Chaskans’ dreams of a stop light at the intersection of Highway 41 and Second Street should be realized by June 1, according to City Engineer Bill Monk.

Monday night, the Chaska City Council approved construction plans for improvements along Highway 41 downtown, including the installation of a signal at Second Street.

Other improvements include a median prohibiting left-hand turns at First, Third and Fifth streets, and the upgrade of all intersection pedestrian ramps to ADA standards.

City employees will see a boost to their paycheck in the coming year. Monday night, the city council voted 3-1 (with Gino Businaro dissenting) to approve salary increases for both union and non-union employees.

The decision to approve the increases did not come easily. Despite agreeing to a small wage hike in a closed session in December, the council continued to struggle with making the final approval.

The Chaska mayor’s term could double in length. Monday night, the Chaska City Council reviewed the pros and cons of two- versus four-year term lengths for the position.

“This is one of the questions there are no good answers to,” said City Administrator Matt Podhradsky.

Last year, members of the council requested a work session to discuss the mayor’s term. Monday, councilors “started the discussion” that could eventually result in a possible change of length.

Doug Williams

Age: 51

Address: 2300 Audubon Road

Family: No answer

Occupation: Between jobs

Previous experience: No answer

Hobbies/interests: Painting

Contact info: (952) 448-7739

Q. Why are you running for mayor?

Jay Rohe

Age: 46

Address: 2535 Christian Drive

Family: Married to Heidi (18 years); twin daughters Hannah and Sarah (14 years old), 8th grade at Chaska Middle School East

Occupation: Director of Sales - Milestone AV Technologies

Mark Windschitl

Age: 55

Address: 1046 Mallary Lane

Family: Three children David, Jill and Krista. Three grandchildren Mason, Brayden, and McKenzie

Occupation: Assistant chief of operations with the St. Louis Park Fire Department

Robert (Bob) Snyder

Age: 53

Address: 401-1/2 Chestnut Street

Family: Wife of two years Cathy; two ex-wives; four children – twins Tara and Heather, 24; Kattie, 21; Andrew 19; one grandchild, Sydney

Occupation: Retired – 25 years with Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC); part-time bus driver with Positive Connections for School District 112

On Jan. 19, Chaska residents head to the polls to elect a new mayor.

Whoever wins won’t have long to impress constituents. With a term beginning Jan. 25 and wrapping up at the end of the year, the next mayor will need to hit the ground running.