I fell in love with the St. Croix River Valley as a child boating with my family each summer. My Grandfather was born in Scandia in the late 1800s, and I have always felt a strong connection to the history and heritage of our community.
I moved to Scandia in 2005 with my husband and two children because we appreciate Scandia’s forested beauty, the river and lakes, the starry night skies, and the charming downtown. I would like to hear what’s important to other residents and encourage city planning that represents our shared values.
The next two years are a crucial time. The City will craft the next Comprehensive Plan as required by the Metropolitan Land Planning Act to guide direction for 10 years. I served on the Planning Commission that helped develop the current plan, which utilized focus groups to ascertain the community’s desires. My goal would be to again listen to citizens and revise the plan according to broad-based input.
My vision for Scandia:
As a council member, I would advocate for the following:
Community Character. Scandia has a strong sense of heritage, and I’m an advocate for promoting and enhancing the character that defines us a city. I believe that with proper planning, we can maintain rural character while simultaneously growing our community to ensure the vibrancy of Scandia Elementary and local business.
Local Business: Local businesses enhance our lifestyle and are important to our small-town character. I would seek to find creative ways to market and promote our businesses and to vitalize our downtown.
Safety: The safety of our citizens is of utmost importance, and I support maintaining the quality of our Fire Department and contracted police service.
Planned Growth: It’s important to have a vibrant community that attracts both mature and young families, while still enabling agriculture to thrive. Young families are crucial to the vibrancy of Scandia Elementary School, which is a tremendous asset to our community.
Parks and Trails: The state, county, and local parks in Scandia contribute to our high quality of life, and I would strive to obtain creative funding such as grants and gifts to grow our parks and trails.