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Public safety report flags traffic increases and staffing updates in Independence
Summary
West Hennepin Public Safety Director Gary Kroells reported high July call volumes, new full-time staffing, and persistent traffic complaints on Town Line Road; he recommended a workshop discussion on road and quiet-zone improvements and said some work may continue into late October.
Gary Kroells, director of West Hennepin Public Safety, briefed the Independence City Council on the department’s July activity report and ongoing operational issues.
The transcript records the July activity entry as "July 2625 incident complaints" and cites 259 incidents in Independence and 97 in Maple Plain. Kroells said the department has continued hiring efforts (noting an officer, Mika, started full time), and that he is working on two additional hires. He reported a marked increase in traffic on Town Line Road — "it is a 4-5x volume increase on that road and consistent traffic," he said — and recommended the council discuss road improvements and quiet-zone options at a workshop. Kroells told the council he does not expect the crossing work to be finished until late October.
Kroells also said the department used the CodeRED system for a gas-line notification, providing a 1.5–2 mile notification radius for affected residents. The director noted coordination challenges on short segments of road that cross municipal boundaries (half of one problem segment is in Minnetrista), and recommended aligning speed limits across borders where possible.
The presentation was informational; no formal action was taken on the report. Council members asked clarifying questions about timelines and coordination with adjacent jurisdictions.
