impressive. Equipment needs were met through local generosity, as Luense describes: “We needed radios and pagers to serve these people.A local foundation stepped forward and provided the funds to buy new radios.” Clear communication played a crucial role in the project’s success. “We really try to be transparent with our community,”Wersal shares.“At first we were a little apprehensive about people getting worried we’re not going to have an ambulance, but we did a strong social media campaign, a couple of articles in our local newspaper, and we contacted our bigger employers in town. We went to the school, talked about it there, drew some interest from kids, and then everybody understood that this is something that’s needed.” This accomplishment earned Springfield the City of Excellence award from the League of Minnesota Cities in 2024. DOWNTOWN REVIVAL Springfield’s downtown district is experiencing significant transformation as well, driven by strategic economic decisions. A pivotal move came with the sale of the city-owned Parkview apartments, as Wersal points out: “We decided to sell them because it really freed up a lot of money for our economic development authority to try to do more for the city.” The immediate priority is addressing the infrastructure needs of existing businesses. “Our first item of business is to help some of our store owners repair their roofs or structural issues,” Wersal 5 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 03 SPRINGFIELD, MN
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