether areas in Eagan may be well suited for gather- ing wind as energy. He also said the city is performing energy audits on all its buildings and preliminary data suggest- ed there would be payback on improve- ment measures in less than three years. • Maguire also recognized a number of residents for outstanding service to the community, including Eagan Floral Owner Patsy Thomas. often lose sight of opportunities that might lie ahead. "What's most important is that we don't give into the temptation to obsess about the challenges of the day and forget the good things that might be to come," he said. EAGAN: TO PAGE 11 * (SO) WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2009 • STAR TRIBUNE • SOUTH EXTRA • AA3 voices Eagan mayor discusses goals and strategy Mike Maguire's "state of the city" talk addressed plans to spur economic growth, provide for aging residents and be fiscally sound at a time when state aid is uncertain. • Our first goal reflects on many of the concerns we hear from citizens. We're going to preserve and expand Eagan's economic vitality by adapt- ing land use and fiscal poli- cies that encourage mainte- nance and reinvestment in Ea- gan's residential and commer- cial properties. Foreclosures are up. While Eagan is not in the top five of Dakota County cities, the 271 homes in Eagan that were sold in sheriff sales last year is sub- stantial. Eagan home sales de- clined last year by more than16 percent, with the median sale price this January off by more than 21 percent, having fallen an average of $51,000 from a year ago. We have a great look- ing city, but if we want to keep it that way we have to closely monitor foreclosures, staying in touch with lenders to make sure they maintain those prop- erties — right next to yours — so they don't fall into disrepair, or worse, have broken pipes or dangerous gas lines. We're do- ing that. [..] Many in our communi- ty have been patiently wait- ing to see the redevelopment in Cedar Grove, and certain- ly the economy has had an im- portant impact holding that redevelopment back But even in this tough economy we are finding ways to move forward in Cedar Grove. Our initial Phase I efforts will focus on hotel properties, apartments and range of care housing for seniors, even as we remain fo- cused on adding appropriate retail, restaurant, transit and walkable spaces in the district. • On the fiscal front, Eagan's most recent experiences with the state make clear that Ea- gan's fiscal planning is under- mined if we rely on the state and allow our budget stability to depend on their or any oth- er entity's whim. Therefore, our second goal is to main- tain the city's long-standing fiscally prudent and responsi- ble budgeting approach while pursuing greater levels of in- dependence and self-reliance in long-term budgeting. [...] As we've come to know, when the state has budget problems, and we've relied on them, their problems become our problems. When the state "unallotted" a $430,000 com- mitment to Eagan with just three days left in the budget year, they created a sponta- neous downstream deficit in Eagan and cities and towns across the state. [...] This City Council is local- ly elected and locally account- able. We are quite capable of managing city finances, likely better, without the state's con- stant tinkering from afar. So what are we going to do about it? We're going to see if we can lessen our dependence c state aids and get those funds out of operations so if they don't come through, perhaps we delay a non -urgent project, but we're not faced with cut- ting cops, stopping or delaying critical infrastructure work or vital services. [...] For years we have carried lower head count, saved funds for a rainy day, and had fewer but more focused city servic- es than the state government and some of the cities making budget headlines today. It's the Eagan Way and we think it works pretty well. [...] Maguire emphasized the need to invest in "infostructure" to com- pete in a global economy and attract high -paying industries. • Our third goal is to con- tinue to ensure the econom- ic competitiveness of Eagan's business and residential com- munities in the global market- place by anticipating and ad- dressing the evolving "infos- tructure" bandwidth, capac- ity and speed needs of Ea- gan's residents and employ- ers. [...] Estimates are that In- ternet traffic is doubling every 12-15 months and by 2015 the amount of information stored on the Web just for U.S. con- tent will be equal to 50 mil- lion Libraries of Congress. Folks, that requires capacity far greater than we have to- day. If Eagan wants to remain a jobs leader, as we have been for 10 years, with high -pay- ing knowledge -worker jobs, we must ensure — just as we have with good roads, sewer and water, and electricity — that we have the next great infrastructure needed to sur- vive, thrive and compete in the global economy. [...] In 2008 we installed 3.6 miles of fiber in partnership with Dakota County, the state Office of Enterprise Technol- ogy, and the CDA that allowed us to connect up a fire station and have independent connec- tions in the event of outages to crucial government buildings. In 2009 and 2010, following City Council direction, look for the city to take further ac- tion steps to improve broad- band capability and availabil- ity in Eagan. [...] • While times and technolo- gy change, so too do the demo- graphics of who's in our com- munity and what private and public sector services are vital to them. Our fourth goal is to support public and private ini- tiatives addressing the city's changing demographics, in- cluding lifestyle needs of the aging population. [...] It's about making our com- munity more walkable, and connecting our trails. It's about additional recreation program choices for active adults and making sure we have the amenities to attract and retain new jobs and new STATE OF YOUR CITY This is the latest in South Extra's series of excerpts from "state of the city" presentations by south - of -the -river cities. residents. At the same time, it is significant that we note the fact that our community pop- ulation is aging. The boomer generation of Eaganites — you know who you are — are gray- ing. We want people to gray in place, this place. The gray- ing of our community means we look at transportation and housing policies, for example, and ask ourselves how an ag- ing population will use trans- portation or transit different- ly now than they did 30 years ago. • Our fifth goal is an exten- sion of this community's com- mitment to good stewardship of the environment. Coun- cil Member Bakken is really pushing us on this one, and in a recent meeting showed off the city's pilot purchase of an ane- mometer, a gauge designed to sample wind data to evaluate it for wind generation. [...] The wind -monitoring device is an investment in literally gauging the possibilities of identifying where, perhaps, the city could focus on taking some oper- ations "off the grid." We're performing energy audits on all our government buildings and preliminary data suggests there's a payback on improve- ment measures in less than three years. [...] • Our final goal is quite sim- ply to get you more involved and to strengthen our com- munity through volunteerism and civic engagement oppor- tunities. AA4 • SOUTH EXTRA • STAR TRIBUNE • WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2009 (SO) * Science lays to rest James Gang mystery A SKELETON FROM AA1 but could not determine whether it was truly the result of a gunshot, Bailey said. "It could have been fabricated," Bailey said. "But we couldn't tell for sure." Victoria Lywood, a forensic artist from Canada, volunteered to produce a two-dimensional and a three-dimen- sional reconstruction from a CT scan, putting a face on the skeleton, while Bai- ley tracked down two distant relatives of Pitts for DNA comparison and had three separate labs conduct DNA testing, one of them being the Netherlands Forensic In- stitute. The result: "They didn't match," Bailey said. Not only did they not match the DNA of the descendants, but the bone frag- ments didn't match each other and it is possible that they came from males of two different ethnic groups based on the DNA markers, said Tom Reynolds, a forensic scientist at Fairfax Identity Laboratories. The Netherlands laboratory also con- ducted carbon testing to figure out the age of the skeletal remains, Bailey said. "It showed a 97.5 percent chance that the person lived in the 1700s, and only a 2.5 percent chance it was past that," Bai- ley said. Charlie Pitts' real name was Samu- el Wells. Joseph Wells Jr., a great -grand- nephew of the gunslinger, who was tracked down in Arizona and donated his DNA for the research, said he had his doubts about the remains all along. "We never truly believed it was his re- mains, but thought there was a chance it might be him," Wells said in a phone in- terview from Wickenburg, Ariz. "We heard his remains got moved around a lot over time and probably got lost." Wells said he is somewhat relieved that the DNA testing has settled the mystery once and for all. Right now, the skeleton is still in Mankato, said Hayes Scriven, the exec- utive director at the Northfield Histori- cal Society. He said he wasn't much dis- appointed with the findings. "The process has been rewarding," Scriven said. "In my mind, we have put to bed 99 percent of the story." Scriven said the society will still dis- play the remains and the findings of the study, including the 3D facial reconstruc- tion. Despite the findings, he's hopeful to have the skeleton on display for the De - Photos courtesy of the Northfield Historical Society Hayes Scriven, director of the Northfield Historical Society, encased the remains of what was thought to be Charlie Pitts. DNA testing showed the remains do not belong to the James Gang outlaw, but Scriven is not disappointed. "The process has been rewarding." feat of Jesse James Days celebration in Northfield, a festival held each Septem- ber that commemorates the 1876 bank raid. Vadim Lavrusik is a University of Minnesota student on assignment for the Star Tribune. Victoria Lywood, a forensic artist at John Abbott College, created a facial recon- struction from a CT scan of the skull. This rendering shows how the cite completion. It will be used as a pa] events, including the farmers mar Lakeville p `park' in pa 4 LAKEVILLE FROM AA1 Trees and ornamental light- ing will complete the plaza. According to Community and Economic Development Director Dave Olson, the near- ly $600,000 project, paid for by Dakota County grants, is scheduled to be completed by the end of May. The first farm- ers market is set for the middle of June. Mainstreet After Hours, a wine and dessert bar, and the Hockey Development Centel (HDC) border the plaza to the north. The lot south of the pia za is vacant, but news of a fu. ture tenant could come withir the next couple of weeks. The Downtown Lakeville Business Association, a non- profit organization support. ing the preservation and re development of downtowr Lakeville, has said it would like to see another restaurant add- ed to the downtown mix. Downtown progress Recent additions and reno- vations to downtown include the conversion of a church in- to the Lakeville Area Arts cen- ter, the addition of a senior liv- ing facility and the refacing of a number of buildings. Varsity Sports opened downtown last July. Co-owner voices __ * (SO) WEDNESDAY APRIL 1, 2009 • STAR TRIBUNE • SOUTH EXTRA • AA3 Eagan mayor discusses goals and strategy Mike Maguire's "state of the city" talk addressed plans to spur economic growth, provide for aging residents and be fiscally sound at a time when state aid is uncertain. • Our first goal reflects on many of the concerns we hear from citizens. We're going to preserve and expand Eagan's economic vitality by adapt- ing land use and fiscal poli- cies that encourage mainte- nance and reinvestment in Ea- gan's residential and commer- cial properties. Foreclosures are up. While Eagan is not in the top five of Dakota County cities, the 271 homes in Eagan that were sold in sheriff sales last year is sub- stantial. Eagan home sales de- clined last year by more than16 percent, with the median sale price this January off by more than 21 percent, having fallen an average of $51,000 from a year ago. We have a great look- ing city, but if we want to keep it that way we have to closely monitor foreclosures, staying in touch with lenders to make sure they maintain those prop- erties — right next to yours — so they don't fall into disrepair, or worse, have broken pipes or dangerous gas lines. We're do- ing that. [..] Many in our communi- ty have been patiently wait- ing to see the redevelopment in Cedar Grove, and certain- ly the economy has had an im- portant impact holding that redevelopment back. But even in this tough economy we are finding ways to move forward in Cedar Grove. Our initial Phase I efforts will focus on hotel properties, apartments and range of care housing for seniors, even as we remain fo- cused on adding appropriate retail, restaurant, transit and walkable spaces in the district. • On the fiscal front, Eagan's most recent experiences with the state make clear that Ea- gan's fiscal planning is under- mined if we rely on the state and allow our budget stability to depend on their or any oth- er entity's whim. Therefore, our second goal is to main- tain the city's long-standing fiscally prudent and responsi- ble budgeting approach while pursuing greater levels of in- dependence and self-reliance in long-term budgeting. [...1 As we've come to know, when the state has budget problems, and we've relied on them, their problems become our problems. When the state "unallotted" a $430,000 com- mitment to Eagan with just three days left in the budget year, they created a sponta- neous downstream deficit in Eagan and cities and towns across the state. [...] This City Council is local- ly elected and locally account- able. We are quite capable of managing city finances, likely better, without the state's con- stant tinkering from afar. So what are we going to do about it? We're going to see if we can lessen our dependence c :, state aids and get those funds out of operations so if they don't come through, perhaps we delay a non -urgent project, but we're not faced with cut- ting cops, stopping or delaying critical infrastructure work or vital services. [...] For years we have carried lower head count, saved funds for a rainy day, and had fewer but more focused city servic- es than the state government and some of the cities making budget headlines today. It's the Eagan Way and we think it works pretty well. [...] Maguire emphasized the need to invest in "infostructure"to com- pete in a global economy and attract high -paying industries. • Our third goal is to con- tinue to ensure the econom- ic competitiveness of Eagan's business and residential com- munities in the global market- place by anticipating and ad- dressing the evolving "infos- tructure" bandwidth, capac- ity and speed needs of Ea- gan's residents and employ- ers. [...] Estimates are that In- ternet traffic is doubling every 12-15 months and by 2015 the amount of information stored on the Web just for U.S. con- tent will be equal to 50 mil- lion Libraries of Congress. Folks, that requires capacity far greater than we have to- day. If Eagan wants to remain a jobs leader, as we have been for 10 years, with high -Pay- ing knowledge -worker jobs, we must ensure — just as we have with good roads, sewer and water, and electricity — that we have the next great infrastructure needed to sur- vive, thrive and compete in the global economy. [...] In 2008 we installed 3.6 miles of fiber in partnership with Dakota County, the state Office of Enterprise Technol- ogy, and the CDA that allowed us to connect up a fire station and have independent connec- tions in the event of outages to crucial government buildings. In 2009 and 2010, following City Council direction, look for the city to take further ac- tion steps to improve broad- band capability and availabil- ity in Eagan. [...] • While times and technolo- gy change, so too do the demo- graphics of who's in our com- munity and what private and public sector services are vital to them. Our fourth goal is to support public and private ini- tiatives addressing the city's changing demographics, in- cluding lifestyle needs of the aging population. [...] It's about making our com- munity more walkable, and connecting our trails. It's about additional recreation program choices for active adults and making sure we have the amenities to attract and retain new jobs and new STATE OF YOUR CITY This is the latest in South Extra's series of excerpts from "state of the city" presentations by south - of -the -river cities. residents. At the same time, it is significant that we note the fact that our community pop- ulation is aging. The boomer generation of Eaganites — you know who you are — are gray- ing. We want people to gray in place, this place. The gray- ing of our community means we look at transportation and housing policies, for example, and ask ourselves how an ag- ing population will use trans- portation or transit different- ly now than they did 30 years ago. • Our fifth goal is an exten- sion of this community's com- mitment to good stewardship of the environment. Coun- cil Member Bakken is really pushing us on this one, and in a recent meeting showed off the city's pilot purchase of an ane- mometer, a gauge designed to sample wind data to evaluate it for wind generation. L..] The wind -monitoring device is an investment in literally gauging the possibilities of identifying where, perhaps, the city could focus on taking some oper- ations "off the grid." We're performing energy audits on all our government buildings and preliminary data suggest., there's a payback on improve- ment measures in less than three years. [...] • Our final goal is quite sim- ply to get you more involved and to strengthen our com- munity through volunteerism, and civic engagement oppor- tunities. State of the city is strong, mayor says Despite current econoirl. challenges, Eagan is focused on goals of the future by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire be- gan his State of the City address March 19 with a quote from Presi- dent John F. Kennedy: "We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes." With that in mind, Maguire said, "the state of the city of Eagan is strong, not fearful, as we plan for the future." Maguire's message: The city should not lose sight of future goals because it's too distracted by current bumps in the economic road. "It's been said, `Only he who keeps his eyes fixed on the far horizon will find the right road,' " he said. While Eagan is not immune to the depressed economy, there is some good news, he said. Despite a down- turn in residential construction, the city's commercial construction re- mained strong in 2008. "That helps keep our tax base sol- id and secure," he said. Development included two new grocery stores, a new Health East Clinic, and a 10,000-square-foot ex- pansion by Rasmussen College. Several restaurants moved in by Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire spoke of keeping the city focused nErin thehnson far horizon d: ring his State of the City address March 19. where others had moved out, and biotechnology company Biothera is embarking on a $1.2 million ex- pansion and adding 20 to 30 jobs in Eagan. An important addition to the city's infrastructure — the Northwood Parkway Overpass, part of a future ring road — was completed last fall See Eagan, 8A Eagan/from IA for $400,000 less than esti- mated, and the city plans to move forward on the Cedar Grove redevelopment area this year. "This is not to say the profound economic chal- lenges in our nation don't impact Eagan," he said. "They do." Maguire noted the city's 6 percent unemployment rate which, while lower than the state average, is up sig- nificantly from two years ago. Local food shelves have seen a 60 percent increase in use, foreclosures are up, and Eagan home sales declined by 16 percent last year. "The year ahead offers even further challenges," he said. The city will meet those challenges by focusing on six new goals over the next two years: • Preserve and expand Eagan's economic vitality by adapting policies that encourage maintenance and reinvestment in Eagan's commercial and residential properties; • Maintain a fiscally prudent and responsible budgeting approach while 1 pursuing greater levels of independence from the state budget; • Bolster "infostructure" bandwidth to keep Eagan's residents and businesses competitive in a global mar- ket; • Support initiatives ad- dressing the city's changing demographics, including lifestyle needs of the aging population; • Commit to environ- mental sustainability by adopting conservation and alternative energy strategies and encourage residents and businesses to do the same; • Strengthen the commu- nity through volunteerism and civic engagement op- portunities. Maguire used an exam- ple from Eagan's past to put today's economic crisis in perspective. In the 1950s, he said, low milk prices caused a 38 per- cent drop in the number of stops on a local milk route, and Eagan 'farms were be- ing auctioned off at a rate of two or three a week. "But somehow, we in Eagan adapted to new eco- nomic realities and found new ways forward," he said. Eagan's leaders are poised to take the city where it needs to be tomorrow, even if that involves an ele- ment of risk, he said. "You cannot get to sec- ond base unless you're will- ing to take your foot off first,"he said. Eagan's excellent roads, water system, and com- munity facilities would not have occurred without for- ward thinking and the will- ingness to stake out what leaders thought was a good idea, he said. "We have a council and a staff uniquely situated to not only take that longer view, but ... execute that vision, with your help and ideas being all the momen- tum we need, he said. A podcast of Eagan's State of the City address is available at www.thisweek- live.com. Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc. com. PrintFriendly.com: Print web pages, create PDFs Page 1 of 2 Mayor Maguire: We're confident in Eagan's future http://www.thisweeklive.com/ 2012/03/1 5/mayor-maguire-were-confident-in-eagans-future/ by Jessica Harper Thisweek Newspapers March 15, 2012 Mayor Mike Maguire painted a rosy picture of Eagan's future during his State of the City Address Thursday. "In the clear light of the here and the now, the state of our city is strong," Maguire said. The Eagan leader gave his address March 15 to the Dakota County Chamber of Commerce. Maguire's speech was also televised on Eagan public access. Pointing to recent developments, Maguire said he is confident Eagan's economy will continue to grow and thrive. "Eagan has been a regional jobs leader for the past decade," he said. In the past 10 years, the city's total number of jobs increased 15 percent, while jobs in similar cities such as Eden Prairie and Plymouth have dropped. Technology jobs rose 15 percent over the same period of time, where as the Twin Cities as a whole lost 5.7 percent of jobs. Several major employers have expanded within or moved to Eagan over the past year, Maguire noted. Prime Therapeutics and Ecolab were among a handful of companies to expand within the city in recent months. Others moved their operations into the city, including Penn. -based Diversified Information Technologies, which included Eagan in its Midwest expansion plans last February. The city of Eagan has also played a role in spurring growth by investing in a study, funded by non -tax dollars, that attracted a privately funded data hub to Eagan, Maguire said. "Again, the city is not getting in the provider business but we're making it easier for others to serve you," he said. The city has also completed several projects of its own thanks to partnerships with state, county and private agencies, Maguire said. Duckwood Overpass and Northwoods Parkway bridge are among the examples Maguire pointed to as much needed improvement projects that were brought about by a partnership between the city and state agencies. Maguire emphasized that although city officials are committed to investing in Eagan, they also strive to remain fiscally prudent. "Whenever possible we believe in pay-as-you-go and knowing not just what you're paying for, but how," he said. http://www.printfriendly.com/print?url=http%3 A%2F%2Fwww.thisweeklive. com%2F201... 3 / 15/2012 PrintFriendly.com: Print web pages, create PDFs Page 2 of 2 In many instances, Eagan has managed to spend Tess on its projects than similar communities, Maguire noted. The $8.1 million price tag for Eagan's fire safety center, for instance, is lower than most shared -use public safety buildings, according a 201 1 Fire Chief Magazine article. The new center enabled the fire department to cut its response times in half, making it an invaluable asset, Maguire said. Maguire also noted how Eagan managed to save taxpayers' money by acquiring the safety center's land and building without looking to bonds or adding to the tax levy. "That is sound financial management, and I'm extremely proud of Team Eagan for getting that job done the Eagan Way," he said. Maguire said he also believes open, transparent communication is key to building a strong community and city government. "It's all about building trust," he said. Eagan achieves this goal, Maguire said, through various efforts, such as holding community meetings for special assessments and open houses during the annual budget process. "All you have to do is look at the headlines and the controversial dollar costs associated with road projects in several other metro communities to know that Eagan is doing that by doing the right thing with its pavement management program, by being good stewards of the public dollar, by being open and by forming partnerships that make sense," Maguire said. Though Eagan is on the right path, Maguire said, city officials will face obstacles along the way. Much of city's stability has been created by experienced city leaders and employees, Maguire said. But Eagan has begun, and will continue to, lose many decades of experience as veterans retire. "To say this will be a time of change is a serious understatement," Maguire said. "...We are challenged to take a fresh look at old assumptions and new solutions." At the same time, Eagan will continue to be challenged by the struggling real estate market and growing demand for public transportation. "If we are patient and steady with our approach, good things will result. I'm confident of that," he said. Maguire said he believes past and present leadership have built a "forward -looking legacy" that he plans to maintain in the future. "I can assure you, while the state of the city is strong today, Eagan's best days are yet to come," he said. Jessica Harper is at jessica.harper@ecm-inc.com. Support I About I Privacy I © 2012 http://www.printfriendly.com/print?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisweeklive.com%2F201... 3/1 5/2012 o 1111 III' of 'I i reni { II I� II p Tr II 1 1P 14 •.` I� si• • } !I' L' h u. II III II 1• 1 • "II' ! • J n • • I. 7 r•'Yr R 1', 111 --' L_ • r_ �I 1 !1 J. r • +1 ,31 LCIP • .'F II• • $ ?: L. • J If" ji' to • I •II .: '� ;- � III ' 1' I a r, • s• •J' '- II1� } '•' - �� Z .1 �L - LIIII - iao S.7 h AD- 4 -Jo, • 1- y ■ • I —.1 II —• II 11•' • '1. t' fry - Eagan gets a taste of year-round • campaign By Bruce Orwell Staff Writer C 1T1 C Otf' gI-- Eagan got a taste of year-round campaigning for local office over the weekend when Mayor Vic Elli- son, who's held office only four months, dropped 10,000 pieces of campaign literature on the city's residents. Ellison's "People's Poll" was paid for and distributed by the Elli- son for Eagan volunteer campaign committee. The flier has already created a stir among Ellison's po- litical enemies, including city council member Tom Egan, who blasted the Ellison poll at a city council meeting late Tuesday. Is this city of 40,000 residents ready for the kind of non-stop cam- paigning that is more typical of legislative and congressional races — especially when the positions at stake aren't even full-time jobs? Ellison, a former aide to Minne- sota House Speaker David Jen- nings, said the volunteer commit- tee is simply trying to keep his name fresh in the minds of resi- dents. "It's just a way of keeping in touch," said Ellison, who faces re- election in 1989. "That's my job as mayor." The "People's Poll" asks resi- dents 15 questions of general inter- est, ranging from their preference for a community center to their feelings about the need for more retail shopping space. Some of the questions echo a scientific survey the city recently completed, but Ellison said he wanted to give more residents the chance to ex- press their views. "I don't look at it as campaign- ing," Ellison said. "I look at it as constituent services." Egan, though, objected to the fact that, in the flier, Ellison asks that it be returned to City Hall rather than a private address. That, to Egan, means that city em- ployees will have to deal with Elli- son's campaign literature, and he thinks it gives the appearance that other council members are condon- ing the literature. Please see Ellison/5B i^ Ellison Continued from Page 1B And the city doesn't need any- thing approaching a non-stop cam- paign season, Egan said. "I'm will- ing to stand the test of fire, perhaps between September and November of the election year," he said. "But this is unheard of in Eagan." Bea Blomquist, the city's former mayor who lost the job after a bit- ter struggle with Ellison last fall, said she never campaigned be- tween elections during her years in office. Blomquist, who has been working with a group called Con- cerned Citizens for Eagan that has been watching Ellison closely, was quick to condemn Ellison's last move. "I never started campaigning until the day you file," Blomquist said. "Nor did we ever, ever use City Hall." 11 • (ii Blomquist declares intention to run for fifth4 term by S. Maus Bettenga Citing a list of goals she hopes to accomplish during the next two years, Bea Blomquist an- nounced her candidacy for her fifth term as Eagan mayor. Blomquist made the an- nouncement at the Eagan Municipal Center July 29, the first time she's had a press con- ference to declare her can- didacy, she said. Vic Ellison, ci- ty councilmember, announced his candidacy for mayor at a press conference June 29. "Two-year terms are very short," she said. "Each time I, as mayor, begin to put together a new project, it seems as if we are right in the middle of an election again. I filed as a can- didate because I feel the need to see these projects go forward and help them do so." She said her first priority was with the police, fire, public works and parks communication system. The system will be in service by the end of the year and continued monitoring and possible upgrading is necessary. Compensation for members of the volunteer fire department must also be addressed "so we do not lose this precious com- modity." The Comprehensive Guide Plan is another top priority, she said. The plan was written with the residents in mind and its in- tent is to protect neighborhoods, she said. Progess on the master street and five-year capital improve- ment plans must continue, she said. Taxes and responsible spen- ding are important to residents, she said. "I will continue to be frugal. We could be blessed with Bea Blomquist a windfall because valuation of homes is up. I feel we have to be responsible and bring the mill levy down so the assessed homeowner is not impacted." Blomquist said she would work with the Eagan Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development Commission to promote and encourage develop- ment that would help the tax base and provide jobs. She said she would continue to work with the National Organization to Insure a Sound controlled Environment (N.O.I.S.E.) and the Airport Space Needs Task Force to maintain the city's three-mile runway corridor. (The plan is designed to keep air traffic in the Mendota Heights -Eagan In- dustrial Corridor and disturb residents as little as possible.) Another priority would be building codes where she pledg- ed to work with the Legislature and city staff to ensure com- pliance with existing codes and propose new codes as the need arose. Parks development and work- ing with the three school districts in the city to ensure residents share in the park/school coordinated pro- grams were two other priorities Blomquist mentioned. Finally, she said, plans for the feasibility of a foundation for an arts park and outdoor art gallery near Patrick Eagan Park would be considered. "Although the list of goals ap- pears long and over ambitious to some, many of these goals are now in progress awaiting com- pletion. My commitment and pledges to these goals is on- going. I continue to work toward these accomplishments, while I am in office now and after my re-election to office for a fifth term," Blomquist concluded. Ellison family celebrates, reflects upon father's win by Candace Gauzy There's nothing like your children to bring you back down to Earth. Vic Ellison, newly -elected mayor of Eagan, found that out last week the night after his re- sounding 63 percent victory over incumbent Mayor Bea Blom- quist. Ellison spent the evening caring for his three children who had strep throat, while his wife, Carol, went out for dinner with a few campaign workers to celebrate the victory. Still, Ellison was on cloud nine. "Actually it ws good I stayed home because I was here to answer the phone that rang every five minutes," he said. Congratulatory calls continued Vic Ellison wife, Carol. photo by Candace Garry with children Timothy, Kimberly, Annie, and to pour in almost a week later. "The best feeling of all was the high voter turnout," Ellison said. Historically, city elections have had low turnouts. But on Nov. 3 more than 40 percent of Eagan's registered voters made it to the polls. Ellison said that represents a 74 percent increase over the city's mayoral and council races two years ago. Ellison said he doesn't expect to make any changes in city staff once he takes office in January. "I'm very pleased with the staff and they will be a great asset," he said. He does, however, plan to change the makeup of the ci- ty's planning and parks commis- sions. "I expect to make those decisons by January," he said. Referring to the Cliff Lake Galleria and Towers proposal before the City Council, Ellison said "I'd hate to see a long term decison made by lame ducks." He said he would continue to lob- by against developing a Target and shopping center at the site. But he thinks it will happen anyway. "They're going to build there," he said. "Their last ac- tions as a council will be to stick us with a poor land use decison." Back on the homefront, the Ellisons are trying to "regroup" after a long campaign that found Ellison knocking on 8,000 doors, losing 15 pounds in the process. Long range plans call for a fami- ELLISON: To Page 2 7,t 01,50nt("�� Suit a alnst ,, Eagan, • ex -mayor is thrown out TONY BLASS STAFF WRITER Afederal judge has dismissed a mul- timillion -dollar conspiracy lawsuit against the city of Eagan and 13 co-de- fendants, including a former mayor who —found herself in the middle of a bitter shopping mall contro- versy involving brib- ery allegations. Even though he re- jected the Bieter Co. lawsuit Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Donald Alsop ruled that there was "sufficient evi- dence" to allow a ju- ry's consideration of charges that Bea Blomquist, a former Eagan mayor, accepted bribes from a rival land development company. Alsop threw out the 3-year-old lawsuit, ruling that the bribery charge — even if it were sustained in a civil trial — would not be enough in his view to buttress a broad conspiracy charge against Blomquist and two development compa- nies that she supported during her tenure as mayor. Blomquist said Wednesday that she did not accept any bribes. Blomquist EAGAN CONTINUED ON 8A ► 1 Marj Ebenstei ner Roger Goswitz Larpenteur r o I G, Y r coo, -o U w c 0 Stillwater R.R.2 c N L f as Minnehaha I:)_ Tim Montgomery /Staff Artist Ellison takes lead in fund-raising By Bruce Orwell Staff Writer Campaign disclosure documents filed this week in Eagan show that Vic Ellison has raised nearly twice as much money as four -term in- cumbent Bea Blomquist in the city's bitterly contested mayor's race. The documents show Ellison has raised $11,013 since launching his campaign June 9. Blomquist has raised $5,255, although funds car- ried over from her last campaign boosted her total to $6,173. Ellison's disclosure form has a long list of contributors, none giv- ing more than $100. He has a poli- cy against accepting contributions larger than $100 because he said he doesn't want to appear beholden to special interests. The challenger, a one -term city council member, has spent $9,630 so far. The Blomquist documents list 13 individual contributors. Most of the money came in one contribution from the "Blomquist Volunteer Committee," which gave $3,000. Minnesota law does not require volunteer committees — those formed independently of a candi- date's main campaign organization — to make financial disclosure un- til up to 30 days after the election. Blomquist has spent about $6,000 on the campaign through this week. In the race for two city council seats, in which the two highest vote -getters among four candi- dates will win, incumbent James Smith has raised more than $4,800 since September, far ahead of fel- low incumbent Ted Wachter, who has raised $300, and challengers David Gustafson and Stephen Rosenthal. They reported raising $1,705 and $187. Final disclosure documents for candidates in municipal elections are due Nov. 14. The election is Nov. 3. 'Ellison gets more opinions than he asked for By Vic Ellison has already receiv- ed some feedback from his "Peo- ple's Poll." Ellison, mayor of Eagan, re- cently mailed a questionnaire to city residents, asking them for their opinions on a variety of issues. The flier was hand - delivered and it was requested that the forms be returned to city hall. "Your recommendations will be taken into consideration when I vote on the critical issues that help shape our community. I always welcome your calls and letters," reads Ellison's introduc- tion to the poll. Council Member Tom Egan, however, is not impressed. He voiced his problems with the poll to Ellison at the Tuesday, May 5, council meeting. Another reaction to the poll came this week in the newsletter of Residents Concerned for C lr\ CC Act-�- BRENDA GUDERIAN Eagan, a citizens' group. The "action alert" says that the flier does not address "the legalities nor the cost to the taxpayers and has never been sanctioned by the entire city council." Ellison said the flier is part of his promise to communicate with his constituency and that he hopes to do it every year. As for the costs, Ellison said payment came from his remain- ing election funds. Egan, too, was unhappy that city council members were not told the poll was coming out. "He did not show this (poll) to a single soul." Egan said. Egan also feels the poll was done in an unprofes- sional way and that it will have no credibility. "It was done 100 percent for politically motivated reasons," Egan said. The phrasing of the questions and the simplicity of its yes or no format forces respon- dents to answer in light of Ellison's positions, Egan said. Among the questions on the survey are: "How do you view the current mix of residential property in Eagan: Too many apartments; too many single- family homes; about right?" "What does Eagan need in the way of commercial develop- ment: More neighborhood conve- nience `strip' centers; more large retail shopping centers; both; neither?" A few questions dealt with a proposed community center for the city; those questions "clum- sily interfered with sensitive matters," Egan said. He is con- cerned that the questions not mis- lead anyone reading them, be- cause little has been decided on the proposal. Egan said the poll will have lit- tle credibility with him, and that he is unsure whether he'll re- spond to it. Ellison told Egan at Tuesday's meeting that the results would be shared with the entire council if it desired to see them. City Administrator. Tom fledges said he saw the poll be- fore it was mailed and he does not know of any legal problems the poll could pose. City hall has re- ceived about 300-400 responses since Monday, May 2, Hedges said. Requests have also come from residents who would like a poll. Ellison provided the city with extra fliers and stamped en- velopes, Hedges said. "I can't believe anyone would criticize me for finding out what the public thinks," Ellison said. THREE SECTIONS News • Sports General Section Real Estate Section Classified Section 84 pages Eagan THISWEEK Your Community Newspaper Volum.10, No. 37 November 12,1989 Campaign was expensive Ioss for Ellison p.9A Family monuments damaged by vandals p.31A Braves, Irish reach state grid tourney p.36A Egan claims mayor's seat in incumbent upset By BRENDA GUDERIAN Tuesday night, Vic Ellison was shaking his head and wondering what happened in his defeat by nearly 1,000 votes in the Eagan mayoral race. "I don't know what I did wrong the last two years," he said, ad- ding he had no regrets and wouldn't have done anything differently. "I knew the name Egan in Eagan would have an effect — taking nothing away from Tom. And having Pam (McCrea) and Tim (Pawlenty) elected — how do you judge that?" McCrea, a current council member, and Pawlenty, current chairman of the Advisory Plann- ing Commission, were appointed to their positions by the council led by Ellison and were seen as strong supporters of Ellison's philosophies. They were also the top vote getters in the council race. Pawlenty garnered 3,808 votes and McCrea had 2,988. Vote totals for the mayor's race show- ed Egan with 3,512, Ellison with 2,539 and Ray Nutzmann with 248. Other candidates in the council race and their vote totals were: Sandra Masin, 2,444; Mark Olson, 1,411; James B. Wade Jr., 601; Renee Herzog, 458; and Curt England, 258. Egan, expecting a win by about 100 votes, was surprised by the margin of victory (973 votes). But, he said, in his visiting with residents he did find dissatisfac- tion. "There were more issues than I'd ever dreamt existed," he said Wednesday morning. Most of the issues were in regards to the "over -commercialization" and "lack of interest in neighborhood issues," he said. "There was no way of knowing if these were per- sonal observations or citywide issues until the vote came in." McCrea said she was excited about her win. "I'm honored that I get to serve the people of Eagan. I feel good about being able to continue in areas we didn't do a lot in such as environment." Mc- Crea doesn't think the direction of the city will change that much with a new mayor. "We're on a good direction and we'll continue to operate that way under Vic or Tom." Pawlenty, sharing the rooms of what was supposed to be the Ellison victory celebration at Yankee Square Inn Tuesday night, looked glum despite his win. "For the most part, I agreed with a lot of things Vic was trying to do," he said Tuesday night. "It would have been better to have him there to continue his agenda. But I know Tom (Egan) personal- ly and I ' think he's a competent and nice individual. I don't an- ticipate any problems working with Tom Egan." He hopes the city is able to come together and end bickering and factionalism, he said. Pawlenty, like other can- didates, knocked on many doors during the race. The concerns he heard over and over again were about development. "Everybody seemed to like the idea of quality development," he said, echoing a favorite phrase of Ellison. "But (quality) is a sub- jective word." He expects it to be a continuing issue in the near future, along with the property tax issue. "I'm not convinced the cam- paign was decided on issues," Pawlenty continued. "I didn't think there were one or two burn- ing issues in the campaign. I think it was aimed more at qualifications, background, style, personality." Pawlenty also complimented Ellison, who appointed Pawlenty to the planning commission two years ago. "(Ellison) has to be credited with coming in and definitely changing or trying to change the direction of Eagan. ...Development issues are con- troversial and passionate issues. Vic tried to do what was right and you can agree or disagree, but you have to give him credit," he said. Ellison said he will have 30 hours more a week to devote to family and entrepreneurial ac- tivities. As for getting involved in Eagan politics again he said it was too early to think about. "I have no plans now. Maybe over the next two months I'll find out why (he was defeated). One idea is that the vote two years ago was an anti -Bea (former mayor Blomquist) vote and people wanted someone else." Two years ago Ellison defeated Blom- quist after she had served eight years in the office. Ellison, who will be mayor until Dec. 31, wished Egan well, he said. "I will keep an eye on him," he said. "The city needs to keep moving in this direction,." Egan had his own observations of why the vote went the way it did. He thinks it is a reaction to the vote that occurred two years ago. "There was a lot of hyper- bole expressed, and all kinds of promises were expressed. People had their balloons popped. There was a great deal of disappoint- ment and disillusionment with what people were seeing. They were tired of someone else's agenda being crammed down people's throats." The future mayor outlined what the residents can expect to see when he takes office. He will assume leadership responsibility so that the council will work well together; he will provide in- itiatives that encourage all neighborhoods to feel they are a part of the Eagan community and he will continue on multiple TOM EGAN relished a 200-vote victory in Eagan precinct 13 Tuesday night during his victory celebra- tion. Photo by Brenda Guderian residential 'zoning studies a)_ Cady begn,: ii add commercial zoning to that study, suggesting rezoning or down.. ping or exchanges: t', perhaps switch commercial zon- ings to areas that won't impact residential areas, Egan said. He will also make a motion as early as possible to rescind an amendment on city code limiting the number of terms an advisory commissioner may serve. In January 1988 the new council lim- ited members to serving three three-year terms. Egan was an opponent of the amendment. And, although he is still only one vote of five, he hopes to elim- inate coalitions on the council. "I see five members acting far more individually than two years ago," Egan said. "That will t,e a benefit to the whole city." VIC ELLISON Another Bargain From the GROSSMAN FAMILY! '90 WALDOCH CONVERSION VAN Stock 490533 V8, AT, p. windows & locks. :4 QgE. AC. cruise, all the goodies! G°`"1$17, 993 * '89 C-1500 PICKUP Stock 4891736 Sldg. r window, H.D. chassis & morel SELLING PRICE '13,738 BtO�NtI Discount and Rebate 1,910 ONLY $1 1, 828 * '90 CHEV CAPRICE tett-0) U Stock #90505 V8, auto- clef , luxury 50%50 Seats, stereo/cars & more' $14,495 * '84 CHEV CELEBRITY The ultimate family Sedan. Highlighted w/V6 power, auto matic transmission, tilt wheel, AM/FM digital sound and ready for you to drive home. ONLY $5, 395 Plir '88 CHEV BERETTA Distinct styling and superb performance from this V-f,. w,/au- tomatie transmission and factory air conditioning. Hung, this one has only 16231 miles and priced right at $8,890 '84 FORD F-150 Short box 4x4. jet black and beautiful. Easily maintained 6 cyl. engine and only 56817 miles. Will go soon at $7,888 '86 CHEV 3/4 TON RU. Only 26738 miles on this beautiful blue long box. Long range - dual gas tanks, automatic transmission and lots more. Sale Price: $7,988 '78 CHEV BLASER Tow your trailer with this powerful V-8, 2 WD. Nice in and out Priced right at '90 BERETTA Stock #90509 Additlo s600 1st oai Time Quay 511, 522 * Buyer V6, AT, AC. cruise & morel Choice of Colors '90 FULL SIZE CARG VAN Stock #90630 V8, AT, tinted glass, & much more' gTO SELLING PRICE'14,510 Miscount and Rebate 1,587 NIX $12 923* '90 LUMINA EURO 2 DR. 