Ratzlaff-LeBeau Talks About First Year on Lakeville's Council

Colleen Ratzlaff-LaBeau’s first year as a member of the Lakeville City Council was one filled with challenges and accomplishments, she said.

As a new council member, Ratzlaff-LaBeau said she found it difficult to come to terms with the pace of government, and often encountered frustration when the need to conduct studies served as a roadblock in the council’s decision-making process. 

“As a business owner, it seemed very counterproductive,” said Ratzlaff-LaBeau, who owns .

She also said the council’s inability to work together was another challenge for her. When discussing this lack of cohesion, Ratzlaff-LaBeau continually referenced one specific council member, whom she refused to identify. According to Ratzlaff-LaBeau, the same council member skewed and misstated facts and disrespected fellow council members via social media. Earlier this year, Lakeville's other freshman council member, Matt Little, was admonished by .

Fortunately, she said, the council held a meeting on decorum two months ago, which Ratzlaff-LaBeau felt was effective for most council members.

“I’ve always been able to compromise and negotiate,” she said.

The council’s disputes have not been entirely for naught. Ratzlaff-LaBeau cited many proud accomplishments in the last year, including the the city hosted last spring and the formation of the citizen . She also noted that she is particularly pleased that the council has kept the tax levy below zero and made city government more accessible for businesses and residents.

In the coming year, Ratzlaff-LaBeau hopes to improve staff communication and transparency and maintain the tax levy. She voiced concerns that the impending election may detract from issues she feels are important to taxpayers. 

Ratzlaff-LaBeau also expressed her thanks to the Lakeville community for providing her with the opportunity to serve as a city council member.