Waseca hosts state of the city address

A couple dozen people attended a “State of the City” session sponsored by the Waseca Area Chamber of Commerce (WACC) legislative committee at the Waseca Junior Senior High School performing arts center the evening of Monday, Nov.18.

Representing city leadership were Waseca Mayor Randy Zimmerman; council members Stacey Schroeder and Mark Christiansen; city manager Carl Sonnenberg and public safety director Kris Markeson. 

After an introduction by Waseca Legislative Committee Chair Mikhail Rostislavovich, mayor Zimmerman and manager Sonnenberg took turns summarizing accomplishments and future goals for the city. A question-and-answer period followed the public addresses. 

Zimmerman discussed Waseca’s storied history dating back to 1867 and 1881 when the city was officially incorporated.

By the turn of the century, Waseca had doubled in size, with continuing rapid growth in the decades to come. Zimmerman talked of railroads, EF Johnson, Waseca College and how it all led to the crossroads of “our growth from the past” and entrepreneurship of today. 

“What I’ve heard is our community wants growth,” Zimmerman declared. “Waseca has good people, in the right places.”

Zimmerman said lobbying for state and federal dollars is a must. He referenced conversations he’s had with local State Senator John Jasinski, local representative elect Tom Sexton, and Senator Amy Klobuchar who helped get Waseca in on a federal appropriations bill for the first in the city's history. 

Zimmerman thanked a great many people before introducing city manager Sonnenberg. 

Sonnenberg’s joked his career with the city of Waseca began 44 years ago as a “lab rat and sewage guy.” 

The man most qualified to be in charge of the “nuts and bolts” of the city began by thanking the many folks responsible behind the scenes who ensure Waseca operates smoothly. 

Sonnenberg recapped the essential departments within the city and went through a list of accomplishments the city has achieved. 

“Tonight I was asked to give the long version of our role,” Sonnenberg stated. “For the first time in 44 years, I wasn’t asked for the short version.”

Sonnenberg’s list of the city’s responsibilities, departments and accomplishments totaled four pages and included, among others, a new dog park; reinvesting in Clear Lake and city parks; pickleball courts; higher-than-state-average clearance rate for crimes; and high quality maintenance of streets and the water supply.

“Ben Franklin said if you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” Sonnenberg concluded. “That failure is not an option. We must move Waseca forward.”

Following Sonnenberg’s speech, he and the rest of the night's panel responded to questions from the legislative committee and audience members. 

In response to a question about “Vision 2030,” participants said the plan is under review, although it had not been updated since 2013. A planning commission review is scheduled along with a work session by the city council, including a public comment period. 

Regarding special street assessments, Mark Christiansen stated living in this community means paying street assessments. “They are an investment into your community... (It’s) part of being a Wasecan… I would not remove them.” 

Christiansen said the taxing system is a good source of revenue which helps get more roads completed. 

When asked about the ongoing work of the police department, safety director Markeson reported listings of job openings which used to garner up to 50 applicants now typically attract only one to five. “This is a nationwide issue,” he stated. “There are problems or perceptions of problems with public safety nationwide.”

Markeson went on to say community policing, ride-alongs, job fairs, and ‘putting a face to a name’ are helpful ways to encourage people to pursue the profession. 

Mayor Zimmerman enjoyed an audience question about the possibility of city tax abatements for people who remodel existing houses already in Waseca, responding he is in favor of reducing the tax burden and encouraging a growth mindset; tax abatements for reconstruction would be in line with that perspective.  

Council member Schroeder responded to a question about long-term growth projects other than those at Gaiter Lake or in Vision 2030. She said the city needs to look at annexation and “partnering with communities outside of Waseca. Mayo [Clinic] is expanding. How can we serve their needs? Or developers? Mankato is expanding at a huge rate. What can we do to get people looking here?”

As the evening’s session closed, Rostislavovich thanked everyone for attending. He let everyone know the speeches presented by Sonnenberg and Zimmerman, as well as the question-and-answer session, are available on the Waseca Chamber’s website.