Jordan Independent | www.jordannews.com
May 19, 2011 | Page 21
ourNeighbors State seeks input on river crossings BY SHANNON FIECKE
[email protected] Give your opinion
If only solving the problem of flooded river crossings were as easy as hauling in some dirt and jacking up the roads. It’s not, at least according to the initial analysis of engineers considering how to make area crossings less susceptible to flooding. The public is encouraged to attend an open house Tuesday in Chaska, where the first results of a major river crossing study will be released. The Minnesota Department of Transportation commissioned the study to look at what it would take to raise local river crossings after the main arteries between Scott and Carver counties shuttered twice in one year, clogging Highway 169 with extra traffic. Engineers have looked at a myriad of options and narrowed the solutions down to one proposal per problematic river crossing. They have developed a design for both the f lood-prone Highway 41 and County Road 101 crossings, as well as alternatives for adding capacity to the Highway 169 bridge, which is flood proof. Although the Highway 169 river crossing is less than 16 years old, it does not have suf-
The state is asking for your opinion during a flood study open house. I When: 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 24 I Where: Chaska Community Center I Info: dot.state.mn.us/ metro/floodstudy
ficient capacity to efficiently handle the amount of traffic detoured during flooding. As the local population has ballooned, flooding also seems to have increased in frequency. While a bridge on the magnitude of Highway 169 is envisioned someday near Chaska, actual construction might be many decades away, given recent funding levels. This leaves transportation officials looking for a cheaper alternative to the area’s flooding problems. These current options are being considered, according to Scott County Transportation Director Lisa Freese: I Add fi ll to make the Highway 41 crossing higher near the present bridge at downtown Chaska. Further south construct a “land bridge,”
which is a slab built on series of piers. The land bridge allows water to flow through without blocking up elsewhere. I Construct a longer land bridge for the 101 river crossing over the backwaters between Shakopee and Chanhassen. This would replace a present small backwater bridge. I Permanently restripe the Bloomington Ferry Bridge area for additional lanes as was done temporarily during the spring flood. Making this permanent would require shoulder work on the southbound side and modification of the Old Shakopee Road ramps. I Expand the deck on the Bloomington Ferry Bridge to add a lane each direction. The bridge structure was built to accommodate a larger deck. This option is much more costly than restriping, however, and could require modifications to the smaller bridges that feed the main bridge over the Minnesota River. The state, which conducted hydraulic work to determine the impact of various designs, will do further cost-analysis of the fi nal options after public feedback. Engineers are looking for the public’s thoughts on the options, as well as any issues
engineers might not have considered. “The report will be a lot better if we get more public feedback,” MnDOT spokesman J.P. Gillach said. MnDOT plans to complete the study by this fall, before a remaining pot of state bridge money is allocated. The study will look at the benefit-cost ratio of the alternatives to come up with a preferred solution. While flooded river crossings greatly burden commuters, the state will also have to consider whether the costs of additional commute times outweigh the expense of modifying the river crossings. Even raising the crossings does not ensure they would survive a major, major flood. In fact, the 1965 flood would have shuttered highways 41 and 101, even with the proposed fi xes, said Freese. Likewise, the roads may also have been closed by one to two other flood events, although the duration would likely have been shorter, she said. The public will be able to learn more about that at the open house, as well as view what alternatives the state bypassed.
BIRTHDAYS Marty Beckman, May 6 Keith Hartman, May 6 Amy Sheprow, May 6 Patricia Suel, May 6 Rhonda Zweber, May 6 Brian Bohlsen, May 7 Jonathan Cragoe, May 8 Christopher Lindly, May 8 Adrian Stitch, May 8 Michael B. Beckius, May 9 Pam Beckius, May 9 Heidi Herman, May 9 Angela Jabs, May 9 Dana Jabs, May 9 Michael Mullin, May 9 Joannie Pieper, May 9 Nick Zahler, May 9 Ron Goss, May 10 Mary McAndrews, May 10 Matthias Eichten, May 11 Michael Pieper, May 11
Dr. James Schorn, May 11 Natalie Tieben, May 11 Gerald Bendzick, May 12 David Buss, May 12 Sandra Hessing, May 12 Steve Kochlin, May 12 Owen Kragthorpe, May 12 Jeremy Nemitz, May 12 Craig Breimhorst, May 13 Rosalia Breunig, May 13 Devlin Hawkins, May 13 Michael Malz, May 13 Mike Seifert, May 13 Joe Will, May 13 Mitchell Morlock, May 14 Chuck Mornson, May 14 Katherine Pieper, May 14 Mari Amalia Vourlos, May 14 Merrie Wolf, May 14 Brandon Gutzmer, May 15 Dan Hennen, May 15
Pat Kotasek, May 15 Kelsey Pekarna, May 15 Judy Pint, May 15 Tommy P. Seifert, May 15 Laureen Stier, May 15 Jacob Sunder, May 15 Brandon Burtts, May 16 James Grassman, May 16 David Bartyzal, May 16 Doug Lake, May 16 Joseph Lindly, May 16 David Skogland, May 16 Cindy Wermerskirchen, May 16 Mary Ann Hagg, May 17 John Tieben, May 17 Robert Wagner, May 17 Larry Wilson, May 17 Michael Bonner, May 18 Albie Breimhorst, May 18 Betty Carlson, May 18 David Skluzacek, May 18
