Rosemount Businessman Accused of Violating Eagan Building Codes

A Rosemount man who operates a radio network and buys and sells precious metals in Eagan has violated more than a dozen city building codes on his property over the last five and a half years, according to a complaint filed this week in Dakota County District Court.

Theodore R. Anderson, 48, is the owner of Genesis Communications Network and Midas Resources Inc., both of which operate out of offices at 3105 Sibley Memorial Highway.

He is charged with 14 misdemeanors ranging from unlawfully changing a building’s occupancy classification to failing to obtain required building permits to failing to maintain a proper fence around an outdoor swimming pool.

City officials say Anderson has had numerous renovations performed on the property – which was built in the 1950s as a single-family home and is currently zoned for limited industrial use – since he purchased it in 2006.

However, officials say, Anderson has repeatedly failed to obtain the required permits for plumbing and electrical work done on the property, and he has violated a host of city codes when having renovations performed. He also had a “cabana” constructed, along with an underground tunnel to the cabana, and had work on office spaces within the building done without seeking building permits, the city claims.

Anderson did not return phone calls seeking comment on the charges. He is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 30 in Dakota County District Court in Apple Valley.

According to the criminal complaint against Anderson, the Eagan building inspections department received a complaint in October 2009 that work had been completed on the building without required building permits in place. In addition, a Dakota County environmental health department employee informed the city that Anderson had converted the property’s pool building into office space.

An Eagan building inspector sent a violation notice letter to Anderson after receiving the complaint, advising him that converting and using the property for commercial purposes required a commercial building permit. Anderson did not acknowledge the initial violation notice, and also ignored two subsequent letters, according to the complaint.

In March 2010, a senior city building inspector began investigating the property. He interviewed Anderson, who told him that he operates several businesses on the property and lives in an apartment upstairs.

He was subsequently informed that because the property is zoned for limited industrial use, residential use isn’t allowed.

Anderson invited city officials to inspect the property in April 2010. The officials compiled a list of code violations during the inspection visit and sent a follow-up letter to Anderson, notifying him of the violations and telling him what was required to bring the property into compliance.

Since that letter, and despite several subsequent letters to Anderson – the most recent on June 16 – Anderson has not submitted the required documents and remains in violation of city code, according to the complaint. “The city has attempted to work with (Anderson) to bring the property into compliance, to no avail,” the complaint says.

Anderson faces a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine on each of the 14 misdemeanor charges.