NORTH MANKATO — The senior member of the North Mankato City Council still enjoys the job and likes the group of council members and administrators now in place.
“I really like the group we have right now,” said Billy Steiner, who is in his eighth term and 28th year on the council.
“The new mayor (Scott Carlson) really has some fresh ideas. He’s very proactive about things and loves this town. And the same with (new councilman) Matt Peterson and (new city administrator) Kevin McCann. They’re really responsive to the community and want to continue doing what’s important to people. They’re a positive group.”
There are two four-year seats up for election on the council. Steiner and incumbent Jim Whitlock have filed, as has Bridget Quinton and Matthew Warnke.
Profiles on Quinton and Whitlock were published in The Free Press and posted at mankatofreepress.com. Warnke did not respond to email or voicemail messages seeking an interview.
Mayor Scott Carlson is running unopposed.
Steiner said the city has been successful in expanding the Northport Industrial Park. “We had Gordini, and Blue Star Power and Palmer Bush Service come in,” Steiner said. There is also another big, yet unnamed business planning to locate in Northport, Steiner said.
“The downtown area is great. There will be some (Belgrade Avenue) road work done in the downtown business area in the next few years to narrow the street and slow things down. Right now it’s too fast — it’s like a racetrack and it’s not ADA compliant.”
He said one big project that needs to keep moving is a new public works campus.
“We’ve been kicking that can down the road for a long time. They need more space.”
The public works campus on Webster Avenue is cramped and landlocked. There has been some discussion of building a new public works campus in the Northport Industrial Park.
Steiner said he believes the staff and council have been good stewards of public money while investing in what’s needed.
“You need to walk the fine line between what needs to be done and what can wait. I really trust our staff.
“We’re still on a good path. North Mankato is a great place to be.”
Steiner is glad the city is moving ahead with a plan to bring in sharpshooters to kill some deer in the city. He said having a bow hunt like Mankato isn’t possible in North Mankato as there aren’t larger wooded areas — such as Rasmussen Woods in Mankato.
“There are a lot of deer and it needs to be addressed. They’re destroying too many gardens and eating vegetation that causes erosion. The herd has to be culled.”
As for the Judson Bottom Road, which was closed this spring after rock slides and reopened late this summer, Steiner said he wants to maintain it as best as the city can.
“I’m in favor of keeping it open as long as possible and taking care of it. It’s kind of a travel at your own risk thing, but I’d like to maintain it and take care of it as long as we can.”