‍When I decided to run for City Council I committed to taking a clear and straightforward position on the Municipal Campus project. The citizens of Mendota Heights deserve a clear position on this issue so they can vote accordingly.

I believe that the project should move forward as currently proposed, which is the construction of a new building, adjacent to the existing building.

The existing building does not meet the needs of the police department and other City departments. The police department has an excellent relationship with the community and we should move forward with our own police department rather than merging services with Dakota County or a larger city like Eagan. This choice requires investing in a new building so that the police department has the modern facilities, equipment, security, and training that they need.

A remodel of the existing building with an addition was considered as well as other sites throughout the City. It is not sensible to remodel and add on to the existing building for 77% of the cost of new construction. Fundamentally, I agree with the current City Council which rejected the remodel/addition alternative unanimously, in favor of new construction on the existing site. In my view, that was the correct decision.

I am sensitive to the costs of new construction. Our household has two kids in college (soon to be three) and the high cost of living, particularly housing, is a real problem. The City should do everything possible to prevent cost overruns which is another reason I do not support the remodel/addition alternative where unanticipated construction costs are more likely to arise as compared to new construction.

Modern, efficient technologies should be evaluated on the City project and used if they are cost effective. Ongoing costs, such as heating/cooling, should be kept as low as possible and this can be more easily accomplished with new construction. This is an area where I can add value to the project as I have experience with geothermal for space heating/cooling and other efficient technologies. The $4 million in bond funding that was received from the State can be used to ensure that ongoing operating costs of the new building are as low as possible.

A final cost consideration that I oppose is getting into additional cycles of design for new or previously-considered alternatives. This only adds design fees and construction cost due to delay.

The City should continue working with the Two Rivers Athletic Association to ensure that the baseball program has a field that meets the needs of the 13-year old age group.

A final, more idealistic case that I would make is that practicing democracy face-to-face is far superior to the types of non-civil discourse that you find online. I’ve experienced this more productive in-person collaboration myself on the Natural Resources Commission. A City Hall that is modern, that the community is proud of, and that has some space for community use will be a place where this higher form of democracy can flourish.