49.0° Fair News ▼ About Government ▼ Residents ▼ Business ▼ How Do I? Find all of the Mayor's Messages on this page below: Index November 18, 2021 Message: September 9, 2021 Message: May 17, 2021 Message: March 12, 2021 Message: January 21, 2021 Message: November 18, 2021 Message: Winter 2021 Wednesday, November 10, 2021 marked a special day in Columbus. We held our first City Council meeting in the City Council Chambers since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic we held our regular meetings in the Senior/Community Center in order to take advantage of CARES Funds to renovate and update the HVAC systems and the online interactive communication systems throughout the building. In addition we upgraded technology that will enable us to continue using our hybrid interactive format well into the future. Thank you everyone who spent so much time planning and executing these much needed updates. Progress is continuing in the Freeway Corridor and on Lake Drive—Love’s Travel Plaza is beginning to take shape and is planning a spring opening; and Muddy Paws Play + Stay (under new ownership of Joe and Olivia Lefto) have made many upgrades to their property and we are pleased to welcome them into our Columbus business community. On Lake Drive, Ecofun Motorsports has begun construction on their new building and Running Aces is continuing their renovation and update of the original building complex to harmonize with the new Running Aces Hotel. Perhaps the best news for Columbus residents is we are being fiscally prudent during these tough economic times. The City Council has held several meetings during August and September to determine the preliminary levy for the 2022 City Budget. As Mayor, I always appreciate the collaboration with City Staff, Council, and Commissions to better understand everything that needs to be factored into the final numbers. There is much more to the equation than services, equipment, personnel, and supplies. I believe we took a conservative approach in looking at all aspects of the budget, including the cost of inflation and balancing the needs of a growing city. The City Council voted on the 2022 levy with a relatively flat tax rate (2022 = 48.34%) compared to last year (2021 = 48.28%). This equates to a two-dollar increase over last year based on the market value for a $375,000 residence. The change has been minimal due to extra value being added from new businesses and developments coming to the City. The final tax levy for 2022 will be voted on at the City Council meeting on December 8, 2021. There will be a public open forum for Columbus residents and property owners to comment on the 2022 Budget and Levy during that City Council meeting. After a 6-week traffic experiment, Anoka County has removed the road closure at the intersection of Kettle River Blvd. and Camp 3 Road. Many residents had expressed concern to the City and County regarding the difficulties at this intersection. The temporary road closure was the beginning of a comprehensive study of the options available and associated costs. Over the next several months data will be analyzed and presented to the City Council for consideration. In closing, I would like to express from both the Council and the City Staff heartfelt sympathies to family and friends of long-time Columbus resident and Planning Commission Member, Barbara Hvass. Her vision and 20+ years of dedication was instrumental in the formation of our City. Her wisdom and expertise in looking to the future was key in making Columbus what it is today. As 2021 comes to a close, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a wonderful Holiday Season. Jesse Preiner Mayor of Columbus Image: Columbus City Council in the renovated Council Chambers (L to R:) Council Members: Shelly Logren, Sue Wagamon, Mayor Jesse Preiner, Janet Hegland, and Rob Busch. September 9, 2021 Message: Autumn Progress Report It’s been a busy and productive Summer at the Columbus City Hall. I am pleased to share a progress report as we move towards the Autumn season. First off, we are nearly ready to move back into City Hall after much-needed upgrades to the Council Chambers. Because the Council has been meeting in the Community/Senior Center, City staff has taken advantage of this time to clean, paint, install an air filtration system, and sound absorbing panels throughout the chambers in order to improve the acoustics of the room. We are waiting for the final sound and recording checks which we expect to happen this month. I invite everyone to come to a City Council meeting to see what a great job our staff has accomplished. Columbus is another step closer to having high-speed Internet service available to several unserved and underserved areas of the City. At the August 25th City Council meeting the Council voted unanimously to allocate $450,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. This money will be going towards broadband expansion that would provide access to 198 homes. Midco will be contracted to provide the service. Discussions with CenturyLink/Lumen Technologies continue and the City is awaiting a proposal from them to service additional neighborhoods. More details on this expansion will be available on the City website. We will continue to seek other funding opportunities that will allow us to continue the trajectory we began last year—to bring high speed Internet access to all neighborhoods in Columbus. Earlier this Spring, a multi-car accident at the intersection of Camp Three Road and Kettle River Blvd. knocked out Internet service for 1/3 of our residents in the southern portion of Columbus for nearly a month. Anoka County has joined with the City on a safety study at the corner of Camp Three Road and Kettle River Blvd. to explore options that would improve the sight lines at the intersection. After our study is complete in mid-November, County engineers will bring their findings to the Council for review—along with input from residents—to decide on a cost-effective strategy to improve safety. Council members have heard from many residents that they