Mary T'Kach
Name: Mary T'Kach
Public Office Sought: Inver Grove Heights City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone:
Website: www.marytkach.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook page: Mary T’Kach for City Council
Candidate Bio
I have enjoyed living in Inver Grove Heights for 35 years. During this time I’ve talked with residents, city leaders, staff, educators and business people who want the city to be financially stable, meet the needs of residents and businesses, and be a city that we are proud to live/work in. I have participated with neighbors in city-led discussions on making our parks, streets, neighborhoods, and business developments the best they can be. I served on the Planning Commission, Housing Committee, Energy Action Team and Pavement Management Taskforce.
Key Accomplishments
• Housing: The Committee presented Council with recommendations for “Granny Flats” and a Rental Licensing Ordinance; both items were adopted by the Council.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
• We need to continue with budget discipline to ensure city maintenance and replacement programs for streets, parks, fleet vehicles and other city assets are in place in ways that balance value to the city against the need for more tax dollars so there are no budget surprises that result in large tax or fee increases for property owners.
• Healthy families start with a healthy environment. The impact of more extreme weather on our health, homes, businesses, and our city's infrastructure will challenge the health and safety of our community. I will work to further the city's preparedness for these changes and encourage businesses to learn about the opportunities and financial benefits of planning ahead.
• Rather than wait for members of the community to respond to specific issues that come before the council I will work with the council to pro-actively seek input on a regular basis from all members of our community to hear people’s ideas, concerns and solutions as the city grows.
How would you characterize the business climate in Inver Grove Heights and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The good news is the city has many well-established businesses and the IGH Planning and Economic Development staff, along with the county, continue to promote our area as a great place to do business. Currently, however, the city has vacant retail, commercial and industrial areas that will require creative thinking to bring benefit to the community. A thriving business community that provides good-quality and good-paying jobs across a variety of work skills is essential for a healthy and vibrant community.
I believe businesses benefit from actively contributing to and participating with community organizations in the city they are located in and should be encouraged to play an active role in helping to build strong and healthy communities where they do business.
What role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Inver Grove Heights?
Much of the job development work is done through programs supported by Dakota County and the State of Minnesota. I think the role of the city is to:
o Provide well planned and well-maintained roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure;
o Support healthy lifestyles and safe streets for residents, business patrons and visitors;
o Work closely with educational institutions and other community partners to encourage them to provide programs that develop well-trained workers who can then provide highly skilled labor for the variety of local business needs now and into the future;
o Ensure city staff have the tools they need to support businesses that want to start or expand in the city; and
o Ensure city programs and processes are more easily understood by the public, with continued excellent customer service.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
I think the business community is best positioned to address the labor shortage, but the city can play a role by providing a variety of modern, safe housing choices that teachers, first responders, health care workers, trades people, seniors and others find attractive and affordable.
In addition, having a variety of recreational activities available for families and workers will attract new workers to the area. This includes community arts programs, easy access to parks and recreational activities, walking and biking trails, and urban wilderness areas where individuals and families can refresh, reflect and relax close to home and work.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals in Inver Grove Heights (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Inver Grove Heights and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
It is difficult for a city the size of Inver Grove Heights to address the complexities of the labor market in isolation. Policies and practices done in isolation often have unintended consequences that ultimately will not serve the best interests of the city, its residents nor the business community.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
The safety of our families and homes is essential to the people of IGH. A respectful and cooperative relationship between all members of our community is crucial. I will ask our Police Chief and her officers to regularly meet with the community in various settings to share strengths, concerns, and solutions to our public safety. Opportunities for people to know each other better will make a world of difference in building trust, respect and cooperation in promoting public safety in IGH.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
Homelessness is growing in Dakota County and needs to be addressed before it becomes the crisis we’ve seen in other communities. IGH would benefit from a variety of housing types to meet the changing needs of families, workers and elders living in the city. Innovative housing adds value to the city’s economic prosperity and is a way to build healthy neighborhoods, a strong business community and provide opportunities for families who want to live closer together.
Additionally, we need our business community and other community organizations working together on education campaigns that build awareness about the need for a variety of housing options across the city.
Keeping home values across aging neighborhoods from declining is also important. Reviewing its partnerships with the county and non-profit housing agencies can help the city ensure current home rehab funding programs are reaching the homeowners who need it the most to keep the city’s older housing stock safe, attractive and relatively affordable for residents to live in.
Keeping rural areas rural and focusing development in the built-up areas of the city will help protect the unique qualities of Inver Grove Heights that residents currently enjoy.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
The city has adequate state, county and city roads to serve its needs, but our area in the east metro needs more flexible and safe transportation options to make it easier for people to get around without having to drive 100% of the time.
Recent and upcoming traffic calming projects by the county will help make our roads quieter and safer.
