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MORATORIUM: City places 1-year ban on data centers PAGE 13
City rescinds fire station bond resolution BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
VADNAIS HEIGHTS – After concerted public resistance, the Vadnais Heights City Council has rescinded its resolution to issue $33.3 million in capital improvement (CIP) bonds to fund a new fire station. The background: The city has proposed a full replacement of its south fire station, and a transition of its north fire station to a public works facility. In past city council meetings, city officials have stated that the south fire station does not meet the equipment, health and safety needs for its current staffing model, and that a full rebuild is the optimal solution. When citizens took a closer look at the numbers, they saw that the city would end up paying up to $54.5 million in combined principal and interest, which the city planned to repay with a series of increasing property tax hikes over the life of the bond. Many citizens were concerned that this would put untenable financial burden on neighborhood households. Under state statute, citizens were allowed 30 days to collect signatures from eligible voters to overturn the city’s decision to use this bond funding strategy. Vadnais Heights citizens rose to the occasion and collected more than 1,900 signatures. The petition was submitted to the city clerk on June 15. The June 16 city council meeting became a forum for discussion on the matter, with residents asking for better transparency from the city and more
PAUL DOLS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Summer season water safety message Eric Sullivan, a supervisor with the Minnesota DNR’s statewide marine unit, presented a water safety message recently near the boat launch at White Bear Lake County Park to help kick off the summer season on area lakes and rivers. The use of properly fitting life jackets, exercising courtesy and patience at boat launches and resisting the temptation to operate a boat under the influence of alcohol were among the list of safety and informational tips he shared during the press conference.
SEE FIRE STATION, PAGE 13
Student encourages graduates to embrace change, remember roots The following speech was given by Ruby Stembridge, Class of 2026 student speaker at the Mahtomedi High School commencement ceremony. Stembridge plans to study international business at Loyola University Chicago. I have attended Mahtomedi my entire life. Whether you’ve been a student here since kindergarten or just transferred this year, there’s one scenario that I can say with relative confidence almost all of us have lived through. “How do you pronounce the name of Ruby Stembridge your town?” “It’s Mah-toh-mee-dye” “Oh, Mahtomedi? What’s your mascot?” “A Zephyr.” “WHAT on EARTH is a Zephyr!?”
Now, I have always felt a sort of pride for our niche little mascot. It’s not something popular or flashy, like the “tigers” or “gladiator,” something that automatically evokes fear in your opponents. When I explain what a Zephyr is to a relative, a coach from another school, or anyone I’ve seen in public wearing a Mahtomedi hoodie, people are usually a little confused. “The…god of the…breeze?” Honestly, I don’t mind. They don't have to understand what it is or why it’s important. A Zephyr is a soft, steady wind. Not a storm or something destructive. A Zephyr is something consistent. The soft, steady wind shows up and carries things from one place to another, even if we don’t always notice it happening. And the truth is, most of the time, we don’t.
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Someone unexpected making your day with a smile and a hello in the hallway. Everyone going to support their peers in the State Tournament games. The Jazz Band cheering you up in the darkest days of winter by playing a rendition of Jingle Bells during lunch. We have found ways big, small, public, and private to be the soft, steady wind for one another, helping carry each other along. If you know me, you know I can manage school. I can handle essays, standardized tests, and presentations, but one thing I have never been able to handle is change, no matter how small. So, the idea of graduation—of everything changing all at once— feels too big to wrap my head around. It terrifies me. And I know I’m not the only one. When I look SEE MAHTOMEDI GRADUATION, PAGE 17
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