Gloria Bandy, May 19 Daniel Geis, May 19 Nate Kochlin, May 19 Ron Stang, May 19 Neil Zimmerman, May 19 Nathan Beckrich, May 20 Norma Bendzick, May 20 Nancy Goss, May 20 Terri Kreuser, May 20 Kayla Mikonowicz, May 20 Mary Jo Pauly, May 20 Stephen Busch, May 21 The Rev. Robert Bushaw, May 21 Cathy Gosewisch, May 21 Stacy Gutzmer, May 21 Gregg Pekarna, May 21 Tony Robling, May 21 Steve Davis, May 22 Terri Lynn Krautkremer, May 22 Jane Myers, May 22 Brian Gaukstad, May 23
Peter Guenther, May 23 Christian James Lenzen, May 23 Walter Lucius, May 23 John Meyer, May 23 Leo Mornson, May 23 Bradley Pekarna, May 23 Kristin Pauly Thomas, May 23 Mark Wolf, May 23 Keegan Breeggemann, May 24 Charles J. Busch, May 24 Don Carlson, May 24 Alice Cronk, May 24 Makenzie Ochoa, May 24 Scott Pauly, May 24 Katherine Pekarna, May 24 Cyril Wolf, May 24 Lisa Koenig, May 25 Kurt Schansberg, May 25 David Carlson, May 26 Kevin Hartman, May 26 Paul Lambrecht, May 26
REDISTRICTING
Jordan should expect changes BY SHANNON FIECKE
[email protected] The districts represented by the two state legislators from Jordan would be dramatically altered, should a plan unveiled earlier this month by state House Republicans become law. With massive population gains over the last decade, all of Scott County is re-scrambled in the House redistricting plan, which provides more seats to growing outer-ring suburbs at the expense of the corners of the state. The county, which contains all or part of six House districts, would gain two additional state representatives. State Sen. Claire Robling of Spring Lake Township, who represents the largest portion of Scott County in the most populated Senate district in the state, would see her district drastically shrink. Prior Lake and Shakopee, which are combined in House District 35A, would split ways. Instead, P rior Lake wou ld be paired with Spring Lake Township and western Savage, paving the way for a totally new state representative. The area would still be part of Robling’s Senate district, however. Republican state Rep. Michael Beard of Shakopee would have no competition from another incumbent as Shakopee would be paired with adjacent Louisville and Jackson townships, which share the Shakopee zip code, but are currently joined with a Carver County House district represented by Ernie Leidiger of rural Mayer. Likewise, it appears Rep. Mark Buesgens, R- Jordan, would also face no incumbent.
However, his House district, contained solely in Scott County, would look much different after losing Savage and gaining a swath of Rice County. Scott County now has six state representatives, with Beard and Buesgens representing the largest part of the county. This is just the fi rst phase of the redistricting process. It might be u n li kely the House plan is adopted, although it still provides a good perspective of what could become of Scott County. The Senate must still put out its version, and DFL Gov. M a rk Day ton h a s s a id he would only sign a plan that carries bipartisan support. If a compromise can’t be reached, the courts will eventually redraw the political boundaries. A ll seem to recog nize redi st ric ti ng wi l l favor Republicans, given population g a i n s i n G OP-held a r e a s. However, DFLers complain the House redistricting maps overly favor Republican incumbents a nd t hey wer e a s s emble d without their input. The House plan combines incumbents from 2 0 House districts across the state and six in the Senate. Half of House members pitted against each other would be DFLer against DFLer, four pit a Republican against a DFLer and only one pits a Republican against a Republican. In the Senate, three DFLers would face three of their party peers. Republicans argue that the plan is fair and reflects that GOP-held districts grew an average of 4,800 in population versus seats held by DFLers that grew by only 650.
publicnotices continued from previous page Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 File Number: Date Filed: April 21, 2011 The filing of an assumed name does not provide a user with exclusive rights to that name. The filing is required as a consumer protection, in order to enable consumers to be able to identify the true owner of a business. 1. State the exact assumed name under which the business is or will be conducted: Treasured Learners LLC 2. State the address of the principal place of business. A complete street address or rural route and rural route box number is required; the address cannot be a P.O. Box: 1028 Falcon Way, Jordan MN 55352 3. List the name and complete street address of all persons conducting business under the above Assumed Name, OR if an entity, provide the legal corporate, LLC, or Limited Partnership name and registered office address. Attach additional sheet(s) if necessary: Treasured Learners LLC – 1028 Falcon Way, Jordan, MN 55352 4. 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. Signature: Mary K Mikonowicz – Owner Mark Mikonowicz - Contact Person 952-240-5460 Date: April 12, 2011 (Published in the Jordan Independent on Thursday, May 19 and 26, 2011; No. 1834)
Public Notice deadline for the Jordan Independent is at 4 p.m. on Thursday for the following week's issue Faxes are not accepted.
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