Lately, some misleading claims have been circulating in our community, stirring unnecessary fear and confusion. It's important that we separate the facts from the misinformation. Here’s some facts about a few key issues:
Zoning Changes and Development
Some have suggested changing the zoning in the Urban Expansion Reserve area from 1 home per 40 acres to 1 home per 10 acres, claiming it would help preserve our rural character. However, evidence points to the opposite effect.
The photos below show Hampshire Ave in South Savage, just north of the Credit River border, where zoning was set at 1 unit per 10 acres. Within a decade, national builders like Lennar and Pulte purchased each 10-acre parcel one by one and constructed “cookie-cutter” homes. Why did this happen so quickly? By reducing density to 1 unit per 10 acres, developers could acquire smaller parcels, stage developments with less upfront financial risk, and accelerate the build-out. At current prices nearing $150K per acre, larger parcels are an unaffordable risk for many developers.
Maintaining our current zoning has effectively deterred rapid development—there is no reason to expose our community to increased density and lower investment quality.
$25M Government Center
In 2024, Credit River formed a facilities committee, including two council members, to consult experts on a needs analysis study for long-term (+25 years) facility needs. The current city hall, built in the 1960s when we had just 400 residents, is far past its useful life. There was never a proposal to build a $25 million facility.
Planning for future needs is one of the most crucial responsibilities of city leadership. Our current city hall lacks a proper septic drain field, leading to surface wastewater spills, and closed-session meetings require locking residents out or closing city hall. Conducting soil borings on two parcels of land offered by property owners was a necessary evaluation step, recommended by the building committee and approved at the April 1st council meeting for $11K, not $20K as rumored.
While the council presentation included a broad estimate for a full buildout, the council was not in support of moving forward and directed the building committee to explore other options.
City Administrator Severance
The severance paid to our former city administrator, was a standard contractual obligation typical of her role. Cathy’s hiring followed a rigorous recruitment process conducted by a professional municipal recruitment firm, and her severance was a part of that employment agreement. Given the potential for council turnover during even-year elections this is common practice for cities to ensure continuity and fairness.
Maintenance Truck Purchase
The budgeted $60K expenditure on a maintenance truck was a well-considered purchase. This truck was bought used, with low mileage, and was approved by the council. A comparable new truck would have cost $80-$100K. This was not a purchase made on a whim, but rather a strategic decision to work towards a public works employee self-preforming much of the work we outsource today. This would result in timelier and more cost-effective service to the residents.
Vision Statement Budget
There was never a proposal to spend $25K just for a vision statement. Instead, the funds in question were budgeted for comprehensive strategic and park master planning—two crucial elements for our city’s future. While the strategic planning initiative was initially postponed by the council, we later approved the park master planning at a cost of $10K. The goal of the park master plan is to provide a basis for increasing park fees for developers, as we currently charge significantly less than neighboring communities. Additionally, the park plan will likely be required for our next revision of the comprehensive plan.
Misunderstanding of Regional Planning Rules
The assertion that the council is using the Met Council as a "scapegoat" is unfounded. We have a clear understanding of the regional planning rules, which apply uniformly to all cities and townships within the 7-county metro area.
Setting the Record Straight
As your Mayor, I believe in transparency and basing decisions on facts. If you want to know where I stand on an issue, my position is clear: I follow the facts that lead to the long-term success of Credit River. Whether its guiding growth, ensuring development pays for itself, protecting our low tax rate, long term financial and operational viability, or making infrastructure decisions, I am committed to what’s best for our community.
Let’s continue building a community that thrives on truth—not fear.
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