Two candidates are vying for the position of mayor of Albertville, which carries a two-year term.
Incumbent Jillian Hendrickson is vying for her second term in the chair. The former council member left during the middle of her term in 2012 to campaign for mayor and succeeded, handily, in that election.
She’s challenged by newcomer Brad Cedergren, a small business owner from Albertville who has not held public office to this point. Cedergren owns Forte Music Academy and is involved, locally, in the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon campaign.
Here’s more about the two mayoral candidates
Jillian Hendrickson
Age: 31
Address: 10647 56th St NE – Albertville, MN
Family: Married to Ryan Hendrickson, Daughter Emilie and Baby #2 due this fall. Oldest of four children, parents Patti & Mark live in Maple Grove
Years Albertville community: Lived in Albertville 9 years
What inspired you to run for Albertville City Council?
When I ran for City Council four years ago, I had been thinking about community volunteerism and leadership for some time. Reflecting on my past leadership experiences, it became clear that I have a true passion for serving others. From being chosen as School Patrol Captain in sixth grade, to becoming the elected high school student government Vice President and on to choosing a college and career path which respected community volunteerism and leadership; these things were and are extremely important to me. In college, I continued exploring volunteer opportunities. I became the spiritual director for our campus women’s center, was elected onto the Local Parish Council and interned as the retreat leader at the Newman Center on campus. I also spent two years in the ROTC Military Leadership Program where I gained a tremendous amount of passion for serving others. In my junior year of college, I decided not to sign and become an officer and promised myself I’d give back to my community in other ways.
After living in Albertville a few years, giving back to the community was something I desired to do, as I was nearing graduation (for my MBA) and would soon have more time. Our local communities were greatly affected throughout the recession, and Albertville had almost doubled in population during the peak of the housing market boom. It was very apparent that many young and growing families chose Albertville to raise their children because of its small town feeling, strong schools and closeness to work in the big city. I recognized that, knowing these factors, council could benefit from some diversity. When respectfully elected I became the youngest member on council. There is always a slight learning curve joining any new team or council. It was a valuable time to learn about: reining in debt, learning about city staffing issues, understanding required state policies as they relate to city governance, and learning how to be more in tune with the local businesses and homeowners. These were just some of the challenges that I had to wade through and skills I needed to hone before taking on the role of Mayor. I learned that it’s necessary to have a team (council) of people with diverse talents and insight, as I know that I can’t possibly be an expert in everything! After these four years serving on the council, I respectfully hope to be reelected to continue to serve in our community with active leadership.
What are the biggest challenges currently facing the community, and into 2015?
This question could be answered differently by each member of the community based on their lives and what they are involved in. If you asked a business owner this question they might say, “The biggest challenge for me is surviving and succeeding above our previous year’s sales.” If you asked a hockey parent or any sports parent for that matter, it would be “… how often will I travel away from Albertville to support my child in their sporting activities, and can I afford it?” Every city faces community challenges on a day-to-day basis. Each individual has a perspective on what is the biggest challenge. It is the City Council’s and Mayor’s responsibility to listen and learn about each of the challenges, and then ask the questions of staff, and others, “Can Albertville aid in these issues? If so, how? If not, why? How can we make a plan to face these community issues?” As a resident and current Mayor, I could provide a long list of challenges we are investigating for solutions, working on a plan, or currently solving them to the city’s best and most conservative ability. To spare you a longer answer than the prior question, I will list a few that come to mind:
•Transportation improvements are needed in our local county and federal infrastructure. Working to improve our roads will continue to stimulate economic growth.
•Albertville needs to continue supporting current and new businesses in ways a city is able, i.e. utilizing different funding mechanisms available to us like tax increment financing and revolving loans.
•We have commercial land open for development and have several inquiries pending, along with expansions in our industrial park and growth in senior housing with Guarding Angels opening (and planning to expand quickly).
•The city needs to support the School Board regarding the policy change; we hope to obtain through the state to gain additional dollars per pupil.
•We also need to follow through with our commitments to partnering with surrounding cities from improving our essential services (like fire department coverage) with Otsego and our several partnerships with St. Michael and Hanover. It is important we keep these cost saving partnerships alive and healthy.
•We need to always be mindful to keep the levy in check as well, and not add any unnecessary spending.
As Mayor, I am always asking the questions: “Why? Why not?” and “What else could we do or offer?”
How might Albertville change as a community with a three-lane freeway possibly on the docket for 2015?Unfortunately, a six lane freeway is still a little ways out, when talking about pulling it through Albertville and on to Monticello. I am happy to say that we did get approval, through the MN State Corridors of Commerce bill, to add two auxiliary lanes from
Rogers to 241. The project will be completed by September 2015. In the MN State 2013 Corridors Budget, our application was recently approved for initial funding for planning and preliminary engineering for six lanes from 241 to hwy 19. This is the first step in the process to achieving the desired six lanes through Albertville.
Albertville has already started to feel the economic effects of adding the west bound off ramp, most of which have been beneficial. Many residents and neighbors from Otsego are able to get home more quickly with a more direct route, and businesses such as our Simon Outlet Mall (one of our largest tax paying businesses), have been able to market their improved accessibility. We have seen two gas stations unfortunately fold, but one has already been opened, with the addition of a fast food restaurant, and the other purchased with a store front facelift planned in the near future. Regarding our available commercial land along the freeway and Hwy 19, interested parties have started stirring some pots, but nothing official is yet to report. Improving our accessibility from 94 will provide our local businesses opportunities to enhance their businesses revenue. (The Albertville city council’s newly documented and public Comprehensive Plan spells out additional priority changes for the community as the years progress. We want to continue paying down debt responsibly but also work together as a community to succeed.)
