The post Public Notices 05/23/2013 – South Crow River News appeared first on Press and News.

City of St. Michael
(Official Publication)
PUBLIC HEARING
CITY OF ST. MICHAEL
WRIGHT COUNTY MINNESOTA
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the St. Michael Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as time permits, at St. Michael City Hall, 11800 Town Center Drive NE, to consider a 1 in 40 subdivision, rezoning, and conditional use permit to allow a residential entitlement to be transferred to contiguous property under the same ownership as allowed in §155.118(B) of the City’s Ordinance at approximately 4900 Iffert Ave NE, also known as Wright County PID 11450009110. Applicant/Owner: Clay Montgomery, M & P MI LLC4295 Shorewood Trail, Medina, MN 55340. The property is part of the north ½ of the NE ¼ of Section 9, Township 120, Range 24, Wright County, Minnesota.
Information regarding this request can be reviewed at City Hall during regular working hours. Anyone so desiring to be heard regarding this matter will be heard at this meeting. Written comments should be received no later than 4:30 p.m., June 5, 2013 at St. Michael City Hall, 11800 Town Center Drive NE, St. Michael, MN 55376. Please contact Marc Weigle, Community Development Director, with any questions at 763-416-7932.
Published in North Crow River News May 23, 2013.
(May 23, 2013)
NC-4900IffertAveNE
City of St. Michael
(Official Publication)
PUBLIC HEARING
CITY OF ST. MICHAEL
WRIGHT COUNTY MINNESOTA
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the St. Michael Planning and Zoning Commission will meet on Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at 7:00 p.m., or as soon thereafter as time permits, at St. Michael City Hall, 11800 Town Center Drive NE, to consider a variance request to allow holding tanks for a septic system for the northern building at 5475 Quam Ave NE, also known as Wright County PID 114126001010 and 114129002110. Applicant/ Owner: Bill Smith, North Country Recycling, 21257 Jarvis St NW, Elk River, MN 55330. The legal description of the property is Lot 1, Block 1, Crow River Industrial Park and Lot 11, Block 2, Crow River Industrial Park 2nd Addition, Wright County, Minnesota.
Information regarding the variance can be reviewed at City Hall during regular working hours. Anyone so desiring to be heard regarding this matter will be heard at this meeting. Written comments should be received no later than 4:30 p.m., June 5, 2013 at St Michael City Hall, 11800 Town Center Drive NE, St. Michael, MN 55376. Please contact Marc Weigle, Community Development Director, with any questions at 763-416-7932.
Published in North Crow River News May 23, 2013.
(May 23, 2013)
NC-5475QuamAveNE
Foreclosure Notice
(Official Publication)
NOTICE OF ASSESSMENT LIEN FORECLOSURE SALE
THIS COMMUNICATION IS FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THIS IS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has been made in the terms and conditions of the Declaration of Riverplace Lodges Association, Inc., (hereinafter the Declaration) recorded in the office of the County Recorder of Wright County, Minnesota as Document No. 1028031, which covers the following property:
Legal Description: Lot 5, Block 3, Riverplace 2nd Addition, CIC No. 120
Property Address: 17473 54th Street NE, Otsego, Minnesota 55374
PID: R118-235-003050
THAT pursuant to said Declaration, there is claimed to be due and owing during the period March 2012 through April 8, 2013, from Daniel F. Malat, title holder, to Riverplace Lodges Association, Inc., a Minnesota non-profit corporation, the amount of $5,075.25, for assessments, late fees and collection costs, plus additional assessments and other amounts that may have accrued since the date of this notice, including the costs of collection and foreclosure;
THAT prior to the commencement of this foreclosure proceeding, Lienor complied with all notice requirements as required by status; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said lien, or any part thereof;
THAT the owner has not been released from his financial obligation to pay said amount;
THAT pursuant to the Declaration, said debt creates a lien upon said premises in favor of Riverplace Lodges Association, Inc., as evidenced by a lien statement recorded on March 7, 2013, in the office of the Wright County Recorder as Document No. A 1230266;
THAT pursuant to the power of sale granted by the owners in taking title to the premises subject to said Declaration, said lien will be foreclosed by the sale of said property by the sheriff of said County at the Main Office of the Wright County Sheriff, Civil Division, 3800 Braddock Avenue, NE, City of Buffalo, Wright County, Minnesota, on June 27, 2013, at 10 a.m., at public auction to the highest bidder, for cash, to pay the amount then due for said assessments, together with the costs of foreclosure, including attorney’s fees as allowed by law. The time allowed by law for redemption by the unit owners, their personal representatives or assigns is six (6) months from the date of said sale.
DATE TO VACATE PROPERTY: The date on or before which the owner must vacate the property if the account is not brought current or the property redeemed under Minn. Stat. ‘ 580.23 is December 27, 2013. If the foregoing date is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, then the date to vacate is the next business day at 11:59 p.m.
REDEMPTION NOTICE
THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE OWNER, THE OWNER’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED.
RIVERPLACE LODGES ASSOCIATION, INC., Lienor
Dated: April 8, 2013
By /s/ Thomas P. Carlson
Thomas P. Carlson (024871X)
Carlson & Associates, Ltd.
1052 Centerville Circle
Vadnais Heights, MN 55127
(651) 287-8640
ATTORNEY FOR RIVERPLACE LODGES ASSOCIATION, INC.
(May 9,16,23,30, Jun. 6,13, 2013) NC-MalatForeclosure
Public Notice of Auction
(Official Publication)
NOTICE OF SALE
The personal property described as follows, to-wit:
1) 1994 EZ Load Trailer, VIN # 1ZE1SJY11RE016139; Registration # ABKE868
2) 1994 21’ Lund Barron Boat, Hull # LUNN0704C494
will be sold at public auction by the Hennepin County Sheriff on the 14th day of June, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. at 22400 Industrial Blvd in the City of Rogers, County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, to pay and satisfy a lien which is claimed to be due thereon from Canvas Craft, Inc., a storage facility located at 22400 Industrial Blvd, Rogers, Minnesota, 55374, and owned by Matt Franta. The lien is in the sum of Sixteen Thousand, Nine Hundred and Fifty Three Dollars and 22/100 ($16,953.22) computed to the last day of said sale, exclusive of the expenses of said sale and of the advertising thereof, together with the necessary expenses of advertising and making said sale; and that the grounds of said lien are as follows, to- wit:
Both the boat and trailer have been in Canvas Craft’s storage facility since October 2006. Mr. Locker has failed to pay the agreed upon storage fees of said boat and trailer and has failed to make any storage payments since making a down payment in October 2006. The storage fees of both the boat and trailer continue to accrue at a rate of $100 per month, and 1.5% interest per month.
Dated: May 14, 2013
(May 23,30, Jun. 6, 2013)
NC-LockerSale
Certificate of Assumed Name
(Official Publication)
Office of the Minnesota
Secretary of State
Certificate of Assumed Name
Minnesota Statutes, 333
The filing of an assumed name does not provide a user with exclusive rights to that name. The filing is required for consumer protection in order to enable consumers to be able to identify the true owner of a business.
ASSUMED NAME:
Carlson Building Services, Inc.
PRINCIPAL PLACE
OF BUSINESS:
4111 Mackenzie Court NE, Suite 100 St. Michael MN 55376 USA
NAMEHOLDER(S):
Name: Tegrete Corporation Address: 4111 Mackenzie Court NE, Suite 100 St. Michael MN 55376
If you submit an attachment, it will be incorporated into this document. If the attachment conflicts with the information specifically set forth in this document, this document supersedes the data referenced in the attachment.
By typing my name, I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath.
FILED: 05/13/2013
SIGNED BY: Teresa M Carlson
(May 23 & 30, 2013)
NC-CarlsonBuildingServices,Inc.
School District 885
(Official Publication)
St. Michael – Albertville Independent School
District 885
School Board Minutes
St. Michael-Albertville Middle School West Board Room – Door A
Dr. Jim Behle, Superintendent of Schools
Douglas Birk, Chair; Gayle Weber, Vice-Chair; Carol Steffens, Clerk; Drew Scherber, Treasurer; Jeanne Holland, Director; Jeffery Lindquist, Director
Monday, April 15, 2013
Regular Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
The St. Michael-Albertville School Board held a regular meeting in the Middle School West board room. Original minutes and documents referred to below are retained in the district policy book.
Board Members
Present:
Doug Birk
Jeanne Holland
Jeff Lindquist
Drew Scherber
Carol Steffens
Absent:
Gayle Weber
Staff
James Behle
Jeanette Aanerud
Brian Benson
Sheila Bichler
Lee Brown
Jennifer Claseman
Bob Driver
Ann-Marie Foucault
Jolene Herfel
Jennie Kelly
Recording Secretary:
Suzanne Gallagher
1. Approval of Agenda Items
Lindquist/Steffens. Motion to approve Agenda Items as presented. Motion carried.
2. Correction and Approval of Previous Minutes
a. Regular Meeting on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Lindquist/Holland. Motion to approve Regular Meeting Minutes of Tuesday, April 2, 2013. Aye: Birk, Lindquist, Steffens, Abstain – Holland / Scherber
3. STMA Knights Class AAA High School State Wrestling Champions
a. Action on Resolution of Congratulations for St. Michael-Albertville High School 2012-2013 State Champion Wrestlers
Motion to approve the Resolution of Congratulations for St. Michael-Albertville High School 2012-2013 State Championship Wrestlers. On a roll-call vote, the board voted as follows:
Aye: Birk, Holland, Lindquist, Scherber, Steffens. Nay: None. Absent: Weber
3. Visitors
a. Action on Request for Eagle Scout Project – James Libbey
Middle School East Student and Boy Scout, James Libbey, gave a power point presentation to the board requesting permission to do an Eagle Scout Project at Middle School East. He requested to raise funds and to build five wooden picnic tables to be placed on the patio outside of the Middle School East cafeteria.
Steffens/Holland. Motion to approve the Request for Eagle Scout Project by James Libbey, Middle School East student. Motion carried.
b. Persons not on the agenda wishing to address the school board, 5 minutes per individual
