September 1, 2010 Edition
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Scott County Looking To Future Park on Blakeley Bluffs
by John Mueller
Scott County residents are seemingly more interested than ever before in passive outdoor activities conducted in regional parks. But they don’t want to pay a lot for them and they believe the county should stage its investment.
Those were a few of the findings from last Wednesday night’s regional parks workshop at Oak Crest Elementary School.
For nearly three hours, about three dozen residents, many but not all from Belle Plaine and Blakeley Township, discussed the county’s methodical 2030 regional parks plan to acquire land for parks and trails and eventually develop them for taxpayers to utilize.
Mark Themig, the county’s parks planning manager, said the scope of the job is so broad and available funding so limited that 2130 is a more likely target for completion for the system.
“There’s not a lot of funding available,” Themig said.
Scott County is looking to identify a boundary for a regional park on the Blakeley Bluffs. The preliminary boundary will include about 6,000 acres. A recommendation on the 6,000-acre park is expected later this fall.
Eventually, it will be narrowed down to 2,000 acres, the minimum size for a regional park reserve.
For the complete story, see this week's issue of the Belle Plaine Herald
Maynard Schmidt (upper left), Fred Keup and more than 30 other area residents participated in last week’s Scott County regional park workshop at Oak Crest Elementary School.
City Proposing 9.4% Levy Increase for 2011
But Impact on Most Homeowners Will be 6.4% or Less
The Belle Plaine City Council next Tuesday night is expected to approve a 2011 property tax levy of $4,186,926, an increase of $361,447 (9.4 percent) over this year’s levy of $3,825,479.
But due to an increase in the number of taxable properties in the city, Finance Director Dawn Meyer said 93 percent of local property owners will experience an “estimated” difference in the city portion of their property tax bill of between a 6.4 percent increase to a 0.6 percent reduction.
Most home valuations in the city have dropped the past year. The taxable market value has decreased about $20 million, from $470,296,400 to an estimated $449,893,500. The impact on residential taxes will depend on how much the valuation of a particular home has increased or decreased.
For the complete story, see this week's issue of the Belle Plaine Herald
Opening Day Could Bring More Students to B.P. Schools
by John Mueller
Custodians are wrapping up the final touches of a summer’s work this week. Unlike last summer, there’s no major construction project to clean up after.
“It’s been pretty quiet this summer,” said Superintendent Kelly Smith.
The biggest question the district faces is not whether work will be done on time, but how many students will show up Tuesday morning.
The district’s preliminary estimates from last spring say 1,534 students will be in Belle Plaine Public Schools Tuesday. More recent numbers push that number to 1,577 answering the 2010-11 school year’s opening bell.
But the district isn’t banking on that higher-than-expected number.
“We hear about the people who are showing up before we hear about the people who aren’t showing up,” Smith said. “I am cautious about reading too much into this until we see opening day enrollment and how our enrollment fluctuates throughout the school year.”
Welcome to B.P. Schools
Six new teachers and one new administrator reported for work last week at Belle Plaine Schools. Pictured are (front row, from left) Ann Studer, speech language pathologist; Cara Wiese, first-grade teacher; Mindy Sparby, activities director/junior high dean; John Garvey, junior high social studies; (back row, from left) Angie Ritter, literacy tutor; Brooke McGuire, response to intervention teacher; Chelsey Earney, physical education teacher
For the complete story, see this week's issue of the Belle Plaine Herald
DNR Hosting Open House on Blakeley Unit Tomorrow
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hosting an informational open house tomorrow (Sept. 2) at the Scott County Fairgrounds Conservation Building on the proposed transfer of a 280-acre wildlife unit in Blakeley Township into the Ney Center Wildlife Management Area.
The meeting will be held from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
The 280 acres is just outside of Henderson north of Highway 19. The land is currently managed by the DNR’s parks and trails division. Transfer of it to the DNR’s wildlife section, would allow more active use of the land for habitat and public hunting.
The conservation building on the county fairgrounds is at 7151 190th Street W. in St. Lawrence Township, west of Jordan.
Belle Plaine Man Charged With Criminal Sexual Conduct – Twice
A Belle Plaine man is charged with having sex with different girls both too young to consent to it in both Scott and Carver counties.
