Resident Voices and Council Leadership Lead to Better Decisions

Good local government isn't just about elected officials making decisions—it's about residents, city staff, and council members working together to solve problems. Shorewood has seen resident participation and thoughtful questions from council members result in collaborative outcomes.

Maddy: Fraud, Harassment & Cover-Up Are Fixable

The Excelsior Fire District's April 8th public meeting was so contentious the chair opened with a call for decorum.What followed was a 3-2 vote to terminate Fire Chief Curt Mackey. Two members voted to retain him with more training. Shorewood's representative, Dustin Maddy, was one of them.

Shorewood Resident Calls for Fiscal Sanity

Long time Shorewood resident Greg Larson raises concerns about the significant amount of money Shorewood spends for engineering consultants. This topic will be discussed at a council work session at 6:00 on Monday, Mar. 23, at Shorewood City Hall.

Trust Broken With Shorewood Administration

How can the city of Shorewood regain the trust of residents after what transpired with the Watten Ponds development project? One member of council said they have never seen an application brought before council with so many open issues and questions.

Clap Back!

At a recent council meeting, the mayor scolded an audience of nearly 50 attendees for applauding after a resident spoke about raising her children in Shorewood. The mayor gaveled the residents and said that clapping or any other form of approval would not be allowed.

A Call for Clear Communication in Shorewood

Editor’s Note: On November 3, 2025, the City of Shorewood sent an email to subscribers regarding Hwy 7 improvements. In response, Shorewood resident Alan Yelsey sent the following email to all city council members, City Administrator Marc Nevinski and City Planner Jake Griffiths.

Council Bylaws: Ethics or (In)Consistent Control?

The Shorewood City Council is set to approve bylaws to impose a code of conduct that outlines “appropriate behaviors and interactions of council members with each other, staff, and residents.” We disagree with the premise and find this to be inconsistent, open-ended and poorly planned.

Shorewood Resident Calls for Action

Long time Shorewood resident Dale Newberg raises concerns about the proposed Shorewood fee increases. The opinions expressed here are solely his own.

Speak Up or the Shorewood Water Fees Will Bite You

Guest Column by Dale Newberg. Dale is a longtime Shorewood resident. The opinions expressed here are solely his own.

Lobbyist Scholarship: "Out of the Blue"

The Shorewood City Council voted to authorize travel to Washington D.C. by Mayor Jennifer Labadie, contingent on funding provided from a private lobbying group, Minnesota Transportation Alliance (MTA). That decision is a mistake and that money should be refused.

The Opposite of Transparency

On February 18, 2024 the Shorewood City Council, along with key city staffers, held what they referred to as a “retreat” at the Shorewood Community & Event Center. This was essentially an all-day work session to discuss strategic priorities and several other key topics. What made this different from any other work session was that it was structured to discourage public attendance and the ability to review the meeting after the fact.

Let’s Step Up: A Challenge to the City Council

The SCA Editors support city organized trash collection in Shorewood. Now, we challenge the city council to be proactive, and have the courage to make the decision that protects the expensive taxpayer funded infrastructure and the environment, while providing the most efficiency in service.

Shorewood Citizen Advocates

Opinions