Parent Jill Schweisthal spoke to the board on behalf of her son regarding student safety concerns due to the late notice of school closing on April 11, 2013. Schweisthal requested that the minutes of the board meeting reflect her son was locked outside her house after the school closing and that the health and welfare of her son was endangered. Schweisthal told the board she had reviewed the current transportation policy and requested the board establish a student transportation safety committee and establish a formal policy regarding weather related closings. Dr. Behle told the board that he and Schweisthal had spoken regarding her concerns and requests. He suggested a revision to the current policy to include information regarding weather related closings. Additionally, Behle told the board information is being revised for bus drivers and will be included in bus driver training. Behle told the board he would update the policy for review at the June 3, 2013 meeting. Member Lindquist thanked Schweisthal for bringing her concerns to the board in a respectful manner. Member Birk assured her that the board takes student safety concerns very seriously, felt that this would lead to valuable and productive results, and invited Schweisthal and any other concerned citizens to the June 3 board meeting.
4. Reports
a. Principal Report: Fieldstone Elementary – Jeanette Aanerud
Principal Aanerud updated the board on the school year for Fieldstone Elementary. She highlighted the increases in reading and math scores at Fieldstone and the resources utilized to achieve the gains, including pre-testing students for skills and word masters. Aanerud told the board that she and her staff continue to work to improve communications through a parent engagement committee, community partnerships through fundraisers, Empty Bowls, and the acceptance walk. Aanerud also told the board she is very impressed by the great energetic PTO group, involved parents, and dedicated staff at Fieldstone. Aanerud closed by saying that she and her staff strive to reach “Every child, every day, every opportunity.”
b. Wright Technical Center (WTC) Update – Jeanne Holland
Board Member Holland told the board that the Wright Technical Center has a new director, Robert Przekurat, Jr., who will start on June 30, 2013. Holland said Przekurat will bring a technical education background to WTC. Holland also said that WTC will contract with current director, Julie Warner, for up to 30 days in the next year because of the complex funding and budgeting at WTC. Holland said registration numbers for the 2013-14 school year look good, with the number of STMA students attending WTC about the same as the 2012-13 school year.
5. Old Business
a. Q Comp Plan Update
Dr. Behle updated the board though a power point presentation on the Q Comp plan and told the board that a full presentation and specific district recommendations would be given at the May 6, 2013 meeting. Behle told the board that a Q Comp committee has been working on the district plan and that there are very specific benchmarks. He reminded the board that Q Comp was enacted through a bipartisan agreement in the Minnesota Legislature in 2005. Q Comp is a voluntary program that allows local districts and exclusive representatives of the teachers to design and collectively bargain a plan that meets five components of the law. The five components under Q Comp include career ladder/advancement options, job-embedded professional development, teacher evaluation, performance pay, and an alternative salary schedule. Approve school districts receive $169 per student in state aid. An additional $91 per student can be funded through a board-approved levy. Dr. Behle told the board the application for Q Comp is due by May 15, 2013.
b. Superintendent Evaluation Update
Dr. Behle told the board that a 360 degree superintendent feedback survey had been sent electronically to all staff members. He also told the board the feedback would be compiled and distributed the week of April 22. Behle said a superintendent evaluation had been sent to each board member, as well as Behle’s self-evaluation. Board Chair Birk asked board members to return their evaluations to him by Monday, May 6. A closed session is schedule after the June 3, 2013 board meeting to discuss the superintendent performance review.
c. Legislative Update
Dr. Behle told the board that the Senate and House and completed their omnibus bills, with several differences.
6. New Business
a. Action on Capital Project Plan
Dr. Behle reviewed the 2013-2014 Capital Budget with the board. He told the board that he’d met with principals and directors to prioritize budget expenditures for the budget. Of the total budget, 80% is for curriculum materials and annual licensing and technology maintenance expenditures. He further told the board that the balance is for safety equipment, equipment for new classrooms, additional materials for increases in enrollment, and replacement of furniture that cannot be repaired. Behle further told the board that $720,000 was eliminated from Capital budget requests. Additionally, some of the computer replacement items are budgeted from the $300,000 that was set aside from the referendum and some of the building and grounds items from the Deferred Maintenance Budget and the $150,000 that was set aside from the referendum for this need. Behle requested that the negative balance of $40,000 be paid for from the remaining bond dollars and recommended board approval of the 2013-2014 Capital Budget.
Holland/Lindquist. Motion to approve the 2013-2014 Capital Budget as presented and approval of expending the remaining $20,000 bond budget dollars per Superindent Behle’s discretion. Motion carried.
b. Action on Approval of Depository – Ehlers Investment Partners
Dr. Behle told the board that each year during the re-organizational meeting Finance Director, Ginny Verbrugge investigates additional investment opportunities within the law and parameters. Verbrugge and Behle recommended the board approve Ehlers Investment Partners as an additional option for investments.
Holland/Lindquist. Motion to approve Ehlers Investment Partners as an Official Depository for ISD 885. Motion carried.
c. Action on Elementary School Student Handbooks – Lee Brown
Big Woods Principal, Lee Brown, presented edits to the elementary school handbooks. The changes are minor and include the addition of the strategic plan poster, e-readers, teasing, bullying and harassment, threats and cheating/academic dishonesty and bus exceptions.
Scherber/Holland. Motion to approve Elementary School Handbooks as presented. Motion carried.
d. Joint Government Meeting Topics
Board Chair Birk asked the board to email Dr. Behle with topics for discussion at the April 29, 2013 Joint Governance Meeting with the cities of Albertville and St. Michael. The Board added an update on legislative action for school funding.
7. Resolution for Non-Renewal of Contract for Probationary Teacher
a. Resolution for Non-Renewal of Contract for Probationary Teacher Lynn Jerman
b. Resolution for Non-Renewal of Contract for Probationary Teacher Ann Landwehr
c. Resolution for Non-Renewal of Contract for Probationary Teacher Linda Tangren
d. Resolution for Non-Renewal of Contract for Probationary Teacher Jennifer Thompson
Holland/Steffens. Motion to approve the Resolution for Non-Renewal of Contract for Probationary Teacher Lynn Jerman, Ann Landwehr, Linda Tangren and Jennifer Thompson.
On a roll-call vote for items 7a., 7b., 7c. and 7d., presented in the Resolution for Non-Renewal of Contract for Probationary Teachers, the board voted as follows:
Aye: Birk, Holland, Lindquist, Scherber, Steffens. Nay: None. Absent: Weber
8. Consent Agenda
Principal Driver noted that the employee name in Item 8.f.3. was incorrect.
Lindquist/Holland. Motion to approve Consent Agenda as amended for Item 8.f.3. Motion carried.
a. Claims and Accounts
Payroll $1,258,597.71
General Fund (01) $861,730.69
Food Service (02) $65,934.26
Community
Service (04) $29,018.09
Agency Fund (09) $3,820.43
Total $2,219,101.18
b. Treasurer’s Report
c. Trip Requests
d. Resignations, Retirements, Terminations, Layoffs
1) Adolphson, Carl (MW) – 7th Grade Science Teacher (MW), 10th Grade Football Coach (HS), Drivers Education Instructor—Behind the Wheel (CE), resignation, effective 6-7-2013
2) Churchill, Teresa (SE) – 3rd Grade Teacher Long Term Substitute, position concluded, effective 4-12-2013
3) Shaw, Sara (HS) – ESL Teacher, resignation, effective 6-7-2013
4) Simpson, Jared (ME) – 8th Grade Girls Basketball Coach, resignation, effective 4-9-2013
5) Welch, Leeann (HS) – 9th Grade Volleyball Coach, resignation, effective 4-10-2013
6) Zachman, Shawna (HS) – Assistant Varsity Volleyball Coach, resignation, effective 4-10-2013
e. Employment 2012-2013
1) Cook, Aaron (HS) – 9th Grade Baseball Coach, booster club paid, replacing Joshua Fischer, effective
4-2-2013
2) Parson, Mara (AP) – Kindergarten Long Term Substitute Teacher replacing Mindy Swanson, effective 4-8-2013 to 6-7-2013
3) Payne, Ryan (ME) – Assistant Middle School Baseball Coach, effective 4-12-2013
4) Pratt, Haley (HS) – JV Girls Lacrosse Coach, new position, effective 4-1-2013
f. Employment 2013-2014
1) Dahl, Kelly (BW/SE) – Art Teacher, decrease in hours at BW only from .9 FTE to .66 FTE
2) Fischer, Joshua (MW) – 7th Grade Football Coach, replacing Jon Steinke, effective 8-12-2013
3) Nick, Steve Steve, Nicholas (ME) – 7th Grade Football Coach, replacing Steve Rothweiler, effective 8-12-2013
g. Leave of Absence
1) Chapman, Melanie (MW) – School Counselor, Medical–Employee Medical Leave FMLA 5-20-2013 to
6-7-2013
2) LaPointe, Cristina (MW) – Health/Physical Education Teacher, Maternity-Family Medical Leave Act on or about 6-6-2013 to 10-28-2013
h. Recommendations – Grant Tenure to Eligible Teachers for 2013-2014
1) Bottko, Emily (AP)
2) Dehnel, Ryan (HS)
3) Evans, Katherine (FE)
4) Handley, Amy (FE)
5) Haugen, Alyssa (MW)
6) Hinzmann, Karen (FE)
7) Huggins, Blair (ME)
8) Johnson, Kaye (AP)
9) Mann, Joshua (HS)
10) Meyer, Laurie (FE)
11) Miller, Jessica (HS)
12) Miller, Sarah (BW)
13) Osowski, Joseph (HS)
14) Paasch, Jenna (MW)
15) Peatrowsky, Joseph (HS)
16) Reidel, Michelle (FE)
17) Settergren, Erin (HS)
18) Young, Deb (FE)
i. Recommendations – Continued Employment of Probationary Teachers for 2013-2014
1) Basten, Kristen (AP)
2) Dewitt, William (BW)
3) Emerson, Amy (HS)
4) Hamann, Molly (ME)
5) Hannon, Lindsey (MW)
6) Horan, Tim (MW)
7) Jerpseth, Molly (BW)
8) LaVallee, Brendan (ME)
9) Pearson, Elizabeth (AP)
10) Phipps, Nickole (MW)
11) Powell, Kelly (AP)
12) Randall, Eris (SE/MW)
13) Schoen, Kris (BW)
14) Sechser, Mindi (HS)
15) Siebenaler, Leanna (AP)
16) Steve, Nicholas (HS)
17) Thorson, Jana (Knights Academy)
18) Totz, Jenna (ME)
19) Wang, Haixia (HS)
9. Donations
Donations recently made to the schools in the district were recognized by the board. A list of donations is available in the district office.
10. Information Items
11. Correspondence
12. Future Meeting Dates
Monday, April 29, 2013 – Joint Governance Meeting at 6:00 p.m., St. Michael City Hall
Monday, May 6, 2013 – Regular Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, May 20, 2013—Retiree Recognition 5:30 p.m.
Monday, May 20, 2013 – Regular Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, June 3, 2013 – Regular Meeting at 7:00 p.m.
Monday, June 3, 2013 – Special (Closed) Meeting following Regular Meeting to Discuss Superintendent Evaluation
Friday, June 7, 2013 – High School Graduation at 7:30 p.m., HS Gym
13. Adjournment
Steffens/Scherber. Motion to adjourn at 9:20 p.m. Motion carried.
Carol Steffens, Clerk
(May 23, 2013) NC-Apr15RegMin

