Rosemount City Council Honors Volunteers

Tuesday night’s Rosemount City Council meeting was standing room only – not because of any controversial items on the agenda, but because the council paid tribute to volunteers who have pitched in for the community over the past year.

This is the eighth year that the council has honored residents during National Volunteer Week. City employees ask the public to suggest the names of volunteers to be honored, partially in hopes of encouraging more residents to step up.

On Tuesday night, Rosemount Mayor William Droste presented piles of certificates to volunteers who spilled out the door of the city council chambers – and who posed for a big group photo once all the certificates had been distributed.

“We’re going to have to stand in the parking lot to get everyone in the picture,” one amateur photographer remarked.

The volunteers recognized this year were divided into groups based on the kind of work they did. The groups and volunteers are:

Leprechaun Days and the Haunted Woods Trail: Tom Anderson, Steve Ball, Justin and Jordan Bottem, LaDonna Boyd, Bob, Nathan and Willie Brawley, Laura Briggs, Lindsey Brotzler, Dale Dose, Laura Emiola, Craig Evans, Shannon George, Abby Guse, Rich Herman, Barb Hester, the Sam Holl family, Gene Illg, Tad Johnson, Peggy Johnson, Jodi Lucas, Justin Lecher, Randy Komorouski, June and Bob Korthauerer, Darline Lehmann, Tim Little, John and Ann Loch, Gerald Mattson, Amy Murphy, Matt Poepl, Rosemarie and Elaine Ratzlaff, Brenda Reedy, Cheryl Ruud, Jane and Bob Schwartz, Gene and Pat Stiles, Marcia Toombs, Lynda and Joe Weber, Diane Wellman, Alice Wenzel and Tom Werner.

The council also recognized Maureen and Mike Bouchard, who have volunteered with Leprechaun Days, the Haunted Woods Trail and Breakfast with Santa for many years, and Joe Walsh for his work on Leprechaun Days, the Haunted Woods Trail and the spring egg hunt.

Education: Kim Michie, Margaret Miller and Tracy Monro-Moran from Diamond Path Elementary School; Jeannette Appold and Nancy Engel from Red Pine Elementary School; Jane Lindemuth and Arlen Evanson from Rosemount Elementary School; Rebecca Busho, Theresa Temple and Michele Snare from Rosemount High School; Kris McKenzie, Donna Welshons and Kate Molitor from Rosemount Middle School; Cheri and Larry Pelzel, Carol Miller and Chris Hollenbeck from Shannon Park Elementary School; and Laurie Dahlback, Darin and Dawn Thureen and Beth Donahue from St. Joseph Catholic School.

Girl Scouts: Dawn Clarin, Kristin Smith, Joann Murphy, Julie Kropelnicki and Lisa Reitsma.

Police: Chuck Parrish, Mario DiLodovico, Kenneth Engberg, Dick Knights, Gene Allen, Bruce Berkebile, Kim Ericksen, Scott Wiig, Chuck Parrish, Stacy Heins, Christine Orthmann, Caren Mogen and Dan Wolfe from the Rosemount Police Reserves; and Bruce Bentley, the Rev. Gary Ohlemacher, the Rev. Neil Ristow and the Rev. Mike Markley, police chaplains.

Wetland monitoring: Brian Berggren, Barbara Berggren, Emily Rekstad, Janell Miersch, Jane Porterfield, Denise Wilkens, Tom Wilkens, Dan Stinnett and Terry Pearson.Recreation programs: Renae Otto, Alex Roby, Emma Baker, Stormi Leininger, Rachel Otto, Abby Tesch, Gabby Green and Audrey Powell. Mike and Lynette Hatlen were also nominated for their work on the community tennis block party.

Adopt a Park: Tom, Monica, Sara and Nicholas Bayer, Birch Park; Nicholas, Alex and Karla Dyson, Biscayne Park; Simply Massage, Bloomfield Park; the Engel family, Brockway Park; Disc Golf Crazy, Brockway Park Disc Golf Course; Rosemount Moms Club, Camfield Park; Steven Murphy, Carroll’s Woods; the Spangler family, Central Park; the Steinle family, Charlies Park; Pat, Connie, Ryan, Maria and Blake Gilson, Chippendale and Twin Puddles parks; the Murphy family, Claret Park; the Swanson family, Connemara Park; the Otto family, Dallara Park; Rosemount Knights of Columbus and Columbian Squires and Squirettes, Erickson Park; the Otto family, Innisfree Park; Alec, Kim, Noah and Sophia Gorjestani, Jaycee Park; Community of Hope Church, Kidder Park; the Haage, Peterson and Studley families, Lions Park; the Bukovich, Toll, Wolf, Fliger, Lang and Tyrrell families, Meadows Park; Fluegel’s Farm, Garden and Pet, Schwarz Pond Park; and the Mullin family, Winds Park. The council also recognized Eagle Scout William Leidig for his volunteer work on the Brockway Park Disc Golf Course.

Social services and general support: Curtis Rons and the volunteers of 360 Communities for their work with food shelves and food distribution; MRCI WorkSource for its rehabilitation services; and the Rosemount Rotary Club for its volunteer and charitable work in the community.

Also Tuesday, the council unanimously approved expansion of the Glendalough 4th Addition. The expansion will add 25 lots to the area.