Rosemary Piekarski Krech
Name: Rosemary Piekarski Krech
Public Office Sought: Inver Grove Heights Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-455-5337
Campaign Website: NA
Twitter handle: NA
Facebook Page: Elect Piekarski Krech
Candidate Bio
I believe my work and life experiences are exactly what qualify me to represent our diverse and evolving community. As an educator, urban farmer, child-care provider, daughter, sister, wife, caregiver, widow, life-long learner, former mayor and current council member, I have developed a balanced approach of process and people oriented problem solving skills. I believe in operating by consensus so all opinions are heard. I have seen Inver Grove change from an agrarian area with all dirt roads to a growing suburban community with 130+ miles of paved streets. As we continue to grow, I feel my institutional knowledge and my concern for the changing needs of our citizens and how that shapes the city’s future make me an excellent candidate for mayor.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Finance will always be an important issue- balancing the needs versus wants of a growing community without burdening the taxpayers and maintaining fiscal solvency.
Our environment- protecting our water and land resources, Inver Grove’s water comes from wells so if we don’t take care and regenerate our groundwater we could have issues with our supply, we need to keep our water here, not send it down the river. Rain gardens, open spaces and maintaining as many trees as possible are critical for our quality of life.
The residents of our city- without a strong and engaged community a city cannot thrive.
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?
I think most of our businesses have survived the pandemic and are coming back to the new normal if they are not already there. I appreciate the resiliency many of our entrepreneurs showed in adapting new ways to provide their services.
Varied and thriving businesses are vital to a community’s ability to continue to grow.
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?
I think Inver Grove has a lot to offer, I think businesses need to be responsible for their own success, if they have a poor model or plan success will elude them.
I believe as a city we welcome new businesses especially those that bring variety and entrepreneurship. As a city we prioritize using our local businesses whenever possible. Our communications staff and the CVB frequently highlight local businesses. I patronize local establishments all the time and encourage others to buy local.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
Getting more public transportation, working with the CVB showing what a great place IGH is to live and work, referring to Dakota County workforce center and our terrific local colleges- Inver Hills, Dakota County and St. Paul.
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?
I believe in free enterprise and would not propose these types of proposals for Inver Grove. These types of regulations if enacted must be on at least a regional if not state or national level. As a city of 35,000+ businesses couldn’t compete if we were the only one with restrictions.
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?
Community engagement! See something, say something, pay attention to what’s happening around you and call the police when something is not copacetic don’t just complain on social media. Our police department works very hard at being out in the community and responding to citizen issues.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
We have lots of new development providing a range of housing choices. I would like to see us work on maintaining our existing housing stock and keeping the city affordable for all income levels. In following trends in other areas I think we need to monitor the numbers of homes that are being turned into rentals, it seems that this trend can deplete the options available for first time buyers.
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 county has changed some of their designs due to covid shifts (i.e. CR26/70thST has been changed from 4 lanes from Hwy 13 to Concord down to 2 lanes and a middle lane/turn lane). We will need to look at how their changes impact our local streets as design moves forward. Inver Grove has fairly decent access to 494 and 52 for regional needs but what we really need is public transportation links for those who don’t have cars or would rather not drive every day or perhaps can no longer drive. I will keep pushing for more public transportation choices for our residents.
I will also keep looking for funding mechanisms to shore up our local infrastructure.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Continued restraint and judiciousness
What will you do to expand Inver Grove Heights’s tax base?
I personally don’t have control over the tax base, I meet with developers and business interests and try to help them connect with our community development department. Decisions made once proposals come to council are what matters. Council needs to have comity and reach consensus on development proposals.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
We are fortunate to have Inver Hills CC in our city and Dakota County CC right next door. They are an excellent resource for our K-12 schools and PSEO.
We need to encourage mentorships and internships and foster collaborations like the EMT training and fire service.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are thre new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I haven’t noticed any superfluous services and our staff is always looking at opportunities for coordinating and cooperating. We have several joint powers agreements with our neighbors and the county from equipment sharing to fire and police services.
What is the role of the Mayor in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Inver Grove Heights?
Providing the leadership climate for all business growth.
I know of 3 women owned businesses that have been used recently by the city to provide services. Again it is patronizing and encouraging those who dare to try.
What further policies can Inver Grove Heights adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
At this time I don’t know of any new policies that are needed. I know as a city we modified some requirements and for restaurants we allowed more flexibility for outdoor dining. We also used some of our recovery money for business assistance.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I have confidence in our election personnel. I know they are doing their best job to make sure residents can vote securely and safely. I think it is reprehensible that there has been harassment and intimidation of city clerks and election workers around our country. These are our neighbors who are giving up their time so we can exercise our democratic right to vote. So make sure you vote!
