Emily Berger Qualifies for State Meet
Belle Plaine Halloween Photos
Volleyball Team Has Another Date With Jordan
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ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOURTH YEAR
75¢ SINGLE COPY
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
NUMBER 44
Schneider to Resign from Council Applicants Sought for Replacement Belle Plaine City Council Member Scott Schneider has informed the city that he is resigning from the council, effective Nov. 20, because he is moving to Shakopee. Schneider, who was reelected to the city council last November, still has three-plus years left of his term. “Life events have generated a decision for me to move out of the city of Belle Plaine. The move will render me ineligible to continue my term on the Belle Plaine City Council,” stated Schneider in his letter of resignation. “It has been an honor serving the citizens of our fine community for the last five years as a council member. I am also very appreciative of what fine staff members I have had the tremendous fortune to
Election Day Chuck Perkins of Belle Plaine was one of several people to cast ballots for candidates running for seats on the Belle Plaine School Board. Perkins was among the first 120 people to vote before 11 a.m. Tuesday (Nov. 3), a sign of a light off-year election turnout. Details of the election were not available at press time. Results will be on the Herald’s Facebook page and Web site when available.
B.P. Man Faces Extradition on Indictment for Arizona Murder
A Belle Plaine man will be in Scott County District Court Friday (Nov. 4) listening to arguments that he should be extradited back to Mesa, Ariz. to face allegations he killed a man 10 years ago. Police from Mesa and Scott County sheriff’s deputies arrested Steven Scott Wightman without incident at his home in Belle Plaine Sept. 30. Police believe Wightman killed a man, 52-year-old musician David Elbert Reed, in a parking lot outside a pub on an October evening in 2005. They arrived with a warrant for Wightman’s arrest in connection with the murder investigation. Police and Scott County Sheriff’s deputies found two shotguns, five assault rifles, and four handguns in Wightman’s house after taking him into custody. They also found 90 grams of marijuana at the house. Wightman is being held in the
the regular election, and swear the elected replacement in as of January of 2017. In the meantime, the council should appoint someone to fill the seat,” Kreft reported. In fact, state statute requires that the council appoint a replacement for Schneider until an election is held. A two-week advertising period seeking appointee candidates began this past Tuesday and interviews will be held later this month. Qualifying and compensation details can be found in the ad on page 5 of this edition of the Herald and on the city’s website. Because there will only be four voting members on the council, if the vote for Schneider’s successor is 2-2, Mayor Mike Pingalore will have the final say as to who is appointed. The length of the term or if a special election will be held has not yet been determined.
Council Votes 3-2 to Okay 7.2 Percent Levy Increase Denies New Union Contract by Same Margin
The Belle Plaine City Council Monday night voted 3-2 to approve a final property tax he fights it, an additional hear- levy for 2016 that represents a ing will be scheduled, Hocevar 7.2 percent increase over this year’s levy. said. DNA, fingerprints and eye- The 2016 levy is for witness description will play a $5,051,291 compared to role in trying to prove Wight- $4,712,754 this year. man is who they claim he is, said Wightman’s attorney, Eric Olson. He declined comment on Wightman’s plans for the extradition hearing. Nov. 1 is normally the time Finding Wightman Belle Plaine residents have to The night of the murder, in the start adhering to the local snow fall of 2005, Mesa police said ordinance when it comes to witnesses identified a man with parking on city streets. a distinctive star-shaped tattoo With temperatures reaching near his left eye was seen in the the 70s on both Monday and area of the shooting. But no one Tuesday and possibly again knew his name at the time. Wit- today (Wednesday), winter is nesses told police Wightman far from everyone’s mind. But and Reed had been hanging out winter will arrive soon and the at the bar, although there was no report of any confrontation between them, said Detective Esteban Flores, a Mesa Police spokesman. The unidentified man had reportedly told someone he was new to the area, Flores said. Years later, a detective working the cold homicide case decided to review hundreds of driver’s license photos from a license center near Mesa. The search eventually produced the photo of Wightman and a name, Flores said. But by then, they didn’t know where Wightman lived. Mesa police got the break they needed in 2014 when Wightman was arrested for a third-degree DWI in Minneapolis. He was eventually convicted of fourth-degree DWI. But the arrest didn’t give them a DNA sample to match against DNA from the crime scene back in 2005. That meant Mesa police needed a DNA sample from Wightman they could compare to DNA from the crime scene. An investigator from Mesa came to Minnesota earlier this year and
