Shakopee Snapshot: Summer 2024

SHAKOPEE SNAPSHOT A LENS ON SHAKOPEE LIVING

SUMMER 2024

CITY NEWSLETTER Fire Dept. looks to future. . . . 3 City Calendar. . . . . . . . . . 4 In Lehman’s Terms . . . . . . . 4 Where to turn for news without a local newspaper . . . . 5 News&Notes. . . . . . . . . . 5 Show Off Shakopee. . . . . . . 6 AsktheCity.. . . . . . . . . . 6 Votingin2024. . . . . . . . . 7 Parks & Recreation. . . . . . . 9 Development News. . . . 10–11 Public Works. . . . . . . . 12–13 Public Safety. . . . . . . . 14–15 Chief's Notes. . . . . . . . . . 15 has a new leadership team in place comprised of Deputy Chief Joe Simon (left), Fire Chief Mike Nelson (center), and Deputy Chief Dave Giddings (right). Simon and Giddings have been with the department 17 and 19 years, respectively, while Nelson comes to us with 25 years of fire service experience. Cover Photo: The Shakopee Fire Department

SMSC Public Safety Director Mona Dohman and Allina EMS Operations Manager Kurt Weidner congratulate Deputy Chief Dave Giddings (front right) at a badging ceremony for Giddings and Deputy Chief Joe Simon (back right). Blazing a new trail Shakopee Fire Department looks to future After a year of dedicated work and commitment to implementing positive change, the Shakopee Fire Department is welcoming a new leader: Fire Chief Mike Nelson. Since summer 2023, the department has been under the leadership of Interim Fire Chief Mike Scott. With the support of City Council, Scott guided the department through a professional fire services evaluation, completed by Citygate Associates, and this year began implementing several of the improvements recommended by the study to ensure Shakopee’s fire and rescue services are stream lined, professional, and as efficient as possible. Now, Nelson is poised to take the reins and continue moving the department in a sustainable, structured

direction. Alongside him are Deputy Chiefs Dave Giddings and Joe Simon, who have been with the Shakopee Fire Department for 19 and 17 years, respectively. Nelson joins the department from the South Metro Fire Depart ment serving West St. Paul and South St. Paul where he was most recently a captain. “I’m really excited to have Chief Nelson on board,” said Simon. “We have common goals for the future, which is reassuring. We’re going to keep moving in the direction we’ve been going, and we’re just looking forward to what the future holds.”

"There’s just a ton of opportunity here. I’m excited to see where we are five years from now." Mike Nelson Fire Chief

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