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Dear Friends of Patrick Eagan Park,

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners is seeking applications for Farmland and Natural Area Advisory Committee members.

The new committee was established after voters approved last November the sale of $20 million in bonds to acquire and preserve open spaces, farmland, and natural areas. Advisory committee members recommend which areas to protect using criteria previously adopted by the County Board.

Two representatives from each of the seven commissioner districts will meet about six times annually during their two-year term. Applications will be accepted until June 2nd and are available to county residents by calling (651)-438-4418 or are on the Web at www.co.dakota.mn.us .

The initial appointments will be staggered so half of the advisory committee members' terms will begin in July 2003 and expire on Dec. 31, 2004, and the other half of the members' terms will begin in July 2003 and expire on Dec. 31, 2005.

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At present, our Friends of Patrick Eagan Park group has no definite candidates to apply for these positions. But one thing is clear:

Tony Caponi is 82 years old and Patrick McCarthy is in his 70s. They will not be around for many more years. Although the period of the Dakota County referendum funding is ten years, we will have no more than one or two years to protect the Caponi Art Park and the McCarthy Farm, along with their vision of preserving their property for perpetuity.

Please seriously consider applying for the County's Advisory Committee. It is imperative that we have local representatives on the Committee who can make their voice heard in favor of these critical Eagan Core Greenway parcels. If people like us fail to fill these positions, county realtors may take our places instead!

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Please let us know if you would consider this special opportunity,

---Jack Conrad

www.FriendsofPatrickEaganPark.org