Heeeeeere's Johnny!!!!

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Eureka Planning Commission, here is a brief introduction:

Lu Barfknecht

The current Chair of the Planning Commission is Lu Barfknecht, who is serving her second term which expires on April 30, 2016.  She grew up in Anoka, 7th in a family of 12 children. She has been married to her husband, Dan, for 35 years; has 4 children and 3 grandchildren; and lives in Eureka Estates.  Lu has held a variety of jobs over the years, from waitress and secretary, to various positions in the banking business, to different roles in the insurance business.  She is currently employed as a Field Agent in Marketing at Blue Cross Blue Shield, where she has been for nearly 13 years.  Lu loves fishing and being outdoors.

Dr. Carrie Jennings

Vice Chair Carrie Jennings is a geologist, with degrees from Northwestern and the University of Minnesota, the latter including an M.S. and a Ph.D. She enjoys teaching and has done so at various institutions, such as Carleton and Macalester, including 20 years' instruction in glacial geology at the U of M.  Carrie has worked for the Minnesota Geological Society, the National Center for Earth Surface Dynamics, and is currently employed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Lands and Minerals. She and husband, Charlie Mahler, live on the former Borg farm in the southernmost part of the Township. Having been among those facilitating the purchase of the Chub Lake Wildlife Management Area by the DNR in the late 1990's, Carrie went on to file an application for her own property with the Farmland and Natural Areas Program, resulting in a 110-acre easement acquisition by that program in 2010.  Carrie has also served as Board Supervisor; her current term as Commissioner expires in April, 2014.

Fritz Frana

Frederick "Fritz" Frana has been a resident of Eureka Township for over 25 years.  His educational background includes a BA in Sociology at the University of Northern Iowa. Now retired, Fritz has over 35 years in the defense industry in a high-tech environment, with extensive Human Resources management, project management, and consulting experience. Currently a member of the Agritourism Task Force, Fritz lives in Rice Lake Heights on the western side of Eureka. His term is until April, 2014.

Butch Hansen          Al Novacek        

Charles "Butch" Hansen is a self-employed business owner and farmer who lives on Highview Avenue, south of 250th Street.  Butch served for two years on the Planning Commission at an earlier time; his current term expires on April 30, 2015.  Butch was a member of the Town Hall Task Force, which worked on the planning and construction of the "new" Town Hall. He was also a member of the Transfer Task Force and is currently on the Agritourism Committee.



Allen Novacek (pictured above) is the owner and president of the family business Nova-Chek Auto Body. It is located in Lakeville and employs several people.  Relatively new to local government, Al served as member on the Transfer Task Force. He resides in Eureka Estates; his term as Commissioner expires on April 30, 2015.