A plethora of residents were interested in serving on the Minnetonka City Council. Among the 37 applicants were some well known names in the realm of local politics including former council members, a former Minnetonka mayor, a former Hennepin County Commissioner, Shorewood's finance director and three members of the Minnetonka Park Board. A seat on the council was open after Terry Schneider was appointed to the mayor's seat. The seat was vacated when Jan Callison was elected to the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners. The council whittled the list down to eight candidates and eventually appointed Amber Greves to the Minnetonka City Council at a Jan. 26 meeting. Greves works as a speech pathologist in the Minnetonka School District and was a member of the Minnetonka Park Board.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture hosted an open house in Minnetonka for residents to learn more about gypsy moths and the proposed treatment.
Twelve Wayzata High School students witnessed presidential history, when they traveled to Washington, D.C. for the inauguration of Barack Obama.
On Jan. 15, Corey Omar Posley-Wells pleaded guilty to the murder of Irene Kunze. Kunze was 90 when she was murdered on July 7, 2008. She was taking out the garbage when Posley-Wells spotted her and thought she would make a good robbery target.
The Wayzata City Council discussed building a new restaurant and liquor store on Lake Street, on property referred to as the Eastman site. The city was looking for a new location because of the expected redevelopment of the Wayzata Bay Center, where the muni is currently located. When residents caught wind of the proposal, it was met with objections. By the end of the Jan. 20 meeting, residents left without a clear answer about where the city will relocate the muni.
The Excelsior City Council was disappointed in a downtown parking study. Representatives from URS Corp. presented the study at a Jan. 20 meeting. Council members asked for more depth and expressed frustration that it repeated much of the same information other studies stated.
Al and Alma's added an 83-foot yacht to its fleet, which made the yacht the largest charter boat on Lake Minnetonka. The yacht has a capacity for 149 passengers.
February
Former U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad was named a resident fellow at the Institute of Politics, which is part of Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
The Minnetonka School Board gave the go-ahead Feb. 5 for the opening of the School for the Exceptionally Gifted at Excelsior and Scenic Heights elementary schools for the 2009-10 school year. The school will be open to third, fourth and fifth grade students who demonstrate a specified level of intelligence during interviews and assessments tests. Unlike traditional grade separated classrooms, the exceptionally gifted students will learn in a classroom together. It's estimated that 40-50 students will enroll in the school in its first year.
Lois Langer Thompson was appointed as the new director of the Hennepin County Library system. Thompson was appointed to the position on Feb. 16. She has held the role as interim library director since September of 2008, when Amy Ryan moved to Boston to head up libraries there. Thompson has worked for the library system since 1988.
On Feb. 19, the Minnetonka Planning Commission reviewed plans to build a senior apartment building in Glen Lake. The building, one of three in the Glen Lake redevelopment, was originally planned to be 100 condos. But with the market, St. Therese Southwest instead proposed to construct a $25 million building with 150 senior apartments. The Planning Commission recommended approving the proposal and the City Council was expected to discuss it in March. By the time the proposal was before the City Council on March 23, the St. Therese proposal was struggling to get financing. So the council approved a redevelopment contract that sets the stage for any senior housing provider to build on the site.
March
Randall McDaniel, a 2009 Hall of Fame inductee who played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1988-1999, continued work as a second grade helper with the Westonka School District. "Football was such a small part of my life, but if that's my hook, it works," he said. "I love it when I can hide out here with the kids and just be Mr. McDaniel." When a paraprofessional position opened up at Hilltop for the 2008-09 school year, McDaniel applied, interviewed and got the position. "I think what the teachers at the school realize is that he just wanted to be a normal guy that helps kids learn. He doesn't talk football, he talks education," said Hilltop Elementary principal Nancy Benz.
The fate of a new Excelsior Library was uncertain after Hennepin County Administrator Richard Johnson recommended that the project be delayed beyond 2013. The county library's 2006 capital plan had recommended the Excelsior Library in the list of capital improvements for 2007-13.
In an attempt to expand appreciation for the arts, the Plymouth City Council adopted a public art policy at its March 10 meeting. The city's art collection includes four pieces, valued at $73,000. In addition, the city commissioned a sculpture for the Millennium Garden, valued at $40,000.
Minnetrista was set to move ahead with its $7.3 million plan to build a new police and public work facility despite residents' concerns. A group of residents opposing the construction organized a group called Save Minnetrista. The group wanted residents to vote on the project in a referendum and maintained that a recession wasn't a good time to build.
