By Rachel Kats

In Benson, a time-tested tool has reemerged to bridge a communication gap between local government and its residents: radio.

Spearheaded by Mayor Jack Evenson, the regular radio segment called Mayor’s Minute serves to share City Council activities and local happenings with regional listeners.

The segment traces its roots back to the city’s former manager, Robert Wolfington, who would swing by the hometown radio station, 93.5 KSCR-FM, the morning after Council meetings to provide brief updates. Eventually, when this practice lapsed due to changes in leadership, Evenson recognized an opportunity to step in. With the support of John Jennings, station owner and segment host, the Mayor’s Minute began in January 2024.

“I think it’s a neat deal for the public and gets them information that they might not always hear, or it can provide a better explanation for different things happening in the city,” Evenson said.

Promoting public engagement and government transparency

During the segment, which airs every other Thursday during morning and midday programming, Evenson and Jennings have a free-flowing conversation in which Evenson provides insights into Council processes, agendas, and upcoming city projects. The goals of the program are to bridge the gap between the Council chamber and the community, to invite residents into the decision-making process, and to foster a better understanding of civic affairs.

“At the end of each Mayor’s Minute, I invite the public to come to the Council meetings. They can see how the Council works and hear the discussions,” Evenson said. By inviting residents to attend meetings, he’s not only encouraging more public participation, but also working to promote government transparency and dispel misconceptions.

“We’ve had issues at Council meetings, and I’ve talked about them during my Mayor’s Minute, I don’t want to cover up anything,” Evenson said. “Just as long as you go in there with a positive outlook on your community and talk about the positive things more than the hiccups and the bumps in the road.”

The response to the Mayor’s Minute has been positive according to Evenson and Jennings. “The feedback has been good, and Jack is so very knowledgeable,” Jennings said. “He’s good on air and I think he and I have a back and forth where it just works, and the listeners love it.”

Local media aims to reflect community

The success of Mayor’s Minute underscores that local radio is still a relevant platform for community engagement. In an age of media saturation, radio can be a trusted source of information, particularly in small towns where local news outlets may be scarce, according to Jennings.

“I think radio can have a nice renaissance of just providing content people want to hear and I think if we brought it back to local, I think there would be a lot more people interested in it again,” he said.

Jennings, who owns four radio stations including the one in Benson, understands the importance of serving local interests and needs. Even before taking ownership in April 2014, he prioritized community input, ensuring the station’s programming reflects the desires of its listeners. In addition to playing a wide variety of music, the station provides local and regional news coverage, including interviews with law enforcement and community groups, like area Future Farmers of America (FFA) students.

“It is truly a unique station,” Jennings said. “We gave them what the majority told us they want and as a reward we got their ears. We’re on, I would say, in the vast majority of the businesses.”

Broadcasting city activities in your area

For other city leaders who have access to local radio stations and are considering a similar initiative, Evenson offers practical advice.

First, it’s important to build a strong relationship with local radio station ownership and hosts. Second, maintain impartiality and transparency in communication to ensure that residents receive accurate and balanced information about city affairs.

“You need to have a good relationship with whoever you’re working with at the radio station, I think that’s key,” Evenson said. “And then don’t be biased about what you’re talking about. You don’t want it to be all one-sided.”

Jennings encourages other city leaders to consider the option and other stations to bring on more local programming, not only to meet their Federal Communications Commission obligation to inform, but because it’s good for the station and it can help build and support the community.

“Radio needs to stay local, and in my opinion even metro radio, somebody, some group, some outfit needs to keep it as local as they can; it’s a lifeline,” he said. “There are a lot of ways for people to get audio and it’s important to be different than those other avenues, and I think by providing quality local content you can be different from them.”

Rachel Kats is publications and web editor with the League of Minnesota Cities. Contact: [email protected] or (651) 215-4032.