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See it for $A Onn1 * '86 BRONCO 11 * This flash red 4x4 has gorgeous grey pin striping, fluid V-6 power and an economical 5 speed overdrive transmission. Hurry, it's reduced to $8, 888 '90 PRIZM HATCHBACK Stock #90584 Additional 5600 1st Time Qual Buyer AT, AC, stereo, power steering. Additional $600 to Import Owner! $10, 589 * '85 PONT. GRAN Feel the road w/ehis beautiful red. 5-speed nansin and pinion steering and total sound AM /FM stere ONLY $3,99 I ' '88 CORSICA This 1 owner has features galore including power windows. power locks, cruise control, tilt wheel, air conditioning, premi• um sound and topped off with full V-6 power. None are nicer. Price right at $10,888 imummuimimm '87 OLDS CUTLASS Meticulously dnven for only 23814 miles. Automatic trans- mission and air conditioning. Absolutely gorgeous. Hurry. sale priced at $8,495 '90 CHEV METRO 20 IN STOCK Starting At $6,398 '83 CAVALIER WAGON Only 70785 carefully driven miles on this artic white family wagon. With an economical 5 speed trans.. AM/FM cassette and cruise control. Kid will love the room Priced to sell at 81, 999 CALL NOW! * '85 BUICK GRAND NATIONAL of a kind , automatic trans:Kuvnn poi,v - T-taps and only 22345 gorgeous miles H.:�: ONLY $10, 895 '86 BUICK SOMERSET Beautiful blue metalic, automatic transmission, V-6 power and a complimentary sunroof. This one won't last long at '85 CELEBRITY WAGON Full size comfort w/room to spare and factory air A must see car for the family. Price reduced to $4, 850 HEV BEAUVILLE VAN Clean comfortable 7 passenger seating, cruise control, prernr urn sound and reduced to sell at $6, 995 '83 CHEV CONVERSION VAN Powerful 5.0 liter V-8 engine, 4 comfortable captains chairs. power windows and more. Sale priced at $6,888 '84 FORD ESCORT WAGON $2, 995 $7,999 This economical family wagon has factory air conditioning. tilt, AM/FM/cass. and front wheel drive. Hurry before it goes! Sale priced at $S 71 00 THREE iECTIONS News • Sports General Section Real Estate Section Classified Section 84 pages Eagan THISWEEK Your Community Newspaper Cto'ra Volwn• 10, No. 37 November 12,1989 Campaign was expensive loss for Ellison p.9A Family monuments damaged by vandals p.31A Braves, Irish reach state grid tourney p.36A Egan claims mayor's seat in incumbent upset BRENDA GUDERIAN Tuesday night, Vic Ellison was caking his head and wondering hat happened in his defeat by early 1,000 votes in the Eagan iayoral race. "I don't know what I did wrong ie last two years," he said, ad- ing he had no regrets and ouldn't have done anything if£erently. "I knew the name gan in Eagan would have an feet — taking nothing away krn Tom. And having Pam 1eCrea) and 'Tim tPawlenty ) acted — how do you judge at?' McCrea, a current council 'ember, and Pawlenty, current hairman of the Advisory Plann- 'g Commission. were appointed ) their positions by the council d by Ellison and were seen as :rong supporters of Ellison's hilosophies. They were also the p vote getters in the council ce. Pawlenty garnered 3,808 tes and McCrea had 2,988. Vote als for the mayor's race show - Egan with 3,512, Ellison with 39 and Ray Nutzmann with 248. )ther candidates in the council !e and their vote totals were: idra Masin, 2,444; Mark Olson, (1; James B. Wade Jr., 601; nee Herzog, 458; and Curt ;land, 258. ;gan, expecting a win by about votes, was surprised by the rgin of victory (973 votes). , he said, in his visiting with 'dents he did find dissatisfac- l. "There were more issues n I'd ever dreamt existed," he 1 Wednesday morning. Most of issues were in regards to the 'er-commercialization" and ck of interest in neighborhood ies," he said. "There was no t-of knowing if these were per - al observations or citywide ies until the vote came in." lcCrea said she was excited about her win. "I'm honored that I get to serve the people of Eagan. I feel good about being able to continue in areas we didn't do a lot in such as environment." Mc- Crea doesn't think the direction of the city will change that much with a new mayor. "We're on a good direction and we'll continue to operate that way under Vic or Tom." Pawlenty, sharing the rooms of what was supposed to be the Ellison victory celebration at Yankee Square Inn Tuesday night, looked glum despite his win. "For the most part, I agreed with a lot cf things Vic was trying to do," he said Tuesday night. "It would have been better to have him there to continue his agenda. But I know Tom (Egan ) personal- ly and I think he's a competent and nice individual. I don't an- ticipate any problems working with Tom Egan." He hopes the city is able to come together and end bickering and factionalism, he said. Pawlenty, like other can- didates, knocked on many doors during the race. The concerns he heard over and over again were about development. "Everybody seemed to like the idea of quality development," he said, echoing a favorite phrase of Ellison. "But (quality) is a sub- jective word." He expects it to be a continuing issue in the near future, along with the property tax issue. "I'm not convinced the cam- paign was decided on issues," Pawlenty continued. "I didn't think there were one or two burn- ing issues in the campaign. I think it was aimed more at qualifications, background, style, personality." Pawlenty also complimented Ellison, who appointed Pawlenty to the planning commission two years ago. "(Ellison) has to be credited with coming in and definitely changing or trying to change the direction of Eagan. ...Development issues are con- troversial and passionate issues. Vic tried to do what was right and you can agree or disagree, but you have to give him credit," he said. Ellison said he will have 30 hours more a week to devote to family and entrepreneurial ac- tivities. As for getting involved in Eagan politics again he said it was too early to think about. "I have no plans now. Maybe over the next two months I'll find out why (he was defeated). One idea is that the vote two years ago was an anti -Bea (former mayor Blomquist) vote and people wanted someone else." Two years ago Ellison defeated Blom- quist after she had served eight years in the office. Ellison, who will be mayor until Dec. 31, wished Egan well, he said. "I will keep an eye on him," he said. "The city needs to keep moving in this direction." Egan had his own observations of why the vote went the way it did. He thinks it is a reaction to the vote that occurr' d two years ago. "There was a lot of hyper- bole expressed, and all kinds of promises were expressed. People had their balloons popped. There was a great deal of disappoint- ment and disillusionment with what people were seeing. They were tired of someone else's agenda being crammed down people's throats." The future mayor outlined what the residents can expect to see when he takes office. He will assume leadership responsibility so that the council will work well together; he will provide in- itiatives that encourage all neighborhoods to feel they are a part of the Eagan community and he will continue on multiple TOM EGAN relished a 200-vote victory in Eagan precinct 13 Tuesday night during his victory celebra- tion. Photo by Brenda Guderian residential zoning, studies al. eady begui: s„a add commercial zoning to that s `udy, sugga ••sting rezoning or down. Jning or exchanges: ., perhaps switch commercial zon- ings to areas that won't impact residential areas, Egan said. He will also make a motion as early as possible to rescind an amendment on city code limiting the number of terms an advisory commissioner may serve. In January 1988 the new council lim- ited members to serving three three-year terms. Egan was an opponent of the amendment. And, although he is still only one vote of five, he hopes to elim- inate coalitions on the council. "I see five members acting far more individually than two years ago," Egan said. "That will to a benefit to the whole city." VIC ELLISON 1 PRESS RELEASE RECOGNITION DINNER A recognition dinner is scheduled for Saturday, January 21, 1978 at the Lost Spur Country Club to recognize a combined 72 years of service from three (3) City officials. The three (3) officials are Mayor Herbert Polzin and City Council Members Arthur Rahn and William Rydrych. Tickets must be purchased in advance at the Eagan City Hall prior to January 14, 1978. The tickets are $8.00 per person which includes the cost of the dinner, gratuity and entertainment. The dinner will begin at 6:00 P.M. with a social hour and cash bar to be follwed by dinner, a program and entertainment. If you wish to attend, please mail and make your check payable to "Alyce Bolke", Eagan City Hall, 3795 Pilot Knob Road, Eagan Minnesota 55122 and indicate your choice of dinner entre' which is an 8 oz. sirloin steak or deep fried shrimp. Tickets will be, picked up at the door. For a ditional infor- mation please call Sharon at the Eagan City Hall, (tel.) 454-8100. • Two years ago when Vic Ellison loft his re-election bid for mayor of Eagan, pundits agreed that the former newsman's unexpected trouncing was no more than a dues -paying distraction, a toll booth on his turnpike to higher political office. But Ellison, an Independent - Republican with a sharp tongue and even sharper political elbows, passed up a rematch last fall against Tom Egan, the incumbent mayor with a fortuitous name, and he vowed, surprisingly, that he will never again seek elected office. In leaving public life for good, Ellison, who is 37 years old, criticized as poisonous the process of politics and the people it produces. "It separates the wheat from the chaff," he says, "then discards the POLITICS Never Mr. Nice Guy Vic Ellison's straight-shooting, often abrasive style of politics won him few friends and cost him his political career. BY TONY BLASS wheat." Ellison's conclusion could probably be dismissed as political sour grapes (pardon the cliche and the mixed metaphor), if he did not include himself among those polluted by the process. "I have come to see politics for what it is," he says, "a crummy business that attracts the wrong kind of people and brings out the worst in the good ones." The story of Victor Louis Ellison's quick rise to power and fast fall from it is not so much a political saga as a personal epiphany, a modest tale of transformation about a man whose cruel candor and me -first ambitions initially propelled him but ultimately betrayed him. Endowed with a rigorous (some say righteous) spirit and a sharp, analytical mind, Ellison was considered by many conservatives as possible governor material, someone who, as a former political reporter. could articulate the Republican platform and execute it, ruthlessly if necessary. "He was going to climb to the top," said Bea Blomquist, a four -term Eagan mayor embittered four years ago by Ellison's tactics in their duel for mayor and by his subsequent triumph. "He didn't care who he stepped on along the way," she added. "I hate to say these things about him, but he's a very mean and nasty person." In 1981, Ellison wrote a political column for the Mankato Free Press in which he routinely roasted Democrats and occasionally skewered kindred Republicans. One Republican state senator, in fact, sued Ellison for libel when the columnist accused the man of being manipulated by "an overbearing, political -minded wife." The suit was dismissed, but Ellison's reputation as a saddle burrwas secured. "I don't expect to be received warmly," Ellison told his readers in a 1981 column. "If I wanted people to treat me warmly, I'd run a day-care center or a philanthropic organization, not cover politics for a small -city newspaper. It takes a tough hide, and I've got one." To his many rivals, though, Ellison was merely an ass, and they cheered when the 28-year-old mud-slinger left the Free Press in 1983 to direct the media staff of the House IR Caucus underDavidJennings, his political idol. Just as Robert Bly might find Hemingway a man's man, Ellison regarded Jennings as a "conservative's conservative," someone who combined driving intelligence with The Awakening of Eagan by Mary Lahr Schier Nowhere are the political stakes higher in the suburbs than in Eagan. The people who live in the big houses along its miles of winding roads and cul-de-sacs with names like Haven Hill Court and Johnny realize," says Tim Pawlenty, a Minneapolis lawyer who is a member of the Eagan City Council and a likely candidate for one of Eagan's new seats in the Minnesota Legislature. "A lot of people think of it as a 1980s boom schools, good roads and nice parks, and they know they'll have to pay for it." Unlike residents in many older suburbs and some new, wealthy suburbs, Eagan voters are far less likely to resist new development, according arrived at residents' homes, Morris says. "Money is tight," says Pawlenty. So is time. With families and careers to worry about, Eagan residents traditionally have ignored politics, except to vote in major /I9 9 )- social savvy any when Jennings f: endorsement fe Ellison was on t job. With a bad nalism and ecc- StateUni-.ersi- Ellison won a j Council of He clearinghouse 1 Twin Cities me At the same' office blossom the Eagan Cit after a year on 1 votes, Ellison He publicly at other rivals s common to t' Rustbelt, earn reputation as tl politics. "Then politics," Elli alliances." ►'s ed is to re ty 1d on eft us )I. nd on e's ho .th s 1 r social savvy and common sense. But when Jennings failed to earn his party's endorsement for governor in 1986, Ellison was on the street looking for a job. With a bachelor's degree in jour- nalism and economics from St. Cloud State University among his credentials, Ellison won a job as spokesman for the Council of Hospital Corporations, a clearinghouse for statistical data about Twin Cities medical centers. At the same time, his career in public office blossomed. He was elected to the Eagan City Council in 1985 and after a year on the short end of many 4- 1 votes, Ellison went on the offensive. He publicly attacked Blomquist and other rivals with a fierceness more common to the Beltway than the Rustbelt, earning in the process a reputation as the Lee Atwater of local politics. "There are few friendships in politics," Ellison says now, "only alliances." "I have come to see politics for what it is," Ellison says, "a crummy business that attracts the wrong kind of people and brings out the worst in the good ones." Having survived in public office only four years, Ellison failed to establish a true legacy in Eagan, but he did leave his mark. Combative and self-important, Ellison brought to Minnesota's loth largest city a divide - and -conquer mentality that introduced partisanship and some theater to the usually sedate world of suburban politics. He even issued Eagan's first State of the City Address, a self-serving television message that was more a re- election ploy than a civic update. For a while, cynics referred to Eagan under Ellison as "Little Chicago." Actually, Ellison's closest brush with corruption occurred during his college days at St. Cloud, where as editor of the campus newspaper he paid $25 to his wife, who was ineligible for the money. Blomquist supporters dredged up this incident during the 1987 campaign, but Ellison said that he had publicly acknowledged the mistake while in college and that voters shouldn't hold it against him. They didn't. Ellison's undoing two years later in the mayoral race of 1989 had less to do with acts of impropriety than it did with his inability to reinvent himself: He came into public life a cutthroat politician and he left with his throat cut. Even his mentor, Jennings, warned Ellison that his offensive style might undermine his political ambitions. In a 1987 interview with the St. Paul Pioneer Press, Ellison acknowledged that he should probably be more respectful of others, but added, "I'm not going to compromise my beliefs to win friends or win re-election to office." It was that kind of straight talk that made Ellison, at least for a time, a favorite among party leaders and among political reporters, many of whom found his frankness and sense of purpose refreshing in a political landscape cluttered with sycophants and feckless wheezers. The Pioneer Press ran a flattering three -column photograph of Ellison and his shadowed silhouette under a headline that read: "Eagan's Top Gun is Straight Shooter. " "People around the state said he could be at the top of the ticket someday," said D.J. Leary, co-editor of Politics in Minnesota, an insider newsletter. Leary and others speculated in 1989 that Ellison would rebound from his defeat and in 1992 would make a run for a new state House or Senate seat in Dakota County created through redistricting. "Ellison was a rising star," said Elam Baer, the former editor of a competing political newsletter. "He had big ambitions when he first became mayor. If he wasn't going to be the next David Jennings, then he just might be the next George Latimer." Latimer, of course, is the former mayor of St. Paul. To be sure, Ellison's withdrawal from politics won't alter the state IR THE BEST ADVICE FOR A NEW PRACI10E All of the Services. None of the Office. • Personal assigned receptionist • Conference facilities • Secretarial support • Phone-in dictation • Copy service • Fax service • Word processing "I hate to say these things about him, but he's a very mean and nasty person." — Bea Blomquist, former four -term Eagan mayor, about Ellison agenda, nor will it much change the political topography in Eagan, which has settled considerably since his "forced retirement," as Ellison terms it. "Losing that election," Ellison says, "was the best thing that ever happened to me." On Election Eve in 1989, Ellison believed voters were about to approve him for a second two-year term over challenger Egan, a city council member and long-time foe. Based on his own telephone tracking, which proved woefully flawed, Ellison thought he held a commanding 77 percent of the vote. "Wedon't know what happened," his wife, Carol, said after Ellison lost 13 of 14 precincts to Egan, who capped his victory by claiming Ellison's home precinct by three votes. But in defeat, Ellison was served two ways: It provoked in him a private evaluation of his professional priorities and it inspired a personal accounting for the actions that led to his early exit from politics. In short, Ellison learned the sandbox maxim: Play fair and be nice or forfeit the privilege of building castles. "My personal mannerisms contributed to my downfall," Ellison admitted."I didn 't treat people as nicely as I should have." "I think we lost Vic as a politician," said Pam McCrea, a city council member in Eagan, "but we gained him as a community leader." Ellison remains a tall, finely groomed professional who in the right light casts a statesman's shadow. But he knows that his legacy in Eagan and elsewhere is that of a stone -thrower, not a statesman, and that public office is not in his future. "When people wave at me now," said Ellison, invoking the cheerful cadence of a politician reformed,"they use all five fingers instead of just one." etig IT'S EASY TO DO THDGS 1-111 HARD WAY! Go ahead, you can do it. Practice law they did when Ike was president. Baffle your clients with )rehensible invoices. Load up on pricey computer hardware Dftware and never learn how to use it. We know dozens of you can screw up your practice. That's because we're in the business of making sure it never happens to you. a call and we'll set up your practice like you mean business. ncialize in data processing, management information systems, nd billing, computer programming and training. We take the hes out of practice management. After all, our job is to make your job as an attorney easier. imma Flottemesch & Orenstein, Ltd. Bringing solutions to law firms Foshay Tower • 821 Marquette Avenue • Minneapolis, MN 55402 612 337-8100 KTCA PRODUCTION Ask yourself thi ArthurAshe had sis instead ofAll Today have anno his wishes? How about this one: had been accused of ovc than smoking marijuana been a front page stor country? And finally, this one: had once dated an open stead of Linda Rondsta' mentioned in 9 out of 1I written about him 15 p Answers: no way, ge chance in hell. So what's this guy m this time, you may be w Just this. The standards have been changing foi but you can mark down pivitol point in the tran5 old standard to the new What is the new one you a full-blown, col expert's answer, full of how the news media ha- traditional role as a prn for the ruling elite afte' tion with rebel stay Ellison, an Independent- ttepublican with a sharp tongue and even sharper political elbows, passed up •a rematch last fall against Tom Egan, the incumbent mayor with a fortuitous name, and he vowed, surprisingly, that he will never again seek elected office. In leaving public life for good, Ellison, who is 37 years old, criticized as poisonous the process of politics and the people it produces. "It separates the wheat from the chaff," he says, "then discards the brings out the worst in the good ones." The story of Victor Louis Ellison's quick rise to power and fast fall from it is not so much a political saga as a personal epiphany, a modest tale of transformation about aman whose cruel candor and me -first ambitions initially propelled him but ultimately betrayed him. Endowed with a rigorous (some say righteous) spirit and a sharp, analytical mind, Ellison was considered by many conservatives as possible govemor material, someone who, as a didn't care who he stepped on along the way," she added. "I hate to say these things about him, but he's a very mean and nasty person." In 1981, Ellison wrote a political column for the Mankato Free Press in which he routinely roasted Democrats and occasionally skewered kindred Republicans. One Republican state senator, in fact, sued Ellison for libel when the columnist accused the man of being manipulated by "an overbearing, political -minded wife." newspaper. It takes a tough hide, and I've got one." To his many rivals, though, Ellison was merely an ass, and they cheered when the 28-year-old mud-slinger left the Free Press in 1983 to direct the media staff of the House IR Caucus underDavid Jennings, his political idol. Just as Robert Bly might find Hemingway a man's man, Ellison regarded Jennings as a "conservative's conservative," someone who combined driving intelligence with The Awakening of Eagan by Mary Lahr Schier Nowhere are the political stakes higher in the suburbs than in Eagan. The people who live in the big houses along its miles of winding roads and cul-de-sacs with names like Haven Hill Court and Johnny Cake Ridge Road present a split- level political opportunity for either Pam'. Eagan residents lean Republican, at least in statewide races. They are two -income families, and that combined income often flirts with six figures. But they feel stretched. They are mortgaged to the max and the rising property taxes on those dream houses tend to make every issue one of dollars and cents. Many of Eagan's residents have roots in the working class neighborhoods of St. Paul. They tend to be liberal on social issues. With 30 percent of the 47,000 residents under age 18, education is a personal issue for many voters. "Eagan is a lot more diverse community than people realize," says Tim Pawlenty, a Minneapolis lawyer who is a member of the Eagan City Council and a likely candidate for one of Eagan's new seats in the Minnesota Legislature. "A lot of people think of it as a 1980s boom town full of yuppies, but that's not completely accurate." Strong DFL enclaves exist in the older sections of the community, neighborhoods that were once home to many mechanics for Northwest Airlines. Many of the newcomers to the city work in large, high-tech corporations, like Cray Research, which has a campus in Eagan. They have an entrepreneurial approach to their work and place a premium on efficiency, inventiveness and inde- pendence, says Mayor Tom Egan. They are ticket=splitters with little sympathy for the fringes or activists of either party. Egan, a Democrat, calls them "hybrid Democrats." "They want fiscal responsibility," he says, "but they also want good schools, good roads and nice parks, and they know they'll have to pay for it." Unlike residents in many older suburbs and some new, wealthy suburbs, Eaganvoters are far less likely to resist new development, according to Bill Morris, a pollster who has worked for 25 suburbs, including Eagan. "In some places, people want to keep the suburb just as it was the day they moved in," Moms says. "Eagan residents tend to accept growth as necessary to keep taxes down." Eagan residents also have been willing to levy extra taxes, particularly for schools. In the past eight years, they have approved four bond issues and two levy referenda for school buildings or programstcosting $119 million. But they rejected a proposal to build a community center. The defeat has been blamed on a direct clash between the city's desire for social programs and its tightfistedness. The plan lost narrowly, largely because the election was held on the same day property tax statements arrived at residents' homes, Morris says. "Money is tight," says Pawlenty. So is time. With families and careers to worry about, Eagan residents traditionally have ignored politics, except to vote in major elections. Egan expects that may change as the city and its residents "mature." He says that as residents get into their '40s and have more time for involvement, they show greater interest in local issues, including polides. The 1991 local elections drew 21 percent of the voters, despite a snowstorm that week and a lack of controversial issues. Residents "are still mostly young enough that they don't vote in big numbers," says former Mayor Vic Ellison. "Questions about property taxes and education are forcing them to reconcile their apathy and their self-interest." LAW & POLITICS / MAY 1992 32 111, 1 after 1 voi He othe com Rust repu polil poll] allia EAGAN/Former mayor denies accepting bribes from developer V CONTINUED FROM IA In 1989, the Bieter firm went to court after losing its bid to build a major shop- ping center in Eagan. A partner in the firm, Ron Cornwell, said Wednesday that his company may appeal Alsop's decision or it may renew a dormant state lawsuit seeking damages under Minnesota's anti- trust laws. Meanwhile, Dakota County Attorney James Backstrom said his office would review the case for possible criminal charges against Blomquist, the Hoffman Development Group and Federal Land Co., unless the state's three-year statute of limitations prevents it. Backstrom said that bribery of a public official is a felo- ny punishable by a fine and up to 10 years in prison for both parties. A former four -term Eagan mayor, Blomquist guided the city during its trou- blesome and chaotic growth years in the early and mid-1980s, a period that spawned numerous lawsuits against the city. Elected officials in Eagan have for years accused each other of campaign violations and various conflicts of inter- est, but seldom have those allegations represented more than confusing "he - said -she -said" accusations. Alsop's ruling is the first outside voice trying to clarify the swirling controversy. "These allegations are false," Blomquist said. "I have never defended myself on those charges." The Bieter Co. accused Blomquist of accepting payoffs from a rival develop- ing concern, the Hoffman Development Group, which won approval from the City Council in 1987 to build a shopping mall complex at Interstate 35E and Cliff Road. That action came 11 months after the City Council rejected Bieter's rezon- ing proposal that would have allowed for a $50 million shopping center at I-35E and Diffley Road. In sworn depositions and at a hearing in December, Bieter presented evidence suggesting that Blomquist accepted $5,000 through "sham political commit- tees" set up by Hoffman Development, which reportedly worked behind the scenes in 1987 to help Blomquist's re- election bid. She denies it, however, saying that the re-election efforts of those groups were not sanctioned by her. Bieter also attempted to show that Hoffman Development and Federal Land Co. wrote off $7,800 that Blomquist owed for back rent on her video rental and photo stores in Eagan's Town Centre Mall. In addition, Bieter presented evi- dence indicating that Blomquist and her late husband received rental rates well below market value from 1984 to 1987. "From 1985 through 1987," the judge wrote, "Blomquist consistently voted in accordance with Federal's interests." There is evidence, Alsop wrote in a 27- page decision, that is "sufficient to raise a genuine issue of fact as to whether the Hoffman defendants bribed Blomquist." Bieter also accused two other City Council members of accepting bribes. Al - sop determined that those allegations represented possible conflicts of inter- ests, but not bribes. Alsop ultimately dismissed the lawsuit because Bieter could not show that Blomquist persuacied or cajoled her City Council colleagues to vote against Bieter or in favor of the Hoffman Group. Even if she had accepted a bribe, Alsop rea- soned, her vote alone would not have changed the result. Moreover, Bieter did not re -apply for a zoning change in 1988 after Vic Ellison became mayor and Dave Gustafson joined the council, even though both sup- ported Bieter's efforts. Ruling/ Ex -mayor's attorney denies she t ok a bribe Continued from page 1B one of the main issues was whether the Bieter Company's proposal was "damaged" by the alleged bribes. Alsop said the company had not been sufficiently damaged because Blomquist, even if she were bribed, could not have blocked the shop- ping center by herself because it was defeated on a 4-1 vote. Additionally, the judge said, Bieter did not take advantage of a later opportunity to ask that the city re- consider its project. "This court has concluded that plaintiff has produced sufficient ev- idence to raise a genuine issue of fact as to whether Blomquist's vote was induced by bribery," Alsop said. "However, Blomquist's vote was not determinative.... "To establish causation, plaintiff must somehow link at least two of the other ... votes," the judge said. When city officials then considered Hoffman and Daly's competing proposal, known as Cliff Lake Centre, the City Council voted 3-2 to give it preliminary approval. Blomquist voted in the majority, and the project later was built. Of that vote, Alsop said, "the evidence is sufficient for a jury to conclude "This court has concluded that plaintiff has produced sufficient evidence to raise a genuine issue of fact as to whether Blomquist's vote was induced by bribery. However, Blomquist's vote was not determinative." - Chief U.S. District Judge Donald Alsop that Blomquist was bribed by the Hoffman defendants." Hoffman, Daly and the other defen- dants reached yesterday hailed Al- sop's dismissal of the case and said the ruling showed that the allega- tions were without merit. Tom Bar- ry, an attorney for Blomquist, de- nied that the former mayor accept- ed a bribe. He said the judge "has made absolutely no finding that any bribe was ever made or taken by my client." Said Hoffman: "He found that they didn't have a case.... I don't know how you could call it anything other than a victory. It'd be pretty hard to call it something else." Daly concurred. He said Alsop's ruling suggests only that "there's two versions of the story and the jury can decide." If the case went to a jury, he said, "they'd find out what a bunch of phonies we're deal- ing with." But James McCarthy, an attorney for Bieter, said Alsop did more than simply state that the question of bribery is an issue for a jury to decide. "1 think the judge's opinion speaks for itself ... " said McCarthy. "I'm not suggesting he's making a final determination of fact. The judge goes through and discusses issues where he came to the conclusion that there was sufficient evidence for a jury to be able to conclude something." Bieter officials said Blomquist, who was defeated in the 1987 election, received $5,000 from Hoffman and others through political committees they set up. The company also said that Blomquist, who owned a video store, was given rent breaks by the Federal Land Co., owner of an ex- isting shopping center in Eagan. Federal Land Co. was a defendant in the lawsuit. Bieter officials said the action by Federal Land Co. was significant because that company's shopping center, like the shopping center pro- posed by Hoffman and Daly, would have received competition from the Bieter project if it had been built. Mayor Tom Egan said yesterday that he was pleased the suit had ended, because it had stifled devel- opment and financially drained the city. Of the allegations concerning city officials, he said: "Certainly, all of us during our years in public office ... we do things which, in retrospect, might appear to be an impropriety. "I don't think anybody is born to be perfect," he said. Egan was a City Council member when the shopping center projects were con- sidered. A spokesman for Bieter said the company was considering an appeal of the ruling. Eagan Sun•Current —Wednesday, Feb. 26, 1992-7A Bieter lawsuit centered on bribery charges, treatment From Page 1 A Bieter said it had potential tenants for the proposed $50 million shopping center at Dif- fley and I-35E, including a Target store, Northwest Rac- quet and Swim Club, and Cub Foods. The City Council denied rezon- ing of the land Feb. 3, 1987 by a 4-to-1 vote. Then Coun- cilmember Vic Ellison (elected mayor 1988-90) cast the dissen- ting vote. The Advisory Plann- ing Commission denied the re- quest a week before by a 6-to-1 vote. Then commission member Dave Gustafson (elected to the council 1988-92) cast the dissen- ting vote. The city would later approve rezoning of what is now Cliff Lake Center with anchor tenants Target and Cub Food, just south of Bieter's propsed development off Cliff Road and Interstate 35E. On May 24, 1990, Aslop dismissed the city of Eagan and its special legal counsel as defendants in the lawsuit. (Bieter has another lawsuit filed March 1987, that remains dormant. That lawsuit claims the city's denial was "unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious, and that the city had denied plaintiff all reasonable uses of its land.") As for the Feb. 18 ruling, Aslop wrote, " ... the court concludes that no reasonable jury could find that defendants' conduct was cause in fact of the defeat of the plaintiff's proposal." The court's ruling went on to say Bieter did not suffer actual damage when the council voted 3-to-2 in favor of the Cliff Lake Centre proposal. Bieter failed to re -apply for a second rezoning of its land after it was asked to do so by then Mayor Tom Ellison, Aslop concluded. Bieter's evidence, he said, also was "too speculative to allow recovery." However, evidence was pro- duced, Aslop wrote, that raises some question whether Blom- quist's vote was "induced by bribery." But Blomquist's vote alone did not deny Bieter's pro- ject, he said. Neither did the court find evidence that Blomquist impos- ed her views on other council members who voted against the Bieter proposal, according to Aslop's judgment. Aslop wrote, " ... evidence is sufficient to raise a genuine issue of fact as to whether Federal bribed Blomquist by providing her with favorable rental treatment in connection with her video and photo stores in Federal's Yankee Square Center and Town Centre." Bieter officials alleged Federal Land wrote off $7,800 in past -due rents in Febuary 1987, the same month Bieter's pro- posal was defeated by the City Council. Aslop continued, " . evidence is also sufficient to raise a genuine issue of fact as to whether the Hoffman defen- dants bribed Blomquist to vote in favor of the Cliff Lake development by creating sham political committees which the Hoffmans funneled almost $5,000 to suport Blomquist in her November 1987 election campaign." During court proceedings, Bieter also alleged the bribes of two other council members. But those allegations lack sufficient evidence, Aslop wrote. Star Tribune/Wednesday/March 10/1993 The columnists: Doug GJ Klobuchar 3Bw You can bike in New Zealand - 'til the cows come home Tbames, New Zealand i His rubber sloshers reached to his knees and his caravan of milk cows _reached a half -mile from the highway to the ocean. When cows and sheep cross the road . in New Zealand, it is an event. All other schedules and urgencies give way. The cows come home at 4 p.m. in New Zealand. I know that now. If is knew it yesterday, I would have stopped for tea in Waitakaruru, which is one of those hypnotic place names in New Zealand that owes all of its vowels to the lyrical language of the.Maori natives. But if I stopped in Waitakaruru, I would have missed my first and last tryout as a cow herdsman. I didn't cause a stampede. That's the most generous thing you can say about it. But across that procession of passing horns and udders on the road to Thames on the North Island of New I Zealand, East met West, the South Pacific met Minnehaha Creek. Jim Klobuchar The cow herder was tall and, if it weren't for the familiar crud on his rubber boots, verged on elegance. He wore a grave blond mustache and one of those wide -brimmed formal hats that you see in pictures of the Amish in southern Minnesota. "Sorry to hold you up," he called out over the tromping of the cows. "We'll be on our way in a couple of minutes." "It's no trouble," I said. "My friends have gone ahead in our van. I'm just poking along in the countryside. How many cows do you have?" He said 210. But the number that seemed to interest him was the number of gear changes on my bike. He asked how many speeds it had. "It's 21. Have you ridden one?" "No." "Would you like to?" He threw his hat back and laughed. The stragglers among his cows were still crossing the road. "That would be quite a mission in these boots," he said. I insisted. I told him there were not many ways you could screw up a bike ride. I told him it gave me a chance to stand guard while the rest of the cows crossed the road. If I had to come across the Pacific Ocean to fulfill a lifelong obsession to become a cowboy and wrangler, I said, that was life. The herdsman was clearly revved up. He had the same yen for trying the bike that I had for running cattle. I asked if I needed some kind of prod. "No." "What do I tell the cows?" "Don't bother. They'll ignore you. I don't think they could understand you. If you want the truth, I have a little trouble myself." He got on the bike and wobbled up the road a few meters. The pedals were a mismatch for his boots, but it didn't matter. On the south end of the firth of Thames in the late afternoon of an autumn day in New Zealand, there wasn't much traffic. The visitor from Minnesota, in fact, had to struggle to convince himself that this was reality and not a daydream. While I was in the midst of this revery, an emphatic splat on the pavement, authored by the final cow, brought me back. It was close and I was wearing only a light pair of Avias. The herdsman and I parted with mutual affection. New Zealanders are instinctively quick with welcome and invitation. This one looked rigid but he didn't try hard to conceal a streak of playfulness. For the cycling American it was a bonus, the close of a bountiful day. For three hours we biked through the Hunua mountains south of Auckland. We glided and grunted. We spiraled to the summit ridge through groves of pine and fern, and then plunged to the seacoast in a hairy 15-minute slalom of squealing brakes and lurching handlebars. But along the shore the road turned tranquil, deferring to the ocean's lime -colored rollers. The sea spilled over outcrops of volcanic islands in the bay. Sunlight cut through a haze that gave a wistful cast of purple to the mountains across the bay. Practically no other traffic was at large. The homes above the sea were tidy and curtained with white lace. It was the kind of day and the kind of place where you should pause for tea. We turned into the Teapot Kaiaua, where the proprietor fixed iced tea and tried not to be commercial about dozens of delicate mohair sweaters she had knitted, sporting comic characters like clowns and dinosaurs. The land turned scrubby and sedgy. With the others already installed in the hotel, I wheeled into the old mining town of Thames and turned into a driveway between cottages to ask directions. The name of the hotel is the Brian Boru, a relic of the turn of the century. I misprounounced it, and the elderly woman said she was unfamiliar with it. She gave directions to the information station and I thanked her. They straightened me out there and I headed for the hotel. Down the street I saw the elderly woman running, actually running, to overtake me. She had fought her way through American English and figured out the name of the hotel. At what must have been 75 years of age, she had run three blocks to serve a stranger. The world numbers only 3 million New Zealanders. It could use a few more. PEOPLE People's Choice Awards winners Kevin Costner, Whoopi Goldberg, Garth Brooks and the film "A Few Good Men" were all double win- ners at the 19th annual People's _Choice Awards. The winners were announced dur- 'Mg a CBS -TV telecast Tuesday night. The program included a special tribute to "Cheers," the long -running hit comedy that is go- ing off the air at the end of this season. Winners were determined h,y a Gallup Poll of more than 5,000 people. They were: • TV comedy series: "Home Improvement." • TV dramatic series: "L.A. Law." • New TV comedy series: "Martin." ■ New TV dramatic series: "Mel- rose Place." ■ TV daytime serial: (tie) "All My Children" and "The Young and the Restless." ■ Male TV performer: Tim Allen. r Female TV performer: Candice Bergen. ■ Motion picture: "A Few Good Men." IN Comedy motion picture: (tie) "Home Alone 2: Lost in New Y.ork" and "Sister Act." ■ Dramatic motion picture: "A Few Good Men." • Motion picture actor: Kevin Costner. • Motion picture actress: Whoopi Goldberg. Actor in a comedy motion pic- ture: Steve Martin. ■ Actress in a comedy motion pic- ture: Whoopi Goldberg. ■ Actor in a dramatic motion pic- ture: Kevin Costner. ■ Actress in a dramatic motion picture: Demi Moore. ■ New music video: "I Will Always Love You," Whitney Houston. I♦ Male musical performer: Garth Brooks. Helen Hayes ■ Female musical performer: Whitney Houston. ■ Musical group: Alabama. ■ Male country music performer: Garth Brooks. • Female country music perform- er: Reba McEntire. Soul Train awards Boyz II Men triumphed last night at the 1993 Soul Train Music Awards, winning three trophies to two each for Michael Jackson and Mary J. Blige. Jackson, who hurt his ankle, performed in a wheel- chair. The winners: ■ R&B single, female: "I Will Al- ways Love You," Whitney Houston ■ R&B single, male: "Remember the Time," Michael Jackson IN R&B single, group, band or duo: "Please Don't Go," Boyz II Men • R&B album, female: "What's the 411?" Mary J. Blige ■ R&B album, male: "Danger- ous," Michael Jackson ■ R&B album, group, band or duo: "Funky Divas," En Vogue • Rap album: "3 Years 5 Months & 2 Days in the Life Of ...," Ar- rested Development Claudette Colbert • Jazz album: "Just an Illusion," Najee • Gospel album: "He's Working It Out for You," Shirley Caesar • R&B song: "End of the Road," Boyz I1 Men • New R&B artist: "Real Love," Mary J. Blige • R&B music video: "End of the Road," Boyz II Men Hayes hospitalized Actress Helen Hayes was hospi- talized Tuesday in critical condi- tion with congestive heart failure. Hayes, 92, was brought to Nyack Hospital in New York by ambu- lance and also was diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat. Colbert recovering Claudette Colbert, who charmed millions as a Hollywood leading lady in the 1930s and '40s, will need at least six weeks rest after suffering a stroke. Colbert, 89, who divides her time between New York and Bridgetown, Barbados, had been hospitalized near Bridgetown since March 2. Hepburn goes home Katharine Hepburn was dis- charged from Hartford Hospital in Katharine Hepburn Connecticut on Monday after be- ing admitted last week for exhaus- tion. A spokesman said she was given a clean bill of health. Keep letters comin' But don't count on an answer. President Clinton received 1.2 mil- lion letters in his first month of office, beating previous record - holder Ronald Reagan's 800,000. "There is a sense that the presi- dent is a person you can connect with," presidential aide Mark Gearan told Newsweek, even though stacks of letters are accu- mulating in the Executive Office Building. The current rate of an- swering is 3,500 a day, not enough to keep up. So Clinton has asked a task force to look into it. Just doing her part Hillary Rodham Clinton called WAMU-FM, Washington's Nation- al Public Radio outlet, to personal- ly make a pledge in its fund-raising drive. The station wouldn't say how much she promised. Phil: Execute on TV Phil Donahue would broadcast an execution on his show but says Quote of the day The Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia on Vice President Al Gore: "He's a good guy. He's definitely a hands- on kind of guy. The environment has a shot with Gore in there.l know Al Gore. He wears my ties." children shouldn't watch. "I would be pleased to have an execution on the 'Donahue' show," he said on CNBC's "Talk Back America." "What's wrong with it? Let's see future bad guys watch these people fry right here on television." But, he said, "It will be the par- ents' responsibility to see that their children are shielded from this kind of a thing." Basinger testifies Kim Basinger testified that she never approved the script for the movie "Boxing Helena" and was uncomfortable -with its nude scenes, despite claims by the di- rector that the nudity issue had been resolved. She testified in the third week of the Los Angeles Superior Court trial of a $6 million lawsuit in which the film's producers say Basinger breached her contract by failing to do the movie on the eve of filming. All in a day's work In a new biography about the hip- pie -yuppie generation's weirdest journalist, E. Jean Carroll claims that Hunter S. Thompson's daily routine goes something like this: ■ 3 p.m. — Rise. ■ 3:05 — Chivas Regal with the morning papers, Dunhill cigarette. • 3:45 — Cocaine. IN 3:50 — More Scotch, cigarette. ■ 4:15 — Cocaine. • 4:16 — Orange juice, cigarette. • 4:30 — Cocaine. • 5:05 — Cocaine. • 5:11 — Coffee, more cigarettes. • 5:30 — More ice in the Chivas. ■ 5:45 — Cocaine. • 6 — Marijuana. • 7:05 p.m. — Woody Creek Tav- ern for "lunch": Heineken, two margaritas, two cheeseburgers, fries, a plate of tomatoes, cole- slaw, a taco salad, a double order of onion rings, carrot cake, ice cream, bean fritter, Dunhills, an- other Heineken, cocaine and, for the ride home, a snow cone over which Chivas is poured. ■ 9 — Cocaine. • 10 — Drops acid. ■ 11 — Chartreuse, cocaine, pot. ■ 11:30 — Cocaine. ■ Midnight — Hunter writes. ■ 12:05 to 6 a.m. — Chartreuse, cocaine, grass, Chivas, coffee, Heineken, clove cigarettes, grape- fruit, orange juice, gin. • 6 a.m. In the hot tub — cham- pagne, Dove Bars, fettuccine Alfredo. • 8 a.m. — Halcion. • 8:20 a.m. — Sleep. He shows no mercy Julia Louis Dreyfus, who appears in the TV sitcom "Seinfeld," inad- vertently left her car in a studio parking space reserved for Tom Arnold of "The Jackie Thomas Show," and Arnold left a foul note on her windshield. A few days lat- er, he followed up the letter with a photo of a man's backside. Metro/State news Man sentenced for dragging dog behind truck Associated Press Menomonie, Wis. A man accused of tying a neighbor's basset hound to the bumper of his truck and drag- ging it until it died received a 30-day jail sentence under a plea agreement. Rodney A. Larsen pleaded no contest Monday to charges of cruelty to animals and dog kid- napping, said Dunn County District Attorney James Peter- son. As part of the agreement, the plea on the animal cruelty charge was deferred, and if Lar- sen completes his sentence on the other charge, including two years of probation, the cruelty charge will be dismissed, Peter- son said. Larsen was sentenced to 30 days in jail, starting March 15, with work release privileges and the two years of probation. He also was ordered to pay $2,000 toward formation of a Dunn County humane society --hand to undergo psychological ". assessment and assessment for alcohol and drug abuse, Peter- .. son said. Authorities said Larsen, 38, dragged a neighbor's dog down fi road at about 50 miles per hour in May because it had been bothering his dog. go is Suit revived alleging Eagan ex -mayor was bribed By Paul Gustafson Staff Writer A lawsuit alleging that a proposed shopping center project was killed through the bribery of former Eagan Mayor Bea Blomquist has been re- vived by the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Though bribery has not been proved, there is sufficient evidence that Blomquist and two other council members were bribed in 1987, and that the bribes resulted in injury to the Bieter Co., to allow the develop- er's suit to proceed to trial, the Ap- peals Court ruled Monday. The decision reverses a ruling by Donald Alsop, former chief U.S. dis- trict judge in Minnesota, dismissing the suit brought by Bieter under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Bieter sought to build a $50 million shopping center along Interstate Hwy. 35E in Eagan starting in 1986. Its suit charges that Blomquist and other city officials blocked the proj- ect, a move that benefited the Feder- al Land Co., owner of nearby retail developments that would have com- peted with Bieter's planned center. Also named as defendants are corn panies and individuals involved it another rival development, Clif Lake Centre, which was approved b� Eagan officials after they rejected thi Bieter project. Those defendants in elude Robert Hoffman and Jacl Daly, partners in Larkin Hoffmar Daly & Lindgren, one of the Twir Cities area's best known law firms. Attorneys for Bieter, an Edina com• pany, have sought to prove that Blomquist, who owned a video store, paid below -market rent for space in an Eagan shopping center owned by Federal Land. They also have alleged that Hoffman and Daly used dummy campaign committees to put money into Blomquist's 1987 reelection cam- paign, and later tried to conceal it by attempting to bribe the head of one of the committees. Hoffman and Daly made legal contri- butions to campaign committees and are the victims of "character assassi- nation" efforts by the Bieter Co., said attorney Joseph Anthony. Alsop said Bieter had produced evi- dence sufficient to raise a genuine issue as to whether Blomquist had been bribed. But he said it had failed to show it was sufficiently damaged, because Blomquist, even if she were bribed, could not have blocked the shopping center by herself because it was defeated on a 4-1 vote.. In addition, Bieter failed to ask Ea- gan officials to reconsider its project at a later date, Alsop said. The Appeals Court panel said, how- ever, that he took too narrow a view of Bieter's injuries and the effect that the alleged bribing of Blomquist might have on Bieter's project. Bieter also produced evidence suffi- cient to raise the question whether two other Eagan council members who voted against its project, James Smith and Theodore Wachter, were bribed by Federal Land officials in 1987, the court said. Smith has admitted that he accepted a free Canadian fishing trip from a Federal Land official that was offered before crucial votes on the Bieter project, the court noted. Bieter also has alleged that Wachter, a contractor, received construction contracts worth more than $17,000 from Federal Land in early 1987. "Because we find that the allegations and evidence against Blomquist, Smith and Wachter all present ques- tions for the jury, Bieter could point to three tainted votes, which are the three additional votes it required," the court said. Bieter's failure to ask for a reconsid- eration was understandable, the court added, because by then it had lost the commitment of an anchor tenant for its shopping center. Charity accused of misusing girl's transplant funds settles suit By Randy Furst Staff Writer A Texas charity accused of misusing funds that were raised to pay for the liver transplant of an 8-year-old Min- nesota girl has agreed to a settlement in a suit filed by Attorney General Hubert Humphrey III. The Children's Transplant Associa- tion has given the family of the 8- year-old girl a check for $7,000, Humphrey said Tuesday, and has reached an agreement for resolving payment of $129,000 in medical bills in Nebraska for the child. Also, the association agreed to return $210,000 it was holding in connec- tion with medical treatment for two other people from Texas and Arizo- na, Humphrey's office said. The set- tlement was filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis. Humphrey presented the $7,000 check to the Griggs family, who is from Moorhead, Minn., at a news conference there. The money had been raised in a series of fund-raisers for Tan Griggs, who suffers from a rare liver disorder. As part of the settlement, the associa- tion will pay the state of Minnesota $10,000 for costs and damages, and it is banned from doing business in Minnesota for 10 years. Thousands of people in the Fargo - Moorhead area had helped raise about $136,000 for Megan's opera- tion. She was legally blind and un- able to walk or talk. The association, which was acting as trustee, removed most of the money from a Moorhead bank and failed to pay bills from doctors and the University of Ne- braska Medical Center at Omaha. The Rev. Jack Bradberry, board pres- ident of the Dallas, Texas, associa- tion, earlier said the money raised for Megan was inadvertently spent to help remodel a century -old Omaha mansion for low-cost temporary housing for families of transplant pa- tients. Humphrey said yesterday the fund transfer was not inadvertent. "My understanding is it was purposeful," he said. "Thy had other interests. The money wasn't there. The Uni- versity of Nebraska and the other two families were bilked in the same way." In a phone interview yesterday, Bradberry denied that the families were bilked. "The only thing we did was we tried to accomplish too much with too little." Under the agreement, the university medical center will take possession of the mansion in lieu of being paid for Griggs' medical bills. T w T v r�T .W1' T T-Nr ...... 4 ■ Wednesday/March 10/1993/Star Tribune Obituaries Bob Crosby, 80, dies; fed band in swing era Associated Press La Jolla, Calif. Bob Crosby, 80, the popular swing - era bandleader and younger brother of singer Bing Crosby, died Tuesday of cancer. Crosby led big bands from 1935 to 1942 and started an eight -piece band - within -the -band, the Bob Cats, dur- ;ir;g that time. He sang but didn't play an instrument. Crosby's bands were known for swing and Dixieland sounds, and the Bob Cats' hit records included, "Big Noise That Blew In From Winnet- ka," "South Rampart Street Parade" and "March of the Bobcats." "He was active and working right up to a year ago, when he got the can- cer," said his son Kris Crosby. Crosby got his start working for An- son Weeks' orchestra. He became a bandleader in 1935 after he was ap- proached by 11 New York musicians who asked him to be their leader. The result of that union was the Bob Crosby Orchestra, which within three years was playing swanky supper clubs and night spots across the country. Soon after, the Bob Cats were appear- ing in movies, including "Let's Make Music," "As Thousands Cheer," "See Here, Private Hargrove," and "Pardon My Rhythm." During World War II, Crosby spent 18 months with the Marines, touring with bands throughout the Pacific. Crosby was the last of seven siblings to die. He is survived by five chil- dren and seven grandchildren. Bob Crosby was the younger brother of singer Bing Crosby. Lewis D. Paper, 64; he headed Paper Calmenson & Co. in Roseville Lewis D. Paper, 64, former president and chairman of Paper Calmenson & Co., a 102-year-old family business in Roseville, died Tuesday at United Hospital in St. Paul. He also played an integral role in many other businesses, arts organiza- tions and civic and community groups. Paper was born and raised in St. Paul. He graduated from St. Paul Academy and from Yale University, then joined the family business. It had been started in 1891 by his grandfather, Lewis Paper, and part- ner Moses Calmenson. Originally its focus was on fabricat- ing and distributing steel for con- struction. It also bought and sold large quantities of scrap iron for East- ern steel mills. More recently, Paper Calmenson & Co. has manufactured steel products. "Lewis was a visionary in the field of electronic data processing," said his brother-in-law Bill Forman, chief ex- ecutive officer of the company. He was "probably one of the best -versed people in the whole matter of busi- ness management and controls by using electronic data processing. He was not only devoted to that particu- lar business aspect, but was also a master of it." He retired from Paper Calmenson in 1971 but continued as a member of its board of directors until his death. He was on the board of the Steel Service Center Institute, a national organization. He eventually earned a master's degree with an emphasis on electronic data processing at the Uni- versity of Minnesota. He had been a successful consultant for the past 20 years. Paper was a trustee of Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance Co. He had been a director of First Bank St. Paul and served on the boards of many other companies. He had been presi- dent of the old Charles T. Miller Hospital and was deeply involved in United Hospital and LifeSpan. He was a board member and past chairman of Minnesota Public Ra- dio. He was active in the St. Paul Arts and Science Council, chairman of Film in the Cities and on the board of the Minnesota Zoological Society. He is survived by daughters Ellen Paper Rau and Elisabeth Swope, both of Minneapolis; a sister, Rox- anne Forman, of St. Paul, and a brother, William, of Mendota Heights. Services will be held at noon Thursday at Mount Zion Temple, 1300 Summit Av., St. Paul. Shiva will be held Thursday. Memorials' to United Hospital are suggested. Ar- rangements are by Hodroff & Sons. 242 °bitwtis.BFunerals NOTICE As a public service, we offer the first five lines of any obitu- ary free of charge. With this WOW you can Include name, age, oily, funeral home name and phone number. (The bold type for the last name uses two Ines.) You may also buy addi- tional lines o1 space for $3.75 per line per day In our metro editions or $4.25 per Motor full coverage. For help in placing your notice, contact your fu- neral director or a Star Tribune representative et 6734130. Baker Daniel Robert, age 56, of San Jose, CA, on March 6, 1993. . Visitation 5-8 pm Thursday at O'Halloran & Murphy, 575 S Snelling Ave, St Paul. Com- plete notice to follow. For fur- ther info call 698-0796. Beck Edward A., age 66, \14 of Edina. Electrical supervisor for City Y of Edinafor o 20 years. Member of American Legion Post #435. Former radio ad o & television an- nouncer. Former owner of Ber- dell's Ceramics. Survived by wife, Dorothy; daughter, Sher- rin Rossberg of Bloomington; mother-in-law, Eleanor Schirrschmidt of Hopkins; grandson, Scott Aldridge; granddaughters, Laura & hus- band Nathan Waters of Zum- Oro Falls. MN & Cristl & hus- band Andrew Johnson of Seattle, WA; great-grandchll- dren, Shawn, Mark & Adam. Memorials preferred to family. Funeral service Friday, 12 noon, Werness Brothers Fu- • neral Chapel. Interment Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday, 5-8 pm & one hour prior (11 am) to service on Friday at: Werness Brothers Chapel 3500 W. 50th St., 927-8641 ` Bisset Alpha E., age 78, of Col. Hts. Preceded in death by husband, Robert; & sister, Helen Olson. Survived by son & wife, R. Da- vid Bisset & Florian; daugh- • ters, A. Diane Bisset, Karen Schreiner & husband Don, Judy Dahlman & husband James & Linda Hainlen & hus- • band James; grandchildren, • Darcie, Julie, Jerry, John, ' Chuck, Corrine, Brad, Jeffrey & Steven; 4 great-grandchildren; brother & wife, Charles Robert & Pauline Malmberg; nieces & nephews. Service Wed, 1 pm at Salem Covenant Church, 5th St NW & Silver Lk Rd, New Brighton. Visitation one hour prior to service. Memorials to church preferred. Interment Hillside Cemetery. Hillside Memorium 781-3391 Blomlie Edrl L. (Muncy), age 68, of NE Mpls, on Mar. 6 In her 68th year. Preceded In death by brother, Loren; and grand- daughter Alayna. Survived by daughter, Pati D.; sons, Ron D. and Randy J. Blomlie & wife Nadine; grandchildren, Bambl Peterson & husband Mike, Chantel Walker & husband Damon, Richelle, Rayon, LeR- one, Symone, Nicole, Lauren Blomlie & Fawn LaRue; 6 great grandchildren; brothers, Da- vid, Donald & Robert Muncy & wife Betty; nieces and neph- ews; and loving friends. Ser- vices of "Celebration of Life," 8 pm Thurs at Billman-Hunt Chapel, 2701 Central Ave NE. Interment in Hillside Cemetery later. Visitation 1 hour prior to • services at the Billman-Hunt Chapel, 789-3535. • Cleaveland Orville B., age 77, of New Hope. Sur- vived by daughters & sons-in-law, Berta Hachey of Coon Rapids, Jean & Kenneth Erickson of Hutchinson and Joanne & John Yurrick of Grand Rapids; sons & daugh- ters-in-law, John & Lora of Maple Grove and Mike & Lori of ' , Maple Grove; 15 grandchil- dren; 10 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters and 1 brother; many other loving relatives and friends. Member of Brook Park Baptist Church. Service Friday, 12 noon, Gearty-Delmore Rob- binsdale Chapel, 39th & W. - Broadway. Friends may call •t, Thursday 6-9 pm and1 hour prior to service. Interment Morningside Cemetery. Gearty-Delmore 537-4511 Cziok Dorothy A., age 69, died at home In Henning, MN after a courageous battle with cancer. Longtime resident of Mpls. Loving wife of Len for 49 years. She was born 9/16/23 in Seat- tle, WA, graduated from Ju- neau H.S., Juneau, AK In 1941, and moved to Mpls after WW II. She will be missed by hus- band, Leonard; mother, Selma Fors of Henning; daughter, Carol Jane Brunette & hus- band Bruce of Mpls; sons, Joel M. & wife Debra of Peachtree City, GA & Jerry R. & wife Liese of Eden Prairie; grandchildren, David, Peter, Andrew, Lauren & Krista; aunts, uncles & many friends. She was a blessing to all who knew her. Funeral, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Henning, MN, Thurs- day, 1:30 pm. Memorial ser- vice, Ft. Snelling Memorial Chapel, 6000 Minnehaha Ave S, Friday, 1 pm. Burial Ft. Snelling. Arr. Belmont Funeral Home, Henning, MN, 218- 583-2511. Memorials to Good Shepherd Lutheran Ch urch of Henning. Davis William James, age 46, died March 4 at the Alaska Re- gional Hospital al in P Anchorage, AK, fol- lowing a lengthy battle with cancer. Burial was In the Ft. Richardson National Ceme- tery, Anchorage. Mr. Davis was born December 24, 1946 In Des Moines, IA. He graduated from North High School in Min- neapolis and later worked as a pressman for the Minneapolis Star Tribune. He served with the Marine Corps from 1966 to 1968 and served a tour of duty in Viet Nam as a scout leader. He came to Alaska the summer of 1979 from Minneapolis and worked as a pressman super- visor for Alaska Advertisers un- til the time of his death. He was a member of Gloria Del Luther- an Church. Davis particularly enjoyed the hunting, fishing and great outdoors of Alaska. His family said, "He was a very loving husband and father and was loved and respected by all." Mr. Davis Is survived by his wife, Shannon Cox -Davis of Anchorage; four daughters, Tiffany Lynn and Dawn Marie Davis of Anchorage, and Wen- dy Lea and Carrie Ann Davis of Phoenix, AZ; and one son, Wil- liam J. Davis, Jr. of Anchorage. He also leaves his father, Lio- nel L. Davis of McCallsberg, IA; his brother and sister-in-law, Lionel D. and Mary Davis of Rutland, VT; and two grand- sons, Brent Michael and Casey Matthew Ringo Davis of Phoe- nix. Arr. by Evergreen Memori- al Chapel, Anchorage. Dimeny Samuel, age 66, of Blooming- ton. Passed away March 9, 1993. Born In Romania. Em- ployed with Bordens 20 years. Survived by wife, Maria; daughter, Marla Elizabeth DI- menyof Richfield grandson, a dson 9 Samuel III; & sisters surviving in Romania. g Erickson Ida M., age 93, of North Branch. Died on March 7. Sur- vived by 3 sons, 1 daughter, 2 sisters, 19 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, & 7 great -great-grandchildren. Funeral services Thursday, March 11, at 11 am, United Methodist Church, North Branch. Visitation 6-8 pm Wednesday, Grandstrand Fu- neral Home, North Branch. In- terment Oakhlll Cemetery. Fisher (Moe) Peggy S., 34, Columbia Hts. Beloved mother of Jesse Fisher of IA. Survived by parents, Al- ton & Marion Moe; grand- mother, Pauline Breckenridge; sisters, Diana Whalen, Pam & husband Milt Kinney, Marilyn & husband Bob Stewart & Julie & husband Bill Steger; brother, Don Moe; nieces and neph- ews. Visitation Wed 5-8 pm, Miter Funeral Home, 831 40th Ave NE Columbia Hts. Funeral service Thurs, 1:30 pm, Norton Lutheran Church, Colfax, WI. Cremation Society of Minnesota Simple • Dignified • Inexpensive For free no -obligation brochure call 825-2435 or write: 4343 Nicollet Ave. Mpls, MN 55409 -4 Ganley Vernle G., age 85, of Mpls. Survived by husband, Leo; daughter, Virginia Burns; grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth, Michael Charles & Thomas & wife Christina; great-grand- children, Joseph & Jacob; & many relatives & friends. Mass of Christian Burial Friday, 2 pm at Gill Brothers Funeral Chapel, 5801 Lyndale Ave S. Interment St. Mary's Cemetery. Visita- tion one hour before service only. Gill Brothers 861-6088 Gensmer Weldon 1., age 71, of Bloo- mington. Preceded In death by brother, Leslie. Survived by wife, Rose Ann; children, Deb- orah Gensmer, Cynthia Gensmer, Kurt & his wife Jean Gensmer; grandchildren, Johnathan, Michelle and Kris- topher Gensmer; brother, Wayne (Barbara) Gensmer; sister-in-law, Betty Gensmer; nieces. nephews e hew s and cousins. Services Thursday, 11:00 am at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, E. 66th St & 16th Ave S, Richfield. Interment Ft. Snelling. VisitationWed 5-8 pm at Morris NilsenChapel, Cha el , 6527 Portland Ave S. