Politics & Government

Mayor: Eagan in a Time of "Transition"

Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire delivered the annual State of the City Address at the Eagan Fire Safety Center on Thursday morning.

With five of Eagan's senior officials expected to retire by the end of the year, the city is in a state of transition, Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire said on Thursday morning during his State of the City Address.

The annual speech, delivered this year at the , was well attended by past and current city officials, elected representatives and others. Attendees included Republican Sen. Ted Daley and Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce President Ruthe Batulis, among others.

In his 45-minute-long speech, Maguire recognized a handful of individuals and organizations that have had an impact on the community, and reviewed the successes and challenges facing Eagan in the year to come.

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But Maguire's focus fell, for the most part, on the upcoming departures of key city employees and the state of the city's economy

Within the last several months, the Superintendent of Utilities Wayne Schwanz, Director of Public Works Tom Colbert, IT Manager Kristi Peterson and Director of Administrative Services Gene Van Overbeke have retired or announced their intention to retire by the end of 2012. Maguire also alluded to Eagan's first and only city administrator, Tom Hedges, who some expect may announce his retirement later this year. In the Eagan Police Department, Maguire added, 10 employees with a combined 260 years of experience are also eligible to retire.

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"To say we are in a time of change is a serious understatement," Maguire said. "In the same way that the public has given Tom Hedges the trust to do what's best for Eagan, we must be willing to give that faith and trust in what's sure to a be a new generation of leaders."

The city's economy, Maguire said, is gathering momentum. Even with the high-profile departures of Lockheed Martin and Northwest Airlines, Eagan saw a 15 percent growth in the total number of jobs, while other communities—like Plymouth and Eden Prairie—are down, Maguire said.

In his economic overview, the mayor also highlighted r and as two high-profile, local success stories. The is the most shovel-ready redevelopment district in the state, Maguire added.

"In Eagan these past 30 years you have had a real-life Sim City, making some mistakes, of course, but all the while learning, improving and setting our sights on bettering this great city we so love," Maguire said, referring to the popular city-building simulation and computer game.

"The state of our city is strong; grounded in the gifts of legacy, it is deeply rooted in our community values," Maguire said. "It's resilient, focused and thrifty; it's innovative, agile and one the move."

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