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

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Long Lake resident Claudia Kelly has been named a Red Cross Hero for her volunteer work with disaster relief. She was in New York helping victims of Superstorm Sandy when she heard of the award. (Photo by Andy King, American Red Cross)

Kelly, of Long Lake, began volunteering for the Red Cross in 2007. During that time, she has helped people in areas hit by a variety of disasters, including those in New York dealing with the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

Kelly actually arrived in New York just before the storm hit, she said. During the first weeks there, she was focused on sheltering people.

“I think the devastation initially surprised everyone,” Kelly said. “Every street was just covered with trees. People couldn’t get around at all.”

Falling trees ended up leading to a lot of the fatalities from the storm, she said, which made the work of finding appropriate shelter for people even more important.

“I feel we really saved lives,” Kelly said.

Initially, Kelly said, she was housed in a shelter along with those displaced by the storm, though she and others from the Red Cross stayed in a different room. A typical Red Cross shelter, she said, is in a place like a school building or a church.

“It’s rows of cots with Red Cross blankets. Sometimes there are not even pillows,” Kelly said.

Ideally the shelters will have separate rooms for men and women and one that allows both genders for families so people can choose to stay where they will feel most comfortable, Kelly said. Usually, though, there isn’t enough space for separate rooms for men and women, she said.

The Red Cross likes to have food available all the time and to have a separate room for eating, she said. What type of food those in the shelter receive depends on whether there is electricity. Kelly said she worked in one shelter where they were able to keep the refrigerator and freezer operating, but there was no other electricity in the kitchen. The people in the shelter and those from the Red Cross then ate foods like sandwiches, cereal and muffins, she said.

Sheltering people after a disaster does more than put a roof over their heads and some food in their stomachs, Kelly said.

“It’s not just about protection, there’s a real human need for communities to get together,” she said, “There’s a need to be around people who have been through the same thing.”

In New York, she said, she saw some people drive to the shelter to use the electricity there to charge their cell phones.  Kelly said she suspected that at least some of them had car chargers and didn’t really need to go to the shelter, but they instead wanted to have an excuse visit with the people there.

Kelly is retired from a career in market research, so she is able to spend long periods away from home helping other recover from disasters. She said she spent a total of about four months in New York. She had a few breaks and was able to come home for Christmas. The longest stretch she spent in the area, Kelly said, was eight weeks.

While in New York, Kelly said she learned that she had been named a Red Cross Hero. She is one of 10 heroes in the Northern Minnesota Red Cross region, which includes the Twin Cities area. Kelly will receive the Disaster Relief award at a breakfast ceremony scheduled for June 6. According to a Red Cross press release, she is receiving the award for “exhibiting heroic efforts in response to a disaster/disasters.”

“Claudia genuinely cares for the people she serves and there is nothing self-serving in her dedication to her volunteer work,” noted Red Cross Volunteer Staffing Manager Theresa Moerbitz in the release. “Claudia is one of those people that you just know you can rely on when there’s a disaster. She takes her role as a volunteer seriously and she truly lives and believes in the mission of the Red Cross to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.”

People who also believe in the Red Cross’s mission, but can’t be away from home for long periods can still help those affected by a disaster, Kelly said. Residential fires are the most common reason why volunteers are deployed locally. The Northern Minnesota region has about one fire a day, she said. In those cases, volunteers help shelter people and give them food and clothing.

Kelly said they do pretty much the same thing as volunteers who are sent out to help with large-scale natural disasters.

“We are in our community every day,” she said.

Contact Amanda Schwarze at amanda.schwarze@ecm-inc.com

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The Maple Plain City Council reviewed the four bids that were submitted for the HAWK (High intensity Activated crossWalK) at its May 13 meeting. City staff suggested, and the councilors agreed, to hold off on accepting a bid until officials know whether Maple Plain will receive any state funds to help pay for the project.

Of the four bids received, Granite Ledge Electrical Contractors, Inc. had the lowest of $145,539. In addition, Xcel Energy submitted a bid in the amount of $77,376 for lighting in the area. Combined, the two bids total $222,915.35, which is slightly below the project estimate of $228,000.

Maple Plain City Administrator Jason Ziemer said May 15 that city officials should know within a week whether state money will be available for the project. He also said that city officials have been prepared to pay for the HAWK signal without any outside financial help if needed.

The bids are expected to go in front of the council again May 28, Ziemer said. He also said that the plan is to have the HAWK signal installed and operating by this fall.