With hybrid office/home work models and flex time, our city’s workers and families have evolving transportation needs. Likewise, as our aging residents become unable or unwilling to drive, they too would like more transportation options, and students of all ages moving between home, school, after-school activities and work would benefit from a wider range of transportation choices.
We should work cooperatively with other east metro communities and agencies to bring about flexible transportation options that meet the needs of people of all ages and improves the livability of the city and reduces traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
➢ Stabilize the city’s road repair budget.
➢ Ensure police and other first responders have the tools they need to work with and respond professionally to the community’s needs.
➢ Protect and maintain existing parks and trails and leverage city resources to bring public and private grant dollars into the city to help acquire additional green space for the park system.
➢ Ensure stable and equitable funding of the storm water, sanitary sewer and water utilities.
➢ Control operational costs through energy efficiency and waste reduction programs.
➢ Leverage city resources to secure other funds and technical assistance that supports residents and businesses as they prepare for changing weather patterns and extreme weather events.
What will you do to expand Inver Grove Heights’s tax base?
I will advocate for the Chamber of Commerce and the city to work together to bring 21st century businesses to the city. Other cities and rural towns in Minnesota are recruiting businesses that serve the clean energy economy and are helping existing businesses expand into these areas. These efforts are growing the local tax base and IGH can do the same.
Implementing the city’s new Energy Action Plan will help participating businesses reduce utility expenses and allow them to invest in growing their business. It can also attract new residents and businesses looking to locate in communities that show their awareness of and willingness to support building community-wide resilience to a changing climate.
In addition, we should support a range of recreation, arts and housing opportunities that attract more of the region’s tourist dollars and help local businesses grow and in turn grow the city’s tax base.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
The city is limited by what it can do directly within schools but it can encourage and promote affordable education and training programs that meet the needs of the 21st century job market as we are seeing at the Inver Hills Community College. The city can encourage schools to provide apprenticeships, mental health support for students, and partner with others on safe and flexible transportation systems for students of all ages. The city can also provide for housing development that teachers and other employees at our many schools can afford to live in.
A vibrant region with arts and cultural attractions, a commitment to healthy families, safe parks and trails, and a clean and healthy natural environment will help Inver Grove Heights continue to attract and keep an educated workforce.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
The city must continually review its work and look for efficiencies and cost-effectiveness of programs and services and make operational decisions based on those analyses. As mentioned previously, energy efficiency and waste reduction can play an important role in reducing operational costs. As technology changes there will continue to be new opportunities for IGH to work with other local units of government to deliver cost-effective services and amenities to residents.
Collaborations between business and community partners will continue to be important elements of well-run communities.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Inver Grove Heights?
The city can welcome, promote and support these business owners who add to the vitality and tax base of our community. The city can also encourage the local Chamber of Commerce to continue their support for these groups to help recruit them to the city and help them get through the first few years of operating that are so challenging for any business.
What further policies can Inver Grove Heights adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The majority of COVID-19 programs are provided by county and state governments and they are best positioned to provide information and economic assistance to local businesses.
The city can continue to work with the business community to market IGH as a great place to start or expand, and can minimize tax increases to help residents and businesses that are still struggling financially from the pandemic.
If/when another outbreak of the virus shows up in Minnesota, the city can respond by encouraging residents and businesses to follow the public health recommendations of local agencies and the CDC so that people stay safe and any disruptions in our lives and businesses pass quickly.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
In talking with residents, they repeatedly say they would like more community gathering places for socializing, arts, entertainment and community events. I believe we need to identify and support the development of such public spaces. Does this include developing a thriving city center? Or splash pads in more of our parks for families to enjoy on hot summer days? Maybe regular exercise classes in the park? A local arts gallery and history museum? Seminars led by local professionals on how to start one’s own business? So many possibilities. Let’s talk with each other and see where we can go as a community.
No one has all the answers to the many complex issues that come before the city council and I plan to listen and work with the other council members, our city staff, residents and business people who bring forward ideas, visions, concerns and an interest in helping IGH be its best.
I look forward to talking with people over the coming months and in the future and I encourage people to contact me to discuss issues, share concerns and offer suggestions for how we can work together to bring about a brighter future for everyone in our community. And finally, don’t forget to vote on or before August 9. www.MNvotes.org
Public Office Sought: Inver Grove Heights City Council
Email: [email protected]
Phone:
Website: www.marytkach.com
Twitter handle:
Facebook page: Mary T’Kach for City Council
Candidate Bio
I have enjoyed living in Inver Grove Heights for 35 years. During this time I’ve talked with residents, city leaders, staff, educators and business people who want the city to be financially stable, meet the needs of residents and businesses, and be a city that we are proud to live/work in. I have participated with neighbors in city-led discussions on making our parks, streets, neighborhoods, and business developments the best they can be. I served on the Planning Commission, Housing Committee, Energy Action Team and Pavement Management Taskforce.
