The Metropolitan Council hit the road June 18 and convened a first-of-its-kind, remote fact-finding meeting in Chaska.
According to Chair Charles Zelle, the Council intends to conduct meetings in each of its 16 districts over the coming years to hear about what’s happening throughout the metro and learn more about challenges cities, counties and townships are facing.
“We have a lot to learn, and that’s the reason we’re on the road,” he told the crowd at the Chaska Event Center. “We’re not here to just admire this beautiful facility and this beautiful community, but to actually get a sense of what is happening across the metro.”
The policy-making organization, which helps guide economic and residential growth in the seven-county metro area, is governed by a 17-member board representing individual districts throughout the region.
The group discussed cancelling the planned Chaska meeting due to the assassination of Democratic State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the shooting of State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, over the previous weekend.
But Zelle said the meeting continued as planned to help promote “deep community connection” to contribute to the healing process.
Chaska Mayor Taylor Hubbard echoed that sentiment in her opening remarks that evening. She thanked all of the government officials in the room for their dedication to public service, even during a time when the political divide makes such work challenging.
“When we choose to be public servants, we put ourselves in a position where our decisions can be scrutinized, especially in today’s digital world,” she said. “Still, we push forward with courage because we want to make a positive difference in the community. We can all agree when I say we cannot do this work alone. It takes partnerships across the political spectrum to see our communities thrive now and in the future. As an elected leader in Chaska, I’m more dedicated than ever to building connections in our community.”
In talking about Chaska to the Committee of the Whole, Hubbard said the local City Council has dedicated itself to making the city a “hometown for all.”
“Chaska is an amazing community, a place where neighbors can help neighbors and people genuinely care about each other,” she said. “We want Chaska to feel like home, a place for each feels welcome, safe and valued.”
Hubbard noted that communicating with Chaska’s residents is more of a challenge, since the Chaska Herald newspaper closed down in 2024. But the city is working on a “community engagement trailer” and a new newsletter to keep citizens informed.
District 4 Council Member Deb Barber, who represents 16 cities and 20 townships in Carver and Scott counties on the Met Council, was on hand to talk a bit about her work on the governmental body that people don’t know much about. The Met Council provides some of the essential services and infrastructure throughout the metro. The organization deals with services such as wastewater treatment, planning, affordable housing, regional parks, Metro Transit, Metro Mobility and more.
When asked by emcee Tane Danger about the lack of understanding about the Met Council’s role in the metro’s future, Barber said it’s an education process.
“There are a lot of people who don’t know we do,” she admitted. “There are a lot of people who think we do something but that’s not what we do. Or there are people who have some understanding. So, there’s a full range.”
Barber said transportation – including roads, walking/biking trails, and mass transit — is one of the critical services that the Met Council works on.
“People need to get to places,” she said, adding that transportation corridors are also necessary for the transport of goods and services throughout the region.
Barber suggested that the Council members are advocates and problem-solvers for their individual districts, but the entire group looks out for the best interest of the metro area in general.
Former Chaska Mayor Mark Windschitl spoke briefly about the history behind the Chaska Events Center’s beginnings. He noted that there was so much opposition to the idea that he thought he’d lose the next election.
Danger joked about the idea that led to the construction of a curling center at the heart of the city. The plan has turned out famously, Windschitl said, with residents and visitors flocking to the facility and the adjoining park through the years.
“Now you can do nothing but hold your head up,” he said.
In talking about local politics, Windschitl added that Council Members and mayors usually steer clear of the rhetoric found in higher levels of government.
“I always say we’re not politicians at this level,” he said. “We’re mayors and council members, and we do what’s best for the community. That’s the way I’ve always looked at it.”
In talking about the city of Carver, Mayor Courtney Johnson reported that estimates suggest that that city’s population will triple over the next few years. She said many long-time and more recent residents are suggesting the city “raise the drawbridge and stop growing.” Johnson said the City Council is working to grow responsibly while addressing challenging aspects of such growth.
Bill Rudnicki, tribal administrator for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, spoke about the long relationship the tribe has enjoyed with the Met Council and neighboring cities over the years. He said the partnerships on transportation, wastewater treatment and more has been beneficial for all involved.
During the hour-long meeting, Rudnicki announced a new partnership open to local residents – the Dakota Prairie Composting site, just south of downtown Chaska at 12386 Chestnut Boulevard. He said the surrounding community is welcome to recycle yard waste at the location.
