Star Tribune from Minneapolis, Minnesota • Page 11

Star Tribune Thursday March291990 IY3 DakotaScott I ii; esire to help people keeps him active in Eagan By Jim Foster af StaffWriter Iter a 1972 construction accident, a nctor toia i ea wacnier ne a never use a hammer again. In 1983, an angry constituent confronted the longtime Eagan City Council member after Wachter sooke trick for Eagan. The man made it perfectly clear that he would do what Ihe could to end Wachter' political areer. i through it all. Wachter.

66. has endured. Minus most of two fingers his right hand, he continued to pound nails until he retired in 1988. after four elections, he still sits on the City Council, as he has since it Was formed in 1972. The city Wachter helps govern has changed iadically during his tenure, and he fcas played an integral part of that ijhange.

rTed is able to bridge the gap $etween the history of Eagan and the 90s," said City Administrator Tom Hedges. "At times that's been helpful Jbr looking ahead." Egan, like Wachter a longtime City Council member before he was 1 elected mayor last fall, said Wachter a vital force in the community. 'I! could never dream of holding as jilany niches as Ted does," Egan said. Ole is considered the Eagan town historian. He is Mr.

Public Works Because of his propensity for i knowing what is needed in Eagan. He's been very actively involved in township, village and city government Wachter said the reason for his vast involvement in municipal affairs is sfrnple. "I enjoy helping people," he 1. said. "Always have, always will." He was born and raised in in front of Eagan's old Town Hall, which is being restored under his supervision.

The township became a village in 1972, complete with a mayor and village council. Wachter was part of that first council, and has been on every city council since Eagan was incorporated. About the same time the village council was formed, Wachter started his own construction company. His first construction job was making some drawer fronts. "I had a council meeting until about 2:30 a.m.

(the night before)," Wachter said. "At 7 a.m. my reflexes were a little slow and I didn't get out of the way of the saw blade." He severed the first three fingers of principals, teachers ind stunts play big jrble in mdBvatihg kids as well laugh about it because you can't do anything about it "A doctor said, 'You'll never pound nails again. I guess I proved him wrong." More than a decade later, following hearings on a developer's plan to built a parimutuel horse track near Interstate 494 and Dodd Wachter proved the naysayers wrong again. "I testified at the hearing that the land was far more valuable (for other things) than a racetrack," Wachter said.

"I was threatened after the hearings. A man came up to me and said, 'Ted, you're going to regret this for the rest of your life, and I'm going to see that you do. "I haven't regretted it yet and neither have the taxpayers. (That area's) been a boon for Eagan and not a headache like the racetrack." Another development issue loomed large in the 1987 city elections. Wachter, Mayor Bea Blomquist and Council Member James Smith were all up for reelection, but there were allegations of conflict of interest after the council had turned down a developer's proposal "It looked, for all intents and purposes, like Ted wasn't campaigning very hard (in 1987)," said Egan.

"He was talking about soil conservation, and I really wondered if soil conservation would be strong enough in light of the other issues being discussed." On election night Blomquist was ousted as mayor and Smith lost his council seat Wachter, on the other hand, received the most votes among council candidates. "Even though there seemed to be Wachter continued on page 8Y Suburbs map new course with transit authority Bus riders in six southern suburbs might notice little difference Oct. 1, but that may be the first day they board a bus operated by the new Minnesota Valley Transit Authority. At its first formal meeting, the seven-member authority board this week began the decisionmaking process intended to have the authority operating by Oct 1. The board hopes to bring better bus service in the next few years.

The commissioners "have a lot of things to do in the next few months," said Rosemount Community Development Director Dean Johnson, who has been working on the plan with staff members from the five other cities. Rosemount joined Apple Valley, Burnsville, Eagan, Prior Lake and Savage last year in voting to leave the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC). Residents won't see a tax saving. But officials say they believe that more of the regional tax dollars paid by residents of the six cities about $2.4 million annually can be used to directly benefit them, rather than being part of the larger MTC system. "We'll maximize the amount of tax dollars that are being generated and hope over the long term to not only enhance the service options out here but maintain what has been good service delivery," Johnson said.

Transit authority commissioners plan to establish guidelines to rank companies bidding for the authority contract A number of vendors, including the MTC, have expressed interest in the job, Johnson said. He and other authority staff members conducted a pre-bid conference earlier this week so interested companies could ask questions. The deadline for proposals is April 17. The authority also must set up bylaws, discussed the consulting contract and authorized a reporting system to the Regional Transit Board. In addition, the authority is expected to hire a full-time staff member to take over much of the work Johnson and others have performed up to now.

