HomeMy WebLinkAboutEdition Edina May 2022City Assessor Set to Retire After 19 Years With Edina
Wilson Estimates He Has Overseen Over 450,000 Valuations as a City Assessor
BY BRITTANY BADER
City Assessor Bob Wilson is retiring after
almost two decades with the City of
Edina and 34 total years of being a
City Assessor.
“Most people in this field don’t start out
knowing they want to be an assessor,”
Wilson shared.
That was true of Wilson, too, which might
seem surprising considering his long list of
professional accomplishments, including
the Minnesota Association of Assessing
Officers’ Lifetime Achievement Award.
As Edina’s City Assessor, Wilson oversees
the Assessing Division, which includes
one Commercial Property Appraiser, three
Residential Property Appraisers and two
Assessing Specialists. Wilson is responsible
for ensuring equitable appraisal and
assessment of all properties within the city
for tax purposes – approximately 19,000
residential and 700 commercial, industrial
and apartment properties each year.
“Bob Wilson has one of the most difficult
jobs in our City. He is responsible for
telling individuals the monetary worth
of what is likely their most valuable and
personal asset: their home,” said City
Manager Scott Neal. “To do this job well,
you need to be good at math, empathic
and fair to all concerned. Bob has all
those qualities.”
Wilson recalls not learning of the
profession until he took a summer job
one year with the City of Hopkins while
in college. The position was in field data
collection, and he went door to door
meeting residents, looking at properties
and filling out field cards. He ended up
enjoying it so much that he returned to do
it two more summers. After graduating
with degrees in Business/Economics and
English from Mount Senario College in
Wisconsin, he briefly worked in another
field. However, in 1981, his ambitions led
him back to the field indefinitely when
he became an Appraisal Assistant for
Hennepin County.
Wilson continued to work his way up,
next becoming a Residential Appraiser
with the City of St. Louis Park in 1983,
and then notably, the City Assessor for
the City of Hopkins in 1988, where he
stayed for 15 years.
“My wife had always asked me, ‘If you
ever work for another city, what would it
be?’” Wilson said of his next career move.
“My answer was, ‘If Edina opened up,
that would be a city I’d be interested in
Bob Wilson will retire at the end of May after being Edina’s City Assessor since 2003.
(Photo by Brittany Bader)
working for,” Wilson came to the City of
Edina in 2003 – a decision that has stuck
for 19 years.
In Wilson’s 34 years as a City Assessor
between Hopkins and Edina,
he estimates he has overseen
approximately 466,885 valuations.
“Bob has a lifetime of career success,
and he certainly will be missed here,”
Neal remarked.
Wilson’s last day of work in Edina
is May 31. The search for the next
City Assessor has been underway
since March.
City of Edina EdinaMN.gov 1
Edition: Edina
MAY 2022
Volume 9, Issue 5Strong FoundationCITY GOALS:Better TogetherReliable Service Livable City
BY THE NUMBERS
Summer Parks &
Recreation
Programming
- COMPILED BY RICARDO ACOSTA
With spring in full swing, Edina’s many parks and recreation facilities are
ready to be explored and enjoyed by residents. The Parks & Recreation
Department offers programs for all ages, ones that can be done as families
or solo, and classes and workshops that can help further develop a skill.
Visit EdinaParks.com to learn more.
375 Seasonal staff
to be hired for
summer programs
and maintenance
510 Summer Parks
& Recreation
program sessions
Summer Parks &
Recreation activities
143
Big Trucks and Big Fun at May 19 Public Works Open House
Celebrate Public Works Week with this Free, Family-Friendly Event
BY BRITTANY BADER
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how
Public Works, Engineering and Park
Maintenance help make the city run,
all while having fun.
The City will host a “Big Trucks” open
house 4-7 p.m. Thursday, May 19, at the
Public Works & Park Maintenance Facility,
7450 Metro Blvd. Sit behind the wheel of
a front-end loader or see what it’s like to
be behind the controls of an excavator.
This free, family-friendly event is open
to everyone and will take place during
National Public Works Week, a week
dedicated to celebrating public works
professionals. There will be specialized
equipment, hand and power tools and
no shortage of big trucks on display!
“This is really a backstage pass for the
public to see firsthand the ways these
departments serve our community —
ways that aren’t always easily visible,
like maintaining the underground water
system that feeds each home and
business, cleaning and caring for over
200 miles of roadway and providing the
necessary maintenance to keep our City’s
emergency vehicles running their best,”
said Public Works Coordinator Dave
Goergen. “These are things you might
not think of every day, but are an essential
part of City operations.”
Attendees may arrive at any time but
should plan for 30-45 minutes to see
everything. Free hot dogs, snacks and
refreshments will be served.
