Archived Press Releases

‘Refocus:’ Local officials to present annual State of the Community

Edina, Minn., Jan. 25, 2012 – Edina Mayor James B. Hovland, City Manager Scott H. Neal and Edina Public Schools Superintendent Ric Dressen will present the “2012 State of the Community” in February.

The men will speak about current affairs in Edina. Neal will talk about his recent reorganization of City departments. Dressen will talk about the school district’s strategic plan. Neal and Dressen will also discuss partnerships between the City and school district.

An attorney, Hovland joined the Edina City Council in 1997 and has been Mayor since 2005. Among other things, as Mayor he is co-chair of the Regional Council of Mayors, chair of the Municipal Legislative Commission, chair of the U.S. Highway 169 Corridor Commission and a member of the I-494 Corridor Commission, Transportation Advisory Board to the Met Council, University of Minnesota’s Center for Transportation Studies, GEARS Board for Counties Transit Improvement Board, Southwest LRT Management Committee, Southwest LRT Community Works Steering Committee and the MSP Export Initiative Team.

Neal began work as City Manager in 2010. Prior to joining the City staff, he served as City Manager of Eden Prairie since 2002. He also has held the positions of City Administrator for the communities of Northfield, Minn.; Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; and Norris, Tenn.

Dressen has been superintendent of Edina Public Schools since July 2006. Prior to this position, he served as superintendent of Alexandria Public Schools. In 2011, he was a member of the Minnesota Department of Education Commissioner’s working group on school funding. He is currently a member of the Board of Governors of the University of St. Thomas School of Engineering, Fairview Southdale Hospital Board of Directors, and the Edina Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He is also an adjunct professor at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.

The State of the Community will be presented to the Chamber of Commerce at its general membership meeting Wednesday, Feb. 22, at Interlachen Country Club. The luncheon event is open to the public. Cost for lunch is $25 for members of the Chamber, $35 for non-members. Reservations are required and can be made by calling the Chamber at 952-806-9060.

The State of the Community will also be presented 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 27, at Edina City Hall in the Council Chambers. There will be no cost to attend and reservations are not necessary.

The speech will later be broadcast on Edina Community Channel 16.

For more information, call the City of Edina’s Communications & Marketing Department, 952-826-0359.