School District 885
(Official Publication)
ST. MICHAEL-ALBERTVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT #885
11343 50TH STREET NORTHEAST
ALBERTVILLE, MINNESOTA 55301
Food Service Director, Dolores Helgeson – 763-497-6537
BEVERAGES BID – 2013-2014 School Year
Quote lowest possible prices which must include delivery charges unless otherwise specified in specifications below.
SPECIFICATIONS
FIRM BID ESCALATING BID
1/2 Pint 1% Milk – Carton Per 1/2 Pint Carton $ $
1/2 Pint Skim Milk – Carton Per 1/2 Pint Carton $ $
1/2 Pint Lactose-Free Milk – Carton Per 1/2 Pint Carton $ $
1/2 Pint Skim Chocolate Milk – Carton Per 1/2 Pint Carton $ $
1/2 Pint 100% Juice – Fruit Juice(S) Per 1/2 Pint Carton $ $
1 Pint 1% Milk Per Pint Plastic Container $ $
1 Pint Skim Milk Per Pint Plastic Container $ $
1 Pint Skim Chocolate Milk Per Pint Plastic Container $ $
1 Pint 100% Juice – Orange Juice Per Pint Plastic Container $ $
1 Pint 100% Juice – Apple Juice Per Pint Plastic Container $ $
1 Quart Lactose-Free Milk Per Quart Carton
1/2 Gallon Lactose-Free Milk Per 1/2 Gallon Carton $ $
1/2 Gallon Skim Milk Per 1/2 Gallon Carton $ $
1 Gallon Skim Milk Per Gallon Carton $ $
2 deliveries per week pending approval of arrangements with Food Service Director
Delivery time – when building is open for the day
SIGNATURE OF INDIVIDUAL SUBMITTING QUOTATION:
DATE:
QUOTATION WILL BE RECEIVED UP UNTIL: Wednesday May 29, 2013, 2:00 PM
QUOTATION WILL BE OPENED: Wednesday May 29, 2013, 2:00 PM
Independent School District #885
Board Mtg Room
11343 50th Street NE / Albertville, MN 55301
MAIL OR DELIVER YOUR QUOTAION TO: ATTN: SEALED QUOTAION / MILK
Independent School District #885
11343 50th Street NE / Albertville, MN 55301
(May 23, 2013) NC-BeveragesBids

The post Public Notices 05/23/2013 – North Crow River News appeared first on Press and News.