would appreciate increased communication with City Hall. We have taken many steps in this direction. A newly-designed website is nearly complete that we expect will be easier for residents to navigate and for Staff to readily update. Residents can register to receive all types of e-mail communications such as volunteer opportunities, the City newsletter, public notices, and minutes. Go to the City website home page and under “Register for Email Communications” click the link for the registration page to choose what type of communications you would like to receive. If you have problems registering for email communications or are not receiving the communications you requested, please contact City Offices at 651-419-9014 and we will help you out! A recently completed survey by the Columbus Park Board found that 79% of respondents rated our park as “very good” or “excellent.” The perimeter walking trail has been crack-filled and seal-coated to extend its longevity and increase safety for walkers and joggers alike. The Park Board also reported a Fall planting in the park of additional deciduous and coniferous trees that will provide shade and aesthetic screening. In closing, things are moving forward in Columbus. Best wishes for safe and productive Fall. Jesse Preiner Mayor of Columbus May 17, 2021 Message: Spring 2021 Update After a long and sequestered winter, the residents of Columbus are looking forward to more outdoor activities. Our City park has been filled with walkers, ball players and families and enjoying outdoors. In addition, Running Aces is excited for a new racing season which started on Sunday, May 16. Race days this year are Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. The new track side hotel is a great place for group events such weddings, long-awaited reunions, or you can rent a suite with family and friends for watching the races from your own private suite. Construction is underway on Hornsby South. A note of thanks to Public Works Director Jim Windingstad and City Engineer Kevin Bittner for all the efforts that will make Hornsby South as functional, safe, and attractive as Hornsby North. In addition, the new Hwy 97/I-35 bridge has been completed including the planting of decorative trees and shrubs. Building in both Thurnbeck Preserve and Preiner Preserve continues despite the rapidly and wildly increasing cost of materials. We welcome the new home owners to our community. City staff has been compiling the results from a citywide survey sent out earlier this Spring to assess residents’ Internet connections and speed. There was an overwhelmingly positive response to the survey, 22% of the households responded, which is a great response rate for any survey! A summary of the results will be posted on the City website in the next few weeks in addition to an update of the City’s plans. The City will be using Federal funding and matching grants from Anoka County over the next two years to upgrade our broadband infrastructure and for new installations. On behalf of the residents of Columbus I would like to take this opportunity to thank Columbus Councilwoman Janet Hegland and Anoka County Commissioner Jeff Reinert who worked together to spearhead this important issue for our residents and businesses. Columbus/Forest Lake Fire Joint Powers will be taking possession of a second new firetruck in early June built by Rosenbauer in Wyoming, Minnesota. This will complete our capital replacement and we are looking forward to our new arrival. Due to continued concerns about Covid and its variants, and lack of time needed for planning and organizing, our Fall Fest committee has decided to postpone our annual City get-together until Fall 2022. We have been promised that when it returns it will be bigger and better than ever. Barring any unexpected mandates from the Governor, the Columbus City Council is planning to re-open the Council Chambers for in-person meetings by the middle of June. We will be using a mixed format that will allow anyone who is uncomfortable joining an in-person meeting to continue to use the Zoom platform to participate with the Council and other residents who are attending in person. The Council is looking forward to seeing our neighbors in the City Hall once again. -- Jesse Preiner, Mayor of Columbus March 12, 2021 Message: Columbus Looks Towards Upgrades in Internet, Council Meetings An auto accident in early February on the corner of Camp Three Road and Kettle River Blvd. demolished the CenturyLink cabinet that housed more than 450 telephone and Internet connections for the southern portion of Columbus. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to CenturyLink Technician Jamie Aho and his crew who have spent over a month replacing, repairing, and reconnecting Columbus residents’ Internet and phone services during some of the coldest weather in decades. We know how important a reliable and fast Internet connection is, especially during this time when so many are working or schooling from home. Last Summer, the Council appointed Council Member Janet Hegland to lead this charge and we have had several meetings on this topic with our two Internet providers, the Public Utilities Commission, and DEED with the goal to develop a plan to bring dependable Internet to as many Columbus residents as possible. Within the next month the City will be sending a survey to all Columbus households asking for your input regarding your current Internet service and your broadband needs. Please take the time necessary to complete the questionnaire as thoroughly as possible to help us obtain accurate information to use in our discussions with our utility providers. We can’t wait for the day that we can safely open City Hall, the Senior/Community Center, and the Council Chambers to the public; however, the City is pleased to announce that our audio/visual systems at City Hall have been upgraded to allow residents to virtually attend City Council, Public Hearings, and Planning Commission meetings via Zoom. This is new technology for City Hall and we are pleased to offer this new opportunity