The crosswalk near the intersection of Highway 12 and Budd Avenue has long caused safety concerns. The bend in the highway near the crossing can result in motorists having trouble seeing pedestrians. After discussing ways of making the crossing safer, the city council decided to install a HAWK signal in the area.

The signals are relatively new to the state and only a couple have been installed so far. A HAWK has lights directed at traffic that are only activated when someone wishing to cross the road presses a button. After the button is pressed, the lights first shine yellow and then red so motorists will know to stop for those crossing.

When the idea first arose to install a HAWK signal, Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) officials were hesitant to give their approval to the project. They eventually allowed city officials to move forward with their plans, but MnDOT officials said that the costs for the design, construction and maintenance of the crossing would be Maple Plain’s responsibility.

In St. Cloud, where there is an operating HAWK system, MnDOT officials cover the maintenance of the signal while the city is responsible for the electricity costs, Maple Plain Engineer Dan Boyum told the council last month. He said that maintenance involves duties such as changing bulbs. At the council’s April 8 meeting, Councilor Dave Eisinger said that he wanted city officials to push MnDOT to take on the maintenance of Maple Plain’s system as well.

Contact Amanda Schwarze at amanda.schwarze@ecm-inc.com

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A suggestion from Mayor Roger Hackbarth to allow people who own businesses in the city to serve on the Maple Plain Planning and Park Commissions was discussed at the city council’s May 13 meeting. Hackbarth was absent from the meeting due to an illness. Maple Plain City Administrator Jason Ziemer said that Hackbarth wanted to open the commissions up to different points of view.

Currently, Ziemer said, there is language in the city code that limits participation on the planning commission to only Maple Plain residents. There is no residency language in the code for the park commission, but he said that it has been a long-standing practice to only appoint residents to the board.

Nothing prohibits Maple Plain residents who happen to own a business from serving on the commissions.

Councilor Justin McCoy said he thought that opening the boards up to those who own businesses in the city but don’t live there could lead to great, new viewpoints on the commissions. However, he also said he did not want to see the boards filled only with business owners with no resident members.

Councilor Dave Eisinger suggested placing a limit on the number of non-resident members so that the commissions always had a majority Maple Plain residents.

Councilor Mike DeLuca asked that city staff present the idea to the current planning and park board commissioners to get their input on the matter.
The council voted 4-0 to discuss the issue again after the commissioners gave their feedback on the idea.

Contact Amanda Schwarze at amanda.schwarze@ecm-inc.com

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The Lake Independence discussion began when Craig Olson, who lives on South Lakeshore Drive, raised questions about a proposal to unclog the lake outlet between Independence Road and Pagenkopf Road. Olson also is a board member for the Lake Independence Citizens Association (LICA) and a city of Independence planning commissioner.

Olson noted that LICA had asked for a study of both high and low water levels in Lake Independence.

“What we got was a study of high water levels,” he said, and the study did not address low water levels. He also wanted to know how much the proposed unclogging of the channel would cost, who would pay for it and who would keep the channel clear after work is done.

Later in the meeting, he asked for more public input.

After Olson spoke, LICA President Mike McLaughlin asked the city council to approve Independence’s share of the cost of the project. McLaughlin also is vice chair of the Pioneer Sarah Creek Watershed Commission. Pioneer Sarah Creek, the cities of Medina and Independence and the Three Rivers Park District shared costs for the Lake Independence Outlet Feasibility Study done by water resources consultant Hakanson-Anderson.

McLaughlin said lake property owners need to look beyond their own self-interests and do what is best for the lake. Unclogging the channel would mean that the lake level would be closer to normal lake levels. Currently, the water level in Lake Independence is 12 inches higher than water levels recorded between 1935 and 1991.

“High water levels are wreaking havoc on the shoreline,” he said. Lake level increases are washing out millions of dollars in shoreline improvements, he said, and some improvements can’t be completed because the water level is too high.

Meanwhile, the public has had many opportunities to learn about the proposed project — at every LICA annual meeting, on the LICA website and in the association newsletter, McLaughlin said. Unclogging the outlet was also discussed at the watershed district’s third generation plan meeting held in April at the Water Resources Fair at Independence City Hall. The meeting was heavily attended.

“There has been a ton of public input,” he said. More opportunities are coming and will happen after a project plan becomes available.

Medina, the watershed commission and Three Rivers Parks District already have signed on as funding partners for the Lake Independence Outlet project, McLaughlin said, as he asked for Independence’s financial participation.
Another Lake Independence resident said that hundreds of mature trees along the outlet channel are sitting in water during summer months and soil is being washed into the lake. “Now is the time for action,” he said, before rains come again and raise the water level.