School District 11
(Official Publication)
MINUTES OF MEETING
SCHOOL BOARD OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 11
(Anoka-Hennepin School District)
STATE OF MINNESOTA
The School Board of Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11 held a regular meeting on Monday, April 22, 2013, at the Sandburg Education Center, Anoka, Minnesota.
Chair Heidemann called the meeting to order at 6:29 p.m.
The following members were present: Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Tom Heidemann, Jeff Simon, Mike Sullivan and Dr. Scott Wenzel.
Chair Heidemann led the pledge of allegiance.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mike Sullivan moved and Jeff Simon seconded the motion to approve the following consent agenda items:
1. Minutes from the April 8, 2013, Board Work Session.
2. Personnel items as follows:
RETIREMENTS
Current or Most Last Day
Name Recent Position Employed
Maryjane Buzay Wilson- Secretary 6/14/2013
Susan Donovan Lincoln-Principal Elementary School 6/28/2013
James Gerhardt Johnsville-Building Supervisor 8/6/2013
Jeanne Gluesing Anthony Louis House- Teacher 4/4/2013
Barbara Gwynn Eisenhower-Secretary Principals 6/14/2013
Dean Knutson Adams-Custodian 6/7/2013
Gwendolyn Law AHS-Secretary 8/30/2013
Joseph Pogones CBPA-Building Supervisor 8/30/2013
RESIGNATIONS, TERMINATIONS
Current or Most Last Day
Name Recent Position Employed
Julie Martin Wilson- Teacher 4/12/2013
Matthew Menier AHS-Assistant Principal 6/28/2013
Heidi Monroe Oxbow Creek- Teacher 4/5/2013 Per Resignation Agreement
LEAVES OF ABSENCE
Current or Most Leave Leave
Name Recent Position Begins Ends
John Bayer BHS-Science 4/9/2013 4/11/2013
Laura Boche Bridges-Teacher 4/16/2013 5/28/2013
Matthew Boche Bridges-Paraeducator 4/16/2013 4/22/2013
Mark Bormes Compass-Custodian 4/2/2013 10/2/2013
Theresa Bushinger Evergreen Park- Paraeducator 4/1/2013 4/19/2013
Debra Duffy Andover-Child Nutrition 4/3/2013 6/6/2013
Vionne Ellingson University Avenue- Paraeducator 4/2/2013 4/26/2013
Jenna Emerson CED-Adv Plus-A+ 4/3/2013 5/14/2013
Ann Ertl ESC-Teacher 4/3/2013 6/7/2013
Catherine Eschenbauch ESC-Parent Involvement 3/19/2013 4/29/2013
Amanda Eskelson Hoover-Custodian 3/26/2013 4/26/2013
Kelly Foltmer ESC-ABE Teacher 4/22/2013 5/10/2013
Jennifer Grant Ramsey-Child Nutrition 4/8/2013 5/3/2013
Heather Haney CRHS-Teacher 3/27/2013 4/19/2013
Rebecca Haubrich Paraeducator 4/3/2013 5/8/2013
Ann Herlofsky Rum River-Assistant Principal 4/15/2013 4/22/2013
Brenda Hernandez Riverview ECC-Secretary 4/15/2013 5/24/2013
Jacqulyn Jeffrey Ramsey- Paraeducator 3/6/2013 4/12/2013
Kim Jones S.T.E.P.- Paraeducator 4/22/2013 6/6/2013
Alison Konkol Crossroads- Teacher 4/1/2013 4/17/2013
Jennifer Krebsbach Madison- Teacher 4/11/2013 6/7/2013
Daniel Kukielka University Avenue- Teacher 4/8/2013 4/15/2013
Sarah Lindbo Evergreen Park-Inquiry Specialist 4/8/2013 6/7/2013
Vikki Linder CPHS- Teacher 3/4/2013 5/8/2013
Jennifer Podany Johnsville- Teacher 4/10/2013 5/3/2013
Georgine Pogones Morris Bye- Paraeducator 3/18/2013 4/5/2013
Janmarie Shockency S.T.E.P.-Job Coach 4/1/2013 5/16/2013
Melissa Strommen University Avenue- Teacher 4/15/2013 5/24/2013
Melissa Sturdevant Riverview ECC- Teacher 4/1/2013 6/7/2013
Heidi Tolman Transition Plus- Paraeducator 4/3/2013 6/6/2013
MODIFIED LEAVES OF ABSENCE
Current or Most Leave Leave
Name Recent Position Begins Ends
JoEllen Ambrose CPHS- Teacher 10/15/2012 8/23/2013
Carol Beckerleg OVMS- Teacher 3/18/2013 4/21/2013
Judy Blomgren CPHS- Teacher 2/27/2013 4/19/2013
Cindy Dieltz Ramsey- Paraeducator 10/29/2012 4/9/2013
Susan Donovan Lincoln-Principal Elem. Sch 1/2/2013 6/28/2013
Tonisa Hanzal CED-Adv Plus 3/28/2013 4/5/2013
Yesica Mancio Paraeducator 1/18/2013 4/30/2013
Kari Meyer Monroe- Teacher 9/24/2012 4/5/2013
Anitrina Smith Evergreen Park-Teacher 3/18/2013 4/30/2013
Kathleen Wallace CPHS-Child Nutrition 11/26/2012 8/1/2013
APPOINTMENTS
Current or Most Effective
Name Recent Position Date Lane/Step FTE Salary
Elementary
Michelle Davis Univ Ave.-Teacher-Gr 4 (LTS) 3/7/2013 Bachelors+45/1 0.3262 $12,951
Lisa Hanson Oxbow Crk-Teacher-Gr K (LTS) 2/25/2013 Bachelors+45/3 0.1337 $5,799
Secondary
Mary Adams JMS-Tcher-Counselor (LTS) 3/4/2013 Masters+60/23 0.1818 $14,537
Nathan Hoekstra CRHS-Teacher-Science (LTS) 3/18/2013 Bachelors+45/1 0.2366 $9,395
Daniel Morrison AndHS-Teacher-Health Careers 8/27/2012 Masters+60/1 0.3369 $15,506
Special Education
Kelly Crouse AMS-Teacher-EBD (LTS) 3/25/2013 Bachelors/1 0.2888 $10,751
Amanda Salber ESC-Teacher-SLD (LTS) 3/18/2013 Bachelors/4 0.1150 $4,781
Stephanie Stephen Rum River-Teacher-MSH
(TMH) (LTS) 3/18/2013 Bachelors+30/4 0.3155 $13,121
Administrative
Current or Most Effective
Name Recent Position Date Days Salary
Deborah McLagan ESC-Elem Tech Data Coord 4/1/2013 65 $1,769 Bi Weekly
Based on an annual salary of $46,000 for 260 days
A detailed list of the Extra Service Agreements, Curriculum Writing and Behind the Wheel is posted and available through the Anoka-Hennepin ISD 11 District website, www.anoka.k12.mn.us, and at the district office located at 2727 N Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303. If you would like a printed copy of this portion of the minutes, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the attention of Sue Seul at the above address.
3. The cash disbursements report:
Fund No. Description Amount
01 General $15,574,747.93
02 Food Service $812,288.09
04 Community Service $677,916.02
06 Building Construction $41,214.15
07 Bond & Interest K-12 $1,600.00
08 Trust and Agency $0.00
20 Health-Self Insurance $4,315,910.39
21 Dental-Self Insurance $332,792.34
22 Work. Comp.-Self Insurance $118,130.59
47 OPEB Debt Service $200.00
TOTAL DISTRICT $21,874,799.51
4. The cash balance report:
FOOD COM BUILDING DEBT EMP BENE
GENERAL SERVICE SERVICE CONSTR SERVICE TRUST HEALTH
01-101 02-101 04-101 06-101 07-101 08-101 20-101
07/01/12 20,167,130 8,191,566 3,911,561 677,759 13,190,123 89,502 20,842,762
07/31/12 20,657,842 8,016,066 3,471,617 411,501 12,781,265 89,502 16,652,511
08/31/12 65,262,227 7,333,347 4,653,820 (88,782) 13,201,361 89,502 11,017,010
09/30/12 96,286,704 7,519,741 4,581,548 (361,573) 13,200,720 89,502 13,413,128
10/31/12 116,317,419 7,758,845 5,222,090 (511,084) 17,504,521 89,502 11,849,745
11/30/12 88,024,552 6,565,590 4,784,555 3,106,499 21,873,878 89,502 13,693,180
12/31/12 88,206,602 6,756,264 4,490,043 3,004,897 23,023,797 89,502 13,642,165
01/31/13 87,094,907 7,168,516 5,483,007 2,308,215 4,297,870 89,502 14,976,496
02/28/13 86,255,252 6,305,916 5,004,972 2,261,126 4,297,870 89,502 15,603,626
03/31/13 100,607,787 6,452,481 5,609,570 2,235,121 4,297,223 89,502 16,019,088
OPEB FY12 Total
EMP BENE EMP BENE DEBT All Balances
DENTAL WK COMP SERV. TOTAL TOTAL TOTAL ALL (1 yr ago
21-101 22-101 47-101 CASH INVEST BALANCES comp)
07/01/12 1,218,886 3,417,897 1,228,008 72,935,192 42,759,027 115,694,219 124,543,754
07/31/12 771,777 3,330,686 836,711 67,019,479 42,759,027 109,778,506 142,792,475
08/31/12 423,067 4,391,082 879,839 107,162,473 77,680,478 184,842,951 135,348,338
09/30/12 538,168 2,386,214 879,839 138,533,991 34,921,450 173,455,442 157,691,882
10/31/12 557,046 3,324,870 1,318,043 163,430,999 34,921,450 198,352,450 185,234,713
11/30/12 880,781 3,358,539 1,753,125 144,130,201 34,921,450 179,051,651 203,175,648
12/31/12 1,009,578 3,396,310 1,867,990 145,487,148 46,081,450 191,568,598 175,287,232
01/31/13 975,060 3,363,196 374,446 126,131,214 46,081,450 172,212,665 123,709,628
02/28/13 1,016,265 3,371,099 374,446 124,580,076 46,081,450 170,661,526 124,884,740
03/31/13 1,123,543 3,312,827 374,445 140,121,590 46,081,450 186,203,040 138,963,354
The donations received for the month of April are $67,755.25 and the scholarship funds received totaled $45,094.00. A detailed list of the donations and scholarship funds received is posted and available through the Anoka-Hennepin ISD 11 District website, www.anoka.k12.mn.us, and at the district office located at 2727 N Ferry Street, Anoka, MN 55303. If you would like a printed copy of this portion of the minutes, please send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the attention of Sue Seul at the above address.
5. Awarded the contract for the Bridges kitchen reconstruction to Rak Construction, Inc.
6. Awarded the contract for the Coon Rapids High School biomedical laboratory to Boland Construction, LLC.
7. Approved the School Bus Contract Extension for 2013-2014.
8. The immunization exclusions–names and specifics are not included because of data privacy.
Motion passed.
No one came to the Board to present for Communications, Delegations & Petitions.
Superintendent Carlson gave a report to the board and reviewed the board calendar. The Superintendents Report is very extensive. Dates to Remember are: Above and Beyond Awards 4-24-13, CIAC 5-1-13, Meet and Confer 5-5-13. There is a number of responses to open forum testimony, a summary with attachments on the parents meeting on threats and rumors of threats, a draft proposal to extend the Assistant Principals Athletic Directors to 12 months, the Game Plan Booster for Clubs, a follow up of an email Board members had received, an employee training proposal for anti-bullying and anti-harassment and a number of community and school events. Chair Heidemann stated with his years of experience on 501C3 he would meet with Linda Rodgers with additional information for the Game Plan for Booster Clubs.
Kim Pavlovich, Q Comp administrator, and Todd Mensink, Q Comp teacher coordinator, presented a status update on the Quality Compensation Program, better known as Q Comp, which is a collaborative effort of the district and its teachers that provides for teacher evaluation and staff development with the goal of improving teacher skills and student achievement. The program provides incentives for teachers to improve their skills, a structure for professional development that is embedded into their daily work, and more opportunities for teacher leadership. Pavlovich said they have made great progress in preparing to implement the program since last October when the last update to board was presented. Once Mensink began his position in December, he and Pavlovich selected 30 teachers to serve as peer evaluators for the next three years through a rigorous selection process. Eight interview teams, each with five teachers and five administrators, interviewed 85 applicants. They used uniform sets of interview questions that had been developed by the 10-member Q Comp Steering Committee, which consists of five teachers, including AHEM President Julie Blaha, and five administrators. Pavlovich said the peer evaluators are the greatest asset of the program. They were chosen because they are well-respected teachers, good listeners and have the ability to generate reflective thinking. They represent a wide range of teaching areas, many have multiple licensures and they have talent, commitment and passion. The peer evaluators attended an orientation session February 19 but most of their training will occur in August when they will learn how to conduct observations and conference with their peers, how to engage teachers in reflective thinking, and how to officially introduce Q Comp to all district teachers. Pavlovich and Mensink are now working on infrastructure for implementing the program, which includes developing detailed procedures and forms and developing a data management system. Mensink said the goal is to develop a totally paperless, web-based process. They are now involving teachers in writing “look fors,” which is observable evidence of best instructional practices for each instructional area. These will help guide peer evaluators as they observe teachers. They also aligning Q Comp Site with the district’s SMART goal progress and integrating requirements of the new state teacher evaluation process into Q Comp. Pavlovich emphasized that communication with teachers and administrators is critical to positive implementation of the process. She and Mensink are visiting schools and program sites to share information about the program and answer questions. Mensink developed a Q Comp information website that has already received nearly 9,500 visits. Mensink ended the presentation by emphasizing that Q Comp is designed to ensure students get the best possible education, embraces collaboration between teachers and the district, establishes greater accountability through consistent teacher evaluations and fosters teachers’ use of research-based best practices through on-the-job professional development. Board Chair Tom Heidemann thanked them for the hard work of all and said it was a good example of how teachers, administrators and board can come together with the vision of providing the best instruction in the classroom and supporting it with a pay-for-performance program.
Dr. Jinger Gustafson, associate superintendent for middle schools, and Dr. Nita Kumar, mental health consultant, gave an update on the district’s student and family mental health support. Dr. Gustafson shared that such support centers around two Student Services’ department goals: first, to ensure safe schools and positive school climate in which all students can learn; and second, to ensure integrated learning environments in which students and families have equitable access to participate in and utilize district resources and services.
The mental health support team, which Dr. Gustafson and Dr. Kumar are working with, is going through a five-stage process to improve the program. They are currently working on stage one, assessing the program effectiveness, and stage two, identifying areas of improvement. Nine recommendations have been created as a result of the team’s research. They include:
• With parent consent, refer the bullying victim, the bully and bully-victims (those who have been bullied and also bully others) to on-site mental health screening.
• Maximize opportunities for early identification of at-risk students.
• Increase students’ ability to cope with adversity.
• With parent consent, offer co-located school-based mental health services and/or engage community mental health agencies in co-creating mental health service provisions.
• Utilize the mental health consultant to provide leadership for mental health programming.
• Expand community awareness of mental health issues by adding educational mental health information to the district website.
• Utilize multidisciplinary teams for consultation on complex issues.
• Develop procedures to follow up with youth who have been identified as experiencing multiple risk factors and provide continued support.
• Offer mental health professional development opportunities to district employees.
The presentation can be seen in its entirety on the April 22 School Board agenda.
Michelle Vargas, chief financial officer, provided a clarification of some items on the list of strategic investments approved by the School Board last May. She indicated there was confusion over which items were required by the consent decree that settled a harassment lawsuit against the district last year. Two items related to expanding student and administrator support at buildings related to anti-bullying have been combined into one new item that builds on the district’s existing model for providing mental health support for students and families. This item is not required by the consent decree. Three items are required by the consent decree: hiring of a Title IX/Equity consultant, hiring of a mental health consultant, and anti-bullying/anti-harassment training for staff. Vargas noted that the cost of these will be approximately $1.25 million over five years, though only the first four years are included on the strategic investments list. Mike Sullivan moved to approve the Strategic Investment updates. Marci Anderson seconded the motion. Motion passed.
