Council honors outgoing member Anne McGregor and recognizes student essay winners

Minnetrista — The Minnetrista City Council used part of its Dec. 2 meeting to recognize local students and to honor outgoing Councilmember Anne McGregor.

The council recognized three Grandview Middle School students who won an essay contest on what they would do as mayor for a day. Student Lincoln Letnas read his essay, outlining priorities such as adding sidewalks, more dog parks and crossing guards; other winners submitted essays that the mayor read aloud.

Mayor Lisa Whalen then read a resolution honoring Anne McGregor for her four years of service from January 2021 through December 2024. The resolution cited McGregor’s participation in broadband expansion efforts — including support for a border‑to‑border grant and a 2022 partnership with Hennepin County and Mid Continent Communications that extended fiber-to-the-home to more than 500 previously unserved residences in Minnetrista’s northwest area — and noted her role on the personnel committee and as liaison to park and planning commissions. Councilmembers praised McGregor’s preparation, questions and collegiality. Council approved the recognition resolution by voice vote.

The council also thanked McGregor for specific work on broadband initiatives and other priorities the resolution listed, and the meeting paused briefly for remarks and a presentation of a signed copy of the resolution.

Ending: The meeting moved from recognitions into the budget presentation portion of the agenda.