Politics & Government
Apple Valley 2011 Year in Review: State Shutdown, Massage Licensing Make Top Government Stories
Remember the state government shutdown? City council discussions about massage therapy licensing? Revisit it all here.
Remember the state government shutdown? City council discussions about massage therapy licensing? Revisit some of the notable government-related stories of 2011.
Local
Apple Valley City Council Approves Massage Therapy Licensing Ordinance
After several discussions of the matter amongst its members and the business community since late in 2010, in March the Apple Valley City Council approved a new ordinance requiring massage therapists and businesses to be licensed.
Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Prior to the passage, Apple Valley was one of few communities in the area without a licensing ordinance; the city had several occurrences of massage-related prostitution since 2006, the most recent in February when an Apple Valley police investigation found evidence that prostitution services were being offered at the business iMassage, and the owners were charged in Dakota County District Court with counts of prostitution and disorderly house.
Find out what's happening in Apple Valley-Rosemountwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The city council approved plans for a new clubhouse more than double the square footage of the one that has sat at since 1980. Funding for the clubhouse, on which construction began in the fall, is coming in $1 million from the city parks dedication fund and in a $2 million loan from the future capital projects fund.
Construction on Cedar Avenue to implement a new bus rapid transit system began in April and continued through the fall in Apple Valley and Lakeville. More road work is slated for the spring, with the bus system slated to start up in fall 2012.
From the first snowfall of winter 2010/11 through late January 2011, Apple Valley snow plow crews had cleared 50 inches of snow from city roads—quite the contrast to this winter.
Apple Valley was one of a handful of cities nationwide selected to receive a special consultation and development suggestions from the American Institute of Architects. An architect team came to Apple Valley in July to tour the city, listen to residents and officials and provide their suggestions for how Apple Valley can develop around its coming transitway.
Incumbent candidates Joel Albright, Rob Duchscher, Jackie Magnuson and Bob Schutte won back their seats for another four years during the November general election, during which District 196 school board was the only local race.
Hooppaw is now through nearly a year of his first term on city council, after former councilmember Sharon LaComb decided not to run for re-election.
State
Apple Valley's city government functions that lasted from July 1-20, but many businesses in Apple Valley were on their toes as news came out that MillerCoors hadn't renewed its brand license in Minnesota, so it was possible that bars, restaurants and liquor stores would have to pull those products from their shelves. It was enough to get people to stock up on MillerCoors' many beer brands.
Judge Rules Minnesota Zoo Can Reopen after initially closing for the state government shutdown
The fought even before the state government shutdown to be able to stay open; though it was not deemed essential, attorneys argued that the zoo could sustain itself for the season without the 29 percent revenue the government provides. After shutting down July 1 and 2, Judge Kathleen Gearin ruled that the zoo could reopen July 3.
Apple Valley's two state House Reps. Kurt Bills and Tara Mack, and Sen. Chris Gerlach, voted in favor of putting a bill to put a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman in front of voters on the 2012 ballot.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.