Dr. Jinger Gustafson, associate superintendent for middle schools, and Paul Cady, general counsel, shared with the School Board how American Indian students are doing in Anoka-Hennepin schools and a proposed resolution in response to the American Indian Education Parent Committee (AIEPC).
On the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) III, American Indian students are above state and metro peer groups in math and science, and above state and in second place to metro peer groups in reading. The 2012 achievement gap (per all accountability measures: MCAs, MCA-Modified, and Minnesota Test of Academic Skills) between American Indian and Caucasian students for math is 19 percent, for reading is 16 percent, and for science is 23 percent. In math the percentage has slightly decreased since 2008, however, in reading it increased five points since 2008 and in science it increased 10 points. In later discussion, board member Scott Wenzel noted that the MCA tests have changed since 2008 and there is typically a dip in scores when new tests are implemented. Gustafson explained that a resolution of non-concurrence was submitted by the AIEPC in late February to change the organizational structure of the American Indian education program. Cady presented a response to the committee’s resolution with a new resolution indicating that the district does not plan to implement the AIEPC recommendations based on the following:
• Regarding grant managing responsibilities, at all times the district was prepared to meet all timelines and brought matters forward to the parent committee in a timely fashion, but due to the parent committee’s delayed response, matters were not submitted in a timely fashion.
• Regarding failure to establish agreed upon measures of program assessment, performance measures in the form of SMART goals for academic performance and culture have been established and further, the Student Success Plan serves as an electronic data collection tool for reporting the progress of the goals.
• Regarding matters of contract management, it appears to be a private personnel dispute over the terms and conditions of employment. More importantly, the hiring of all employees, as well as terms and conditions, are within the exclusive authority of the School Board; the parent committee reasons do not serve as a basis for non-concurrence.
The School Board unanimously approved the resolution presented by Cady. The Superintendent and School Board will reach out to the chairperson of the AIEPC to discuss the resolution and options for continuing the on-going relationship. Chair Heidemann moved for adoption of the following resolution:
2012-2013 BOARD RESOLUTION
IN RESPONSE TO AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION PARENT COMMITTEE’S FEBRUARY 22, 2013 RESOLUTION OF NON-CONCURRENCE:
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the State of Minnesota to provide for American Indian education programs specifically designed to meet the unique education and culturally related academic needs of American Indian people. (Minn. Stat. §124D.72 (2013); and
WHEREAS, to support this policy, school boards in which there are ten or more American Indian children enrolled, must establish a parent committee. (Minn. Stat. §124D.78, subd. 1); and
WHEREAS, the parent committee is to develop recommendations in consultation with the District’s curriculum advisory committee, to provide parents information and an opportunity to express their views concerning all aspects of American Indian education and the educational needs of the American Indian children enrolled in the schools. (Minn. Stat. §124D.78, subd. 1); and
WHEREAS, a school board must submit to the Minnesota Department of Education a copy of the resolution adopted by the parent committee and signed by the chair of the committee to state whether the committee concurs with the educational programs for American Indian children offered by the school board. (Minn. Stat. §124D.78, subd. 2); and
WHEREAS, if the committee does not concur with the educational programs, the reasons for non-concurrence and recommendations shall be submitted with the resolution. (Minn. Stat. §124D.78, subd. 2); and
WHEREAS, in cases of non-concurrence, the Board must respond by resolution to each resolution made by the committee and state its reasons for not implementing the recommendations. (Minn. Stat. §124D.78, subd. 2); and
WHEREAS, on March 21, 2013, Ms. Tammy Nelson, chairperson of the American Indian Parent Committee of Anoka-Hennepin School District No. 11, submitted the parent committee’s 2012-13 Resolution of Non-Concurrence dated February 22, 2013 (Attachment No. 1); and
WHEREAS, although the reasons for non-concurrence were not submitted with the resolution, the District’s superintendent’s office did receive on February 20, 2013 a notice that the parent committee would be filing a resolution of non-concurrence (Attachment No. 2); and
WHEREAS, the February 20, 2013 letter sets forth the reasons for non-concurrence as follows:
1. Dissatisfaction with grant management responsibilities regarding timely reporting of grant process and meeting deadlines.
2. Failure to establish agreed upon substantive performance measures for program assessment.
3. Dissatisfaction with contract management.
Therefore, the American Indian education parent committee recommends that the District change the organizational reporting structure for administration of the American Indian education program in order for the parent committee to find the District in concurrence; and
WHEREAS, the District has reviewed the committee’s reasons and has determined the reasons are not substantiated on the basis of the following:
1. Regarding grant managing responsibilities, at all times the District was prepared to meet all timelines and brought matters forward to the parent committee in a timely fashion, but due to the parent committee’s delayed response, matters were not submitted in a timely fashion. (Attachment No.3)
2. Regarding failure to establish agreed upon measures of program assessment, performance measures in the form of SMART goals for academic performance and culture have been established and further, the Student Success Plan serves as an electronic data collection tool for the reporting of progress of the goals. (Attachment No. 3)
3. Regarding matters of contract management, it appears to be a private personnel dispute over the terms and conditions of employment. More importantly, the hiring of all employees, as well as terms and conditions, are within the exclusive authority of the School Board; the parent committee reasons do not serve as a basis for non-concurrence.
Furthermore, in its 2012-13 parent committee resolution, the parent committee noted that it “. . . has found most of the District’s education programs to be adequate in meeting the needs of American Indian students . . .” and in its February 20, 2013 letter indicates that the organizational reporting structure “. . . has not shown to hinder the progress of the American Indian education program. . .”
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the School Board will not implement the parent committee’s recommendations to change the organizational structure for administration of the American Indian education program.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the District will reach out to Ms. Nelson, Chairperson of the American Indian Education Parent Committee, as well as the committee itself, to meet with the School Board Chair and the Superintendent to discuss resolution and options for continuing the on-going relationship.
The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution duly seconded by Board Member Marci Anderson, and upon vote being taken, the following voted in favor: Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Tom Heidemann, Jeff Simon, Mike Sullivan and Scott Wenzel
and the following voted against the same: none
WHEREUPON, said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE TERMINATION AND NON-RENEWAL OF TEACHING CONTRACTS OF PROBATIONARY TEACHERS
Member Sullivan introduced the resolution and moved its adoption
WHEREAS, the following persons are probationary teachers in Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11,
WHEREAS, the financial condition of the school district dictates that the school board must reduce expenditures immediately, and
WHEREAS, there has been a reduction in student enrollment and,
WHEREAS, said recommendations have been received and considered by the School Board,
BE IT RESOLVED by the School Board of Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11 that pursuant to Minnesota Statute §122A.40, Subdivision 5, the teaching contracts of the following probationary teachers in Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11 are hereby terminated at the close of the current 2012-13 school year.
Evenson Anelise Adams
Koski Alyssa Andover
Morrison Daniel Andover High
Harper Jason Andover High
Toledo Glazell AHS/BHS
Pierskalla Andrew Blaine High
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that written notice be sent to said teachers regarding termination and nonrenewal of their contracts, as provided by law. That the motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Board Member Anderson and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor Anderson, Simon, Harvey, Sullivan, Wenzel, Heidemann and the following voted against None, whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
The board received a list of long-term substitute teachers whose contracts are self-ter¬minating. No action was necessary on this item.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION TO RESCIND THE INCLUSION OF CERTAIN TEACHERS’
NAMES IN RESOLUTION TERMINATING PROBATIONARY TEACHERS
Member Anderson introduced the resolution and moved its adoption:
WHEREAS, the School Board of Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District No. 11 adopted a resolution to terminate the teaching contract(s) of the following probationary teacher(s) at the close of the 2012-13 school year pursuant to Minnesota Statute §122A.40, Subdivision 5,
BE IT RESOLVED that the following name(s) be rescinded from the resolution to terminate probationary teacher(s) effective at the close of the 2012-2013 school year.
Bullard Kristine Mc Kinley
Fish Nicole Adams
Martineau Marie Hamilton
Ridley Amanda Adams
Rudrud David Sand Creek
Schooley Melissa Hamilton
That the motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Simon and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor, Anderson, Simon, Harvey, Sullivan, Wenzel, Heidemann and the following voted against : None.
Whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted.
Superintendent Carlson talked about snow days saying they are not easy calls to make. Delaying schools two hours is not an option because of bussing. Jeff Simon thanked the district for the prompt communication on these days.
Chair Tom Heidemann recessed the meeting at 7:58 p.m. The meeting reconvened in closed session at 8:10 p.m. to discuss matters requiring data privacy.
Mike Sullivan moved and Marci Anderson seconded the motion to expel student number one for one year, the student being allowed to return under probation on December 3, 2013. Dr. Scott Wenzel called the roll. The following voted in favor of the motion: Tom Heidemann, Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Dr. Scott Wenzel, Mike Sullivan, and Jeff Simon. There being six votes for and no votes against the motion, the motion passed.
Marci Anderson moved and Tom Heidemann seconded the motion to expel student number two for one year, the student being allowed to return under probation on December 3, 2013, pending successful completion of a chemical dependency program. Dr. Scott Wenzel called the roll. The following voted in favor of the motion: Tom Heidemann, Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Dr. Scott Wenzel, Mike Sullivan, and Jeff Simon. There being six votes for and no votes against the motion, the motion passed.
Tom Heidemann moved and Jeff Simon seconded the motion to expel student number three for one year, the student being allowed to return under probation on September 3, 2013 and the student being allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies, pending enrollment in a chemical dependency program. Dr. Scott Wenzel called the roll. The following voted in favor of the motion: Tom Heidemann, Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Dr. Scott Wenzel, Mike Sullivan, and Jeff Simon. There being six votes for and no votes against the motion, the motion passed.
Mike Sullivan moved and Marci Anderson seconded the motion to expel student number four for the remainder of the 2012-2013 school year, the student being allowed to participate in graduation ceremonies. Dr. Scott Wenzel called the roll. The following voted in favor of the motion: Tom Heidemann, Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Dr. Scott Wenzel, Mike Sullivan, and Jeff Simon. There being six votes for and no votes against the motion, the motion passed.
Jeff Simon moved and Mike Sullivan seconded the motion to expel student number five for one year, the student being allowed to return under probation on December 3, 2013. Dr. Scott Wenzel called the roll. The following voted in favor of the motion: Tom Heidemann, Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Dr. Scott Wenzel, Mike Sullivan, and Jeff Simon. There being six votes for and no votes against the motion, the motion passed.
Jeff Simon moved and Marci Anderson seconded the motion to expel student number six for one year, the student being allowed to return under probation on September 3, 2013, pending successful completion of a chemical dependency program. Dr. Scott Wenzel called the roll. The following voted in favor of the motion: Tom Heidemann, Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Dr. Scott Wenzel, Mike Sullivan, and Jeff Simon. There being six votes for and no votes against the motion, the motion passed.
Marci Anderson moved and Mike Sullivan seconded the motion to expel student number seven for one year, the student being allowed to return under probation on December 3, 2013. Dr. Scott Wenzel called the roll. The following voted in favor of the motion: Tom Heidemann, Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Dr. Scott Wenzel, Mike Sullivan, and Jeff Simon. There being six votes for and no votes against the motion, the motion passed.
Tom Heidemann moved and Jeff Simon seconded the motion to expel student number eight for one year, the student being eligible to participate in 2012-2013 school year graduation ceremonies, otherwise, allowed to return under probation on December 3, 2013. Dr. Scott Wenzel called the roll. The following voted in favor of the motion: Tom Heidemann, Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Dr. Scott Wenzel, Mike Sullivan, and Jeff Simon. There being six votes for and no votes against the motion, the motion passed.
Jeff Simon moved and Mike Sullivan seconded the motion to expel student number nine for one year, the student being allowed to return under probation on September 3, 2013, pending successful completion of a chemical dependency program. Dr. Scott Wenzel called the roll. The following voted in favor of the motion: Tom Heidemann, Marci Anderson, Bill Harvey, Dr. Scott Wenzel, Mike Sullivan, and Jeff Simon. There being six votes for and no votes against the motion, the motion passed.
The meeting reconvened in open session at 9:01 p.m. Jeff Simon moved and Dr. Scott Wenzel seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting. Motion passed.
(May 23, 2013) P1/CD-ISD11Apr22RegMin

