Edina
CURRENT
Aug. 25, 2011 • V41.34
Images of Edina capture wildlife, children Neighbors among winners for photos of Canada Geese, fox shot from porches BY KATIE MINTZ • SUN NEWSPAPERS Neighbors Britt Rogers and Marty Freeman share more than a property line. Both Edina men were winners in the city’s 2011 Images of Edina contest. Now in its eighth year, the contest recognizes photographs that capture Edina as a top place for living, learning, raising families and doing business, according to the city. Rogers’ and Freeman’s winning images were captured from their back porches on Woodcrest Drive overlooking Minnehaha Creek and Pamela
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Edina man takes the reins at Minnesota State Fair Leo Fourré is horse show coordinator for Great Minnesota Get-Together BY KATIE MINTZ SUN NEWSPAPERS The Minnesota State Fair is much more than horseplay for one Edina resident. Horse Show Coordinator Leo Fourré is helping the popular riding events go off without a hitch. It’s not an easy task, said Fourré, who began working with fair administration last summer to streamline the show. Close to 700 horses are registered in English and western events during the Great Minnesota GetTogether, which runs Thursday, Aug. 25, to Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5. Balancing the trailer and hoof traffic with approximately 1.8 million HORSES: TO PAGE 14
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Edina officials begin budget talks for 2012 City council considers preliminary tax levy, budget options BY KATIE MINTZ • SUN NEWSPAPERS
Horse Show Coordinator Leo Fourré of Edina, standing outside the horse barn on the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul is helping streamline horse events at this year’s fair, which runs Thursday, Aug. 25, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5. (Photo by Katie Mintz • Sun Newspapers)
PHOTOS: TO PAGE 2
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Edina officials are aiming for minimal spending increases next year. Edina City Council members weighed in on two scenarios for the 2012 property tax levy and general fund budget presented at a Tuesday, Aug. 16, work session. Council members, for the most part, supported a status quo option with a slight increase for employee contracts settled last year. Some said they would like to see reductions or reallocations in other parts of the budget to bring that number down. The council is expected to adopt a preliminary levy and budget Tuesday, Sept. 6, to meet the Sept. 15 deadline imposed by the state. The preliminary levy, once adopted, cannot be increased but can be decreased. “I feel pretty comfortable at the scenario one level,” which offered a 2.8 percent levy increase over the current year, Mayor Jim Hovland said. “Would I like it a little lower? Yes.” BUDGET: TO PAGE 12
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