Oppidan Development Submits Concept Plan for
McDonald’s Restaurant
by Dan Ruud
The Belle Plaine City Council will conduct a public hearing on Oppidan Development’s tax abatement request at next Monday’s regular meeting. The hearing is scheduled to begin at 6:05 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Belle Plaine Planning and Zoning Commission Monday night unanimously recommended approval of Oppidan Development’s concept plan for a 6,600-square-foot multi-tenant retail building that would include a McDonald’s restaurant.
The complex would be located next to where Oppidan has already been given the green light to construct a 38,000-square-foot (Coborn’s) grocery store, liquor store, pharmacy and gas station/convenience store on the southeast side of the Highway 169 interchange in Belle Plaine. Oppidan has requested a $500,000 tax abatement for the project, which will be the subject of next Monday’s public hearing.
The McDonald’s complex would represent phase two of the retail center’s development and be located north of Enterprise Drive and west of Hickory Boulevard. The complex would include up to three other units (retail) totaling 3,600 square feet.
Community Development Director Trisha Rosenfeld provided commissioners with an overview of the concept plan and explained that more details will be presented further in the planning process and prior to approval of the final plat.
See the complete story in the March 10 edition of the Herald.
Last Thursday, a crew from Chard Tiling & Excavating of Belle Plaine razed Rich “Spit” Martin’s house, a rental house, and saloon on Chatfield Drive in Blakeley. Rather than building a levy, Scott County purchased properties west of the Blakeley bridge as part of its mitigation for floodwaters. (Photo submitted by Evelyn Boeckman)
Pieces of Blakeley’s Past Razed
to Prepare for Floodwaters
by John Mueller
A bit of Blakeley’s history came down in rubble last week. Scott County razed Richard “Spit” Martin’s former home, a rental house, and saloon in preparation for spring floods.
The demolition of the house and saloon on the west side of County Road 1 is part of the mediation work the county was required to do as part of its raising the height of County Road 1 to the new Blakeley bridge over the Minnesota River. The county decided purchasing and demolishing the buildings along Chatfield Drive in Blakeley was less expensive than building a levee to protect them from flooding after Scott County increased the height of the road by 3 to 6 feet on the Scott County side as part of the bridge project that began in 2003 and completed in 2005.
The grain elevator on the east side of County Road 1 is on higher ground.
See the complete story in the March 10 edition of the Herald.
Spring Floods Still Expected
In its latest flood potential report released last Friday, the National Weather Service (NWS) office in Chanhassen states that southern and central Minnesota can continue to expect moderate to significant flooding due to snow and ice melt this spring.
The report was similar to the one released Feb. 20, which stated that there is a strong possibility that water will be impacting residences, agricultural buildings and roadways across the Minnesota River Valley.
Exactly how severe the flooding will become depends on how rapidly the spring thaw takes place. The longer the snow and ice takes to melt, the less the flooding will be. How much more moisture the region gets over the next several weeks will also play a factor.
As the rivers rise this spring, detailed information about river levels and crest forecasts can be found on the National Weather Service’s Web site.
School Board May OK Student-Athlete Dual Participation
by John Mueller
A Belle Plaine High School sprinter on the track team could also throw a shutout for the baseball team in the same week if the school board OKs a new policy permitting dual participation at its March 22 meeting.
During a workshop Monday, the board discussed a proposal to permit a student-athlete to participate in two sports in the same season. There were no objections to the proposal during the workshop.
The high school has received one request from a student to participate in two spring sports.Dan Gardner, the high school’s activities director, said if the policy is approved, the district will create a committee to review applications, weighing criteria, some objective and some subjective. The committee will include coaches and the activities director. The student will be required to maintain a minimum 2.67 grade-point average.
Board members recognized the potential positives like increased opportunity for a gifted student-athlete. They also noted the potential downside of the proposal, like scheduling troubles and the conflict between one team and another.
See the complete story in the March 10 edition of the Herald.
Fire Department Fish Fry
Over 700 people attended Friday night’s fire department fish fry at Chatfield Elementary School. The event is a fund-raiser for the department. Above (from left) Mike Gau, Lenny Traxler and Matt Stier prepared the evening’s main course in a shed firefighters built behind the school. (Below) Jim Krushcke served Randy Koll.