The post Public Notices 05/23/2013 – Champlin/Dayton Press appeared first on Press and News.

City of Maple Grove
(Official Publication)
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Project No. 13-07
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN;
Notice is hereby given that the City Council of the City of Maple Grove will meet at the Maple Grove Government Center, 12800 Arbor Lakes Parkway on the 3rd day of June, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard to consider an improvement of Bottineau Ridge Area Street and Utility Project No. 13-07 for the area hereinafter described. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 429.011 to 429.111, the area proposed to be assessed for such improvements is all that property within the following described area and/or all the property to be benefitted by the improvements. The area is described as follows:
23-119-22 31 0074
23-119-22 42 0006
23-119-22 42 0002
The estimated cost of this project is $1,009,774.00. All persons desiring to be heard on such proposed improvements may appear at said public hearing.
Auxiliary aids for handicapped persons are available upon request if notified at least 96 hours in advance. Please call the Administration Department at 763-494-6010 to make arrangements.
Alan A. Madsen
City Clerk
PDF FILE_Project13-07
Published in the Osseo-Maple Grove Press May 23 and 30, 2013
(May 23 & 30, 2013)
MG-Project13-07

The post Public Notices 05/23/2013 – Osseo/Maple Grove Press appeared first on Press and News.

The Democratic-led Legislature voted to tax the rich and smokers and to close corporate loopholes in raising about $2 billion in new taxes in its omnibus tax bill.

The Senate took its vote shortly before the Legislature adjourned until next year.

The tax bill closes the $627 million state budget deficit, fuels education funding and provides tax relief for homeowners and renters.

It creates a fourth-tier income tax rate at 9.85 percent — a change snagging about $1 billion — applicable to joint married filers earning more than $250,000 in taxable income, single-filers with taxable income of more than $150,000.

The income tax increase embraces the top two percent of taxpayers.

Republicans are not pleased.

“Thank goodness the increase in the candy tax and snack tax went away,” Rep. Nick Zerwas, R-Elk River, quipped.

“This bill hurts every Minnesotan,” he said.

The tax on a pack of cigarettes is increased by $1.60 per pack under the tax bill.

The increase is about more than raising money, Democrats argue.

House Tax Committee Chairwoman Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington, presents her tax bill to the House. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

“I view it as a public health imperative,” House Tax Committee Chairwoman Ann Lenczewski, DFL-Bloomington, said.

Senate Tax Committee Rod Skoe, DFL-Clearbrook, a former smoker, said he had never voted for a cigarette tax increase before.

“This is one of the hardest issues for me,” he said.

But Skoe found the health argument compelling.

All told, changes to tobacco taxes raise $430 million.

In addition to closing perceived corporate loopholes — a closure capturing $400 million — a 10 percent gift tax is imposed.

For the gift tax, a lifetime credit of $100,000 is provided, and a taxpayer can give up to $13,000 a year without counting towards their $1 million exemption.

The tax bill does not include the sweeping sales tax reforms originally proposed by Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, but it does expand the sales tax to non-consumer warehousing and storage, repair and maintenance of electronic equipment and commercial and industrial machinery,

The storage of boats, cars, and recreational vehicles not eligible to be deducted as business expenses are exempt from the warehouse sales tax expansion.

Further, the storage of farm products and refrigerated storage are also exempt.

But the expansion of the sales tax to the repair and maintenance of industrial machinery includes farm machinery.

And the warehousing provision, which will go into effect in 2014, applies to some farm storage.

The tax bill contains an Internet “Amazon” online sale tax provision for out-of-state retailers with affiliates in Minnesota selling on their behalf.

That captures $10 million.

In terms of tax relief, the bill exempts cities and counties from paying the sales tax for most purchases, a $172 million savings to local government.

Under the bill, some 300,000 homeowners will see their property tax refunds increase, and another 100,000 additional homeowners will receive a refund, Democrats say.

One provision Republicans focused on during floor debate dealt with the Vikings stadium.

A one-time flush of money into the stadium reserve account is achieved through a cigarette tax on floor stock. To further stabilize the state stadium funding, left shaky by feeble electronic pull-tab revenues, corporate tax-loophole-closur dollars could be channeled towards paying off the stadium.

Some Republicans were flabbergasted.

“Can you smoke in the new stadium?” Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, asked Lenczewski.

“Because smokers are going to be paying for it,” he said. The tax bill contains no alcohol tax increases.

A Mayo Destination Medical Center provision is included in the tax bill.

It anticipates the state investing a maximum of $327 million over 27 years after the clinic, City of Rochester, and Olmstead County make sufficient investments.

A Rochester Democrat choked up on the House floor while thanking Lenczewski for the language.

The tax bill extends Mall of America TIF districts to spur Phase Two mall expansion.

It provides a sales tax exemption for the proposed Baxter Biopharmaceutical facility in Brooklyn Park.

About 54,400 Minnesota resident tax returns, or about 2.1 percent of filers, will fall under the fourth-tier income tax rate.

Senate Tax Committee Chairman Rod Skoe, DFL-Clearbrook, talks to a Senate colleague on the Senate floor. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

Ninety-eight percent of Minnesota taxpayers will see no income tax increase, according to the governor’s office.

A married couple with a taxable income of $617,000 would pay about $8,400 more in taxes under the fourth tier.

A single filer with a taxable income of $428,000, under the fourth tier, would pay an additional $5,500.

Minnesota’s 9.85 percent tax rate would be fifth highest in the country.

Republicans were critical of the bill not only for what was in it, but what wasn’t.

“What’s unfortunate, we did not make our veterans a priority in the bill,” Rep. Anna Wills, R-Apple Valley, said.

Wills had pursued a veterans-hiring tax credit.

“It’s not necessary, and not needed,” Rep. Joe McDonald, R-Delano, said of the tax increases.

The tax bill passed the House on a party line 71-58 vote; it passed the Senate on a 36-30 vote.

Democratic senators Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka, Melisa Franzen of Edina, and Susan Kent of Woodbury voted with Republicans.

Debate in the Senate also had Republicans standing on the floor condemning the tax bill.

“These taxes are really about envy,” Sen. Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville, said of the tax-the-rich approach.

“This bill will make us a high-tax island,” Sen. Julianne Ortman, R-Chanhassen, said.

Sen. Dan Hall, R-Burnsville, described the Democratic taxing philosophy as predatory.

“If they got a need — let’s tax them!” Hall said.

Sen. Sean Nienow, R-Cambridge, called the tobacco-tax increase as Democrats taking “politically correct” money.

Tim Budig can be reached at tim.budig@ecm-inc.com

The post Legislature adjourns as tax bill closes $627 million state budget deficit appeared first on Press and News.

University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler stopped by the corporate offices of ECM Publishers in Coon Rapids last week to say he was delighted with components of the Minnesota Legislature’s biennial budget for the University.

Kaler, meeting with the ECM Editorial Board, applauded last week’s Higher Education Conference Committee actions, which included a recommendation of a tuition freeze over two years.

