ELECTION GUIDE: Moose Lake Mayor

MOOSE LAKE MAYOR

Jim Michalski

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications.

I have lived in the City of Moose Lake for the past 30-plus years. I am currently on my 32nd year as an active member of the Moose Lake Fire Department. I have been appointed to numerous officer positions including chief for over 20 years. I currently work for the Department of Corrections-Moose Lake.

What made you decide to run for city council or mayor this year?

I was previously on the ML City Council for six year and enjoyed serving the tax payers of Moose Lake. I believe that change and different ideas are important for all government agencies.

Funding infrastructure (streets, water, sewer) is a challenge. What are your city's biggest needs and how can they be addressed?

The streets in Moose Lake are in dire need of repair. A list of priority street repairs needs to be completed and followed in a timely manner. Someone should be looking for infrastructure grants to help pay for this.

Name one other top issue facing your city and how you would like to see it addressed.

The all-terrain vehicles that speed through the streets in Moose Lake is a huge concern. The speeding on the trails and city streets, not forgetting the vandalism of the parking areas needs to be addressed. The city should be willing to work with the State and law enforcement to help alleviate the majority of the concerns and issues.

Elaborate on one thing you think the council handled well over the past two years.

This year during the Fourth Street construction, it was nice to see that the city also put in new water and sewer lines at the same time as repairing the street. This was both time and cost efficient.

Why should people vote for you?

I think that the citizens need to hear a different perspective of city operations. I am willing to discuss the good and the bad issues that arise in the city. Sometimes, change is good.

Ted Shaw (Incumbent)

Briefly summarize your personal background and qualifications.

My name is Ted Shaw and I have been the mayor of Moose Lake for the past 18 years. I served for 4 years in the United States Air Force and worked as the regional manager of the Federal Aviation Administer. I served for 10 years on the school board.

What made you decide to run for city council or mayor this year?

The past several years have been challenging with the pandemic and its affect on the city operations and effectiveness. The city is also facing an aging infrastructure and challenges caused by the state of the econmy.

Funding infrastructure (streets, water, sewer) is a challenge. What are your city's biggest needs and how can they be addressed?

The city is now facing new challenges caused by its againg infrastructure including 100 year old city water and sewer lines. Some of the city's roads and sidewalks have not been upgraded for 50-60 years. To address the aging infrastructure problems, the city council passed a city sales tax to be used to address these issues. In addition, using inovation, the city is lining some of its oldest clay sewer lines to extend their lives 60 - 70 years. The city managment team has been actively seeking and acquiring grants to address the infrastructure issues.

Name one other top issue facing your city and how you would like to see it addressed.

There have been challenges that the city has had to face in the last three years with the pandemic and its affect on the city's financial operations and effectiveness. The fiscal challenges caused by the state of the economy and the ever changing state and feceral ploicies hass put a strain on the city's financial situation. The city's management team has been researching for new innovations, applying for grants, making partnerships and applying for state and federal funding. The city council has been very active in the city's fiscal and budget planning and I would like to see this continue.

Elaborate on one thing you think the council handled well over the past two years.

The Moose Lake city council has been very involved and proactive working with the Administration on several large projects during the past 2 years. They were instrumental in the positive result of an unplanned expenditure of having to replace two new wells and a well pump house. It was also brought to the council's attention that the city's water tower needed immediate refurbishment. Again, the council acted promptly and appropriately in the planning and implementation.

Why should people vote for you?

The city will need an experienced management team to lead the city and I feel that my experience and the dedication that I have to the citizens of Moose Lake qualify me for mayor.