Weekly Belle Plaine Farmers Market to Return in 2010
Eight short weeks until the weekly Belle Plaine Farmers Market is back! Six vendors from last year have already confirmed they will be there.
There is still snow on the ground but the gardeners are getting antsy. It is time to be thinking about your garden and planning your strategy. Within the next few weeks your starter plants should be underway. Seeds and starter kits are available locally at Steffen’s Hardware and The Country Store.
According to the University of Minnesota, this is also the time to be pruning fruit trees. Now through the first week of April is the best time for minimizing the amount of injury to the tree. If you’re an inexperienced pruner, read up on the best methods as you don’t want to over prune.
This year the Farmers Market will be accepting up to 19 vendors weekly. Spaces can be reserved through prepayment. Cost is $10 weekly with a season maximum of $100. Vendors are welcome to show up the day of the market but there is no space guarantee. The market will run Wednesdays, May 5 to Oct. 27 from 4-7 p.m. For more information, contact Lisa Fahey at 952-873-5665 or Diane Skelley at 952-873-2467.
Belle Plaine Police Report
The week of March 1-7, the Belle Plaine Police Department responded to the following selected calls:
Monday March 1
A man riding a three-wheeler on the 500 block of East Main was cited at 10:05 a.m. for an array of offenses, including failing to stop for an officer, riding an ATV recklessly and in violation of city ordinance.
At 4:04 p.m., police cited a person who refused to pay for a rented room at a business on the 300 block of South Walnut Street, telephone service and fourth-degree damage to property.
A woman on the 800 block of Lindsey Lane requested police assistance at 5:45 p.m. to unlock a locked vehicle.
Tuesday, March 2
Police assisted paramedics at 1:02 p.m. treating a woman on the 200 block of South Ash Street suffering severe back and leg pain.
A woman on the 300 block of South Willow Street called police at 6:29 p.m. after her former husband allegedly assaulted her. He was located the next day and formally charged with gross-misdemeanor domestic assault and interfering with a 911 call.
A woman on the 900 block of West State Street called police and paramedics at 9:42 p.m. for help. A girl, 16, was suffering abdominal pain.
Wednesday, March 3
A man on the 800 block of Shea Circle called police and paramedics at 7:37 p.m. A woman was suffering lost vision, high blood pressure and feeling light-headed. She was transported to an area hospital.
Police arrested a man who, allegedly driving under the influence of a controlled substance, crashed his car near the intersection of South Elk Street and West Commerce Drive at 3:20 p.m.
Police assisted a man needing medical help on the 400 block of East Main Street at 7:16 p.m. He was transported to an area hospital.
Thursday, March 4
A person on the 100 block of Aspen Lane called police at 9:08 a.m. seeking help with a locked vehicle.
A woman on the 300 block of South Laredo Street asked police at 5:41 p.m. for help unlocking a locked vehicle.
Friday, March 5
Police arrested a man on the 100 block of Hillcrest Drive for domestic assault and disorderly conduct at 11:16 p.m. after a responding to a call regarding the man, his wife and daughter.
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Spring Forward Saturday Night
Daylight Savings Time begins early this Sunday morning, meaning you should set your clocks ahead one hour before going to bed Saturday night.
The candidates for Belle Plaine’s 2010 Miss Shamrock are, from left, Paige Meger, Brooke Moylan, Lexi Bahr and Maura Flaherty.
St. Pat’s Celebration Saturday
Another sea of green will flow through Belle Plaine when Irish clans make their 38th annual march through downtown this Saturday afternoon.
The festivities will get underway with the traditional noon mass at Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church. Parade participants will lineup outside the church at 12:45 p.m. The grand marshals are Fahey sisters Dorothy Bartels, Theresa Renne and Ruth Effertz (see separate article).
The emcee of the post-parade program will be Donny O’Brien Jr.