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church. Morris Nilsen Chapel 869-3226 Gerdes Florence, age 85, of St. Louis Park. Survived by daughter, Phyllis Rieder; sons & daugh- ters -In-law, David & Sandy, Craig & Kathy; twin brother, Floyd Colby; sister, Lois Schmitt; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. Memori- al service 1:30 Wednesday, March 10, Normandale Hy - lands United Methodist Church, 9920 Normandale Blvd, Bloomington. Memorials preferred to the church. Cremation Society of MN 825-2435 Hagen Willis (Willie), age 86, of St. Louts Park. w p Survived by wife, Madelyn; sons, John & Peter; step -sons, Gary & Robert Osman; grandchil- dren, Kelly Swan, Ali- son Schuller, Danielle & Molly Hagen; cous- In, Frances Kidd. If so desired, memorials may be given to Shriner's Hospital for Crippled Children, 2025 E. River Rd., St. Paul, MN 55414. Funeral ser- vice Thursday, 3 pm, Lake- wood Chapel. Interment to fol- low. Friends may call 1 hour prior to the service and Wednesday 4-8 pm at: Werness Brothers Chapel 3500 W. 50th St., 927-8641 (- Hall Elrose E., age 81, of Mpls. Pre- ceded in death by husband. Born & raised a sad In Duluth, MN. Survived bydaughter, Kath- leen Hall, Buenos Aires, Argen- tina; sons, Richard & wife Ma- jel Hall, Rochester, MN & Douglas & wife Ramona Hall, Fairmont, MN; 11 grandchil- dren; & 3 great-grandchildren. Memorials desired to Channel 2 & Minneapolis Public Li- brary. Funeral services Thurs- day, 1 pm, Werness Brothers 37th Chapel. Friends may call 12-1 pm Thursday at: Werness Brothers Chapel 3700 Nicollet Ave S, 824-2624 Hanson Golmer B., age 76, of the Bryn Mawr Health Care Center. Sur- vived by daughter, Carol Thort- son; 3 grandchildren; sisters, Stancy Erickson & Delna Esping, both of Mpls; brothers, Gilford of Sandstone & Glenn of Tacoma, WA. For informa- tion, call: Washburn-McReavy Swanson Chapel 529-9691 Hartke LaVonne M., age 55, of Mpls. Survived by 2 brothers, 7 sis- ters, and many nieces & neph- ews. Former employee of Unit- ed Cerebral Palsy of MN. Services Thurs, 10 am, 0.E. Larson -Osborne Chapel, 2301 Central Ave NE, Mpls. Visita- tion one hour prior to service. Interment St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Wood Lake, MN. 0. E. Larson -Osborne Chapel 789-3571 Herdina Henry A., age 80, of Olivia, for- merly of Mpls. Retiree of Hon- eywell. Survived bytwodaugh- ters, Joan of Mpls & Linda & husband Ronald Johnson of Georgia; 5 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; 1 sister, Bertha & husband Ed Kadlec of Olivia; also many wonderful nieces & nephews. Funeral service Thurs, 10:30 am, St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Oli- via. Interment church ceme- tery. Visitation Wed, 4-8 pm at the Dirks-Blem Funeral Home, Olivia, 612-523-1102. Hood Robert, age 47, of Burnsville. Notice Friday. Cremation Soci- ety of MN, 825-2435. Funeral Notices And related classifications. To lace a aid classified notice call 673-4130 Jensen (Alberico) Evelyn D., age 63, of San Ra- mon, CA, formerly of St. Antho- ny. Retired 33-year employee of Northwestern Bell/AT&T. Survived by husband, Ken- neth; sons, Steven of Mpls & Scott & Mark, both of San Ra- mon, CA; brothers & sisters- in-law, Norman & Pat Alberico & Richard & Faye Alberico; sis- ter & brother -In-law, Betty & Marty Sandberg, all of Mpls; nieces, nephews, other rela- tives & many friends. Member, Telephone Pioneers & a 43- year member of Central Lu- theran Church. Funeral 2 pm Thursday, Washburn- McReavy vy east Chapel, 29th & Johnson St NE. Inter- ment Hillside. Friends may call 5-8 pm (TODAY) Wednesday. Memorials may be directed to U of M Masonic Cancer Center, 420 Delaware St SE, Box 612, Mpls, MN 55455. Washburn-McReavy Northeast Chapel 781-6828 Julson Lucille I. "Lu," age 63, of North Mpls. Retired 36-year employ- ee o1 Mpls Honeywell. Mem- ber, Teamsters Local #1145, and The Honeybells bells Club. Pre - ceded - ceded in death by parents, Gil- bert & Gladys Julson; & broth- ers, Donald & Selmer Julson. Survived by brothers and sis- ters-in-law, Gordon & Marian Julson, Milwaukee, Leonard & Vinnie Julson, Yelm, WA, LaVerne & Teddie Julson, Mil- waukee, and Gilman Julson, Trempealeau, WI; sisters and brothers -In-law, Florence & Ed Lyga, Independence, WI, Bernice & Roger Polus, LaCrescent, MN; half-sister Tracy Waniorek & husband Roman, Independence, WI; half brotlher, Grant Lee & wife Helen, Gralesvflle, WI; and good friend, IMuriel Gilbertson of Mpls. Also survived by numer- ous nieces, nephews, other rel- atives and friends. Funeral 1 pm Friday, Lookout Lutheran Church, rural Mondovi, WI. In- terment in the Church Ceme- tery. Visitation 3-6 pm Thurs at Washburn-McReavy Swanson Chapel, Lowry at Irving Ave N, and at the church, 1 hour be- fore services Fri. Arr: Washburn-McReavy Swanson Chapel 529-9691 Kennedy Evelyn E., age 81, of Edina. Preceded In death by husband, James J. Survived by son, Har- old; sister, Irene Reed of Winni- peg; brother, Harold Billington of Kelowma, British Columbia. Also survived by relatives and friends. Memorial service Thurs, 1:30 pm, Lakewood Cemetery Chapel, 3600 Hen- nepin Ave, Mpls. Private inter- ment. Memorials preferred to the Lung Association. Cremation Society of MN 825-2435 Koehler Nell W. of NE Mpls, on Mar. 8 In his 75th year. Retired Fireman for the Soo Railroad. General Chairman of the Brotherhood Locomotive Firemen & Engin- eermen. Member of the Order of the Cooties. Past Com- mander of VFW Kaniewskl/ Loss #1852 & Quarter Master for the Milian Magnuson Post #182. Preceded In death by wife, Elinore. Survived by daughters, Carolyn Clark & husband Richard, Joanne & husband Lloyd Koehler-Brem- seth, Rosemary & husband Alan Lambert, son, Daniel & wife Jean Koehler; grandchil- dren, Richard Jr., Kevin, Cyn- thia, David, and Nicole Clark, Cooper Koehler-Bremseth, Beth, Cori, Dan, and Joe Lam- bert, Jill, Ben, and Mike Koehler; brothers, Phil & wife Betty Koehler, Gene & wife Shirley Koehler, and many lov- ing friends. Services Friday 1:30 pm at the Billman-Hunt Chapel, 2701 Central Ave NE. Interment Crystal Lake Ceme- tery. Visitation after 4 pm Thurs at the Billman-Hunt Chapel, 789-3535. Kopp Roger P., age 74, of Hopkins. Full notice Thursday. Washburn-McReavy StrobeckJohnson 938-9020 Kranitz John T., age 77, of the Camden Care Center. Full notice Thurs. Sundseth Anderson 529-9291 Krejce John, age 89, of Lakeville, on March 8. Survived by nieces & nephews. Mass of Christian Burial 10 am Thursday, All Saints Catholic Church, Lake- ville. Visitation 4-8 pm Wednesday. Parish vigil 7 pm. White Funeral Home, Lakeville. Interment Lakeville. Larson Arthur V., age 73, of New Hope. Kapala-Glodek-Malone 535-4112 Luckwell Inge, age 94, of Mpls. Survived by son & daughter-in-law, .Ar- thur & Janet of Lakeland; daughter & son-in-law, Eliza- beth & Harry Dahlberg of Arizo- na; 5 grandchildren; & 4 great- grandchildren. Memorial service Sat, March 13, 11 am, Woodlake Lutheran Church, 76th & Oliver Ave S, Richfield. Private Interment Ft. Snelling Cemetery. Cremation Society of MN, 825-2435. Marcy Charles, age 81, of Hacken- sack, MN. Passed away March 8. Born July 4, 1911 in Charles City, IA. Survived by one son, Bruce of Woodbury; 2 daugh- ters, Peggy Marcy of Mpls and Marna Thompson of Bloo- mington; 1 sister, Hazel Stef- fens of St. Louis Park; 2 broth- ers, Benjamin of Golden Valley and Mort of Orlando, FL; 8 grandchildren; 9 great-grand- children. Funeral will be Friday, 2 pm at Northland Funeral Home, Pine Riv er. Visitation Thursday 5-8 pm at Northland Funeral Home, Pine River. Marquardt Robert V. 9 o age7 f St.Paul, aul, on March 8. Arr: We st Funeral Home, 457-6200. McDonald R. Cecil, age 80, of Anoka. Pre- ceded in death by wife, Doro- thy. Survived by 5 daughters, 1 son, 17 grandchildren, & 7 great-grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial Thursday, 2 pm, St. Stephen's Catholic Church, 5th & Jackson Sts, Anoka. Interment Calvary Cemetery, Anoka. Vlsitatlon AT THE CHURCH 2 hours before Mass only. Arr. Thurston -Lind- berg Funeral Home, Anoka. 421-0220 Miklethun Agnes H., age 84. Complete notice Thursday. Henry W. An- derson Mortuary, 729-2331. Miller Earl Marcus, age 77, of Fridley, MN. Beloved father, grandfa- ther & great-grandfather. Em- ployed for 391 years with Northwestern Bell as a busi- ness systems installer & re- pairman in the Twin Cities & surrounding areas. An active member in the Christian com- munity. Preceded in death by wife, Margie Nelson Miller, 1948; & wife, LaVerne John- son Miller, 1988; also brothers, Herbert Miller & Lester Vosen. Survived by daughter, Karen Woods; son-in-law, Warren Woods; granddaughter, Shelly Nickles; great-granddaugh- ters, Tanya & Rachel Nickles; & grandson, Steve Woods, all of Fridley, MN; grandson, Scott Woods of Byhalia, MS; daugh- ter, Deborah Schneider; grandson, Josh Schneider; & granddaughter, Brandi Schneider, all of Eaton, CO. Also survived by brother, Rob- ert; & sisters, Cordelia, Jose-phine, phine Arline & Lucille. Servi ce Fri, 9 am at Hillside Memorium Funeral Home, 2610 19th Ave NE (Hwy 88 & Stinson Pkwy). Visitation Thurs, 4-8 pm. Inter- ment Hillside Cemetery. Lun- cheon following service In the Hillside Community Room. Hillside Memorium 781-3391 Milton Wilbur L., on March 6, age 78, res. Arden Hills. Preceded in death by parents, Paul & Es- telle; brother, Paul and son, Wilbur. Survived by wife, Fern; daughters, Elizabeth Milton, Martha & husband Joe Usa- tine, and son James & wife Carol Milton; daughter-in-law, Georgia Stafford. Also survived by 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Funeral service at MUELLER-BIES FU- NERAL HOME NORTH CHA- PEL, 2130 N. Dale at Cty Rd B, Roseville, on Thurs, March 11, 11 am. Interment Oakland Cemetery. Visitation from 5-9 pm Wed. 487-2550 Miscko Michael D., III, age 39, of Mpls. Survived by daughter, Tessa; mother & step -father, Dorothy & Dean Steinke; brother, Dan- iel; step -grandmother, Stella Pendzimas; friends, Jeff Hamm & David Koester; aunts, uncles, nieces & nephews. Member of the Board of Direc- tors of the Aliveness Project. Former restaurant owner and jeweler. Funeral from the Koz- lak-Radulovich Funeral Cha- pel, 1918 University Ave NE, Thursday at 9:30 am. Mass of Christian Burial in the Church of Immaculate Conception at 10 am. Private interment. Par- ish vigil Wednesday at 7:30 pm. Visitation after 5 pm Wednesday. Memorials pre- ferred to Aliveness Project. Kozlak-Radulovich Chapel 789-8869 Mooney Jeanine Leila, age 58, of Rose- ville, on March 9. Arr. O'Hal- loran and Murphy, 698-0796. Moran Alecla A., age 92, of St. Paul, on 3/5. Mass Wed. Arr: O'Hal- loran & Murphy, 698-0796. Ylollick LaVerne E., March 3, 1921 - March 9, 1993, of Blooming- ton. Preceded in death by her mother, Mildred Olstead. Sur- vived by her loving husband, Earle C.; son, Douglas of Mpls; daughters, Sandy, Linda Johnson (Gale), and Erlene; grandchildren, Lynette, Brenna, Breck, Suzanne, and Brian; great-grandchildren, Ryan, Chelsea, Morgan and "an angel due;" many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends; also, her special com- panion, Bebe. Funeral service Friday, 11 am, McDivitt- Hauge-Bradshaw Funeral Home, 3131 Minnehaha Ave. S. Interment Morningside Cemetery, Coon Rapids. Visi- tation Thursday, 4-8 pm and one hour before service on Fri- day. Memorials preferred to family in lieu of flowers. McDivitt-Hauge-Bradshaw 724-3621 Morio Marie A,9 . age 96, of St. Therese Nursing Home. Survived by daughters, Mrs. Beverly Chap- man of Gulf Port, Mississippi, and Joan Morio of Golden Val- ley; son & daughter-in-law, William R. (Bill) & Ruth Morro of Lisbon, IA. 7 grandsons; 1 granddaughter; 12 great- grandchildren; son-in-law, Richard Longeway; brother, John R. Murphy of Cedar Rap- ids, IA. Preceded in death by husband, William F. Morro; daughter, Rita Longeway; grandson, Jeffrey Chapman; and son-in-law, William S. Chapman. Funeral Friday, 9:30 am from Gearty-Delmore Park Chapel, Wooddale & Ex- celsior Blvd. Mass of Christian Burial 10 am at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 145 Jer- sey Ave S. Interment Fort Snelling. Friends may call 7-9 pm Thursday. Prayer service 7 pm Thursday. Memorials pre- ferred to donor's choice or the St. Therese Family Council. Gearty-Delmore 926-1615 Mueller Mildred C., age 75, of Alamosa, CO, formerly of Orono, MN. Died March 2 in the San Luis Valley Regional Medical Cen- ter. She was born Aug. 6, 1917 in Munger, MI to John T. & El- mira C. Schulte Schabel. She was married to Raymond Mueller, who preceded her In death in 1988. She enjoyed bowling, reading, her needle- work and especially her family. She is survived by sons & daughters-in-law, James R. & Jeanie Mueller, Alamosa, CO & Arlee N. & Jean Mueller, Chan- hassen, MN; daughters & sons-in-law, Cynthia L. & James D. White, Woodland Park, CO, Mira J. & David Har- relson, Alamosa, CO & Barbara A. & Sam Towers, Lexington, KY; daughter, Helen C. Stew- art, Villa Grove, CO; brother, John E. Schabel, Franken- muth, MI; sister, Rose M. Ryntz, Melrose, MI; 10 grand- children and 3 great-grand- children. - 9 9 children. Cremation was cho- sen, and a private family service was held. Memorials are preferred to Hospice Del Valle, P.O. Box 1554, Alamosa, CO81101. Neby Dean R., age 45, of Arlington, TX. Service TODAY, 1 PM. Listoe-Wold-Bradshaw 698-3878 Nordman Dr. Willard F., M.D., age 90, of Mora, MN. Died Mar 8 at Mercy Hospital in Anoka. Surviving him are 2 sons, Willard C. & wife Ann of Altus, OK & Glenn W. & wife Carol of Maple Grove; 6 grandchildren; & 2 great-grandchildren. Funeral services Thurs, 1 pm at United Methodist Church, Mora. Visi- taiton 5-8 pm Wed at Dresser- Methven Funeral Home. Ma- sonic Service 7 pm. Interment Oakwood Cemetery, Mora. Dresser-Methven 612-679-1822 Nygaard Irving H., age 83, of Crestview Health Care Center. Preceded in death by wife, Temple. Sur- vived by son, Jon & his wife Jan of Fergus Falls; daughter & son-in-law, Marie & Gary Johnson of Ashland, MO; grandchildren, Jon Jr. & wife JoAnn, Jeffrey, Kari, and Marit great-granddaughters, Jenna and Brittany; brothers, Robert & wife Beverly and Donald & wife Irene; sister-in-law, Doris Bergquist. Services Friday, 11 am at First Lutheran Church of Columbia Heights, 1555 40th Ave NE. Interment Sunset. Masonic services under the auspices of Arcana Masonic Lodge, 7 pm Thursday. Re- viewal 4-8 pm Thursday. Washburn McReavy Northeast Chapel 2905 Johnson St. NE 781-6828 Oxborough Irma Mary, age 86, of Richfield Towers, formerly of Blooming- ton. Mass of Christian Burial Wed (TODAY), 10:30 am at the Church of the Assumption, E 77th St & 3rd Ave S. Gill Brothers 888-7771 Paddock Scott P., age 39. Son of Rich- ard T. Paddock of Maple Grove & Barbara Paddock -Jones of Columbia, SC. Died March 8 in Oakland, CA. He was a resident of Mill Valley, CA. Born in St. Paul, Mr. Paddock attended the Osseo schools and gradu- ated from Osseo High School. He was a restaurant manager at several well-known Twin Cities establishments. Survi- vors include his wife, Beverley Barth Paddock of Mill Valley; 3 brothers, Mark C., Kurt A. & Christopher R.; and a sister, Amy E., all of Mpls; & grand- parents, Bertha Remillong of Mpls & Nick & Adrift) Bleizeffer of St. Paul. Services will be held in Daphne Fernwood Mor- tuary in Mill Valley, Thursday, March 11 at 1 pm. Paper Lewis D., age 64, of Roseville. Survived by daughters & Bon- in -law, Ellen Paper Rau, & Eli- sabeth S. Paper Swope & M. Charles w S tope, all of Mpls; sister & brother-in-law, Rox- anne & Willis Forman of St. Paul; brother & sister-in-law, William & Raline Paper of Mendota Heights; nie ces and nephews. Mr. Paper ape. was the former President and Chair- man of Paper Calmenson & Co. Funeral services THURS- DAY 12 NOON, MT ZION TEM- PLE, 1300 Summit Ave., St. Paul. Memorials preferred to the United Hospitals. SHIVA 197 Woodlawn Ave, St. Paul (Thursday only). Arrange- ments Hodroff & Sons. Pendleton Jannie B., age 74, of Mpls. Pre- ceded in death by husband, George I. Born & raised in Jackson, MS. Survived by daughters, Barbara Caldwell, Brazorla, TX & Patricia Sibley, Brooklyn Center; son, Charles Pendleton, Bloomington; 7 grandchildren; one great- granddaughter; sisters, Fannie Hayes, Annie Timberlake & Dorothy Johnigan; cousin, El- nora Luckey; & a host of rela- tives & friends. Graveside ser- vices Friday, 11 am, Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Friends may call 5-7 pm Thursday at: Werness Brothers Chapel 3700 Nicollet Av S, 824-2624 Peterson Bernice R., age 69, of Brooklyn Center, on Sunday. Preceded in death by son, Jerome Victor - 1968; and a brother, Harry Marcott. Beloved wife of Dale J.; mother of Dennis, Darrel, James, Loren and LaVern Pe- terson; 7 grandchildren; 1 great-granddaughter; 2 sis- ters, Gladys Reuter and Lour- aine Gogner; brothers, Clar- ence & Donovan Marcott; nieces & nephews. Mass of Christian Burial 12 noon Fri- day, Our Lady of Victory Church, 5155 Emerson Ave. N. Spring interment St. Dorothy's Cemetery,Red Lake Falls. a s. Visi- tation 6-8 pm Thursday with prayer service 7:30 pm at 0. E. Larson -Osborne Chapel, 2301 Central Ave. NE, and 'h hour prior to the services at church. Memorials preferred to the American Cancer Society. O. E. Larson -Osborne 789-3571 Pink Scott I., age 38, of Mpls. Sur- vived by brother, Randall Pink of Brooklyn, NY. Graveside ser- vices WEDNESDAY 11 AM, MINNEAPOLISJEWISH CEME- TERY, 70' St at Penn Ave S. Arrangements Hodroff & Sons. Quinn Ruth V., age 71, of St. Louis Park. Preceded in death by husband, John J. Survived by sons, Michael, James & wife Debra; 2 grandchildren, Jenni- fer & Joseph; sisters, Florence Roddy of Glyndon, MN, and Donna Fischer of Albuquerque, NM; brother, Ralph Johnk of El Cajon, CA. Funeral service Wed, 1 pm, with visitation one hour prior to service at Enga- White Funeral Chapel, 5600 Excelsior Blvd at Hwy 100. In- terment Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. Enga-White Funeral Chapel 929-7876 Rokala Roger K., age 60, of Crystal. Survived by wife, Jean; daugh- ter, Ranae Clover & husband Dale; sons, Randy & wife Julie, Joe & wife Karol Rae & Jim & fiancee Michelle Neva; grand- children, Stephanie & Greg - gory Clover & Alexander Ro- kala; mother, Florence Davidson; brother, Earl Rokala; sisters, Evy Walters & Judy McDonald. Preceded in death by father, William & brother, Richard. Truck driver for Go- pher Oil Co. Funeral service 11 am Thursday at Plymouth Ap- ostolic Lutheran Church, 11015 Old Co. Rd 15. Visita- tion 5:30-8:30 pm Wed, with Devotional Service at 7 pm at David Lee Funeral Home, Way- zata. Graveside service 3 pm Thursday, Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery, Kingston, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the church. David Lee Funeral Home 473-5577 Rollwagen Helen, 96, of Apple Valley. Sur- vived by many nieces, neph- ews, great-nieces, great- nephews, other relatives & friends. Private graveside ser- vice. Arr: Listoe-W old -Brads haw 698-3878 Sharbono Lizzie, of Col Hts. Serv. Thurs, 11 am in White Earth, MN. Mattson F.H., Mahnomen. Sheridan Emma (Bartz), age 97, of Hamel. WW I Nursing Corps Vet- eran, member of OES 08, and Amer- ican Legion Auxiliary Post #394. Preceded In death by husband, E.R. (Gene) Sheri- dan. Survived by daughter, Marilyn and husband Jim Ad- ams; granddaughters, Jamie and Stacey; grandsons, Sheri- dan and Jordan; and 2 great- gr andchildren. Memorial ser-vice vice 1 pm Friday, March 12, Rettinger Funeral Home, Long Lake, 473-6954. Shimkus Marjorie L., age 72, of Richfield. Preceded in death by husband, Frank. Retired Rich- field school teacher & VEAP volunteer. Survived by sons & daughters-in-law, Frank Jr. & Patricia William, Robert & Ellen Shimkus; grandchildren, Nicholas, Alex & Anastasia; cousins, friends & neighbors. Services Thursday, 1 pm at House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 7625 Chicago Ave. In- terment Ft. Snelling. Visitation Wed, 6-8 pm, Morris Nilsen Chapel, 6527 Portland Ave. Memorials to VEAP. Morris Nilsen Chapel 869-3226 Simmons Patricia C., age 81, of Mt. Oli- vet Home. Preceded in death by husband, Marshall T. Sim- mons. Survived by daughter, Judy Sprenger; grandchildren, Steven, Heidi & Sara; great- grandson, Jordan; sister, Ro- berta Chapin; nieces & neph- ews. Memorial service Friday, 3 pm, Mt. Olivet-Careview Chapel, 55th & Lyndale Ave S. Private interment, Michigan Memorial Cemetery. Memori- als may be directed to Abbot Northwestern Hospice, Ameri- can Cancer Society or Mt. Oli- vet Home. Gill Brothers 861-6088 Sjoquist Arvid, age 96, of Chisago City. Survived by wife, Pearl; nu- merous nieces & nephews. No services. Soine Connie, age 75, of Mpls. Sur- vived by husband, Harold; daughter, Janet Kormendy & husband Joe; son, Ken & wife P Vicky; ; special friend, Steve An- derson; gra ndchildren, rand Idren Joan & 9 Jim Kormendy, Alysha Sheree, and Jennifer Soine. Services Thursday, 2 pm at the new Crystal Lake Funeral Home at the corner of Penn & Dowling Aves N. Private interment, Crystal Lake Cemetery. Visita- tion 1 hour prior to service. Crystal Lake 521-3677 Sorenson 14 Kenneth O., age 62, of Champlin. Survived by wife, Lorelei (Lori); daughter & son -In- law, Valerie & Stephen Harrington of Andover; son & daughter-in-law, Keith & Anna Sorenson of Princeton; grand- children, Kayla, Jessica & Jacob; brothers, David of Os- seo & Clifford of Coon Rapids; mother-in-law, Lillie Hagen of Champlin; nieces & nephews. Funeral services Thursday, 10 am at Elk River Assembly of God Church, 11800 196th Ave NW, Elk River. Interment Ft. Snelling. Visitation 4-8 pm Wednesday at Thurston -Lind- berg Funeral Home, W. Main St. & Branch Ave, Anoka & AT THE CHURCH one hour prior to services. Steller Janet L., age 49, of Chanhas- sen. Survived by husband, Richard; daughters, Ronda & Julie Steller; son, Jerry Steller; sister & brother-in-law, Mar- lene & William Bartlett of Mpls; brothers & sisters-in-law, John & Beverly Koepcke of Shorewood & Stephen & Mari- lyn Koepcke of St. Louis Park; many nieces, nephews & friends. Funeral service Thurs- day, 11 am, Our Savior's Lu- theran Church, 23290 Hwy 7, Shorewood. Visitation Wed, 6- 9 pm, Huber Funeral Home, Excelsior, with prayer service at 8:30 pm. Interment Lake- wood Cemetery, Mpls. Memo- rials preferred to Our Savior's Lutheran Church. Huber Funeral Home 474-9595 Stolte Gladys N., age 87, of S Mpls. Full notice Friday. Albin Chapel Ralph & James Albinson 871-1418 Spittle May E., age 84, of Mpls. Pre- ceded in death by husband, LeRoy "Bud." Survived by daughter, June & husband Bill Tuomisto of Robbinsdale; grandchildren, Allen Harrer & wife Denise of Brooklyn Park, Kimberly Marty & husband Johnny of Wyoming & Adam Harrer of Mpls; great-grand- children, Roy, Myia & A. Jay Harrer & Lukas & Max Marty; loving step -grandchildren, Mary Jo & husband Ted Ben- nett of Madison, MS, Twila & husband John Blackowiak of Chaska, MN, Randy & Mary Tuomisto of No. Attleboro, MA, Roger & wife Sue Tuomisto of Crystal; very special grandson, Steve of Mpls; Rita & husband Steve Allen of Cambridge, MN, Peter & wife JoAnn Tuomisto of St. Michael, MN, James Tuo- misto of Plymouth, Liisa & husband John Holm of Mpls; step -great-grandchildren, Ann Bennett, Karen Hasseldeck, Mark & Tom Vosmek, Jesse & Tyler Tuomist o Jacob Bernin 9. Matt & Ryan Allen, Andrew & Alexander Tuomisto, Carolyn & Emily Holm; step -great - great -grandchildren, Brittany & Bennett Hass eldeck f o West Allis, WI; brother-in-law, Leon Spittle & wife Lou of Mpls; & sister-in-law, Eleanor Nelson of Robbinsdale. Maywasa life- long resident of N Mpls. In her youth she was a chorus line dancer at the Orpheum The- ater. Had her own beauty shop on W Broadway. Married Bud in 1931, who died in 1971. Had many health problems and died peacefully in her sleep. Service Thursday, 1 pm, at the Washburn-McReavy Swanson Chapel, Lowry at Irving Ave N. Interment Hillside Cemetery. Friends may call from 4-8 pm Wed. Memorials preferred In lieu of flowers to Courage Cen- ter of Golden Valley or the Assn. for Retarded Citizens of MN (A.R.C.). Washburn-McReavy Swanson Chapel 529-9691 Stevens on Agnes E., age 73, of Edina, died March 8 of cancer and Its complications. Devoted moth- er, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be sadly missed. Preceded in death by beloved husband, Russell; sis- ter, Esther Myhra; and broth- ers-in-law, M.R. Myhra and H.L. Herderich. Survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Kent & Jan Stevenson, Dallas, TX and Jeff & Nancy Steven- son, Ames, IA; daughters and sons-in-law, Kyla & Richard Wahlstrom, Mpls and Marcy & Mark Swenson, Edina; 6 grandchildren; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ruth Herder- ich, Sheridan, WY, Irene & Warren Diederich, Fargo, ND and Joyce & Dick Hllden, At- lanta, GA; and 14 nieces and nephews. Born in Bowbells, ND to Ingo and Osmund Gunvald- sen. Graduated from Fargo High School, Fargo, ND and at- tended North tort Dakota State ae University. An active member of Normandale Lutheran Church, DL Chapter of PEO, and a long-term volunteer to numerous community service programs. Memorial service will be held at Normandale Lu- theran Church, Edina, at 2 pm Thurs, March 11. Private Inter- ment at Ft. Snelling. Memori- als in lieu of flowers preferred to Normandale Lutheran Church or the Arthritis Foundation. Cremation Society of MN 825-2435 Swedin Clarence, age 80, of Milaca. Died Monday. Funeral 11 am Thursday, Zion Lutheran Church, Milaca. Visitation 4-8 pm Wed at the Peterson -John- son Funeral Home in Milaca. 983-3488 Theroux Dorothy M., age 81, of New Brighton. Preceded in death by husband, Archie Sr. and son, Archie Jr. Survived by daugh- ters, Patricia & husband Louis D'Jock of Siren, WI, Shirley Demmer of Fridley and Sharon Nast of St. Anthony; 16 grand- children; 10 great-grandchil- dren; sister, Nancy Sponseller of KS. Mass of Christian Burial 10 am Thurs, Church of St. John the Baptist, 835 2nd Ave NW, New Brighton. Visitation 4-8 pm Wed with a 7 pm prayer service at Miller Funeral Home Fridley Chapel, 6210 NE Hwy 65 (571-1300). Interment Hill- side Cemetery. Treseler Edward M., of Bloomington. Full notice later. Henry W. Anderson, 729-2331. Timmons Louise M., age 94, of Robbins - dale. Preceded in death by husband, D. Harris; & daugh- ter, Margaret Jones. Survived by daughter, Eunice & hus- band Jerry Hemingway; 9 grandchildren; 16 great- grandchildren; sisters, Julia MacDonald of Robbinsdale & Alice Robbins of Mpls; many nieces & nephews. Funeral Wed, 10:30 am at Robbinsdale Baptist Church, 3900 Hubbard Ave N. Interment Crystal Lake Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday, 4-8 pm at Gearty- Delmore Robbinsdale Chapel, 39th & W Broadway adwa & at the church one hour prior to ser- vice. Memorials preferred to Robbinsdale Baptist Church, Maranatha Care Center or do- nor's choice. Gearty-Delmore 537-4511 Wamsley Henry L., age 75, of N Mpls. Full notice Thursday. Washburn-McRe avy vy Swanson Chapel 529-9691 Weber. Everett C. (Bud), age 74, of Rogers. Preceded in death by son, Dan. Survived by wife, Marcella; sons, Nick & wife Charlotte, Tom & wife Gayle, Paul, and Kelly; daughters, Mary Weber, Bridget Falbo & husband David and Melani Weber; sisters, Mrs. Doug (Rhea) Scharber, Mrs. Frank (Joanne) Foley and Mrs. Alvin (Grace) Heinz; brother, Lloyd & wife Susan; 11 grandchildren. Mass of Christian Burial Fri- day, 10 am, St. Martin's Church, Rogers. Interment St. Martin's Cemetery. Visitation Thursday 4-8 pm, with prayer service 7 pm, Dare's Funeral Home, Elk River. Memorials preferred to North Memorial Hospice. Wilsey Alice M., age 66, of Roseville. Survived by husband, Lester; sons, Lester III & wife Nicki, Roger, Robin & wife Julie; grandsons, Lester IV, Michael, Roger Jr., Tyler, Jason & Rob- ert; sisters, Rose Shurte, Gloria Huckeby; also survived by rel- atives and friends. Memorial service Friday, March 12,1:30 pm, North Heights Lutheran Church, 2701 N. Rice St, Rose- ville. Private Interment Ft. Snelling National Cemetery. No flowers, please. Memorials preferred to American Cancer Society. Cremation Society of MN 825-2435 Wolfbauer Margaret M., 75, Spring Lake Park. Full notice Thurs. Miller Funeral Home, 571-1300. Wood (Denk) Dorothy M. "Dot," age 69, died 3/9/93. She had resided in Winter Haven, FL for the.past 33 years. Born in Minneapolis. Attended Washburn High & U of M and became a medical technician. She worked at General Hospital. Dot is'sur- vived by daughter, Marjorie Jean of Austin, TX; son, Leon- ard Geoffrey of Lakeland, FL; brother, August F. (Bud) Denk & wife Karron of Montrose, MN; also grandchildren, Jen- nifer, Sandy & Eric. Memorials to Shriner's Crippled Chlldrens Hospital, Hospice of Winter Haven, FL or Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL. 252 Funeral Direct" Washburn-McReavy FUNERAL CHAPELS & CREMATORY NORTHEAST SOUTHEAST NORTH SOUTH ROBBINSDALE HOPKINS 781-6828 379-2368 529-9691 377-2203 537-2333 938-9020 GEARTY-DELMORE ROBBINSDALE 537-45'11 PARK CHAPEL St. Louis Park 926-1615 Billman-Hunt 2701 Central Av. NE.789-3535 O.E. LARSON 2301 Central NE 789-3571 CRYSTAL LAKE Penn at Dowling 521-3677 EVANS-NORDBY' 533-3000 424-4000 GLEASON MORTUARY 866-5038 MORRIS NILSEN 6527 Portland 869-3226 254 1n Memoriam IN MEMORIAM It is the custom of many per- sons to publish an In Memori- am verse as a token of respect to the memory of one who has gone. Insertion of an ad In Memoriam and additional assistance In correct phrasing may ranged telephoning be ar- ranged ANN MILLER GONE, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN. Leo. A. Miller ist for tax increment change E61"--"Y'e ` e Beard faults Blomqu 5 _ 3-56 To the editor: When I ran for mayor of Eagan last fall, one of the issues I raised was the use of tax incre- ment financing to reward and encourage certain development in our city. I pointed out the im- possibility of fairly administer- ing such an inherently unfair taxpayer subsidized system. I was somewhat amused but encouraged nonetheless, to discover that my opponent, Mayor Bea Blomquist, had revised her earlier positions in support of tax increment financ- ing. Indeed, after voting for a council resolution banning the use of this dubious development tool, she even campaigned hard against any future use of tax in- crement financing in Eagan. Imagine my dissappointment, then, to discover that at the Feb. 4 City Council meeting, the mayor reversed herself again, joining councilmembers Thomas Egan and James Smith in granting a $700,000 concession to Sperry Corporation. One really can't fault Sperry for asking for the concessions, but I believe we must fault the judgement of the mayor and members of the council who voted in favor of this deal. I can't help but wonder if Nor- thwest Orient, UPS, West Publishing or other corporate citizens of our city are wonder- ing why they didn't ask for grants or concessions too. They built their plants here with their own money because Eagan is a great place to do business. Perhaps they should come back to the council and ask for retroactive tax relief in the name of fairness! I would like to ask, on behalf of all Eagan taxpayers, how are we going to determine who gets to benefit from this selective largess in the future? I had honestly hoped that the campaign had put the issue of tax increment financing to rest once and for all, but, alas, it ap- pears we were mistaken. Or were we misled? Michael Beard Eagan Blomquist fund report inomp1ete By Bruce Orwell Campaign finance reports show $17,000 was raised on behalf of de- feated Eagan Mayor Bea Blom- quist this year, with $10,000 com- ing from two volunteer committees that have not disclosed their funding sources. Eagan City Clerk Gene Van- Overbeke has asked the Dakota County attorney whether the city can force the committees to identi- fy the sources of the money they raised. Final disclosure forms for the mayoral campaign also show Blomquist's campaign committee is $3,960 in debt. That means Blomquist and the three volunteer committees spent nearly $19,500 on the election. Vic Ellison, who defeated Blomquist, spent $11,350, records show. Blomquist said Monday she was unsure how she'll retire the debt, although she said one of the volun- teer committees may have already made a contribution toward that. The official Blomquist for May- or Committee raised $6,463 during the campaign, and disclosure forms identify the contributors. But three "volunteer" commit- tees that either supported Blom- quist or acted in a way beneficial to her did not list where their con- tributions came from. Minnesota state law allows vol- unteer groups to raise and spend money on behalf of a candidate without the candidate's involve- ment. The law requires volunteer committees to list total receipts and disbursements, and for what purpose the disbursements were made, on disclosure forms to be filed no later than 30 days after an election. The biggest fund-raiser was the Blomquist Volunteer Committee, which raised $8,486 and spent $8,200. The group gave $3,000 of its money to Blomquist's personal committee, according to one of the mayor's previous disclosure docu- mPntc Staff Writer c c The Blomquist Volunteer Com- mittee did not disclose how it spent the money, an act that Van- _ Overbeke said "appears to circum- vent the intent of the law." Doris Wilkens, a member of the Eagan Advisory Planning sion who was treasurer for the Blomquist Volunteer Committee, l said she consulted an attorney be- fore filling out the forms. She said she would comply with any ruling requiring her committee to be more specific. The other committee whose Van- ' ing was questioned by Overbeke was Neighbors for Bea Blomquist, a volunteer group whose chairman, Eagan resident Joel Pearson, alleged in a flyer i that Ellison had criticized a num- ber of Eagan neighborhoods. Pearson' rdisclosuresedform shows and spent that the group $3,940.84, but does not list individ- ual contributors. The committee spent its money on printing d distribution of flyers. Citizens A third volunteer group, provoked for Good Government, prwhen charges of dirty campaigning edetailed a it distributed a fly forgery incident from Ellison's col- lege days. The flyer did not explain that the incident involved $25. The group's co-chairman, Mi- chael Rinaldi of Northfield, said his group was not linked directly to Blomquist, but he has refused to explain why he became involved with the campaign. His disclosure documents show that he n. spent $937.65 during to the VanOverbeke's query county attorney did not mention Rinaldi's group. on special is on spcial assignment. Mayor refutes conflict �- of interest allegations By CAMERON BACHMEIER "Pure harassment" is what Mayor Bea Blomquist is calling the allegations that she was bias- ed against a shopping center that was being proposed by the Bieter Co., and that she was given free rent by Federal Land Co. as an alleged payoff to vote against the project. Blomquist said that Bieter's suit and the 13 depositions that were released Monday, June 8, are mainly an attempt to wear down the Eagan City Council and herself. "The issue is one of zon- ing," said Blomquist, "and not these other allegations." Blomquist, speaking to the allegations that she and her hus- band Ed received free rent for their video stores, said that everyone was given "so much" free rent and that there was no- thing unusual about such a prac- tice. Blomquist also disputed re- ports that alleged she had press- ured other city officials and ad- visory planning commission member Pam McCrea. "What does that have to do with zon- ing?" Blomquist asked, adding that such allegations amounted to no more than gossip. The Bieter Co. lawsuit came about after its proposed 735,000- square-foot shopping center was denied the rezoning it needed. The 13 depositions that were taken and the lawsuit accuse the city of Eagan of being arbitrary and capricious in denying the re- zoning. Responding to these accusa- tions, Blomquist said that Bieter and the depositions have not shown that the council was either arbitrary or capricious. "They have found no real reasons," she said, adding that she felt Eagan residents did not want the land in question rezoned. "People want to know what the future of their neighborhoods will be," Blom- quist said, "and that is why we voted to stick with the compre- hensive guide plan." Kevin Eide, an associate of city attorney Paul Hauge, concurred with Blomquist and said he felt that Bieter Co. was not secure in their ability to prove that the city did act unreasonably in their decision to vote against the re- zoning. Further, Eide stated that the Bieter company's main tactic was to turn this suit in to a public inquiry via the media, which would reflect negatively on the city council members and Mayor Blomquist. - "They are muck- raking," said Eide, "with the hope of reversing the prior zoning decision." Speaking to the various media coverage the lawsuit has incited, Eide said that some of it was a bit sensational and that there was no real factual support for any of the allegations. An example of such an allega- tion was the accusation that Blomquist and McCrea were both offered a trip to California by Federal Land Co. Eide calls the allegation totally unfounded and says it is only being brought up in order to skew people's perception of the case. Eide said the deposi- tion shows that there is no testi- mony of such an offer being made. Eide said he feels quite comfor- table in meeting Bieter's chall- enge. Ex -ally of Eagan mayor joins challenger's team By Michele Cook Staff Writer An Eagan Planning Commission member who worked on Mayor Bea Blomquist's pre- vious campaigns and was co -host of a fund- raiser for the mayor after the last election is going to work for Blomquist's challenger in the November election. Pam McCrea, a longtime member of the Planning Commission, will be co-chairman of City Council member Vic Ellison's bid to oust Blomquist, who is seeking her fifth term. Tom Kubista, a consultant for Unisys in Eagan, will share the duties. "This is a real change for me," said McCrea, a supervisor for the Minnesota De- partment of Jobs and Training. "But I think the city needs a change." McCrea said she switched camps because she believes Ellison has the business skills necessary to run a city that has doubled its population in 10 years. Ellison, a first -term council member and a fiscal conservative, is a vice president for communications at the Council of Hospital Corporations. "I worked for her for several terms be- cause at that time I thought she was a good mayor," McCrea said of Blomquist. "I do like her as a person, but I think the city has outgrown her." Blomquist denied that McCrea was closely involved in her previous campaigns. She said McCrea had "no major role, in fact very mi- nor." She said she did not ask McCrea to as- sist in the upcoming campaign. McCrea said she worked on all four of Blomquist's campaigns and said she served as a "silent manager" for two of them. She said she was surprised by Blomquist's denial of her role in the campaigns, insisting that she has played "an elite role." "I did everything from designing litera- ture to doing literature drops," she said. Blomquist said her campaign this year does not have a manager and might not need one because it is run by committees. McCrea said she and Blomquist have voted fairly consistently on city issues, in- cluding a controversial decision to deny re- zoning land for a $50 million shopping cen- ter. Both voted not to rezone the property at Interstate 35E and Diffley Road. 2DW /FROM THE SECTION FRONT Eagan/ Letter stirs political Continued from Page 1 overtones since Ellison, vice president of a hospital trade organization, announced his candidacy, saying the city is in dire need of new leadership. And the letters have overshadowed Blomquist's own troubles involving conflict -of -interest allegations. The Bieter Co. has sued the city, alleging city officials were "arbitrary and capricious" in denying it permis- sion to construct a shopping center. Blomquist and three council members voted against the project; Elli- son voted for it. The suit alleges one or more unnamed city officials showed favoritism toward the Federal Land Co., which owns a shopping center in which Blomquist's husband rents space. After depositions in the case were made public, a Bieter Co. attorney said the con- flict -of -interest allegations focused on the mayor. She has denied the allegations. "There's a big difference between a $25 mistake I made as a college kid and her alleged misconduct as mayor," said Ellison, "so I don't know where my ques- tions of conflict of interest are inappropriate because they affect the people of this city." The campaign also pits two members of the city's planning commission against each other, and leaves. city officials declining to take sides publicly. Doris Wilkens and Pam McCrea, commission mem- bers appointed under Blomquist, are leading the two :mayoral campaigns. • Wilkens stands behind Blomquist. McCrea, a former :Blomquist campaign worker and business associate, :defected to the other side. Eagan, McCrea said, has :outgrown" Blomquist. The race appears to be costing both camps more money than traditionally spent in Eagan politics, with both candidates buying advertising space in weekly newspapers and producing slick campaign literature and yard signs. • McCrea said the Ellison campaign will cost at least :$8,000. Ellison is accepting only contributions that :come from individuals and no more that $100 a contri- bution, she said, because he doesn't want to appear -beholden to special interests. • Blomquist and Blomquist's campaign treasurer Water Continued from Page 1 ing PCBs on the site. The chemi- cals are the prime suspect in the contamination of nearby residen- tial wells. Dakota County has 8,000 to 10,000 private wells, ranging from 20 feet in depth to about 350 feet, Forrest said. The aquifers that city water systems draw from are much deeper and less susceptible to pollution. Bea Blomquist Vic Ellison Cathy Starin said they didn't know how much money they were spending. Starin described herself as a "si- lent treasurer" and said Blomquist's husband, Edwin, really had a better handle on the spending. Wilkens said questions about Blomquist's campaign spending were irrelevant, but later estimated spend- ing at $6,000. McCrea said the letter about Ellison's college inci- dent was a setback for the Ellison campaign, but she still describes the race as winnable. McCrea and campaign co-chairman Tom Kubista decided against using the allegations of Blomquist's conflict -of -interest in the campaign, she said, "be- cause we're selling Vic and didn't feel we had to down- grade Bea to do that." Blomquist, a part-time chemist for Finishing Equip- ment Inc. in Eagan, has been leading the city, the fast- est -growing in Minnesota with about 40,000 residents, since 1980. She said she was serious about not seeking re-election, but was persuaded to run by supporters. "She has the residents at heart," Wilkens said. "That has always played a big part in my life," said Blomquist, "helping people." Blomquist is married, the mother of two grown chil- dren and has lived in Eagan for 17 years. She de- scribes herself as a candidate of and for the people, and a campaign flyer includes a photograph of a large group of people and the words, "There are over 42,000 tion District and six water man- agement organizations. It will map out the location and depth of the county's aquifers and the depth and condition of bedrock formations. One of the greatest benefits of the detailed information, Forrest said, is that it can help guide deci- sions on the placement of future landfills, industrial waste disposal facilities, septic tanks and major industrial and commercial devel- opments. on the county's groundwater sup- ply and increased the chances of future groundwater contamination. • Surface water management or- ganizations have also become in- terested in the impact that river and rain water has on the quality of groundwater. Many of the watershed organizations are in the process of putting together surface water management plans, but have heard from citizens with ground- St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1987 controversy in race for mayor reasons why I want to be mayor of Eagan." She rebuts McCrea's claim that the city has out- grown her. "I was part of that growth for 10 years," she said. "It's happened under myself." Blomquist said she is pro -growth and fiscally con- servative, and boasts that the city's surging econemy and a doubling in the population has come under her leadership. She talked in general terms of her accomplishments in office, and her goals for the future. She cites eco- nomic development, park improvements and airport noise as her biggest concerns and the areas that would continue to receive the largest chunk of her time. She credits herself and city staff with bringing Un- isys, a computer company formally known as Sperry- Univac, to Eagan 18 months ago, and says she is cur- rently working hard to lure another major unnamed company to the city. She said city services must keep pace with the growth, pointing out that the city, with her support, recently passes a bond referendum to build two more fire stations and she is considering making the part - tune fire chief position full-time. She said she doesn't know her opponent well enough to draw policy distinctions, but said he should have disclosed his fraudulent act in college when he ran for the city council. "This has been hidden in the 22 months he was on the council, and people are angry that they didn't know about it," she said. "Everywhere I go, people are asking me about it." Ellison knows people are talking about the incident because he knocks on doors nightly, hitting 7,000 homes since he began two months ago. He owns up to the incident and then encourages conversation about the issues facing the city. "If they have to go back 10 years to find something to discredit me, I'm in pretty good shape," he said. Ellison is running his campaign on the motto, 'Quality growth, not quantity growth." He says Blomquist has allowed too many residential ind commercial projects through the city's gate with little or no consideration of their long-term effects on the city. For example, he said, Blomquist has voted for zon- ing changes contrary to the city's comprehensive guide that allows single-family houses to be built on lots smaller than the city's minimum standard. He wants commercial developments built away from houses and schools wherever possible. Blomquist is supporting a plan for a Target store at Rahn and Cliff roads, while Ellison is advocating a different site, and has suggested several parcels for sale. "Perhaps we won't be the fastest -growing city in the state, but I'm willing to settle for that for better quality," he said. McCrea, who worked on Blomquist's previous cam- paigns, said she is backing Ellison because he has the business sense and experience to run a city of Eagan's size. "With Ellison you're going to get an extremely hon- est, objective person and his follow-through is excel- lent," she said. "You're going to get a person with Ellison that you don't get with Bea, someone who real- ly represents Eagan." Ellison is married, has three young children and moved to the city four years ago because of its small- town atmosphere and strong public school system. But Ellison said he also recognizes that Eagan is a big city in many ways and that's why he pledges to beef up the police department. He said he would cut back in other departments to achieve a larger police force without raising taxes. He points out that one standard for police depart- ment size is one officer per 1,000 people and Eagan falls below that standard. He said it's at 0.7 per 1,000. "I don't want Eagan to become known as an easy hit for burglars," he said. Ellison, who once worked as a press aide for former speaker of the Minnesota House of Representatives, David Jennings, said he has no plans for higher office at this point. If elected, he promises to seek re-elec- tion at least once. If he's not elected, Ellison said he will keep his council seat. Eagan's new mayor seesmg election as sign of change (/ By Conrad deFiebre Staff Writer To Vic Ellison, his landslide election last week as Eagan's mayor repre- sents a watershed in the brief history of Minnesota's fastest -growing city. "There was definitely a mandate giv- en that Eagan will never again be the way it was: allowing uncontrolled growth with the old township power structure leading a city of 43,000 peo- ple," he said. "It's time to involve the new era of Eagan citizens in poli- cymaking." Ellison, 32, figures he embodies the new Eaganite. Indeed, the contrasts between him and Bea Blomquist, the four -term incumbent he trounced at the polls after a bitter mayoral cam- paign, are striking. Blomquist, 49, is a grandmother whose involvement in Eagan politics goes back before the city's incorpora- tion in 1974. Ellison, the father of three young children, moved to Ea- gan only four years ago. Blomquist is a small -businesswoman with ties to the DFL Party; Ellison, a public relations executive for a hospi- tal group, is a conservative Indepen- dent -Republican who once served as press secretary to former Minnesota House Speaker David Jennings. Blomquist said her defeat after eight years as mayor was "a relief' because it should end questions about cut- rate leases granted to her family busi- ness by Eagan's biggest commercial developer. Ellison said he plans to serve no more than eight years as mayor be- fore possibly considering other politi- cal opportunities. He answered campaign criticism that he was using the Eagan mayoralty as a steppingstone to higher office by promising to run for reelection in two years. "Right now I'm not looking to do anything else," he said. But Ellison's youth and connections to Jennings, the preeminent Indepen- dent -Republican of this decade, clearly mark him as a political com- er. He also is a proven vote -getter, winning 63 percent of the ballots as a record 39.6 percent of Eagan voters went to the polls. Ellison grew up in south Minneapolis and came to politics after four years of writing about it as a reporter for the Mankato Free Press. "1'd watch the clowns at the City Council or Planning Commission and think, 'Boy, I could do a better job,' " he said. After he went to work for Jennings and moved to Eagan, he applied to serve on the Planning Commission but twice was rejected by the Blom- quist-led City Council. Undaunted, he won election to the council in 1985 after knocking on 5,000 doors in six weeks. "I ran on the same issues then as now," he said. "Keep taxes and spending down, concentrate on quali- ty growth rather than quantity, treat businesses fairly." He said he is considering delivering a "state of the city" address after his inauguration Jan. 1. He also may draw on his journalism experience to offer a mayor's column to local newspapers. And he prom- ised to conduct regular neighborhood meetings to solicit citizen opinion. Vic Ellison, mayor -elect of Eagan. WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 4, 1987 MINNESOTA'S FIRST NEWSPAPER -aaat a- ,.f as .a asaaaa/sae .. aa* aoeO Alt* uear. +rr iastae,,, ,. Rally saves Dow from dizzying fall PiPALS eltp DISPATCH PIONEER ,► © 1987 St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch (Northwest Publkations, Inc 1 2 new faces give liberal DFL 5-2 Council edge Vic Ellison captures mayoral seat in Eagan r— By Bruce Orwell Staff Writer Eagan City Council member Vic Ellison easily defeated four -term incumbent Bea Blomquist on Tues- day to become the new mayor of Minnesota's fastest growing city. Ellison, 32, fought off what he called dirty campaign tactics to defeat Blomquist in a campaign that saw allegations hurled in both directions. Ellison had collected 3,723 votes to Blomquist's 2,150 votes with 13 of the city's 14 pre- cincts reporting. "It shows that hard work and positive campaigning will pay off every time," Ellison said. "The public rejects negative campaign- ing and half-truths." Blomquist did not return tele- phone calls Tuesday night. Ellison visited more than 8,000 homes after announcing his candi- dacy in June, stressing what he called "quality growth" over quan- tity growth, particularly in resi- Please see Eagan/4A COUNTY TRO THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1987 Eagan power shift cant seat on the five -member coun- cil. City guidelines call for the coun- cil to select someone to fill the re- maining two years of Ellison's term. In the event of a deadlock among the four remaining mem- bers, Ellison would get to break the tie. The majority Ellison would like also includes incumbent Ted Wachter, who was re-elected Tues- day night. But Wachter said Wednesday that he does not believe in coalitions on the council and will examine issues one at a time. "I can't give a commitment," Wachter said. "Never have, and never will." Ellison ran away with Tuesday's mayoral election, collecting 3,878 votes to Blomquist's 2,263. In elec- tions for two council seats, incum- bent Wachter led six candidates with 3,122 votes, while Gustafson tallied 3,029 votes. James A. Smith, a 15-year council member, was defeated with 2,617 votes, as were challengers Stephen Rosen- thal (1,511 votes), Angie McCollum (780) and Frank Kugler (298). Blomquist, in a brief interview, asserted that the Bieter Co., whose bid to build a shopping center at I- 35E and Diffley Road was rejected by the council earlier this year, provided the primary financial thrust for Ellison's victory. Please see Eagan/3B ■ The Back Page/ 10B ■ Comics/6B • Obituaries/4B ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS DISPATCH DAKOTA ME Ellison credits win to By Bruce Orwell Staff Writer Vic Ellison on Wednesday said his sizable victory in Eagan's may- oral election represents a major power shift in city politics, but de- feated Mayor Bea Blomquist com- plained that Ellison's victory had been "bought" by an Edina devel- oper that contributed to Ellison's ample war chest. Ellison, a City Council member, said the election of like-minded planning commission member Da- vid Gustafson to the city council ensures that he will have enough votes on the council to carry out his agenda. That list of goals includes en- forcing minimum lot sizes in the city, keeping commercial growth away from residential neighbor- hoods and bolstering police and fire department staffs. Those cam- paign planks were all endorsed by both Ellison and Gustafson. "I suspect that Dave Gustafson and I are going to be voting alike quite a bit of the time," Ellison said. The election of both men, Ellison said, drives home his assertion that voters "were not satisfied with the old guard." If Ellison and Gustafson indeed vote as a bloc in January, they will probably be able to cement their majority by selecting their own candidate to fill Ellison's now-va- Eagan Continued from Page 1 B Blomquist opposed rezoning land for the Bieter Co. development, while Ellison and Gustafson sup- ported it. Both men received mon- ey from Bieter's partners — Hugh Thorson, Ron Cornwell and Dennis Klohs. "We have a `bought election' and everyone knows it," Blomquist said. "(Bieter) just diverted funds to other people and used their names. It's very apparent." "'that's just baloney," Ellison re- plied. He said the Bieter partners and their friends and associates had contributed a total of $1,100 to a campaign that eventually raised close to $12,000. Cornwell and Klohs denied that their company had given money to other people for the purpose of contributing to Ellison, although each partner and his wife contrib- uted $100 to the Ellison effort. The Bieter representatives also ac- counted for more than half of the $1,705 that had been contributed to Gustafson's campaign by the mid- dle of last week. The Bieter Co. partners said they worked to get Ellison elected and asked friends to contribute to his campaign . The Bieter Co., Cornwell said, did not feel it was treated fairly when its development was rejected by the city. uus. uj ...a . _.. Eagan/ Zoning, development were campaign issues Continued from Page 1A dential developments. He decried the frequent approval of housing developments on lots smaller than the city's minimum standards in recent years, a practice he said will result in lower property values for everyone if it is continued. Ellison said Tuesday night the is- sue carried him to the resounding victory. "People are concerned that the value of their home is going to be diminished by not up- holding the minimum standards," he said. Eagan's youthful population saw in Ellison a candidate much like themselves — a young professional Ellison Blomquist person with a new home and young children in school. "I know what they're going through because I'm going through 111 it myself," the mayor -elect said. But the onetime press aide to Minnesota House Speaker David Jennings was hit with allegations about his past during the closing weeks of the campaign. Several weeks ago, a group called "Citizens for Good Govern- ment" distributed campaign litera- ture exposing a forgery incident Ellison was involved in as editor of the St. Cloud State University newspaper during the 1970s. The advertisement failed to mention that the incident involved just $25, and Ellison called it a "half-truth." Later, another volunteer group called "Neighbors for Bea Blom - rum quist" accused Ellison of criticiz- ing specific Eagan neighborhoods, which Ellison called a lie. Blomquist, mayor of the city since 1980, said her campaign or- ganization was not responsible for the actions of either group. Blomquist, a part-time chemist, argued during the campaign that she has helped attract the phe- nomenal growth the city has expe- rienced over the past seven years. The city that had 20,000 residents then now boasts over 40,000. During recent years, however, Blomquist has been dogged by alle- gations that she has showed favor- itism toward the Federal Land Co., a prominent Eagan development company that owns a shopping cen- ter that houses a video store owned by Blomquist and her husband. In city council races, challenger David Gustafson — a candidate cast in the same political mode as Ellison — appeared to have won one of two seats by collecting 2,911 votes, with incumbent Ted Wachter retaining his seat with 2,977 votes. James Smith, a 15- year council member, appeared to have been defeated with 2,499 votes, with challengers Stephan Rosenthal (1,449 votes), Frank Kugler (289 votes) and Angie McCollum (737 votes) also losing. Will zoo have more whales? .... p• 11 A THIS WEEK NEWSPAPERS Volume 8, No. 19 Three Sections July 6, 1987 Section A THREE News • Sports • Gr.