As citizens, we have the privilege to vote for the candidates who best represent our views on many complicated issues. Unfortunately, our current system of extreme partisanship makes it difficult for us to do this and is built to tear us apart. The complexity of the issues and the concerns of the majority of the citizens are ignored in this self-serving system. This broken system fails us in two ways: First, it is difficult to understand the issues because of partisan disinformation and obfuscation. Second, as politicians speak negatively to and about each other, we begin to mirror this behavior…
Author: Letter to Editor
The protesting and negative reactions to the Noble Hill development are so curious to me. Like many couples in the Twin Cities looking to buy their forever home and carve out a future for their family, the Standal’s purchased the property in debate with thoughts of it being a wonderful place to raise their children and their animals, possible income off the land, and a financial investment for their family. The Standal’s have been loving stewards of their land for 44 years with the hearts of true environmentalists, years of hard work, and sums of money spent on taxes and…
My name is Kate Rohlfsen and I grew up on this land that my family has owned 44 years. John and Carol Standal purchased this hobby farm in 1977 and raised two children on it. John and Carol grew evergreen trees, gardened, raised chickens, and briefly kept horses. The trees were used all over the southwest metro as landscaping trees and enjoyed by many who came during the holidays to cut down their own Christmas tree. The Standal family were good Eden Prairie neighbors, took good care of the land, and paid real estate taxes on this land for 44…
On Tuesday, May 4th, I watched the latter half of the Eden Prairie City Council meeting covering the potential impact of the proposed Pulte residential housing development to the Frederick-Miller spring. While I appreciated the divergent points of view, I realized that I needed to study the facts myself as well as revisit the spring and surrounding watershed to fully appreciate the discussion. I reached out to the city and obtained a copy of the council meeting presentation materials reflecting the hydrology survey and also visited the spring and surrounding watershed to develop my own conclusions regarding this matter. Although…
I am utterly disgusted and whole heartedly disappointed as an environmentalist and concerned citizen that has lived in EP for 16 years on the unanimous decision you made last night without taking into account all the data, comments and research presented to allow an Environmental study is beyond disgusting to me. I grew up in MPLS and decided to raise our family out here because of the close connection to history, nature and the environment. The Developments in the last 10 years has been running rampant in Eden Prairie. There is less and less prairie and more and more concrete.…
The members of the Eden Prairie City Council are elected to represent the best interests of the community. On May 4, 2021, the Eden Prairie City Council unanimously voted against the best interests of a very special community, one that extends well beyond arbitrary lines on a map. The Fredrick-Miller Spring, Riley Creek, and the surrounding watershed is an invaluable natural and cultural resource. The City of Eden Prairie needs to ensure this special area is protected for future generations by conducting an updated, thorough scientific assessment before approving the proposed Noble Hill development. Tara Gardell Eden Prairie, MN
I’m very disappointed in our elected officials and the city council process. I thought we were following a fair process where 3200 petition signatures had a voice. Instead, the Mayor allowed Pulte 40 minutes to present their information. The concerned residents were only given 2 minutes to speak and present their support for an EAW. I thought our EAW would go to a neutral third party. A third party that would fairly evaluate the information presented by both parties in an unbiased way. There was no consideration given to the information that was provided by Professor Alexander from the University…
Welcome to another early spring, another warm year, with more and more climate and weather disaster records broken. If by now you don’t know the basics of global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, and the Kansas-like future of our state, I encourage you to connect the dots. And I ask you to think about our country’s future and our children’s prospects, including their economic well being. Our country’s energy economy is huge, and it’s now in transition from the 19th century to the 21st. Who will benefit in the global conversion away from fossil fuel? China is on their way to…
The Mayor of Eden Prairie thinks the petition for Fredrick-Miller Spring and Riley Creek is about the quality of the water coming from the Spring water source. He does not understand that the petition is beyond the water coming from the spigot. People love this unique area that just happens to be next to the Spring. The petition is about the Biodiversity of this area and the removal of over 455 heritage and significant trees and the effect on the overall area and wildlife. Given all the concerns from the community and the 3000 petition signers why won’t the City Council…
Regarding the Noble Hill housing project in Eden Prairie, it is extremely frustrating to see the lack of cooperation between the city and the citizens. The citizens and myself have asked repeatedly for scientific evidence to back up the mayor’s and the builder’s statements that the spring will not be harmed. They are both keen to repeat these comments without any proof. Furthermore, they only address the spring and mention nothing of the surrounding biodiversity and the creek which is already under restoration efforts. I fear that come May 4th, when the project is voted on, the builder will trot…