Intergovernmental Relations

When most of my neighbors are asked where they live, they simply answer "Becker" regardless of if they are city or township residents.  Those same people expect their elected officials to work together to make informed, common sense decisions.  During my term on city council, I was able to be a strong, effective advocate for the city, while still establishing and strengthening trust with the township, county and school district.  Here are some examples:

As a member of what was then called called the Annexation Committee, I helped create and implement a first-of-its-kind orderly annexation agreement between the  city and township.  The result was billed as a "model" for other Minnesota communities and drew the attention of planning professionals from across the state.  We built the guiding principles through handshake agreements, honest dialogue, and the ability to ask difficult questions, while providing candid answers.  The current relationship between the city and township is now strained and I will immediately work to get us back on track.  A specific example of the current dysfunction is when the city hired a building official and then asked the township to contract with them for inspection services.  However, this individual did not have the credentials for septic systems, meaning township residents would have been subjected to two inspections at an increased cost.  The township, of course, did not accept this proposal and an opportunity to work together was lost.  We must also re-establish a spirit of cooperation between the two entities, as they are partners in the Joint Powers Fire Board, an organization that I led as Chairperson during my time on city council.  Recent actions have eroded trust in co-facilitating the leadership in this organization and we must not play politics with public safety - a core function of government.

Another specific example that illustrates a missed opportunity is with the Becker school's transportation building, constructed on the east side of the city limits.  City water and sewer services had been extended on County Road 67 when I was on council because it was cheaper to do it as part of that road's reconstruction, and there was recognition that the school would expand in that direction.  However, then the building was constructed, it was installed with its own well, septic, and a 40,000+ underground water storage tank to pressurize the required building sprinkler system.  Again, without placing blame on one side or the other, this was a missed opportunity to utilize the water and sewer utilities that abut the property.  It just doesn't make sense and could have been avoided with a stronger relationship between the two entities.  This is also the case with the "green space" study that I was part of eight years ago when I was appointed as a school representative on the committee.  Where are the results of that study, which cost thousands of dollars?  Is it being used as the guiding document as it was intended?

I will work directly with School Board Chair Aaron Jurek and other elected officials to ensure that our organizations have open communication and a mandate to work together in the best interest of the community.