[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6241701,"mediaKeyId","3254160-3898f745f3273033f3b6dcdccbb35b66","parentId",3254160,"title","Eden Prairie Schools honored for century‑old gym restoration and community programming","audioSeconds",316,"startMs",287000,"endMs",603000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3254160-3898f745f3273033f3b6dcdccbb35b66&start=287&end=603","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3254160-3898f745f3273033f3b6dcdccbb35b66/thumbnail_287000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6241701/Eden-Prairie/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Eden-Prairie-Schools-honored-for-centuryold-gym-restoration-and-community-programming","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241701-5f7c1d23fe5271192c79582f4c2c633a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165580&Signature=COh2nrySHhRLAt03nfUUp~T3zcvyIhAY5cMfAeEjfEemdw0T6CXM3uYHDjH-GAWUS4xIYz6FtoZ~KGikWQG5NfAwUv5mMzkvx1aA2RHazkbUQbC9WUXLlGZK-03RfOd2qAjSIYv6Zope2PIro4qvEqCHMl4g1hPHpYj6CEdkjHvW84e0gSPM0TW8C4IkBVhToo~A2vHB1gE2LevxflglPNUSUSbCqUyDHlPKdOO840pdym3TI~ww4d1VFRK4mXThPDnz13aAJHdB32vRs-9WQOLklIr-Rt5REZMMQYfDL9ZX8IxFk3Q9qkGSbkJdgFNEHMgKagP-k2DzjoG9nP-LAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Eden Prairie, MN","date","2025-05-10T00:52:21.9Z","article","Eden Prairie Schools received the 2025 Heritage Preservation Award at the City Council meeting on May 6 for restoring and reusing a school gym originally built in 1924 and for organizing community programs around the building’s centennial.

Rod Fisher of the Heritage Preservation Commission presented the award and described the gym as a long‑standing community landmark. “The celebration and continued maintenance of the gym demonstrates Eden Prairie Schools’ commitment to the preservation of a treasured landmark,” Fisher said.

Fisher and other presenters credited a collaborative effort by the Eden Prairie Historical Society, a Gym Task Force and school staff. The school district, represented at the meeting by Dr. Josh Swanson, Dirk Tedman and Grace Becker, organized events during the 2024 centennial that included a citywide prom, a historic artifacts gallery, guided tours and a family fun day. The district also added interior branding, a commemorative plaque and exterior signage to highlight the gym’s history and continuing use as an activity space.

Dr. Swanson said the recognition reflects partnership: “This is truly a partnership. You know our schools are reflective of our community and the great success that we have with students and families every single day is a reflection directly of that.”

Beth Novak Krebs, identified in the meeting as the city senior planner and liaison to the Heritage Preservation Commission, joined commissioners and Historical Society representatives in presenting the award. Mayor Mike Case praised the collaboration between the city, the district, the historical society and volunteers who led the restoration and centennial programming.

The award was presented as a recognition; no council policy action was associated with the presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - May 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Eden Prairie City Council and Heritage Preservation Commission presented the 2025 Heritage Preservation Award to Eden Prairie Schools for restoring and programming the school gym built in 1924, celebrating its centennial with events that included a citywide prom and artifact exhibits.","taxTitle","Eden Prairie, Hennepin County, Minnesota","taxId",4131,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6241706,"Eden Prairie council accepts 2024 financial audit showing unmodified opinion and modest fund balance increase",781,2835000,3616000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3254160-3898f745f3273033f3b6dcdccbb35b66&start=2835&end=3616","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3254160-3898f745f3273033f3b6dcdccbb35b66/thumbnail_2835000.jpg","/articles/6241706/Eden-Prairie/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Eden-Prairie-council-accepts-2024-financial-audit-showing-unmodified-opinion-and-modest-fund-balance-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241706-c21cd93db1c6f4e4d9b24590278ac95f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165580&Signature=eFmlCtbSt23xU7WIeEn0HUh7qTDIXNBfk2YKcrIR2L-lyoG4y1J9wOiCw9J14RVBxqU62Vhge0EygsVzLbqNSjq8k1rBTBMfq8LFswBA3GH7RpnDBRp9ep8mABwX1bH~Pm8reIUPZCnxDG9FYen9IS8ui2fBGbaoUUQwUknRj2MutUltEsP8xrTZPzK4KG1xdPcF5CYX3cmvZZ1v3DFeX~D-UJZvOIx7XdMLjOeeZw-7237jyZPCI9p2ROD~ODg1wbrbrpZyM9fGlTCw5k3eT579-knVRpEx22j5hsHQiDyqspZCU4q0W52Yu6mSUqui8sNfhhSwaLSPDAuUXgiOww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Eden Prairie City Council voted unanimously on May 6 to accept the city’s 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the independent audit performed by KDV. The auditors issued an unmodified opinion on the city’s financial statements and reported one routine internal control finding.

Carolyn Stutzman, a partner with auditing firm KDV, told the council the unmodified opinion is the highest level of assurance auditors can provide: “We do believe those financial statements are fairly stated in all material respects as of 12/31/2024,” she said. Stutzman said the audit included consideration of internal controls and compliance with Minnesota statutes used as part of the state legal compliance review.

The audit presentation said the city’s general fund revenues increased by nearly $4,000,000 in 2024 and expenditures rose by about $3,300,000, driven largely by wages and benefits in police, fire and parks and recreation and by increased charges for services. The report showed unassigned general fund balance increased by roughly $105,000 for the year, reversing an assumed drawdown the budget had anticipated.