What is your vision for future commercial development in the City of Albertville, particularly in the area of County Road 19 and 57th Street?
My vision first includes transportation safety improvements. On 57th Street, a planned widening will be done at the intersection of 19 by adding needed turn lanes for traffic flow and safety reasons. Additionally, left turn arrows will be added to the signal systems, which is a MNDOT requirement with intersection changes. The timeline on this project is not yet clear, but both County and City will be working together on funding. Next year, a planned completed reconstruction of 57th Street from the fire hall to Main Street will occur. A widening of the road, improved sidewalks, water drainage issues and the burying of power lines will all be encompassed in this project. The city is working with the Church of St. Albert to combine efforts with their parking lot improvements to save both parties money and improve efficiency. All of these improvements will help to enhance future development in the area of County Rd 19 and 57th Street.
The strip mall near Coborn’s and buildings directly west went into bankruptcy but have since been purchased. This should lower the rent rates and improve opportunities for small businesses to open store fronts. The land to northeast side of 19 and 57th is primed ready for development and Albertville has had some inquiries there as well. Council and I have directed our City Administrator and staff to make sure commercial development is at the top of their list. We have had several prospective parties calling in with inquiries and our city planner is working with them currently. Again, I always ask, “What else can we do as a city to encourage successful businesses to town?” There were more residential building permits this year than our previous three years, and we are in the process of selling off the city owned Prairie Run lots for development which aids in paying down debt.
On a larger scale I envision seeing Frasier Steel complete their expansion in the next year, Guardian Angels pursuing funding to build their second addition to the senior living center, and hopefully there will be movement behind the mall and in our industrial park. Another future project, that should not be forgotten, is the possibility of planning and building a community wide multi-use sports facility
Albertville is considering a full-time fire chief to serve both the city and the city of Otsego in 2015. Is this an idea you support? Why or why not?
The Albertville Fire Department has covered parts of Otsego for some time. In the last two years, our department has picked up additional area to cover. Prior to this additional area, the State Fire Marshall recommended that Albertville needed a full time fire chief. Councils and staff had decided it was not time quite yet.
Our current chief works off a small stipend and puts in several hours, along with our assistant chief. The leadership demands on the department have been spread among trained officers. The members of our fire department have done an excellent job, all of them. However, with this added territory from Otsego, the fire chief job demands additional hours and time. We also need to put together a strong Emergency Management Program. This, along with hiring a chief, would be one of the first items of business.
With all of these factors in mind, our current Chief along with the State Fire Marshall and our City Administer started seriously looking a year ago into the possibility of bringing on a full time chief. With time, the discussion reached the entire department and they voted unanimously (those present) to approve a full time chief. Council has also included this in the preliminary budget for 2015. I have reviewed all the information presented from several parties involved, reviewed the overall costs to the city taxpayers and it is my current recommendation that a full-time fire chief is needed to service both cities responsibly.
Do you have anything else to add?
I respectfully ask for your Vote on November 4th! And, GO STMA KNIGHTS!
Brad Cedergren
Age: 39
Address: 4980 Kalenda Ave NE
Family: wife Lynn, Hannah (9), Noah (5), Micah (18 months)
Years Albertville community: About 8
What inspired you to run for Albertville City Council?
As a recently retired officer in the Army, I felt it appropriate to further my service, leadership and involvement within my community through serving the citizens of our city. I bring my past life experiences in numerous arenas of business, leadership, law enforcement, and community organization and will be an effective leader for our city.
What are the biggest challenges currently facing the community, and into 2015?
Over the past few years I have watched business after business leave our city. We need to not only find a way to become more attractive for business to come but also find a way to help them succeed. As a business owner, I understand the challenges of running a business and as a City Council we must be supportive of all of our community’s businesses.
How might Albertville change as a community with a three-lane freeway possibly on the docket for 2015?
Having the three-lane freeway continuation through Albertville will reduce the congestion that occurs on every summer weekend with cars heading North on vacation and returning on Sunday evening. It will also help tie into the Northwest Metro corridor and bring more access to our community via I94.
What is your vision for future commercial development in the City of Albertville, particularly in the area of County Road 19 and 57th Street?
Prime retail space sitting vacant is a losing game for both the city and the property owners. I would propose that we, as a council, work closely with the property owners and determine what the best course of action would be to help fill the vacancies.
Albertville is considering a full-time fire chief to serve both the city and the city of Otsego in 2015. Is this an idea you support? Why or why not?
The role of Fire Chief is one that benefits everyone within the jurisdiction that the Fire Department serves. The Fire Chief helps with fire prevention, inspections, disaster relief, and other community involvements and is a vital member of the fire response team. The challenge is how to pay for a full-time Chief without increasing taxes or taking away from other services. Providing a shared fire protection service with the City of Otsego allows us to distribute the cost burden of hiring a full-time Chief and ensures that the quality of fire protection coverage that we experience today remains at the current standard.
Do you have anything else to add?
As a small city, a vital part of our overall success includes community involvement of community programs. I, along with other community members of Albertville and St. Michael are leading the effort in the Yellow Ribbon Community initiative. This program is designed to collaborate the resources of both communities to support our Military, Veterans, and Families (as well as First Responders) in a time of need. Please consider joining us as we work toward our proclamation of “Yellow Ribbon Community” and see how you can get involved.
RELATED: Two vying for Albertville City Council, including write-in Candidate
STMA Women of Today, NWCT Hosting Candidate forum Oct. 21