He said Lake Independence has become a seepage lake in which water is sitting and not going anywhere. The lake smells of blue green algae during the summer, he said.

Then the discussion turned to how much Independence was being asked to contribute to the project. Estimated overall cost is $292,000 for channel dredging and vegetation removal, according to an April 17 memo from Jim Kujawa, of Hennepin County Environmental Services. Benefitting cities (Medina and Independence) would share $129,650 of the cost.

But as the Independence City Council discussed the cost of Independence’s share, no one came up with a concrete figure.

“If we don’t have hard numbers, we can’t approve anything,” said City Councilor Brad Fisher.

And City Councilor Brad Spencer said he wanted to make sure Independence residents had enough information about the project and were on board.
In the end, the city council decided to table the request for funding the city’s share of the Lake Independence outlet project so that city staff can bring in more information.

– By Susan Van Cleaf – susan.vancleaf@ecm-inc.com

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Orono Schools will be acknowledged for its accomplishments at the National Forum on Character Education in Washington, D.C., October 24-27.  District representatives have been asked to present and share the district’s success story.

“There is no honor more important to this district,” said Dr. Karen Orcutt, superintendent of schools.  “Now, more than ever, the future of our children depends upon strength of character.  Orono has long been recognized for its academic rigor.  We have worked hard to purposely build this program to complete the package of success for our graduates.  Parents have asked for this, and it’s wonderful to be recognized for work that is above and beyond what a typical school district offers.”

Orono and the other honorees have been spotlighted for their commitment to character education and for fostering a positive environment for social and academic learning.

“Character” is one of three goals in the district’s strategic plan, which was adopted by the Orono School Board in 2012.  The initiative permeates the culture of the school community, from the board table to athletic fields to classrooms to any number of locations where students are involved in service learning projects.

“In Orono, character education goes much deeper than simply a special event or colorful posters in the hall,” Orcutt said.  “Character Education Partnership has 11 principles that define a successful character education program.  Every day, in every aspect of our organization, we do our best to embody these principles in school board actions, budget decisions, classroom discussions, and the behavior of our students and staff.”

Applying for the national award required a lengthy and detailed process in order to document the district’s efforts.  When Orono was designated as a finalist for the national award in March, CEP sent an evaluator to the district.  Dr. David Wangaard, director of The School for Ethical Education in Milford, Conn., visited April 3-4.  He spent the two days interviewing students, principals, teachers and parents, while also observing each of the district’s schools “in action.”  The district’s program was then evaluated by a second individual following Dr. Wangaard’s visit.

The other districts honored are a high school district in East Hanover, N.J., and a large urban district in Greensboro, N.C.  The 29 schools come from a variety of settings – urban, suburban and rural – in 15 states.

The Character Education Partnership is a national advocate and leader for the character education movement.  Based in Washington, D.C., it is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian coalition of organizations and individuals committed to fostering effective character education in the nation’s schools.

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Samantha Hartmann and Nate Seward share a smile after being crowned queen and king of the 2013 Orono High School prom May 3. The coronation followed the 22nd annual grand march in the school gymnasium. Seniors nominate candidates for king and queen, and students who are attending prom cast their votes as they are going through the grand march line. “Masquerade” was the theme of this year’s prom. It was held at the Carlson Towers in Wayzata. (Contributed photo)

Samantha Hartmann and Nate Seward share a smile after being crowned queen and king of the 2013 Orono High School prom May 3. The coronation followed the 22nd annual grand march in the school gymnasium.  Seniors nominate candidates for king and queen, and students who are attending prom cast their votes as they are going through the grand march line.  “Masquerade” was the theme of this year’s prom.  It was held at the Carlson Towers in Wayzata. (Contributed photo)

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Medina Mayor Elizabeth Weir presented a certificate to outgoing Mayor Tom Crosby recognizing him for his service to Medina. Crosby resigned as Mayor April 16 because of his health. (Sun staff photo by Susan Van Cleaf)

Medina is one of 17 cities that have collaborated with each other via the LMCC. The cooperative is in renewal negotiations with Mediacom for cable television service. The current franchise agreement between Mediacom and the LMCC ends on Dec. 15. According to the withdrawal letter, Medina will continue to pay fees to the LMCC until Dec. 15. The letter also says that if the LMCC were to terminate, extend or renew its franchise with Mediacom prior to Dec. 15, Medina would withdraw from the LMCC on the date this happens.

