East metro elections: Close Arden Hills race could sway future development at Army ammunition site

A very close City Council election in Arden Hills is expected to shape future development at the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant (TCAAP), one of the largest undeveloped pieces of land in the Twin Cities.

The issue is the crux of the race between four candidates for two council seats in Arden Hills. Incumbent Brenda Holden took the top number of votes, while Kurt Weber and David Radziej were separated by just five votes in preliminary results reported by state officials Wednesday morning. County officials said the race appears to be close enough to qualify for a publicly funded recount.

Such recounts are conducted if requested by the losing candidate after the election canvassing board meets. Arden Hills’ canvassing board meets Nov. 12, said interim Arden Hills City Administrator Jessica Jagoe.

Holden and Radziej, have questioned whether plans under consideration for TCAAP are right for the city. Meanwhile, Weber and candidate Richard Priore have promoted continuing negotiations with the county and developer based on current plans.

Development at TCAAP has been stymied for years as Arden Hills and Ramsey County, jointly responsible for developing the site, failed to come to an agreement to allow construction. Much of the debate revolved around whether the plans should include more housing.

Since 2023, the relationship between the council and county has thawed and the two are working on TCAAP together, but this election could shift the 3-2 majority.

Voters in Mounds View decided not to move to a city-organized trash collection system.

Currently, Mounds View residents choose and contract with their own hauler. Under a city-run system, the city would hire residents’ haulers.

City officials have said an organized system would be better for the environment and reduce wear on roads. Haulers cast doubt on the city’s arguments and opposed changes to the system.

The Ramsey County Board will have two new members in January, when newly elected commissioners are sworn in.

Two candidates ran for the District 7 seat representing Maplewood, North St. Paul and White Bear Lake: Kelly Miller, who works as the director of the Department of Indian Work at Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul, and Sarah K. Yang, an academic coordinator at TRIO Upward Bound, an academic preparatory program.

On Wednesday, preliminary election results showed Miller logging 49.58% of the votes and Yang receiving 49.49%. County officials said that race appears to be close enough to qualify for a publicly funded recount. If requested, that recount would likely occur the week after the Nov. 13 county canvassing board meeting.

The winner will succeed Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, who announced her retirement after nearly three decades on the board.

Two other candidates won after running unopposed: Incumbent Mary Jo McGuire will continue to hold the District 2 seat representing Lauderdale, Little Canada, New Brighton, Roseville and St. Anthony, and newcomer Tara Jebens-Singh will represent District 1, which covers many of Ramsey County’s northern suburbs.

Liz Navratil contributed to this report.