“We hope children have fun interacting
with the stations, exploring different
vehicles and learning about types of jobs
in Public Works. For adults, we hope it
provides greater transparency into what
these departments maintain within the
city, how they operate and the annual
projects they oversee,” said Goergen.
The open house will be held rain or
shine, and registration is not required.
Parking will be available in the main lot,
with overflow parking available at 7400
Metro Blvd. For more information, call
the Public Works Department, 952-826-
0376, or visit EdinaMN.gov.
There will be no shortage of big trucks! The log loader, as pictured here at the 2018 event,
will be on display, as well as a street sweeper, paver, front-end loader, bucket truck and more.
(File Photo)
Parks
44
Recreation
Facilities
9
2
Arts & Culture Commission
4:30 p.m. fourth Thursday of the month
Kathy Amlaw
Reeya Anand*
Susan Chandler
Alyssa Fram
Susan Johnson
Russ Rubin
Tiffany Shen*
Rebecca Sorensen, Chair
Brian Stemmler
Laura Westlund
Alana Zbaren
Board of Appeal & Equalization
Meets twice in April of each year
Andrew Ayers
Rhonda Bland
Philip Buckvold
Robert MacPhail
Michael McCauley
Community Health Commission
6:30 p.m. second Monday of the month
Mary Absolon, Chair
Andrew Hawkins
Ben Hykes*
Philip King-Lowe
Robert Loesch
Nick Mattison
Ellie Mullen*
Tracy Nelson
Julia Selleys
Michael Wood
Gregory Wright
Construction Board of Appeals
Meets as necessary
Wayne Dvorak
Ryan Holten
Chip Howard
Aaron Ouska
Austin Wagner
Energy & Environment Commission
7 p.m. second Thursday of the month
Ukasha Dakane
John Haugen
Teri Hovanac
Michelle Horan
Bayardo Lanzas
Cory Lukens
Hilda Martinez, Chair
Suryash Rawat*
Stephen Schima
Ava Shumway*
Tom Tessman
Heritage Preservation Commission
7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month
Robert Cundy
Thomas Evenson
Mark Hassenstab
Andrea Kmetz-Sheehy
Garrett Knudsen
Jane Lonnquist
Ashwin Maheshwari*
Sarah Nymo
Rachel Pollock
Sadie Roy*
Annie Schilling, Chair
Human Rights & Relations
Commission
7 p.m. fourth Tuesday of the month
Joni Bennett
Michael Epstein, Chair
Mark Felton
Leticia Guadarrama
Fartun Ismail
Francesca
Lichtenberger*
Sabeehudeen Mirza*
Amir Missaghi
George Pastrana
Mamie Segall
Jasmine Brett
Stringer Moore
Parks & Recreation Commission
7 p.m. second Tuesday of the month
Matthew Doscotch
Greg Good
Brian Haas
Rick Ites, Chair
Urva Jha*
Jamie Pfuhl
Sammy Presthus*
John Spanhake
Julie Strother
Bryce Weaver
Ericka Welsh
Planning Commission
7 p.m. second and fourth Wednesdays
of the month
Kate Agnew, Chair
David Alkire
Kenley Barberot*
James Bennett
William Hayward*
Louis Miranda
Joann Olsen
Lori Olson
Bonnie Padilla
Quincy Smith
Gerard Strauss
Transportation Commission
6 p.m. third Thursday of the month
Melinda Ahler
Chris Brown
Anna Clark*
Kirk Johnson, Chair
Aboubekrine Kane
Janet Kitui
Stephen Kanti
Mahanty*
Andy Lewis
Bruce McCarthy
Jill Plumb-Smith
Lori Richman
*Student Commissioner
City of Edina Advisory Boards & Commissions
More than 100 residents volunteer to serve on the City’s 10 advisory boards and commissions,
which advise the City Council on various projects and sometimes make recommendations for
its consideration. Except for the Board of Appeal & Equalization, each body includes student
members who are typically high school juniors or seniors.
Below are the City’s boards and commissions, along with their typical meeting times and members.
For more information on the City’s boards and commissions, contact Community Engagement Manager MJ Lamon, 952-826-0360
or MLamon@EdinaMN.gov, or visit bit.ly/EdinaBoardsCommissions.
Volunteers Needed for Ambitious Arbor Day Tree Planting
People Will Help Add 200 Trees in One Day at Rosland Park
BY DEBBIE TOWNSEND
This year’s Arbor Day celebration will
feature one of the most ambitious public
tree-planting events in City history, and
your help is needed.
On Friday, May 6, Parks Maintenance staff,
Tree Trust and volunteers will plant 200
trees of 22 different species in Rosland
Park, 4300 W. 66th St.
