St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis Hosts Milestone 1,000th Town Hall

Longtime St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis hosted his 1,000th town hall on July 1, making good on his 2005 campaign promise to increase community engagement.

“The highlight for me is public service, meeting and hearing the stories of thousands of people I’ve had the honor to represent,” Kleis said.

His public service began when he joined the United States Air Force and later the Air Force Reserve. It continued when he was elected to the Minnesota State Senate and then for nearly 20 years as St. Cloud mayor. As he wraps up his final term in the position, Kleis emphasizes the importance of relationship building and notes the town halls were a great way to do that.

“The most important thing I’ve learned is that when you engage and involve all people in your community, you build trust, relationships, and success in moving forward on all issues.” he said. “Without relationships, you have no trust, and without trust, you cannot succeed as a community.”

The best tools to achieve that engagement and involvement, he said, are accessibility, accountability, and transparency. “That’s why I held over 1,000 town hall meetings, dinners with strangers, weekly updates, podcasts, radio call-ins, and showing up everywhere and anywhere.”

Each of the now 1,000-plus town hall meetings have been beneficial, Kleis said, ranging in attendance from one person to more than 500. He recalls one of the most memorable being a 24-hour town hall meeting earlier this year, when more than 85 people were in attendance steadily from midnight to midnight. It could’ve continued to go on beyond the 24 hours with nearly a dozen people still there at the end of the event.

“The issues were as diverse and exciting as the individuals who showed up,” he said. “They kept me awake during that 24-hour town hall.”

National State of the Cities Report

The 2024 National State of the Cities report summarizes the challenges cities, towns, and villages face and the innovative solutions that mayors nationwide employ to address these issues. In its 11th year, the National League of Cities’ report offers an in-depth exploration of the complex challenges confronting municipal governments and the strategic objectives city leaders set to elevate the quality of life for their residents. It also explores the predominant themes that surfaced in the 2024 mayors’ annual addresses. This year’s report includes new public sentiment research, revealing a clear alignment between resident concerns and mayoral priorities. View the report at nlc.org/resource/state-of-the-cities-2024.

Fire Grants Reauthorization Bill Signed Into Law

The Fire Grants and Safety Act was signed into law in July, ensuring that the nation’s fire and emergency services can continue to access vital federal support.

The law will support fire and EMS first responders by reauthorizing the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant programs through fiscal year 2028; reauthorizing the U.S. Fire Administration through fiscal year 2028; and extending the sunset date for AFG and SAFER to Sept. 30, 2030.

Retired Sartell Firefighters Help Seniors With Detectors

People lead busy lives, so it’s no surprise that many forget to regularly check their smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. However, it’s important to replace the batteries annually, change carbon monoxide detectors every seven years, and replace smoke detectors every 10 years.

To keep Sartell and LeSauk Township residents safe, a group of retired Sartell firefighters, known as Retired Engine Company #844, have been replacing detectors yearly for more than a decade.

“The fire department supports their efforts by providing batteries, but the program is primarily operated by these dedicated volunteers,” said Sartell Fire Chief Peter Kedrowski. “We are very grateful for their contributions.” Dennis Molitor, a retired firefighter, is part of this initiative and estimates that around 1,000 old detectors in the area need replacement, some being 30-40 years old and ineffective, according to The Newsleaders.

The replacement service is free for Sartell and LeSauk Township residents 55 and above, or anyone who is disabled. The service operates through October, which is Fire Prevention Month, to mid-November. If you’re interested in starting something similar in your city and would like to learn more about Sartell’s program, contact Dennis Molitor at (320) 333-1293.

Updated LMC Handbook Includes Recent Election Law Changes

As the 2024 general election draws closer, cities that administer elections and absentee voting should be up to date on election procedures, including recent law changes. The LMC Handbook for Minnesota Cities can help. The recently revised Chapter 5: Election Procedures outlines notices, ballot requirements, qualifications and training of election judges, and voting and counting procedures. Learn more at lmc.org/elections.

LMCIT to Offer Public Safety Workshops

Public safety professionals can enhance their skills and support their teams with two essential workshops that will be offered by the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) this October and November.

The Peer Support Training workshop equips first responders with the tools to provide emotional and mental health support to colleagues. Participants will learn to identify signs of stress and trauma, and develop strategies to offer effective assistance.

The After-Action Review (AAR) Training focuses on improving safety through a structured review process. By analyzing incidents, attendees will learn to identify areas for improvement and implement changes to prevent future occurrences.

Both workshops will be held at multiple locations across the state. For more information and to register, visit lmc.org/events.