Lack of access to high speed internet and cable TV service has been an issue for some Medina residents and businesses for some time. Both types of signals travel over fiber optic cables provided by Mediacom. Under the current franchise agreement, homes and businesses in rural Medina are located too far apart to be eligible for extension of Mediacom cable infrastructure to them. Four other LMCC cities are similarly underserved, and the LMCC has made full build out of infrastructure a priority in negotiations for the new franchise.

Prompted by resident complaints, Medina has been negotiating directly with Mediacom for cable TV access and services. In April, the city council approved a contract with Mediacom that will go into effect once the city withdraws from the LMCC. Attorney Brian Grogan, of Moss & Barnett, advised the city that it is obligated to stay with the LMCC until the expiration of its current franchise with Mediacom but Medina must submit a withdrawal letter to the LMCC by Oct. 15.

Medina’s contract with Mediacom provides for full build out of cable infrastructure in the city within two to three years.

Recognizing Tom Crosby
Tom Crosby resigned as mayor of Medina April 16 because of his battle with pancreatic cancer and May 7 was recognition time for Crosby. Newly appointed Mayor Elizabeth Weir presented him with a certificate recognizing and honoring him for his dedicated service to the city.

The certificate says, “Mayor Crosby provided extraordinary leadership and guidance on city finance and general budget matters, public improvement projects and matters related to the efficient provision of fire protection to the City.”

Crosby served Medina while the city was involved in a number of significant projects. They included forming the Uptown Hamel Redevelopment District and infrastructure improvements, adopting Medina’s 2010 – 2030 Comprehensive Plan and completing numerous park improvements, such as the field house at Hamel Legion Park, Tomann Preserve and playground equipment. He also was involved in creating a financial management plan and road improvement funding policy and land use development approvals, including Open Systems International, Hamel Station, the Enclave, the Enclave at Brockton Lane and Fields of Medina. Recently, he was involved in purchasing and planning renovations of the Clam Corps office/warehouse building for use by Medina Public Works and Police Departments.

The city council chambers were filled when the council recognized Crosby. Both the audience and council gave him a standing ovation. He said, “I regret having to step down.”

The council also accepted Crosby’s donation of his last salary check for serving as mayor. He has been donating his mayor’s salary to the city.

Oaths of office, acting mayor
At the start of the meeting, Acting Mayor Elizabeth Weir took her oath of office as mayor. This made her Tom Crosby’s official successor. Then Planning Commissioner Kathleen Martin took her oath of office as a city councilor, succeeding Weir.

City Councilors Jeff Pederson and John Anderson both were nominated for acting mayor. After a secret paper ballot, City Administrator Scott Johnson announced that Anderson had won the position on a four to one vote. Anderson moved from the planning commission to his city council seat in January.

Enclave at Brockton
The city council approved the final plat for the Enclave at Brockton third addition, located south of Hamel Legion Park and west of Brockton Lane. The third addition includes 21 detached townhome lots and three outlots to be maintained by the homeowners’ association.

US Home Corporation is the developer for the Enclave at Brockton. The council granted approval for the preliminary plat for the three-phase residential development on July 17, 2012. The plat showed 95 single family homes and 23 detached townhomes.

– By Susan Van Cleaf – susan.vancleaf@ecm-inc.com

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I’m writing today because some of the cities that are currently members are moving toward franchising independently and I am concerned that the ramifications of these actions are not being shared with their resident cable subscribers. For instance, for those of you who are cable subscribers, are you aware that if your city franchises independently with the current cable provider, fees you currently pay on your cable bill that are used to create local community programming, provide transparency in government and give you an outlet for your First Amendment rights will be channeled into a city’s general fund for use in filling pot holes or anything else that your city chooses to use it for?

A prime example is the city of Medina. They have chosen to franchise independently with Mediacom. The agreement they have accepted from Mediacom has you, the cable subscriber, subsidizing them (Mediacom) to finish building out their cable television plant in the Medina area. The city has said that it is doing it in the name of providing broadband internet service to all Medina residents. But if that is the case, why are they putting the financial burden on the shoulders of you cable subscribers? Why should you be paying for someone else to get broadband internet access? Has the city even asked what your thoughts are? Have they surveyed cable subscribers in Medina to ask for their input? No. And you cable subscribers in Medina will be subsidizing Mediacom for more than half of the 10-year franchise they have agreed to.

