The Hastings City Council opened Monday night’s meeting with a tribute to longtime Fire Marshal Al Storlie, who is
retiring at the end of the month after more than four decades of service to the city.
Mayor Mary and councilmembers read a proclamation honoring Storlie’s 41 years with the Hastings Fire Department, highlighting his work in fire prevention, rental inspections, and public safety initiatives dating back to 1985.
Storlie thanked city leaders, coworkers, and his family during brief remarks to the council.
(Actuality 1)
The council then shifted focus to local history, as members of the Heritage Preservation Commission presented the city’s 2026 preservation awards.
Commissioners recognized several homeowners for restoring and maintaining historic Hastings properties, including
homes on Tyler Street, Ninth Street, and West Seventh Street.
One highlighted property—1010 Tyler Street—was originally built as housing for lock masters near Lock and Dam Number Two on the Mississippi River before being relocated into Hastings decades ago.
Heritage Preservation Commission Chairperson Cindy Toppin emphasized the importance of preserving older homes and the city’s historic downtown.
“Older residences, as well as the downtown historic district, are a big part of tourism in Hastings,” Toppin said, “and something that we want to preserve as part of our history.”
The commission also awarded stewardship honors to longtime property owners who have maintained historic homes
for more than 20 years.
Mayor Mary and councilmembers thanked residents for investing time and resources into preserving the city’s historic character.
The council also heard from Flint Hills Community Advisory Council (CAC) representative Kevin Carroll and David Tsurusaki, who discussed ongoing communication between the refinery and surrounding communities such as Hastings.
CAC member Kevin Carroll explained that the advisory council serves as a bridge between residents and refinery leadership, helping answer community questions and address environmental or safety concerns.
The organization has operated for roughly 30 years and is preparing to add two Hastings representatives later this year—one of those representatives will be Dave Pemble.
Councilmember House praised Flint Hills’ environmental efforts and the refinery’s nearby solar garden, while Advisory Council member David Tsurusaki pointed to improvements in safety and emergency preparedness over the years.
Tsurusaki voiced that Flint Hills is doing a good job of protecting the community.
(Actuality 2)
The meeting continued with a presentation from Metropolitan Council District 12 representative Mark Jenkins, who outlined the agency’s role in transportation, housing, wastewater planning, and regional development projects across the seven-county metro.
Jenkins highlighted Met Council partnerships in Hastings, including redevelopment funding, trail projects, and long-term wastewater planning.
But much of the discussion centered on public transportation—specifically why Hastings still lacks regular fixed-route bus service to the Twin Cities.
Several council members voiced frustration over limited transit options and concerns from residents who struggle to reach jobs or appointments without reliable transportation.
Councilmember Leifeld questioned why years of planning have still not produced regular bus service for Hastings residents.
Jenkins said transit patterns changed dramatically after the pandemic but noted that growing return-to-office requirements across the metro could strengthen the case for expanded service in the future.
“Every day there’s more and more justification for that more traditional morning-evening transportation solution,” Jenkins said.
Council members also discussed affordability and accessibility concerns surrounding the region’s Transit Link system and requested additional conversations with transit planners moving forward.
Jenkin stated his intentions before the council.
(Actuality 3)
During the public comment portion of the meeting, several residents addressed the council on a range of issues.
Bruce Karnick from the Hastings Hawks baseball organization thanked the city for ongoing improvements at Veterans Park, including new field lighting and accessibility improvements.
Residents also voiced concerns about a proposed indoor cannabis cultivation facility in Hastings Industrial Park.
Neighbors cited worries about odor, safety, traffic, and security in the nearby industrial park and residential areas.
One resident compared the potential smell to nearby cannabis operations along Highway 316, while business owners in the area expressed concern about theft, vandalism, and impacts on neighboring businesses and youth programs.
Councilmember Haus reminded residents that Hastings has odor ordinances in place under city nuisance and commercial zoning regulations.
The council later approved a legal services agreement with Hoff Barry, P.A. related to special assessment litigation connected to the city’s 2026 neighborhood infrastructure project. The action follows a lawsuit filed May 4 by Conzemius Dairy Farm challenging its assessment.
Councilmembers also approved appointments to a new advisory committee connected to the Highway 61 reconstruction project. The temporary committee will help guide decisions involving landscaping, lighting, signage, and other design elements intended to reflect Hastings’ character along the corridor.
Before adjourning, Mayor Mary announced Hastings had secured $17.5 million in state bonding funds for improvements to the Eastern Water Treatment Plant. Mayor Mary thanked Senator Seeberger and State Representative Tom Dippel and city staff for their work securing the funding.
[Click the soundbite to listen to the full report.]