__ �� Real Estate Section S Classified Section 68 paten Legion Gold mired ump ••••........ p.Z ZA in sl EAGAN Your cnrl,rClunity Newspaper Ellison aims campaign punches at incumbent By CAMER ON BACHMEIER First-f' Vir r ,erm council member, Ellison, 32, came out swing- ing on June 29 when he announc- ed his candidacy for the office of mayor. Many of his verbal punch- es were aimed directly at incum- bent Mayor Bea Blomquist. Ellison didnt' pull a single punch when it came to what he feels the incumbent is doing wrong and what he feels he would do right if elected mayor. A self-proclaimed fiscal con- servative, Ellison feels one of his "right ways" to run the city of Eagan would be to treat business fairly. Ellison says he isn't sur- prised at the amount of lawsuits the city of Eagan has had to face, as he believes that many businesses have been treated rudely. He cites the denial of the Bieter Co. rezoning request for a proposed $50 million project at Diffley Road and Interstate 35E that elected officials must take "extreme steps" to make sure the public does not have the perception of an elected official's being involved with any im- propriety. Provisions for up to three months of free rent in lease agreements that Blomquist and her husband had entered with Federal Land Co. and special tax breaks to Sperry last year are what Ellison feels give the ap- pearance of impropriety. "These are the kinds of endangerments elected officials must avoid," Ellison said. A blatant philosophical dispar- ity between Blomquist and Elli- son is the city's Comprehensive Guide Plan. Ellison said that it is just that, "a guide." He believes that the guide plan is not written in stone and that it must be flex- ible. He said that a resident's con- cern is only one factor when con- sidering rezoning and following t t PROGRESS THE 15-YEAR RECORD OF EAGAN COUNCILMAN JIM SMITH Re -Elect Jim Smith Eagan City Council • POPULATION — More than tripled • ASSESSED VALUATION 1973 $52 million 1988 est. $336 million • TAXES — 1973 mill rate 19.67 1988 est. mill rate 19.722 • EMPLOYMENT — more than tripled • NEW C!TY FACILITIES Police Station City Administration Center Water Treatment Plant 3rd Fire Station with the 4th & 5th to be added this year & next Public Works Building • PARKS — land acquisition, development, and programs greatly improved & expanded • FREEWAYS — Cedar, 35-E, & 494 completed & utilized • CITY ADMINISTRATION — staffed with professionals • CABLE TV — State -of -the -Art System, with local access (Preared and aid for by Jim Smith Reel ion Committee Ma Monahan Coordinator. 2840 Ni hview Terrace, Eagan, MN 55121) "Progress does not have to mean high taxes and a lower quality of life." "I will continue to sup- port only sound, respon- sible development." "I have, for the past 15 years, supported the ex- pansion of city services only as the needs and revenues permitted and will continue to do so." „ v. itftit vexcei, P P act Mary 9or Eagan Progress — Supplement to Eagan Chronicle Newspaper -- Week of Sept. 28, 1987 — Page 15 Leaders adequate To the editor: In response to a letter in your paper dater Sept. 30, 1987, by a Jeff Welson, I feel I must res- pond. I believe in our Police Department and in our 911 ser- vices in Eagan. If they would be second to any, that second has been good enough for us. Twice in two years — 13 months apart — in the dark, cold days of winter, they have responded to our 911 call and saved my hus- band's life when it hung in the balance in a cardiac arrest. Their strong, caring, im- mediate, positive response not only saved his life, but helped me to keep the faith. Their response to us in other calls has been immediate and responsive. I feel we do have good, effective services available with equip- ment that does its job. Someone must be doing something right. We moved to Eagan from the city seven years ago and in that seven years, ac- cording to the Eagan Outlook delivered to our home Oct. 1, the population of Eagan has doubl- ed. I feel our leaders have kept abreast of the growth, have built Readers Write on solid planning, are leaders who are tuned into the wonderful potential for our city for industry and families living and working harmonously in lovely neighborhoods, fun parks and recreation facilities with clean, noise -controlled environment. I would like to go on record as one of our present mayor's sup- porters. I like the history of Eagan, the present educated, vi- sionary growth awareness and the solid planning for the future. I trust them to keep our "front yard" looking good along our beautiful freeways. Of course, there are problems — we are growing. Of course, they will need more and more modern, progressive equipment. Growth brings its challenges, its oppor- tunities, its need for soul- searching decisions, but I trust our leaders. They have and are proving themselves completely adequate. Let's not rock the boat. Avis Kriebel Eagan Committee thanks voters To the editor: On behalf of the entire com- mittee of Citizens For a Growing School District 191, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the many citizen volunteers who helped make the new school referendum vote a very successful one. The effort given by all volunteers was outstanding and greatly appreciated. It was very encouraging to see citizens from all areas of District 191 pull together to make the new school Clarification in Savage a reality. The increas- ing elementary enrollment was necessary to accomplish our goal. Once again, thanks to everyone for their help. Because of your efforts, the high standard of excellence we enjoy in District 191 will be continued. Chris and Linda Cusack Co-chairmen, Eagan Wayne Walther Co-chairman, Savage Citizens For a Growing School District 191 The complete title of a writer of a letter to the editor in last week's Chronicle was inadver- tantly omitted Ken Hippler was the vice chairman of Senate Eagan Ctraade—Wea1es6ay, Oct. 14, 1967 District 38 I-R from 1983 until last spring. He was not speaking as the vice chairman of the Senate District in his letter. Readers Write Ellison to uphold Guide, encourage input To the editor: I'd like to take a moment to talk about one of the most impor- tant and least understood issues in my campaign for mayor of Eagan: how 1 view the city's long-range Comprehensive Guide. If you listen to the scare stories being told by my op- ponents, one would think I wanted to throw the Guide out the window and put a shopping center across the street from every home. Nothing could be further from the truth. My goal is to assure a first-rate community for the future while protecting and enhancing our existing neighborhoods. If Eagan is to remain an at- tractive community, good plann- ing must be a priority. We need to decide the kind of community we want Eagan to be 10 to 20 years from now. Our "roadmap" is the Comprehen- sive Guide. This Guide is an excellent tool which allows proper planning for a better community. However, it is a document that must not be allowed to enslave us from mak- ing improvements or strangling citizen input. If the Comprehen- sive Guide is allowed to be an in- flexible, rigid document, there is virtually no need for citizen par- ticipation. a mayor, a Planning Commission or a City Council. I'll admit it's difficult at times to walk the fine line between strength and flexibility: upholding the spirit of the long- range plans without taking a head -in -the -sand approach to possible changes or im- provements. If there is too ouch rigidity, our community will fail to move forward. If there is too much flexibility, we wander aimlessly without direction. That's why it is so crucial to choose competent, qualified elected officials; people who share your vision for the city's future and are willing to work hard to get the job done. I pledge to walk that fine line and have the strength and resolve to reject poorly -conceived changes while exhibiting the open-mindedness to consider common sense alter- natives. I pledge to uphold the Comprehensive Guide while not ignoring citizen participation. Common sense, that's all it takes. Let's move forward together, working together for a better Eagan. Vic Ellison Eagan City Councilmember Candidate for mayor District commended for attitude To the editor: It is with gratitude that we commend the Burnsville -Eagan - Savage School District 191 and its board for the cooperative at- titude they have shown in assisting with the transportation of private school students atten- ding both Academy of the Holy Angels and Lutheran High School of Minneapolis. The Burnsville superintendent and planning staff have realized through cooperation in transpor- tation, both the district and the residents whose children attend private schools gain many benefits; on our side, better routing and use of buses already transporting public high school students to Burnsville High School have made the transpor- tation of Burnsville students to Minneapolis and Richfield more time and cost efficient. The district, in choosing to transport these students within its boun- daries, has saved many dollars in reimbursements previously paid to private school parents. We would like to especially commend and thank Steve George, whose participation and guidance in the transportation project has shaped the system and allowed for better transpor- tation not only for our students, but also for students from four other private schools within the metro area. We are not surpris- ed that School District 191 has taken the lead in cost and route efficiency within their transpor- tation system — it is the same lead they have taken within other areas of their educational plan. Thank you for your foresight. Lisa Raduenz, Independent Transportation Management Services Inc. Jim McCormack, Academy of the Holy Angels City should put ceiling on time served To the editor: I've become convinced that Eagan should amend its city charter to probit mayors from serving more than two or three terms. It seems as though once they get in there we can never get them out, no matter what they do. I'd like to see Vic Ellison get elected mayor this year, but I don't think he has a chance against all the big development interests that want to keep our current mayor in office. They say you can't fight city hall? I say you can't fight the big -buck developers. If we made sure that mayors could only be around for five or six years, we'd be guaranteed of getting some new ideas once in a while. And right now, Eagan needs all the new ideas it can get. Jake Simonson Eagan Chronicle Newspaper news deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday THIS WEEK NEWSPAPERS Volume 8, No. 23 August 3, 1987 Three Sections Section A EA Blomquist to run for fifth term EAGAN -- Incumbent mayor Bea Blomquist followed mayoral candidate Vic Ellison's lead of holding press conferences to an- nounce candidacy when she did the same July 29, for her fifth term as mayor of the city of Eagan. Blomquist, who has been a resi- dent of Eagan since 1970, said she did not feel that the much publicized allegations of having special interests would plague her campaign. However, in regard to past allegations, Blom- quist said she felt most sorry for her husband, Ed, who has had to suffer with what has been alleged as well. Speaking to the issue of the ci- ty's Comprehensive Guide Plan, Blomquist stuck to her guns, say- ing that she holds firm that the guide plan needs little or no change. Blomquist's philosophy and feelings about the guide plan f are in direct opposition to Ellison's. In his press conference, Ellison said the guide plan should be flexible and that the concerns of the residents are only one fac- tor when considering guide plan changes or rezoning. "It's our ci- ty's plan," she said. "I will use it to protect the neighborhoods." As far as platform promises. Blomquist pledged to reduce the present mill rate level and she said she would continue Eagan's frugal spending policy. Also, as a delegate on the Air- port Space Needs Task Force, she said the city would continue its land planning policy to help buffer noise problems. Blomquist also said she recognized the possibility that the airport might move, but that she would do everything possible to make sure the airport retained its physical location and economic position in Eagan. -j�wt/a.e—fZ 77(3I0 Ellison's use of city logo deemed improper by council Council member Vic Ellison, who recently declared his can- didacy for the office of mayor, was taken aback at the Eagan Ci- ty Council meeting July 7 when other council members pointed out to Ellison and the public that he had used the city's emblem in an unofficial capacity. The Lone Oak Tree logo, which was copyrighted for exclusive use by the city of Eagan, was us- ed on letterhead that Ellison used to declare himself as a candidate for mayor of Eagan and to solicit campaign support. Council member James Smith told Ellison and the other council members that he felt using the ci- ty emblem for individual or unof- ficial use was improper. Council member Tom Egan concurred with Smith saying that such use would only cause problems of ambiguity. "The city has to have form," Egan said. The Lone Oak Tree logo, which stands for strength and growth in the community, was registered with the state so that profit or non-profit groups would be bar- red from using the logo for unof- ficial purposes. In. 1985 a local church ap- proached the city of Eagan ask- ing for permission to use the city's logo as their official logo. The request was denied in order to protect the logo and the identi- ty that went along with it. Mayor Bea Blomquist made it clear to Ellison and the council that she felt that such unofficial use was a definite impropriety on Ellison's part. Ellison initially told the other council members that he would like to continue to use the let- terhead with the Lone Oak Tree emblem but said he would refrain from doing so. Blomquist told Ellison that the understanding among the other council members was clear and that she thought he should act ac- cordingly. o. Mayor proves experience counts To the editor: Eagan is the fastest growing community in the state, accor- ding to the recent Metropolitan Council study. This growth has jRo..;\ been rapid, but best of all, it has been well planned and managed. I would like to congratulate Mayor Bea Blomquist for her ex- cellent stewardship of this rapid EAGAN THIS WEEK PUBLISHERS Joseph R. Clay • Daniel H Clay NEWS EDITOR Roxanne Kruger SPORTS EDITOR Pete Temple' ADVERTISING MANAGER John Swennes CLASSIFIED MANAGER Diane Henningsen OFFICE: 1525 E. Highway 13 P.O. Box 1439 Burnsville. Minn.. 55337 894.1111 4A AUGUST 31.1987 THISWEEK growth. Eagan has been awarded the Star City designation each year since 1984. Mayor Blom- quist's leadership during the past four terms has been strong. With her solid record and experience, Eagan will continue to be a great city. Fall elections are coming soon. The old saying of "ya dance with who brung ya" carries a lot of common sense. By re-electing Mayor Blomquist, Eagan will have a proven winner to continue its tradition of excellence. JOEL PEARSON Eagan Shopping site belongs in targeted area To the editor: I am a resident of the Thomas Lake area and was very much against the proposed Diffley shopping site. When purchasing my home in Eagan, I did my homework and went to City Hall and checked the zoning of the sur- rounding areas and felt I knew what to expect. When the City Council turned down the Diffley site, I was happy to see that they stuck to their guns and followed through with the city's guide plan and was not pushed around by the big developers. I feel that we, the surrounding neighborhood, had a right to this decision. Now it is six months later and the Diffley site is again being brought up. I want a Target and a shopping area as much as anyone else, but feel it should go where the city has had it planned all along to go, and that is in the Cliff Road and 35E area. The residents of this surrounding area should have known that this was the intended use of this property long before most of them purchased their homes. I sympathize with these people but do not feel that they have the right to expect the city, and especially my neighborhood, to defend their oversight or to change the city's overall plan to keep commercial in commercial- ly zoned areas. Neighbors against Diffley site, please call or attend City Plann- ing Commission meetings and be heard. Let's get our Target, but put it where it belongs. LINDA WAITERS Eagan _ 71?, A, Ellison will be vast improvement To the editor: I was delighted to learn recent- ly that Vic Ellison is running for m yor of Eagan. I have been ve y impressed with the leader- sh. p and determination that Elliison has demonstrated during his► time on the city council. Vic is qu .;lified, capable and dedicated. He will be a vast improvement over the current mayor. 4 also agree with Ellison that elected officials should avoid "e_ven the appearance of im- propriety.- When newspaper ar- ticles allege that elected officials are • playing favoritism, it reflects poc rrly upon our city. Y'ic Ellison is going to have my helW and support in the upcoming election. Ellison appoints ca Eagan mayoral candidate Vic Ellison has named Pam McCrea and Tom Kubista as his cam- paign co-chairs. McCrea joins Ellison's cam- paign as an Eagan city council of- ficial and Democratic party mpaign co-chairs member. She has served on the Eagan Planning Commission for six years, and served as chair of the commission last year. She is a supervisor for the Minnesota Department of Jobs and Train- ing. She has lived in Eagan for 10 years. 00 Kubista works for Unisys in Eagan as a professional consul- tant. He is also a vice chair for 4- the Republican third congres- sional district. ..i Ellison currently is a member of the Eagan City Council. TIP vIOTHY J. PAWLENTY Ea gan Readers Write 7/ate1 $17 Mayor Blomquist cares about city, residents To the editor: The residents of Eagan will have a very clear choice when they cast their vote for mayor this fall. You can vote for a well - planned community as we have now, or you can vote to let every developer come in here and put a development in your backyard if he chooses. Translated, you can vote for Bea Blomquist or Vic Ellison. Mr. Ellison's term "flexible" in regard to the Com- prehensive Guide Plan should alert every Eagan voter as to what his intentions may be. Homeowners and future developers look at that guide plan while making their decision to locate here. It has made Eagan what it is today and what it will be in the future. Many hours of time and careful thought went into that plan. None of which Vic Ellison had any part of. He proved what he means by the term "flexible" by casting the only vote for Bieter Corp. for 35E Diffley Center. Much has been written and wrongly so, about Bea Blom- quist's favoritism toward Federal Land & Town Center in her vote against Bieter Corp. Let me remind all of you, the vote was 4 to 1 and the other three councilmembers do not have stores in Town Center. They were voting to keep the guide plan as is, and as the many let- ters and phone calls requested them to do. Bea Blomquist deeply cares about our city and your feelings. She is honest, hard working and dedicated to a well -planned city, a strong police and fire depart- ment and your rights as a tax- payer. As I said, the choice is clear. If you want a voice in the future of Eagan vote for Bea Blomquist. If you want developers running this city and our mayor vote for Vic Ellison. Colleen Rippler Eagan Officials dedicated to planning To the editor: As new residents of Eagan, we'd like to thank Bea Blom- quist and the majority of the City Council for standing firmly behind the city's comprehensive guide plan. One reason we chose to live in Eagan was because the city of- ficials were committed to plann- ed growth. We have lived in areas of the country where developers were allowed free reign to build whatever was most profitable for them, with no Chronicle Newspaper welcomes comments The Chronicle welcomes comments from its readers and encourages them to send letters to the editor. Short let- ters are most likely to be read. All letters must bear the writer's original signature and address. Telephone numbers where the writer can be reached during business hours and in the evening are essential for verification. Unverified let- ters will not be printed. concern for the whole communi- ty. The quality of life in those areas could never compete with all that Eagan has to offer its residents. Shirley Olson's letter of June 24 was right to the point. We don't doubt The Bieter Corp.'s lawsuit is a not too subtle form of "election smear tactics." We are upset that they are wasting our tax money, along with the time and energy of our elected officials. It also makes us very wary of any candidate who states that he or she is "pro -development." Eagan needs elected represen- tatives who are committed to the people of Eagan (not to developers). Fortunately for us, we already have such a mayor — Bea Blomquist — and three City Council members — Thomas Egan, James Smith and Theodore Wachter. Thank you all. Bill and Celia Bennett Eagan i!ftChionicle Published Weekly By MINNESOTA SUBURBAN NEWSPAPERS, INC. 1209 E. Cliff Rd., Burnsville, MN 55337 890-4456 Lee Canning, General Manager BOB HUGHES General Manager S. MAUS BETTENGA DOROTHY CASSERLY DAVE HRBACEK Editor Managing Editor Sports Editor Display Advertising 890-4456 Circulation 831-1201 Classified Advertising 831-1202/890-4456 a 7 D3C Mayor Continued from Page 1 C themselves in a position where there can be even the appearance of impropriety," Ellison said dur- ing a press conference in City Hall chambers. For example, he said, there were provisions for up to three months of free rent in lease agreements Blomquist and her husband, Edwin, had entered with Federal Land Co. for each of the two video stores the Blomquists own. The lease agree- ments were revealed recently in depositions taken for a developers' lawsuit against the city. Blomquist, 48, who took office in 1980 and has been re-elected three times, said free rent at the onset of a lease term is commonly offered by shopping centers as an induce- ment to potential tenants who need time to get their business estab- lished. She has denied any conflict of interest in her votes on zoning issues. Asked if his comments mean that he opposes anyone who is in- volved in local business from hold- ing an elected city office, Ellison said he was not, but those officials should take "extreme steps" to avoid any appearance of im- propriety in their votes. Blomquist said it would be un- common for a council not to have members who are local business people. "If you were to look at every city council in Minnesota, there would be one, two or three busi- nessmen on them," she said. The Blomquists' lease agree- ments were discussed in deposi- tions taken for a lawsuit filed by the Bieter Co., whose request for rezoning for a shopping center at Diffley Road and Interstate 35E was denied in February. Ellison cast the only "yes" vote among the seven council members. Ellison, 32, was elected to a four-year term on the city council in November 1985. An Eagan resi- dent since 1983, he was a journal- ist, then worked for the House In- dependent -Republican Caucus before becoming a vice president for communications at the Council of Hospital Corporations. Ellison explained that by declar- ing early, he hoped to dissuade other dissatisfied residents who were considering from running and make it a two-way race. He said his differences with Blomquist have emerged on such issues as giving tax breaks to a company, which he called poor public policy. Ellison was referring to a tax -increment financing pack- age the city offered Sperry last year as an incentive for the compa- ny to construct another building in Eagan. He voted against the pack- age, and Blomquist voted with the majority who supported it. Ellison has described himself as pro -development and a fiscal con- servative. "But I am concerned that the amount going toward po- lice and fire has been declining," he said. His campaign funding is not ex- pected to match Blomquist's, he noted. "She had a fund-raiser after the last election," he said. "She raised $7,000 . and that certainly gives her an advantage." Blomquist said that was incor- rect. "I had a victory party to pay off my debts from my last cam- paign and I don't know how much was raised because I was not in- volved with that," she said. a METRO DAKOTACOUNTY council Eaganc member enters race for mayor By Nancy Conner Staff Writer Eagan City Council member Vic Ellison took several swipes at Mayor Bea Blomquist on Mon- day as he announced his candidacy for mayor. Blomquist, who had not announced her candi- dacy vet, confirmed Monday she will run again. In his announcement, Ellison pointed out many differences in the philosophies of city gov- ernment between himself and Blomquist. The first -term council member also empha- sized themes that had emerged in his 1985 cam- paign for council, including fiscal conservatism and the need to treat businesses fairly. Ellison criticized the incumbent for what he termed the appearance of conflict of interest in her family business dealings. "I don't believe elected officials should put Please see Mayor/3C Vic Ellison Differs with incumbent Ellison Christ Community begins Sunday School instruction (Continued from front) to be finished in January. He hopes to give a state of the city address outlining goals and direc- tions that maybe could be cable - cast. Even when he isn't using for- mal ways to communicate, he hears from people through phone calls or even at the grocery store. "It's kind of like being always on display," he said. "It's fun at times, but it can be disconcert- ing." Communication with city staff is good too, Ellison said. The re- lationships are built on trust. "I don't get in their way wandering through the departments. They keep me abreast of what's hap- pening. We're blessed with some of the best city staff. (City Admin- istrator) Tom Hedge is well re- spected. The whole management team is just about as good as you can get. "The city council is like a board — it shouldn't get involved with day-to-day activities, but should lay out the direction." Ellison also talked about his re- lationships with city council members: "Ted Wachter is our senior statesman and historian. I've ap- pointed him my acting mayor in my absence. I trust his judgment and have learned a lot from him. He's the stablizing influence on the council. "Pam McCrea (who was ap- pointed in Janurary to fill Ell- ison's council seat) spent six years on the planning commis- sion; she didn't need a training period. She's supported my goals and directions. "Dave Gustafson is probably the greenest. He spent only one year on the planning commission. This year has been a learning year. He's more comfortable now than six months ago." Council Member Tom Egan has often appeared on the opposite sides of issues from Ellison dur- ing the past year and the two often have had heated discussions at the council table. "I get along fine personally with Tom," Ell- ison said. "But we have some major differences in the way we see the city operating. We've ac- complished more than I thought we'd be able to; I'm surprised Tom has been opposed to so much. I like to be a coalition buil- der ... and I plan to continue to work to make him feel part of the process. I'm not saying every- thing has to be unanimous. Some dissent is healthy, I'm just not sure if his dissent is healthy." Egan says he doesn't see their differences as being a problem. "I look at Vic as representing change and I look at myself as representing stability. I think (Vic and I) have a mutual agreement that that's where we'- re coming from." Egan, who will mark 11 years as a council member in January, thinks he has more background. "Before we change the commun- ity, we ought to analyze where we're going. Is it policy we want to adopt or is it dangerous? I don't believe in change for change's sake." Egan does admit though that the city has made a lot of pro- gress. "Overall it's been a good year." He credits Ellison for listening to people at meetings. "I think he tries to be pleasant and fair in conducting meetings. Vic's heard a lot of things he didn't want to hear, but he still lets people talk." Ellison has seen the council chamber filled with concerned people many times in the last year, often when new de- velopments have been proposed. Everyone who has wanted to talk has been invited to the micro- phone, making for long meetings for the council. It was usually considered an achievement to end the meetings by midnight. But besides the long hours, there have been the sometimes rude remarks by citizens. "That's unfortunate," Ellison said. "You can get your point across without foul language, at- tacking. I don't appreciate the personal attacks on me or any council member." He doesn't regret any of it though. "My philosophy is: you as a citizen will come into city hall only once or twice in your life. I want you to go away with a good feeling that the council won't shut you out." After the council listens to citi- zens, Ellison hopes the citizens listen to the council when they explain why they decided one way or another. One of those times was at Cliff Lake Centre, at Cliff and Rahn roads, a de- velopment fought by neighbors through a lot of 1987 and into 1988. "Some people are still dis- appointed that we can't stop the project. The plat was submitted before I became mayor. We can't turn the clock back. I'm still dis- appointed that the site was raped as it was, but we'll have to live with what's been done." Ellison still believes, he said, that the Bieter site at Diffley Road and I-35E would have been a better commercial site. The Bieter group filed suit this year against the city when they were unable to get commercial zoning for the site. Ellison seemed to be the only council member willing to listen to the group's plans, however. Nothing has been heard from the developers for four months, Ellison adds. "It's a sleeping dog; it's better to let it lie." The only major faux pax of the year was the short-lived picket- ing ordinance. The ordinance sought to give guidelines to resi- dential demonstrators, including saying where they should picket, when and how many were al- lowed. Although not too many ci- tizens had much to say about the ordinance, it attracted the atten- tion of Twin Cities media and the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union, who threatened to sue over loss of First Amendment rights. The or- dinance was rescinded two weeks later. "It was a major mistake," Ellison says now. "It was a dumb thing to do, but we learn from our mistakes." Ellison said he was most sur- prised by the results of passing a quality standards ordinance that increased regulations. No de- velopment was prevented by the ordinance, rather the number of single family homes built was at the same level as the previous year. The only difference was that the assessed valuation of the homes were double. It makes for a better mix of homes in Eagan, Ellison said. "For years Eagan has been known for starter homes. Now when someone grows out of their first house, they can still live in Eagan." The first year mayor is already looking to re-election time in an- other year. "When I ran the first time I said it would take four to eight years to accomplish all I wanted. But it's not going to be more than eight. It's good to get new blood into an organization." Classes will be offered for all ages, from nursery through adult. With the addition of the classes the worship time has been adjusted. Sunday School will be- gin at 9:45 a.m. and morning wor- ship will begin at 10:45 a.m., 15 minutes later than the normal 10:30 a.m. start. Barnes has said that the incep- tion of Sunday School has been de - Get Your FREE FULL SPINAL EXAMINATION NO OBLIGATION • NOTHING TO PAY Christ Community Church of The Nazarene has announced that it will begin Sunday School instruction Jan. 8. The church, it- self, began a little over three months ago, and has now de- veloped to the extent that a regu- lar Sunday School schedule is called for, says the Rev. Todd Barnes, pastor of the congrega- tion. 1 1 You may have one of these 16 1 DANGER SIGN1. Low Back Pain 2. ZALS OF PINCHED NERVESiness 9.. Numb Hands 13. Numb : ngers 1 2. Headaches 6. Sore Elbows 10. Bursitis 14. Hip Pain 1 3. Shoulder Pain 7. Neck Pain 11. Pain Down Legs 15. Tight Muscles 4. Arthritis 8. Indigestion 12. Muscle Spasms 16. Aching Feet whether careful, professional 1 chiropractic care can relieve your aches and pains. This examination normally costs $35.00 or more. It will include an orthopedic 1 test, a neurological test, blood pressure test, a spinal alignment check, an 1 examination for restricted or excess motion in the spine, a test for muscle strength and a private consultation with the doctor to discuss the results. 1 FREE. 1 1 FIND OUT NOW layed for three months to allow the congregation an opportunity to develop its fellowship and rec- ognize their need for Christian education, both for children and adults. The congregation meets at Echo Park Elementary School on County Road 11, one mile north of County Road 42. For further in- formation, call 432-1234. This entire examination is FREE. If you want more care and treatment, we do all the paperwork. Specializing in Treating Your Auto & On -The -Job Injuries II 95 BENSON CHIROPRACTIC M � CALL NOW. 14141 Glendale Rd., Suite 206 89 BRING THIS COUPON SAVAGE, MN 55378 �/✓®� WITH YOU. 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IMEO You may use Goodyear's own credit card or: American Express • Discover Card • MasterCard • Visa. .APPLE VALLEY Volley Tire 8t Auto Service 14580 Glenda Drive 432-3262 A locally owned professional Auto Service Center OPEN: Mon. -Wed. -Fri. 7:30-6:00 Tues. & Thurs. 7:30-8:00 Sat. 8:00.5:00 • • * r e Prices, limited warranties, credit terms & auto service offers shown available of Valley Tire & Auto Service. See any of the below listed stores for their competitive prices, warranties, credit terms & auto service. • * 0 BURNSVILLE Burnsville Tire & Auto Service 1404 W. County Rd. 42 (Next to Estebans) 435-7799 OPEN: Mon. thru Fri. 7:30-8:00 Sat. 8:00-5:00 EAGAN 1 Eagan Tire & Auto Service Cedcrvole Shopping Center Hwy. 13 & Cedar Ave. 454-3250 OPEN: Mon. 8: Wed. 7r30-8:00 Tues.-Thurs.-Fri. 7:30-6:00 Sat. 8:00.3:00 THISWEEK JANUARY 2, 1989 9A (Continued from front) discussions. They were preparing for the opening of the 13th ele- mentary school (Woodland in Eagan) and the then -anticipated 1989 opening of Eagan High and Dakota Hills Middle Schools. The Bieter Development Group, unhappy with the coun- cil's decision to offer no more compromises, filed a lawsuit against the city. The group had hoped to get commercial zoning on the land on the corner of I-35E and Diffley Road. The Burnsville Education As- sociation showed its discourage- ment with contract talks by stag- ing a protest at a February 25 board meeting. MARCH When District 196 tried to award a steel contract, one bid- der —LeJeune Steel, filed for a temporary restraining order against the district, hoping to get the project rebid. The company felt competitive bidding laws were ignored in the process. Be- fore the hearing on the restrain- ing order, an agreement was rea- ched: the winning bidder — L.H. Sowles Co. — will pay LeJeune $15,000 for legal expenses, but the steel bid stands. Mike Reardon was named cable coordinator for the cities of Eagan and Burnsville. He will oversee the franchise agreement with TV North Central and will head the Cable Communications Commission. Part of the commis- sion's charge was studying TVNC's proposal that it drop its local access programming re- sponsibilities. The company said it was not a money maker and that few citizens used it. The BEA settled its contract March 17 without striking. APRIL District 197 began discussing what to do about the excess levy expiration. The levy provided crucial funds to the day-to-day costs of the school. Later it was determined to set a referendum to vote on continuing the levy. Recycling Minnesota Resour- ces opened a recycling center in Eagan. The city agreed to partia- lly fund operations for the first couple years as part of its solid waste reduction policy. MAY The District 196 school board heard for the second time in a year that enrollment was ahead of expectations. It led to a de- cision to have a bond referendum Oct. 18 for three new elementar- ies and land — a $23.6 million package. Eagan's City Council sought a different approach to its legal questions and replaced its 25-year city attorney Paul Hauge with Jim Sheldon, city attorney for Apple Valley. A summer of frustrations along Pilot Knob Road began May 16 with the closing of part of the major thoroughfare through the city. The $9.5 million project in- creased the road from two to four lanes, and upped the stretch of four lanes on Diffley and Cliff Roads. Pat Sullivan was named prin- cipal of Dakota Hills Middle School, under construction in Eagan. The controversial Cliff Lake Centre, at Cliff and Rahn roads, was given final approval at the May 16 city council meeting. It had gone through months of pub- lic opposition and city and council changes before that date. The an- chor tenants for the shops were BECAUSE OF the road construction in Eagan, Gov. Rudy Perpich chose the city as the place to sign the 1988 transportation bill, which pumped money into highway improvements through a motor vehicle ex- cise tax. 1OA •.JANUARY 2, 1989 THISWEEK 1988 remembered Cub Foods and Target. Cub opened in November and the Target is expected to open Fe- bruary 1989. School Board elections were May 17. Incumbent Vivian Gos- sett was defeated in her re- election bid for the District 191 board. Her replacement was Bruce Waterman. Frances Potts and John Coskran returned to their seats. District 196 members Margaret Gohman and Don Westerhausen also returned to their seats. In District 197, Kitty Haight and Dennis Barrett won. JUNE A poll sent out by Mayor Vic Ellison received more than 700 responses to questions on various city issues. Another problem in the bids for Eagan High/Dakota Hills Middle: Bids for the fourth con- struction package came in 20 percent higher than estimates of HGA, the architects. The admin- istration and HGA study the de- sign specifications and make cuts where possible. They maybe meant well, but Eagan's picketing ordinance, giv- ing guidelines for residential protests, did not sit well with some residents, the media and the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union, who threatened to sue the city over loss of free speech rights. The ordinance was res- cinded two weeks later. Richard Heidemann, a District 191 teacher, pleaded guilty to criminal sexual conduct in two cases, one allegedly with a 15-year-old female and another with a 13-year-old male. JULY School districts around the area banned tobacco use, reflecting the nation's push toward a "Smoke Free Society." Dakota County Commissioners voted to allocate $50,000 to laid -off Unisys workers in Eagan. The company decided in March to close its semi -conductor manu- facturing plant. A city council workshop discus- sed a freeway zoning ordinance and set up a study group to suggest a proper site for senior ci- tizen housing. AUGUST The Eagan Advisory Planning Commission denied approval to the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission on its application to expand the Seneca Waste Water Treatment Plant, located in Eagan. The expansion plans caused neighbors of the plant to speak out against practices of the plant, including its poor record on odor control, the piles of peat by the plant and the amount of incin- EAGAN EXPLORERS, in only its second year, brought home a national trophy. The Explorers are for young men and women interested in pursuing a career in law en- forcement. They assist the police department in such duties as patrolling parks. SENECA WASTEWATER Treatment plant received a lot of attention from Eagan City Council members and neighbors of the plant, who are tired of the smells emin- ating from the processes, including the large collecting tanks, such as the one above, which work to settle solids to the bottom. The Metropolitan Waste Control Commission is seeking to expand the plant. No final decision has been made. through its events eration the plant is responsible for. The APC sent the questions on to the council for them to find answers. A completed retail study showed that the Cliff -Rahn road area will be the hot shopping area for the city. Other developments for the area came before the council during the summer, with more questions being raised about the traffic safety of the area. SEPTEMBER A watering ban finally ended in Eagan, after a long, hot summer with little rain. The ban on lawns sprinkling was a guard against loss of water pressure for regular daily activities. An Eagan woman was mur- dered in her apartment by her boyfriend. Vicky Shelton was found Sept. 6 by the apartment manager after she noticed Shel- ton's son crying on the balcony. Anthony Bernard Hale later turned himself in to police. He is in the Dakota County jail await- ing trial. The fourth construction pack- age for Eagan High/Dakota Hills Middle was finally awarded to PCL, Inc. on Sept. 1. The $25.8 million package was the lowest of three major bidders. The delay on awarding the package effec- tively pushed the opening of the high school back a year. Jay Berthe, Eagan Police Chief for five years, and a department member for 23 years, announced he would retire in January. A statewide search began for his replacement. District 196, after working with the architectural firm of Hammel Green Abrahamson for 30 years, chose The Wold Associates to build the next two elementaries. HGA and the district said the problems with the fourth con- struction package bids were a leading reason for the change. District 191 set Oct. 18 as the referendum date for a $2.2 million budget booster. The levy would boost taxes by five mills. The de- cision came after a deficit budget was approved for the 1988-89 school year. An Eagan History Committee formed and began studying landmarks worth preserving from Eagan's past. They met in September to view some of them, including the old Town Hall and decided they would like to restore it. After listening to neighbors of the Seneca plant and to MWCC representatives, the city council decided it too needs more an- swers and postponed its decision at the council's Sept. 6 meeting. The City Council approved a 21 percent increase for the operat- ing budget. About $10.5 million was needed to run the city, but taxes didn't rise because prop- erty valuations are still increas- ing. OCTOBER School districts 196 and 194 joined others in a lawsuit against the state Department of Edu- cation and the state. The suit al- leged inequities in school funding and that wealthier school dis- tricts have an unfair advantage in levying for additional funds. October 18 brought good news for Districts 191 and 196 and bad news for 197. The referendums were passed in Burnsville and Rosemount and rejected in West St. Paul. Dale Runkle, 11-year employee with the city's planning depart- ment, was named the first Com- munity Development Director Oct. 18. Burnville and Eagan city offi- cials met and discussed the local access issues. The cities agree that it is a public utility worth preserving and that Cable TV North Central should be held to its franchise agreement to fund it. The discussion gave direction to the cable commission studying the issue. The Eagan Fire Department held a gala celebration to mark its 25th anniversary of volunteer service. A county traffic study identi- fied five intersections in Eagan as potential problem areas. The areas were: Hwy. 55, Hwy. 110 and Lone Oak Rd.; Dodd Rd., I-494 and Lone Oak; Pilot Knob ROAD CONSTRUCTION, a fact of Minnesota summers, came to Eagan in a big way with a widening of Pilot Knob Road and improvements to Cliff and Diffley roads. The roads were upgraded through a $9.5 million county -city project. and Yankee Doodle Rd.; Diffley Rd., Hwy. 77 and I-35E; and Cliff Rd., Hwy 13 and I-35E. District 196 came up with a plan to opal Dakota Hills Middle in fall 1989, a year ahead of Eagan High. The school would house 6th, 7th and 9th graders and would miti- gate the space crunch at the high school and middle school levels. The MWCC passed resolutions at its Oct. 17 meeting addressing concerns of the Seneca neighbor- hood. The resolutions said the MWCC must remove peat mounts and that odor control durin; incineration will be stu- died. Eagan police arrested Ronnie Hartfteld Oct. 22 in connection with a rape and robbery. The Oc- THE THIRD Unisys plant in Eagan was officially opened in April. The building on Pi- lot Knob and Yankee Doodle Road serves as the Marketing and Customer Services division, employing 1,000 people. tober rape was one of about six sexual assaults in the city during the summer, all occurring in the victim's home. Police had no other suspects because of the lack of evidence. The attacks all oc- curred at night, and victims have been unable to give identification. NOVEMBER City council members agreed Seneca needed to be expanded, but while they had the opportun- ity, they wanted to ensure the neighbors a more livable envir- onment. The MWCC and Eagan began meetings to work out com- promises, including adding odor control equipment, removing peat piles and keeping the neigh- bors informed of developments. The issue was again continued. By the Nov. 15 city council meet- ing, the city had hired an attorney and engineers. The attorney, Becky Comstock, and the MWCC worked out a preliminary agree- ment, calling for odor control measures to be installed by Fe- bruary at the Nicols Road pump and meter statons and at the plant. County Board elections were close Nov. 8, so close in fact that District 3 candidate Deborah Tompkins called for a recount. The vote difference between she and Donald Chapdelaine was fewer than 200. After a recount, Chapdelaine was again de- termined to be the winner. District 197 decided to try the referendum question again. It also studied what cuts may have to be made if the referendum fails. The cuts included all extra- curricular activities, gifted and talented teachers and other em- ployees. The fourth and fifth fire stations in Eagan were in service by November. The city council backed up a Met Council recommendation for the future of the airport: some improvements will be made to take the airport into the 1990s and the Met Council will also study sites for a possible new airport. The council gave the go-ahead for a community center referen- dum. The community center had been studied thoughout the year by a reaction committee and an architectural firm — Hastings and Chivetta — were hired to draw preliminary plans. Voters will say yea or nay to the $7.7 mil- lion question Feb. 14, 1989. DECEMBER The city moved ahead with its curbside recycling plans and sought appropriate containers for sorting recyclables. The city's new ordinances require haulers to pick up recyclables from resi- dents. The second try at the District 197 referendum was successful Dec. 20. Voters approved a 9.8 mill levy for six years. The amount was a 3-mill increase over what they pay now. Even- tually, the money will be used for program improvements. The Seneca agreement, contin- ued from the Dec. 6 city council meeting, was discussed at the Dec. 20 city council meeting. However, the two sides still have not reached complete agreement, and no final decisions will come before the Jan. 3 city council meeting. Meanwhile, MWCC en- gineer Bob Isakson said the com- pletion date for the whole expan- sion and upgrade could take an- other year. A new school site in Eagan was identified by District 196 admin- istrators. If the purchase agree- ment is completed, a new ele- mentary will be located on Dodd Road near the Diffley Road inter- section. It would be the district's 14th elementary and Eagan's se- venth (counting District 191's Rahn and District 197's Pilot Knob). Another site for a 15th District 196 elementary school is eyed in Rosemount. THISWEEK JANUARY 2, 1989 11A County Assessor Olson County to study light rail system plans to retire Feb. 20 By LEA GUENTHER Dakota County Assessor Sey- mour Olson has announced his in- tent to retire Feb. 20 after 13 years in that position. Olson made the announcement at the Dec. 20 county board meet- ing, saying that the time he spent as assessor had been "good years," but adding, "Now I think it's time to go fishing." Steve Loeding, county board chairman, expressed his appre- ciation to Olson. He said, "It's not been an easy chore." He noted the effect of county growth on the as- sessor's duties, the expansion of the department, and the addition of computer technology. Commissioner Joe Harris told Olson he had enjoyed working with him "both upstairs and downstairs." Harris was a county employee who worked on the first floor of the government center until he was elected commis- sioner eight years ago. The county board accepted 01- son's notice of retirement and directed county staff to begin the recruitment process for a new as- sessor. Olson's salary would have been $55,000 in 1989. By LEA GUENTHER Dakota County will begin a study of light rail transit possibi- lities next year with funding from a $145,500 state grant, despite the fact that light rail transportation may not become reality for 20 years or so. The Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority, which is governed by the five -member county board, will receive the 18-month grant from the Minne- sota Department of Transporta- tion. The county will match the grant funds with an in -kind con- tribution equal to $81,250. The county board convened a meeting of the railroad authority Tuesday, Dec. 20, in order to au- thorize a contract with Mn/DOT JANUARY CLEARANCE SALE HEAVY DUTY WASHERS BIG LOAD DRYERS JETCLEAN'" DISHWASHERS FULL-SIZE STACKED PAIR } ? 