Key Accomplishments
• Housing: The Committee presented Council with recommendations for “Granny Flats” and a Rental Licensing Ordinance; both items were adopted by the Council.
- Pavement Management Taskforce: Worked with members on recommendations for Council to improve the condition of city streets equitably and cost-effectively.
- Energy Action Team: Contributed to the city’s first Energy Action Plan that sets goals and strategies to save energy and money throughout the community.
- Professionally I have an award-winning track record as an innovative planner in corporate, non-profit, and government settings focused on environment and economic development with robust community engagement.
- I have managed multi-million-dollar budgets that contributed to job creation in urban and rural areas.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
• We need to continue with budget discipline to ensure city maintenance and replacement programs for streets, parks, fleet vehicles and other city assets are in place in ways that balance value to the city against the need for more tax dollars so there are no budget surprises that result in large tax or fee increases for property owners.
• Healthy families start with a healthy environment. The impact of more extreme weather on our health, homes, businesses, and our city's infrastructure will challenge the health and safety of our community. I will work to further the city's preparedness for these changes and encourage businesses to learn about the opportunities and financial benefits of planning ahead.
• Rather than wait for members of the community to respond to specific issues that come before the council I will work with the council to pro-actively seek input on a regular basis from all members of our community to hear people’s ideas, concerns and solutions as the city grows.
How would you characterize the business climate in Inver Grove Heights and what is the role of businesses supporting quality of life issues in the community?
The good news is the city has many well-established businesses and the IGH Planning and Economic Development staff, along with the county, continue to promote our area as a great place to do business. Currently, however, the city has vacant retail, commercial and industrial areas that will require creative thinking to bring benefit to the community. A thriving business community that provides good-quality and good-paying jobs across a variety of work skills is essential for a healthy and vibrant community.
I believe businesses benefit from actively contributing to and participating with community organizations in the city they are located in and should be encouraged to play an active role in helping to build strong and healthy communities where they do business.
What role do you think the city should have in attracting and retaining jobs, and what steps would you take to solicit new businesses to, and retain existing businesses in, Inver Grove Heights?
Much of the job development work is done through programs supported by Dakota County and the State of Minnesota. I think the role of the city is to:
o Provide well planned and well-maintained roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure;
o Support healthy lifestyles and safe streets for residents, business patrons and visitors;
o Work closely with educational institutions and other community partners to encourage them to provide programs that develop well-trained workers who can then provide highly skilled labor for the variety of local business needs now and into the future;
o Ensure city staff have the tools they need to support businesses that want to start or expand in the city; and
o Ensure city programs and processes are more easily understood by the public, with continued excellent customer service.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
I think the business community is best positioned to address the labor shortage, but the city can play a role by providing a variety of modern, safe housing choices that teachers, first responders, health care workers, trades people, seniors and others find attractive and affordable.
In addition, having a variety of recreational activities available for families and workers will attract new workers to the area. This includes community arts programs, easy access to parks and recreational activities, walking and biking trails, and urban wilderness areas where individuals and families can refresh, reflect and relax close to home and work.
Do you support any specific employment-related proposals in Inver Grove Heights (such as minimum wage, sick time, or mandatory scheduling notice)? If so, what steps would you take to understand the impact of an ordinance on the many types of businesses in Inver Grove Heights and how would you define any exceptions to those policies?
It is difficult for a city the size of Inver Grove Heights to address the complexities of the labor market in isolation. Policies and practices done in isolation often have unintended consequences that ultimately will not serve the best interests of the city, its residents nor the business community.
Public safety and rising crime rates are of serious concern to the business community and residents. What strategies or policies would you propose to address public safety issues facing your community?
The safety of our families and homes is essential to the people of IGH. A respectful and cooperative relationship between all members of our community is crucial. I will ask our Police Chief and her officers to regularly meet with the community in various settings to share strengths, concerns, and solutions to our public safety. Opportunities for people to know each other better will make a world of difference in building trust, respect and cooperation in promoting public safety in IGH.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
Homelessness is growing in Dakota County and needs to be addressed before it becomes the crisis we’ve seen in other communities. IGH would benefit from a variety of housing types to meet the changing needs of families, workers and elders living in the city. Innovative housing adds value to the city’s economic prosperity and is a way to build healthy neighborhoods, a strong business community and provide opportunities for families who want to live closer together.
Additionally, we need our business community and other community organizations working together on education campaigns that build awareness about the need for a variety of housing options across the city.
Keeping home values across aging neighborhoods from declining is also important. Reviewing its partnerships with the county and non-profit housing agencies can help the city ensure current home rehab funding programs are reaching the homeowners who need it the most to keep the city’s older housing stock safe, attractive and relatively affordable for residents to live in.
