Minnesota’s newest city holds first election Tuesday

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Minnesota’s newest city holds first election Tuesday

A new city is sprouting in Dakota County, the first new Minnesota city in more than three years.

Polls just closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday on the election that’ll convert Empire Township to the city of Empire.

A small town feel and open space have defined Empire Township since it was organized in 1858.

Ten miles of biking and hiking trails and fewer than 1000 homes criss-cross an area of less than 34 square miles.

But about 20 years ago, the town started to feel the increasing pressure of development as the South Metro grew and nearby cities like Farmington started annexing parts of what used to be a neat square map.

“One of the biggest reasons we did this, if you notice this area here is all chunked out,” said Empire Town Supervisor Eric Hanson, the only supervisor who is also likely a part of the city government, running unopposed for a city council seat.

Empire itself grew from about 1300 people to 3300 since 1990.

But the future was unclear, the boundaries shaky even though the town already had its own water and sewer systems and millions of dollars saved to replace its aging water tower.

“Those are assets that could be annexed,” Hanson said. “So if we didn’t do this, with the right paperwork we could lose a whole residential district that we’ve planned for to our a water tower on.”

So the Empire (Township) struck back.

The town set in motion a plan to incorporate as a city and harden its borders.

Election Day and its relatively high turnout of only about 10% of residents seals the deal.

As soon as it’s certified, a mayor and four city council members will replace the three town supervisors.

Then, the 200th biggest of 913 cities in Minnesota can plan for a future where they control their own destiny and growth.

But it’s mainly just the signs that will be different.

A Dakota County sheriff’s deputy will still enforce the law.

Kids will still attend Farmington schools.

“We’ll always be part of Farmington to some degree,” Hanson said.

And that includes most addresses.

Even after they change the signs at the town hall to reflect it is the Empire City Hall, its address will be in Farmington because that’s the nearest post office.

Catch Up Quick 

👮A 16-year-old was charged with second-degree murder for the fatal stabbing of another student at Harding High School on Friday.

🖊️ Brian Laundrie’s mother wrote a letter that said she, “would bring a shovel to help bury a body,” according to a request filed Tuesday by the lawyers for Gabby Petito’s family; the letter’s envelope said, “Burn after reading.” 

🚗 Nissan is recalling more than 463,000 older vehicles because the emblem on the steering wheel can come loose when the air bag is deployed and injure drivers.

❄️ If a bill in the Minnesota House passes all ice resurfacing machines, commonly knows as Zambonis, purchased after January 1st, 2025 would have to be electric. 

‘No Tummies Left Behind’: 11-year-old from Faribault helping feed those in need

On most Friday nights, Ella Bettner makes charm bracelets while watching Shark Tank with her mom, because the 11-year-old has an appetite for helping others.

“Proud of myself because I never thought I would get, like, this far doing it. So when I make the bracelets, I just feel proud,” Bettner told FOX 9’s Maury Glover.

Bettner started her own charity named No Tummies Left Behind over a year ago after she noticed some of her fellow students at Medford Elementary couldn’t get seconds at lunch because they had negative lunch balances.

She goes to local crafts fairs and sells her handmade bracelets for $5 and donates the money to nearby public school districts to pay off school lunch debt.

“I like to help people all the time, but that’s a little bigger of an issue that I saw. So I want to try to help that so I could help more people,” said Bettner. 

Bettner also does fundraisers with local businesses that donate a percentage of their profits to her cause.

So far, she’s handed out more than $13,000 to three local school districts, even though she’s only in the 6th grade.

“A lot of my friends think it’s really cool. Just because like, they don’t do anything like it and I think they don’t think that they could, and it’s hard to do that, so they really think it’s cool that I’m doing it,” said Bettner.

Bettner is grateful her hobby can help keep other kids from having to try to learn while they are hungry, and by preventing empty stomachs, Bettner is keeping her heart full.

“I want everyone to try to be as nice as they can, even if they’re mad at something. I still want them to try to be nice and if more people were nice, then the world’s a better place,” said Bettner.

If you’d like more information about No Tummies Left Behind, click here.

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