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Refrigerator/ Freezer • Up -Front Controls • Up -Front Lighting • Deep Gallon Door Storage Shelf • Adjustable DURAWHITETM Steel Shelves • Easy -Tilt Utility and Butter Compartment Doors) Automatic Washer Model DU7200XS Featuring a Dual -Action Filter Model LA5500XS Large Load Capacity 5 Programs/Options including 3 Automatic • 7 Automatic Cycles • 3 Wash Temperature Cycles • Energy -Saving Air Dry Option • One- Selections • 3 Water Level Settings • Gentle Inch Fiberglass Sound Insulation Blanket / `\ Wash System FREE DELIVERY AND REMOVAL OF OLD APPLIANCE apple valley Appliance Center 90 DAYS NO INTEREST FINANCING! 2 LOCATIONS APPLE VALLEY APPLIANCE CENTER 7554 W. 149TH ST. APPLE VALLEY 431-1441 CHARLES APPLIANCE 3616 CEDAR AVE. MINNEAPOLIS 721-2476 J for light rail transit planning. Commissioners also established a budget, outlined study objectives, and appointed two members to the Ramsey County Regional Railroad. The Legislature allows regional railroad authorities to plan, ac- quire and develop rail lines. However, metropolitan rail au- thorities mainly have been in- volved in planning and develop- ing light rail transit or preserving abandoned rail lines for other public purposes. Allen Moe, county planner, said that in 1989 the county will be hir- ing a transportation engineer who will assist county staff with the study of light rail transit possibi- lities. Study objectives will include identifying light rail transit cor- ridors "that make some sense for Dakota County," Moe said. Also, the study will look at how the cor- ridors would impact or connect with proposed Ramsey County corridors and how the corridors could tie in with bus routes, feeder buses, and park -and -ride facilities. Moe added, "No one assumes light rail transit is in our imme- diate future; we have to look at the long term." He said both Hennepin and Ramsey counties soon will be cable TV making decisions that will have an impact on Dakota County in the next 20 to 30 years. Thus the local authority needs to preserve potential corridors for future use. In a prepared brief, Moe said Hennepin and Ramsey Counties have already identified light rail transit corridors that have poten- tial connections to Dakota County, including I-35W, Cedar Avenue, I-494, and a connection to downtown St. Paul. Also, because Dakota County is bordered by rivers, any corridor connection will require the up- grading of bridge capacities, Moe said. The study should evaluate the long-range potential for light rail transit development to pro- vide input to Mn/DOT, which ex- pects to upgrade all major river crossings into Dakota County within the next 20 years. Named to the Ramsey County Regional Railroad Authority were Moe, who will represent Dakota County until the transpor- tation engineer is hired, and Don Chapdelaine, commissioner -elect in District 3. Commissioners agreed that the chairman of the Dakota County Regional Rail- road Authority should be rep- resentative, so if Chapdelaine is not elected chairman next month, the representation will change. The following is a list of programs to air on North Central Cable TV channel 33 (public access); 51 (educational access); 52 (local origination); and 63 (religious). TUESDAY, Jan. 3 5 p.m. — Girls Basketball — Burnsville versus Park Center (taped Dec. 16); The Screening Room (52); Lovelines (63) 5:30 p.m. — The Mary Hanson Show (52) 6 p.m. — Sportscene (52); Josie Davis and Praise Gospel Show (63) 6:30 p.m. — Eagan City Council Meeting (live) (16E); Speedsport (52); Prince of Peace Programming (63) 7 p.m. — Boys Basketball — Burnsville versus Kennedy (taped Dec. 22) (33); The Breeze(52) 7:30 p.m. — Reflections Series (63) 8 p.m. — Minnesota Sportsman (52); MMOTC — Laying the Bricks of Our Future (63) 8:30 p.m. — Half Hour Special (52); Chris- topher Closeup (63) 9 p.m. — Access Volunteer Recognition Party ( taped Nov. 30) (33) WEDNESDAY, Jan. 4 5 p.m. — Metcalf 1988 Football Highlights (33); Vintage Videos (52); Lovepower (63) 5:13 p.m. — Community Spotlight — Burnsville Jaycees (33) 5:30 p.m. — Dakota County Solid Waste Management Program (33) 6 p.m. — Minnesota High School Quiz Bowl (33); This Is the Life (63) 6:30 p.m. — Lovelines (63) 7 p.m. — Burnsville Senior High Fall Band Concert (Nov. 21) (33); North Land Country (52) 7:30 p.m. — Talk Is Cheap (52); Spirit! (63) 8 p.m. — RC America (33); Curtain Going Up (52) ; MMOTC — Laying the Bricks of Our Future (63) 8:30 — Eagan Update (33); High Country Caravan (63); Cable Plus Movie of the Week (52) 9 p.m. — New Age Space Music (33) THURSDAY, Jan. 5 5 p.m. — Minnesota High School Quiz Bowl (33); Cable Breakdown (52); High Country Caravan (63) 5:30 p.m. — Lovelines (63) 6 p.m. — Tellstar News (33); The Screen- ing Room (52) 6:30 p.m. — RC America (33); The Mary Hanson Show (52); Prince of Peace Pro- gramming (63) 7 p.m. — Eagan Advisory Park and Re- creation Commission Meeting (live) (16E); Girls Basketball — Burnsville versus Park Center (taped Dec. 16) (33); Sportscene ( 52 ) 7:30 p.m. — Speedsport (52); MMOTC — Laying the Bricks of Our Future (63 ) 8 p.m. — Christopher Closeup (63); The Breeze (52) 8:30 p.m. — This Is The Life (63 9 p.m. — Metro Area Access (33); Chris- tian Rock Video (63) FRIDAY, Jan. 6 5 p.m. — The Afternoon Show (33) ; Minne- sota Sportsman (52); Christopher Close -Up (63) 5:30 p.m. — This is the Life (63) ; Half Hour Special(52) 6 p.m. — The Weekday Show (33); North Land Country (52); Josie Davis and Praise Gospel Show (63) 6:30 p.m. — World of Sport Aviation (33); Talk Is Cheap (52); Prince of Peace Pro- gramming (63) 7 p.m. — Dakota County Solid Waste Man- agement Program (33); Vintage Videos (52) 7:30 p.m. — RC America (33) ; Spirit! (63) 8 p.m. — New Age Space Music (33); Christian Rock Video (63) American Hair Design r•...... ...... 1 American Hair Design Call for Appt. 1 PERM & HAIRCUT 454-1226 Bloomington 884-232011 ONLY Formerly American Image Cedarvale Shopping Center 3946 Sibley Memorial Hwy. Eagan New Year! New Look! New You! 1 L s2995 Expires I-14-89 12A JANUARY 2, 1989 THISWEEK I/ That's the way it was City has `new'sy year 1988 was a year of new things: new mayor and two council members; new shopping area at Cliff and Rahn roads; new schools; new ideas for improving the city, such as development standards and a newly created position of community de- velopment director. And it was a year for looking ahead: selecting a new police chief ; setting a referendum on a community center and securing better opera- tions at the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission's Seneca plant. Recorded here are some of the significant events in Eagan dur- ing the year. JANUARY Eagan's new Mayor Vic Ellison was sworn into office, along with council member Dave Gustafson, a newly elected official. Later in the month, city Planning Com- mission Member Pam McCrea is appointed to fill Ellison's seat. The new council amended an ordinance spelling out lengths of city advisory commission mem- bers' terms. Three three-year terms was set as the limit. Coun- cil members made the ordinance retroactive, so two parks com- mission members and a planning commission member were re- moved from their seats. Terry Langager, principal of Rosemount Elementary, was named to guide the under - construction Woodland Elemen- tary in Eagan. FEBRUARY District 196 finalized new boun- dary lines after more than a month of public meetings and (See Year, p.10-11) Much accomplished in 1988, 1st -year mayor Ellison says By BRENDA GUDERIAN Eagan has accomplished a lot during 1988, Vic Ellison said Dec. 27 as he looked back over his first year as mayor. The council set quality standards for de- velopers, it built bridges among the city staff, council and residents and it set smart priorities, such as the hiring of more police officers, Ellison listed. The lack of time has been the only damper in the amount of work that can be finished, he said. But he has been amazed by the issues the council did cover. Being the mayor has been a great experience, Ellison said. But he was surprised to find out how much time it takes. "You can put in as much time as you want just going to meetings, not even go- ing to the ribbon cuttings." He has made a point to go to each of those luncheons and ribbon cut- tings when he can talk to people on a one-to-one basis. Evening and afternoon events give him the opportunity to bring one or more of his three children along. The community events are one way to stay in touch, something he finds important coming from a communications background, Ellison, who has a degree in mass communications, said. The feedback on his summer People's Poll con- firmed his feelings. More than 700 persons re- sponded to the written poll, a number Ellison calls phenomenal. He's planning more commun- ications with residents, such as an annual report (See Ellison, p.9A) VIC ELLISON ■ Obituaries / 3B ■ Classified ads/4B More metro news/ 12A ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS DISPATCH DAKOTA COUNTY METRO Eagan mayor rethinks proposals on rezoning By Bruce Orwall Staff Writer Eagan Mayor Vic Ellison said Thursday he is reconsidering his view that the city needs to rezone more land for retail uses after an informal survey showed that two- thirds of the community thinks there already is adequate space for shopping developments. Earlier this month, Ellison's campaign committee sent more than 9,000 of the "People's Poll" questionnaires to city residents. More than 685 people returned the survey, which was criticized by El- lison's political opponents as a way of campaigning between elections. Generally, Ellison said, the re- sults are a "vote of confidence in what we're trying to accomplish." Ellison, who has been mayor for five months, said he was particu- larly happy to see residents strong- ly support his goal of higher quali- ty development, even if it means slower growth for the booming city. But in one major area, the sur- vey respondents took issue with El- lison's position. About 67 percent said Eagan should not encourage more retail shopping development in the city. That does not bode well for the Bieter Co., an Edina firm that has pushed unsuccessfully for a major rezoning to build an Ellison -en- dorsed shopping complex at Inter- state 35E and Diffley Road. The developer has sued the city in hopes of reversing the zoning deci- sion. About 55 percent of the survey respondents said Eagan doesn't need anymore shopping centers, period. And according to Ellison, many respondents indicated that they want to see most or all future de- velopment clustered around the Town Centre development at Inter- state 35E and Yankee Doodle Road. "I'm reassessing my position on future rezonings," Ellison said. "I'd like to think that I'm open-minded about new zoning. But when I see that, by a 2-1 margin, people are opposed to future rezoning, I have to reconsider." On the other hand, Ellison said he doesn't think city residents — s Vic Ellison Poll raps retail growth who gave him a 64 percent majori- ty in his upset of former Mayor Bea Blomquist last November — want him simply to bend to public opinion. The city council commissioned a Please see Ellison/3B FRIDAY, MAY 27, 1988 Eagan zoning case stirs up legal storm By Bruce Orwell Staff Writer The Eagan Advisory Planning Commission held a public hearing on a major zoning change this week, but the public didn't have much to say about the outcome. The approval of retail zoning for 120 acres owned by Robert and Grace O'Neil of St. Paul had been predetermined months ago in an out -of -court settlement between the O'Neils and the city. The settlement culminated a long legal and civic battle, which didn't end until the city finally agreed that the only way out was to give the O'Neils the zoning they wanted at Interstate 35E and Yan- kee Doodle Road. The city council still must approve the deal for it to be final. Now, however, developers and city officials are debating whether ANALYSIS the settlement decision will have a negative effect on future zoning decisions. Will developers who can- not win zoning changes from the city council now file suit against the city more frequently to get the changes they seek? The city apparently will derive one benefit from the O'Neil settle- ment, however. The agreement calls for the first instance of "free- way zoning" in the city, in which developments along a freeway are held to higher aesthetic standards than those farther away. That means fast-food chains and car dealerships are discouraged in fa- vor of office complexes and quality hotels. City administrator Tom Hedges admits that the position the city is Please see Eagan/3B Eagan Continued from Page 1B left in — holding public hearings that can have no effect — is un- comfortable. "It could be argued, `Is there a value to the public hear- ing process?' " Hedges said. "There's no question that it cer- tainly weakens the purpose of the public hearings." But Hedges and Mayor Vic Elli- son both said the problem may not be as bad as it appears because there seems to be very little oppo- sition to creating more retail zon- ing at that location. The predeter- mined outcome, they argue, probably would have come about anyway. Soon after the O'Neil settlement, another developer with a lawsuit against the city, the Bieter Co. of Edina, tried to arrange a similar deal; it asked for zoning changes in exchange for dropping the lawsuit. In a crucial test, the city council narrowly denied approving the set- tlement the developer wanted, and the developer balked at the less at- tractive deal the city came back with. "They're essentially saying, 'You did it for the O'Neils and you should do it for us,' " Hedges said. "They're testing us." Another critic is the Federal Land Co., which owns the Town Centre shopping complex across the street from the O'Neil proper- ty. Vernon and Martin Colon, the brothers who run the firm, disa- gree strongly with the decision to hand over the retail zoning without real public input. "They're sort of putting a sham to the people," Martin Colon said. "They're saying, 'We really agreed to this under the table.' " The Colons claim that develop- ers also are gearing up to ask the city for many more zoning changes, thinking they can sue if the city council denies them. And the settlement has another nega- tive impact, they said. The O'Neil zoning granted by the planning commission this week does not contain the details that generally accompany rezoning ap- plications. It doesn't identify the specific development the O'Neils have in mind, which the city usual- ly requires. And a 57-acre site north of the O'Neil land also got planning com- mission approval for a zoning change Tuesday night, even though the owners, the Lexington Land Co., did not provide much detail, either. The Lexington Land appli- cation is still subject to city council approval. That is aggravating, Martin Co- lon said, because the city has al- ways demanded specifics when property is rezoned. It especially hurts, he added, because the city's planning department recently sent back a retail rezoning application of Federal Lands with the explana- tion that it didn't contain enough detail. Despite the problems, Hedges is happy that the city will get to try the freeway zoning concept with the O'Neil property. The city doesn't even have a formal free- way zoning district in its ordi- nances, but the city council is spending time this summer exam- ining what kinds of development should be permitted close to the freeways in Eagan. Ellison Continued from Page 1B consultant's study of Eagan's retail needs earlier this year. That study should be completed soon. While the poll results are far from a scientific sampling of pub- lic sentiment, they lend support to many of Ellison's campaign planks, most notably his view that the city needs more high -quality, single-family homes rather than more apartments. About 94 percent of the residents said Eagan should attempt to "down -zone" property now slated for apartment buildings, in favor of more single-family zoning. About 70 percent agreed that Eagan already has too many apart- ments, and 80 percent even sup- ported an ordinance requiring that future apartment buildings be con- structed with brick or stone exteri- ors, so they will appear more at- tractive. Attorney's office exonerates former Mayor Ellison of alleged violations By Terrance Mencel year when Ellison's newspaper Waterford apartment project advertisements stated, "And was not under construction; the The Dakota County Attorney's since Vic Ellison has been Thomas Lake Woods project Office has dropped a complaint Mayor, no new apartments have consisted of townhomes and alleging former Eagan Mayor been built." ratfrd Vic Ellison's campaign adver- Wade, in a complaint to the Oaks was ot under cconstruction tisements contained false County Attorney's Office, said nor was Crystal Ponds; Alden information. that statement about "no new Ponds were townhomes; and the No "probable cause" was apartments" was false informa- Silver Bell Apartments were ex - found during an investigation t i o n. W a d e p r o d u c e d isting apartments which receiv- that would warrant a grand jury photographs of what he called ed council approval for expan- to consider filing charges "apartments" under construe- sion prior to Ellison's tenure as against Ellison, said Robert tion during Ellison's tenure as mayor. King Jr., assistant county mayor. y The Dakota County Attorney's attorney. But the six "apartment" Office dismissed the allegations "The statement that Ellison buildings Wade referred to in his against Ellison based on the fin - made was not false," King said. letter either were townhouses or dings of a Dakota County Former City Council can- approved previous to Ellison's Sheriff's investigation that didate James Wade Jr. alleged tenure, King said. began last fall. Ellison's cam - that Ellison violated the Fair Of the "apartments" Wade paign advertisement statements Campaign Practices Act last referred to, King said: the were "literally true," King said. Juvenile offenders aid environment vironment By Dorothy Casserly In operation, a supervisor br .._.... .L pe doing it themsei— volunteer groups not required to list Blomquist fund sources A pair of volunteer political committees that worked for de- feated Eagan Mayor Bea Blom- quist last fall don't have to provide more detailed information about the money they raised, according to an opinion by the Dakota County attorney. 1 Eagan finance director Gene VanOverbeke had asked the county _ attorney for advice after two o groups — Neighbors for Bea Blom- quist and the Blomquist Volunteer Committee — submitted only their total receipts and not specific con- tributors. Minnesota law doesn't require volunteer political committees to provide the detailed information about individual contributors that the candidates' own committees must provide, county attorney James Backstrom wrote. Records indicate that the Blom- quist Volunteer Committee raised $8,486 during the mayoral cam- paign in which Blomquist was de- feated by Vic Ellison. Campaign documents show that $3,000 of that was given to Blomquist's personal campaign committee. Neighbors for Bea Blomquist raised $3,940.84, which was spent on printing and distribution of fli- ers. ,�- Pioneer Press Dispatch DAKOTA WEST BRIEFING Eagan mayor wants prayer for meetings pr Eagan City Council meetings might get off to a of more peaceful start this year if an opening prayer that Mayor Vic Ellison is hoping to introduce be- epr l comes part of council meetings. Ellison said many other government agencies be- 10 gin their meetings with a moment of prayer, and he would like to see that practice begin in Eagan. srr Responsibility for delivering the prayer would the rotate among area church leaders, and the prayer itself would be non -denominational, Ellison said. v Eagan officials are checking with other com- munities to make sure the practice does not violate e, any constitutional provisions to separate church sl and state. SI. Energy cost help available pr Dakota County is taking applications for energy de and weather -proofing assistance. the The county's energy assistance department is im taking applications for grants of up to $925 to help low-income households pay for heating bills. 1 Eligibility is based on the number of people in cou the household, heat source and consumption, assets civ and gross income during the last 12 months. All The county's economic assistance division is tak- I 'ng applications for weather -proofing improve- ma vents which help conserve energy and reduce win- pro .tr heating costs. peo The weather -proofing program provides up to A 600 in materials and labor costs per household pro; insulating, weatherstripping, caulking and and cn windows. Renters and homeowners may ap- emi S 1457-0611 for information. whc 3DW Star Tribune/Monday/January 9/1989 •5B EAGAN: Council member's vote questioned Continued from page 1B ter anchored by new Cub and Target stores. More than 100 residents op- posed the projects because of the additional traffic they will bring to the congested area around the Cliff Rd. interchange over Interstate Hwy. 35E. Some residents and Council Member Tom Egan say Ellison was unfairly influenced by his connection with the developers. They further contend that City Coun- cil Member Pam McCrea also was unduly influenced in her vote for the Galaxie project because she had been a real estate agent representing Swen- son's property until last January. Ellison, 34, said he saw no conflict in asking the developers to be hosts at his Sept. 28 fund-raiser, which raised about $8,000. "I am not swayed by contributions or anything else raised by people who are unhappy about my election," Elli- son said. Ellison, once an aide to former Min- nesota House Speaker David Jen- nings, said that because Williams and Swenson supported him when he ran for mayor in 1987, he didn't see a conflict in asking them to participate in the fund-raiser. He said that about $2,000 of the money raised will pay for his annual report to residents on what happened in Eagan in 1988. McCrea, Ellison's former campaign manager, said Wednesday that City Attorney Jim Sheldon said she had no conflict of interest because she released the Galaxie real estate listing when she was appointed to the coun- cil in January 1988. She took the seat vacated when Ellison became mayor. Before joining the council, McCrea said she received a commission of less than $1,500 when Swenson bought part of the Galaxie site. McCrea said her handling the proper - Ethics Continued from page 1B policies, he said. Wining and dining as a lobbying tac- tic is far less prevalent than it was in the past. A growing number of legislators de- cline lunch or dinner invitations, say- ing they don't have time to go out, and would rather discuss legislative Three new or proposed commercial centers in Eagan Cub Foods opened in the Cliff Lake Galleria in November and Target is to open there next month. Work has not begun on Rahn Cliff and Galaxie Cliff Plaza, which won key City Council votes in September. U_ Cliff Rd. z rt U Cliff Lake Galleria 1-35E LJrLI c t m cc Rahn I-35E iminim,, 1tt f UUhII Cliff Galaxie Cliff Plaza Source / Eagan officials ty had no bearing on her vote on the Galaxie project. She said that in or- der to have a conflict of interest over a vote, "you have to benefit in some way." Egan, who supported Rahn Cliff but opposed Galaxie Plaza, said that McCrea should not have voted on Swenson's Galaxie project and that Ellison should not have voted on either project. "It is hard to be objective when you are that close to a developer's influ- ence," Egan said. "The best way to avoid the appearance of unobjective- ness is to abstain." In his August form letters to Swen- son, Williams and many other city businesspeople, Ellison wrote: "I need at least four years in the mayor's chair to put in place my dreams and vision for this great and growing city. I'd like you to help." Invitations to the fund-raiser were dated Sept. 10, within a week of the council meetings at which Galaxie Plaza and Rahn Cliff won council approval for their preliminary plans and rezoning, the key step in the city review process. Swenson, Williams and about six other Eagan developers are among 19 people listed as hosts on the fund- raiser invitation. "I question the propriety of having these people act as cohosts," Egan Star Tribune map/ Ray Grumney said. "This goes beyond merely giv- ing a campaign contribution. Some- body who is overtly hosting a fund- raiser — that is a commitment made by a developer for something. To be coincidentally so close to these devel- opment applications (in September) seems questionable." Rahn Cliff won final approval in November. Galaxie's final approval will be a routine item once final engineering details are presented, said city planner Jim Sturm. Work on the 100,000-square-foot Rahn Cliff project will start this spring, Williams said. The $5 million first phase will include a bank, retail shops, Burger King and Bakers Square restaurants. A two -floor, 20,000-square-foot Merrill Lynch of- fice building is planned for the first phase of Galaxie Plaza. Campaign reports filed at City Hall show that Swenson gave $100 to Elli- son's 1987 campaign fund, as did William Soules, who also owns part of the Galaxie site. M.G. Astleford, the Burnsville firm that employs Wil- liams, also contributed $100. Ellison said he limits contributions to his campaign to $100 "to limit the chance of people buying influence. . Nobody is going to buy Vic Elli- son's vote for $50 or $100." Ellen Hanson isn't so sure. She is one of more than 100 residents who at- tended council meetings to oppose Galaxie Plaza. She asked, "If you have developers working for you, if (some) ... of your campaign contri- butions are coming from developers in the city, who have everything to gain, does this affect the way you vote?" This past fall Ellison failed to file a report after his September fund-rais- er, as required by a recent change in the state campaign practices law that requires any politician who raises more than $750 to report contribu- tions. A city clerk said this week Ellison and the council would be no- tified of the 1988 law. Ellison said Thursday that he had just learned about the new law. "I immediately called my campaign treasurer. We will have a full report to City Hall Monday morning (to- day)," he said. Ellison said the council deals with projects on a case -by -case basis and is limited in what it can require by city zoning and guide plans. He not- ed that the council eliminated Swen- son's plan for a health club, which neighbors opposed, by getting Swen- son to agree not to build any swim- ming pools in Galaxie Plaza. Ellison said the city hopes to reduce traffic congestion on Cliff Rd. by adding traffic signals and rebuilding roads and bridges in the area. He said he tried to reduce traffic by opposing the Target and Cub project, which was approved more than a year ago by the council led by Bea Blomquist, whom Ellison defeated to become mayor. Blomquist said that the addition of Target and Cub gave the city plenty of retail developments, and that add- ing more will complicate retail prob- lems. Williams said he contributed to Elli- son's campaigns because "1 am very interested in the parties that are run- ning for office" in Eagan. He said that, under Ellison, the council "gives you a fair hearing." Williams said the fact that he was a host at the fund-raiser the same month that Rahn Cliff was approved, "really had nothing to do with it. It was a kickoff drive for the next race. I would have done it either way." Swenson said the fund-raiser gave him and other businesspeople a chance to build rapport with city politicians in a relaxed, noncontro- versial atmosphere. "I don't think we can buy our politi- cians," Swenson said. ilncinnee in their Eagan mayor is criticized for contact with developers who sought city rezoning By Jim Adams Staff Writer Eagan Mayor Vic Ellison has come under fire for asking two developers to be cohosts for a fund-raiser while their projects were up for City Coun- cil approval. Ellison voted with a 4-1 council ma- jority to rezone the land for develop- er Ray Williams' 22-acre Rahn Cliff shopping center and Brad Swenson's 25-acre Galaxie Cliff Plaza. Rezoning issues require the approval of four of five council members. The council votes were Sept. 6 and Sept. 13. On Aug. 5, Ellison had sent letters to Williams and Swenson and many other city businesspeople ask- ing them to be cohosts for a fund- raiser for Ellison's 1989 reelection campaign. Williams and Swenson were among 19 cohosts of the Sept. 28 event. Vic Ellison The two retail and office projects are across Cliff Rd. from a shopping cen- Eagan continued on page 5B Laundry woes put Eagan's mayor on political trajectory "I started in government by bringing my laun- dry to City Hall," says Eagan Mayor Bea Blom- quist. In the early 1970s, citizen Blomquist and a neighbor grew tired of complaining to officials about iron and manganese in the water staining their laundry so they carried their stained clothes to a town board meeting to show the city fathers. "The water was drinkable but it was terrible for clothes," Blomquist said at City Hall last week. Eventually, officials treated the water with chemicals to reduce the staining somewhat, and Blomquist continued attending board meetings as an observer for the League of Women Voters. Then she joined the city Planning Commission and served six years, learning about housing de- velopments and zoning from commissioners John Marble, Joseph Harrison, John Roszak and Charles Hall. She took college classes on plan- ning and zoning, too. Blomquist's knowledge of government in- creased as Eagan grew from a township to a village in 1972 and to a city in 1974. In 1979, she ran against the incumbent mayor, Leo Murphy. To learn more, she attended City Council budget sessions and received tutoring from her husband, Ed, who is business manager for Mah- tomedi School District 832. "Ed didn't want me to run but he became my best supporter," she said. "He would walk down one side of the street distributing pamphlets and I'd walk down the other side." Their adult children, Brent, Linda and Dawn, and friends also helped in the campaign, and Blomquist won. She adjusted her glasses and noted that work- ers today are building a $5.5 million treatment plant to improve the water quality, including eliminating the rust that stains laundry. Plant operations will begin in the fall of 1984. With her colleagues, she developed the zoning ordinance and land use guide. She works about 15 hours a week on city business, including an- swering citizen phone calls at home about as- sessments and airplane noise. South wind by Mike Barrett I keep lists. That's the only way I get things done. —Bea Blomquist. ii an annual budget of $3.7 million, 77 full-time employees and numerous part-time employees to serve a population of 25,000. She also repre- sents Eagan on the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities. "In dealing with issues, you try to be objective and look at the advice of city staff members," she said. "If there's a favorable result on an is- sue, that's your reward for working all those hours." Last fall, she lost an election for state repre- sentative in the new District 38B, which irrludes Eagan, Mendota Heights, Mendota, Lilydale and part of Burnsville. "But I didn't lose my enthusiasm for govern- ment," she said. Now she is working with the Minnesota League of Municipalities, the Eagan Committee of the Dakota County Chamber of Commerce and the state Department of Economic Develop- ment on a plan to assist existing Eagan business- es and attract new ones. A proposed pari-mutuel horse racing track is another issue she and council members are con- sidering. When not involved in city business, Blomquist works as a chemist for Finishing Equipment Inc. in Eagan. She graduated from North High School in Min- neapolis and attended the University of Minneso- ta. As she worked and brought up her family, she studied at the university, at Inver Hills Commu- nity College and at Metropolitan State Universi- ty in St. Paul where she received her bachelor's degree in 1979. As mayor, she is responsible for helping direct Please see Eagan / 2S C 6 C - C g-_. Neighborhoods/soy The Dip t Mike Barrett Eagan Mayor Bea Blomquist stands before t Knob andPolce KnobDepa t Rent building at Pilot the $835,000 expansion of city offices Blomquist .. planned process. In the past they had just zoned it." Her concern for planning came into use when the city developed its first comprehensive guide plan in 1974 and enacted it in 1976. Her experience was used again for the updated guide plan in 1980. John Voss, who started work- ing as the city planner in 1976, knew Blomquist in those early years. "She was one of the key people," he said. "When she puts her mind to something, she tries to see it through." She stuck with the planning commission until 1980, until she took over as mayor. With some comprehensive planning in place, the council guided the city through twofold growth during Blomquist's time as mayor. When she moved to Eagan, its population was about 10,000. When she took office it was 20,000, and today it is more than 43,000. "It took place under our guidance, our good advice," she said. "It wasn't easy." Virtually all of Eagan had been zoned many years ago by a three- man board, she said, perhaps with not enough thought. "I believe zoning should occur when there is a use for it and planning should be done." Zoning and planning questions have gotten the city into some sticky situations and even into court. She said the council always (Continued) studied those situations and weighed decisions by asking: "Are we going to land in court, and do we have a right to win?" Legalities are often difficult for citizens to understand, she said. "Maybe citizens didn't always like what we had to say. We've won most of our court cases and have had fewer than most com- munities," Blomquist argued. "Sometimes we knew we'd get sued one way or another." Blomquist has tried to tell the truth, she maintains, even in the recent campaign when the truth maybe wasn't popular. "I had to tell people the truth," she said. "My opponent used sugar coating in saying he could change something he can't." Finding out the truth is something Blomquist encourages citizens to do. It may mean spen- ding some time with city of- ficials, she said. "When everything is out, and everything is learned, the truth is found out." Smith confirms that Blomquist has an open communications style. "Bea did a good job in tough circumstances. She was very, open, very hesitant to end discussion." - Blomquist promises that dis- cussion will not end, at least on her part. "I don't look at (leaving office) as an end of something, but as a beginning of something else." DAKOTA REVIEW — C t\ GaVt Elusions campaign flier draws criticism Eagan got a taste of year-round campaigning for local office when Mayor Vic Ellison, who's held office only four months, dropped 10,000 pieces of campaign literature on the city's resi- dents. Ellison's "People's Poll" was paid for and dis- tributed by the Ellison for Eagan volunteer campaign committee. The flier created a stir among Ellison's political enemies, including city council member Tom Egan, who blasted the El- lison poll at a council meeting. "It's just a way of keeping in touch," said Elli- son, who faces re-election in 1989. "That's my job as mayor." Egan objected to the fact Ellison asked that the flier be returned to City Hall rather than a private address. He said that meant city em- ployees might have to deal with Ellison's cam- paign literature T:et"ic ii % ♦AYf14.tf11 1C Ar P111 Eagan • Continued from Page 1S "There's a trend of older people going to college and I think that's great," she said. "When I walked into a class, I would always look around to see if I was the oldest one there." Though busy, Blomquist doesn't appear rushed. "I keep lists," she said. "That's the only way I get things done." EAGAN'S FOUR -TERM Mayor Bea Blomquist looked back at her years in office Tuesday night. Keeping a watchful eye alludes to the fact that that may change soon. As the city prepares She says she's going to be a to make its transition to new "watchdog" — she may not own elected officials, she said she the house anymore, but her pre- feels it best not to say much. sence will be known. For Blomquist, giving up the Bea Blomquist, Eagan's outgo- mayorship was not her choice, ing mayor, gave herself the new but that of the voters. It was a role Tuesday, Dec. 29 at a recep- campaign that was generally tion held in honor of her and characterized as bitter, but Council Member James Smith, Blomquist said she doesn't dwell who is also ending his time after on it. "I don't think about (losing 15 years on the governing body. the election) in one way or Those present saw that Eagan another," she said, "but I'm may have lost its four -term more concerned about what di - mayor, but it is gaining a well- rection the city will take. Some informed, concerned citizen. officials seem to be more self - When Blomquist turns over the serving than public -serving." chair to Vic Ellison Jan. 5, she Blomquist said the loss hasn't doesn't expect to walk away. "I'll changed relations on the city always be observing what's hap- council, though she doesn't hide pening, such as with zoning. I'm the fact that she and Ellison don't still always going to be someone get along. who's served as an elected of- "Vic has never been a con- ficial." She said citizens' groups genial person on the council; he will probably still ask advice, and hasn't worked well with the coun- she hints that she may not be that cil," Blomquist said. "We've far into the background. always had the kind of councils in But the woman who prides her- the past where we'd walk out of self on open communication isn't chambers, and no matter what saying much these days. She was said inside, we'd be friends. End of mayoral duties not end ofconcern c t rA 6ci y r r. A—ta L By BRENDA GUDERIAN With Vic, we've never been friends. I have never seen so much maneuvering, politicking." She draws her political opin- ions from long years of experi- ence. Of the 18 years she's lived in Eagan, she has served the city for about 13 of them. Her public involvement began before that, however, with the League of Wo- men Voters in 1970. She soon be- came interested in water quality issues and worked on that until the water treatment plant was built in 1983, some 13 years later. Her formal involvement with city governance began in Janua- ry 1974 when she was appointed to the Advisory Planning Commis- sion. That's when her emphasis on communication began, she said, with Ordinance 52, dealing with zoning and notification of citi- zens. "It was a small community," she said of Eagan in 1974, "but it seemed a lot of de- velopment was goipg on. I was concerned that development be a (See Blomquist, p.20A) V' Sri Ne4spaners nn, 8. plays n. • on eftuii tummy her my stands *ng one plot wed hands ade electric word. out in the f their roof. eally I do it ked out the ider web. wo children, s interested ette said as etting more ith passers- 0-minute in - cars slowed Ahnemann'-: Page I CIA INDEX Opinion Pe4A Worship Directory..Pag6 21A Let It Be Known...Page 22A Calendar Page 23A Sports Page 25A Classifieds Page 1B Mayor 7 plagued by false letter 5 Awada not leaving for Senate run By Joshua Nichols Sun Newspapers ce -c IT) Questioning whether Eagan should be renamed Twin Peaks, Councilmember Paul Bakken called the most recent act of political prevarication "weird." Bakken was commenting on a letter distributed to;an un- known number of :people which falsely stated that Mayor Pat Awada will -give up her position to run for a Sen- ate seat in 2000:711e;_letter- does not malietclear Vihether , it was the U.S. Senate or the Minnesota Senate. "It's time for the people who, are doing this to stop," Awada said at an Oct.'15 pressconfer- ence where ,she discussed the letter. "They need to join in on the process and work to make changes in a positive and legal • way." While she did not dismiss the possibility of running for higher office when her term is up in 2002, Awada steadfastly said that she would ,"abaolutely ful- fill" her term as mayor. A similar situation with anonymous mailing-; cropped up in May, when political car- toons lampooning the City Council set off a 'Controversy that had Councilmember Bea Blomquist accusing Bakken of being responsible for the car- toons, which she found person- ally offensive. AWADA: To P e 16A ) Viilv.7•10AV,4ftvelit. Awada:'Letter includes signature From Page 1A Bakken denied involvement with the cartoons and the county attorney's office decided not to pursue the case because the cartoons were considered a political satire of elected governmental officials protected under the First Amendment. w Betken, who along with Councilmem- ber Peggy Carlson was named in the Awada letter, agreed.with the mayor that incidents like the letter need to stop. "It's apparent that someone has too much time on their hands," Bakken said. "My first reaction when I saw the letter was that it was weird. It seems like a pos- itive letter that is very believable, and that's a strange way to attack a person." After further reading the letter, Bakken said he started to see it as a very subtle attempt to make Awada look bad. The letter, printed on what appears to be Awada's campaign stationery, in- cludes the mayor's signature and states that it is prepared and paid for by the Awada Volunteer Committee. The signature that appears on the let- ter is indeed Awada's, however, she said she did not sign the letter. As mayor, she said her signature is readily available since it goes out on numerous city dis- patches. The letter reads in part: "Although I believe in a strong com- mitment to my present elected office, I know that I can successfully transition from mayor to a Senate position because of the confidence I, leave behind in coun- cil member Paul Bakken and council member Peggy Carlson. "I have established effective coat tails in the community to insure dominance in local government as promised. I am con- vinced that councilman Bakken will transition easily into the Mayoral posi- tion." While she refused to name names, Awada said that "we all have our suspi- cions" of who wrote the letter. She theo- rized that the letter was intended as a personal shot at her and an attempt to force her to come out and reveal her po- litical plans. The letter came to the attention of the city Oct. 13, when the Eagan city attor- ney received the letter in the mail and then faxed a copy to Awada the next day. While it appears that the letter was mainly sent to Awada's supporters and other political leaders, the city has not been able to determine how extensively the letter was distributed, said Eagan Po- lice Capt. James McDonald. "It would be hard to speculate now on who sent the letter," McDonald said. "As of right now, we have not identified any suspects." To avoid any conflicts of interest, the Eagan Police Department has requested the Dakota County Sheriff's Department and the Dakota County Attorney investi- gate the incident. 'It's time for the people who are doing this to stop. They need to join in on the process and work to make changes in a positive and legal way.' — Pat Awada Eagan mayor Although he said what charges could be filed in the case would be up to the county attorney, McDonald said possible charges could include mail fraud, forgery or- a violation of the state's Fair Cam- paign Practices Act. Since the County Attorney's Office re- ceived a copy of the letter Oct. 14 and has never seen a similar case, County Attor- ney James Backstrom said he couldn't say what charges would be involved in the incident. "Right now this is really a case of first impression," Backstrom said. "We are re- searching this issue right now to deter- mine what kind of laws may have been broken here, whether it be criminal charges or something pertaining to cam- paign practices. We just haven't seen anything like this before." The U.S. Postal Service has not been contacted to take part in the investiga- tion of the letter, but that option remains open, McDonald said. "There is a lot of arrogance in the let- ter," Awada said. "It's filled with some positive things and obviously it was made to be very believable." The letter was so believable that Awada received calls from about 10 peo- ple, some of whom supported a possible run. She also received a call from state Rep. Tim Pawlenty, who believed the let- ter to be true. The letter also contains wording from Awada's campaign literature distributed when she was running for mayor in No- vember 1998. It was during that campaign that the negative politics began, Awada said. Be- sides false campaign literature concern- ing Cascade Bay that was distributed without the required campaign disclo- sure, some of Awada's lawn signs were cut up and scattered over her yard, she said. "I have faith that this will end at some point in time," Awada said. "I don't think city politics, or any politics, should be this way." While she said she isn't sure if the same people who distributed the cartoon are re- sporysible for the letter, Awada said she thinks the instances are somehow related. "All of this stuff is obviously connected because it is all a new occurrence over the past year," she said. Educator accolades/5A Eagan High School Principal Tom Wilson was recent- ly named a recipient of the Milken Family Foundation National Educator Award. Treasure trove/8A Someone's Treasure in Lakeville is a nonprofit store that has helped more than 140 children. Getting wet/1B With the section meet less than a month away, area girls' swim teams arc gearing up for a run at the state meet. Alliallianot DAKOTA COUNTY 1/00 16814600 Eagan, City of P.O. Box 21199 Eagan MN 55121 ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEENTH YEAR e s� ntLe Thursday Morning, October 21, 1999 BURNSVILLE, MINNESOTA 147240 NUMBERTHIRTY FOUR Residents receive fake letter with mayor's signature by Lori Hall Awada and City Hall Oct. 13. Staff Writer I - Zt-1S 1 "It's of a great concern to the C.6— — C I rv7 coy NCtLcity," said City Administrator Politically active Eagan resi- Tom Hedges. dents may be receiving letters The letter, sent by U.S. mail signed by Mayor Pat Awada in plain, white envelopes, declaring her interest to'run for announces Awada's potential Senate. However, Awada did not bid for Senate and states she has write or send these letters. started a committee to explore Though officials do not yet support for her possible election know how many people bid. The letter does not say received the letter, calls started whether the campaign is for the coming concerning the letter to state or the U.S. Senate. Eagan Awada's campaign dis- claimer and signature are used in the letter and it even contains some passages from her cam- paign literature. In addition to Awada seeking support, the letter says, "1 know that I can successfully transition from mayor to a Senate position because of the confidence I leave behind Member Paul Bakken and Council Member Peggy Carlson." The letter goes on to say that Bakken would- transi- tion easily into the mayoral position. "It's a very arrogant letter," said Awada. However, "it is filled with some positive things. It was made to be very, very believable." Awada served on the City in Council Council for seven years before being elected mayor last November. Though Awada did seek Republican endorsement for the state Senate four years ago, she did not receive the endorsement and never filed for office. She said she has no immediate intentions to run for Senate while serving as mayor. "I absolutely will fulfill my mayor's term " said Awada. See Lett" ,P 12A ) BEA endorses 3 in Dist. 191 race Union's picks usually potent by John Gessner this time. A changc in state law Grief/ Coalitior the telecc 28 volun Debt), preschor them. D' the Chi Learnini ed at Pr Church occasion gling the one. In bers a I lost his "I v place w with otl been ab too, and often t know w don't h. to under Accc. dren ar. griever: "Kit the wa3 assume becausf the time "Thi ception kids," many I span is cry for go off takes IT stand t gotos one'-' Li k grieve, Letter/Continued "What will happen in five, 10 years I don't know." Awada said she feels this let- ter is just another example of negative campaigning in the city of Eagan. "A lot of very negative things have happened," she said. During last year's campaign, flyers with no disclaimers were distributed and Awada found several of her campaign signs ripped up and scattered across her lawn. This summer, cartoons spoofing City Council members were spread around. "It's really weird," said Council Member Paul Bakken. "I suspect whoever did it, did it just to rattle the mayor's cage." "I think it was a shot at me. It was meant to embarrass me," said Awada. To avoid a conflict of inter- est, the Eagan Police Department has passed the inci- dent on to the Dakota County Sheriff's Office and the Dakota County Attorney. The county attorney is con- ducting research to see if any violations have occurred with the mailing of the letter. Possible charges include mail fraud, forgery or violations of the state's Fair Campaign Practices Act. The county is hoping to have the research completed by Thursday. Though a preliminary inquiry was conducted, until the county finds violations have occurred the case is on hold, according to Dakota County Commander David Bellows. "Until this matter is investi- gated to its conclusion, it is impossible to speculate what crimes have been committed," said Eagan Police Capt. James McDonald. Awada and Carlson have stat- ed they have their suspicions as to who the originator of the let- ter is. However no names have Buff; been given to the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, immed according to Bellows. partici At this time the United States Expres Postal Service is not involved in North the case and no links have been never I made to past campaign inci- cattle c dents. The out on Custer Lars Stab Fire consumes unfinished house lottery by Amy Friberg Staff Writer A fire broke out early Monday afternoon at a house in the early stages of construction. At 12:57 p.m. the Lakeville Fire Department responded to the house fire at 17764 Icon Trail. According to Police Chief RPrry Chric$nncnn t{,n C:rn ..