Leading a Community Transformation

Leading a Community Transformation. . The Battle Lake area endured a tenuous time in the winter of 2008. School enrollment was down, retail and tourism economics were difficult, businesses were closing, storefronts on Lake Avenue were in disrepair, city infrastructure needed modernization, and the state park faced downgrading by the DNR and additional program reductions., From these challenges, emerged a community vision, and a new city leader, Mayor Chuck Reeve (2009-2016 term) who would guide change, foster collaboration, and exhibit the character and resiliency to address initiatives that would be complex and sometimes controversial., Improvements abound , While Chuck was mayor, community members and city leaders united to secure HRA grants to improve downtown storefronts, modernize all City Parks, bring a natural gas utility to the area, construct three Glendalough Trail segments, complete a stunning Complete Streets and arts project on Lake Avenue, support a Good Samaritan expansion, construct a new Fire Hall, and recreate an Economic Development Authority. Subsequently, an estimated 18 new businesses have located to the Battle Lake area, Glendalough State Park visitor counts grew from less than 50,000 in 2014 to more than 90,000 in 2017, and school administrators, faculty and community members rallied to elevate District 542 to a National Award-Winning school., A legacy of service , As a successful periodontist at Mayo Clinic for 39 years, Chuck and his wife Louise raised their six children in Rochester, Minnesota. Their family grew up enjoying summers at West Battle Lake and Glendalough State Park., Chuck's tenure of community service began shortly after he and Louise permanently relocated to Battle Lake following his retirement. He served as a council member (2004-2009) and then as mayor (2009-2016), assuming the role when former Mayor Les Estes died unexpectedly while in office. Following Chuck's retirement as mayor, the Reeve children made a significant donation to the city to honor the service legacy of their parents., Captions: , Chuck surrounded by his family, 2014 , Chuck visits with community members celebrating the city's 125th anniversary on the revamped streets of Battle Lake. , Chuck (3rd from the right) at the Glendalough Trail ribbon cutting ceremony in 2014. , Patrick Hollister and Chuck hold up plans for the 2014 Complete Streets project., 2008 City acknowledges serious and numerous issues , 2010 Good Samaritan Society expansion underway , 2011 City parks updated and modernized , 2013 12-mile bike and pedestrian trail construction begins , 2013 Housing and Redevelopment grants to improve storefronts completed , 2013 Complete Streets project begins , 2014 Community art enhancement projects begin , 2014 Natural gas project underway , 2014 Battle Lake school district awarded National Blue Ribbon status , 2016 Economic Development Authority restructured , 2016 New Fire Hall completed , 2016 Estimated 18 new businesses opened since 2013 , 2016 Safe Routes to School trail established , 2017 Glendalough State Park visitor count more than doubled since 2008