Public Office Sought: Inver Grove Heights Mayor
Email: [email protected]
Campaign Phone: 651-455-5337
Campaign Website: NA
Twitter handle: NA
Facebook Page: Elect Piekarski Krech
Candidate Bio
I believe my work and life experiences are exactly what qualify me to represent our diverse and evolving community. As an educator, urban farmer, child-care provider, daughter, sister, wife, caregiver, widow, life-long learner, former mayor and current council member, I have developed a balanced approach of process and people oriented problem solving skills. I believe in operating by consensus so all opinions are heard. I have seen Inver Grove change from an agrarian area with all dirt roads to a growing suburban community with 130+ miles of paved streets. As we continue to grow, I feel my institutional knowledge and my concern for the changing needs of our citizens and how that shapes the city’s future make me an excellent candidate for mayor.
What would be your top three priorities if elected?
Finance will always be an important issue- balancing the needs versus wants of a growing community without burdening the taxpayers and maintaining fiscal solvency.
Our environment- protecting our water and land resources, Inver Grove’s water comes from wells so if we don’t take care and regenerate our groundwater we could have issues with our supply, we need to keep our water here, not send it down the river. Rain gardens, open spaces and maintaining as many trees as possible are critical for our quality of life.
The residents of our city- without a strong and engaged community a city cannot thrive.
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?
I think most of our businesses have survived the pandemic and are coming back to the new normal if they are not already there. I appreciate the resiliency many of our entrepreneurs showed in adapting new ways to provide their services.
Varied and thriving businesses are vital to a community’s ability to continue to grow.
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?
I think Inver Grove has a lot to offer, I think businesses need to be responsible for their own success, if they have a poor model or plan success will elude them.
I believe as a city we welcome new businesses especially those that bring variety and entrepreneurship. As a city we prioritize using our local businesses whenever possible. Our communications staff and the CVB frequently highlight local businesses. I patronize local establishments all the time and encourage others to buy local.
What policies, if any, would you support to help employers address the labor shortage?
Getting more public transportation, working with the CVB showing what a great place IGH is to live and work, referring to Dakota County workforce center and our terrific local colleges- Inver Hills, Dakota County and St. Paul.
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?
I believe in free enterprise and would not propose these types of proposals for Inver Grove. These types of regulations if enacted must be on at least a regional if not state or national level. As a city of 35,000+ businesses couldn’t compete if we were the only one with restrictions.
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?
Community engagement! See something, say something, pay attention to what’s happening around you and call the police when something is not copacetic don’t just complain on social media. Our police department works very hard at being out in the community and responding to citizen issues.
What strategies or policies would you propose to address housing issues facing your community?
We have lots of new development providing a range of housing choices. I would like to see us work on maintaining our existing housing stock and keeping the city affordable for all income levels. In following trends in other areas I think we need to monitor the numbers of homes that are being turned into rentals, it seems that this trend can deplete the options available for first time buyers.
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 county has changed some of their designs due to covid shifts (i.e. CR26/70thST has been changed from 4 lanes from Hwy 13 to Concord down to 2 lanes and a middle lane/turn lane). We will need to look at how their changes impact our local streets as design moves forward. Inver Grove has fairly decent access to 494 and 52 for regional needs but what we really need is public transportation links for those who don’t have cars or would rather not drive every day or perhaps can no longer drive. I will keep pushing for more public transportation choices for our residents.
I will also keep looking for funding mechanisms to shore up our local infrastructure.
What are your priorities for the City’s budget?
Continued restraint and judiciousness
What will you do to expand Inver Grove Heights’s tax base?
I personally don’t have control over the tax base, I meet with developers and business interests and try to help them connect with our community development department. Decisions made once proposals come to council are what matters. Council needs to have comity and reach consensus on development proposals.
How will you work with K-12 and post-secondary educational institutions and businesses to ensure our region develops and retains an educated workforce?
We are fortunate to have Inver Hills CC in our city and Dakota County CC right next door. They are an excellent resource for our K-12 schools and PSEO.
We need to encourage mentorships and internships and foster collaborations like the EMT training and fire service.
Are there any services currently provided by the city that you believe should be cut back or eliminated? Are thre new opportunities to share services with other entities?
I haven’t noticed any superfluous services and our staff is always looking at opportunities for coordinating and cooperating. We have several joint powers agreements with our neighbors and the county from equipment sharing to fire and police services.
What is the role of the Mayor in fostering increased minority- and women-owned businesses in Inver Grove Heights?
Providing the leadership climate for all business growth.
I know of 3 women owned businesses that have been used recently by the city to provide services. Again it is patronizing and encouraging those who dare to try.
What further policies can Inver Grove Heights adopt to help the business community recover from the COVID-19 pandemic?
At this time I don’t know of any new policies that are needed. I know as a city we modified some requirements and for restaurants we allowed more flexibility for outdoor dining. We also used some of our recovery money for business assistance.
Is there anything else you would like to share with voters not covered above?
I have confidence in our election personnel. I know they are doing their best job to make sure residents can vote securely and safely. I think it is reprehensible that there has been harassment and intimidation of city clerks and election workers around our country. These are our neighbors who are giving up their time so we can exercise our democratic right to vote. So make sure you vote!