�.. Hvindc the scene, open flames were name. visible, but firefighters were selectee able to contain the fire to its ori- Talc gin. from hi Christensen said the fire is Postal considered accidental, probably cred caused by discarded smoking the part materials. and the Damage to the house is esti- Then tc mated at $10,000. Christensen ping an said it isn't known whether the three fe, ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS DISPATCH Vic Ellison Eagan mayor More metro news / 20A, 24C ■ Reviews / 6B ■ TV/Radio/6B, 7B DAKOTA COUNTY MET'ROB THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 198E Eagan mayor under fire from residents By Bruce Orwell Staff Writer Eagan Mayor Vic Ellison has been in office barely long enough to have a new nameplate made, but already he can drive the streets of at least one Eagan neigh- borhood and be greeted with a message from the voters. "Dump Vic Ellison," read the bumper stickers a small group of angry neighbors has been handing out in recent weeks. The pull -no -punches stickers were the result of Ellison's support for a controversial office project near Cliff Lake in Eagan, but they are typical of his first 10 months as mayor. Ellison has been dogged by vocal pockets of critics. Some are former supporters of Ellison who are unhappy with his direction and style since assuming the mayor's post in January. Oth- ers are old opponents eager to prove the city was wrong when it elected Ellison over four -term in- cumbent Bea Blomquist last year. "Have you seen those stickers that say, "I love my dog'?" asked Ellen Hanson, an Eagan resident who helped produce the Ellison In fact, Ellison said, he has stickers. "Well, this tells people received a lot of support because how we feel about Vic Ellison. You he has set in motion the agenda he may love your poodle. We don't outlined during last fall's cam - love Vic Ellison." Ellison has mostly shrugged off the criticism, saying it is coming from only a handful of people, and people who have different axes to grind. "There are about a half -dozen people that are out there stirring the water, including the former mayor," Ellison said, referring to Blomquist. "They talk to each other, and get each other riled up, but it's limited to those people." paign. The city is beefing up the police department, is enforcing minimum lot sizes and has adopted new development standards that stress quality. Hanson said the small group of neighbors that had the bumper stickers printed are not actively launching any campaign to have Ellison tossed out of office. She said she cast her vote last November for Ellison because she thought he would shield her neigh- borhood from massive commercial developments. But Hanson and her neighbors were very disturbed when the city council approved the Galaxie Cliff Plaza office complel at Cliff and Galaxie roads last summer, even though Ellison and other council members forced the developer to reduce the project's size. Tempers flared in early August when residents of the area, worried about booming growth, protested at a four-hour public hearing. Elli- son later said ,the group was "the most abrasive and uncontrolled crowd I've seen in my three years on the council." The neighborhood group is not the only one that has watched Elli Please see Ellison/3B lizea by numan waste. Edison Continued from Page 1B son closely over the months. A longstanding organization, Resi- dents Concerned for Eagan, has also taken a few shots at the may- or, claiming that Ellison has tried to sneak controversial retail proj- ects through the council in closed - door sessions. A leader of the group, Shirley Ol- son, is a close friend of Blomquist. Olson said Ellison has been losing voters fast since taking office. "There are a lot of people who feel they made a mistake in the way they voted," she said. Blomquist, herself, is allied with Residents Concerned for Eagan, but she has remained out of the spotlight and says she will not seek the mayor's job again next year. But she still talks frequently with her former supporters and report- ers, and she rarely passes an op- portunity to comment on Ellison's performance. "There seems to be a whole lot of dissatisfaction, and a lot of com- munity concern," Blomquist said. "I still get an awful lot of phone calls from people complaining." "People go to either the city staff or one of the elected officials and they don't get an answer," she added. "They're looking for some advice but they're not getting it." Ellison has also rankled Blom- quist's camp with a recent flourish of fund-raising efforts, even though his next date with the voters is more than a year away. About 100 people contributed $7,000 at an event last month, more than half of the $12,000 Ellison spent to get elected in 1987. Blomquist said that's evidence that Ellison is losing support and needs to begin campaigning now to make sure he keeps the job next year. Ellison said he's just getting an early start, and some of the money will fund surveys and other projects that won't have to come out of the city's budget. Ellison said some of his backers recently joked about forming a community group of their own and calling it the Better Eagan Associ- ation. The group, with an acro- nymn spelling Blomquist's first name, would then take out newspa- per ads with lines like: "Bea says, vote for Vic Ellison." 1 a}; ...ca3l� •y U C U�Cvcd=v, c 'b ato0: ay Q a) y � M•I•l a 6) 0 ,.0 > 0 01 y. 6) z � U ice.. O., .b w a--� �. (/1 .ace U -q tU..•cO = O C) = 4A ) N g O� O CZ y= 6) 'd'" U> q, O w 'C U .4) CZ.... ..N. i•. 6) ,^a, c4 0 y p U 'C ) �~^y O•G6) OUCGO�'fi..O ct.+ x? yV cca d ''' U '�' `� + 6) O tao 4->> U i.' y ; a d C 'C O r•.) 6) c o O [„) C a �! a, i..I n -0 _Go = Pmy O .-. O i. Lr 4., .fl G .D O cP. O 0 .� y N O U 4-1 to CL y Cr 4.4 01) V a cLe _e 2e. Eagan m yoral candidate a a champ at raising money AMY SHERMAN and KA VANG ;^ STAFF WRITERS • r An Eagan mayoral candidate has more money in her campaign coffers than candidates vying for similar positions in other cities. No other candidate in Eagan, Apple Valley, Inver Grove Heights or Rosemount has raised as much as Pat Awada. She had raised about $17,500 by Oct. 23, accord- ing to records she filed with the city. But Awada's contributions do not set a city record. In the 1989 mayoral election, then -mayor Dick Ellison raised $23,300. Money didn't help him at the polls — he lost to Tom Egan. In Inver Grove Heights, the un- opposed mayoral candidate has raised the most money. Mayor Joe Atkins spent $16,400 during the past two years, he raised about half of that amount and spent the rest out of his own pocket. In Apple Valley, acting Mayor Gary Humphrey raised the most; he received $7,600. Candidates for city council rac- es had to turn in campaign finan- cial reports to their city halls by Oct. 23 — 10 days before the elec- tion — if they raised or spent more than $750, under state law. City clerks are not responsible for contacting candidates who do not turn in the reports to confirm whether they have not raised more than $750 or failed to turn in the reports. However on Nov. 10, all candidates — no matter how much they have raised — must turn in a report. For candidates who raised or spent more than $750, subsequent reports must be turned in Dec. 3, 1998 and Jan. 31, 1999. Many candidates turned in fi- nancial reports before Oct. 23 be- cause they must turn in reports within 14 days of reaching $750. Not all of the reports covered fi- nances up until Oct. 23, some stopped at previous dates this fall. Contributions cover monetary do- nations and in -kind contributions, which can include supplies. Here is a look at approximately how much each candidate has raised and spent: Apple Valley ■ Gary Humphrey, mayoral can- didate, received contributions of $7,600. He spent $3,900, mostly for advertising in the local papers and campaign signs. ■ Steve Boice, mayoral candi- date, got $3,500. He spent $2,600, chiefly on campaign literature and stationery. • Virginia Sterling, four-year City Council candidate, raised $2,900. She spent $3,700, mostly to pay for the cost of campaign liter- : ature. • Ruth Grendahl, City Council candidate who is seeking a two- ; year term, received $1,550. She spent $1,500, mostly for campaign - literature. • Mary Hamann -Roland, mayor- al candidate, raised $1,200. She spent $1,150, primarily on cam- paign literature. • John Bergman, who is running for the four-year City Council seat, raised $1,200. He spent $2,800, mostly on advertising. ■ Konrad Stroh, four-year City Council candidate, raised $1,067. He did not list total expenditure on his report. • Robert Erickson, who is seek- ing re-election for the four-year City Council seat, got 5700. He spent $1,400, mostly for campaign signs and literature. ■ Karen Sprattler, who is seek- ing the two-year City Council seat, raised 5400. She spent $1,100, mostly on campaign literature. ■ Robin St. Ana, who is seeking a four-year City Council seat, raised 550. He spent $1,800. • Eagan in Pat Awada, mayoral candi- date and a current City Council member, received contributions of $17,500. She spent $14,200, mostly for printing, postage and lawn signs. of Carla Heyl, City Council can- didate, raised 55,100. She spent $4,100 on signs and campaign lit- erature. • Meg Tilley, mayoral candi- date, received $3,800. She spent $2,700 on signs and campaign lit- erature. • Paul Bakken, City Council candidate, received $3,100. He spent 51,900 on signs and printing. ▪ Peggy Carlson, City Council candidate, raised $1,400. She spent $4,200 on signs, campaign litera- ture and other items. • Gale Anderson, City Council candidate, received 5960, he spent 5920, mostly on supplies for a pa- rade and signs. • Craig Osborne, Trygve Behny, Ron Miller, Rod Smith and Mi- chael Vincent did not turn in re- ports as of Oct. 23. Inver Grove Heights • Joe Atkins, the mayor running for his fourth term, raised 57,900 between Dec. 3, 1996 and Oct. 20, 1998. He spent $16,400. A small amount of those funds are from his previous race in 1996, Atkins said. The mayor said he raised the bulk of the money before he knew that he would be running unop- posed. Instead of drawing from city funds, the mayor uses contribu- tions and his own money to pay for anything related to his job as the mayor. During the past two years, he has used the money for things such as a newsletter he sends to city residents, newspaper advertising and conference ex- penses. He also donated to the campaigns of the other incum- bents, Brian Howard and George Tourville. So why would the mayor, who is an attorney, spend so much of his own money on the job? "Maybe it's a little goofy," the mayor ad- mitted. But he said the job costs more than the salary and that he does it for the community and his family, not the paycheck. ■ Brian Howard raised $5,000. He spent $4,900 on a reception, advertising, printing and other supplies. ■ Although Rosemary Piekarski Krech raised $5 less than $750, she turned in a report. She spent $668, mostly for signs. She also turned in a form that stated that she did not raise more than 5750 as of Sept. 3. • George Tourville turned in a report stating that his contribu- tions and expenses did not exceed 5750. In fact, he had zero contribu- tions through Aug. 30. • Randy Sell did not turn in a report. Rosemount None of the nine Rosemount candidates for mayor and City Council turned in financial reports by Oct. 23. Sue Walsh, the city clerk, said it is common for candi- dates in the city not to raise more than 5750. Amy Sherman covers Eagan, Inver Grove HelgMs and Rosemount. She can be reached at (651) 228-2174 or at asher man@ploneerpress.com . Ka Vang covers Apple Valley and Lakeville. She can be reached at (651) 228-2173 or kvang @ploneerprens.com double disc mix or match case We've doubled our everyday discount on all purchases! But hurry, this sale is for a limited time! it PAGE B2 • STAR TRIB dis/i999 Briefs . .-r-i♦'♦ Phony letter about Eagan mayor prompts investigation Authorities are investigating a phony letter sent to Eagan resi- dents in which Mayor Patricia Awada purportedly discusses leaving her office to seek election to an unspecified Senate seat, Awada said Thursday night. It's obviously meant to embarrass me," said Awada, who began a four-year mayoral term in January. "I have no intention of running for the Senate." The letter, using photocopies of Awada's campaign stationery and her signature, was received by at least 10 people on Thursday, including the city attorney, she said. It is another in a series of political pranks that have plagued Eagan for several years, she said. But Awada isn't amused. She and other city officials have called a City Hall news conference at 10 a.m. today to denounce the mailing and dispel rumors. Police are investigating "because it's a felony," she said. — Conrad dePiebre WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15. 1999 Forgery charge filed against Eagan resident By Mike Kaszuba Star Tribune Staff Writer A failed City Council candi- date and onetime city parks commissioner in Eagan was charged Tuesday with forgery and criminal defamation for distributing a false letter under Mayor Pat Awada's signature. Michael James Vincent, 34, was accused of distributing a letter to residents in October in which Awada appeared to be talking about running for an un- specified Senate seat in 2000. The mayor called the letter a fake, and police began to inves- tigate its origin. Vincent's lawyer, Howard Bass, said that the charges were "completely politically motivat- ed" and that his client was not involved. He said that Vincent has long been at odds with Awada and her supporters and said he and Vincent "have lots of ideas" as to who was behind the letter, but declined to elab- orate. The letter was the latest in a series of political shenanigans in the Dakota County suburb. Earlier this year, two anony- mous cartoons lampooning the City Council were circulated there. "The last couple of years, it's just been incredible," Awada said Tuesday after the charges were announced. Vincent has sued the city be- cause the City Council declined to reappoint him as a parks commissioner this year. He ran unsuccessfully in 1998 for a City Council seat as one of eight candidates vying for two seats. According to a police com- plaint, Vincent became a sus- pect after Paul Bakken, a City Council member who won one of the seats, drove by Vincent's home early one morning and took several bags of Vincent's trash home to sift through. When Bakken turned the trash over to police, they found latex gloves, empty envelope boxes and reams of shredded documents that matched the heading on the forged letter. Po- lice then searched Vincent's home computer and found a letter nearly identical to the forged letter, the complaint said. ElFRIDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1999 S EAGAN 61., "�04/ Mayor calls getter stating Senate aspirations bogus. • Dakota county to handle the case AMY SHERMAN STAFF WRITER Aletter sent to some Eagan resi- d e n t s announces that the mayor is running for a Senate seat. But Pat Awada likes her Eagan mayoral job just fine, thank you, and is not pursuing a Senate seat, despite what a letter circulating in the community claims. The mayor said the letter, which includes her signature, is bogus and is another example of nega- tive politics in Eagan. The Eagan Police Department will ask the Dakota County Sher- iff's Office to investigate the letter to avoid a conflict of interest, said Eagan Capt. James McDonald. The county attorney's office will also be involved because that office is responsible for investigat- ing potential violations of the state's Fair Campaign Practices Act, said County Attorney James Backstrom. Violations of that law can result in a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor. This will be the second time during the past few months that : the Dakota County attorney's office !has handled a case involving - politics in Eagan. This summer an anonymous person distributed political cartoons that poked fun at the City Council, which particu- larly upset Council Member Bea . Blomquist. The county attorney's office decided the cartoons did not constitute a crime, and the case : was dropped. Backstrom said he had never seen a case like this before. "It's very disturbing to pee forg- eries of this nature being issued, and I will certainly investigate," Backstrom said. "If I am able to identify the source, 'we'll look at it closely in terms of potential crimi- nal charges." Asada will speak about the let- ter, which she described as "fairly arrogant," at a press conference this morning at the Eagan Munici- pal Center. Awada did not want to speculate about who sent the let- ter, although she said she has her suspicions. Awada said that who- ever sent the letter wants to hurt her mayoral career. ON THE PLANET What do you think about the letter falsely claiming that Eagan's mayor is consider- ing a Senate bad? Go to www.pio- neerplanet.com/ watercooler Awada said she did not know how many letters were distributed, although she said it was mailed to her political opponents and their supporters, including some who are active in the DFL Party. Awada is a Republican. The typed, one -page letter addressed to friends and support- ers states that Awada is undecided about whether to run in 2000 but has started an exploratory com- mittee. The bottom of the letter states that the document was pre- pared and paid for by the Awada Volunteer Committee. The letter does not specify whether she is seeking a Minneso- ta or U.S. Senate seat. Awada said she sought the Republican endorsement for the state Senate four years ago but did not file for office and failed to receive the endorse- ment. She had not considered running for the seat in 2000. "It's something I had considered in the past. I don't know about future plans. Right now I'm busy being mayor of Eagan." The letter also states that the council will be left in the hands of members Paul Bakken and Peggy Carlson. "So should I choose to run for Senate, I have established effective coattails in the communi- ty to insure dominance in local government as promised. I am convinced that councilman Bakken will transition easily into the may- oral position." Eagan's city attorney received the letter in the mail Wednesday and faxed it to Awada on Thurs- day morning, she said. The mayor said she was shocked when she saw the letter. "It is in fact my signature, a facsimile of my signa- ture," she said. About 10 individuals called the mayor Thursday after either receiving the letter in the mail or seeing copies of it. "I've talked to several people asking if it was true," Awada said. "Some actually called supporting my running in a Senate seat Some called and were absolutely shocked I would do that since I am so dedicated to the mayors seat." Awada Amy Sherman, who covers Eagan. Inver Grove Heights and Rosemount, can be reached at es heemaneploneerpress.com or (651) 228-2174. 1¢Ku LC(i! Okey IN EAGAN - 1 r(bune, Mayor -Elect Will Serve People First EAGAN— Bea Blomquist felt "no one should run unopposed for city office," so she campaigned for mayor of Eagan and won by a vote total of 1354 to 1071. A 10-year resident of Eagan, Blomquist has been involved in city government in several capacities. She has served on numerous committees including the sign ordinance, District 196 school site and zoning ordinance 52. Blomquist has served on the planning commission for the past six years, has been its secretary and is currently the vice chairperson. Husband Ed, an accounting coordinator for School District 832 in east St. Paul, and their three children celebrated mother's graduation from Metropolitan State University and her election as mayor within a one -month period. Blomquist's three children in- clude Brent, 22, in the Air Force stationed in California; Linda, 21, who is married and living in Ap- ple Valley; and Dawn, 20, who at- tends Inver Hills Community Col- lege and lives at home. Blomquist is employed as a chemist at Finishing Equipment Inc. Her primary objectives as mayor are to communicate with the people of the city and involve them in city government. "Dur- ing my campaign I had lots of help from people I didn't even know. It was heartwarming to see so many people reaching out for community interaction," said Blomquist. "I really want to see that kind of involvement continue in this city, and to let people know that they can be heard." In the transitional period, until she is sworn in after the first of the year, Blomquist plans to con- tinue attending council meetings and is formulating organizational plans for more efficient and time- ly council meetings. "Meetings should be scheduled to serve the people first and government se- cond," said Blomquist. BEA BLOMQUtST Volume 20, No. 37 T T November 8, 1998 �wsv'1ks3c th. Pat Awada wins election to Eagan mayoral seat EP - c. I (- S - (SS By SARA THOMALLA-BLOOD Pat Awada won the race for Eagan mayor, defeating oppo- nents Meg Tilley and Trygve Behny in the Nov. 3 general election. Awada was one of a group of women elected as mayors in four of the largest cities in Da- kota County. In Apple Valley, Mary Hamann -Roland upset incumbent Gary Humphrey. Incumbent Elizabeth Kautz won her bid for re-election in Burnsville. Cathy Busho was re-elected for another term as mayor in Rosemount. Awada replaces current Ea- gan Mayor Tom Egan. Egan did not seek re-election. Cc- Ctri C�tF lT`7 At 9 p.m. Nov. 3, the race was fairly close between Tilley and Awada, with a gap of roughly 2,000 votes. But Awada, would extend the lead to roughly 3,000 votes when results were tabulated later in the night. Probably best known for his low-key campaign style, Try- gve Behny (pronounced Trig- vee Ben -nee) received 1,651 votes. Tilley received 9,735 votes. Awada took the win with 12,547 votes. "I feel great and I'm quite honored," said Awada at her victory party. "It's clearly an indication of the direction the city of Eagan wants us to go. I'm very happy." PAT AWADA Awada, 32, has been a City Council member for the last seven years. She said her expc- rience gave her the leading edge over her competitors. "I expect they knew what they were getting into (if I) became mayor," said Awada. She said her win is clearly an indication that "the Eagan pub- lic is very satisfied with the direction we've been heading." One of the issues that did in- fluence voters was the new Eagan Aquatic Center, said Awada. Located on the city's municipal campus, the pool complex is slated to open in the summer of 199-9. "If you look at the way the early precincts around the pool were coming in, I did win those by a fairly close mar- gin," Awada said. "As we got away from the City Hall site, the margin widened. the margin widened. I won 17 of the 20 precincts." Awada and her husband, Mi- chael, have two daughters, Alex and Katie. She is the president of Capitol Compa- nies, Inc. which provides con- sumer protection and verifica- tion services. The company also offers direct mail services to commercial companies and political clients. Tilley said she felt one issue that hurt her campaign was that it was never clearly re- solved whether she was against constructing the pool. "I'm not against a commu- nity pool. I'm concerned about Awada (Continued from front • • ge) the process. I am concerned with going from spending $2.8 million to $7.1 million on the project, and the citizens didn't get to vote on it," said Tilley. Both Tilley and Behny said another component in the elec- tion was campaign funding. Both concede they did not have the funding Awada had for her election drive. "Awada had name recogni- tion and she had a well -funded campaign," said Tilley. "I'm not surprised of it turn- ing out the way it did. Given the volume of money spent by the winning candidate, I guess you could say it took `Awada money' to get that. I spent a total of $50 on my campaign," said Behny. Behny said the election was also very driven by policies and programs passed by the current council. "If you would combine the total of myself and Meg Tilley's votes, it's about half and half. The thing I see is a division among the citizens' thoughts on policies and pro- grams," said Behny. "I would hope Ms. Awada works toward erasing that division and would try to create a cohesive situa- tion again that we seem to have been lacking for so long." "They want a change," said Awada. "They felt they were not being listened to when they came to City Hall to discuss the issues: the hockey area, the pool assessment, and vari- ous other issues." All of the candidates ex- pressed their gratitude toward those who supported their campaigns. "I want to thank the citizens who did vote for me. I could not have received these votes by myself. Family, friends, co- workers, and people I have never met before (all supported me). I learned a lot and met a lot of nice people," said Tilley. "I think I learned three compo- nents to a successful cam- paign. You've got to have a good candidate and an issue. If have a hot issue, it works. You've got to have funding and a solid organizational plan. And I think you've really got to have solid experience and people advising you." Both Behny and Tilley said they would not rule out running in another election. "I think I probably would, and I would go a little bit more prepared, experienced and knowledgeable — so watch out Eagan," said Tilley. "As far as the future, we'll have to wait and see," said Behny. "I've met a lot of inter- esting folks who are interested in talking to me (on running for office)." MARCH 22, 2003 VOLUME 25, NO. 3 qan Mayor presents State of the City address lb - Eagan is by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS The city of Eagan is sound, said Mayor Pat Geagan, but there are a few storm clouds on the horizon. Speaking on behalf of the entire City Council, Geagan delivered the State of the City address Thursday morning, out- lining accomplishments of the past year as well as goals for 2003. "Both last year and this year can be summed up with what I call the four `S's," he said. "Sound management, sound safety, sound public service and sound positive strides" Accomplishments Past management accom- www.thisweek-online.com sound, Geagan says, but challenges are ahead included improvements to 21 miles of city streets, more than $5.75 million in storm mitiga- tion improvements and increased code enforcement. Geagan said economic devel- opment was improved with design standards set and proper- ty acquired for the Cedar Grove area, a new development with affordable senior housing approved and a tax -increment finance district established for the area around Highways 55 and 149. Strides and progress achieved in 2002 are best exem- plified by the new Community Center and Central Park, which will open in phases throughout the spring and summer. See City, 6A plishments include the fact that Eagan has always prepared and operated balanced budgets, he said. Eagan's per -capita expen- ditures are the lowest of any city in Minnesota with more than 50,000 residents, and the city spends $299 per person, com- pared to the state average of $561. In terms of safety, crime in Eagan was down 12 percent in 2002, and major crime was down 10 percent, which Geagan attributed to the addition of a crime analyst and computer mapping capabilities. The police, fire and public works dispatch and radio system was also completely rebuilt, he said, and communication was improved between law enforce- ment agencies at all levels of government. Public service in 2002 rated highly among residents, accord- ing to the city's survey, Geagan said. "On everything from animal control to snow plowing, a com- paratively large 88 percent — nearly 9 out of every 10 resi- dents polled — rank Eagan services as excellent or good," he said. Communication was a key focus of public service last year, with the hiring of Communications Director Tom Garrison, the increase in fre- quency and redesign of the city's newsletter and plans to redesign the city's Web site. Public service highlights also Goals Geagan outlined several coun- cil goals for 2003, some that con- tinue work already begun and others that respond to new needs and contingencies. First on the list was homeland security, Geagan said. "The city of Eagan's mission in 2003 is to increase homeland security measures," he said. "We need to study how Eagan's securi- ty can be even better." Plans include acquiring better chemical and biological equip- ment for first responders, con- ducting field and in-house exer- cises to know how to better respond in emergencies and increasing surveillance of critical areas of infrastructure. "Finally, we know that neigh- bors are key to safe cities," he said. "That's why we're going to enhance our efforts via Neighborhood Watch, National Night Out and other programs" Another goal is to address the state budget impacts. 'We won't know the total neg- ative impact to Eagan until the i,ity/rrom 1A "It's a wonderful jewel for this city," he said. "Citizens and busi- nesses alike will be able to enjoy a large banquet facility space, meeting rooms and exercise facil- ities, not to mention residents tak- ing part in the new senior center, teen center and kid's play area called the Blast." Plans were also completed for the new North Water Treatment Facility, slated to have construc- tion begin in 2005. "When completed, that will meet the city's water treatment needs projected out to the year 2020 and beyond;" he said. The Moonshine Park and Retreat Center was completed in 2002, and new phosphorous fer- tilizer regulations were imple- mented to safeguard lakes and ponds. "Though we can always improve, we think there's a rea- son why 95 percent of Eagan res- idents rate the quality of life as good or excellent, because Eagan is a great place to live and work," he said. 6A March 22, 2003 THISWEEK EG legislature concludes its work later this spring," he said. "But all along, Eagan has been conserva- tive in its budgeting and spend- ing." The city began preparing last year for the possibility that state aid to cities would be cut, he said, which will help minimize impacts in 2003 through the use of operat- ing reserves. Some city projects will be delayed or cut back, including the council goal of entry monuments to the city, some street improve- ments, replacement of equipment and general facility renewal and travel and training budgets. "Nonetheless, because Eagan is less dependent on local govern- ment aid, it is in better shape com- pared to many other cities," he said. Preserving green space is another council goal, evidenced by the recent vote to fund 20 per- cent of land acquisition costs for the seven -acre Anderson property adjacent to Patrick Eagan Park. "A large 82 percent of resi- dents polled say preserving some of our remaining open spaces is somewhat or very important," he said. "It was a major issue in this last local election" Other goals include success- fully launching the Eagan Community Center, securing funding sources to expand trans- portation infrastructure, encour- aging land use opportunities for the creation of a diverse housing mix, and recruiting attractive development. The council will also monitor the impact of the new north/south runway at the Minneapolis -St. Paul Airport, now slated to open in 2005. A comprehensive communica- tions plan will include opportuni- ties for the public to convey con- cerlis and feedback to enhance local government's responsive- ness to Eagan's citizens and busi- nesses, Geagan said. "The state of the city is safe, but it can be safer. It is fiscally sound, but financially challenged in the next two years. It is and will remain service oriented and geared to the needs of its people," he said. `And finally, Eagan is ever striving to continuously improve. That is the state of the city — progressive, responsive, confident, forward moving and in partnership with you." A complete list of council goals will be featured in the city's upcoming newsletter and posted on its Web site, www.cityofea- gan.com. Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ ecm-inc.com. District/Continued underclassmen. "Ninth- and 10th-grade numbers are down, so it's potentially a concern for us one or two years down the road" Eagan High School athletic director James Bouche realizes that, as far as decreasing partic- ipation, this spring's numbers may be only the tip of the ice- berg. "I think we'll find more decline next year as parents and kids have to start making deci- sions," Bouche said. "I know that, as a parent, when I had three children in high school, I probably would have told my sons and daughter to choose which activities they really did- n't need to be in." Cocurricular fees at District schools were raised by 75 per- cent this spring to help compen- sate for a serious budget short- fall. A high school student who participates in athletics on a year-round basis will now pay $320 per year instead of $180 as in past years. At middle schools, the maximum fee is up to $220 from $125. Many schools have imple- mented measures to ensure those students who wish to par- ticipate will not be forced to watch because they are unable to pay the activity fees. Students SPRING ATHLETICS PARTICIPATION High School Apple Valley HS Eagan HS Eastview HS Rosemount HS Middle School Black Hawk MS Dakota Hills MS Falcon Ridge MS Rosemount MS Scott Highlands MS Valley MS 2000 2001 392 378 432 357 392 405 349 354 237 223 277 285 313 239 213 196 202 160 249 166 Totals (grades 7-12) 3056 2763 %thange -3.5% -17.4% +3.3% + 1.4% -5.9% +2.9% -23.6%© -8.0°Ic -20.1% -33.3% -9.6 % who participate in the district's free lunch program have their fees waived and several area athletic associations have vowed to help with scholarships for those students who need them. "Eastview Athletic Association has donated money to help and we did use that some this spring," Eastview athletic director Bruce Miller said. "We're working to make sure students aren't the ones caught in the middle of all this." Still, the greatest concern for athletics directors is the future, both for their programs and for the district. "I think one of the reasons that this community is such a great place to live is that you've Fees for high school sports Sport 2000 Football $90 Hockey $90 Soccer $75 Volleyball $75 Basketball $75 Baseball $75 Fastpitch $75 Cross country $65 2001 $175 $175 $130 $130 $130 $130 $130 $115 got kids involved in their schools," Manning said. "If this trend continues, we might be going down a road that we can't recov- er from." and engaged Rosemount's Awada/Continued the fact that she and her husband are busy raising their four chil- dren. "For these reasons and more, out of over 170 nominees, she was chosen to be honored with the `40 Under 40' award," Bakken said. Speaking to Awada, he said, "We're very proud of you, and you should be very proud, too ... for two reasons. First of all, it's an acknowledgment of your impressive achievements to this day, and it's also a public affir- mation of the fact that you are indeed under 40." Awada, who recently turned Mayor Awada thanks the Council for their recognition. Photo by Erin Johnson 35, has had career aspirations since she was 12 years old and began a daily newspaper route. When she was a teenager, Awada was a car hop at the local A&W. She received a bachelor's degree in international relations from. the University of Minnesota and later earned a master's in public administra- tion from Hamline University. Awada was first elected to the Eagan City Council in 1992 and then re-elected in 1996. She became Eagan's mayor in 1998. • "I feel that my work in busi- ness and as a public servant is an extension of who I am and what I believe in rather than just `work,' " Awada said. "I have a great many things I want to accomplish." Brian Carey, a real estate developer with United Properties, Inc. and a member of the Eagan Economic Development Commission, was also named to the "40 Under 40" list. Carey, 39, received a mas- ter's in real estate investment analysis from the University of Wisconsin and became a devel- opment project manager for United Properties. He has spo- ken to community groups about child abuse issues and has been a volunteer with numerous organizations, including the Special Olympics. Mayor Awada and Eagan developer named to llst of 40 influential people by Erin Johnson Sta ff Writer Eagan honored its mayor at the June 5 City Council meeting for being recognized as a major influence in the area. Mayor Pat Awada was named to the "40 Under 40" list by CityBusiness as someone pre- dicted to be a major influence in Twin Cities business and social circles. The council presented Awada with a certificate and flowers after Council Member Paul Bakken spoke a few words about the mayor. "There's a fairly common misconception in the public that all Patty does is be the mayor of Eagan," Bakken said. "And although the mayor of Eagan often seems like the equivalent of a full-time job, she does much, much more" o el. at 11\15 Bakken said that after gradu- ating from college, Awada began a direct -mail company that she turned from a fledgling start-up into a company that does busi- ness throughout the state. She later acquired a small telecom- munications company, he said, which she turned into a $2.5 mil- lion a year business. Bakken also mentioned Awada's love of gardening, and See Awada, 8A 4Bw. Wednesday/November 8/1989/Star Tribune Election '89 ?)51't/ Eagan's Egan defeats Mayor Ellison; Lakeville newcomers win By Gary Harvey Staff Writer Popular 10-year Eagan City Council Member Tom Egan defeated Vic Elli- son for mayor Tuesday in what was viewed as a mild upset. Egan re- ceived 3,512 votes to 2,539 for Elli- son. Raymond C. Nutzmann got 248 votes. Two years ago Ellison had received more than 60 percent of the vote in wresting the mayor's chair from Bea Blomquist after a bitter campaign. Egan said his polling had showed he could win, but he said he was sur- prised at the margin. "What this indicates to me is that there has been a substantial reaction to what happened two years ago," Egan said. "I just think that Vic made so many promises and raised expectations of so many people, but people came away with such an emp- ty feeling. "You have to have the humility of representing the people," he said. "People are sick and tired of the overcommercialization . and the lack of sensitivity to neighborhood issues." Two Ellison supporters won election to the Eagan council. Tim Pawlenty received 3,808 votes and Council Member Pam McCrea, who had been appointed to fill Ellison's seat when he was elected mayor, received 2,998. Other candidates were Sandra A. Ma - sin, 2,444 votes; Mark Olson, 1,411; Jim Wade, 661; Renee N. Herzog, 458; and Curt England, 258. Ellison had asked voters to give him another two years to complete what he said was a four-year job. He had stressed a commitment to quality growth rather than rapid growth and Tom Egan emphasized his record as mayor. In Lakeville, Mayor Duane Zaun, who was unopposed for reelection, received 1,934 votes. Elected to four- year council terms were newcomers Lynette M. Mulvihill with 1,150 votes and Wenzel Ruhmann, 1,129 votes. Defeated were incumbent Robert Nelson, 905, Sandi Goetze, 795, and incumbent Nancy Enright, 706. In Shakopee, developer Gary Lau- rent ousted 17-year council member Dolores Lebens for the mayoral seat, 2,274 to 1,497. Allan Hastings was third with 199. Lebens, elected mayor two years ago, had twice been taken to court by the City Council after she attempted to block a bridge project that is expect- ed to ease some of the city's traffic congestion. A council member who frequently supported Lebens, Gary Scott, also was defeated. Scott re- ceived 1,262 votes, giving up his seat to Robert Sweeney with 2,942. Vic Ellison Council Member Gloria Vierling was reelected with 2,661. Running fourth in the council race was Richard Ke- chely with 424. "I just hope that in the next few months the community can pull to- gether and focus on the future," Lau- rent said. "Once we do that, then we can start moving together. "A mayor has to be mayor for the entire community," he said. He add- ed that he hopes Lebens' supporters will feel comfortable calling him about their concerns. In Rosemount, City Council Member Vernon Napper, who was unopposed for mayor, got 641 votes. Elected to four-year council terms were Sheila Klassen with 418 votes and Harry R. (Bob) Willcox, 406. Vote totals for other candidates were not available. Results were unavailable for city elections in New Market, Prior Lake. Savage and Farmington. --—Oct•20. 1999— 3:05 octorTHE WALLLACE GROUP yN 1111, `!01 6. .1iin Abbot!' rrnniy greets unwary visitors to 3306 Rolling Hills ()live in Cagan. Diana Ahnemann. 8. plays lhr cobwebs with the coffined DDracuia as dusk falls on the monster -strewn lawn. tinily scares up attention rtih%1()I;s Illy! ,S/)OOIL('(/ /11' (/I•ti1)1(11•, join 111 the _j1.111 By Joshua Nichols r,l!'1 ".`r I•.;,,•:nl r,•.. i:lr•rrl ;`I11,1 .!4r: .1lllrr' .r1 !1 41! ,, .•}14' 1,1!: ,. I:.1}.lnl 1-• 111 1.11•. 111 ;)' t11 ril' tl)(' 1l,':.li11t - !I: l,l'1 41••ri:1 1r I. 1•1-1.1 :,nil l I;l!•;•- 14,•• 7•i-: ,t • 111 +u!i• 11,1' ,111. 11:rlim,.'1:1111 i•. !:, t .il•llr.!:11-I1:1) `. 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' 1 .•1.1..... 111111 r 1111 : ,.1. .1111.•. $,• ,1: 1 :.1 I I•\1 `.'1 ),I1 1.. 1';.;•. Ii.1 "S students log on for Mayor plagued by false letter Awada not leaving for Senate run By Joshua Nichols Sun Newspapers Questioning whether Eagan should be renamed Twin Peaks, Minn„ Councilmember Paul Bakken called the most recent act of political prevarication 'weird," Bakken was commenting on a letter distributed to an un- .. known- number of 'people .,:which falsely stated that Mayor Pat Awada will give up her position to run for a Sen- ate -seat in 2000: The letter does not make it clear whether it was the U.S. Senate or the Minnesota Senate. "Ws time for the people who are doing this to stop," Awada said at an Oct. 15 press confer- ence where she discussed the letter. "They need to join in on the process and work to make changes in a positive and legal way.'° While she did not dismiss the possibility of running for higher office when her term is up in 2002, Awada steadfastly said that she would "absolutely ful- fill" her term as mayor. A similar situation w.ith anonymous mailings cropped up in May, when political car- toons lampooning the City Council set off a controversy that had Councilmember Bea Blomquist accusing Bakken of being responsible for the car- toons, which she found person- ally offensive. AWADA: To Page 16A 6514523504 => CITY OF EAGAN ,TEL=6516814612 10/20'99 15:05 Oct.20. 1999 3:05PM THE NAL L LACE GROUP No.0516 Awada: Letter includes signature From Page 1A Bakken denied involvement with the cartoons and the county attorney's office decided not to pursue the case because the cartoons were considered a political satire of elected governmental officials, protected under the First Amendment. Bakken, who along with Councilmem- ber Peggy Carlson was named in the Awada letter, agreed with the mayor that incidents like the letter need to etop. "It's apparent that someone has too much time on their hands," Bakken said. "My first reaction when I saw the letter was that it was weird. It seems like a pos- itive letter that is very believable, and that's a strange way to attack a person," After further reading the letter, Bakken said he started tSsee it as a very subtle attempt to make Awada look bad. The letter, printed on what appears to be Awada's campaign stationery, in- cludes the mayor's signature and states that it is prepared and paid for by the Awada Volunteer Committee. The signature that appears on the let- ter is indeed Awada's, however, she said she did not sign the letter. As mayor, she said her signature is readily available since it goes out on numerous city dis- patches. The letter reads in part: "Although I believe in a strong com- mitment to my present elected office, I know that I can successfully transition from mayor to a Senate position because of the confidence I leave behind in coun- cil member Paul Bakken and council member Peggy Carlson. "I have established effective coat tails in the community to insure dominance in local government as promised. I am con- vinced that councilman Bakken will transition easily into the Mayoral 'posi- tion." While she refused to name names, Awada said that "we all have our suspi- cions" of who wrote the letter. She theo- rized that the letter was intended as a personal shot at her and an attempt to force her to come out and reveal her po- litical plans. The letter came to the attention of the city Oct. 13, when the Eagan city attor- ney received the letter in the mail and then faxed a copy to Awada the next day. While it appears that the letter was mainly sent to Awada's supporters and other political leaders, the city has not been able to determine how extensively the letter was distributed, said Eagan Po- lice Capt. James McDonald. "It would be hard to speculate now on who sent the letter," McDonald said. "As of right now, we have not identified any suspects." To avoid any conflicts of interest, the Eagan Police Department has requested the Dakota County Sheriffs Department and the Dakota County Attorney investi- gate the incident, `It's time for the people who are doing this to stop. They need to join in on the process and work to make changes in a positive and legal way.' — Pat Awada Eagan mayor Although he said what charges could be filed in the case would be up to the county attorney, McDonald said possible charges could include mail fraud, forgery or a violation of the state's Fair Cam- paign Practices Act. Since the County Attorney's Office re- ceived a copy of the letter Oct, 14 and has never eeen a similar case, County Attor- ney James Backstrom said he couldn't say what charges would be involved in the incident, "Right now this is really a case of first impression," Backstrom said. "We are re- searching this issue right now to deter- mine what kind of laws may have been broken here, whether it be crifninal charges or something pertaining to cam- paign practices. We just haven't seen anything like this before." The U.S. Postal Service has not been contacted to take part in the investiga- tion of the letter, but that option remains open, McDonald said. "There is a lot of arrogance in the let- ter," Awada said, 'It's filled with some positive things and obviously it was made to be very believable." The letter was so believable that Awada received calls from about 10 peo- ple, some of whore supported a possible run. She also received a call from state Rep. Tim Pawlenty, who believed the let- ter to be true. The letter also contains wording from Awada's campaign literature distributed when she wag running for mayor in No- vember 1998. It was during that campaign that the negative politics began, Awada said. Be - aides false campaign literature concern- ing Cascade Bay that was distributed without the required campaign disclo- sure, some of Awada's lawn signs were out up and scattered over her yard, she said. "I have faith that this will end at some point in time," Awada said.'I don't think city politics, or any politics, should be this way " While she said she isn't sure if the same people who distributed the cartoon are re- aponsible for the letter, Awada said she thinks the instances are somehow related. All of this stuff is obviously connected becauee it is all a new occurrence over the past year," she said. 6514523504 '> CITY OF EAGAN ,TEL=6516814612 10/20'99 15:05 Gt- I Flovav 17rC \fiAviS 2-0)1010 • u :For EaIcj TomEgan t�L ,..1 only wish *controversy a ardirtg .4.M . the park is very e Our first . . i . 11KCity find another ' begun in January of this year I . latfizresented to Ma .. was foiled 1)y other., petitions, personal calls and ap , -at every chance there was, up until June 1. We brought cerns and ret"quests to select another, more suitable, site f di responded by pandering, ignoring and insulting us. From the beginning of the discourse, I believe this pro the egos of council members Pat Awada and Ted Wach now I question that belief. Can the fierce rush and the three be ego only? Show us Mr. Mayor and members Awada and Wachter only honorable and that you have no vested interest in slam-dtmked without any regard to your citizens! tiotlor. , fireinintry. ces before thi co the council mariy I this project. The t was being driven and Mayor Egan. But' lying tactics of theit: t your intentions ar ting the aquatic park- _ JEFF GREGORY EMAte 1,1 Eagan Mayor Tom Egan, left, Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, center, and Apple Valley Mayor Gary Humphrey gather for the infor- mal monthly lunch meeting of the mayors from five northern Dakota County cities. Rosemount and Lakeville mayors also attend. Once a month, the mayors of five Dakota County cities get together to brainstorm on issues of common interest. KA VANG STAFF WRITER When a Burnsville skateboard park opens next week, enthusiasts in the southern sub- urbs should thank chit-chat over cold cuts. The park, which includes skateboard ramps, was pitched by Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz to four other mayors during a monthly luncheon. Kautz wanted a place where skateboarders could practice without being hassled by peo- ple or ticketed by police. Burnsville, she told the mayors of Apple Valley, Eagan, Lakeville and Rosemount, was going to build a park next to City Hall. "We have facilities for a kid to practice traditional sports such as basketball, soccer and baseball, but there were no facilities for kids to practice skateboarding," she said. Because they had a relationship — three years of comparing notes over sandwiches and cookies — the other mayors contributed to help build the park. Eagan Mayor Tom Egan said it was because Kautz had told him early on about the skateboard project that he made a finan- cial commitment. It's just one example of how a monthly lunch makes a difference in the five cities along the Interstate 35E corridor in northern Dakota County. The luncheons were the brainchild of Kautz, who in 1995 wanted to collaborate on projects and get ideas about how other Dakota County cities were dealing with growth and development. She invited the mayors of Eagan and Apple Valley for infor- mal discussions over lunch. It made sense to ask those cities because they shared the same borders, history, highways and schools, she said. Soon Lakeville and Rosemount were invit- ed. The five mayors — Gary Humphrey of Apple Valley, Cathy Busho of Rosemount, Duane Zuan of Lakeville, Egan and Kautz — MAYORS CONTINUED ON 2B I. before the party leadership city late this fall. Minneapolis also is in t] have the Republican natiot in 2000. The other conten one are: Charlotte, Chicago, anapolis, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and San Anton After tours of Target C Metrodome Thursday, le Democrats' site -review groi themselves satisfied with be "Either one could do it," Caraway, the owner of a D.C., public relations firm woman of the site committl But Caraway said she with the Metrodome possi — even with the upper dl — it could hold 30,000 peo to about 20,000 for Target 1 "All the delegates would on the floor," Caraway sai a real floor, the delegates we Joe Andrew, an Indian, CONVENTION cor a31idM 33v1S 9NVA VM cE so i ) ■ \� 7m CD ty 00 a.5' \J of \0 � g /{ 0/ /F 73• osE s7/ k'< °==—»nnM ]3 i 72@J\�b= JJ /�\/)>.)\0/ 3- 7N§—t» Esw la) &\�/777777 §X \j E5X 0 /S < 77 \2b \\o \\ A2 co- \E= 22 /,— /moo 4¥m ]\ 2/ 1§'\ ED • iE \/ ƒk 2\& E §' 5.