For Immediate Release — February 27, 2025

City of Hermantown Announces Formation of Advisory Committee to Plan “Uptown” Area in Hermantown Marketplace

Hermantown, Minn. – The Hermantown Economic Development Authority (HEDA) has established an advisory committee, tasked with master planning an area within the Hermantown Marketplace, currently referenced as “Uptown.”

The newly formed Advisory Committee is comprised of seven Hermantown residents, led by HEDA Commissioner Karen Pionk, with three members of Hermantown’s city staff, including Chad Ronchetti, Hermantown’s Economic Development Director, serving as key contributors.

“We have a unique opportunity with the Uptown area to cultivate a community design that reflects Hermantown’s identity, while utilizing development-ready sites,” said Ronchetti. “I’m excited to collaborate with this talented group to create a gathering space that truly embodies the spirit of Hermantown.”

The Uptown Committee includes:

• Lynne Williams, Vice-Chair           
• Jon Birkeland
• Russ Salgy
• Tony Sertich
• Sara Rolfson
• Michael Scharenbroich

Hermantown City staff working alongside the committee are Eric Johnson and Joe Wicklund.

“Hermantown has always been a family-oriented community, known for its strong sense of connection and hometown spirit,” said Pionk. “While we’ve lacked a central gathering space, this advisory committee presents an exciting opportunity to create a town center that not only fosters growth but also enhances the sense of place that makes Hermantown special. By developing this space, we can strengthen the bonds within our community and provide a welcoming environment for all.”

The committee’s focus will be on the land south of Maple Grove Road in the Hermantown Marketplace, including Stebner Park and adjacent private properties.

“We’ve seen success in developing the area north of Maple Grove Road,” said Ronchetti. “Now is the perfect time to turn our attention southward and explore how we can complement existing assets like the trail, park, and private landowners by designing a vibrant future for Uptown.”

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For more information, contact Joe Wicklund, Communications Director, City of Hermantown, at [email protected] or 218.729.3614.

 

For Immediate Release — February 25, 2025

Hermantown Police and Fire Review Strong Year

Hermantown, Minn. – Both the Hermantown Police Department and the Hermantown Fire Department shared an increase in calls and a decrease in response times in 2024. The two departments, who compose the City of Hermantown’s Public Safety division both presented their annual reviews at a recent city council meeting.

“We have specific goals across both our police and fire departments, but in every case, our ability to quickly react and get on scene to support residents is always paramount,” said Jim Crace, Hermantown’s Director of Public Safety. “To continue to meet our marks, especially in the fire department’s first year with a new model, is a testament to the people we have in our ranks.”

The Hermantown Fire Department transitioned in 2024 from a volunteer department to a hybrid model, utilizing a pair of full-time firefighters and a crew of more than 20 paid, on-call firefighters. The HFD handled a record-setting 1,483 calls for service in 2024, an increase of more than 100 calls over the previous high in 2023. Response times for the HFD in 2024 were 5 minutes, 42 seconds, compared to just over eight minutes in 2023.

“The shift to a hybrid model with both full-time and on-call firefighters is a huge advantage in our ability to respond quickly to the needs of our community,” said Zach Graves, Hermantown’s Fire Chief. “Our volunteer fire department was an incredible and dedicated group, but the call volume in our growing community really necessitated our change.”

Calls to the Hermantown Police Department were nearly 9,500 in 2024, eclipsing the five-year average of 8,980. The HPD also saw improved response time, arriving at the 5 minute, 47 second mark for their most frequent calls.

“We want our community to know when they are in need, we are close at hand,” said Crace. “Our police officers and firefighters did a fantastic job serving Hermantown and the greater community in 2024.”

Year-end reports for both departments can be found on the City of Hermantown website.

HFD Report

HPD Report

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For more information, contact Joe Wicklund, Communications Director, City of Hermantown, at [email protected] or 218.729.3614.