Tiger Track Teams Launch Season
BPHS Spring Sports Previews
New Business Opens Downtown
Page 18
Pages 7-10
Page 17
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FIFTH YEAR
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BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, APRIL 6, 2016
NUMBER 14
Historical Society Takes Over Belle Plaine Farmers Market, Vendors Being Sought
A Different Route to Oak Crest Monday morning (April 4), S.M. Hentges & Sons, the city’s general contractor for the Enterprise Drive Extension and Highway 169 overpass project, closed West Commerce Drive from Elk Street to Meridian Street (County Road 3) for installation of municipal utilities and lane reconfiguration on West Commerce Drive in preparation for the extension of Enterprise Drive and construction of the Highway 169 overpass. The detour routes traffic to Elk Street, South Street, Willow Street and Raven Street. The closure is scheduled to last through July.
BPHS Choir, Band Have ‘Superior’ Day at Section Competition
All Entries Earn Top Rating
Members of the Belle Plaine High School band and choir programs were confident they had the ability to perform well at the Section 2 Solo/Ensemble contest last Wednesday (March 30). But the results were better than even they might have expected. For the first time in memory, all of Belle Plaine’s entries – in both choir and band competitions – earned superior ratings, the highest rating possible. “Yes, we had a very good day,” said BPHS Band Director Jeanine Kruschke. The competition was at Gusta-
vus Adolphus College in St. Peter. Students in both programs have been logging extra hours for several weeks preparing, said Cheryl Gorton, the school’s choir director. “I was very pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Every single performance had people performing at their very best. They really stepped it up when they needed to.” The jazz band ensemble performed two standard songs, “A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square” and “All The Things You Are.” The trumpet ensemble performed “Bagatelle” by Kevin Kaisershot. BPHS’s clarinet ensemble performed “Theme from Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” by Mozart (arranged by Samuel Hazo). The percussion ensem-
ble performed “Kabe” by J. Michael Roy. The Belle Plaine High School Choir Advanced Ensemble performed “Sing We and Chant It” by Thomas Morley and “Te Quiero Alberto Favero.” Soloists Hunter Meyer sang “Where You There.” Abby Meger performed “Come to the Fair” and Megan Littlepage sang “O Mio Babino Caro.” The trio earned best-at-site honors. BPHS’s other soloists Lauren Murphy sang “Ave Maria” while Schuyler Sterk performed “All My Trials.” They also earned superior ratings. The boys’ quintet – known as The Fedorables because the wear soft felt hats with a curled brim – earned a superior rating performing “For the Longest Time” in four-part ache Pella. See photos on page 2.
Council Okays Staff to Apply for Another City of Excellence Award The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night unanimously authorized staff to submit an application for a 2016 City of Excellence Award in Creative Programs in Public Safety Services for the city’s Tiger Watch Program. Each year, the League of Minnesota Cities invites cities to submit entries showcasing projects they’ve completed in various categories. Last year, Belle Plaine was one of only four cities in the state to win a City of Excellence Award for the Archery Park it developed a couple of years ago. “Staff discussed submitting the Tiger Watch Program since it highlights private/public collaboration and is an innovative program that could be replicated in other cities,” reported City Administrator Holly Kreft. The Tiger Watch Program, started by the Belle Plaine Police Department, is a “one-of-akind program for the safety and benefit of all children and individuals in Belle Plaine.” The purpose is to heighten community awareness and foster relationships that enhance safety.” The Tiger Watch Program is detailed on the city’s website. *Unanimously approved a private use agreement with the Belle Plaine Girl Scouts for a little lending library at Heritage Square Park south of Highway 169. Local Girl Scout Junior Troop 25482 recently requested authorization to place a small structure in the park that will
contain books available to the public. Users will be able to take a book to read and then return it or add others. In related action, the council also okayed Belle Plaine Girl Scout Elissa Moonen’s request to build and place a little lending library near the Carriage House (Red Barn) Museum adjacent to Court Square Park and the Historical House property. Moonen, like the younger scouts who are establishing a little library at Heritage Square Park, will be responsible for maintaining the library. Moonen is doing her own lending library as part of her quest to obtain Girl Scouting’s Silver Award. *Again tabled a public hear-
ing on proposed amendments to address public safety concerns pertaining to all-terrain vehicles, including definitions, operation, crossing of public road right-of-way and operation of Class I and II ATVs. The public hearing, which was first opened on March 21, has now been continued to May 2 to allow staff time for further review of the proposed changes. *Called for a May 16 public hearing on the annual renewal of liquor licenses for restaurants/bars within the Belle Plaine city limits. *Unanimously approved pay request No. 1 by Chard Tiling
The Belle Plaine Historical Society has agreed to facilitate the Belle Plaine Farmers Market beginning with the 2016 market season. Lisa Fahey and Diane Skelley had been overseeing the local market since they founded it in 2009. The historical society is currently contacting vendors encouraging them to return to the Belle Plaine Farmers Market, and that the fee structure is being reduced. The fee will be $5 (with a maximum cap for the season at $80) and is due on the day of the market. This option provides a $40 savings for the en-
tire season. Vendors can also reserve a spot for the season for $50 by prepaying for the season by the start of the season on or before the May 4 kickoff. This option provides a $70 savings for the entire season, which provides vendors 14 weeks at the market for free. “More vendors does not always mean more competition; it can bring more shoppers to the market,” states the historical society. The market will again be open Wednesdays from May 4 through Oct. 12 (24 weeks) from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Court Square Park
The historical society plans to offer information on growing and maintaining gardens as well as information on its vendors. Market advertising is provided throughout the community – in the Scott County Scene, Belle Plaine Herald, Scott County Historical Society and through the Belle Plaine Community Education program. Information can also be found on Facebook under Belle Plaine Farmers Market. For more information, or to reserve your spot for the season, contact Rex Ernst at oneeyedbutcher@yahoo.com or Rick Krant Rkrant@mchsi.com, or call and leave a voice message by calling 612-749-3958.