Keeping rural areas rural and focusing development in the built-up areas of the city will help protect the unique qualities of Inver Grove Heights that residents currently enjoy.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address transportation issues facing your community? Have your strategies or views changed on transportation since we’ve seen shifts in road use, public transportation use, work from home models, etc. due to the pandemic?
The city has adequate state, county and city roads to serve its needs, but our area in the east metro needs more flexible and safe transportation options to make it easier for people to get around without having to drive 100% of the time.
Recent and upcoming traffic calming projects by the county will help make our roads quieter and safer.
With hybrid office/home work models and flex time, our city’s workers and families have evolving transportation needs. Likewise, as our aging residents become unable or unwilling to drive, they too would like more transportation options, and students of all ages moving between home, school, after-school activities and work would benefit from a wider range of transportation choices.
We should work cooperatively with other east metro communities and agencies to bring about flexible transportation options that meet the needs of people of all ages and improves the livability of the city and reduces traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
➢ Stabilize the city’s road repair budget.
➢ Ensure police and other first responders have the tools they need to work with and respond professionally to the community’s needs.
➢ Protect and maintain existing parks and trails and leverage city resources to bring public and private grant dollars into the city to help acquire additional green space for the park system.
➢ Ensure stable and equitable funding of the storm water, sanitary sewer and water utilities.
➢ Control operational costs through energy efficiency and waste reduction programs.
➢ Leverage city resources to secure other funds and technical assistance that supports residents and businesses as they prepare for changing weather patterns and extreme weather events.
What will you do to expand Inver Grove Heights’s tax base?
I will advocate for the Chamber of Commerce and the city to work together to bring 21st century businesses to the city. Other cities and rural towns in Minnesota are recruiting businesses that serve the clean energy economy and are helping existing businesses expand into these areas. These efforts are growing the local tax base and IGH can do the same.
Implementing the city’s new Energy Action Plan will help participating businesses reduce utility expenses and allow them to invest in growing their business. It can also attract new residents and businesses looking to locate in communities that show their awareness of and willingness to support building community-wide resilience to a changing climate.
In addition, we should support a range of recreation, arts and housing opportunities that attract more of the region’s tourist dollars and help local businesses grow and in turn grow the city’s tax base.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
The city is limited by what it can do directly within schools but it can encourage and promote affordable education and training programs that meet the needs of the 21st century job market as we are seeing at the Inver Hills Community College. The city can encourage schools to provide apprenticeships, mental health support for students, and partner with others on safe and flexible transportation systems for students of all ages. The city can also provide for housing development that teachers and other employees at our many schools can afford to live in.
A vibrant region with arts and cultural attractions, a commitment to healthy families, safe parks and trails, and a clean and healthy natural environment will help Inver Grove Heights continue to attract and keep an educated workforce.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are there new opportunities to share services with other entities?
The city must continually review its work and look for efficiencies and cost-effectiveness of programs and services and make operational decisions based on those analyses. As mentioned previously, energy efficiency and waste reduction can play an important role in reducing operational costs. As technology changes there will continue to be new opportunities for IGH to work with other local units of government to deliver cost-effective services and amenities to residents.
Collaborations between business and community partners will continue to be important elements of well-run communities.
What is the role of the City Council in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Inver Grove Heights?
The city can welcome, promote and support these business owners who add to the vitality and tax base of our community. The city can also encourage the local Chamber of Commerce to continue their support for these groups to help recruit them to the city and help them get through the first few years of operating that are so challenging for any business.
What further policies can Inver Grove Heights adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The majority of COVID-19 programs are provided by county and state governments and they are best positioned to provide information and economic assistance to local businesses.
The city can continue to work with the business community to market IGH as a great place to start or expand, and can minimize tax increases to help residents and businesses that are still struggling financially from the pandemic.
If/when another outbreak of the virus shows up in Minnesota, the city can respond by encouraging residents and businesses to follow the public health recommendations of local agencies and the CDC so that people stay safe and any disruptions in our lives and businesses pass quickly.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
In talking with residents, they repeatedly say they would like more community gathering places for socializing, arts, entertainment and community events. I believe we need to identify and support the development of such public spaces. Does this include developing a thriving city center? Or splash pads in more of our parks for families to enjoy on hot summer days? Maybe regular exercise classes in the park? A local arts gallery and history museum? Seminars led by local professionals on how to start one’s own business? So many possibilities. Let’s talk with each other and see where we can go as a community.
No one has all the answers to the many complex issues that come before the city council and I plan to listen and work with the other council members, our city staff, residents and business people who bring forward ideas, visions, concerns and an interest in helping IGH be its best.
I look forward to talking with people over the coming months and in the future and I encourage people to contact me to discuss issues, share concerns and offer suggestions for how we can work together to bring about a brighter future for everyone in our community. And finally, don’t forget to vote on or before August 9. www.MNvotes.org