Authority members are Mayor Willis Branning of Apple Valley, Council Member Glenn McKee of Burnsville, Mayor Tom Egan of Eagan, Council Member Gene White of Prior Lake, Buses continued on page 8Y Staff Photo by John Croft Council Member Ted Wachter stood neighboring Rosemount and moved to Eagan in 1942 to start a dairy farm off Lexington Av. In 1959, he began working as a laborer to buy hay for his cattle during a drought That same year, he was appointed to the Eagan Township Planning Board, the first step in his political career. Principal Tom Foster rode in a cherry picker to the roof of Hayden Heights Elementary School in St Paul Feb. 21 after challenging students to raise 1 3,000 through candy sales for a library addition, field trips and new computers. Roseville principal Paul Charest was driven out of his office so that food donations could be stored there.

Teachers and principals in Richfield and Mendota Heights were dunked in a tank of water, and two Burns-ville educators dressed up as Raggedy Ann and Andy during fund-raising drives. The list goes on and on. Educators say they're feeling the heat of competition for children's attention because TV, movies and video games take up so much of their time and interest They're finding such challenges and rewards work well as motivation. "We're living in an age where youngsters have come to expect there's going to be a payoff of some kind," Ziegler said. "We have to come up with incentives that will grab the kids.

It has something to do with society. You have to compete with TV and glitzy, flashy things." Foster agrees teachers constantly have to stay on their toes and come up with new and creative ideas. "I'm not saying a teacher has to be an actor in the classroom, but with all Reading continued on page 8Y ByllgaEglitis StaffWriter Si larch 5 is forever frozen in Gerald waeckelbergh's memory. "It's the day Maeckelbergh, principal of Westwood Elementary in Blaine, lived up to a chilly bet his students read 4,000 books, he'd Scamp overnight in the school courtyard. For another 500 books he'd 4tlso sit on a block of ice all day and yead them stories.

For a total of 5,000 books he'd serve them hot chocolate. jjrheir grand total was 7,883 books. HCall it what you will incentive, igimmick, learning tool, motivator or 3naybe even b-r-i-b-e. Maeckelbergh jand other principals are finding themselves doing crazy stunts to children to read more and 'give bigger pledges during fund-raising drives. 'And they've discovered it works.

New Hope Elementary principal Bob Ziegler had never milked a cow before Feb. 23 when students more than doubled his challenge to read 3,500 books. Cjary Prest milked a cow last year. For this year's reading challenge, he wrapped a 6-foot boa constrictor his neck and strolled through the gymnasium at Hopkins' Alice 'Smith Elementary School. his right hand at the second knuckle.

The middle finger was eventually reconnected using grafts from the other fingers. The blade missed the little finger, which was curled tight to his hand. "The little finger was stiff after that" Wachter said. "Of course it was, because it was scared stiff. You might Staff Photos by Jeff Wheeler Schools Performers teach manners at middle schoolPage 3Y Students at Rosemount Middle School, above, watched the CLIMB Theater troupe's performance of "Masquerade," which examines teenage put-downs.

At left, Steve Sweere, portraying a teacher, admonished David Mann for arriving late for class. The presentation, along with follow-up activities such as role-playing and informal surveys, was part of a continuing effort to encourage students to be nicer to each other. PeopleNew Prague woman wins raves as child care providerPage 2Y SeniorsState office helps solve healthcare problemsPage 4Y Roligion Weekend seminar helps renew marriagesPage 5Y Music lovers lend an ear at WAMSO Listening Houses By Peggy M. Koop StaffWriter Rosanna Ash directed her guests to the lace-covered dining room table filled with plates of pecan and caramel rolls, strawberries and vanilla wafers and a pot of freshly brewed coffee. The room filled with talk as guests piled samples onto their dishes and disappeared into the living room where they eased into big soft sofas and chairs.

it! 3 Larry Wilson stood at the center of the room talking about the life of Mexican composer Carlos Chavez as he popped a compact disk into a Slpiyer. i Guests quieted. Eyes closed. The sounds of "Sinfonia de Wilson is an organist at Immanuel Lutheran Church in St Paul, former placement director for the American Guild of Organists and judge for Schubert Club competitions. He has a Ph.D.

in piano and has taught the subject at the college level for 10 years. For 14 years, he also has led monthly hourlong music sessions in Ash's Roseville home, one of seven Twin Cities' Listening Houses sponsored by the Women's Association of the Minnesota Orchestra (WAMSO). Each month during the orchestra's conceit September through Listening continued on page 8Y.