City Working With School District on Future of Community Services Director Position As part of a series of budget adjustments last week by the Belle Plaine School Board, Activities/Community Services Director Chad Eischens’ employment with the district will end at the conclusion of this school year. The school board’s action came less than a year after he was hired by the district and city, the latter of which is responsible for 30 percent of Eis-
chens’ salary due to the community services aspect of his job. The school district pays the other 70 percent of his salary as its activities director. Belle Plaine City Administrator Holly Kreft said the city is currently working with the school district on “restructuring the position” and will provide more information once the issue has been reviewed and approved by the two elected bod-
ies. A year ago, representatives from the city and school district interviewed eight candidates and the consensus of the group was to offer the position to Eischens, who had been the activities director for New Ulm High School the past four years. The contract called for Eischens to make $65,000 this year, the city’s share of which is $20,804.50.
B.P. School Students Heavy into State Tests This Spring
The latest round of Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCAs) are underway and will have different Belle Plaine public school students in varying grades taking math, science and reading tests in the weeks to come. Throughout April, students in third through eighth grades will be taking the state standardized assessments in reading and math. High school juniors have already taken the state math test and sophomores will take the reading assessment next week. Students in fifth, eighth and 10th grades will also be taking part in the state-standardized science assessment at the be-
ginning of May. In addition to the testing schedule, juniors have the opportunity to take the ACT Plus writing assessment April 19. The district is paying for the testing. This week, third- through sixth-graders at Oak Crest Elementary School will be taking MCA III reading and math tests. In May, they’ll take the latest version of the MCA science exams. Next week, testing moves to the junior-senior high school. Eighth-graders will be taking the math exam and seventhgraders the MCA III reading
tests. Juniors will be taking the state math exams. Sophomores will be taking the reading exams. April 19, juniors will once again be taking the American College Testing (ACT) college testing exam, a broader exam than the writing assessment. In May, Oak Crest third-, fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders will be taking the MCA science exam. Eighth- and 10th-graders will also be taking the state science test next month. Results from the MCA tests
B.P. School
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City Council
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Belle Plaine Residents Can Challenge Their Property Values May 4 in Shakopee The Open Book Meeting for Belle Plaine will be conducted on Wednesday, May 4 from 2-7 p.m. in the Taxation Office at the Scott County Government Center in Shakopee. The purpose of this meeting is to give each taxpayer the opportunity to informally review or challenge assessed values or classifications for the 1/2/2016 assessment. If you believe the value or classification of your property is incorrect, first contact your
assessor’s office to discuss your concerns. The appropriate number to call is listed on your Notice of Valuation and Classification that was mailed to you in March. If you disagree with the valuation or classification after discussing it with your assessor, you may appear before the Yesterday morning (Tuesday, April 5), John Brown of Green Isle was heading north on Sibley county special board of appeal County Road 5 (Faxon Road) up the hill at 6:45 a.m. when he lost control of his 2007 Sabaru. and equalization. The vehicle did not make the right-hand turn and went straight off the road, hitting a field approach where it rolled, said Sibley County Sheriff Bruce Ponath. Brown, 46, was alone in the Subaru. Brown’s seatbelt likely saved him from injury. Ponath said “fatigue was a factor in this crash.”
An Untimely Awakening