Miguel Xique Munoz was charged Aug. 5 with third- and fifth-degree criminal sexual conduct in Scott County. He is due for a first appearance Sept. 27. Munoz was also charged Aug. 27 with third-degree criminal sexual conduct in Carver County. He is scheduled for a court appearance Sept. 17.
According to the Scott County charges against Munoz, 19, he began having sex with a girl in Belle Plaine early this year before she turned 16, the legal age of consent in Minnesota. The girl is now pregnant and is due to deliver this month.
Munoz has admitted to having sex with the girl before she turned 16, according to the Scott County complaint.
For the complete story, see this week's issue of the Belle Plaine Herald
Ambulance, Police Fire Crews Planning Fund-raiser for Local Baby
Ridgeview Ambulance’s Belle Plaine ambulance crew is planning a benefit fund-raiser to help Joe Adelmann and Andrea Mueller deal with the expenses associated with their daughter’s ongoing medical bills.
The fund-raiser is being planned by the Belle Plaine Ambulance Association, Belle Plaine Fire and Police departments for Sunday, Oct. 3, 4:30 to 8 p.m., at Belle Plaine High School. A spaghetti dinner and silent auction are planned as well as bingo run by the Belle Plaine Lion’s Club. The dinner is a free-will donation.
If you would like to donate an item for the silent auction, please bring items to the Belle Plaine Police Department, 420 Main Street E., Belle Plaine, MN 56011 c/o Faith’s Fundraiser.
Thrivent will be matching funds for this fund-raiser as well.
Faith’s Story
Faith Ann Adelman, infant daughter of Andrea Mueller and Joe Adelmann was born Jan. 17 -- 13 weeks before Andrea’s due date. Faith has been in Children’s Hospital since the day she was born, having several complications due to her lungs being under developed. She currently is in Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, undergoing several tests to determine if she is a candidate for a lung transplant.
To check on how Faith is doing today, visit her caringbridge site at caringbridge.org/visit/Faithadelmann.
For the complete story, see this week's issue of the Belle Plaine Herald
Belle Plaine Historical Society to Hold ‘Knap In’ Sept. 11
The Belle Plaine Historical Society is sponsoring a free “Knap in” Sept. 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on The Lutheran Home Campus. It will take place off Prairie Street next to the Belle Plaine Clinic.
Society board member Norb Tieben has scheduled a number of “Flintknappers,” contemporary artists who fashion various rocks types into arrowheads and other stone-age tools using the same methods and techniques as was done thousands of years ago. The public is invited to bring any artifacts they may have for dating and authentication.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call Norb at 952-239-8998.
Farmers Market Corner
It was another great week at the Belle Plaine Farmers Market. The weather has tamed down a little and the vegetables are growing by leaps and bounds. Winter squash has made an appearance and melons should be coming in this week.
Terry Wyman had the longest zucchini last Wednesday, measuring at 24 1/2 inches. Thanks to everyone who participated.
The biggest pumpkin contest will be held in October. It has to be a true Jack-o’-lantern pumpkin, not just any random squash.
Today (Wednesday) is the monthly bake-off with tomatoes as the theme. Bring enough samples for three judges and curious bystanders, as well as the recipe to the table by 5 p.m. The winner will be announced by 5:30 p.m. Prizes include bragging rights, your name in the Herald, your recipe featured at Annie’s Cafe next week and a gift certificate.
Judy has been working overtime making jam. She has many varieties and isn’t easily stumped by requests. Don has many different puzzles that make great gifts for kids. Check out all the vendors because you never know what new and unique things they have.
The Belle Plaine Farmers Market is held Wednesdays at Court Square Park from 4-7 p.m. and Saturdays at Genesis Country Store from 9 a.m. to noon May through October. Vendors are always welcome!
For more information, contact Lisa Fahey at 952-873-5665 or Diane Skelley at 952-873-2467.
Connie and Leroy Chard donated a new parking lot, complete with curb and gutter, to Our Lady of the Prairie Catholic Church and School. The $82,000 donation involved all of the Chard companies. The work should be completed in time for the first day of the school year.
A Generous Donation
