Belle Plaine Students Learning About Robotics Early Page 4
Scott West Wrestlers
BPHS Basketball Teams Both Split Two Games at Tournaments Pages 16, 17
Place High at Rumble on the Red
Page 17
ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SECOND YEAR
BELLE PLAINE, MINNESOTA, JANUARY 2, 2013
75¢ SINGLE COPY
NUMBER 1
Permits for New Homes in City Increase in 2012 The good news is that the number of new home building permits issued in Belle Plaine in 2012 is expected to increase by 200 percent over 2011. The bad news is that only two permits were issued in 2011. According to Belle Plaine Building Official Scott McCarty on Friday, the number of new single-family home permits in 2012 was expected to total six by the close of business on Monday (Dec. 31). “We’ve had four so far and we have two more on the way,” said McCarty, adding that it was likely both of those would be finalized on Friday or Monday in order for the builder to take advantage of a 2012 incentive program that was approved by the council earlier this year that reduces the building permit fee for new homes. There were seven building permits issued for new homes in Belle Plaine in 2009 and eight in 2010. With six issued in 2012 and two last year, the total number of new home permits in Belle Plaine the last four years will stand at 23. There were 42 in 2007, 58 in 2006 and 116 in 2005. The record year for Belle Plaine was 2001 when nearly 200 new home permits were issued. Looking ahead to 2013, McCarty said there are no other
planned single-family or multifamily units planned for Belle Plaine that he knows of at this time. The continued struggling economy on top of the fact that there was an over abundance of homes built metro-wide in the early 2000s are the biggest contributors to the sharp declines in new home building being experienced in Minnesota and across the nation the past several years. But some good news is being reported this month. According to a U.S. Commerce Department report, building permits nationally in November increased 3.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 899,000 units, the highest since July of 2008. In the past 12 months through November, housing starts were up 21.6 percent, while permits had gained 26.8 percent. “More and more, the recovery is widespread. It is nice to see it happen,” said Barry RutenFirefighters from Belle Plaine couldn’t save this burning house or its contents from flames Sunday afternoon. berg, chair of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). Despite Rutenberg’s optimism, Ben Bernanke, chair of Despite the best efforts of area at 22295 305th Street in west- mutual aid. Koepp said Neils fighters’ efforts – the rural nathe Federal Reserve System, firefighters, a blaze claimed a ern Faxon Township. The Red reported he lost control of a fire ture of Neils’ house and a long, said in a recent NAHB article rural Belle Plaine man’s house Cross was on hand to help Neils in the wood burner. The fire ini- winding driveway that made acthat “overly tight lending stan- Sunday afternoon (Dec. 30). with temporary lodging, said tially spread from it to a nearby cess to the house problematic. Koepp reported firefighters A wood burner is at the center Belle Plaine Fire Chief Randy mattress. Permits of the inquiry into the devastat- Koepp. Neils lost nearly all of Unable to squelch the burning lost time finding the house be(continued on page 2) ing fire at Mark Neils’ house his possessions in the fire. mattress, Neils fled the house to cause 305th Street off Sibley County Road 60 was not clearThe call came in just before call for help. 1:15 Sunday afternoon. Fire- “He said it just somehow got Fire fighters from Henderson, Green out of control,” Koepp said. (continued on page 18) Isle and Hamburg provided Two factors hampered fire-
Fire Claims Area Man’s House
Former Floridian to Become Belle Plaine Mayor Next Monday by Dan Ruud Mike Pingalore has lived in a number of different places through the years, including Rockford, Ill., Atlanta, Ga., Springfield, Mass., and Clearwater, Fla., to name a few. Next week, he will become mayor of Belle Plaine. Pingalore, 39, who has lived in Belle Plaine for nine years, will receive the oath of office from City Administrator David Murphy prior to the start of next Monday night’s city council meeting. He will replace Tim Lies, who Pingalore defeated in the Nov. 6 general election. Pingalore was not yet halfway through his first four-year term on the city council when decided to run for mayor. Pingalore is recommending that the council vacate his seat. He has proposed an ordinance change that would reduce the number of city council members from six to five, including the mayor. “I believe we’re one of the only cities in Minnesota to have six (council members). Going to five will allow for no tie votes. It just makes sense to have five
Pingalore
(continued on page 8)
As District Nears 2,000 Students, New Building Talks Will Begin
Belle Plaine Mayor-Elect and golf enthusiast Mike Pingalore has been a fixture in Bar-B-Q Days parades in recent years hitting “soft” golf balls into the crowd.
Scott County CDA Helping People in B.P. With Affordable Housing
There’s a family in Belle Plaine that’s one or two missed paychecks away from losing their house to foreclosure. A single person with children can’t afford market-rate rental housing needs an apartment. A husband and wife in their early-60s on a fixed income can’t handle the upkeep a house and yard demands. In all three cases, the Scott County Community Development Agency (CDA) works to keep families in Belle Plaine
School Board Keeping Watchful Eye on Climbing Enrollment
and throughout Scott County in their houses and communities. The agency has developed and manages affordable housing options throughout Scott County for people of many ages and situations. The CDA operates with an annual budget of approximately $12 million, most from federal and state sources. The Scott County Board appoints its commissioners. DeAnn Croatt, the CDA’s board chairperson, represents Belle Plaine and
the first commissioner district. The CDA will hold its annual organizational meeting Jan. 8, 4 p.m., at the CDA’s offices in Shakopee. Among those programs is the Belle Haven Apartments, 32 units of below-market-rate housing in Belle Plaine. Tenants pay about 30 percent of their income in rent, said Bill Jaffa, the CDA’s executive di-
Affordable Housing (continued on page 8)
Although the rate of growth in Belle Plaine’s Public Schools’ enrollment has slowed dramatically, it hasn’t stopped and the school board remains watchful of the slow march toward the 2,000 student (K-12) trigger point for talks on a new building. During a recent school board workshop, directors reviewed the rates of growth the district has experienced and what could be on the way. Their intent is to be ready for what is coming. In 2007-08, the district had 1,500 students in kindergarten through senior high school. The Class of 2008 had 107 members. Those students were replaced the following September by 133 kindergartners. Each year since, graduating classes have averaged about 116 students while the three incoming groups of kindergartners have averaged around 132. The school district finished November with 1,611 students in K-12. Include the children in the district’s pre-kindergarten program and the overall enrollment jumps to about 1,720. With annual building permits for new houses hovering in the single digits, the growth is more than likely coming from within the school district’s borders - couples who’ve had children since moving here. Superintendent Kelly Smith said enrollment gains through open en-
rollment have not significantly side of open enrollment,” he out-paced the loss of students said. whose families live in the Belle Growing enrollment is a douPlaine School District and enSchool Board roll their children elsewhere. (continued on page 18) “We’re still in the negative
Honoring Their Ancestors A lone Dakota Indian carrying a feathered staff led a procession of a dozen vehicles through Belle Plaine last Wednesday (Dec. 26) around 6:30 a.m. on the way to Mankato to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the hanging of 38 Dakota warriors in the largest mass execution in United States history following the Dakota War in the summer of 1862. The staff was relayed the 90-plus-mile trip from Fort Snelling to the site of the hanging. By the time the runners reached Mankato, several Native Americans completed the journey en mass. Speakers during a ceremony called for reconciliation.