As Mayor I promised to support and encourage business retention and expansion, to provide jobs and a secure tax base: I delivered Lexington Station, Tavern Grill, Chick-fil-A, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Colder Products Corporation, Wealth Asset Advisors, Genesis Event Center, Delkor, Land O’Lakes and Boston Scientific campus expansions.
I am an active member of the Twin Cities North Chamber of Commerce and on the Board of Twin City Gateway, a visitor bureau.
Businesses chose Arden Hills for good reasons. Under my leadership, the city has low taxes, reliable city services, a skilled workforce, low crime and a wonderful quality of life. I will continue working closely with businesses and developers to protect what makes Arden Hills special while creating opportunities for businesses to preserve and enhance our community.
My focus is clear: listen, be helpful and find ways to make it easier for good businesses to succeed. Under my direction, city staff has earned high marks from local businesses and developers because we work with them, listen to their concerns, help remove barriers and serve as a resource.
As a mature, built-out city, except for TCAAP, my focus is thoughtful, strategic high-quality redevelopment, along with targeted infill where it makes sense. Arden Hills is not starting from scratch; we’re strengthening what already works and improving it in smart planned ways.
Along with City staff, I am continuing to work with property owners on vacant sites. For example, the Amazon store has finally been put up for sale, and several parties are exploring possibilities for the property. The Pace property north of Cub presents a different challenge because of land contamination. Property owners have refused interested developers to investigate the issue. The question of the extent of contamination makes redevelopment more difficult and costly, but potential is there. I have talked with interested developers and offered City services to apply for remediation grants, but the unknown risks are too much.
A strong business community makes Arden Hills a better place to live. Local employers provide good jobs, while restaurants and shops give residents places to gather and enjoy being together. Our businesses and community organizations also give back by providing volunteers, supporting local projects, and contributing financially to improvements throughout the city. I’m grateful for all they do for Arden Hills.
Arden Hills is fortunate to have Bethel University and University of Northwestern (which we share with Roseville) as part of our community, along with the highly regarded Mounds View School District. Under my leadership, the city maintains regular communication with our schools, educational institutions, and local businesses that benefit from the talented graduates and students they provide. In a recent business meeting, one of our businesses expressed that they find these schools develop quality and even “Rock Star” level employees.
