Welcome to Lester Prairie
By Ivan Raconteur
Staff Writer
Lester Prairie Mayor Andy Heimerl grew up in Lester Prairie, and wants to maintain the small-town feel of the community that long-time residents are used to, while making it a welcoming place for new residents, as well.
He wants people to come to Lester Prairie, and said there are many positive things about the city that make it a good place to live.
One of the things that make Lester Prairie special is the school. Heimerl said from the time he was in fourth grade, he knew all of the students in school, not just in his class, but in other grades as well.
“That is what small town living is all about,” Heimerl commented.
He especially enjoyed the government classes, and that was where he first decided that he would like to run for public office someday.
Heimerl served on the Lester Prairie City Council for about a year and a half before being appointed mayor following the resignation of former mayor Eric Angvall. Heimerl was elected to his first full term as mayor in November 2008.
Heimerl said another benefit that the city has is the Lester Prairie Police Department, which he said is very involved in the school, and helps to keep the city a safe place to live.
Before he became active in city government, Heimerl’s service to the city began with the fire department. He has been a member of the fire department for 13 years, and currently holds the office of rescue captain. He has been an EMT for eight years, and is also active in the fire department relief association.
Lester Prairie is fortunate to have a strong fire department, Heimerl said, adding that there is a waiting list of people who want to join.
As mayor, Heimerl is committed to keeping local businesses in the city.
He said Lester Prairie is lucky to have a local grocery store with local owners. A lot of people have started shopping at the grocery store again since Mark and Linda Detlefsen purchased the store, and they are doing a great job, Heimerl commented.
“We need to keep the good local businesses we have,” He added.
The residents of Lester Prairie are also part of the appeal of the city, according to Heimerl. “There are many examples of neighbors helping neighbors. that’s just the kind of town it is,” he said.
Anyone who has questions about Lester Prairie can always call city hall, Heimerl said.
“City Clerk Marilyn Pawelk is a wealth of information, and she doesn’t get nearly enough credit,” he explained. “If there is anything you need to know about Lester Prairie, Marilyn either know the answer, or knows how to find out.”
Heimerl hopes that people will feel comfortable approaching him or the other members of the city council with questions or concerns, as well.
“We all have a vested interest in the community. I want people to know that they can come up and talk to us,” Heimerl said. He added that he does not see it as a negative thing if people meet him on the street and ask questions or share concerns or ideas about the community. In fact, he encourages this. Having a city council that is approachable is one of the reasons he ran for office in the first place.
The economic downturn and significant cuts to local government aid have changed the outlook in Lester Prairie, just as they have in other cities. Some plans will have to be scaled back, and others will be put on hold temporarily.
“Now, it is about survival,” Heimerl said.
He and the city council have been faced with some difficult decisions, and have tried to keep the best interest of the residents in mind when making those decisions, according to Heimerl.
He said the city needs to strive to bring new business to town, but he doesn’t want the city to develop too fast.
“I am in favor of growth, but I don’t ever want us to lose that small-town feel,” Heimerl said.
Heimerl is committed to making Lester Prairie an attractive place for people to live and raise their families.
He has received satisfaction from his service to the community, and encourages others to find ways to serve the community, as well.
“Get involved,” he said. “You will start feeling even more a part of the town.”
