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<br />Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Heineman, Councilmembers Buscher, Olson, Peters, Riley, <br />Specht, and Stewart. Voting No: None. <br />3. PRESENTATIONS <br />3.01 Oath of Office – Fire Chief/Emergency Management Director <br /> <br />City Administrator Hagen thanked the Mayor, Council, and Ramsey residents and noted that at the <br />previous Council meeting, the City recognized retiring Fire Chief Matt Kohner. He explained the <br />City was now welcoming its next Fire Chief, Andy Winkel, who had started the prior Monday. He <br />indicated Chief Winkel brings 18 years of experience in the fire service, including work as a paid- <br />on-call firefighter with the Spring Lake Park, Blaine, Mounds View Fire Department, where he <br />concluded his tenure as a battalion chief. He added that Chief Winkel also served in full-time roles <br />with the City of Blaine as a fire inspector and, most recently, with the Anoka Champlin Fire <br />Department as Assistant Fire Chief. <br /> <br />City Administrator Hagen also thanked Chief Winkel’s family for their support, noting the position <br />requires continual availability and commitment. He expressed excitement about welcoming Chief <br />Winkel to the City team before turning the meeting over to Mayor Heineman for the oath of office. <br /> <br />Mayor Heineman administered the Oath of Office to Fire Chief Winkel. <br /> <br />Fire Chief Winkel thanked the Mayor, Council, and Ramsey community for the opportunity to <br />serve as the City’s next fire chief. He expressed appreciation for the warm welcome he has received <br />and noted he looks forward to working with firefighters, staff, City leaders, and residents to <br />continue providing high-quality service. Fire Chief Winkel also thanked his family and mentors <br />for their support throughout his career. <br />3.02 Annual Public Works Department Update <br /> <br />City Engineer/Public Works Director Westby provided the Council with an annual Public Works <br />update, highlighting the department’s mission, staffing, snow operations, street and utility <br />maintenance responsibilities, and the successful completion of the new water treatment plant, <br />which began operating earlier in the year. He noted Public Works maintains City buildings, streets, <br />stormwater systems, utilities, and parks infrastructure while continuing to meet snowplowing <br />targets and respond to increasing operational demands. <br /> <br />Parks and Assistant Public Works Director Riverblood summarized Parks and Recreation <br />operations, noting extensive maintenance responsibilities for parks, trails, athletic fields, <br />playgrounds, irrigation systems, and emerald ash borer-related tree removal. He also highlighted <br />recreation programming, new amenities including a fishing pier and waterfront improvements, and <br />construction progress on the City’s large regional splash pad project, which remains on schedule <br />for a July opening. <br /> <br />City Council /May 26, 2026 <br />Page 3 of 19 <br /> <br />