Dakota County
Tribune
Farmington | Rosemount and the surrounding areas
www.dakotacountytribune.com
NEWS Veterans Day features Iraq veteran’s family receives much-needed help from Beyond the Yellow Ribbon group at their Lakeville house. Page 9A
OPINION Former teacher honored The late Sandra Peterson had a tremendous impact on students across the state as a teacher, union leader and legislator. Page 4A
THISWEEKEND
$180M referendum Farmington says yes to school levies passes in District 196 by Andy Rogers SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
According to unofficial results, Farmington residents voted yes twice during Tuesday’s election to approve two funding requests to raise school district property taxes. Voters were asked to increase the operating levy by $433 per student and for a $45 million facilities bond. Both were approved by nearly 60 percent of voters. “We’re thrilled the community supported both questions and we’re profoundly thankful,� Superintendent Jay Haugen said. “I want people to know we’ll do right by this. We’ll spend the dol-
lars like we said we would.� Voters approved the operating levy 57 percent (2,334) to 43 percent (1,776). The bond passed by similar numbers: 58 percent (2,395) to 42 percent (1,716). The district said the operating levy increase would allow the district to lower average class sizes, maintain educational programs and maximize state aid. The funds will be included in the 2016-17 budget. “We’ll start planning for how to lower class size and bring back some programs that, frankly, have really been missed,� Haugen said. Those programs include high school classes that have been cut See 192, 8A
by Jessica Harper
SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan School District voters approved on Tuesday a $180 million bond and levy referendum, which will fund building upgrades, the expansion of magnet school programs and new technology. The referendum passed with 69.02 percent of the vote, and includes a $130 million building bond and a 10-year, $50 million capital improvement levy. As a result of the referendum’s passage, taxes on the average valued home of $250,000 will likely increase by about $144 between payable 2015 and payable 2016, which is about $12 more a month.
“We went in with high hopes and are very happy with the results,� School Board Chairman Rob Duchscher said. “We were even caught off guard by the level of support, which was better than expected.� The district plans to use the building bond to renovate and construct additions onto several schools, upgrade security equipment and potentially build a new school. Additions are planned for Cedar Park, Diamond Path, Glacier Hills, Echo Park and Oak Ridge elementary schools to address space constraints at those schools. Cedar Park, Diamond Path See 196, 8A
School Board incumbents reclaim seats in District 196 by Jessica Harper SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The incumbents on the Rosemount-Apple ValleyEagan School Board will serve another term. District 196 School Board members Jackie Magnuson, Rob Duchscher, Joel Albright and Bob Schutte earned the most votes during Tuesday’s election, enabling them to serve another
Watercolor wonders
November 5, 2015 • Volume 130 • Number 35
four-year term. Magnuson garnered the most votes with 21.13 p e r c e n t , Joel Albright according to the Minnesota Secretary of State. Albright earned 18.15 percent, followed by Duchscher with 17.12 percent and Schutte with 17.07 percent.
Bob Schutte Rob Duchscher Of the three challengers, Michael Atherley took the most votes with 8.80 percent. Sachin Isaacs earned 8.23 percent and Craig An-
grimson earned 8.19 percent of the vote. All 14 p re c i n c t s reported Jackie their totals Magnuson as of 11:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Secretary of State. Magnuson was first elected in 1989 and serves on the district’s Curricu-
The Minnesota Watercolor Society is presenting its fall exhibition, “Brilliant Passages,� at the Ames Center in Burnsville. Page 19A
lum and Instruction, and Legislative, committees. She was appointed as board representative to the Community Collaboration Council, Continuing Education/Vocational Relicensure, Metropolitan Educational Cooperative Service Unit, and Q Comp Educational Improvement Planning Team. Magnuson is past president of the See BOARD, 8A
Number of roundabout accidents drop County warns drivers to yield by Laura Adelmann SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
ue. RAAC has organized scores of events annually since 2013. Even more are expected now that full use of the Steeple Center is back online. RAAC aims to build on the momentum of the addition’s completion by recruiting members of the community to serve as teachers of new class offerings. A story in a future edition will cover this new initiative. While the new center will boost RAAC arts activity potential, the
Two months after opening to a chorus of crashes, Lakeville drivers appear to be better navigating the two-lane county roads 50 and 60 roundabout. There were 28 accidents at the roundabout in September, the first month it opened, according to Lakeville Police Chief Jeff Long. He reported there were 16 accidents in the roundabout in October, almost half of September’s amount. Lakeville resident Steve Bakke lives near the roundabout. He said he witnessed people accelerating instead of slowing down when they enter the roundabout. “A lot of people get in the intersection and they don’t yield,� he said. “They step on it. They want to get through before you.� Dakota County Transportation Director Mark Krebsbach said drivers must slow down and plan when a roundabout is ahead. “The biggest issue we’re facing out there is from drivers not yielding to the traffic in the roundabout,� Krebsbach said. “Almost every crash we have is because of that driver error.� Bakke said since it opened more people are understanding how to drive through the roundabout. “Every day, it’s getting better.� When approaching
See STEEPLE, 8A
See ROUND, 8A
SPORTS Cross country makes history The Farmington girls cross country team qualifies for state as a team for the first time in 26 years. Page 13A
The fireside room of the city-owned Steeple Center addition includes a spacious area with windows from nearly the floor to the ceiling. (Photo by Tad Johnson)
Steeple Center addition aims to engage New spaces for gathering, learning by Tad Johnson
PUBLIC NOTICE The Dakota County Tribune is an official newspaper of the Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan School District. Page 14A
INDEX Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . 4A Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 13A Public Notices . . . . . . 14A Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 15A Announcements . . . . 18A
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SUN THISWEEK DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
The city of Rosemount workers planted a tree outside the Steeple Center last week. “It’s still rather small, but it has great potential,� said John Loch, longtime community volunteer and Rosemount Area Arts Council member. The young evergreen tree is a fitting symbol for the current growth arc of the arts, entertainment and activity center for which work on its addition is almost complete. “It feels like it is going to be a great space,� Rosemount Parks and Recreation Director Dan Schultz said. “It is welcoming. We hope it gets a lot of use.� The 10,000-square-foot addition, which is located between the current Steeple Center arts and event venue and the future senior housing facility The Rosemount, aims to be a casual gathering space and a site for planned activities. While RAAC and the Rosemount Area Seniors are looking forward to the new activity areas, the fireside
room and adjoining outdoor courtyard offer gathering spaces unlike any found in the city. “People are going to be really happy with it,� Loch said. “I think it’s going to be a gathering area.� The courtyard will feature trees and other plantings around a patio for several tables and chairs. The fireside room faces southwest with windows that stretch from nearly the floor to the top of the two-story vaulted ceiling. It will have a counter, from which coffee will be served. Members of RAAC and the Rosemount Area Seniors will offer community information at what is called the Front Porch in the space. The Front Porch was established in December 2012 when the city and RAAC drew up a contract that would have the nonprofit’s members staff the “visitor center� at the Steeple Center in exchange for free use of the facility. That agreement will continue at the new center. Loch says that extension is a recognition that RAAC provides great value to the city-owned ven-
The fireside room of the city-owned Steeple Center addition includes a spacious area with windows from nearly the floor to the ceiling. (Photo by Tad Johnson)
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