City Government

The City of Arlington operates under the home rule charter form of government. The City Council is composed of five council members (four year terms each) and the mayor (four year term) who exercise the legislative functions and determines all policy. The City Administrator is appointed by the City Council and is responsible for the administration of city affairs. Many committees (see Committees link at left) work with the council providing advice, ideas, and resources, which allows for more citizen input.

City Council

2013 Arlington City Council

Back Row: City Attorney Ross Arneson, Administrator Matt Jaunich,

Ben Jaszewski, Vice Mayor Jason Ruehling, Curt Reetz

Seated: Galen Wills, Mayor Jim Kreft, Jennifer Nuesse

Mayor: James Kreft

    Address:  310 E. Alden Street  Box 82

    Home Phone:  507-964-2680
    e-mail link: jkreft@arlingtonmn.com

    Initial Term:    January 2007

    Term Expires:  December 2014

    Committees:    All

Councilmember:  Curt Reetz

Address: 309 NW 4th Avenue, PO Box 1033

Home Phone: 507-964-5650

e-mail link: creetz@arlingtonmn.com

Initial Term: January 2003

Term Expires: December 2014

Committees: Planning & Zoning, Employee Relations,
A-GI Wastewater, Utilities, Ambulance Dept.

Councilmember:  Jason Ruehling-

                                      Vice Mayor

    Address:  409 W Lynch

    Home Phone:  507-964-5199
    e-mail link:  jruehling@arlingtonmn.com

    Initial Term:    January 2011

    Term Expires:  December 2014

    Committees:    EDA, Streets, MMUA Delegate, 
                           Finance, Police, Fire Dept.

Councilmember:  James "Ben" Jaszewski

Address: 201 E Main Street Box 821

Home Phone: 507-964-5889

e-mail link: bjaszewski@arlingtonmn.com

Initial Term: January 2013

Term Expires: December 2016

Committees: Prairie Line Trails, Finance, Parks,

SMC Board, Public Buildings

Councilmember: Jennifer Nuesse

Address: 600 E. Clinton Street

Home Phone: 507-964-

e-mail link: jnuesse@arlingtonmn.com

Initial Term: January 2013

Term Expires: December 2016

Committees: A-GI Wastewater, EDA, Public Buildings,
Employee Relations, Cemetery

Councilmember: Galen Wills

Address: 302 4th Ave. NW Box 681

   Home Phone:  507-964-5460
   e-mail link:  gwills@arlingtonmn.com

   Initial Term: November 2009

   Term Expires: December 2016

   Committees:    Cable, Streets, Library, Police
                                  Fire Dept., Utilities

City Attorney:  Ross Arneson

   Address:  302 West Main Street, PO Box 529
   Office Phone:  507-964-5753

2013 Mayoral Goals

1. Review the Arlington-Green Isle

Waste Water Agreement.

In 1999, the cities of Arlington and Green Isle agreed to share a waste water treatment system, and it has proven to be an excellent example of how communities can collaborate and cooperate to address common needs. However, in recent years, it has become increasingly apparent that, while both parties are pleased with the level of service, the financial mechanics of the agreement have led to some confusion and need clarification, and the fund balances need recalculating.

Along with addressing that need, the two cities will review the original agreement with an eye towards clarifying the authority of the individual cities, and better delineating the role of the cooperative board.

2. Investigate funding options for infrastructure extension to future industrial park.

In 2011, our Economic Development Authority carefully considered over a dozen parcels in and around Arlington in a search for valid candidates for a future, municipally-owned industrial park. Last November, 22 acres of land just southwest of the corporate city limits, adjacent to the Minnesota Prairie Line Railroad and Minnesota Highway 5, where purchased for that purpose. This year, the acreage will be brought into city limits, and our EDA will continue to prepare for its development.

It has been the position of the EDA and the City Council that this future industrial park will be developed only when there is a private industry ready to locate there and share in development costs. State funding is available for these public/private partnerships, and this year our EDA will thoroughly investigate these funding sources while continuing and instigating communication with potential partners.

3. Continue negotiations between Sibley Medical Center and Ridgeview Medical Center for an

affiliation agreement.

Throughout 2011, the Sibley Medical Center Board of Directors conscientiously contemplated the goal of an affiliation with another medical organization. These efforts included the identification of multiple medical organizations as candidates, inquiries about the candidates’ levels of interest, narrowing that field of candidates to three, and finally interviewing those three to ascertain their viability as potential affiliates of Sibley Medical Center

The organization that the Board unanimously viewed as the best potential affiliate is Ridgeview Medical Center. Sibley Medical Center and Ridgeview currently enjoy, and prosper from, an excellent working relationship and a highly effective administrative contract. The City of Arlington’s Ambulance Service also works closely with SMC and RMC for enhancement of our license to part-time Advanced Life Support.

SMC and RMC have recently agreed to negotiate exclusively with one another for a potential affiliation agreement. Successful negotiation of an agreement would lead to higher efficiency for our medical center; provide increased accessibility to specialty health care for our area residents, and further SMC’s mission of being, “Your partner in care, for life”.

4. Repurpose the Tech Center to the

Emergency Service Building.

After evaluating the conditions and uses of our municipal buildings in 2011, it was concluded that redundancy could be reduced and efficiency increased by consolidating the spaces needed by our Police, Fire, and Ambulance Departments. Last year, an assessment of current and future space requirements of these three departments was commenced, and with these considerations in mind, a floor plan for the remodel of the current Tech Center was designed.

Recently, bids for the proposed remodel were reviewed, and a local contractor was hired to undertake the project. Construction will commence this winter, and the Police Department will likely find its new location ready by spring.

5. Construct the “Safe Routes to School”

pedestrian infrastructure project.

Throughout 2010, representatives from the City of Arlington, Sibley East Schools, St. Paul’s Lutheran School, and Sibley County Public Health met to appraise the safety and condition of pedestrian thoroughfares surrounding our schools. These meetings culminated in mid-2011 with an application for Safe Routes to School funding. “Safe Routes to School” is a state program, funded with federal money, designed to encourage students to walk and bike to school, and assure that they do so safely. In the autumn of that same year we were delighted to learn that the nearly $200,000 sidewalk improvement/extension project funding for which we applied was awarded as a grant. Last year the plans and specifications for the project along First Ave NW and elsewhere were begun, and the project will soon be let for bids. A summer construction is anticipated with completion likely before the 2013/2014 school year.