The Excelsior City Council came to agreement with developer Jon Monson regarding who should pay for the costs accrued during discussions about development at the Port of Excelsior. The city had initially billed Monson nearly $24,000. Monson contended that he didn't owe anything because he didn't make a formal application to build. At their March 16 meeting, Excelsior council members agreed, approving a statement that said there was justifications for both points of view, but Monson wasn't obligated to pay. The agreement called for Monson to voluntarily contribute $5,000, which his attorney called a gesture of goodwill.
Plymouth's Erica Nego, who was the reigning Miss Minnesota USA, traveled to Las Vegas in April to compete in the Miss USA pageant.
The mural "The Cultivation of Raspberries," which graced the old Hopkins Post Office walls before the post office was demolished, returned to Hopkins. A photographic reproduction of a portion of the mural was installed at the Hopkins Center for the Arts, as well as the Hopkins City Hall and the Hopkins Historical Society.
April
The Wayzata City Council grappled with a stunning shortfall in projected permit fees. The city had planned to collect $287,000 in permit fees this year. By April, that projection was altered to $52,720. The council discussed eliminating three employees, laying off two seasonal gardeners, stopping publication of the city's newsletter and eliminating lifeguard service.
Plymouth roads went without major work this summer after the Plymouth City Council voted to reject all bids it received to complete major road reconstruction projects. "It looks like we probably won't have a project this year. That's really bad," said Council Member Bob Stein (Ward 3). Citing concerns about residents' ability to pay in tough economic times, council members voted April 14 to reject all bids they received for road reconstruction projects in the Kingsview Heights and Circle Park neighborhoods.
May
The former House of Moy was demolished in Mound during a training exercise for public safety personnel. Dubbed Operation Black Cat, the exercise included 20 cities and agencies. It was organized to test Lake Minnetonka's regional emergency preparedness plan.
Susie Overvold was named Mrs. Excelsior International 2010. She represented the city in the 2010 Mrs. Minnesota International Pageant. "Pageantry has always been a dream of mine," said Overvold.
The Minnetonka City Council took a first look at a social host ordinance at its May 4 meeting. Under a social host ordinance, those who provide space for parties that feature underage drinking can be vulnerable to charges.
A Minnetonka police officer was charged with felony, first degree burglary for allegedly breaking into a Chanhassen residence to steal pain medicine. Daniel Saba, a Shorewood resident who had been on administrative leave from his job and had served on the Minnetonka Police Department for 13 year, admitted that he was addicted to pain medication and had broken into the residence, according to a complaint filed May 8.
The Minnetrista City Council gave final approval to the details of its $6.1 million police and public works building project during a May 11 meeting, in a 4-1 vote.
June
The Hopkins United Methodist Church, at 717 W. Highway 7, closed after 124 years in the community. "It's like losing a family member. You end up grieving about it," said Bob Buehler, chair of the church council. The church suffered from a declining membership and rising maintenance costs, while not seeing its youth program keep pace. Membership dropped from 1,300 in 1979 to 189 in 2009.
The Minnetonka Park Board recommended improvements to what was Burwell Park around the Burwell House on Minnetonka Boulevard. The new park will be called Minnetonka Mills Park and is expected to cost nearly $1 million.
Hennepin County commissioners asked library staff to reexamine the size of a new Excelsior Library, as well as look at ways to reduce costs. The direction was given at a board briefing on June 11.
Foresters in the Lake Minnetonka area were busy after learning of a confirmed emerald ash borer infestation in St. Paul. While there weren't any confirmed cases in the area, the spread is probably inevitable.
Hopkins-based Stages Theatre Company celebrated its 25th anniversary with a performance of "The Wizard of Oz."
Flowering rush was found in Lake Minnetonka. It was the first lake in Hennepin County that the Department of Natural Resources had record of having the invasive species. On June 29, the flowering rush was reported to the Department of Natural Resources, which confirmed it the following day. Officials observed a scattering of the flowering rush along shoreline in Orono in Smiths and Browns bays.
July
Colorful bras designed and created by community members supporting the Lake Minnetonka chapter of Relay for Life made for an unusual art exhibit in Excelsior. The event helped raise money for the American Cancer Society. The "Bosom Buddies Art Exhibit" was on display inside stores on Water Street from July 16-24.
The Foursome, which opened in Wayzata 74 years ago, announced it would be moving to Plymouth. The move to a new building on Vicksburg Lane in Plymouth came amid uncertainity about the future of the Wayzata Bay Center, which was where the store had been located. "For the past five years we have worked faithfully to continue to be an anchor retailer in the redeveloped Wayzata Bay Center, but delays and phasing changes due to the economic downtown have forced us to seek a more immediate alternative," said Foursome President Gordy Engel.
