Mayor Sara Carlson received accolades at Monday night’s Alexandria City Council meeting.
It was her last one as the mayor. She announced earlier in the year that it was time to step down from the position and let a new person lead the city.
The new person turned out to be Ward 3 council member and mayor-elect Bobbie Osterberg , who presented Carlson with a plaque of appreciation on behalf of city residents, the council and city staff.
Carlson served nine years on the council and eight years as mayor.
“We will deeply miss you, your leadership, patience, wisdom and commitment to making Alexandria the place you choose,” Osterberg said. “Under your leadership, Alexandria has welcomed new businesses, achieved housing goals, experienced unprecedented growth in property valuation and maintained strong fiscal health.”
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Osterberg added that Carlson was honored by state level association boards for her leadership.
“Other municipalities have benefitted from your time and talents because of your willingness to serve,” Osterberg said.
Carlson thanked her husband, Ron, and her family for supporting her over the years. She also thanked Alexandria citizens, councils past and present, and an “absolutely amazing” staff.
“We were able to grow and build – I’m so proud of that,” Carlson said.
Carlson said that as bad as 2020 has been, with businesses reeling from COVID-19 restrictions, the city still collaborated with other entities to get through the tough times.
“We could look at this as a half-empty glass but we’ve chosen to look at it as half-full,” Carlson said. “2020 will be brighter. …I’m honored and privileged to have served this city.”
City Administrator Marty Schultz also thanked Carlson and Todd Jensen, who served eight years as Ward 5 council member, for their service to the city.
“It takes a tremendous amount of work that the public doesn’t see,” Schultz said.
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At the start of the meeting, Jensen also received a plaque of appreciation from Mayor Carlson for his work in Ward 5.