What else does this mean to cable subscribers in Medina? It means that your current community channels 8, 12, 20 and 21 will be turned off.

That means that as of the end of this year, the LMCC will no longer be covering city council meetings in this area. Airing your local city council meetings provides transparency in government and gives you the opportunity to see if your elected officials are acting on your behalf. We also make these meetings available from our website and link agenda items directly to their location on the video file so that you can get to the information that is important to you quickly and easily.

That means that the LMCC will no longer be providing coverage of school related events that are important to you. You will no longer be able to see high school graduations, band concerts and sporting events that feature your kids or grand kids. Even your local school board meetings will no longer air in the city of Medina.

Local community programming that brings to life the day-to-day activities, local festivals and a variety of concerts in the parks will no longer be available to residents of Medina.

Local elections will be less transparent. The LMCC will no longer be airing candidate statements, forums and debates. Election results for local, state and federal officials that have been available on our channels will not be available to Medina residents.

Freedom of speech will be reduced. That’s right, your First Amendment right to speak your mind will be greatly reduced as you will no longer be able to participate in the public access function of the LMCC. By this, I mean that Medina residents will no longer be able to take free television production classes, create programming about subjects that they are passionate about and have these programs air on the LMCC’s channel 12 for the local community to enjoy.

The quality of service for cable subscribers will also be affected. The LMCC has acted as the public’s liaison over the years, working on behalf of a subscriber when their concerns can’t be resolved by Mediacom. The city of Medina has been told that Mediacom will handle their customer complaints. But when you don’t get satisfaction from Mediacom, who can you then turn to? Nobody. Medina is willing to let Mediacom regulate themselves.

Other member cities in the lake area are also considering franchising independently. So if you are a cable subscriber in the lake area and:
• You don’t want to subsidize a cable company
• You don’t want to see cable fees you pay used to fill potholes
• You want to be able to see all of the very important local school programming
• You want to be able to enjoy the local community programming that exemplifies the quality of life we all enjoy here
• You want to continue to see transparency in government. Both local government meetings and election coverage
• You want to protect your First Amendment right to freedom of speech

And
• You want to ensure great customer service

Then please, please call your city and council members and tell them how important local community television is to you before you lose it.

By Roger Hackbarth. Hackbarth is chair of the LMCC and mayor of Maple Plain.

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The Spartans suffered their first two losses of the season against Waconia before bouncing back to start another winning streak. Pictured is Ellie Wachman. (Photo by Jody Hartmann)

Illness, injury and some defensive miscues contributed to Orono’s first losses of the season as Waconia swept a double header May 9 6-4 and 6-5.

Senior pitcher Samantha Hartmann’s illness along with an injury to Orono’s other starting pitcher, Hannah Bergh, left the Spartans searching for hurlers against the Wildcats. Waconia led 1-0 heading into the third inning when Orono knotted the score on a solo HR by Becky Smith. Waconia regained the lead in the sixth on a solo HR but the Spartans answered with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Shelby Earley laced a RBI single that scored Ellie Wachman and Kaitlin Schaible delivered a key two-out, two-run single that scored Earley and pinch runner Brooklyn Duffy for a 4-2 Orono lead. Unfortunately, Bergh’s injury occurred in her last at bat in the sixth inning and did not allow her to finish the game.  Waconia took advantage of Bergh’s absence and a Spartan error to add four runs in the final frame to secure a 6-4 win.

Bergh suffered the tough luck loss allowing six runs (four ER) on nine
hits while striking out six Waconia hitters.

The Spartans pieced together a pitching staff for game two that featured Kaitlin Schaible, Emily Geelan and Becky Smith.  The trio allowed only five hits but four Spartan errors did in the home team as Waconia took the night cap 6-5.

Orono scored a run in the third inning when Becky Smith singled in Ellie Wachman for a 1-0 lead.  Waconia answered with three runs in its frame to lead 3-1.  However, Orono cut the lead to 3-2 in the fourth inning on a RBI single by Meghan Garry that scored Emily Geelan. Waconia added two more runs before Orono tied the game 5-5 in the fifth inning.  Madison Arends led off with a single, stole second base and scored on a Smith RBI single.  Ellie Wachman scored on a wild pitch and Smith scored the tying run on a RBI base hit by Shelby Earley. However, a base hit and two Spartan errors allowed Waconia to take the lead and hold on for a 6-5 win.