The Plymouth City Council took action to slash more than $400,000 from its transit budget by eliminating night and weekend rides for Dial-A-Ride and reconfiguring Metrolink routes. The move was hoped to help the transit budget as state dollars were dwindling.
Sen. Terri Bonoff co-hosted a meeting at the Wayzata Depot to gain support for the Little Crow Transit Way. The nearly 100-mile commuter line was hoped to connect Minneapolis to Wayzata to Willmar with upgrades to the existing freight line.
August
While not as disastrous as the '30s or as bad as the '80s, a drought was affecting the way people used Lake Minnetonka in early August.
A tornado ripped through the Lake Minnetonka area on Aug. 8, tearing down trees and damaging boats and businesses. Despite the damage, there were no reports of deaths or injuries from the storm. Tornados touched down in Minnetrista, as well as Long Lake, Orono and Plymouth.
September
The city of Hopkins was planning to start recycling organics at six city buildings using a $12,000 Hennepin County grant.
Officials and residents in Plymouth and Wayzata were upset to learn post offices in their cities were expected to be on the market soon. The sale of the post offices was discussed because the Postal Service doesn't have the space needs it once did because of automation and a drop in mail volume, according to Pete Nowacki, spokesperson for the Postal Service.
Officials in Spring Park began discussing a plan by Presbyterian Homes & Services for a $16 million redevelopment. Its current campus houses 370 residents and 350 employees. While there would only be a net increase of four residential units, the work would connect buildings, change the focus of housing types and add amenities.
Bobbi Pointer, a Hopkins High School nurse, was named School Nurse of the Year by the School Nurse Organization Board of Directors. "I think the thing that people need to know is we're not just about Band-Aids and runny noses any more," said Pointer.
October
Shorewood businessman Greg Frankenfield reached an agreement in principle to purchase the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres from current owner Thomas Scallen. The deal fell through a month later.
Hopkins Police Chief Craig Reid traveled to Denver in October to receive the 2009 Civil Rights Award given by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The association gave the award to the Joint Community Policing Program's work to enhance civil and human rights through civic engagement.
Scaled back improvements to Plymouth's Hilde Performance Center moved forward, after a divided city council approved up to $1.2 million of upgrades to the park. The council made the decision at its Oct. 13 meeting.
Wayzata's Bushaway Road residents met on Oct. 26 in preparation of an open house later in the week that brought attendees up to date on the plans to redo the stretch of County Road 101. The residents hoped they could get Hennepin County to compromise on the plans, which they fear will diminish the historic and scenic character of the winding, narrow road.
November
Maria Keller, a 9-year-old girl who lives in Plymouth, founded Read Indeed with the hope of collecting 1 million new and used children's books by the time she turns 18. After beginning the efforts in February, Keller had collected 192,101 books by November.
A citizen task force recommended that the Excelsior Library project continue to move forward. The Capital Budgeting Task Force, made up of 11 residents appointed by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, recommended that the project stay on track.
Two polling places in Minnetonka were the first in the state to try out electronic poll books on an election day. The poll books were used for voter registration, functions that are typically accomplished using paper records.
Hopkins City Council voted to revoke Jack Yee Restaurant's food establishment license for health code violations.
Sue Bangert, a Wayzata City Council member for seven years, died on Nov. 14. Bangert, who was 66 when she died, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2008.
Mound council members approved a stricter conflict of interest policy on Nov. 10. Mayor Mark Hanus first asked the council to approve the stricter language more than a year ago because of concerns some had on the council that Council Member Greg Skinner, who is also the city's public works superintendent, could have competing interests because of his dual role.
Minnetonka High School was denied a request to expand a parking lot on the west side of the school in a Nov. 23 vote of the Minnetonka City Council.
December
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the Wayzata School District with its Tools for Schools Indoor Air Quality National Excellence Award.
The Wayzata City Council approved a 2010 budget that eliminated five positions, including a police officer.
Aaron Biber, a well-known Shorewood attorney, was charged with two felonies for allegedly raping a 15-year-old boy. A complaint filed Dec. 14 stated Biber, 46, raped the teen after supplying him with alcohol. Biber posted $500,000 bail on Dec. 16.
Tom Tanner was appointed to the Wayzata City Council on Dec. 15. The appointment came after the death of Sue Bangert, who had served on the council for seven years.