Featured during the program will be the crowning of the 2010 Miss Shamrock. The four candidates are Lexi Bahr, daughter of Joel and Lisa Bahr; Maura Flaherty, daughter of Jerome and Beth Flaherty; Paige Meger, daughter of Tom Meger and Theresa McDaniel; and Brooke Moylan, daughter of Chris and Annette Moylan. Crowning her replacement will be 2009 Miss Shamrock Kate Effertz, daughter of Richard and Karen Effertz.
The Irish Lads, who will be assisting during the program, are Darin Gregory and Justin Potthast.
Members of the Twin Cities Metro Pipe Band will perform at the mass and in the parade. Afterwards, they will spend the afternoon playing in local establishments.
See the complete story in the March 10 edition of the Herald.
Sisters Ruth Effertz, Dorothy Bartels and Theresa Renne will be grand marshals of Saturday’s parade.
Sister Trio to Lead Parade
Faxon Township farmers William and Bridget (Walsh) Fahey both died over half a century ago while only in their 50s. The couple left behind nine children, six of whom are still living. Of those six, half will be sitting side-by-side as grand marshals of Saturday’s Belle Plaine St. Patrick’s Parade downtown.
They are Dorothy Bartels, 81, Theresa Renne, 72, and Ruth Effertz, 70.
Previous to them, their brothers Roger and Billy Fahey and wives were also grand marshals of the parade, which if you do the math, represents over half of William and Bridget Fahey’s children who have headed Belle Plaine’s greenest parade. Cousin Eileen Effertz, who is also Ruth’s sister-in-law, was a grand marshal of last year’s parade with her husband Stan.
“My sisters and I are very excited to receive this honor,” said Ruth, adding that she was the first of the trio to get the call from St. Pat’s Committee Member John Bailey earlier this winter asking them to be grand marshals.
“I was so excited. I sat here at home waiting for Dorothy and Theresa to call me after they got their calls. In the meantime, I called my kids and told them,” Ruth said.
See the complete story in the March 10 edition of the Herald.
German Day to be Pushed Back a Month
In an effort to draw warmer weather, Belle Plaine’s annual German Day celebration will take place June 19 this year, the same week the Community Cookout is normally held.
In recent years, German Day has taken place in May (last year it was May 16).
Organizer Dan Neisen said the decision to wait an extra month this year was based on the desire to avoid the cooler weather that has often prevailed for the parade, coronation, tractor pull and professional wrestling, which are all outdoor events.
School Board Preparing
for Leaner 2010-11 Budget
by John Mueller
While they are hesitant for now about identifying the potential impacts of reducing costs during the 2010-11 school year, one thing for is likely, Belle Plaine School Board members will review next year’s operating budget closely.
Monday, the board discussed the impact a budget adjustment would have on the district’s unreserved fund balance, the fund used when spending exceeds income. Directors are concerned the state, facing a budget deficit ranging from $5 to $7 billion for the 2011-12 biennium, will cut per-pupil aid for next year. With elections coming this fall, school officials believe lawmakers may save tough choices until after November.
“There are a lot of decisions to be made by us and the legislature,” Superintendent Kelly Smith said.
One thing is certain, Smith expects the district’s $11.88 million general fund for 2009-10 won’t grow and could easily be smaller. Money in the general fund covers most of the district’s day-to-day spending.
The district says its unreserved general fund will shrink to $1.29 million by the end of the 2010 school year at current spending levels. With no new state money, and a reduction of $150 in per-student aid, the district says its unreserved fund balance will be gone by the end of the 2011-12 school year.
Using a hypothetical $350,000 cut in spending for 2010-11 as an example, the district’s unreserved fund balance will last until 2014 with no change in per-student aid. A $150 reduction in per-student aid, along with that hypothetical $350,000 cut, will keep the fund balance above water until the start of the 2012-13 school year.
The board will review a list of potential spending reductions at its March 22 meeting. Smith is concerned significant reductions in spending could fuel an exodus to other nearby school districts.
“Part of what attracts people is are good programs, we think. That’s the balancing act we have every time we start talking about budget reductions,” he said. “It’s no problem to balance the budget. The problem is having quality programs left to serve our students.”