University of Minnesota President Eric Kaler provided some what he
called “high-touch” points when visiting with the ECM Editorial Board
recently. State funding for the University was a major part of the
discussion. Editorial Board member Tom West of the Morrison County
Record is at left. (Photo by Howard Lestrud)

The conference committee’s recommendation was approved by both houses of the Legislature last weekend, just two days prior to adjournment.

Kaler took over the reins of the University
in July of 2011. He said the approval of the higher education funding bill marks the U’s first funding increase in eight years.

The tuition freeze was a high priority, Kaler said. The approved legislation provides the requested $14.2 million annually to freeze tuition for Minnesota resident undergraduates for two years (the 2014-15 biennium). The University’s tuition is currently $13,309 on the Twin Cities campus.

Kaler calls the University of Minnesota a jewel in the State of Minnesota. “We are very pleased the governor and the state have given us this support,” he said.

State legislators also voted to  invest $18 million annually to fund the Minnesota Discover, Research and InnoVation Economy (MnDRIVE) program, which is designed to  advance scientific research in four critical fields.

The four areas identified at the intersection of need are: 1) food; 2) water; 3) robotics and 4) neuromodulation. The last represents a growing area in the medical device industry that addresses brain disorders from Alzheimer’s disease to addiction.

Kaler is especially proud of the investment made for robotics. Minnesota has the highest per capital rate of participation in robotics for high school and pre-high school, Kaler said.

In order to receive 5 percent of its state budget allocation, the University under this new legislation must meet certain performance metrics. Those metrics focus on graduation rates, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) degrees, administrative costs and invention disclosures.

Kaler, who received his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota, said he is very proud of the school’s standing. He said the U receives 42,000 applicants and enrolls 5,600 of that total. The average ACT by a U applicant is 27.7, he said. The University’s honors college counts 400-plus and these students can go to any university in the nation.

“We are keeping students and their talents in Minnesota,” Kaler said. Sixty-two percent of first year students are from Minnesota, he said.

The University has recently been criticized for its overload in administration and for its efficiency. He said the U’s efficiency is improving in the areas of teaching, research and service.

Kaler commented on the student debt load upon graduation at an average of $27,000. Three-fourths of the University’s graduates will have debt, he said. By freezing tuition, 10 percent of the debt is reduced, Kaler said. He said the University is the lowest four-year net cost institution  at $75,000.

The University’s administrative and professional staff represents the 22nd largest in the nation, Kalersaid. The U recently grew by 9,000 students. A campus was recently opened in Rochester. “I run a $3.5 billion enterprise,” he pointed out.

Kaler said cuts have been made. For example, he said,  the University once had 71 call centers for Information Technology and has trimmed it to 18 and soon to be one.

“Operation costs are funded at the University from efficiencies,” Kaler said. He referred to a steam power plant in the Twin Cities that saves the U $58 million.

University research staffs are often funded by sponsored dollars, Kaler said. “We need our research mission to find facts in an unfiltered and unbiased way,” he said. The control is a peer-to-peer evaluation, he said.

Kaler was asked if online education has had an effect on the University’s education system. “Most of our students were born with a smart phone in their hands,” Kaler said but he believes brick and mortar institutions will be around for some time. “I don’t think we will go out of business,” he said.

The brand of the University is centered on medical first and athletics second, Kaler said. He emphasized the importance of doing well on both fronts. “We need to be more competitive,” he said. The U has an athletic budget of $80 million.

The University is proud of its partnership with the Mayo Clinic and with Fairview, Kaler said. Fairview plans include building a new ambulatory care center.

Howard Lestrud can be reached at howard.lestrud@ecm-inc.com

The post U president is pleased with the Legislature’s funding appeared first on Press and News.

Rep. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley, emotionally spoke against the unionization legislation. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

In a stormy climax, the Democratic-led House passed child care and personal care attendant unionization legislation on Monday, May 20.

The 68-66 vote brought cheers from union activists in the House gallery and catcalls from Republicans on the floor.

“Let them applaud,” a Republican shouted at House Speaker Paul Thissen, DFL-Minneapolis, as the Thissen gaveled for quiet. “They own the place,” the Republican yelled.

The vote could set in motion a process by which union activists, supplied with lists from the state, would collect signatures from child care providers and personal care attendants receiving state subsides. An election, by mail ballot, would take place if at least 30 percent of providers eligible to vote indicated a wish to join a union.

Darleen Henry of Rosemount, a personal care provider since her mother suffered a stroke about two years ago, was outside the House chamber with other activists after the vote.

“I feel like I have someone who’s there for me, someone behind my back,” Henry said of a union. “I know we don’t have a union yet, but I feel it’s at least a possibility now.”

Henry views the union as a means of getting additional training.

Another activist outside the House chamber was Becky Swanson, a Lakeville child care provider. Swanson spoke of filing suit in federal court to stop the vote.

“We’ll fight this for eight years,” Swanson said.

One of the plaintiffs in the successful suit against Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton, when the governor attempted to call an unionization election by executive order, Swanson isn’t surprised a unionization effort is taking place in Minnesota.

“Minnesota is union-friendly state,” she said. She has nothing against unions, Swanson said, but child care providers are private businesses.

Debate on the House floor was emotional. Rep. Peggy Scott, R-Andover, said she and her husband have owned rental property and have rented to people receiving government assistance.

“Are we next?” Scott asked of possible unionization. “Are landlords next?”

Rep. Sarah Anderson, R-Plymouth, dismissed the idea the legislation was about bettering the lives of providers and improving the quality of child care.

“It’s money. It’s all about money,” Anderson said of unions collecting dues.

House Deputy Minority Leader Jenifer Loon, R-Eden Prairie, appealed to Democrats to take a tough vote and vote “no.”

“Search your heart and your conscious,” said Loon, who recently voted to pass same-sex marriage legislation. “Be courageous,” she urged.

A handful of House Democrats, including Rep. Tim Faust, DFL-Hinckley, voted with Republicans against the bill. But it wasn’t enough.

Rep. Michael Nelson, DFL-Brooklyn Park, House bill author, said the legislation does not tell parents or providers how to raise children, nor does it form a union. It’s about getting right to vote, Nelson said.

“This bill is about ensuring the basic rights of undervalued workers to choose for themselves if they want to collectively bargain for better wages,” Nelson said in a prepared statement. “These workers, who are predominately women, now have an opportunity to bargain for improvements in their lives and the lives of the children, seniors and people with disabilities they serve,” Nelson said.

The unionization legislation passed the Democratic-led Senate on a 35-32 vote after an epic 17-hour, all-night floor session.

Area Democratic Sens. Terri Bonoff of Minnetonka, Greg Clausen of Apple Valley, Melisa Franzen of Edina and Bev Scalze of Little Canada sided with Republicans in voting against the bill.

Speaking after the House floor session, Rep. Tara Mack, R-Apple Valley, said bill opponents were carefully monitoring the legislative debate for possible inclusion into a lawsuit.

Mack felt they would have a good case. Mack, who has a young son and is pregnant, spoke on the House floor about her family’s concerns with day care. Her heart breaks, she said, for the mothers receiving Child Care Assistance Program funding, a state subsidy.

Like other Republicans, Mack believes day care providers, in attempting to escape the union, will simply refuse to accept children receiving state subsides.

“They (CCAP mothers) will be rejected time after time after time,” she said.

All told, Minnesota had 351,000 wage and salary workers in unions in 2012 with another 17,000 represented by a union on their main job or covered by an employee association or contract, though not union members themselves, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Union membership is heavily skewed towards the public sector. Nationally about 36 percent of public sector employees belonged to unions, against only about 6.6 percent of workers in the private sector, according to the Bureau.

About 57 percent of Minnesota public sector jobs were unionized in 2012, according to unionstats.com, an Internet data resource providing private and public sector labor union membership and density estimates. Only about 8 percent of Minnesota private sector jobs were unionized, according to the site.

The union legislation now goes to the governor’s desk.

Tim Budig can be reached at tim.budig@ecm-inc.com

The post Child care, personal care union bill approved in House and Senate appeared first on Press and News.

The Democratic-led Legislature approved its omnibus E-12 education finance and policy bill Sunday (May 19) that slates an additional $485 million to education.

“This is a very bold and ambitious plan,” House Education Finance Committee Chairman Paul Marquart, DFL-Dilworth, said.

House Education Finance Committee Chairman Paul Marquart, DFL-Dilworth, styled the education finance bill as creating the world’s greatest workforce in Minnesota. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

Included in the $15.6 billion bill is funding for voluntary all-day, every-day kindergarten and $40 million in early learning scholarships.

These scholarships could provide up to $5,000 per year for needy families to send youngsters to top notch early learning or child care facilities.

The bill provides $234 million for a three percent basic funding formula increase over two years, and slates $38 million in extra special education funding.

The House proposal for a temporary income tax surcharge on the wealthy to immediately pay back the school shift was scuttled.

Under the banner of creating the world’s best workforce, the bill requires school districts to develop plans to meet readiness goals — third-grade literacy for all students, for instance — and allows the education commissioner to use up to two percent of funding to craft remedial plans for school districts failing to show adequate progress.

“Powerful accountability,” House Education Policy Committee Carlos Mariani, DFL-St. Paul, said.

The bill provides $2 million tocreate additional Regional Centers of Excellence.

It scraps the GRAD tests students currently must passto earn a high school diploma, turning instead to an alternative assessment model including the use of college placement tests.

The so-called “high-stakes” GRAD test was called antiquated and punitive by a recent assessment work group and by education officials in committee testimony.

Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, expressed grave doubts about the direction of the Democratic E-12 finance bill. (Photo by T.W. Budig)

Republicans argue Democrats are dumbing down high school diplomas.

“I will continue to have grave concerns about this new direction,” Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, said.

“I just think that’s shameful that Minnesota is moving in that direction,” she said.

But Rep. Kathy Brynaert, DFL-Mankato, lauded the proposed change.

“It’s a much higher standard, and a much higher level of accountability,” Brynaert said.

“You will not see social promotions under this assessment systems,” she said.