City Administrator Holly Kreft said one of the reasons for the increase in the 2016 levy is to generate funds to cover the shortfall of not receiving assessment payments ($180,152) for the 2010 refund bond for West Commerce Drive, an issue that is still pending in litigation. Once resolved, it’s possible that the 2016 budget could still be amended. Among the other reasons noted by Kreft for the overall levy increase were city employee cost-of-living increases of
$78,432, increases to utilities and supplies of $65,900 and the proposed addition of two fulltime public works employees rather than seasonal part-time workers, the latter of which contributes only .03 percent to the levy increase. Council members Paul Chard and Gary Trost, both of whom felt the cost-of-living and other factors contributing to the 7.2 percent levy hike were too high,
Council
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Start of Local Snow Parking Restrictions Accompanied by Temperatures in the 70s
Scott County Jail without bail. Scott County Attorney Ron Hocevar’s office will represent the prosecution in the extradition hearing. If Wightman accepts the request for extradition back to Mesa, the proceeding should be relatively simple. If
Solar Garden Rules Under Review in Scott County
land near the intersection of Scott County Road 1 and West 250th Street in Blakeley Township. The proposal calls for several solar panels on 25-40 acres. The panels will be linked to the Although the Belle Plaine City regional electricity grid. SubCouncil has indicated no imme- scribers could take advantage diate interest in hosting a solar of the technology to potentially garden in the city, the concept is Solar Garden shining brightly in the county. SunShare is interested in a (continued on page 2) community solar garden on
County Will Take Up Amended Zoning Ordinance Later This Month
Belle Plaine Vets Club to Hold Veterans Day Dinner The Belle Plaine Veterans Club will honor veterans on Veterans Day next Wednesday (Nov. 11) with a chicken and beef dinner at the Vets Club downtown. Social hour will start at 6 p.m.
work with over the years I have been involved with the city.” According to City Administrator Holly Kreft, the council has the power to decide on its own on how to replace Schneider. “The council has the option of holding a special election prior to the regular election in November of 2016. The council would need to adopt an ordinance specifying the date and other terms of that election. However, holding a special election in this manner would be unusual and potentially expensive. “The more typical approach would be for the council to appoint a person to fill the vacancy and hold a special election to fill the seat at the time of
and dinner at 7 p.m. The public is welcome and the cost is $11 per person with RSVP. For walk-ins, it’s $12. The deadline to RSVP is this Saturday. To RSVP, call 952873-4583, 952-873-4135 or 952-846-9700.
B.P. Man
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Belle Plaine Police Department reminds residents that when the snow does start falling, parking restrictions will be in effect again this season. Parking will not be permitted on residential streets during a snow emergency, when snow has accumulated to a depth of one-half inch or more. Downtown parking will be posted as
“No Parking” during a snow emergency. To ensure that your vehicle does not get towed away due to a violation of a snow emergency, the BPPD offers a free program called Nixle, which allows an e-mail and text message to any cell phone regarding information on snow emergencies and/or community information. Sign up for free at www.nixle. com.
‘Witches’ Night Out
Dozens of ‘witches’ gathered in businesses on North Meridian Street for the Belle Plaine Chamber of Commerce’s “Witches of Main” event Thursday night (Oct. 29). This event was to promote local shopping. It included prizes, giveaways, drink specials and a best witch costume contest. Pictured above are (from left) witches Mandi Schmidt, Janel Schmidt, Emily Carney, Tracy Bergland and Kim Halvorson.