HomeMy WebLinkAboutEdition Edina November 2020Edition: Edina
NOVEMBER 2020
Volume 7, Issue 12Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City
EDINA COVID-19 RESOURCE HOTLINE 952-826-0370
BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
The longest-serving employee in the City
of Edina’s history retired at the end of
October.
Administrative Assistant Ruth Schmoll is
the woman behind the scenes who has
kept the Edina Fire Department running
smoothly for 45 years. For many residents,
she’s the only voice they’ve ever known
when calling the station.
“Around the fire house, everyone knows
that Ruth is really the glue that keeps
everything together,” said Assistant Chief
of Operations Jeff Siems.
Schmoll was a University of Minnesota
student studying to be a child psychologist
when she read a newspaper classified ad
for a part-time secretary/dispatcher.
“I never really intended to stay,” Schmoll
said. “What teenager thinks they’re going
to stay anywhere for 45 years?”
It proved an instant fit. From growing
up in Edina, Schmoll knew the streets so
well that when she dispatched firefighters
to emergencies, she handed them notes
with directions to get them there quickly.
She created or organized many of the
administrative processes still in place at
the Fire Department. Along the way,
she raised her own family and the Edina
Fire family, including five different chiefs
and generations of firefighters who
affectionately call her “Chief Schmoll.”
The real Fire Chief, Tom Schmitz, says that
title and her standing in the department
are well deserved.
“For me, as the Chief, she really helped
me along the journey of what is was
to be a chief,” he said. “She has a lot
of experience tutoring and mentoring
fire chiefs.”
Schmoll also organized major public
service efforts, including holiday toy drives,
which she counts as one of her proudest
accomplishments in the job.
The Fire Department has honored her in
its own way, dubbing its rescue boat the
“Ruth Ann.”
Edina Fire’s ‘Unofficial Chief’ Retires as Longest-Serving City Employee
For 45 Years, Ruth Schmoll Has Kept Fire Department Running Smoothly
The Edina Fire Department named its rescue boat after Administrative Assistant Ruth Schmoll to honor
her for her work, friendship and being the rock of the department for decades. Photo by Dan Carpenter
City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
“While it may not be the biggest boat
on the waters (it’s actually just a small
inflatable), it holds special meaning to
us and is the only piece of emergency
equipment we have that is a namesake of
one of our folks,” Siems said. “It shows
just how much Ruth means to us.”
Schmoll’s retirement plans include more
time at the family cabin, volunteer work
and, possibly, after the pandemic subsides,
resuming her part-time job at Jerry’s
Hardware where she’s a familiar face to
local residents. She also plans to drop by
the fire stations from time to time.
“The mom in me is going to want to
know everything is going OK,” she said.
Learn more about the Edina Fire
Department at EdinaMN.gov/Fire.
1
She raised her own family and the
Edina Fire family, including five
different chiefs and generations of
firefighters who affectionately call
her “Chief Schmoll.”
Sustainability Coordinator Sees Edina Leading in Climate Adaptation
Hancock: Healthy Environment Is Critical for a Community to Thrive
2
BY THE NUMBERS
Summer in Edina
During COVID-19
Rounds played on the Centennial
Lakes Park Putting Course and
Scottish Links
20,040
Despite health and safety challenges and the need to stay
at a distance from each other, the City of Edina successfully
modified its summer recreation programs and facilities to
offer fun and safe at-home and in-person activities for the
community. Learn more at EdinaParks.com.
– COMPILED BY KAITLIN GAULT
Hours rinks were
rented at Braemar
Arena
Attendees at the Edina
Farmers Market at
Rosland Park
Rounds played on the
Braemar Championship
18 Golf Course
2,524
14,300
45,680
Grace Hancock, the City’s new Sustainability
Coordinator, will lead the development of a Climate
Action Plan for Edina. Photo by Dan Reisig
BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
Master’s degree in environmental
management from Duke University.
National Merit semi-finalist and bachelor’s
degree of Business Administration at
the University of Oklahoma. Finance &
Officer Manager at the American Hiking
Society. Director of Finance and Strategy
at The Nature Conservancy. Positions
at TreesDurham, DC Water and Keep
Oklahoma Beautiful.