Stutzman said the city received no compliance findings related to Minnesota statutes and that the single internal control issue reflected an audit adjustment rather than a control breakdown. City staff noted that the full CAFR and related materials are posted on the city’s website for public review.

During council discussion, staff explained that much of the city’s fund balance functions as working capital until property tax settlements are received in May and November. The audit also reviewed tax capacity, showing tax capacity increased about 7.3% while the levy rose about 5%, producing a decrease in the city’s tax capacity rate for 2024.

Council Member Mark Freiberg moved to accept the 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report; the motion passed on a unanimous roll call vote.","The Eden Prairie City Council accepted its 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and audit on May 6; auditors issued an unmodified opinion, reported one routine internal control finding, and the city’s general fund ended the year with an increase in unassigned fund balance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6241711,"Hennepin County commissioners outline housing, school mental‑health and service expansions in Eden Prairie update",1237,894000,2131000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3254160-3898f745f3273033f3b6dcdccbb35b66&start=894&end=2131","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3254160-3898f745f3273033f3b6dcdccbb35b66/thumbnail_894000.jpg","/articles/6241711/Eden-Prairie/Hennepin-County/Minnesota/Hennepin-County-commissioners-outline-housing-school-mentalhealth-and-service-expansions-in-Eden-Prairie-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6241711-67c71360f856eef1268c8a910f7d3f78/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165580&Signature=O5ix4GZ4hpIzXRCo2HaX0MPZTzYcROC5ICT2pEwSTIEYEW1~rVtCo32yiJptcpbmdsmLU9wa39noGNvfcfby0HeH2vGRUNLtweEa5gA4fVulE7QCg8ErdK7SG6VO42CQpYvxI2A0xTLwegTYtw4dHe8jUMZqFDI-T7f0XPsZSSDhSPf6HQBoHJHSp7F9NCQ4GE1Q3jnNVrGyHDVa1nE7nlu86rJcYgxKvEr1FqS1nm2Do8bgkOXEqpqZgJcnk1Cl9svRReO4yGvqcOdUXyBTi3c3BFmynoP2UoZB7stZSJpzwcxCLaOS43k5RorX~puWuk9gXRh2v6Vcg9iHs6FjFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hennepin County Commissioners Debbie Gautel and Heather Edelson told the Eden Prairie City Council on May 6 that the county is continuing investments in affordable housing, school‑based mental‑health services, embedded social workers that partner with police departments, and local transportation and tree‑planting efforts.

The commissioners framed the update as a status report on long‑running county programs and new allocations: “We are Minnesota’s second largest government after the state of Minnesota and the largest local government unit statewide,” Gautel said, describing the county’s roughly $3.1 billion annual budget.

The county said it awarded $19,500,000 in capital funding in 2024 to create and preserve affordable housing and provided $17,300,000 in local affordable housing aid to boost nonprofit development capacity. Gautel said the county funded 23 projects in 2024; the presentation included counts for rental and home‑ownership units related to those projects.

Gautel highlighted school‑based mental‑health programming that serves about 6,600 students annually and cited a University of Minnesota study the commissioners said showed a decline in self‑reported suicide attempts among sixth‑ through 12th‑grade students tied to the services. “Researchers believe school‑based mental health services have resulted in 260 fewer self‑reported suicide attempts by Hennepin County students from 2004 to 2024,” she said.

Commissioners said the county’s Police Embedded Social Worker program now operates with nearly 50 social workers countywide and that Eden Prairie Police made 466 referrals to embedded social workers in 2024 and 116 referrals through the first quarter of 2025. Gautel said the Hennepin County Board approved an extension of the joint powers agreement with Eden Prairie to continue offering those services.

Edelson and Gautel also reviewed county grant programs the commissioners said are available to Eden Prairie. They described Elevate Hennepin, a free advising hub for entrepreneurs, and several small grant programs including a Healthy Canopy Grant the county said offers up to $50,000 to cities, schools and nonprofits for tree planting. Gautel said the county’s goal is to plant a million trees by 2030 and estimated tens of thousands had been planted since 2020.

On transportation, the commissioners listed planned county projects affecting Eden Prairie: a replacement project on Pioneer Trail (County Road 1), a bridge replacement on County Road 4 (Em‑Prairie Road), pavement and bridge preservation on Townline Road, and partnership work on the I‑494 corridor and the Southwest Light Rail (“Green Line”) that the presentation said is expected to begin service in 2027.

Council members pressed the commissioners about federal and state budget uncertainty. Council Member P.J. Narayan asked whether the chaos in Washington would reduce county funding. Gautel replied two discretionary federal grants had not been awarded and said county staff are “bracing” for more uncertainty; she added that it could take a year or two for cuts to have a substantial local impact. The commissioners said they are monitoring potential state cost‑shifts to counties and that some budget effects could fall to property taxpayers if state and federal aid declines.

The commissioners closed by inviting Eden Prairie to apply for county grants and by thanking the city for partnership on program delivery and local services.

The county update was provided as an informational briefing; no city council action on county programs was taken at the Eden Prairie meeting.","Hennepin County Commissioners Debbie Gautel and Heather Edelson briefed the Eden Prairie City Council on county funding for affordable housing, school‑based mental‑health services, an extension of the embedded social‑worker program with Eden Prairie Police, tree‑planting grants and upcoming transportation projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Eden Prairie Schools honored for century‑old gym restoration and community programming

Eden Prairie council accepts 2024 financial audit showing unmodified opinion and modest fund balance increase

Hennepin County commissioners outline housing, school mental‑health and service expansions in Eden Prairie update