� » y & ƒa' p�§ �a» 'CD' 3&& =\ ° ° ° rD — $ a - " §unxva 2B s MAYORS • CONTINUED FROM 1B have been meeting since then on the fourth Thursday of each month. "It is important to build bridges, identify issues, look for solutions and leverage our resources togeth- er so we can accomplish things," Kautz said. On Thursday afternoon, the five greeted each other with hugs and handshakes and sat down at the Apple Valley City Hall and over cold cuts, chocolate chip cookies and poppy -seed muffins to chat about life in their cities. There never is an agenda. They talked about airport noise, com- munity swimming pools and devel- opment and developers. Oh, and they talked about the grand open- ing of the skateboard park. "The kids want you to wear inline skates," Kautz said. Groans greeted the news. "We are five friends and we get along extremely well," Egan said. "Because of our friendship, we are able to be candid and have with each other in-depth conversations. The time we spend together is humorous, productive and a useful devotion of time." And ultimately municipal rival- ries surface, such as whose SAINT PAUL PIONEER PRESS SOUTH SUBURBAN SERVING APPLE VALLEY • EAGAN • INVER GROVE HEIGHTS • LAKEVILLE • ROSEMOUNT amphitheater seats more p e o p l e. Rosemount's? Count 700. Eagan's? About 1,500. Apple Valley's? Thousands, but the other may- ors said you can't count it because, after all, it really belongs to the Minnesota Zoo. So there. The mayors take turns hosting the lun- cheons at their city hall, and the food comes out of the mayor's bud- get. Sometimes they take tours of buildings and project sites. The lunches never last hours. And if you think that so much municipal firepower in one room is illegal, guess again. Open meet- ing laws only apply to gatherings of officials from the same city, not between cities. But these meetings aren't about policymak- Elizabeth Kautz • Age: 51 • Public service: Burnsville's mayor for five years. • Favorite Color: Yellow, because it is bright and sunny. • Last movie watched: "An Affair to Remember." • Biggest impact: "Guided people so they are the ones who create their own destiny." more than 11/2 Cathy Busho • Age: 46 • Public ser- vice: Rosemount's mayor for two years. • Favorite radio station: KDWB, because they play all types of music. • Hobbies: Gardening, reading and attending com- munity events. • Last movie watched: "Godzilla." Tom Egan • Age: 50 • Public service: Eagan's mayor for eight years. • Hobby: Singing and his- tory. Egan sang in the church choir for 15 years. • Favorite breakfast: Waffles with strawberries and whip cream. • Favorite movie: Dances with Wolves, starring Kevin Costner. ing. In the Burnsville skateboard park example, each mayor still had to pitch paying for a share of the park to their respective coun- cils. No checkbook government here. The lunches are about sharing Gary Humphrey • Age: 57 • Public ser- vice: Apple Valley's mayor for two years. • Favorite breakfast: Warm oatmeal with brown sugar. ■ Favorite author: Tom Clancy • Favorite movie: "Executive Decision" Duane Zuan • Age: 59 • Public service: Lakeville's mayor for 16 years. • Favorite movie: "Good Will Hunting." As a retired teacher, Zuan says he can relate to Robin Williams' char- acter. • Favorite actor: Jack Nicholson. Why? "It's his features, he's devilish and sneaky." hopes and dreams, and comparing notes about nightmares. "I get insights about communi- ties and how they develop from the other mayors," said Rosemount's Busho. "They had faced problems that my communi- ty will soon have to face." 4 n nrtict frnm Greenleaf Elementary Schoc Tenpas, 9, and Megan McH' Create and Animate contest world finals at Disney's Mai Odyssey finalists • Three schools from district 1� competing at et GITA SITARAMIAH STAFF WRIT Apple Valley's Christoph! feels so good about his tea! thn 0 These pages are provided as a forum to debate ideas c in our communities. Signed letters should be no l • Include daytime and evening phone numbers and addre Submitted letters and columns become the propert which reserves the right to edit and publish them in an iURSDAY, DEC. 3, 2009 • APPLE VALLEY, ROSEMOUNT & EAGAN • VISIT US ONLINE Safety drives weather -related schedule changes in District 196 JANE BERENZ • GUEST COLUMNIST The long stretch of mild November weather makes it easy to forget that winter is coming, and our 27,000 stu- dents will soon be hop- ing for a snow day. JANE However, while snow BERENZ days are fun for kids, the decision to close School District 196 school is not made Superintendent lightly. We know these decisions impact fami- lies throughout the district who may need to find alter- native care for their children. BERENZ: TO NEXT PAGE ,ETTERS TO THE EDITOR oncessions needed the editor: In these trying times of the economy, have you ever won - red what our management in our cities are paid? We :en wonder why they are paid the way they are. We think it's time for concessions like everyone else has take, especially our City Administrator. See the following lary schedule. This is public information. City Administrator Thomas Hedges: $148,730 (33 years of rvice to the city) Director of Public Works Thomas Colbert: $130,312 (31) Director of Administrative Services Eugene Van Oberbeke: 30,312 (28) Police Chief James McDonald: $126,006 (21) Director of Community Development Jon Hohenstein: :0,619 (19) Director of Parks & Recreation Juli Johnson: $118,643 (4) City Engineer Russ Mathys: $111,675 (12) Fire Chief Mike Scott: $111,675 (4) Deputy Chief of Police Jeffrey Johnson: $107, 848 (20) Director of Communications Thomas Garrison: $104,166 (7) City Planner Michael Ridley: $103,376 (20) Chief Financial Officer Thomas Pepper: $103,376 (17) Police Lt. Gregory Johnson: $102,252 (30) Information Technology Manager Kristi Peterson: )0,880 (22) We think it's time we make a few people accountable, pecially our Mayor and City Council for the salaries these ople are receiving. Dan Smith and Pete Johnson Eagan AT WWW.MNSUN.COM • © 2009 S! Eagan faces new budget realities When my wife read the Dakota County property tax statement recently she had perhaps the same question as you. While the value of our home has gone down our city property tax bill went up. She asked: "Why?" We're no differ- ent than many resi- dents. We chose Eagan for the good schools, its proximi- ty to the Twin Cities and we continue to appreciate its natural beauty. In our years in Eagan we've appreciated all the community has to offer, the quality of city services and we've almost taken lower taxes for grant- ed. I had to explain that our city is changing and facing new fiscal pressures that will force us to look at city services and the value of our city tax dollars differently. This year's property tax bill is perhaps, the first reflection of what may be a new budgeting paradigm for Eagan taxpayers. While I did not want to alarm her, I did want to be clear: some of the things and assumptions we've both become used to in Eagan may need to change. For over two decades Eagan has been the model of a successful and growing Twin Cities suburb. That growth has helped our community build a nationally recognized park system, train and equip one of the best police forces in the state, main- tain critical infrastructure and pro- vide high -quality, high -value city services. All of this and a well -deserved reputation for fiscal prudence have become Eagan's calling card. This year's property tax bills do not sig- nal an end, but they do reflect the fiscal challenges ahead and portend the changes that may be necessary. In 2009 a slowed economy and state deficits paired up to decrease our estimated tax and fee revenues by $1.3 million. The city's proposed 2010 budget contains over a $500,000 worth of cuts and, even with infla- tion in health care costs and non - MIKE MAGUIRE Eagan Mayor negotiable union contracts, is lower than last year. Ironically, 85 percent of this year's property tax increase is to recover property tax relief funds the state promised Eagan, but never delivered. Moving forward we've learned not to count on them and we've planned according- ly. While Eagan's property taxes will, even with this year's levy increase, remain among the lowest in the area, we will continue to face chal- lenges. In the past business and res- idential growth would effectively insulate city property taxpayers from real increases in the cost of government. Now we're dealing with a trend of flat or declining property values and city revenues. Increasingly difficult choices will follow about what to cut from an already lean menu of city serv- ices. Our community will be called on to prioritize what it does and change the way it does it, or to charge more to do the same. Doing more with less will simply not be a realistic choice. Over the past two decades these are not the kind of city services and tax dollar dialogues Eagan taxpay- ers have become used to having. Over the last 10 months there has been a profound shift in the way city leaders and I have had to talk about not just the coming year's budget, but budgets for years to come. The city will host a budget open house 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Eagan City Hall, 3830 Pilot Knob Road. While the 2010 city budget is what's right in front of us, the event will be an opportunity for residents and busi- ness owners, taxpayers all, to join the larger conversation about Eagan's future. If you, like my wife, opened your tax bill this year and wondered, "Why?" I encourage you to attend, learn about city services, the new budgeting days ahead, and share your thoughts and suggestions. Acul 11111 SMEAD®I No. 2.183E UPC 10334 smsad.com • Mad. In USA 1B�I NAi 111301M1f SFI m,,,"'° L,Ar '- Vie -ter- t(e ju� CIF -\4elec. ke -�ys- nch,t5 ckmi b i A ,; , J (J c�c c �ceo r ��I I�l/_ �� yr p (-ipc.„ bock--d 1 vlltl[1 > Ski Z to I/1/w b J (e IMPA(;'!' PRINTING OFFICE: 651.489.0803 • impadprintingink@juno.com gL'� s) tr“'vv 1067 RICE STREET • ST. PAUL, MN 55117 S ', 3 'III VIM "Mr. 11 ' 1'1( Iv pi.)LICE • • ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2005 WWW.TWINCITIES.COM AKOTA COUNTY APPLE VALLEY BURNSVILLE EAGAN FARMINGTON HASTINGS INVER GROVE HEIGHTS LAKEVILLE MENDOTA HEIGHTS ROSEMOUNT SOUTH ST. PAUL WEST ST. PAUL B INSIDE DAKOTA COUNTY e University of Minnesota is dying land -use options for its 000-acre UMore Park in emount. It's home w to several iversity research erations. EAGAN INVER ?.Kart 4 1 ROSEMOUNT v Jd EMPIRE A4 I TOWNSHIP g 2 MILES Park '�, COAPEJ VERMILLION OWHSHIP 0 N PIONEER PRESS U seeks `vision' • WEST ST. PAUL MAN PAINTS MURAL TO HONOR FELLOW VETERANS 2B EAGAN `It doesn't have to mean the end' Council member reflects on life after cancer BY MEGGEN LINDSAY Pioneer Press Ten minutes after doctors informed him he had colon cancer, Mike Maguire told his wife he refused to let the disease kill him. It simply was not an option: not for him, not for his 3-year-old son, Ian, and not for Janelle Waldock, his wife of 10 years. "It wasn't that I was delusional about the reality, it was just that I made up my mind and found a strength I never knew I had," said Maguire, 38, a member of the Eagan City Council. "It's important to know that such a daunting diagnosis does not automatically mean it's debili- tating. It doesn't have to mean the end." Still, his diagnosis in late March dealt an unexpected blow to Maguire and his family, launching a surreal process they hope to contain to calendar year 2005. He had suffered abdominal problems for a year, but it took months for him to seek help — and convince doctors to do a colonoscopy. "Don't gut it out, check it out," he said. "It's one thing to be proud — it's quite another to be dead. And with can- cer, so much depends on when it's caught." MIKE MAGUIRE, 4B THOMAS WHISENAND, PIONEER PRESS Eagan City Council Member Mike Maguire shares a laugh with friends during a Thursday evening party to celebrate his success at fighting colon cancer. Maguire was feted at Sweeney's Saloon & Cafe in St. Paul. _ - . . . v ... /l V r. 1 v 1 Mike Maguire (continued) He underwent surgery the day after his diagnosis to remove a sizable tumor that had begun to spread to his lymph nodes. After a 12-day stint in the hospital, Maguire came home to recuperate before starting six months of chemotherapy. "One of the first things I did was read `Curious George Goes to the Hospital' to our son," said Waldock, 35. "We are lucky in that he's just a lit- tle too young to understand. He's never been scared. He knows Daddy has a big owie left over from surgery, but he doesn't know what cancer is." The exhausting treatments ended a month ago, and Maguire feels better every day. Doctors peg his five-year sur- vival rate at about 85 percent. "I like those numbers," he said with a smile as he sat in his living room and discussed the past seven months. A coffee table book on the American presidency, a copy of the Declaration of Indepen- dence and Garrison Keillor's "Homegrown Democrat" shed clues about Maguire's political bent and civic nature. Maguire, who taught at St. Olaf College and was a communications consultant to the Minnesota Department of Health, is a former policy fel- low at the Humphrey Institute Policy Forum. He also has been active in the Minnesota Demo- cratic -Farmer -Labor Party. He's running for mayor of Eagan in 2006 and said his doc- tor has cleared him for the long slog of a campaign. "Why would I be fighting to hold on to this life if I didn't then live it the way I've want- ed to?" he said. "But the can- cer does put the campaign into a different perspective. My life, literally, doesn't depend on the outcome." Maguire is giving up his communications consulting business at the end of the month to work for the Ameri- can Cancer Society, a former client. "The timing is really serendipitous," he said. "For me, what's emerging is a personal sense of mission and a special connection to cancer, . patients." Others in the community might not have realized the extent of Maguire's battle. He never lost his hair to chemo, and he remained a constant presence at City Council meet- ings. He just tired more easily. "I was bummed I didn't lose .. my hair because I was looking , , , forward to wearing my Red Sox _ hat. I figured that would be the only way I could get away with it," the Boston native joked In reality, though, his can- cer treatment was taxing. He received chemotherapy bi- weekly and remained hooked to a machine for 48-hour stretches. He cut back on work, and one weekend his family stayed with relatives just so he could rest. „ , Relatives from the East Coast visited four times dur- ing the summer, and friends and colleagues were quick to offer baby-sitting help. "We felt blessed by the sup- port," Waldock said. "Dinner was delivered to our house every night for two months. Friends and co-workers came together and created a sched- ule. It was amazing." Maguire said that while people instantly think of a can- cer diagnosis as a tragedy - especially in someone so young — hidden blessings continually take him by sur- ,, , prise. The power of his faith and inner strength top the list. "There's a powerful clarify- ing force to a cancer diagnosis. You quickly gain a better understanding of your priori- ties," he said. "I hope that as I move away from the most intense part of my cancer jour- ney,that I hold onto and keep close some of those most important blessings." Meggen Lindsay can be reached at mlindsay@pioneerpress.com or 651-228-5260. T a < r ssauaaenne Jouoy (A. l! --(f� . ,--1_D ^ n' O rj) ro°�om �ru n cn =¢ -CDa D* a - o 4Q CD C/) CO Lel 1 1/401YS3111DN Photo by Christy DeJoy Timeless gift MAYOR BEA Blomquist holds the clock made for her by the "Awesome Pride Clock Factory," Rosemount High School's eighth hour wood class taught by Rod Smith. The clock contains a portion of the landmark Lone Oak Tree that was cut down April 9, 1984. Blomquist was presented with the clock at the Feb. 5 council meeting. "I almost fell off my chair. It was a complete surprise. It's the nicest gift I've ever gotten since being mayor," she said. PermitsEa ang Are iargest Eagan township has issued n . building permits totaling $14,- 'f 999,645 through November, a record breaking figure, accord- d ing to Clerk Alyce Bolke. s About $1,000,000 has been issued in December permits al- s so, so the total will be consider- s ably higher for 1968. Figures n in 1967 were $4,819,940. it A large share of the permits I- were issued in November when s the Blue Cross building cost- e ing $5,740,259 upped the total s considerably. Other November permits were h 14 houses, $312,200; 3 indus- 'd trial, $747,000; 3 garages, $7,- 544; 2 non residential buildings, - $5500; 1 addition to house, $200; n and an additional amount to the Af Pilot Knob elementary school, e $432,556, totaling $7,245,259. Several apartment complexes - have been built in Fagan this n year, two new elementary schools - are under construction, and sev- ✓ eral industrial parks are rapid- ly expanding, plus expansion of housing projects, Cedar Grove e and Cedar Crest additions pro- d viding the most growth. PAGE 6A Eagan flagpole dedicated EAGAN — A plaque dedicating the Eagan Police Deportment's flagpole was officially presented Tuesday, April 27, at the police deportment. The flagpole was dedicated to former Mayor Herb Polzin, and former council members Arthur Ryan and William Rydrych for their combined 72 years of public service. At the flagpole were Rahn, left, Agnes Polzin, widow of the former mayor, Clara Rahn, Carol Rydrych and Bill Rydrych. Carriage Hills/from 1A The case could still go back to trial if the city denies Wens- mann's development propos- al. Either way, the issue will finally be resolved, Mayor Mike Maguire said. "This saga has been like an epic 900-page novel," he said. "Where Carriage Hills is con- cerned, it has always seemed this legal battle is not over un- til it's over, but this settlement allows Eagan voters to write the final chapter." The settlement came out of a court -ordered media- tion prior to trial, which was scheduled to begin June 11. Wensmann and Rahn sued the city in 2004 when it de- nied a change in land use to allow housing on the prop- erty, which Rahn said was no longer viable as a golf course. A district court ruled in fa- vor of Wensmann and Rahn, but an appeals court reversed that decision. The state Supreme Court agreed that the city had a rational basis for refusing to amend its comprehensive guide plan to allow hous- ing on Carriage Hills. It then sent the case back to District Court — which originally ruled against the city — to de- termine whether that denial constitutes a regulatory tak- ing of Rahn's property. Wensmann has until April 16 to submit development plans for the land, which will "This saga has been like an epic 900-page novel... but this settle- ment allows Eagan voters to write the final chapter" — Mike Maguire EAGAN MAYOR likely go before the Eagan Planning Commission and City Council in May and June. Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc.com. THtSWEEK March 22, 2008 5A 1111191111111.11111111111,91111111 File photo Carriage Hills, seen here in better days when it was a nine -hole golf course, has been closed since 2004 as owner Ray Rahn and developer Wensmann Homes battled the city in court over the future of the property. Thisweek MARCH 22, 2008 taqaVOLUME 29, NO. 4 Because the news never stops www.thisweek-online.com Voters to decide fate of Carriage Hills Settlement agreement calls for vote on whether city should purchase former golf course by Erin Johnson after a closed session during land through a property tax 30 acres of open space along TH[SWEEK NEWSPAPERS Tuesday's council meeting. increase. If voters defeat the with the 450 to 480 units of After nearly four years of The settlement allows vot- referendum, Wensmann will mixed housing. In addition, legal wrangling, a settlement ers to decide through a ref- be able to develop the land. north/south street connections agreement will _allow Eagan erendum on November bal- Wensmann is expected to to either the Greensboro or residents to determine the fate lots whether the city should submit development plans Wescott Hills neighborhoods of Carriage Hills golf course. buy the 120-acre property for to the city next month for would be prohibited in favor The Eagan City Council $10.25 million and preserve it the property, located at 3535 of an east/west connection approved the settlement with as open space. Wescott Woodlands. between Wescott Woodlands Wensmann Homes and Car- If voters pass the referen- According to the settle- and Duckwood Drive. riage Hills owner Ray Rahn dum, the city will purchase the ment, the plans must include See Carriage Hills, 5A State of City/from 1A pansion and upgrade of High- way 149 was completed in November, and the council dedicated an extra $1 million in this year's budget to begin the proposed ring road around Yankee Doodle and Pilot Knob roads. Even though the Legis- lature passed a "historic" transportation package that will take state projects off the backs of local property tax- payers, Eagan still faces a $64 million shortfall in transporta- tion funding over the next 20 years, Maguire said. . Another future challenge for Eagan is environmental sustainability, he said. The City Council remains committed to the strategic preservation of open spaces, he said, and he invited the public to join the effort of planning for Eagan's future land use by attending upcom- ing open houses or e-mailing suggestions to the city. The city has made many changes to reduce its carbon footprint, such as using ener- gy -saving light fixtures and a computerized energy manage- ment system that turns heating and cooling equipment off or down during noncritical times in newer buildings. Maguire challenged Eagan families to take the Minnesota Energy Challenge to reduce their own carbon footprints. "I believe that Eagan can be the most energy -conscious community in the state," he said. "Just -imagine the -impact if all 27,000 Eagan households logged on to (www.mnener- gychallenge.org) to get started conserving energy and saving money on their utility bills." Maguire saluted some com- munity champions during his speech, including the residents of the Coventry Pass neigh- borhood. Concerned about the health of their pond, the residents spent $300 each of their own money to hire a con- sultant to apply treatments to the pond to reduce the amount of phosphorous, which had resulted in lots of algae and pond scum. "The Coventry Pass neigh- bors are an example to us all," he said. "Not only were they able to get clearer water and more open space around the pond, but they are seeing spe- cies that were not there or were missed before, like the hooded merganser, and Bob the musk- rat." Maguire also recognized Eagan resident Jeff Carlson, previously known only as "The Coffee Guy," an anony- mous man who occasionally gave local Caribou cashier Jean Daly an extra $30 to $50 to buy coffee for someone who was having a bad day. "Now others have caught on and started throwing in some of their extra bucks," he said. "Jean reports it makes her feel so good to see people smile and the .positive impact that a seemingly simple but random act of kindness can have." Eagan faces challenges and opportunities alike as its pop- ulation matures and increas- ingly diversifies, Maguire said. But he invited the community to join in the city's move to the future with the goals, dead- lines and dreams that ensure Eagan continues to work. "Eagan's roll -up -your - sleeves attitude may have started back in the fields of Holz Farm," he said. "But to- day, we here in Eagan ... have the dream, the desire, the tal- ent and, most important of all, the community sensibili- ties to make Eagan the best city in America." The State of the City ad- dress can be viewed at the city's Web site, www.cityofea- gan.com. Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc.com. State of the city is 'very good' Crime is down, job growth continues, but transportation funding, economy remain challenges, mayor says by Erin Johnson THISW EEK NEWSPAPERS Though it is not without challenges, the state of the city of Eagan is very good, Mayor Mike Maguire said. Maguire outlined the city's progress over the past year and the upcoming issues it will face in his State of the City ad- dress March 20. Crime in the city is at an 11- year low, he said. In addition, Eagan con- tinues to lead the Twin Cit- ies in head -of -household job creation, and it has been one of the top three cities for job growth in the metro area for the past seven years, he said. The city has seen an in- crease of more than 2,600 jobs in the last two years alone. While new construction has been stagnating elsewhere, Ea- gan had $90.4 million in com- mercial/industrial develop- ment last year, more than any other city in Minnesota. The city remains fiscally conservative, Maguire said, but it is not immune to a bad economy. He announced a city hiring freeze and said, while Eagan will always protect vi- tal services, painful decisions could lie ahead. "I pledge we will be sensi- tive but clear about what ser- vices could be impacted down the road," he said. Eagan continued to be a leader in pushing for increased broadband speeds locally and in Minnesota, he said, and progress was made against air- port noise with a $127 million noise -mitigation settlement and reduced nighttime air traffic on the new runway. The city has also made progress on two major trans- portation initiatives: The ex - See State of City, 5A Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire delivered the address on Thursday, March 20. Photo by Erin Johnson State of the City 8A March 29, 2008 THISWEEK White/from 1A policing when they carve to Eagan to discuss President Bill Clinton's crime initia- tive. "Really, all eyes of The na- tion were here, and Bill was at the center of that," Mc- Donald said. White said he had wanted to be a police officer since he was in junior high. "The two things I wanted to do in my life is become a police officer and become a Marine, and I was able to do both of those," he said. He joined the Marine Corps in 1971. He was on active duty until 1974, and then he joined reserves, with which he served in the first Gulf War and reached the rank of sergeant major be- fore retiring in 2000. White said he first applied to the Eagan Police Depart- ment as a dispatcher. "I took the test, but I can't type. I type about 10 words a minute and half of those are spelled wrong," he said. "So needless to say, I failed the dispatcher test." After being hired as a ca- det - essentially a commu- nity officer - he joined the - department as a part-time police officer and was hired full time a year later. "Back then, the city had maybe 15,000 people, and a lot of these roads were just two-lane country roads - Cliff, Pilot Knob, Diffley," he said. "We still had work- ing farms, so you spent a lot of time running around chasing wayward horses and cattle and pigs." One of his favorite parts of the job was meeting peo- ple in the community, he said. "I've met a lot of good people in this city, and a lot of those people I call `friends' today," he said. His least favorite part, he said, was responding to suicides and having to no- tify families of a loved one's death. "I would rather go to a bank robbery or a shootout than do a death notifica- tion," he said. One of the most difficult death notifications he ever had to give was to the family of Lance Cpl. Daniel Olsen, who was killed last spring while serving in Iraq. White joined two repre- sentatives from the Marine Corps and a police chaplain to deliver the news. "That was the hardest thing I ever did, because he was a Marine, and he was so young," he said. The brotherhood of the department helped get him through the hard times, he said. "The biggest thing is the people here, the camarade- rie," he said. "My fellow em- ployees and officers made a difficult job easier with their friendships and jokes. You could talk to them and they'd understand your feelings, while people that aren't in this job don't understand." Choosing to retire was an agonizing decision, White said, one that had him pac- ing the halls in doubt until the moment he handed his letter to the chief. The letter read, "All good things have to come to an end, and I guess that time is here for me." "I'm leaving very reluc- tantly. It was a very diffi- cult decision and I thought about it for a real long time," he said. "So I'll probably be depressed for the first cou- ple of years. When I retired from the Marines, it took me about two years to get over it. I've done this my whole adult life - the city's been my home." There are some things to look forward to, however. He will no longer have to work during holidaps and family get-togethers, so he can spend more time with his wife, their five daughters and their six grandchildren. He plans to spend more time in his shed, working on various projects, such as tan- ning hides, crafting things out of birch bark and carv- ing spoons out of wood. "I have a lot of hobbies that will keep me very busy," he said. A history buff, he also will spend more time in the summers going to rendez- vous, which are gatherings of history buffs who spend a week or weekend living out a different period in history. White likes to set up his teepee and live like an Amer- ican Indian on the plains in the 1800s. He's also taking Dakota language classes. "I've_ learned so much about American history, more so than I did in school," he said. "I'11 have the time now to go to more." White said, as a police of- ficer, he always tried to deal with people as if they were his own family. He spends a lot of time these days think- ing back on the people he's had contact with and wheth- er or not he made an im- pact. "I wonder whatever hap- pened to them. Did those families make it? Did their problems get solved? Did life get better for them? I just think -back-to all of those years, all of the people I've dealt with," he said. White said he wants to thank the citizens and busi- ness owners of Eagan "for all the support they've given us over the years," he said. "That means a lot to us." He is also thankful for the long career he had with the city of Eagan, which he said he will miss tremendously. "Sometimes people have a talent for singing or writing or art," he said. "I guess the gift I was given is to give ser- vice to people." A retirement party is scheduled for White at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 1, in the Eagan Room. The public is invited to attend. Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc.com. public relations, she works as Dee Unverzagt, 5A April 11. Officer retires after 32 years of service by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS When officer Bill White began at the Eagan Police Department in 1976, he was one of only 17 police officers. Pilot Knob was still a coun- try road, and the city had only about three stoplights. White has seen many "big- time" changes in his three de- cades with the department — he worked for all five of the city's chiefs of police — but now he's decided it's time to hang up his hat for good. "It was a good city to work for, and I've always been sur- rounded by good people," he said. "I've had a good run." White will retire on April 30 after 32 years of serving and protecting the people of Photo by Erin Johnson Officer Bill White has worked for all five of the Eagan Police Department's chiefs in his three -decade career. Eagan. He will be missed, Police Chief Jim McDonald said. Home and Commercial — TREE SERVICE Removal • Trimming Branch Grinding Member of — Minnesota Society of Arborculture International Society of Arborculture CERTIFIED TREE INSPECTOR ISA CERTIFIED ARBORIST #MN- 4170A LANDSCAPING "If you were an Eagan citizen and had any contact with a police officer, you'd want it to be Bill White," he said. "First and foremost, if it was a traffic stop, you'd be more likely given a break than a ticket." White spent a lot of time educating people on how to protect themselves and pre- vent crime, he said. He also cared enough to follow up with people he had helped, he said. "I think our citizens have grown accustomed to a pret- ty high level of service, and in my mind, Bill is the model for other officers here," he said. "He's one of a kind." In 1996, White was select- ed to talk to then Vice Presi- dent Al Gore and Sen. Paul Wellstone about community See White, 8A There is no better duo M=EEH1LFLVE-EM EFEgE 11 Li- THHg VI30 13E REL CE 1 • . No" /;:‘, 1 Responsible Government ✓ Keep property taxes low ✓ Support Business Growth ✓ Support our police We must replace the high paying jobs lost from the moves of Northwest Airlines and Lockheed Martin. We need to make the City of Eagan the easiest place to do business in the Twin Cities and actively and openly encourage new businesses to come here. ANDERSON for City Council Is it RIGHT, Is it RESPONSIBLE, Is it REASONABLE? Then Let's Pursue it... Gale on the issues ✓ Prudent spending ✓ Maintain Youth Athletic programs ✓ Improve crime prevention ✓ Support Private Property Rights Gale Anderson Gale as a person 1 Eagan resident since 1989 1 Past member of Eagan Advisory Planning Commission 1 Systems Programmer 1 BS Degree in Computer Science and Business 1 Hunter, Sportsman, CCW Common Sense Solutions! VOTE Gale Anderson for Eagan City Council. I will represent your interests, to keep our city a great place to live, work, and play. Please Contact me at gma1234567890@gmail.com Prepared and paid for by Gale Anderson for City Council 4295 Eagle Crest Dr, Eagan. MN 55122 fop, oatoie Meyer For Eagan EL City Council David Meyer Common Sense Solutions -Responsible Stewardship Goals: ✓ Pay off the remaining debt on the Civic Arena and make it self fund- ing. Maintain all parks & youth athletic programs at least at current levels until the Civic Arena is paid off. ✓ Address the challenges our Fire Department currently faces without an increase in taxes. ✓ Roll back the current spending spree. We do not need Taj Mahal type buildings to supply city services. They need to be attractive and AFFORDABLE. ✓ Continue to attract new business to the City. We must work hard- er to replace the well paying jobs lost from the moves of Northwest Airlines and Lockheed Martin. We need people on the council whose first concern is the city itself. While some serve on other boards, I will serve only on the City Council. I will put the interests of the Citizens and Taxpayers of Eagan first and will cooperate with the County, the Utilities, Mass Transit Authorities and Met Council second. VOTE! Dave Meyer for Eagan City Council. Please contact me with your concerns at DavidMeyerEaganPolitics.com or dmeyer4citycouncil®gmail.com Prepared and Paid for by the "Campaign to elect David Meyer" 1856 Pumice Point Eagan MN. 55122 PREFACE THIS COMPREHENSIVE GU=DE PLAN FOR THE CITY OF EAGAN WAS PREPARED IN ORDER TO :SATISFY THE METROPOLITAN LAND PLAN- NING ACT PASSED BY THE MINNESOTA STATE LEGISLATURE IN APRIL OF 1976. THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN WILL REPLACE THE "EAGAN LAND USE DEVELOPMENT GUIDE" DATED JANUARY OF 19744 AND THE "EAGAN PARK DEVELOPMENT GUIDE" DATED MAY OF 1973. THE FORMAT OF THIS BINDER BOOK WAS ADOPTED IN ORDER TO EN- COURAGE PERIODIC AND TIMELY REVISION OF THE INDIVIDUAL SEC- TIONS OF THIS COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RATHER THAN A MASSIVE UP- DATING EACH TEN YEARS. IT IS EXPECTED THAT THE "COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE PLAN" WILL BE A DYNAMIC DOCUMENT USED DAILY BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBERS, CITY COUNCIL, STAFF MEMBERS, CITIZENS AND DEVEL- OPERS TO GUIDE THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY OF EAGAN AND TO COORDINATE THESE EFFORTS WITH THOSE OF THE METROPOLITAN COUNCIL. IT SHOULD ALSO BE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE "LAND USE GUIDE PLAN" MAP CONTAINED IN THE LAND USE PLAN SECTION (IV) OF THIS COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE PLAN IS NOT A ZONING MAP. THAT MAP IS ONLY A PORTION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE PLAN. THIS PLAN, THAT MAP AND THE REPORT WILL BE REVISED PERIODICALLY AS EX- TERNAL FACTORS IN PLANNING PHILOSOPHIES CHANGE. ALL ZONING APPLICATIONS MUST BE PROVEN BENEFICIAL TO THE CITY, WITHOUT REGARD TO THIS PLAN, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE APPROVAL OF THE EAGAN CITY COUNCIL. THE PROPOSED PLAN, IN ITS ENTIRETY, REPRESENTS THE BEST ESTIMATE OF THE COURSE OF FUTURE LAND USE THAT CAN BE STATED AT THE PRESENT TIME. I INTRODUCTION A. Setting The City of Eagan is a second tier suburb in the Twin City Metropolitan Area of Minneapolis/St. Paul,Minnesota. Geo- graphically, Eagan is located approximately 10 miles south of the downtown areas of the Twin Cities. Time wise, Eagan is located about 20 minutes driving time from these down- town areas. As such, Eagan is significantly influenced by activities and trends in the Twin Cities area. However, unlike many second tier suburbs, Eagan employs a very sub- stantial number of its' citizens within the corporate limits of the City. In total, Eagan is estimated to employ 14,000 persons in 1980. Vehicular accessibility to other parts of the Metropolitan area is not adequately developed. The only facility pro- viding freeway -level service from northern Dakota County to the downtown Twin Cities area is Interstate 35W. Other major Minnesota River crossings occur at the Mendota Bridge and the Cedar Avenue Bridge, however, both of these facili- ties are substandard for the volumes of traffic they accom- modate. These inadequate routes are expected to be im- proved and the problems created rectified in the 1980's in that a new Cedar Avenue Bridge has been constructed which will be open to traffic in 1980 and a new Interstate 494 Bridge is expected to be constructed across the Minne- sota River and open to traffic by 1984. The major employment centers that have developed within the general geographic area of Eagan are the Eagandale In- dustrial Center which is located in north -central Eagan, the new regional shopping center, which was opened in 1977, to the southwest in the City of Burnsville, and the Airlake Industrial Park, located approximately 10 miles to the south, in the City of Lakeville. Other major areas of employment are the Minnesota Zoological Garden, Blue Cross, Univac and the numerous commercial developments within Eagan and the surrounding area; most of which have been developed to provide goods and services to residents. Eagan has always prided itself in being in many ways a self-sustaining community in that the City provides for most of the needs of its' citizens such as employment, recreation, and commercial goods and services. Eagan is unique in its' ability, as a second -tier suburb, to pro- vide such a high level of service to its' citizens. The industrial and commercial development also has provided the citizens with a very sound tax base and correspondingly, lower real estate taxes. B. General Description of City The current population of Eagan is estimated to be about 20,500 contrasted with a 1960 Census population of 3,382 and a 1970 Census population figure of 10,398. Until the early 1960's, Eagan was an agricultural community, but in the past two decades, a tremendous transition has occurred wherein the City has been experiencing a rapid growth rate of adding approximately 1,000 each year and this growth rate is expected to nearly double during the next decade. In terms of physical size, Eagan is a relatively large com- munity. The corporate limits of the City encompass approxi- mately 34 square miles or approximately 21,000 acres. This large size has created some problems in that the City must control growth as a natural outgrowth of existing developed areas so that the City can provide adequate services to serve to growing population. Generally, this has not cre- ated a problem because growth has been controlled through the extension of municipal sanitary sewer and water facili- ties. Also, Eagan has experienced very little large lot, unsewered development and therefore very little demand for municipal services at remote locations. A key has been the City's ability to provide municipal utilities in a timely manner to serve the demand. C. History of Planning Efforts The first Planning Commission, serving the then Township of Eagan, was organized in �959. This resulted in the adoption of a zoning ordinance, a subdivision regulations ordinance and a major street plan, which was prepared during the 1960's by the City's Consulting Engineers. In 1972, shortly after the incorporation of the Village of Eagan, the City prepared and adopted its' first Land Use Plan, titled "City of Eagan - Land Use Development Guide" and a "Eagan Park Development Guide". Prior to this, the Eagan Park Committee, which was formulated in 1969, adopted an Eagan Park Guide in 1970 which formed the basis for a park bond proposal which was passed by the citizens of Eagan. In 1969, the Township of Eagan hired it's first Professional Planner to assist in the preparation of the Park Develop- ment Guide and later,the Professional Planner assisted in the preparation of the Eagan Land Use Development Guide and began providing monthly technical assistance in 1974 to the Advisory Planning Commission. This Comprehensive Planning effort was initiated by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act passed by the Minnesota State Legislature in 1976. Under the Act, the City of Eagan is required to prepare an update of its' Compre- hensive Plan and in so doing, the City must react to the Systems Plans contained in the "Metropolitan Guide" pre- pared by the Metropolitan Council. In addition, the Metropolitan Council has determined that Eagan is an area of "planned urbanization" and falls within the "Metropolitan Urban Service Area" as defined by the Met- ropolitan Council. Planning prepared for Eagan at this time is done under these parameters set forth by the Metropolitan Council. OFFICE OF DISTRICT SUPERVISOR DISTRICT No. TREASURY DEPARTMENT INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE st.Paul Minn August 48th,19:34 Dear Sir : AS Chairman of your township we appeal to you ,to help us in thh apprehension of parties engaged in the mauufaoture of parties engaged in the mbnutaoture of illioit liquors commonly waled moonshine. These parties evade the federal and state tax and thus jeopardize and threaten the business of our local liquor dealers Will you pleaae take tv:is matter up with your town board. Any informatton will be ,striotly confidential and no signature of waiter required Jat a letter- -Thew arp masking moonshine (or they are suppoe eato make moonshine n e u Doe rarm loCated about 5 miles North of Kingtown . S ign NO name. Address letter to Gus May Room 728 New OPost offioe Bldg St .Paul Minn Prompt notion wftll follow. 1 `te1.1, /y78 (;?.Y6, (2;47- a4') n n 0 o (in g. gr Cli7, CD oPD-y ya n 0 �e o M N r a g. CD ro o o° o g. o 0 C7 bb cr Thriving Eagan plans suburbia's next phase Like many second -tier suburbs, Eagan was inspired by freeways, designed for cars and populated primarily by drivers in the 20th cen- tury. To its credit, the still -growing south -metro city of 68,000 is now asking a 21st-century question: How does a car -centered community become a people -centered one? That question isn't exclusive to Eagan, or even to suburbs. But it's one that Eagan's leaders are taking seriously in away that otherMinnesotacities would do well to notice. They have launched a strategic planning exercise called Eagan Forward, which brought more than 200 civic -minded residents together on Jan. 28 to consider how they can shape the city's next 20 years. Eagan is by no means a troubled place. Last year, USA Today rated it the nation's fifth -best place to live, and it ranks fourth in metro -area employment. But like a number of the municipalities that sprang out of cornfields and truck farms surrounding Minneapolis and St. Paul a half - century ago, Eagan is at an important juncture in its history. Rebecca Ryan, a nationally recognized futurist hired as Eagan Forward's consul- tant, said it's time to chart "Eagan 3.0, " the redevelopment phase. "Eagan 1.0 was getting the interstates drawn where they were," Ryan explained in an interview, referring to I-494 on Eagan's northern border and I-35E traversing it. "Eagan 2.0 was this amazing decade -over -decade growth, growth, growth, when Eagan cut itself out of whole cloth. Now we're at 3.0, because all the available land is used up, and this is no lon- ger a bedroom community. It's becoming a city unto itself." Cities don't just serve families with kids and minivans. They're also home to elders who no longer drive, hipsters who'd rather not drive, and health -conscious people who love to walk and bike. They are places not just for work and sleep, but also for fun, learning, gathering, and expe- riencing fine dining and the arts. They're destinations. Many of the 200 participants on Jan. 28 volunteered to serve on one or more of eight "study action teams" charged with recommending ways to achieve goals such as keeping seniors engaged, becoming a more wel- coming community, attracting new non -chain restaurants and develop- ing a new community arts center. The politically charged words "density" and "smart growth" are absent from the description of six strategies Eagan Forward seeks to pursue. Neither is mention made of the Metropolitan Council and its Thrive MSP 2040 plan, which has come under conservative fire for favoring transit -oriented, higher -density development. But by listening to resi- dents' survey responses, Eagan Forward has come up with a compatible vision. It calls for adapting the city's retail nodes into denser "urban vil- lages" served by walkable, bikeable corridors as well as roads. The regional planning that has been a Metropolitan Council hallmark is too important to minimize. But Eagan is showing that there's consid- erable value in local efforts that invite citizens to play a part in planning. One of Eagan Forward's six strategies is "use citizens to put the plan to work." That could be the key to the entire project's success. 111111 Illsweek www.thisweeklive.com an Because the news never stops AUGUST 2, 2008 VOLUME 29, NO. 23 City could terminate orphanage plan In light of funding woes, Mary Jo Copeland says controversial children's home is a no-go for now by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS The Eagan City Council will decide Aug. 4 whether to terminate its approval of a controversial children's home that has been unable to secure enough funding to get off the ground. Mary Jo Copeland, who fought to get approval for a 200-bed orphanage called Gift of Mary children's home, has acknowledged the project has stalled in- definitely. "Until the system will ad- mit there's a need out there, it's not going to happen," she said. Copeland's husband, Richard, sent a letter to the :ity in April conceding the money was just not there for the project. The project's preliminary planned development ex- pired last year, and Richard Copeland wrote that the couple did not wish to ex- tend the term of the planned development at this time. The Eagan Planning Commission on July 22 unanimously recommended terminating the agreement and rezoning the land to ag- riculture. The council will vote on the issue Aug. 4. Gift of Mary was esti- mated to cost $35 ,million just to build — not including operating costs — when it was approved in 2002. Copeland has raised only $10 million so far. She lost a $5 million pledge from Best Buy founder Richard Schul- ze that expired in 2006 be- cause she couldn't raise $2.5 million in matching grants. "Controversy does a lot to stop funding for things," she said. Copeland spent nearly two years seeking land on which to build Gift of Mary, encountering resistance to the project at every turn. After proposals fell through in Brooklyn Cen- ter, Brooklyn Park, Victoria and Chaska, Eagan's then - mayor Pat Awada invited her to come to Eagan. Copeland found support for the project from some political heavy -hitters, in- cluding Gov. Tim Pawlenty, while many child advocate groups spoke out against it. See Orphanage, 3A Orphanagelfrow lA Groups such as the North American Council on Adoptable Children and the National Coali- tion for Child Protection Reform claimed that insti- tutionalizing children has proven detrimental in the long run. Gift of Mary was planned as a privately run group home, set up as 20 individual townhomes. Each townhome would ac- commodate up to 10 chil- dren, a married teaching couple and a family assis- tant to live with the chil- dren around the clock. Plans also included a community center that would house a K-12 pri- vate school, a teen center, recreational facilities, a chapel and a gymnasium. While Copeland hasn't given up on the idea of a children's home entirely, she realizes it is not likely to happen in the near fu- ture. "I sure fought the good fight, though, and stood up for the kids," she said. Copeland still owns the land, about 37 acres between Highway 55 and Lone Oak Road near the Inver Grove Heights bor- der, which she said she will never sell. "That is 40 acres of beautiful land," she said. "Some good will come of that land someday." The land is currently being used as a field trip. destination for children; who live at Mary's Place, Copeland's transitional shelter in Minneapolis. "This is a great place for the inner-city kids to experience the open out- doors, with all its wonder, animals, plants, ponds, trees, gardens and trails," Richard Copeland wrote in his letter to the city. "We plan to continue to use it this way in the fu- ture." If and when the couple secures the money to build the children's home, they would come back to the city to get the necessary approvals for the project, he wrote. Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc.com. STAR TRIBUNE SUNDAY, MARCH 23, 2014 EAGAN Panel chooses finalists for name of new park Eagan's Advisory Parks Com- mission has recommended the City Council consider one of three names for a new park to be developed in the Cedar Grove redevelopment area near Hwy. 13 and Hwy. 77. The coun- cil will have the final say over the name of the park, which will be south of the new outlet mall being built by Paragon Outlet Partners. The three possible names are: • Onion Patch Park, chosen because of Eagan's history as a major onion producer, leading to its one- time nickname as the Onion Capital of the United States. • Nicols Station Park, a historical reference to a flag station that opened in the 1860s on the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad, one of the first in Minnesota. • Bridgeview Park, a reference to the old and new Cedar Avenue bridges, both of which have been important transportation links con- necting the south and north metro areas. The city's process of naming a park includes input from the com- mission and Historical Committee. Park names generally are tied to a location, unique natural feature or reference to historic significance. Carriage Hills/from lA agreement reached by the city and Wensmann Homes in March after a three-year legal battle. The settlement came out of a court -ordered media - Residents give input on Carriage Hills land use Suggestions run the gamut from open space to energy park by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS About 80 Eagan resi- dents recently gave their two cents on what should hap- pen to the former Carriage Hills golf course should the city acquire it in November. Residents shared their ideas at two July meetings designed to gather public input on possible uses for the 120-acre property. Voters will decide this fall whether the city should purchase the property for $10.25 million or whether the land should be devel- oped into housing. Suggestions included a public golf course or disc golf course, open space, a fire station, an energy park and a hospital, "with doz- ens of ideas in between," said Dianne Miller, Eagan's assistant to the city admin- istrator. "There were a lot of cre- ative ideas shared by every- one, which was encouraged by the council," she said. "They were looking for any and all ideas." Consultants from the Hoisington Koegler Group facilitated the meetings and will present a report to the council at its Aug. 26 work- shop. The feedback will assist the council in creating the referendum question that will be on the ballot in No- vember. That question must be adopted no later than Sept. 2. The November referen- dum is part of a settlement See Carriage Hills, 5A tion prior to trial, which was scheduled to begin in June. Wensmann and Carriage Hills owner Ray Rahn sued the city after it denied a land -use change in 2004 to allow housing on the prop- erty, which Rahn has said is no longer viable as a golf course. The property, located at 3535 Wescott Woodlands, was guided parks, open space and recreation. As part of the settlements agreement, the City Council last month approved a land - use change to allow 480 units of mixed -use housing and 30 acres of open space. Approving the project allowed a referendum to be placed on the ballot, letting voters ultimately decide the fate of the land. If the bond referendum fails, Wensmann will pro- ceed with the housing devel- opment. Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc.com. Wednesday I July 29, 2015 finance-commerce.com Finance & Commerce Edina -based Buhl buys Eagan land from Mary Jo Copeland BY ANNE BRETTS Special to Finance & Commerce 510 Lone Oak Road, Eagan Edina -based Buhl Investors has closed on a $1.2 million deal for near- ly 33 acres along Highway 55 and Lone Oak Road in Eagan, a move that paves the way for construction of a three -building, 309,600-square-foot of- fice -warehouse park. Buhl plans to deliver the first build- ing in the first quarter of 2016, said Pe- ter Deanovic, principal. "We're excited about leasing oppor- tunities," Deanovic said, but declined to share any information about ten- ants, project costs or other details. As Finance & Commerce reported in June, the project is the first new of- fice -warehouse construction in the city in years. Deanovic hasn't submitted plans for the buildings, according to city planner Mike Ridley. Wyatt Sharing & Caring LLC, an en- tity related to Buhl Investors, bought the land from Gift of Mary LLC, an entity related to Mary Jo Copeland, ac- cording to a recently filed certificate of real estate value. She's the founder and director of Minneapolis -based Sharing and Caring Hands, which operates a 154-bed transitional housing complex and a drop -in day center near Target Field in Minneapolis. Deanovic and Copeland entered a no -interest contract for deed on Dec. 22, with a $500,000 down payment. Deanovic paid off the $700,000 bal- ance after winning city approval in 510 Lone Oak Road FILE MAP Edina -based Buhl Investors is set to start construction on the first of three buildings totaling 309,600 square feet the company has proposed for a nearly 33-acre office -warehouse park at 510 Lone Oak Road in Eagan. July to rezone the agricultural land to suit his plans. The purchase price works out to $36,386 per acre. Copeland bought the land in 2002 for $305,000, with plans to build an orphanage. She later abandoned the plan. The address for the project is listed as 510 Lone Oak Road, although the CRV lists it as 3430 Highway 55. The land is on the southeast quadrant of Highway 55 and Lone Oak Road, a mile east of Interstate 35E. Purchase price: $1.2 million, with $500,000 down and a no -interest con- tract for $700,000 Price per acre: $36,386 Property ID: 10-29800-01-010 Date of deed: 12-22-14 ECRV released: 7-24-15 LEGAL NOTICLS - SUBSEQUENT RUN PUBLICATION Finance & Commerce 25 ,o satisfy the judgment owing to Plaintiff, The Irk Mellon f/k/a the Bank as Trustee for the ders of CWABS Inc., d Certificates, Series tified copy of the Findings usions of Law, Order for Judgment and Decree has Ito the Hennepin County fice Civil Unit and is 17, 2015 RICHARD W. STANEK, Iheriff of Hennepia County /s/ SGT. W. JACOX, #508 Deputy Sheriff 11,2015 SKE & COOK, P.A. Mortensen, #032906X aintiff lvd., Suite 200 55125 2, 29, No. 27-PA-PR-15-569 OF INFORMAL ?OINTMENT PERSONAL 3ENTATIVE AND TO CREDITORS VTESTATE) YNESOTA, HENNEPIN. LTH JUDICIAL ('RICT COURT 3ATE/MENTAL LTH DIVISION BROKKE, Decedent. an that an application for otment of personal repre- s been filed with the ill has been presented for application has been i given that the Registrar appointed Richard Gordon iddress is: 5485 Rosewood lymouth, NIN 55442, as Lentative of the Estate of my heir, devisee or other son may be entitled to I personal representative o the appointment of the )resentative. Unless filed with the Court inn. Stat. 524.3-607) and wise orders, the personal ve has full power to Estate including, after 30 late of issuance of letters, sell, encumber, lease or zstate. s to the probate of the will t of the Personal Repre- be filed with this Court Lrd by the Court after the ppropriate petition and 'hearing. o given that (subject to 24.3-801) all creditors against the Estate are appointment of the personal representative must be filed with the Court, and any properly filed objection will be heard by the -Court after notice is provided to interested persons of the date of hearing on the objection. Unless objections are filed, and unless the Court orders otherwise, the personal representative has the full power to administer the estate, including, after thirty (30) days from the issuance of letters testamentary, the power to sell, encumber, lease, or distribute any interest in real estate owned by the dece- dent. Notice is further given that, subject to Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801, all creditors having claims against the decedent's estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court within four (4) months after the date of this notice or the claims will be barred. Dated: July 17, 2015 JULIE PETERSON, Registrar KATE FOGARTY, Court Administrator MARTIN & SQUIRES, P.A. Michael D. O'Neill MN# 19931x 332 Minnesota Street, Suite #W2750 Telephone: 651-767-3740 Facsimile: 651-228-9161 e-mail: mdoneill@martinsquires.com (July 22, 29, 2015) 10818591 Court File No. 27-PA-PR-15-947 NOTICE OF INFORMAL APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF MINNESOTA, COUNTY OF HENNEPIN. FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PROBATE/MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION In re: Estate of DUSTIN DYKHOFF, also known as DUSTIN D. DYKHOFF and DUSTIN DENZER DYKHOFF, Decedent. Notice is given that an Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative was filed with the Regis- trar. The Registrar accepted the applica- tion and appointed Gerald D. Dykhof whose address is 220 17th Avenue North, Hopkins, MN 55343, to serve as the personal representative of the dece- dent's estate. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representative. Any objection to the appointment of the personal representative must be filed with the Court, and any properly filed objection will be heard by the Court after notice is provided to interested persons of the date of hearing on the objection. Unless objections are filed, and unless the Court orders otherwise, the personal representative has the full power to administer the estate, including, after thirty (30) days from the issuance of the Registrar, along with a Will dated February 16, 1998, and Codicil dated February 19, 2009. The Registrar accepted the application and appointed Marlene K. Stafford, whose address is 808 Elm Avenue East, Delano, MN 55328, to serve as the personal repre- sentative of the decedent's estate. