I’m off to sunny Indianapolis, Indiana today to attend the annual conference of the National League of Cities (NLC). I try to attend this conference every year. I find it more valuable, personally, than attending annual city manager-oriented conferences. I like the focus of the NLC conference on elected officials. [...]
Monthly Archives: November 2004
The Rings
November 29, 2004 – 8:02 am
Do you know what these are? Anyone? Anyone?
They’re manhole rings. Some people call them “donuts”.
Think of the manhole as a vertical tunnel, or a “chimney”. The manhole is the vertical access point to the underground sewer system. Sewers can be anywhere from 8 to 40 feet underground, so in order [...]
Thanks for Thanksgiving
November 25, 2004 – 7:50 am
I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a family that I love and that loves me. I have reasonably good health. I enjoy my job and the people that I both work with and for. I have a home and plenty to eat.
Not so for the [...]
Fire Station 4
November 24, 2004 – 7:29 am
At the City Council last night the Council approved a purchase agreement to purchase a vacant 3.6 acre parcel of land at the intersection of Dell and Lindwood as the site of future Fire Station #4.
Currently, we have three stations. One in the NW quadrant of the City near Round Lake Park. [...]
National Bible Week
November 22, 2004 – 1:19 pm
Did you know that this week - November 21-28, 2004 - is National Bible Week? The promotion of National Bible Week is sponsored by The National Bible Association . The National Bible Association (and because of the violent events of this past weekend in Detroit, I will not hang the acronym ‘NBA’ on [...]
Adaptive Reuse Redux
November 21, 2004 – 7:03 pm
At our upcoming City Council meeting this week (Tuesday, November 23rd) a motion will be before the Council that concerns the future of the Cummins-Grill Homestead. The Cummins-Grill Homestead includes a house and its adjoining land. It was purchased by the City in the 1980’s to preserve the land for future park uses. [...]
Cold Public Art
November 19, 2004 – 11:36 am
A couple of weeks ago the Mayor received a letter from the Nicollet Mall Advisory Board (that’s in Minneapolis for my out-of-town readers) asking if our City would be interested in serving as the new home to piece of public art that they were interested in retiring. The piece of art is known as [...]
State Wide Smoking Ban?
November 17, 2004 – 8:12 am
In a Star Tribune article last week, Governor Tim Pawlenty has said that he would sign legislation approving a statewide ban on smoking in most public places, if such a bill ever got to his desk.
That’s quite a signal for the Governor to send the Legislature. Quite overt. No posturing for [...]
The Cost of Ice
November 15, 2004 – 7:56 am
Earlier this year, City staff brought a problem to the City Council. The problem was that we had figured out that we were losing substantial amounts of Freon from the freezing system that froze the ice in Rink #1 at the Community Center. Figuring this out meant that we had to address the [...]
It’s The Little Things
November 10, 2004 – 7:59 am
I think that people live in Eden Prairie for a reason, and it’s not because we offer the lowest possible property tax rates in the metro area. We don’t. I think that people live here because, overall, Eden Prairie offers the best combination of value and quality of life in the Twin Cities [...]
Home For Sale
November 9, 2004 – 6:42 am
The City of Eden Prairie is offering for sale this wonderful classic rambler located on a nature preserve with beautiful panoramic views. On the 1/2 acre property sits a 4 BR, 2 BA home with a finished basement and hardwood floors. This 1965 home features many updates such as newer roof, central air, and [...]
The Performance Partnership
November 8, 2004 – 7:50 am
That’s Lisa Rund on the right. Lisa works in the City’s Human Resources Division. She’s training a group of ten employees, including Dave Buswell on the left of our Assessing Division, last Friday afternoon on the City’s new employee performance management program called: The Performance Partnership.
Many cities, maybe even most cities, use some kind [...]
The Results Are In
November 4, 2004 – 8:55 am
Election day is done, and was it ever a big day in our country this year. I won’t tread into a rehash of the state and national results, but I will share with you our local results from here in Eden Prairie.
Butcher Re-elected, Aho Elected to Eden Prairie City Council
In a field of [...]
Election Day in America
November 2, 2004 – 8:55 am
Need I say more…….
Today is the day. Today we decide who will be our President; who will represent the Minnesota 3rd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives; who will represent MN House Districts 42-A and 42-B; who will fill two open seats on the Eden Prairie City Council; and whether or not our [...]
