by Kara Hildreth and Pam Rutyna
Thisweek Newspapers

This year brought many changes to Farmington City Hall.

In January, former City Council Member Kevan Soderberg took over as mayor of Farmington and welcomed three new members to the city council.

David McKnight, a county administrator, and David Pritzlaff, the owner of a window and door business, joined the city council after winning the November election.

With Soderberg taking office as the mayor, his council seat became empty. It wasn't long before Steve Wilson was chosen to fill the spot. Wilson finished third in the November election behind Pritzlaff.

However, after the City Council welcomed a new mayor and three council members, staff at city hall said goodbye to its city administrator.

In August, Dave Urbia, who had been Farmington's city administrator since January 2004, resigned by "mutual agreement.î In September, he left and Robin Roland, Farmington's director of finance, was appointed acting city administrator.

The search began in October, when 28 people applied. Throughout the process, that number was narrowed to 11, then five and then three. Currently, there are two candidates left, Peter Herlofsky and Jeff O'Neill, as the city continues to conduct background checks and management assessments.

The city hopes to hire the new city administrator in January 2006.

Buss sentenced

Former Farmington Police Officer Jermey Buss pleaded guilty in January to third-degree criminal sexual conduct, a felony, in connection with a sexual relationship he developed with a 16-year-old Farmington girl. That same month, Buss resigned from the department.

Buss admitted he understood what he did was wrong and told the girl it was illegal.

In April, Buss was sentenced to serve 120 days in jail, and received probation for up to eight years. The judge also ordered Buss to pay $1,200 in fines.

Buss was also ordered to register as a predatory offender for 10 years and was not allowed to have contact with minor females with the exception of his immediate family.

Ash Street

As the Dakota County Fair approached in 2005, the city continued to improve Ash Street, a project that it began in 2004. The proposed plan was to add sidewalks that would run east-west along the street, as well as improving the actual street and drainage.

Discussions heated up in March as a few local residents, opposed the Ash Street construction.

Former Farmington Mayor Gerald Ristow owned property along Ash Street, which included several Colorado spruce trees that extended into the right of way. While the trees were on Ristow's property, they were in the way of the sewer and water hook-up being installed up to his property.

Throughout the spring, the city and Ristow tried to work out an agreement that would save the trees. However, in the end, the two parties could not agree.

In August, under the right of eminent domain, the city cut the spruces down to make way for the sewer line.

In response, Ristow threatened to sue Soderberg, as well as City Council Members Christy Jo Fogarty and David Pritzlaff for discrimination.

The city was able to reach agreement with the other 45 property owners along Ash Street, Ristow's property was the only one that ended up in the condemnation process.

Vermillion River Crossings

A new retail development was discussed in 2005, as the city revealed plans for Vermillion River Crossings commercial shopping development.

The development includes seven out-lots of one acre each that will parallel Highway 50 and frame the entrance to the commercial site and four multi-tenant buildings of approximately 25,000 square feet each set up for retailers.

Architectural features of the Vermillion River Crossings development include building surfaces of brick, stone, glass decorative block, two-story facades and awning and canopies designed to "pick up a theme of the Vermillion River.î

A new Spruce Street bridge will likely be built in 2006 that will connect Spruce Street with the future development.

Currently Spruce Street ends on the west end at Denmark Avenue, so the new bridge will swing north and cross over the Vermillion River to offer a connection for consumers.

Both the bridge and shopping development are slated to complete construction in 2006.

Accident

Boe Barlage, of Farmington, was charged in January after an Oct. 10, 2004 accident that resulted in the death of three brothers.

Barlage pled guilty March 7, 2005 to three counts of criminal vehicular homicide in connection with the fatal car accident.

Brothers Matthew, 20, Jacob, 17, and 16-year-old Justin Backstrom of Hampton Township were killed in the accident. Matthew, 20, was driving and his younger brother Justin, 16, died at the scene of the accident, and the third brother, Jacob, 17, was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul where he died the following morning.

Barlage was speeding and talking on his cellular phone as he drove on Highway 50 east of Farmington and lost control of his vehicle as he attempted to pass another vehicle. Barlage's blood alcohol content was .15, above the legal limit.

Barlage, 23, was sentenced to eight years in jail. Barlage also had an additional four-year prison term stayed and was placed on probation for an additional seven years. As a condition of his probation, Barlage will not be allowed to use drugs or alcohol, must submit to random drug and alcohol tests and must make at least six presentations every year about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Wind storm

An estimated 400 to 500 trees suffered severe to moderate damage during an early morning Friday, June 24, windstorm that ravaged the downtown Farmington area.

Powerful winds knocked down trees, which brought down numerous power lines, and robbed power from many of the city's homes and businesses at about 6:30 a.m. Every street downtown was blocked by tree branches.

"It was like a war zone,î said one resident after the storm.

News of the storm damage spread quickly as work crews from Farmington and Lakeville, which also was hard hit by the storm, took to the streets. Help also came from Rosemount, Apple Valley, Northfield and other area cities.

Rambling River Days

The first Rambling River Days showed to be a success in Farmington this year as a summer community celebration that ran from June 24 to June 26.

The community event replaced Dew Days that was celebrated in Farmington for 25 years, said Kris Akin, one of the event's coordinators.

"A lot of new residents couldn't relate to what Dew Days meant,î Akin said.

The new name Rambling River Days reflects the city's relationship with the Vermillion River, called the Rambling River by many locals in Farmington.

Harbee Tharaldson was the grand marshal for the Grand Day Parade and the hometown honorees named were Louis Schmitz and Jerome Wacker.

Solider dies

Farmington native Joshua Lund, a sergeant in the Minnesota National Guard, died in Sept. 18 in a rollover car accident on his way to Camp Ripley where he planned to begin deployment to the Mideast to assist in the efforts in the Iraq war.

Lund, 22, was a member of the 134th Brigade Support Battalion, was remembered by family, friends and school leaders as a young man devoted to his country.

"He cared about people . . . he cared about life,î said his father, David Lund, who described his son as very dedicated and proud to serve. He said his son often volunteered to help with ceremonies and other events to represent the Minnesota National Guard.

Lund joined the National Guard in June 2000 while he was still a Farmington High School student and later graduated from
Farmington High School in 2001.

Lund attended Dakota County Technical College and was studying architecture. Lund told family and friends when he returned from deployment, he was going to try out for the St. Paul Saints baseball team.

"No matter how long it took,î his father said, "He didn't care about playing for money, he just enjoyed the game.î

Community notification

Emotions ran high as Farmington residents listened and spoke out at a community notification meeting held Oct. 11 at Farmington High School to inform residents about a Level 3 sex offender who moved into the Farmington community.

The school auditorium was filled with residents who listened, asked questions and spoke out in concern. Residents included concerned parents, child care providers, and local, state and county law officials who showed up to give information and answer questions.

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