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representative. Any objection to the appointment of the, personal representative must be filed with the Court, and any properly filed objection will be heard by the Court after notice is provided to interested persons of the date of hearing on the objection. Unless objections are filed, and unless the Court orders otherwise, the personal representative has the full power to administer the estate, including, after thirty (30) days from the issuance of letters testamentary, the power to sell, encumber, lease, or distribute any interest in real estate owned by the dece- dent. Notice is further given that, subject to Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801, all creditors having claims against the decedent's estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court within four (4) months after the date of this notice or the claims will be barred. Dated: July 21, 2015 BY THE COURT: ALONNA J. WARNS, - Registrar KATE FOGARTY, District Court Administrator BERG MYERS LAW OFFICES, PA Nelson W. Berg MN #7183 Thomas C. Myers, IV MN #023994X 750 Second St NE, Suite 222 Hopkins, MN 55343 Telephone: 952.935.3425 Facsimile: 952.935.7981 e-mail: Nelson.Berg@BergMyersLaw.com (July 22, 29, 2015) 10818806 Court File No. 27-PA-PR-15-949 NOTICE OF INFORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF MINNESOTA, COUNTY OF HENNEPIN. DISTRICT COURT PROBATE/MENTAL HEALTH DIVISION FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT In Re: Estate of MELVIN W. OHMAN a/k/a MELVIN W. OHMAN, JR. a/k/a, MELVIN WILLIAM OHMAN a/k/a MELVIN WILLIAM OHMAN, JR., Decedent Notice is given that an application for informal probate of the Decedent's will dated November 1, 2013 ("Will"), has been filed with the Registrar. The appli- cation has been granted. Notice is also given that the Registrar has informally appointed Gregg A. NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF MINNESOTA, COUNTY OF HENNEPIN. FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT In re: Estate of JOY MARGARET WETZEL, Decedent. Notice is given that an Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative was filed with the Regis- trar. The Registrar accepted the applica- tion and appointed John Wetzel of 120 North Meadow Lane, Golden Valley MN 55422, to serve as the personal repre- sentative of the decedent's estate. Any heir or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal repre- sentative. A•ny objection to the appointment of the personal representative must be filed with the Court, and any properly filed objection will be heard by the Court after notice is 'provided to interested persons of the date of hearing on the objection. Unless objections are filed, and unless the Court orders otherwise, the personal representative has the full power to administer the estate, including, after thirty (30) days from the issuance of letters of general administration, the power to sell, encumber, lease, or distribute any interest in real estate owned by the decedent. Notice is further given that, subject to Minn. Stat. § 524.3-801, all creditors having claims against the decedent's estate are required to present the claims to the personal representative or to the Court within four (4) months after the date of this notice or the claims will be barred. Dated: July 16, 2015 JULIE PETERSON, Registrar KATE FOGARTY, Court Administrator Inrelex Law Group PLLC Steven M. Goldetsky MN# 0140259 5001 American Blvd West Suite 605 Bloomington MN 55437 Telephone: 952.835.3030 Facsimile: 952.806.9790 e-mail: steve@goldetskycom (July 22, 29, 2015) 10818636 Court File No. 27-PA-PR-15-956 NOTICE OF INFORMAL PROBATE OF WILL AND APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS STATE OF MINNESOTA, COUNTY OF HENNEPIN. DISTRICT COURT PROBATE DIVISION FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT Estate of KAREN JOYCE REITHERMAN, KAREN J. REITHERMAN KAREN REITHERMAN, Dec; Nntire is Liven that an snnlirati, 26 Finance & Commerce LEGAL NOTICES - SUBSEQUENT RUN PUBLICATION HEARINGS State of WI Circuit Court - Kewaunee County Publication Summons - Case No. 15-CV-41 - The Hon. Dennis J. Mleziva - Case Code 30404 (Foreclosure of Mortgage) - The amount claimed exceeds $10,000.00 - Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. successor by merger to Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, Inc., 3476 Stateview Blvd., Ft. Mill, SC 29715, Plaintiff vs. Julie M. Bloor a/k/a Julie Margaret Bloor and Bart F. I. Cannon a/k/a Bart Frank Cannon, N8108 State Highway 42, Algoma, WI 54201-9553, Defendants - The State of WI - To each person named above as a defendant: You are hereby notified that the plaintiff named above has filed a lawsuit or other legal action against you. Within 40 days after 7/15/15 you must respond with a written demand for a copy of the complaint. The demand must be sent or delivered to the court, whose address is 613 Dodge St., Kewaunee, WI 54216 and to Gray & Assoc., L.L.P., plaintiff's attorney, whose address is 16345 W. Glendale Dr., New Berlin, WI 53151. You may have an attorney help or represent you. If you do not demand a copy of the complaint within 40 days, the court may grant judgment against you for the award of money or other legal action requested in the complaint, and you may lose your right to object to anything that is or may be incorrect in the complaint.' A judgment may be enforced as provided by law. A judgment awarding money may become a lien against any real estate you own now or in the future, and may also be enforced by garnishment or seizure of property. Dated 6/26/15, William N. Foshag, State Bar No. 1020417, Gray & Assoc., L.L.P., Attys. for Plaintiff, 16345 W. Glendale Dr., New Berlin, WI 53151, (414) 224-1987. Gray & Assoc., L.L.P. is attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. If you have previously received a discharge in a chapter 7 bankruptcy case, this communication should not be construed as an attempt to hold you personally liable for the debt. (July 15, 22, 29, 2015) 10812733 SUMMONS Court File No: 27-CV-15-12113 STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT (Case Type: Other Civil) icky J. Olek and Theresa L. Olek, and Patrick D. Olek, Plaintiffs, v. tate of Reginald C. Dahlstrom, teverly J. Dahlstrom aka Beverly J. iarshall, Maenner Law Office PLLC ba Maenner Minnich PLLC, A-1 tripes, Inc., Guardian ad Litem ^ogram, Carla Dawn Olek, John Doe; ne Doe; and ABC Corporation, Defendant. S SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO IE ABOVE -NAMED FENDANTS. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The tiff has started a lawsuit against The Plaintiffs Complaint against ( attached to this Summons. Do not r these papers away. They are resolving this dispute. 7. THIS LAWSUIT MAY AFFECT OR BRING INTO QUESTION TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY located in Hennepin County, State of Minnesota, legally described as follows: That part of the West 250.90 feet of the East 883.90 feet of the Southeast Quarter of Section 25, Township 120, Range 23, lying Northeasterly of the Northeasterly right-of-way line of State Highway No. 152; and lying South of a line perpendicular to and intersecting the East .line of said Southeast Quarter at a point 449.50 feet South of the Northeast corner of said Southeast Quarter, as measured along said East line (the "Subject Property") The object of this action is to determine that the Plaintiffs are entitled to a declaratory judgment that they are the fee owners of the Subject Property subject only to (1) a Judgment against Patrick 'Olek, in favor of Defendant Maenner Minnich PLLC, docketed on May 22,2014 as Case No. 27-CV-14-8208, in the original amount of $2,656.26 (the "Maenner Minnich Judgment"); (2) a Judgment against Patrick Olek, in favor of Defendant A-1 Stripes, Inc., docketed on August 4, 2014 as Case No. 27-CV-14-13233, in the original amount of $220.00 (the "A-1 Stripes Judgment"); (3) against Patrick Dennis Olek aka Pat Olek, in favor of Defendant Guardian ad Litem Program, docketed on August 7, 2014 as Case No. 27-FA-09- 4889, in the original amount of $1,500.00; (4) a Judg- ment against Patrick Dennis Olek aka Pat Olek, in favor of Defendant Carla Dawn Olek, docketed on December 11, 2012 as Case No. 27- FA-09-4889, in the original amount of $501.71; and (5) a Judgment against Patrick Dennis Olek aka Pat Olek, in favor of Defendant Carla Dawn Olek, docketed on December 11, 2012 as Case No. 27-FA-09-4889, in the original amount of $1,730.00. Dated: May 11, 2015 LOMMEN ABDO, P.A. By: /s/ Jeffrey C. O'Brien Jeffrey C. O'Brien, #304852 1000 International Centre 920 2nd Ave. S. Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612) 336-9317 Attorneys for Plaintiff (July 22, 29, August 5, 2015) 10818658 HEARINGS SUMMONS TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS MATTER OR OTHER PERMANENT PLACEMENT DETERMINATION MATTER Court File Number: 27-JV-15-3481 Group ID: 0349886 STATE OF MINNESOTA, County of Hennepin. DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ROSEMARY MCDONALD LKA GENERAL DELIVERY MINNEAPOLIS MN 55404 IN THE MATTER OF THE WELFARE OF THE CHILD(REN) OF: Rosemary McDonald, Parent and placing the child(ren) in foster care, • permanently severing the parent's rights to the child(ren) pursuant to a termination of parental rights petition; • permanently transferring the child(ren)'s legal and physical custody to a relative; or • an order for other permanent place- ment of the child(ren). A STATEMENT OF YOUR RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES IS ATTACHED, including the right to be represented by an attorney as authorized under the statutes and court rules. It is your responsibility to immediately notify the court administrator if your address changes. Dated: July 20, 2015. KATE FOGARTY Court Administrator (July 22, 29, August 5, 2015) 10818309 SUMMONS TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS MATTER OR OTHER PERMANENT PLACEMENT DETERMINATION MATTER Court File Number: 27-JV 15-3481 Group ID: 0349886 STATE OF MINNESOTA, County of Hennepin. DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT WILLIAM JAMES CHARGINGCROW 10550 LYNDALE AVE S APT 213 BLOOMINGTON MN 55420 IN THE MATTER OF THE WELFARE OF THE CHILD(REN) OF: Rosemary McDonald, Parent PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that on June 24, 2015, a Termination of Parental Rights Petition seeking to permanently sever the rights of the above -named parent(s) or another Permanency Petition seeking the permanent placement of the child(ren) of the above -named parent(s) was filed in the above -named court. YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED AND REQUIRED TO APPEAR IN COURT at the following date, time, and place where a hearing regarding the Petition and the best interests of the child(ren) will be held: August 21, 2015 Admit/Deny Hearing 10e30 AM District Court Judge Lyonel Norris Hennepin County District Court JJC 3F 590 Park Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415 (612) 348-4822 YOU HAVE BEEN SERVED WITH THIS SUMMONS because, pursuant to statute or court rule: • You are a parent to the child(ren) named in the petition; or • You are a party to this proceeding pursuant to Juvenile Protection Rule 21.01 or an attorney for a party, or • You have physical custody of the child who is the subject of the Petition, or • You are a person whose presence the Bank National Associa, in Relation to Certifies 1011445 for land in Hennepin and State of legally described as folio That part of Lot 19, Subdivision No. 133, County, Minnesota, de follows: Commencing at east corner of said Lot 1 Subdivision No. 133; th along the East line of se feet more or less to the corner thereof; thence along the North line c 143.4 feet; thence S parallel to the East line 923.5 feet more or less t line of said Lot; then along said South line, more or less to point of t TO: Steven L. Pahl and Irwin, formerly known a Pahl. Upon receiving and filini Examiner of Titles in the matter, IT IS ORDERED, that persons interested, ape Court on 25th day of Au 2:00 p.m. in Room A-702 of County Government Cent Sixth Street, Minneapolis, County, and then, or as se as the matter can be hear if there is any, why this Co enter an Order as follows: That the Registrar of 1 the filing with the Rei certified copy of this 0 Certificate of Title N and enter a new Certifi for the land therein favor of U.S. Bank Nat ation, as Trustee, c/o Servicing, LLC P.O. 1 West Palm Beach, FL 3 free from all memo appearing on the Certificate of Title, 1 which is Document No and free also from the a this Order. Attendance is required who wish to object to th( above -described Order. IT IS FURTHER ORDE: Order to Show Cause be se (a) at least 10 days befo] upon the above -named in in this State, in the mann law for the service of Sum action; (b) at least 14 days befo upon any of the ab nonresidents by sending Order to the nonresider address, by registered or return receipt requested; (c) upon each of the parties who cannot be 1 weeks published notice an copy of this Order, at before the hearing, by fine the last known address of by sending another copy o least 14 days before the h class mail to the address o stated on the Certificate address is so stated; and (d) upon a dissolved, revoked business entity Minn. Stat., Chp. 302A, 3( 322B, or 323 in the manr Eagan 150th Celebration: From farmland to the future News Archives Page 1 of 4 News Archives Archived online articles Eagan 150th Celebration: From farmland to the future Posted oo s'une 16. 2610 by acmn In i5o years, Eagan has grown from slow-paced farming community to 8th largest city in Minnesota by Erin Johnson Thisweek Newspapers While many people associate the suburbs with strip malls and new development, it's a misconception that communities such as Eagan are devoid of history. In fact, Eagan has a rich history that spans back to the Native American tribes who built villages along the Minnesota River, followed by its earliest settlers from France, Germany and Ireland. This year the city is honoring that history by celebrating its 15oth anniversary as a township. (For events and more information, see the Special Section included in this week's paper.) "Eagan, like every other town or city, has very old roots," said Deborah Morse -Kahn, Upper Midwest regional studies specialist with Regional Research Associates. "Just because the boomers discovered Eagan and built it up doesn't mean the old community went away. But because Eagan is so developed, you have to know where to look." Resident Don Chapdelaine, whose family settled here in 1853, remembers his grandfather telling stories of Sioux tribes camping on his Eagan farmland. When he was 5 years old, he watched his father earn $8 a day — which he shared with a crew — to help build Highway 55 using horses for labor. "There is an awful lot of history here," said Chapdelaine, who used to ride his own horse down the dirt road that is now Yankee Doodle. "Life was very challenging, but it was at a very slow pace. You worked long hours just to subsist and do the things you had to do." When Eagan was declared a township in 186o, it had a population of 567, and an oak tree was used as the official bulletin board of the community. Predominantly a farming community, Eagan was then known as the Onion Capital of the United States. "My grandma used to talk about the `onion trains' that would stop and pick up onions because Eagan was well known for its onion production," said Fire Chief Mike Scott, whose family has been in Eagan since the i800s. Scott's great-grandfather owned two farms, and his great-uncle owned Scott's General Store, built in i9oo and located near the modern-day railroad tracks off of Highway 13 and Cedar Avenue. http://archives.ecmpublishers.info/2010/06/16/from-farmland-to-the-future/ 2/9/2015 Eagan 150th Celebration: From farmland to the future News Archives Page 2 of 4 "The general store was a gathering place where they had dances and that kind of thing," he said. Scott, who was named the city's first full-time fire chief in 2006, is himself a little bit of Eagan history, as is his sister Lynda Myhre, who was Eagan's first female firefighter. Scott said the city was still primarily made up of farmland even when he was growing up in the '7os, and his first job was working on a farm that used to be where Thomson Reuters now stands. "Even in the '6os and '7os it was totally different," he said. "In the winter we would go snowmobiling all around Eagan. It just changed so quickly in the '8os." So how did Eagan go from a sleepy farming community to the eighth largest city in the state? Eagan's boom years began in the 198os and spilled into the 199os, spurred by the construction of three area highways: I-35E, 149, and 77. "That opened the gate," Chapdelaine said. "It was just a rapid acceleration of converting farmland to homes and retail." City Administrator Tom Hedges arrived shortly before the boom in 1.976 and is widely credited with successfully helping usher Eagan into the modern age. Hiring Hedges was arguably the best decision ever made by any Eagan elected official, said Mayor Mike Maguire. "Unless you see it first hand, like I have as mayor, it's hard to fathom just how much Tom Hedges and his staff have shaped the city of Eagan," he said. "For more than 3o years he and his senior management team have set a high bar of professionalism and built a culture of success that is, I think, unmatched in any city anywhere." A city administrator in St. Peter when he first heard about an opening in Eagan, Hedges said, "I didn't even know where Eagan was." A lot of people at the time didn't, he said. Still largely undeveloped, it was mostly considered a pass -through community for those headed down south. Driving on the yet -unnamed Diffley Road toward Pilot Knob, he said, "My first impression was I thought I was heading back out to the country. My wife and I thought, wow, this is really rural. We wondered where downtown was." While it was still a community of mostly farmland and open space, Hedges said he knew its proximity to St. Paul, Minneapolis and the airport would make it a desirable spot for future development. "I learned that Eagan was really planned for growth, that the whole city was in the Metropolitan Council's urban growth area," he said. "I knew at some point Eagan was really going to take off." The city at the time had only about 35 employees, and no department heads. Hedges said he knew early on that establishing the city's organizational infrastructure would be crucial to meeting its future growth demands. http://archives.ecmpublishers.info/2010/06/16/from-farmland-to-the-future/ 2/9/2015 Eagan 150th Celebration: From farmland to the future News Archives Page 3 of 4 He started by hiring Public Works Director Tom Colbert, Director of Finance Gene VanOverbeke, and Parks and Recreation Director Ken Vraa. The four men worked together to create a road map for the future of Eagan. They spent much of the late 197os writing city policy, job descriptions, and working on master plans for parks, roads, schools and utilities. "Getting that organizational piece in place for the development rush that was going to happen in Eagan was so important," Hedges said. "If we hadn't done that, the growth would have come anyway, and we always would have been behind the curve." As soon as the three highways were built in the early 1.980s, Eagan's development boom began, he said. "I remember we had tt,000 lots approved in one council meeting," he said. "The developers were just licking their chops to get going. At that point we were leading the Twin Cities in residential construction." Smart moves — like setting aside land for the municipal campus and zoning the northern part of the city commercial/industrial — have helped keep the city ahead of the curve, he said. "The people need to come first, then shopping and retail next, along with good commercial development," he said. "We've enjoyed very healthy and diverse commercial/industrial growth in our city." What was once farmland as far as the eye could see quickly became built up, and Eagan soon started experiencing growing pains as existing infrastructure stretched to meet new demand. The '9os brought new fire stations and an expansion and remodeling of the current City Hall and police department. That was followed quickly by a push from the community for ice rinks and swimming pools which resulted in the Civic Arena and Cascade Bay, Hedges said. Chapdelaine said he knew Eagan wouldn't remain a farming community forever, and while he wasn't resistant to growth, he wanted to make sure it was done well. He believes it was, and agrees that much of the credit belongs to Hedges. "He is a gifted person to be able to steer the various city councils through that maze," he said. "If any one person can be credited with contributing to what we have, it's Tom Hedges." Of the city's original four administrators, Vraa is the only one who has since left the city — he retired in 2004. The inevitable changing of the guard will present a challenge in the city's near future, Hedges said. "There's a lot of institutional knowledge that's in a number of people here because we have grown up with the organization," he said. "And that needs to be handed off to a new generation of leadership." Regardless of who is chosen to replace Eagan's version of the founding fathers, the city is widely considered a suburban success story in terms of planning, Morse -Kahn said. http://archives.ecmpublishers.info/2010/06/16/from-farmland-to-the-future/ 2/9/2015 Eagan 150th Celebration: From farmland to the future I News Archives Page 4 of 4 From its beginnings as a Native American settlement area to today's modern city, Eagan is very culturally wealthy, she said. "It's got such a great community feeling," she said. "It has so many amenities, the development has been thoughtful, and the result is fantastic." Erin Johnson is at eagan.thisweek@ecm-inc.com. This entry was posted in Sun Thisweek and tagged 150th anniversary celebration Community, Eagan fanning community, farmland, highways history, new development tom hedges township. Bookmark the permalink. http://archives.ecmpublishers.info/2010/06/16/from-farmland-to-the-future/ 2/9/2015 Quick Glimpse Eagan Timeline Vertical Time Line 150 Years Printed on January 25, 2010 Year Details 1774-1824 Eagan's First Inhabitants: 1774.1824 Native American tribes inhabit Black Dog Village near today's Cedar Avenue Bridge 1820-1850 First European Settlers: 1820-1850 Ft. Snelling built, MN Territory established, Wescott Inn near today's Wescott Rd. & Highway 149 1858 Minnesota statehood: 1858 MN becomes the 32nd US State 1860 Eagan formed: 1860 Eagan created as township by act of MN Legislature. First township meeting held 1862-1867 Early development: 1862-1867 Near Northview, first school built; population 560; Huard's Halfway House opens where Stark's is today; railway flag stations and later train depots at Westcott & also Nicols. 1885-1920 1896 1900-1914 1885-1920 Onion Capitol: Esdras Bernier introduces onion farming to Eagan/Mendota and area becomes onion capitol of U.S. until diminishing after the turn of the century as Texas market emerges. 1896 First Town Hall Built: Located at Pilot Knob and Lone Oak, it later burned to the ground 1900-1914 Growing Eagan: Scott's General Store; Trinity Lone Oak Lutheran (current church) built; population nears 1,000; and 1918-1933 second Town Hall built in 1914 (still standing.) 1918-1933 Milk, Moonshine & More: 1935-1954 Dairy farms/milk haulers become main incomes, taking over from onions & sorghum production; Prohibition and moonshining in Eagan; 1st planecrash 1921; KSTP Radio Center, 1928. 1956-1967 1970-1979 1935-1954 Progress: First snowplow in 1935; rural electric service begins; men and women go off to war, first housing editions platted, 1949; and population nears 1,200. 1956-1967 Eagan Grows Again: Lull Engr. Eagan's first industrial site; Volunteer Fire Dept. established 1963; 1st 4th of July parade 1980-1995 in '65; Cedarvale Ctr. opens; first police chief hired, Sperry opens 1970-1979 It's Official: 2000-Present Blue Cross opens; Eagan becomes City in 1974 with first mayor (Polzin); 1976 first & only City Administrator hired; new Cedar Bridge opens bypassing Cedar Grove. 2010 1980-1995 Fastest Growing: NWA & West Publishing open HQ's; 494 & 35-E open, rapid population growth 2000-Present A Livable City: Eagan twice named to Top 20 Most Livable Cities in the U.S.; becomes leading employer especially with tech jobs; redevelopment begins, full-time fire chief hired, E-TV opens. 2010 Eagan's 150th Birthday: Copyright 2002-2005, IRA/NCTE. All rights reserved. Go online to http://www.ReadWriteThink.org read'.writexthink II= nurcopob Tom Garrison From: Tom Garrison Sent: Monday, February 08, 2010 11:53 AM To: Joanna Foote Cc: Tom Hedges; Gene VanOverbeke; Tom Colbert; Mike Scott Subject: Historical notes I gleaned Got the following info from my visit Friday afternoon to the State Historical Society. Eagan was labeled Town #27 by the Minnesota Legislature. What else did the 1860 MN Legislature pass besides the act creating Eagan? • They apparently have, but I have not yet seen and verified, presidential election results for 1860. It was in a mislabeled box they have since found, but which should include whether Eagan voted for Lincoln or not. • An act to prevent abuses in the use of intoxicants, whereby a family member, pastor, employer, can give notice and forbid tavern keepers from selling intoxicating drinks or liquors to habitual drunks. • An act to install locks on legislators desks and provide them keys. (Was theft a problem?) • If a public road was going through where there was fencing in the way, a requirement of 20 days notice for an individual to remove his fences, or the town/county supervisors can cause it to be removed. Public roads should be "not less than 4 rods wide." • Two years earlier there was a requirement that all able-bodied white males 18-45, except exempts, were required to be enrolled in the state militia. Eagan specific info through the years r Robert O'Neill was the moderator for the first town board meeting until Supervisors were elected, although subsequent meetings also seemed to have moderators for many years. ➢ First meeting has sketchy notes about ox and cow damages with the owner being liable. ➢ There was a Town Clerk's office by 1861 ➢ While the first town meetings were in homes, by 1872 they were meeting at the school house in district 16 for annual town meetings. D By 1889 they began using an official printed form (apparently from the state) for minutes from annual town meetings ➢ 1890 no females listed as electors ➢ 1891 there was a levy of $500 on real estate for construction of a town hall and procuring a site. ➢ 1892 several women listed as electors on the printed form, including Mary & Elizabeth Burns, Catherine Brosnahan. :- 1894 Desire Chapdelain and Delia Cunningham also listed as electors (not clear when state law permitted women electors in municipal elections. Federal did not occur until the 19th amendment, but they could vote in public library and school elections after 1875.) ) 1899 there was a motion to buy a road grader that was defeated twice; they ended up buying 5 wheel scrapers instead and repairing old plows D 1903 first mention of a sewer pipe that needed repair, as did the town bulletin board. Numerous motions to approve no more money for levies. Number of people attending annual town board meetings dipped as low as 35. 1904- Enacted local regulation that "Every automobile should have a number where it can clearly be seen," and automobiles should go no faster than 6 miles per hour in Eagan. Fine: $100. ➢ 1906 the first typed records on file 1908 asked the County Board for help on a road by the German Lutheran Church at Dodd, stating the town would participate, but only if the County paid its share. y 1920 town balance from the previous year was $4,729.52 ➢ 1908 had road papers signed by James and George Scott. i > 1936 only $6,010 on hand ➢ 1937 included expenditures to pay the foreman for the WPA. ➢ 1940s the fiscal year was from March to March ➢ 1945 (Unclear whether this was just the road fund or the entire township) began the year with a balance of just $157 and ended the year with $2,463. ➢ 1949 Paid $250 to Mendota for fire protection in the northern part of the township. ➢ 1960s start to see lots of building permits ➢ 1964 — paid $40 to a funeral car company for a siren to attach to the fire tanker ➢ 1966 shows one of the first payments to the Park Site Fund. By this time the Township cash on hand was $31,003.13 > 1967 see Town Hall bonds and Sewer bonds in significant and growing amounts ➢ 1969 City balance of $133,570 ➢ All the lists of property taxpayers are on microfiche. Tom Garrison 1 Communications Director I City of Eagan 3830 Pilot Knob Road I Eagan, MN 55122 1651-675-5008 1651-675-5012 (Fax) I tgarrisoncityofeagan.com Cily of Evan THIS COMMUNICATION MAY CONTAIN CONFIDENTIAL AND/OR OTHERWISE PROPRIETARY MATERIAL and is thus for use only by the intended recipient. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the e-mail and its attachments from all computers. 2 BEA BLOMOUIST MAYOR THOMAS EGAN MARK PARRANTO JAMES A. SMITH THEODORE WACHTER COUNCIL MEMBERS August 14, 1981 CITY OF EAGAN MR DICK ELASKY ASST DISTRICT 9 ENGINEER MnDOT 3485 HADLEY AVENUE NORTH ST PAUL MN 55109 3795 PILOT KNOB ROAD P.O. BOX I1199 EAGAN, MINNESOTA 55122 PHONE 454-8100 THOMAS HEDGES CITY ADMINISTRATOR EUGENE VAN OVERBEKE CITY CLERK Re: County Road 30 Signage Change from Wildwood Lane to Diffley Road Dear Dick: In official action that was taken by the Eagan City Council at the August 4, 1981 City Council meeting, the proposed renaming of Wildwood Lane to Diffley Road (Dakota County Road 30) was approved. It is the understanding of the City of Eagan that the Minnesota Department of Transportation will pay one-half of the actual cost for the sign changes and that the name of Wildwood Lane will be changed to Diffley Road at the earliest possible time. The cost for the sign change was estimated at $2,400, which would be shared equally by MnDOT and the City of Eagan. If there are any questions regarding the action taken by the City Council or you require coordination for the signage, please feel free to contact Mr. Tom Colbert, Director of Public Works, or myself at any time. Sincerely, C\LL'N‘t.)...) Thomas L. Hedges City Administrator TLH/hnd cc: Thomas A. Colbert, Director of Public Works THE LONE OAK TREE ... THE SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND GROWTH IN OUR COMMUNITY. t. • %u LANE — DIFFIEY ROAD The Councilmembers again discussed the proposed renaming of Wildwood Lane to Diffley Road. It was noted that the estimated cost to MN/DOT for road identification sign changes is $2,400 but that MN/DOT has agreed to pay one- 3 Council Minutes August 4, 1981 half of that amount. The cost to the City for redoing signs is $250. A number of property owners along Wildwood Lane were present and strongly recom- mended approval of the renaming to Diffley Road due to the long historical connection of the Diffley family in Eagan. Some objections were also noted including the manager of the Eagan Post Office stating that the cost to the postal service and confusion on name changes should be basis for retaining the present name. Councilmembers discussed the background of the name change and Smith moved, Egan seconded the motion that in light of the offer by MN/DOT to pay one-half of MN/DOT's cost of sign changes, that the name of Wildwood Lane be changed to Diffley Road at the earliest possible time. Those in favor were Smith, Egan, and Blomquist. Those against were Parranto and Wachter. i www.thisweeklive.com Because the news never stops To protect and conserve Record prices at the pump prompt gas -saving measures by the city by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS Rising gas prices are causing many people to feel pain at the pump, and the city of Eagan is no excep- tion. Imagine having to run an entire fleet of vehicles — ev- erything from lawn mowers to street sweepers — without busting the budget or limit- ing services. Last year, for instance, the city used 172,800 gallons of fuel. The streets division of the Public Works Depart- ment consumed 34,654 gal- lons, followed by the Parks and Recreation Department with 28,127 gallons. The biggest consumer was the Police Department, which used 69,589 gallons. Even though the city gets its gas wholesale, prices this year are still higher than an- ticipated. Photo hr Erin Johnson Eagan police officer Todd Kirchgatter fills up his squad car at the city's maintenance facility. The Police Department is the city's biggest fuel consumer, using nearly 70,000 gallons of gas last year. Eagan Communications Director Tom Garrison said the city budgeted about $2.75 per gallon for fuel for its vehicles in 2008. Last month it paid about $3.52 per gallon for unleaded and $4.10 for diesel. "In 2005, we were paying $1.81 per gallon," Garrison said. "In 2009, we're looking at an estimate of $3.75 per gallon. That would reflect a 207 percent increase." None of the city's de- partments have yet gone over budget because of fuel prices, partly because the city spent less on gas than it budgeted for in the begin- ning of the year. But a new focus on con- servation is also getting credit for helping the city stay on track. "We're spending a lot of time trying to more effi- ciently mobilize and demo- bilize to conserve fuel," said Tom Struve, Eagan's super- intendent of streets, equip- ment and central services. Maintenance vehicles — whether park, utility or street — go out to different parts of the city every day, several times a day, he said, which can use up a lot of fuel. See Gas, 5A Gaslfrom lA "We're trying to preplan those activities in a more efficient way that will limit the number of trips to and from," he said. The Parks and Recreation Department is doing its part by utilizing golf carts and even bicycles with small trail- ers attached for maintenance work in parks and on trails. The department has also de- creased the areas of lawn it mows in some parks, thereby reducing the use of fuel -pow- ered lawn mowers. The Police Department may be the city's biggest user of fuel, but it has actually been decreasing its consump- tion over the past five years. "In 2002, the Police De- partment was using more than 87,000 gallons of gas," Garrison said. "That's a 20 percent reduction in five years, we believe, without in- terrupting service delivery." Using motorcycles for traffic enforcement is one way the department has re- duced its fuel use. And when the department needs to purchase a new squad car, it buys the most fuel -efficient model available. It has also put restrictions on idling for squad cars and limited the number of miles officers drive on patrol, with exceptions made when neces- sary. Conservation measures may help the city stay on track this year, but next year remains a challenge, Garri- son said. Struve agreed, adding that his department has al- ready budgeted a "dramatic" increase for fuel next year in its preliminary 2009 budget. But officials remain hope- ful that the services Eagan citizens have come to expect will not need to be compro- mised in 2008. "We're being conserva- tive on many, many differ- ent fronts in terms of trying to be more efficient and be more acutely aware of energy uses,". Struve said. "But we still have a job to do, and the citizens have the expectation that we're doing that job." Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc.com. com. JULY 5, 2008 VOLUME 29, NO. 19 Eleven apply for council seat Applicants, who include a former mayor, seek to fill four -month vacancy by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS Eleven residents have ap- plied to fill a four -month vacancy on the Eagan City Council left by, Peggy Carl- son. Carlson resigned June 30 after serving 18 months of a four-year term. The applicants include citizens who have served on city commissions, some for- mer candidates for local of See Council, SA Council/from IA fice, and one very familiar name: former Mayor Pat Geagan. The interim appointee will be chosen by the council and will serve from July 15 until the November election. On Nov 4, residents will elect a council member to serve the remainder of Carl- son's term, which expires in 2010. Once a council member is elected, he or she will take office immediately. The 11 applicants are: • Edward L. Ashby, ac- counts payable specialist at the National Marrow Donor Program and an eight -year resident. • Patrick Geagan, former mayor and police chief of Eagan and a 25-year resident. • Ted Gladhill, sales direc- tor and owner of Bankers Equipment Service. Gladhill, an 18-year resident, spent four years on the Eagan Plan- ning Commission and six years on Airport Relations Commission. • Michael Holmdahl, for- mer treasurer of the Eagan Art House, owner of Lorax Business Services in Eagan and a 14-year resident. • Shawn Hunter, technolo- gy director at Pearson, former member of the Eagan City Council and the Eagan Plan- ning and Parks commissions. A 24-year resident, Hunter most iec ntly served as an Eagan Charter Commission member appointed by the City Council. • Will Ische, Air Force re- servist, church volunteer, for- mer Boy Scout achieving the rank of Eagle and an 18-year resident. • Susan Orandi Johnson, management consultant, for- mer Minnesota Public Ra- dio reporter/producer with a degree in public policy from Carleton College, and a 16- year resident. • Mark L. Olson, owner of a lawn and tree removal busi- ness, 25-year resident and a candidate for mayor in 2006. • Brenda Rivera, executive assistant with Canadian Pa- THISWEEK July 5, 2008 5A cific Railway, volunteer with Eagan athletics, a 12-year resident, and a candidate for City Council in 2006. • Kristine Thornburgh, fitness instructor, civic volun- teer and five-year resident of Eagan. • Jane Vanderpoel, past Eagan Foundation Chair and former Eagan Advisory Air- ports Commission member. An 18-year resident, Vander- poel works for Dakota Coun- ty. The council will interview the 11 applicants on the eve- ning of July 8. Interviews will be followed by a ballot process that consists of several rounds to identify the winning candi- date. The interim appointee will be named on July 15. Carlson, who was elected to her third term in 2006, left the council June 30 after serv- ing for nearly a decade. She and her husband, Mark, are moving to St. Paul. Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc com. One of the largest outdoor Craft Fairs in the Twin Cities Metro Area. 10th Annual ApJA Art & Craft Fair Saturday, July 12, 2008 9:OOa,m.-5:OOp,m. in historic downtown Anoka deb ilr% AO.A 'f'MA Oft i ■ i+f 1 wr�w ;— • ... - few u sWe Q) ) I - zsi z taao uuest C:olumni 1, Eagan city government A. a al so te: in. asi by Mike Maguire negotiable union contracts, is lower 0° THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS than last year. Ironically, 85 percent When my wife read the Dakota of this year's property tax increase is County property tax statement re- to recover property tax relief funds v'h' cently she had perhaps the same the state promised Eagan but never pec question as you. While the value of delivered. Moving forward we've bu our home has gone down our city learned not to count on them and to property tax bill went up. She asked, we've planned accordingly. , we sin facing new budgeting days o Why • While Eagan's . property taxes will, Q We're no different than many residents. even with this year's levyincrease, remain wa N We chose Eagan for the good schools and among the lowest in the area, we will con- me its proximity to the Twin Cities, and we tinue to face challenges. In the past busi- continue to appreciate its natural beauty. ness and residential growth would effec- nei In our years in Eagan we've appreciated all tively insulate city property taxpayers from oo' the community has to offer, the quality of real increases in the cost of government. city services, and we've almost taken lower Now we're dealing with a trend of flat or hel taxes for granted. declining property values and city revenues. a 1. I had to explain that our city is chang- • Increasingly difficult choices will fol- ally ing and facing new fiscal pressures that will low about what to cut from an already lean do force us to look at city services and the Val- menu of city services. Our community will ue of our city tax dollars differently. This be called on to prioritize what it does and dil year's property tax bill is perhaps the first change the way it does it, or to charge more in reflection of what may be a new budget- to do the same. Doing more with less will we ing paradigm for Eagan taxpayers. While I simply not be a realistic choice. ne did not want to alarm her, I did want to be Over the past two decades these are not to; clear: Some of the things and assumptions the kind of city services and tax dollar dia- we've both become used to in Eagan may logues Eagan taxpayers have become used the need to change. to having. Over the- last 10 months. there Cl For over two decades Eagan has been has been a profound shift in the way city ou the model of a successful and growing Twin leaders and I have had to talk about not to Cities suburb. That growth has helped our just the coming year's budget, but budgets Pc t community build a nationally recognized for years to come. c. park system; train and equip one of the On Tuesday, Dec. 8, the city will host a fi best police forces in the state; maintain budget open house at Eagan City Hall from g critical infrastructure; and provide high- 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. While the 2010 city bud - quality, high -value city services. All of get is what's right in front of us, the event 1 this and a well -deserved reputation for fis- will be an opportunity for residents and cal prudence have become Eagan's calling business owners, taxpayers all, to join the 1 card. This year's property tax bills do not larger conversation about Eagan's future. signal an end, but they do reflect* the fiscal If you, like my wife, opened your tax bill challenges ahead and portend the changes this year and wondered "Why?" I encour- that may be necessary. age you to attend, learn about city services, In 2009 a slowed economy and state the new budgeting days ahead, and share deficits paired up to decrease our estimated your thoughts and suggestions. tax and fee revenues by $1.3 million. The a city's proposed 2010 budget contains over a Mike Maguire is the mayor of Eagan. Col- P half -million dollars worth of cuts and, even umns reflect the opinion of the author. r with inflation in health care costs and non- -11(5 O-7G -LoOSr Council member has cancer Mike Maguire recovers from surgery, faces possible chemotherapy by Erin Johnson THISWEEK NEWSPAPERS "It's a sad day for me to have to report on the illness of one of our members, Council Member (Mike) Maguire," Eagan Mayor Pat Geagan announced at Tues- day's City Council meeting. Geagan read a statement from Maguire, 37, who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. In his statement, Maguire wrote that news of the cancer was "a shock to the system" for he and his wife, Janelle. The couple have a 2-year-old son, Ian. Maguire is currently in the hospital recovering from sur- gery, which he said went very well. "I expect to be recovering at home soon," he said. "All the Mike Maguire tests are checking out well." He said that as he recovers from surgery, he will talk to his oncologist about future treat- ment, which he anticipates will include chemotherapy. Maguire learned he had can- cer after recurring abdominal problems led to a colonoscopy. He said the love and support he and his family have received . "has been overwhelming." "Each voicemail offering help, every e-mail expressing support, every card, every visi- tor, and every flower sent to me in the hospital has been an in- dividual response to our prayers for strength and helped us to see more clearly the blessings of our life," he said. Maguire wanted the citizens of Eagan to know how "quick- ly and without hesitation" the council comes together to sup- port each other during difficult See Maguire, 5A Maguire/from 1A times. "We debate and we disagree on some issues passionately, but as Council Member (Cyn- dee) Fields recently said, 'This is family,' and when something like this happens those dif- ferences melt away," he said. "That is a part of this coun- cil and these people that most don't get to see." City officials are not yet sure when Maguire will be able to return to his usual schedule, said Eagan City Administrator Tom Hedges. "We have to , wait for his prognosis and learn more about how much activity he can en- gage in," he 'said. "When I visited him at the hospital, he seemed very confident he'll be back and participating in meet- ings Maguire said he is optimistic about his recovery and hopes to be in attendance at the next council meeting April 19. "Everything is day by day," he said. "Whether it's the coun- cil or my work life, my health has to be my priority." But being in' the hospital hasn't stopped Maguire from working, Geagan said. "He had Mr. Hedges in his hospital room going through the packet for tonight's' meet- ing," he said. "He's a class act." Erin Johnson is at eagan. thisweek@ecm-inc.com. al/11-hi:' I 0>10n City is dedicated to improvement, Egan says in annualaddress Speaking at a meeting of the Eagan Chamber of Commerce March 19, Mayor Tom Egan said the city's success is founded on its dedication to responsive government, listen- ing to residents and continuous improvement. "The city of Eagan continues to move forward with a re- markable record of develop- ment and achievement," said Egan. "We arc pursuing long standing goals for both the de- velopment and the character of our city." The mayor said the city is working to make things even better, while at the same time holding the line on taxes. "Eagan's property tax levy for 1998 is less than the maxi- mum allowed... and the tax ca- pacity rate is up only slightly from 1997," said Egan. "In fact, most property owners in Eagan saw tax bills un- changed, or down slightly." While stressing careful fi- nancial management, Egan said the city is prepared to in- vest in the future of the com- munity, citing the proposed plan for a family aquatic facil- ity. Egan said, based on the recommendations of its con- sultants, the City Council authorized the preparation of plans and specifications for the recreational facility on the Pi- lot Knob Road Municipal Cen- EAGAN MAYOR Tom Egan gave the state of the city address at the March 19 meeting of the Eagan Chamber of Commerce. Pictured with Egan are Sherie Wallace (far left), chair of the chamber, and Sue McCloskey, the Minnesota Small Business Person of the Year. ter campus. The aquatic center may be financed through the city's community investment fund, with user fees established to cover operating costs, thereby avoiding an increase in taxes to fund the project, ac- cording to Egan. Egan said the demand for ice time at the city's civic arena, fueled by the expanded girls' hockey program, led the coun- cil to approve the installation of a second sheet of ice at the facility. A $125,000 Mighty Ducks grant was received for the purpose in 1996, and the city received a similar grant in 1997, bringing total state sup- port to $250,000. Two other community en- hancements are also in the off- ing. The Eagan Rotary Club and the city have discussed working jointly to create a community amphitheater for concerts, plays and other community events. In addition, there have been preliminary discussions regarding the de- velopment of a championship golf course in northeast Eagan. A new fire administration building is presently in devel- opment and the facility, lo- cated across Pilot Knob Road from the Municipal Center, is expected to b_e completed in January 1999. Some $1.5 mil- lion from the community in- vestment fund will be devoted to financing the project. EC4V/1Vc W-eeK Discussing recent develop- ments, the mayor said the ' de- cision to move city elections from even years to odd years was intended to avoid the pres- sures of presidential, guberna- torial and U.S. Senate races and focus more attention on city issues, programs and can- didates. "It's important that the citi- zens of our city be able to fo- cus on the policies that will affect them, rather than just check off another item that is at the end of an already con- gested ballot," said Egan. Egan also noted the city withdrew from the Livable Communities program for 1998. He said Eagan already met the program's affordable housing goals and potential grants un- der the program were not likely or substantial. "From a practical perspec- tive," said Egan, "it should be understood that Eagan, with more affordable housing stock presently available, is ahead of many other Twin Cities sub- urbs in this area." State of City 'extremely good,' says Mayor Egan Several community projects proposed By Sue Hegarty Minnesota Sun Publications In his annual State of the City address, Mayor Tom Egan said, "We are pursuing long standing goals for both the develop- ment and the character of our city." With that in mind, council members have approved a 1998 property tax rate that is $50,200 less than the maximum allowed and up 3.2 percent over 1997. Egan outlined several new communi- ty initiatives March 19. Speaking before the Eagan Chamber of Commerce, the mayor said Eagan is prepar- ing to invest in a family aquatic center. Financing would be through the city's Community Investment Fund, with user fees set to cover operating costs. The pro- ject does not include support through a property tax increase. The second community recreation pro- ject to move forward is the installation of a second sheet of ice at the Civic Arena. A $125,000 Mighty Ducks grant was re- ceived for the rink in 1996. That grant, coupled with a similar grant in 1997, brings total state support to $250,000. Two other community enhancements also are in the offing. The Eagan Rotary Club has entered discussions with city officials to create a community amphitheater for concerts, plays and other events. Preliminary discussions also have begun with an out-of-state firm regard- ing the development of a championship golf course in northeast Eagan. By January 1999, the city's volunteer firefighters can expect to move into a new Fire Administration Building in place of the current building on the northwest corner of Wescott and Pilot Knob roads. About $1.5 million from the Community Investment Fund will be devoted to fi- nancing this project. In addition, a review of the depart- ment by the insurance service office re- sulted in improved ratings for the city which translates into more favorable in- surance premiums. Also in the area of public safety, the Eagan Police Department reported decreas- es in criminal and non -criminal offenses in 1997. The department is working on prepa- rations to celebrate National Night Out. CITY: To Page 8A From Page 7A More than 80 neighborhood watch groups are expected to participate. Striving for maximum efficiency, the city also partners with other cities for shared use of equipment. An example is Eagan's construction of a water tower in Inver Grove Heights. Both communities came together to form a joint powers agreement to hold down operating costs. Salaries comprise a major portion of any city's budget. Through the reconfigu- ration of Eagan's Planning Division, the number of staff was reduced by 1.5 posi- tions, resulting in an annual savings of $125,000. Planners have worked with several project developers and continue to work on forthcoming projects. The hospitality industry expanded last year and two new hotels are scheduled to open this year. Skyline Displays expects to move its corporate headquarters to Eagan from Burnsville and will employ about 500 people. Shops continue to fill in the city's newest retail space at Eagan Promenade. Dining opportunities now include Houli- hans and Don Pablos, with a Joe Senser's on the way. In a recent decision, the council also approved a change in the city elections process. Following the 1998 November election season, voters will go to the polls in odd -numbered years, beginning in 1999. "It is important that the citizens of our city be able to focus on the policies that will affect them, rather than just check off another item that is at the end of an already congested ballot," Egan said. The mayor also noted that the city withdrew from the Livable Communities program for the 1998 year because Eagan has already met the program's affordable housing goals. Potential grants under the program were not likely or substantial, he said. "From a practical perspective, it should be understood that Eagan, with more affordable housing stock present- ly available, is ahead of many other Twin Cities suburbs in this area," Egan said. Eagan's success has been founded on its dedication to responsive government, listening to its residents, and in its process of continuous improvement, Egan added. . Communication with city staff and elected leaders continues to be improved. Eagan established its own World Wide Web site in 1997 and is now able to accept correspondence via electronic mail. With the help of the Chamber of Commerce, a new quarterly newsletter for the busi- ness community was launched in 1997. It is mailed to about 2,000 Eagan area busi- nesses. / http://www.facebook.com/CityofEagan - Windows Internet Explores CIJO„• jam' facebook.com Favorites m (2) Eagan's July 4th Funfest a (2) Facebook e (2) City of Eden Prairie e (1) Mayor Mike Maguire e_ (1) Eagan MN City o e http:/Jwww,facebook,com/CityofEagan facebook duckwood O %— City of Eagan M nnesota City of Eagan .v,VO cJtyofeagan,com cl7] el Scott Schulte likes this, Mayor Mike Maguire Drove the 3 mile Ring Road after dedicating the Duckwood Overpass this morning that completes the ring around the Pilot Knob Yankee Doodle intersection. Great to realize the the 20+ year vision. The road will relieve congestion in the ot;'s biggest intersection and help open up additional opportunities for sustainable growth in our community. Congrats to Torn Colbert and the Public Works Dept. on the completion of this project, Wall Photos Thanks to all v:ho came out to help open the DuckAood Drive Overpass this morning. Here are some photos of the festivities including the winners of the 1st ever Duck;rood Derby...east side business representatves from Chills, Best \Vestern Dakota Ridge & Tires Plus. Honorable mention goes to 2nd place Derby finishers from the s.:est side, Al Baker's, SpringHil Suites & Superior Auto Center. By: City of Eagan, Minnesota E] Share go 2 people like this, Mayor Mike Maguire •,rent to Senator Bakk 'Stock the Shelves' Food Shelf Fundraiser at The Liffey. 7 View Join Mayor Mike Maguire en: to Eagan Community Leadership Reception.