for residents to stay connected during the pandemic. Please be patient as everyone adjusts to the new technology. Projects continue to move forward as the construction season approaches. Reconstruction of Hornsby Street South will begin this Spring and we are expecting it to be finished by mid-Summer. This will complete the reconstruction of Hornsby Street from Hwy. 97 to the junction of 145th. Another section of Furman Street near Thurnbeck Preserve is scheduled to be paved early this summer. We are excited to welcome Loves Travel Plaza to Columbus and they are scheduled to begin construction by early Summer. Many residents have asked about the plans for the Fast and Fresh HyVee that is planned for the Northeast side of the Hornsby/Hwy 97 intersection. City Administrator Mursko recently spoke with HyVee and was told that currently they have no plans to deviate from the original plans presented to the City. We are pleased with continued development in the Freeway Corridor. Columbus is looking forward to the delivery of the new fire engine truck before summer. At the first Fire Board meeting of the year, Chief Al Newman reported that much-needed upgrades have been completed on Fire Station No. 2 in Columbus. The walls have been repainted, the floor has been resurfaced, new gear lockers and work bench have been installed. We are looking forward to another busy and productive season ahead. Everyone stay safe! -- Jesse Preiner, Mayor of Columbus January 21, 2021 Message: 2020 City of Columbus Recap Although 2020 was a year unlike any other in recent history, many great things happened in the City of Columbus and we are looking forward to this trend continuing into 2021. Here are a few of the recent developments: Under the direction of CEO Taro Ito, the new 5-story, 116-room hotel opened at Running Aces in March of 2020. The new hotel features a modern Scandinavian design with loads of amenities: A divide-able meeting space for up to 150 guests, fitness center, pool, spa, and room service. An extended breakfast center located on the first floor also doubles as a bar and lounge, with patio and fire pit offering a full view of the racetrack. Viking Industrial, a construction fastener and safety equipment company, opened for business in December 2020 at 9205 Lake Drive NE. Viking Industrial Center is a family-owned business that has been of service to thousands of companies and customers since 1959. Toft’s Outdoor Supply is under construction at 141st Avenue NE and Lake Drive and is scheduled to open Spring 2021. It joins a family of businesses under the CST Company brand and is locally owned and operated. Toft’s specializes in wholesale of outdoor products as well as bulk and bagged wood mulch. David’s Hydro Vac will be moving its headquarters to the former EJM Pipe Services location on Lake Drive. This move concludes a 2-year search for a new headquarters. The “welcoming leadership and multiple conversations with other businesses in the area” convinced this dynamic and high integrity business that Columbus was the perfect new home. Columbus sold a piece of City property to HyVee, which plans to open a Fast and Fresh store and gas station in 2021-2022. Loves Travel Stops & Country Stores was approved to build a 17-acre Travel Plaza on the southeast side of I-35, at the Hwy 97 Exit. Construction is planned for 2021. Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores has more than 530 locations in 41 states. This center will feature two restaurants: a drive-thru Hardees with seated options and a Godfathers Pizza offering take-out and indoor dining. Phase III of the residential development Thurnbeck Preserve is planned for 2021-2022. The Preiner Preserve development, located on Zurich Street near Running Aces, is also nearing completion. We are proud to welcome those who have made these new developments their home. Columbus was successful in securing State of MN and DNR financing for the last leg of the roundabout on Hwy 23 and W. Freeway Drive. Plans are in the works to construct a new road extending from the roundabout to the NW quadrant of I-35 and Hwy 23, which will terminate at the Lamprey Pass Wildlife Management Area. Ventilation upgrades and other anti-viral measures were made to the City Council Chambers and the Community/Senior Center. These updates will allow in-person meetings to safely resume as the pandemic subsides. I would like to thank the City Council, Planning Commission, City Staff, and especially City Administrator Elizabeth Mursko, who all went above-and-beyond the call of duty to ensure City Offices remained safely open and services to our residents continued uninterrupted from the beginning of the pandemic. Our last meeting of the year (December 30) was an opportunity for our Council to say “Thank You and best wishes for the future” to Councilmen Jeff Duraine and Denny Peterson who retired after years of service on the City Council. We welcome Sue Wagamon and Rob Busch who will be taking their places for the next 4 years. On a personal note, I would like to thank the residents of Columbus for their overwhelming support in the last election. When I was recruited to run in the 2018 and 2020 elections I made clear promises: to bring respect back to City Hall, keep taxes as low as possible, and maintain a rural atmosphere in Columbus while also encouraging development in commercial areas which does not disrupt residents with heavy truck traffic. Such growth will contribute substantial commercial taxes to Columbus and help offset residential taxes. As we begin 2021, my pledge remains the same. —Jesse Preiner, Mayor of Columbus Pictured in photo (from left to right): Councilman Jeff Duraine, Councilman Denny Peterson, Mayor Jesse Preiner. Official Website of Columbus, Minnesota © Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved City Hall Address 16319 Kettle River Blvd. NE Columbus MN 55025 Phone 651-464-3120 Office Hours Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 – 4:00 Wednesday 8:00 – 5:00 Site Map | Contact Us | Accessibility Statement Government Websites by GovOffice