On March 4, Belle Plaine FFA members competed in regional CDEs at South Central College in Mankato.
There were teams competing in four different CDEs. Five members also attended the region’s Spring Leadership meeting. Those attending were able to watch the region talent competition. They also voted to approve the slate of region officers for 2010-2011.
The BPHS forestry team took first place. The team consisted of David May, Darrin Wolters, Daniel Krentz, Cory Herrmann and Adam Alvarado. May received third individual, Wolters fourth and Krentz fifth. Forestry is a four-part contest, the first being the identification of 40 tree and wood samples, 10 forestry tools for identification, 40-question multiple-choice exam and four practicums such as timber cruising, log scaling, map interpretation and/or lumber scaling.
The BPHS crops team took eighth place. Included on the team were Cody Ekstrom and Jessie Johnson. The CDE consists of an ID section, a series of practicums, grading of crops and a 50-point multiple-choice test.
Dylan Parsons competed in the Ag Mechanics competition. This CDE deals with three separate areas of Ag mechanics. The three areas include power and machinery, structures, and electrification and construction.
Erin Morrison and Krystal Cline competed in the Discussion CDE. Morrison took second and Cline took third. In the CDE, members are given a list of three topics relating to Agriculture. A judge chooses a topic and the members prepare a 30-second opening ceremony. They then are given 15 minutes to discuss the topic with other competitors. Following the discussion each member prepares a minute closing statement.
Trinity Lutheran Hosts Kindergarten Round-up
Trinity Lutheran School is hosting a kindergarten round up for next year’s kindergarten students Tuesday, March 16, 8:30 to 11 a.m.
If parents have questions or would like to RSVP, they should call the school office, 952-873-6320.
B.P.’s Dr. Halloran Among Finalists for MAFP Award
Timothy Halloran, M.D., is one of four finalists for the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) Family Physician of the Year Award.
Halloran, a Belle Plaine resident, practices at Le Sueur Medical Clinic. The other finalists are from Aitkin, New London, and Vadnais Heights. The MAFP will review the finalists’ qualifications and read nomination letters before announcing the winner of the state award April 15.
The state award honors a family physician for compassionate, comprehensive and caring medical services, involvement in community affairs, serving as a community role model to community members, colleagues and medical students.
Halloran and the other finalists were nominated by patients and colleagues.
Tickets Available for Robert Creek Rendezvous Raffle
Tickets are now on sale for this spring’s Robert Creek Rendezvous raffle, which is sponsored by the Belle Plaine Historical Society.
The raffle will take place 5 p.m. May 2 at the conclusion the two-day Robert Creek Rendezvous at Court Square Park in Belle Plaine. The grand prize is a .50-caliber Poor Boy flintlock rifle and other hunting accessories. Numerous other early fur trade era style prizes will be awarded to drawing winners, including a tomahawk, tin lantern and beeswax candles, Indian blanket, Indian mandella and a mountain man flint and steel fire starting kit.
The cost of a ticket is $3 or two for $5. They can be purchased at the Belle Plaine Herald, where the grand prize rifle and some of the other prizes are on display. Tickets can also be purchased at Steffen’s Hardware. Limited edition commemorative Robert Creek Rendezvous buttons are also available.
For more information, call Mike Albrecht at 952-217-9062.
B.P.’s Chard Tiling Wins Contract for
Dakota Trail Project
bChard Tiling & Excavating of Belle Plaine won a $1.24 million contract to construct a 6.9 mile paved trail that will eventually run from Hennepin-Carver county line to the city of Mayer in western Carver County.
Carver County commissioners accepted Chard Tiling’s low bid. The company was one of nine seeking the job. Its bid was $723,225 below the engineer’s $1.9 million estimate. Chard Tiling’s low bid enticed the state to fund the entire project, saving Carver County from sharing in the cost.
The 6.9 mile span will link up with a 13.5 mile section of trail running from near St. Bonifacius to Wayzata.
Keep the Fire Hydrants Clear of Snow
The Belle Plaine Fire Department asks property owners to shovel snow from around the fire hydrants near their homes. This makes for easy access for firefighters should they need to come to your home during an emergency.
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