Smith took the loss tossing three innings allowing two runs (0 ER) and
striking out three Waconia batters. Smith finished 3-4 at the plate with two RBI’s while Wachman, E. Geelan and M. Garry each added two hits.  Brooklyn Duffy added the lone extra base hit for OHS – a double.

“Our team battled under some very tough circumstances,” said Orono head coach Mike Carter.  “We put together some comeback innings but our defense just didn’t make the plays.”

Orono had little time to dwell on its losses as they faced New London-Spicer May 10 and easily won 17-0.

The first five Orono hitters reached base and scored enroute to a six-run first inning. Becky Smith stroked a two run triple scoring Ellie Wachman and Madison Arends for a 2-0 lead.  Shelby Earley singled in Smith while Brooklyn Duffy and Erin Garry also added RBI’s. Orono added four more runs in the second inning as Arends, Smith, Earley and Emily Geelan all scored before an out was recorded. Earley, E. Geelan and E. Garry knocked in RBI’s during the inning. The Spartans batted around for the third consecutive inning scoring seven times in the third inning. Smith lined a two-run homer scoring Arends to make it 12-0.  Earley laced a triple and scored on a RBI single by E. Geelan. Brooklyn Duffy followed with a run scoring double to make it 15-0.  E. Garry closed out the scoring with a RBI base hit and a 17-0 Orono win.

Arends went 3-3 with three runs scored while Smith also scored three times and drove in five runs including a HR.  Earley went 3-4 with a double and a triple while E. Geelan added three hits and three RBI’s. Becky Smith started and won her first varsity game in the circle allowing only three hits while striking out seven NL-S hitters.

“It was good to get back in the win column and in a big way,” said Coach Carter.  “Everyone up and down the order contributed to the offense.”

Orono swept a doubleheader May 13 at Mound Westonka 9-0 and 12-1.

In game one, the Spartans jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a two run single by Shelby Earley scoring Ellie Wachman and Becky Smith. Orono added four more runs in the second inning capped by another two-run single by Earley and a 6-0 Orono lead. The Spartan slappers accounted for the next run in the fourth inning. Wachman singled, stole second base and scored on a RBI single by Madison Arends. Orono tacked on a pair of runs in the sixth inning on a two-run tater by Earley – her sixth RBI of the game – scoring Arends for the final 9-0 margin.

Hannah Bergh returned to action tossing four innings of one-hit ball while striking out seven M-W hitters to earn the victory.

Orono scored early in game two batting around the order and scoring five runs. Becky Smith and Shelby Earley each added RBI’s scoring Ellie Wachman and Madison Arends. Brookly Duffy added a big RBI double scoring Emily Geelan and Kaitlin Schaible. The Spartans added four more runs in the second inning as Arends and Earley had base knocks and scored along with Smith and E. Geelan. Hannah Bergh, Schaible and Duffy added RBI’s to push the Spartan lead to 9-0. Meghan Garry added a RBI base hit that scored Schaible in the fourth inning and Schaible closed out the scoring with a RBI base hit in the fifth inning scoring E. Geelan as the Spartans won 12-1.

Duffy had three RBI’s, E. Geelan scored three runs and Wachman, Smith and Erin Garry added extra base hits.

Hannah Bergh earned her second consecutive win allowing only one hit while striking out seven M-W hitters.

Orono’s offense continued swinging the bats May 14 as the Spartans defeated Litchfield 21-0.

OHS nearly batted around the order twice in the first inning scoring 13 times on 10 base hits. Madison Arends, Becky Smith, Shelby Earley and Emily Geelan each scored twice in the first inning while Smith, Earley, E. Geelan and Kaitlin Schaible drove in two runs in the inning.  Hannah Bergh had three RBI’s in the same inning including her third HR of the season. Orono added seven more runs in the second inning as Smith, E. Geelan and Erin Garry each drove in two runs apiece.  Wachman, Arends and Bergh also added hits in the inning. In addition to Bergh’s homer, the Spartans added seven doubles – Arends, Smith, Earley, E. Geelan, M. Garry and E. Garry (two) – and a triple by Earley.

Smith and E. Geelan each had four RBI’s while Arends, Smith, Earley, E. Geelan and M. Garry each scored three runs.

In addition, to the offensive output, Hannah Bergh tossed her second no-hitter of the season.  The junior right-hander struck out the first nine Litchfield hitters enroute to a 13 K complete game.

Orono closes out the regular season on the road at Glencoe-Silver Lake and at Forest Lake before heading into Section 6AAA play the week of May 20.

– By Jon Arends, Correspondent

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