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<br /> <br />Councilmember Axberg requested Mr. Belkhous speak to the biggest opportunities and challenges facing New <br />Brighton and how do you hope to address these serving on a Commission. <br /> <br />Mr. Belkhous reported recovering from the COVID pandemic was challenging. He wanted to better <br />understand what happened, are there businesses struggling, losing employees, are people buying homes, less <br />people buying homes. He wanted to see the City sustain what they have while planning for growth. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked Mr. Belkhous for coming in and applying for this position. She noted City <br />Clerk Spangrud would be in touch with further information on how the Council was moving forward. She <br />explained the next person to be interviewed was Sam Strong. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dunsworth asked Mr. Strong to explain how both personal and professional experiences will <br />help you be an effective Commissioner if appointed. <br /> <br />Mr. Strong stated he has been a part of the community for the past 17 years. He noted he has gone through the <br />Mounds View School District and has attended Bel Air Elementary, High View Middle School and Irondale <br />High School. He explained he was a part of the New Brighton Police Explorers and was hoping to serve on the <br />Public Safety Commission. He indicated he had a strong feeling about the public safety department and felt <br />the department was doing a great job in the community. He commented his professional experience includes <br />working at Adagio’s and noted he was in the process of becoming a public safety officer with New Brighton. <br /> <br />Councilmember Allen asked what motivated Mr. Strong to serve on a City Commission. <br /> <br />Mr. Strong stated the reason he applied was because he wants to help people and he was extremely outgoing. <br />He believed serving on a Commission was another step to helping others who may be in need, helping out the <br />City, and making this a strong and safer community. <br /> <br />Councilmember Abdulle stated each Commission is tasked with making recommendations to the City Council <br />that comply with policies, rules or ordinances already adopted by the City Council. He asked Mr. Strong what <br />he would do if he disagreed with a policy or ordinance already in place. <br /> <br />Mr. Strong commented this would depend on the issue. He understood Commissions met once a month. He <br />stated he would briefly explain his concern with the members on the Commission and would then bring this <br />matter to the City Council and would go from there. <br /> <br />Councilmember Axberg requested Mr. Strong speak to the biggest opportunities and challenges facing New <br />Brighton and how do you hope to address these serving on a Commission. <br /> <br />Mr. Strong explained the biggest opportunities are getting your foot in the door and helping out the <br />community. He stated he chose the public safety side because he feels strongly about the public safety <br />department and that they were tight with the community, especially with everything going on. He explained he <br />wanted public safety to remain strong in the City of New Brighton. <br /> <br />Mayor Niedfeldt-Thomas thanked Mr. Strong for coming in and applying for this position. She noted City <br />Clerk Spangrud would be in touch with further information on how the Council was moving forward. She <br />explained the next person to be interviewed was Michele Norman. <br /> <br />Councilmember Dunsworth asked Ms. Norman to explain how both personal and professional experiences will <br />help you be an effective Commissioner if appointed. <br />