Sticking with the season, Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire said his optimism about the next year in Eagan was similar to that of a baseball fan during spring training.

"There's been a full season since last year, and as a team I believe we've got a pretty good record of more wins than losses and hopefully not too many errors," said Maguire at his second State of the City Address March 20.

While economic forecasts on both the state and national level have been gloomy, Maguire said he believed that the economy of Eagan would stay strong.

He pointed to Eagan's standing as the metro area's number one head-of-household jobs creator and the fact that Eagan saw an increase of more than 2,600 jobs in the last two years as indicators of the city's economic strength.

"The kudos go not to us, but to our incredibly strong and diverse businesses and employers of Eagan," said Maguire.

In the speech, Maguire also stood by the city's decision to take the lead on major road projects, such as the Highway 149 reconstruction and the recently-approved Northwood Parkway overpass.

"Only a Ring Road can relieve that safety issue," said Maguire about the need for the overpass for a system to relieve traffic at the intersection of Pilot Knob and Yankee Doodle Road.

"That's why we added a modest $1 million to the levy to get that critical overpass built," he said.

Maguire also thanked the state Legislature for recently passing a transportation bill that is expected to add $5.8 million in transportation funding in Eagan over the next 10 years.

"Whatever your opinion, there can be no disagreement that this bill will take state transportation projects off the backs of local property tax payers in Eagan," he said.

Maguire added that issues with transportation funding are not likely to disappear in Eagan, as a city infrastructure assessment estimates a $64 million shortfall in city transportation funding over the next 20 years.

Given the tough economic times, Maguire also made the announcement that Eagan started a hiring freeze, which was approved at the March 18 City Council meeting. Departments will be able to petition for replacement of the position, and no essential positions will be cut, he said.

Maguire also emphasized the city's continued commitment to bringing high-speed Internet to residents and businesses.

"Broadband is as vital to our wellbeing as good roads, electrical power and safe water," he said.

Another issue that the city will concentrate on in the coming year is sustainability, he said. Maguire urged residents to take into account how much energy they are using and lauded two recently approved building projects that are aiming for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Maguire said residents will also have a say in November whether they want the city to buy the Carriage Hills Golf Course for park space, or as a housing development with open space. Alternatives will be presented to the public in a few months through a variety of methods, including multiple open houses, he said.

Maguire also recognized the following actions by members of the community:

- Volunteer Firefighter Dave DiIoia for making it to 468 calls in the past year, even though he must close his shoe store to respond. DiIoia also became the first volunteer firefighter to dedicate 30 years of service to the department.

- Chaitanya Ayand for helping save the life of neighbor David Foster by administering CPR after Foster collapsed during a conversation after he had finished shoveling his driveway last spring.

- Residents of the Coventry Pass neighborhood, as 90 percent of residents paid $300 a piece to hire a consultant to clean up a neighborhood pond.

- Eagan resident Jeff Carlson for working with Caribou Coffee barista Jean Daly in occasionally leaving her $30 to $50 to buy coffee for people who she feels are in need of a good deal on a bad day.

(You are invited to comment about this story on our website at www.mnsun.com and/or write a letter to the editor at suncurrentsouth@acnpapers.com.)

Maguire also emphasized the city's continued commitment to bringing high-speed Internet to residents and businesses.

"Broadband is as vital to our wellbeing as good roads, electrical power and safe water," he said.

Another issue that the city will concentrate on in the coming year is sustainability, he said. Maguire urged residents to take into account how much energy they are using and lauded two recently approved building projects that are aiming for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.

Maguire said residents will also have a say in November whether they want the city to buy the Carriage Hills Golf Course for park space, or as a housing development with open space. Alternatives will be presented to the public in a few months through a variety of methods, including multiple open houses, he said.

Maguire also recognized the following actions by members of the community:

- Volunteer Firefighter Dave DiIoia for making it to 468 calls in the past year, even though he must close his shoe store to respond. DiIoia also became the first volunteer firefighter to dedicate 30 years of service to the department.

- Chaitanya Ayand for helping save the life of neighbor David Foster by administering CPR after Foster collapsed during a conversation after he had finished shoveling his driveway last spring.

- Residents of the Coventry Pass neighborhood, as 90 percent of residents paid $300 a piece to hire a consultant to clean up a neighborhood pond.

- Eagan resident Jeff Carlson for working with Caribou Coffee barista Jean Daly in occasionally leaving her $30 to $50 to buy coffee for people who she feels are in need of a good deal on a bad day.

(You are invited to comment about this story on our website at www.mnsun.com and/or write a letter to the editor at suncurrentsouth@acnpapers.com.)