From the resume alone, Grace Hancock
was an easy choice as the City’s next
Sustainability Coordinator.
“Grace was our top candidate because
of her education and work experience,”
said Engineering Director Chad Millner.
“She brings experiences in financial
management and sustainability. She
will bring innovative thinking, great
communication skills, the ability to build
relationships and a strong work ethic.”
“After working at the national level
for much of my career, I was looking
for an opportunity to work locally on
environmental policy issues, especially in
an urban environment,” said Hancock,
who joined Edina in October. “I am
excited about this position and the
chance to make a tangible difference right
where I and many folks live, to improve
environmental sustainability and do our
part to address the climate crisis.”
The Sustainability Coordinator works on
many levels, from helping connect residents
with resources for alternative energy sources
to working with businesses on “green”
measures to ensuring the City is making
strides to reduce its own carbon footprint.
“Our residents have told us in the last three
Quality of Life surveys that care of the
environment and the City being a leader
in the role of caring for the environment is
important to them,” City Manager Scott
Neal said. “That’s where this position and
the emphasis comes from.”
It’s a commitment that runs deep in
Hancock.
“I grew up in a community that valued
taking care of each other,” she said.
“My family taught me to use my voice
to stand up for those who couldn’t, and
I’ve practiced these values by committing
myself to environmental protection
and community resilience. A healthy
environment is critical for a community to
thrive, and I’m glad to do my part toward
this goal.
“I believe Edina can be a leader in climate
adaptation, and intend to capitalize on
the good work already accomplished and
underway here to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and reimagine what it means to
be a resilient city through ambitious and
inclusive sustainability practices.”
While Hancock will have many projects
on her plate in the coming months, one
of her first priorities will be to lead the
development of a Climate Action Plan for
Edina, building from the recently finalized
Comprehensive Plan Update that was
driven and shaped by public input.
Reach Hancock at ghancock@EdinaMN.gov
or 952-826-1621.
RECtivity Boxes
sold and delivered
to Edina homes
219
BY DAN REISIG
The COVID-19 pandemic has upended
nearly every aspect of daily life for
residents of Edina, including how they get
from point A to point B.
Metro Transit announced in September
changes to its service offerings in and
around the city. These came as a result of
the downward shift in ridership resulting
from business closures, remote work and
learning, as well as other consequences
from the pandemic.
“We are maintaining service for transit-
reliant communities while making sure we
can provide adequate capacity to do so
under social distancing constraints,” said
Adam Harrington, Metro Transit Director
of Service Development. “Right now, we
have prioritized service on those routes
which serve people who are most reliant
on transit, as well as the higher-ridership
routes.”
By virtue of its location adjacent to
Minneapolis and several of the metro’s
largest suburbs, Edina plays an important
role in transporting people daily to and
from work, school and elsewhere. In
particular, the bus service within the city
is concentrated along the higher-density
housing and commercial corridor east
of Minnesota Highway 100. As one
example, the Southdale Transit Center
could see nearly 1,000 riders per day
before the pandemic took hold.
“It works both ways,” said City
Transportation Planner Andrew Scipioni.
“Transit helps our residents get to their
jobs in other cities and it helps residents of
other cities get to Edina.”
Harrington noted that in order to
accommodate distancing guidelines,
Metro Transit has added larger buses or
Pandemic Prompts Changes to Metro Transit Service in Edina
Adjustments Focus Service on Most Heavily Traveled Routes, High-Density Areas
3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
increased frequency it might not have
otherwise, given current ridership levels.
For example, a standard 40-foot bus is
currently capped at 10 riders to maintain
proper distancing.
Across its service area in the Twin Cities
and surroundings since March, Metro
Transit reported a decline of more than
60 percent on local buses, 75 percent
on light rail transit, and 90 percent of its
express route users. The agency maintains
close communication with employers as
well as downtown leaders in Minneapolis
and St. Paul on when they plan to bring
workers back to the office.
As riders make their way back to Metro
Transit’s trains and buses, they can be
confident that the best safety measures
available have been put in place.
