The issues
The Pine City Pioneer’s Voters’ Guide gave each candidate 400 words. Here are my answers as printed, and more on what didn’t fit.
Budget
The Voters’ Guide asked
What will be your top budget priority(s) if elected?
My answer, as printed
Services people depend on and what they can afford guide my budget priorities. Reserves can soften a sharp levy increase, but we must weigh how much would remain, recommended reserve levels, and the risk of larger levy increases later. I’d carefully consider those tradeoffs before asking families and businesses to pay more.
We should keep the level of service we have now and look at every funding option before a levy increase. Reserves can soften an increase this year, but if they pay for ongoing costs, the gap returns in the next budget. I’d want to know how much would remain in reserve and whether using it now could mean a larger increase later.
Property taxes and the levy
The Voters’ Guide asked
How do you plan to keep taxes/city’s levy low?
My answer, as printed
I would examine the full cost of each commitment and what it leaves for other needs. I’d also consider how the bill is shared among properties, because a change in the city’s overall levy does not affect every home or business the same way.
The city council sets one of the levies on your tax statement.
The Assessor’s Office estimates what a property is worth and determines how it’s classified. Those help determine the property’s share of each levy. The levies themselves are set by the county, the city, the school district and other taxing districts. The city council sets the city’s levy, which affects the city portion of your bill.
What the council sets, and what it doesn’t
The council also sets water and sewer rates. It doesn’t set the county’s levy or the school district’s levy.
Renters can feel a levy increase too, when a landlord’s costs go up and the rent follows.
| Part of the bill | Levy set by |
|---|---|
| Pine County | The county board |
| City of Pine City | The city council |
| School district | The school board and district voters |
| Other local districts | Each district’s board |
| State general tax | The Legislature (some property types) |
The liquor store project
The Voters’ Guide asked
Do you support moving the municipal liquor store to Hillside? Why or why not?
My answer, as printed
The proposal combines apartments with space the city would lease to own for its liquor store. This year’s housing study, completed with the HRA and EDA, identified a need for more housing in Pine City. I’m open to a new store, but would consider the housing and store separately before judging the proposal. The store needs storage, but a larger store does not guarantee more sales. My support would depend on whether the costs, terms, and expected earnings make this a sound investment for the city and its residents.
The HRA is Pine City’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and the EDA is its Economic Development Authority.
What I’d need to see
- A realistic sales forecast, informed by the experience of comparable Minnesota municipal stores.
- A rent figure and lease terms.
- A business case that shows the new store paying its rent and still sending money back to the city.
I’d want to understand what the proposed store could improve, what it would cost, and whether it could continue providing dependable revenue for city services.
Fire service
The Voters’ Guide asked
Do you support the consolidation of fire services with Hinckley and Sandstone? Why or why not?
My answer, as printed
I support continuing talks with Hinckley and Sandstone to see whether working together could improve fire service and make good use of public money. I’d consider whether each community pays a fair share and has a fair voice in decisions. Keeping local inspections under city authority matters to me. I support the council’s township district decision and would expect a clear, fair way to divide costs in any agreement.
On May 20, the council voted not to approve the joint powers agreement proposed in the township fire district study. That is separate from the talks with Hinckley and Sandstone.
What I’d need to see
- A written formula for dividing costs.
- An estimate of what it would mean for our fire rating.
- Local inspections kept under city authority.
Transparency
The Voters’ Guide asked
How would you help promote transparency as a member of the council?
My answer, as printed
Residents should be able to follow a decision from the first proposal to the final vote and understand the reasons behind it. I would encourage the council to share information whenever the law allows, welcome questions and come prepared to explain the choices. I would follow up on questions I couldn’t answer.
Code enforcement
Not in the Voters’ Guide
My view
In mortgage loss mitigation, I worked with people whose missed payments were often one part of several difficulties happening at once. Much of that wasn’t apparent until we talked. Understanding how those problems connected helped us find a realistic way forward.
That experience shapes how I think about code enforcement. A property’s condition can be visible while the circumstances behind it are not. Understanding what is preventing someone from addressing a problem helps the city respond effectively. Property owners need clear expectations and a reasonable opportunity to make corrections, and neighbors need their concerns addressed.
Pine City’s code enforcement policy, adopted in October 2025, already includes important parts of that approach. For most violations, it begins with written notice and a deadline to correct the problem. It makes voluntary compliance the preferred result and allows referrals to hardship programs for low-income homeowners. I’d preserve those provisions and support consistent follow-through when problems remain.
The September 16 council discussion also raised questions about the rules themselves. The written policy asks people reporting a concern for a name and phone number, gives identified complaints higher priority, and allows staff to decline to investigate anonymous complaints. SeeClickFix also allows anonymous reports, and the council discussed whether the app and the written policy should be aligned. Staff also raised concerns about how the rule on trees near the street applies to trees already throughout town. Residents and staff deserve clear, workable rules and a shared understanding of how they will be applied.
I’d work to restore the ordinance committee, which was put on pause earlier this year, with residents participating alongside council members and staff. That would give us a place to review issues like the tree rule and reporting process in public before proposed changes reach a council vote. Property owners, neighbors and staff each see different consequences of a rule. Bringing those perspectives together can help us address problems fairly and keep Pine City a place people are proud to live and do business.
Housing
Not in the Voters’ Guide
My view
I serve on the Pine City Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) board. This year’s housing study, done with the HRA and the Economic Development Authority (EDA), found a need for more housing in Pine City. I want more housing choices here, including a first home for a young family, a place a retiree can downsize to without leaving town, and rentals people can afford.
About me
The Voters’ Guide asked
Give a brief bio and explain your qualifications for this position and why you want to run:
My answer, as printed
I grew up in Pine City but appreciated it more after living in Arizona and returning home. My work in mortgage loss mitigation, insurance, and county assessment showed me how rising housing costs affect families and business owners, especially those on fixed incomes. I now serve as Pine County’s HR Generalist and on the Pine City HRA board. I’m running because understanding the levy means understanding both the services it funds and what residents can afford. Those conversations taught me to connect the numbers in a budget with the people affected by each decision.
How my current work would help on council
I now work as a Human Resources Generalist for Pine County. I help departments recruit and select employees, work with employee benefits and leave, and help apply personnel policies and employment requirements. My work also calls for understanding union contracts and working with department heads on personnel matters.
That experience would be useful when the council considers staffing, pay, benefits or changes in employees’ responsibilities. If someone takes on additional duties, I’d want to understand what changed and what the applicable contract or policy provides. If the city proposes a new position, I’d look at the work it needs done, the qualifications and training involved, and the cost of wages and benefits beyond the first year.
Those decisions affect the people doing the work and everyone who depends on them. Clear expectations and fair, consistent treatment help the city keep experienced employees and provide dependable services. I’d bring that perspective to reviewing proposals with staff, weighing the costs, and recognizing questions that need the city attorney’s advice.