Shakopee Snapshot: Summer 2024

Where to turn for news without a local newspaper Know how you can stay informed

NEWS & NOTES NEW EMPLOYEES JOIN CITY STAFF ■ Lindsey Vugteveen , Water Resources Environmental Technician ■ Jason Marshall , Foreperson Mechanic ■ Damian Papenfuss-Pruitt , Police Officer ■ Lucas Willis , Police Officer ■ Darren Hansen , Building Inspector ■ Kelsi McNutt , Director of Parks and Recreation ■ Christie Rossow , Director of Human Resources ■ Mike Nelson , Fire Chief With the permanent closure of the Shakopee Valley News, many community members are asking where they can find reliable informa tion about what’s going on around Shakopee. Without a media outlet that’s dedicated solely to our community, Shakopee now meets the definition of a news desert. According to the Hussman School of Journalism and Media, a news desert is a community with diminished access to the sort of local news and informa tion that feeds grassroots democracy. We at the City recognize we aren’t a one stop shop for everything that’s happening in our community, but without the presence of a newspaper, we want to do our part to ensure City-related news and information is easy to access, up to date, and available in a variety of locations and formats. Here are some ways to stay connected to what’s happening at the City: Shakopee Digest: Subscribe to our monthly email newsletter that is sent out at the begin ning of each month. The Shakopee Digest includes current news, as well as upcoming events and public meetings. Visit www.Sha kopeeMN.gov/shakopeedigest to subscribe. After Council Reports: Subscribe to receive an update email after City Council meetings. The After Council Report includes brief summaries of actions taken by the City Council, which can be a good way to learn about upcoming hous ing developments, new businesses, proposed parks, the City budget, and other changes happening at the City level. Visit www.Sha kopeeMN.gov/subscribe to sign up for this twice-monthly email and more. Social Media: The City maintains several social media pages, including separate Face book pages dedicated to the fire, police, and parks and recreation departments, the City as a whole, and SandVenture Aquatic Park. To

RELAX WITH A NEW NATURE BASED VIDEO SERIES Our new video series, Scenes of Shakopee, invites you to watch and listen to the sights and sounds of our beautiful natural spaces around Shakopee. Videos premiere monthly on YouTube and are perfect for playing while you work, spend time at home, or wind down at the end of the day. Watch now at www.YouTube.com/@CityofShakopeeMN . Parks and Recreation events and programs for the upcoming month. ■ Dontcha Know? —A bi-weekly series showcasing free amenities provided by the City of Shakopee, from free cardboard recycling to car seat installations. ■ Shakopee Through the Years (Coming soon!) —This documentary series will dive into the rich history of Shakopee. The first edition, launching this summer, will focus on the history of Shakopee bricks. City Website: The City of Shakopee web site has a news section right at the bottom of its home page. Additionally, to view a list of all recent news stories, visit www.Shako peeMN.gov/news . Shakopee Snapshot: This publication you’re reading right now is a great source for infor mation and events! Typically, the Shakopee Snapshot is mailed to all households in Sha kopee four times each year. This Summer 2024 edition is online-only, which is a pilot project we made the deci sion to test prior to the announcement of the Shakopee Valley News closure. In light of the news, we plan to continue distributing a printed version of the Snapshot by mail going forward with the Fall edition and beyond. find a comprehensive list of our social media channels, visit linktr.ee/cityofshakopee . YouTube: The City produces a number of video series that are all available at www.youtube. com/@CityofShakopeeMN . Our video series include: ■ The Dig —A monthly series highlighting new developments around Shakopee, from housing and roundabouts to entertainment destinations and new parks. ■ Court ‘n’ Mason in the Morning —A light-hearted monthly series previewing

How Can I Help You? Meet Ben Tester, an I.T. Specialist. Q: What do you do for the City? A: I am an I.T. Specialist for the City of Shakopee. This involves maintaining the HelpDesk and remedying the break/fix issues that happen each day. Q: What do you enjoy about working for the City? A: I enjoy getting to work with an awesome team who is always willing to help each other out with different tasks as they arise. It is also nice having a supervisor who truly cares about you as a person and is a forward-thinker in the ever-changing world of I.T. Q: What’s the best part of your job? A: The best part about my job is being able to work with multiple City departments with a variety of different I.T. equipment and issues. Every day brings a fun new challenge.

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