One of the sharpest critics of the omnibus E-12 bill wasn’t a Republican but a Democrat.

Rep, Ryan Winkler, DFL-Golden Valley, said the early learning scholarship provision was “deeply flawed.”

Winkler blamed Department of Education officials for insisting on certain scholarship language.

“Unfortunately, the bureaucrats won,” he said.

Other features of the bill includes the allocation of $1 million to the Department of Education to implement anti-bullying policies.

The bill allows school districts officials to increase their safe school levy by $4 per student and expand its usage to buying laminated glassand hiring mental health professionals who aren’t school district employees.

The bill increases the compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 17 years old.

It prohibits school boards from firing coaches based solely on parental complaints.

Sen. Branden Petersen, R-Andover, calledthe “world’s best workforce” theme as “largely a set of platitudes.”

He criticized the bill for lacking accountability, lacking courage in addressing the learning gap.

Tim Budig can be reached at tim.budig@ecm-inc.com

The post Early learning is beneficiary of education bill appeared first on Press and News.

Minnesota’s gubernatorial election of 2014 is 18 months away but already, some Republicans are flexing their muscles as announced candidates or as potential candidates for the GOP nomination. DFL Gov. Mark Dayton has already indicated he will seek re-election.

Two Republican candidates have already emerged. Wayzata businessman Scott Honour was the first to announce three weeks ago. Current Hennepin County Commissioner and former state legislator Jeff Johnson made his grand announcement before family and friends May 12 at the Hamel Community Hall, near his residence in Plymouth.

With the Minnesota Legislature still in session, several potential candidates for governor are waiting until their lawmaking business is finished for this session.

The field of candidates was narrowed several weeks ago with the announcement by three potential candidates choosing not to seek the governor’s chair. Former Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, 2010 unsuccessful gubernatorial candidate Tom Emmer and U.S. Rep. John Kline, Second District, each has announced an intent not to run for governor in 2014. Third District Congressman Erik Paulsen recently announced that he would not be seeking the governor’s chair or a seat in the U.S. Senate currently held by Al Franken.

Former Speaker of the House, Rep. Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove, said he is “not ruling anything out” when asked about whether he is considering a run for governor in 2014. “I’m focusing on the session right now and will start thinking about future plans when the session is over,” he explained.

Senate Minority Leader David Hann, R-Eden Prairie, answered the question of whether he will run for governor with three words: “Thinking about it.”

Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, carried the Minnesota Vikings stadium legislation during the 2012 session. She has been mentioned as a possible candidate for governor. “I’m trying to get through the session but it’s out there and I will do something, yes or no,” Rosen said.

Often outspoken Sen. David Thompson, R-Lakeville, says he is considering a run for governor and hopes to announce his decision the first few days after the session ends. He said he owes it to his constituents and to “the good folks of Minnesota” to declare his intentions soon after the session is completed.

Thompson sounds like a candidate when he attacks the record of Gov. Mark Dayton. “He is taking us in the wrong direction,” Thompson said. Many states are doing what Dayton is doing, increasing taxes and increasing the cost of government, Thompson said. He used the states of Illinois and California as examples.

Speculating on major issues to come into focus during the 2014 campaign, Thompson said education is always an issue and should be an issue. “There is a gap between the higher performing districts and those not getting the job done for students,” Thompson said. A healthy economy and providing jobs and opportunity must also be addressed in the campaign for governor, Thompson said.

Thompson said he was “shocked” at the degree DFLers are going after low income and middle income folks with more taxes. He said the governor and the DFL Party talk about targeting the rich but instead, “they are taxing everybody.”

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, a former legislator, has also been mentioned as a possible GOP gubernatorial candidate.

Scott Honour

Candidate Honour, 44, is a native of Fridley. He and his wife Jamie and their three children currently reside in Wayzata.

His father was a pilot for Braniff and lost his job due to the company bankruptcy. Honour later worked for his father, who started a boatlift company. “I learned about hard work, overcoming obstacles, and persevering when things aren’t going well,” Honour is quoted as saying on his campaign website. Honour earned degrees in business and economics and pursued a career in the private sector. He helped grow a firm that focused on fixing troubled businesses.

Honour has been involved in starting many small businesses, one with his brother in the operation of natural gas filling stations. Honour said he drives a natural gas pickup truck that runs 90 percent lower emissions than gas at the refill pump. “We think there is a great opportunity to expand natural gas as a vehicle fuel source,” he said.

Job creation is a priority for Honour. He said he has created a lot of jobs and understands what it takes to create jobs. That’s why he wishes to bring the equation to the governor’s office, he said. Honour once bought a shutdown pulp mill in Cosmopolis, WA and built the business by adding 200 jobs.

Concerned about the direction of the state, Honour said an economic foundation is at the center of his priority lists. “I think we have to make some major changes to get ourselves back on track,” Honour said. He believes he has the leadership abilities to affect change and to create value.

Honour said the fact he is not a career politician resonates well with many state residents. “I’ve had experience in a combination of skills and can figure out what the problems are and then come up with a plan to solve the problems. That’s what I’ve been doing in business for 20-plus years.”

The fact that the state has the lowest minority graduation rates in the country worries Honour. He is also concerned about seeing jobs and taxpayers leave the state. “Our minority employment rates are also the highest in the country,” he said.

Honour said Minnesota does have many great incentives to attract businesses to the state. “They are not choosing Minnesota and that’s the game we want to get in,” he said.

Honour is buoyed by the leadership of the Republican Party, now chaired by Keith Downey. He also has added former party chairman Pat Shortridge to his consulting staff. “I’m really focusing on aligning the party on a message of how we create economic opportunity for everyone in the state, how we have a positive growth if we make the right choices and how we help improve education,” Honour said.

Honour said he wants to be a leader who listens and will be inclusive on the issues. “We have a big opportunity as Republicans to really drive forth the economic message of opportunity and we will see Republicans winning the next election,” Honour predicted.

Jeff Johnson

Candidate Johnson, 46, is a veteran of seven years in the Minnesota House of Representatives. He is a native of Detroit Lakes and currently resides in Plymouth with his wife Sondi and two sons.  Last fall, Johnson was elected to a second term as Hennepin County commissioner. He was unopposed.

Johnson, a graduate of Georgetown University Law School, is owner of Midwest Employment Resources of Plymouth. Employment law is his specialty.

During his years in the House, Johnson was in the Republican majority serving with a DFL Senate. “This opportunity helped me learn to work with people who don’t always agree with you,” Johnson said. As a House member, he said he was pleased to have recorded accomplishments in eminent domain, meth legislation, tort reform and identity theft prevention.

Johnson said it is still possible to get things done in politics even though there are disagreements. “I have been able to take conservative and free market principles and turn them into law,” he said.

Johnson promised his wife he would only serve six years in the Minnesota Legislature. He unsuccessfully sought the Minnesota attorney general’s office in 2006. “I knew it was a longshot but it was a great experience,” Johnson said.

Political challenges still appealed to Johnson and he decided to run for Hennepin County commissioner in 2008. “My objective is to help make county government more acceptable and more results based,” he said.

A run for governor even crossed Johnson’s mind when he was in the Legislature. He said the time is right now and his family is on board with his decision. Raising money for his campaign is an immediate goal. Johnson said he has faith in the strong Republican leadership led by chairman Downey.

Johnson said he cannot win the election with only Republican votes. “We need votes from independent voters and fiscal conservative Democrats,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he believes he is the best Republican candidate fitting the role of a fiscal conservative who can excite the base and get other people involved in government. He said he has a strong electoral base in Hennepin County.

Fiscal responsibility and education are two issues to be addressed during the gubernatorial campaign in 2014, He will focus on making sure government is spending money wisely and responsibly and in ways that produce results. Growing the economy is of utmost concern for Johnson. More jobs are needed in the private sector, he said.

Johnson is against any additional taxes and says he has never voted to raise any tax. Asked about signing a tax pledge, he said he has quit signing pledges.

Johnson has been closely watching the Legislature this session. Looking at the issues, Johnson does not support any of the proposed budgets; he does not favor restricting rights of gun owners; he believes traditional marriage should be law and he does not support an increase in the minimum wage.

Gov. Dayton has not shown much leadership, Johnson said. “He had a golden opportunity to fundamentally reform the tax code this past year with an all-DFL Legislature but he did not do it,” Johnson observed.

Johnson said he has talked to all potential Republican candidates and said one of the main objectives of any of the candidates will be to gain name recognition. “None of us are well known,” he said.

DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin said the party’s internal polling shows Dayton with good marks. A KSTP poll recently showed him with a 45 percent approval rating, significantly higher than that of the Legislature.

The two announced Republican candidates represent the extremes in Minnesota politics, Martin said. He called Johnson a quintessential politician. “We don’t begrudge ambition but when you have blind ambition as he does, there’s something that’s wrong there,” Martin said. “Then, you have another guy, Scott Honour, a wealthy businessman who has done very well for himself but the reality is that it’s tough for guy who drives a Bentley and goes around Lake Minnetonka in his yacht, to relate to ordinary Minnesotans,” Martin said.

Martin believes Dayton is in a good position for re-election but since the election is a year and a half away, he said anything can happen and the DFL Party is not taking anything for granted.

Steven Schier, political science professor at Carleton College, said the 2014 race for governor could be competitive because Gov. Dayton’s polling numbers at this time are far from secure. He said he believes Dayton is potentially beatable with much depending on the state of the Minnesota economy in the fall of 2014.

Public reaction to hikes in taxes and spending likely to be agreed upon by the governor and Legislature will have a big impact on the election, Schirer said. Schirer predicts main issues of the 2014 campaign for governor will be the state economy and the actions of the DFL legislature and governor in 2013-14.  Tax and spending increases, gay marriage, unionization of child care workers and increases in the minimum wage will likely be discussed during the election campaign, Schirer said.

Howard Lestrud can be reached at howard.lestrud@ecm-inc.com

The post Republicans are already lining up to run for governor appeared first on Press and News.