“We do have signage on all our buses
and at our stops reminding people that
face coverings are required, and that
there are capacity limitations to provide
a safe ride, which we are monitoring
loosely,” Harrington explained. “All of
our equipment is cleaned daily; we have
plexiglass barriers between operators and
customers at the front door. Additionally,
all our operations staff go through a
health screening and temperature check
every morning. We are being very diligent
about making sure that the service we
provide is as safe as possible.”
The agency adjusts its service offerings on
a regular quarterly basis, and encourages
residents to visit MetroTransit.org or call
612-373-3333 for more information and to
provide feedback.
Despite changes resulting from the
pandemic, Edina residents can be
confident that transit will be a part of the
transportation offerings in the city.
Plan ahead by viewing the main
service changes affecting Edina:
Full Weekday Service
• Route 6 (Bloomington – Edina –
Downtown Minneapolis)
• Route 46 (Edina – South
Minneapolis – St. Paul)
• Route 538 (Southdale –
Bloomington – Mall of America)
Improved Service
• Route 540 (Bloomington – Edina –
Richfield – Mall of America)
Reduced Service
• Route 515 (Southdale – Richfield
– Mall of America – VA Medical
Center)
• Express Route 578 (Edina –
South Minneapolis – Downtown
Minneapolis)
Suspended
• Route 146
• Route 537
• Route 579
• Route 587
“There’s always going to be a need for
people to get around through different
modes: walking, biking, taking transit
or driving,” Scipioni said. “It’s important
for us to consider the needs of different
modes as we manage and improve our
transportation system.”
To learn more about the City’s
transportation strategy, please visit
bit.ly/EdinaTransportationPlanning.
Stay Healthy
Wash your hands with hot, soapy water for at least 20 seconds; cover your coughs and
sneezes; wear a mask when in public; practice social distancing and stay home if you are sick.
Stay Informed
To get reliable and updated information about COVID-19, refer to the Minnesota Department
of Health, CDC or your health provider.
952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.gov City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
The City will give M Health Fairview
Southdale Hospital $250,000 in CARES
Act local funding to help lessen the
financial impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic.
The City had planned to use $250,000 of
the federal money to offer a community
COVID-19 testing event in partnership
with the local hospital. When that event
fell through due to other testing events
in the area, the hospital asked for an
appropriation to help cover additional
hospital expenses due to the pandemic.
The City Council approved the request at
its Oct. 20 meeting.
The rest of the City’s $3,958,001 CARES
Act allocation was used to provide
emergency rental and small business
assistance and cover the City’s expenses
related to responding to the pandemic.
In other business last month, the Council:
•Renamed Garden Park on Hansen
Road as “Yancey Park” in honor of
one of Edina’s pioneer Black families.
•Approved a contract to remodel the
reception area of Edina City Hall to
improve the building’s security and
better serve the public. Under the
plans, the reception desk will be
enlarged and moved out into the
lobby.
•Appointed David Kendall of the
Campbell Knutson law firm as City
Attorney. Kendall succeeds Roger
Knutson, who retired from the firm
Oct. 30. The City will examine its
options for legal representation
and issue a competitive Request for
Proposal in early 2021.
The City Council will next meet 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Tuesday, Nov. 17.
The Council will hold a special meeting
3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, to canvass the 2020
municipal election. For more information,
visit EdinaMN.gov.
– COMPILED BY JENNIFER BENNEROTTE
M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital to Receive $250,000 in CARES Act Funding from City
CARES Act Funding Also Used for Emergency Rental and Small Business Assistance
4
EDINAe CITY of
View real stories on race from the people
who live and work in Edina. “The Stories
We Share” is available now on Edina TV and
BetterTogetherEdina.org.
City of Edina Goals
Strong Foundation: Maintain
physical assets and infrastructure.
Reliable Service: Maintain service
levels that best meet the needs of
the community.
Livable City: Plan for connected
and sustainable development.
Better Together: Foster an
inclusive and engaged community.
Look for the budget goal icons throughout
this publication to read stories about how
the City is working to meet these goals.
CITY OF EDINA
4801 WEST 50TH STREET
EDINA, MN 55424
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