“We are planting climate-adaptive species
that will be here the next 100 years,” said
City Forester Luther Overholt.
The event will kick off the NextGen Trees
effort to plant 1,000 trees across the city
by the end of 2023. A mix of trees will
be placed on City properties and public
green spaces, plus many will be planted in
multifamily complexes that lack the tree
density of other parts of Edina. Much of
the funding comes from the American
Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
For the family-friendly May 6 tree planting,
200 holes will be pre-dug to make it
easier. Volunteers will be shown how
to properly plant a tree, then sent off in
groups. Compost created from the City’s
curbside organics program will be used to
help the trees thrive.
All equipment will be provided. Volunteers
are asked to bring gloves and wear
closed-toed shoes. Register in advance
at bit.ly/37PdxXE. Planting is set for
10 a.m.-1 p.m. Check in at the pavilion
near the playground.
For more information, contact Overholt
at LOverholt@EdinaMN.gov.
Volunteers of all ages
are needed May 6 to
help plant 200 trees
in Rosland Park, far
more than attempted
at this 2021 Arbor
Day event in Fred
Richards Park.
Compost Giveaway
What: Free 40-pound bags of compost
(you lift and load), created from the City’s
curbside organics program.
When: 9 a.m.-dusk May 6-8 and 13-15,
while supplies last.
Where: Braemar Golf Dome parking lot,
7420 Braemar Blvd.
Details: Limited to Edina residents; bring ID.
Organics recycling information and supplies
also will be handed out at the event.
3City of Edina EdinaMN.gov
Iskaan-garee koodhkan oo ku fiiri soomaali
EdinaMN.gov/SomaliEE EdinaMN.gov/SpanishEE
Escanee este código para ver en español
Watch City Council, Housing & Redevelopment Authority and Planning
Commission meetings live:
• Edina TV (Comcast Channels 813 or 16)
• Facebook.com/EdinaMN
• “Watch a Meeting” web page at
EdinaMN.gov/LiveMeetings
952-927-8861 | mail@EdinaMN.govCity of Edina EdinaMN.gov4
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday, May 1
Start of Step To It Challenge
Sunday, May 1, 6 p.m.
Side by Side/Rhythmic Feet,
Edinborough Park Amphitheater
Monday, May 2, 5:30 p.m.
Boards and Commissions Recognition
Event, Braemar Golf Course
Monday, May 2
Opening of outdoor amenities,
Centennial Lakes Park
Wednesday, May 4, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall
Thursday, May 5, 11:30 a.m.
Storytime with an Edina Police Officer,
Edinborough Park Amphitheater
Friday, May 6, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Edina Garden Council plant sale,
Arneson Acres Park
Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Edina Garden Council plant sale,
Arneson Acres Park
Friday, May 6, 10 a.m.
Arbor Day tree-planting event,
Rosland Park
Sunday, May 8, 6 p.m.
Northern Winds Concert Band,
Edinborough Park Amphitheater
May 9-14
NextGen Trees giveaway,
Braemar Golf Dome parking lot
Sunday, May 15, 6 p.m.
Minneapolis Police Band,
Edinborough Park Amphitheater
Tuesday, May 17, 7 p.m.
City Council meeting, Edina City Hall
Thursday, May 19, 4-7 p.m.
Big Trucks Open House, Public Works &
Park Maintenance Facility
Thursday, May 19, 7:30 a.m.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
meeting, Edina City Hall
Saturday, May 21, 10 a.m.
Vehicle Day, Southdale Center
parking lot
For a complete listing of meetings and
events, visit EdinaMN.gov.
New Precinct Boundaries To Go Into Effect
Voting precinct boundaries
changed in 2022 due to
redistricting, which happens
every 10 years after the U.S.
Census is taken.
District boundaries are
redrawn to ensure equal
representation. This includes
Congressional, State
legislative, city, county,
soil and water conservation
districts, hospital districts,
school districts and more.
In mid-February, a panel
from the Minnesota
Judicial Branch released
its redistricting plan. The
biggest change for Edina is
that most residents are now
in House Districts 46B and
50A instead of 49A and 49B.
Voting precinct boundaries
also changed due to
redistricting and to bring
total voters in each precinct
in sync with the Secretary
of State’s recommendation
of 2,000 per voting spot
and eliminate polling places
that are too small, too hot in
August or where the layout
does not function properly.
You can find your new polling place on this
map or look for a postcard in your mail this
summer from Hennepin County listing your
new polling location.
City of Edina
2022 Voting Precinct Map
All new redistricting boundaries go into
effect for the State Primary Election Aug. 9.
Learn more at EdinaMN.gov/election.
CITY OF EDINA
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EDINA, MN 55424
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