Mendota Mdewakanton Dakota Community

The Jackson Park Adopt-A-Park effort began in May of 2000 when Benjamin Banwart made a request to the township board to personally adopt Jackson Park, becoming the official Jackson Park Adopt-A-Park Sponsor. The project was the culmination of a 4-year involvement that encompassed a Wood Duck Habitat Eagle Scout Leadership Project and numerous environmental restorations and litter pick-up campaigns.

Benjamin saw amazing potential in the park and viewed his task as a conservation challenge. Jackson Park is situated on 87 acres containing two lakes, a township hall, tennis courts, play areas, a ball field, and undeveloped environmental areas.

In October 2001 the seed of a truly ambitious conservation effort took hold when Benjamin recruited the services of fellow members from the local chapter of the Order of the Arrow, the Boy Scouts’ national camping honor organization. Benjamin initiated, planned, developed, coordinated, and supervised the Jackson Park Adopt-A-Park Project, which included three specifically targeted and designed efforts: Forestry Management, Invasive Species Control, and Erosion Control.

The Forestry effort included identification, removal and utilization/disposal of unhealthy, diseased, damaged and unsafe trees and brush. The Invasive Species Control effort included setting in motion a program of continual suppression of invasive, non-native buckthorn. Erosion Control included the planting of hundreds of trees-dogwoods, maple and ash-to provide stability to slopes, slow water runoff, and provide wildlife habitat. The project also installed more than 1,000 feet of trails and removed debris and litter. The impact of these efforts will be seen and felt for years by the environment and by this community.

Successful completion of this project represents an American ideal: people from many different organizations working together, directed toward a single purpose. The project came together with support from the Township Board of Supervisors; park maintenance staff labor; U.S.D.A. expertise; Agriculture Extension Service plant donation; manpower from eight Boy Scout troops and the Dan Patch chapter of the Order of the Arrow; local media coverage; financial donations from a local wildlife conservation group; food prepared by local volunteers; and equipment provided by neighbors. Labor and resources were also provided by many other people. The project united community members and inspired them to make our world a better place through their determination and commitment.

Scott County is one of the nation’s most rapidly growing counties, and its need for open space, recreational parks and environmental areas is paramount to its sense of community and to the well being of its citizens. The Jackson Park Adopt-A-Park Project created a better environment that stands as an example to others and, most significantly, introduced scores of young people to the importance of conservation and community service, teaching lessons that will help them to lead great lives and serve our country well.

The Scott County Board voted not to challenge, but Shakopee’s City Council decided to fight on.

By David Peterson, Star Tribune

A closely divided Scott County Board will not appeal a federal decision granting the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community the right to pull hundreds of acres of land off the tax rolls.

Three hours after that call, however, the Shakopee City Council voted unanimously to fight on.

The County Board voted 3-2 to drop the case after five hours of debate behind closed doors over two separate days, beginning last week.

“We all acknowledged it was a very difficult decision,” said the board’s chairwoman, Barbara Marschall, of Prior Lake. “There is concern about an uncertain outcome to what would be costly and lengthy legal proceedings.”

The two commissioners wanting to fight on were those whose districts are closest to the parcels of land involved, which are in Shakopee and Prior Lake: Marschall and Jerry Hennen of Shakopee. The other commissioners are from Savage, Jordan and New Market, all who are more removed from the dispute.

Glynn A. Crooks, the tribe’s vice chairman, said he is “very pleased with the decision,” and he stressed that it will not lead to an expansion in gambling within the county.

“Even if we wanted to put a casino there, we couldn’t” under the terms of the federal application, he said. “Our main priority is additional housing for our members. We may one day have a cultural center on that land or some government buildings, powwow grounds, whatever.”

Shakopee City Administrator Mark McNeill stressed that the council’s decision leaves all its options open: It can still negotiate a deal with the tribe.

Though more of the land is within Shakopee’s borders than any other city, the county’s decision put the financial burden of a lawsuit on the city alone.

The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs decided this summer that the tribe, which owns Mystic Lake Casino Hotel, could move 752 acres off local property-tax rolls and into a tax-exempt trust. In addition to being released from millions in tax payments over the decades, the decision also gives the tribe wide latitude in deciding what goes where, without concern about zoning rules of its neighbors.

County Administrator David Unmacht said that despite the length of time it took to make the decision, the discussions were “respectful. All five commissioners could see the pros and cons of either decision.”

Marschall said the commissioners who lost the argument “are certainly willing to accept the decision of the majority. As one of my colleagues said, ‘The county benefits from a good relationship with the tribe, and we look forward to a new day’” of cooperation after many years of tension.

The tribe’s $10 million contribution toward a new University of Minnesota football stadium was announced just as board members were nearing a decision. Marschall said she had no opinion as to whether the timing was deliberate.

Said Crooks: “The one had nothing to do with the other.”

My life just keeps getting better and better all of the time. I can reach to the heavens or bend down to mother earth, I am a loving spirit who does the best she can with what she has at that moment and I am thankful for……

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