5.1. SR 08-13-2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Irene Koski Retires from City Council "Everyone goes through phases in life," Maple Grove Councilmember Irene Koski said. "It's just time for me to retire." Koski has watched the City change through the years. From her 6+ years employment with the City of Maple Grove in the 1980's to her 14 years on the City Council, which started in January 1993. "When we moved here there were only 20,000 people here, three gas stations and two grocery stores," she said. "My how it has changed." In the past 14 years Maple Grove has seen the construction of a government center, downtown area, community center and many popular shopping areas and restaurants. "We were one of the few places that actually built a downtown," Koski said. "So few places get to do that and I really think we did it right." Koski says one of her biggest accomplishments was working on the City's Community Center which welcomes over 750,000 visitors each year. It houses indoor and outdoor pools and children's play facilities, gym, ice arena, senior center, and meeting rooms. "We needed a place like that," Koski said. She was one of many who fought for the Community Center even after the voters rejected a bond issue that would pay for it. "Sometimes people will ask me, 'why did the City build that Community Center after the bond failed?' And I say, we did that for one very, very good reason: the kids of this community." Koski says she'll always be interested in city politics, but wants to take advantage of her retirement time. She plans to do some traveling with her husband. The City has accepted applications for the vacant Council position and plans to appoint a new person to finish Koski's term. Councilmember Koski is wished the very best in her retirement, and we thank her for her years of dedicated service as a City employee and Councilmember.