See all posts in the Mayor & Cities Corner series

(Mayor’s Corner is a regular feature where Carver County mayors share updates, insights, and messages with their communities. Chaska Mayor Taylor Hubbard is providing this week’s edition.)

I am excited for the opportunity to serve as the new mayor of Chaska. I am also thrilled that we have Carver County Local News helping to fill the news gap left with the closing of the Chaska Herald and other local newspapers. Local news organizations are so important to our communities in Carver County.

So, before I get going, here’s a little bit about me. 

Chaska has been my home for more than 20 years, and I’ve had the honor of serving on the Chaska City Council for the past five years. I’m a small business owner, and outside of work, I love spending time with my family. You’ll often find me walking or biking the trails in Chaska, attending community events, or getting involved in local volunteer activities.

What can you expect from me as a mayor? 

I’m passionate about bringing people together and honoring the values that make our community special. Whether it’s supporting local businesses, strengthening connections between neighbors, or creating a place where everyone feels like they belong, I’m committed to making Chaska a hometown for all.

A Year of Resilience, Innovation and Community

2024 was a year of challenges and growth for our city services. Our city crews stepped up in a big way to ensure the safety, resilience and well-being of our community.

From dealing with a historic river flood to implementing new technology in our police department, our city services demonstrated unwavering commitment to Chaska this past year. 

Here’s a look at some of the key achievements from 2024.

Public Works: 

One of the most defining events of 2024 was the Minnesota River reaching historic heights. Our Public Works Department rose to the occasion. Our crews worked 24/7 to make sure our essential services were intact and minimize the impact of any flooding. 

In the lead-up to the flood, our public works crews worked a total of 1,045 hours to prepare for the event. They used this time to make sure that infrastructure and flood control systems were in place. Crews worked around the clock to manage the ongoing emergency response and recovery efforts during the 20-day flood event. 

The Minnesota River crested in Chaska on June 28 around 6 p.m. We measured the elevation at 34 feet at the Highway 41 river bridge, which is just short of the 1965 record of 34.25. While we were right at the height of the 1965 flood, the impact to downtown in 2024 was almost non-existent compared to the destruction from the 1965 flood. That’s due to our levee and flood control systems and the dedicated crews who make sure those systems are running smoothly.

Athletic Park, which is outside of our levee system, was severely impacted by the flood. Public Works crews dedicated a total of 1,168 hours to restore the grandstand and playing field back to its pre-flood conditions. The efforts brought the park back to life – restoring a vital space for local sports and recreation.

Fire Department:

In 2024, our Fire Department had to adapt to an increase in calls and transition to a temporary facility.

Fire calls in 2024 totaled 1,584 – a slight increase from 1,551 in 2023. Even with the increase in calls, our firefighters maintained their exceptional service levels. They responded quickly and efficiently to emergencies across the city.

The Fire Department made a seamless transition to a new temporary fire station while the Public Safety Facility is being built at the site of the old Fire Station. Thanks to the leadership of our Fire Chief and staff, the move has not caused any disruption in emergency response times or service delivery to the community.

Police Department:

The Police Department saw increases in call volume and continued its commitment to utilizing technology and community partnerships to enhance public safety.

Police calls rose from 14,716 in 2023 to 15,371 in 2024. Even with this uptick, our officers found ways to enhance how the department maintains safety and upholds the law. 

In 2024, our PD introduced some new high-tech tools such as drones, valuable training for best practices, and community outreach for prevention.

One of the most exciting additions to the department was the launch of the drone unit. Thanks to public safety aid dollars, the department purchased two outdoor drones and two indoor drones and trained five officers as FAA-certified drone pilots. 

The drone team has already made a significant impact. They logged 64 drone flights in 2024. These flights were used for a variety of purposes – including searching for missing persons, assisting with active crime scenes, documenting flood damage, and supporting training exercises. 

Chaska PD also introduced two e-bikes to expand the ways our bike patrol unit engages with our community. The electric bikes allow officers to cover more ground, which gives them more time on our trails and parks. This really helps our officers practice proactive policing and community engagement.

In 2024, the Police Department bid farewell to Crime Prevention Officer Julie Janke, who retired after 26 years of service, and welcomed Officer Martin Godinez to the role. Officer Martin is doing a fantastic job building on Julie’s legacy. He has such a passion for fostering community partnerships, and he has already launched new initiatives aimed at crime prevention and connecting with more of our community. 

What’s Ahead:

Reflecting on the work of our city crews in 2024 is important. Sometimes, we can get caught up in trying to figure out what’s next. While there’s a time and a place for strategic planning (more on that in my next article), it is also important to acknowledge what has happened. 

Lots of time, the incredible work of our city crews goes under the radar. 2024 was a good reminder of how dedicated our public works, fire and police departments are. They provide essential services to our community and take great care in doing it at a high level. 

As we move into 2025, our employees will continue to prioritize safety, community engagement, and innovation to make sure our residents can rely on us to meet their needs.

Ok, before I put down the pen, here are a few community events to add to your calendar: 

• The Chaska Remember When Exhibit – 30-plus photos of Chaska through history on display at the art gallery in the Chaska Community Center through the month of January. Thanks to the Chaska History Center for putting this together.

• Annual Ice Fishing Contest hosted by the Chaska Fire Department Relief Association – Saturday, Feb. 1, Noon to 3 p.m. at the Chaska Event Center. This family-friendly event features ice fishing, food, raffles and prizes to win. Proceeds benefit the Chaska Fire Department Relief Association.

• Friends of the Chaska Library is having another  book sale on Saturday, Feb, 8, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. inside the Chaska Library. This sale will focus on nonfiction and history books for sale.

Thanks for reading! I’m looking forward to using this column to go over city news and initiatives. We want our community to be engaged with what’s happening in Chaska, and I appreciate that we have this platform to keep you informed.

Mayor Taylor Hubbard