Goals & Successes

Luke's Record of Success for Isanti

• 23% total tax rate reduction since elected in 2022; The largest tax rate reduction of any Minnesota city.

• Fully staffed & equipped police department (renovated building, take-home squads, in-house repairs, new radios & computers, better health programs)

• The first city in MN to pass a resolution against the new state flag (March 2024)

• New fully ADA accessible park (the first in the region) + new skatepark being built (both zero tax dollars)

• More property rights for residents (chickens, bigger garages, more flexible policy, less overreach)

• Welcomed 25+ new businesses by cutting red tape. 10 already this calendar year alone, with more coming soon!

• Facilitated the main street Creamery revitalization with state grant dollars, and our innovative restaurant recruitment program. At $0 cost to Isanti taxpayers. The creamery will be re-opening this year!

• Added a diverse array of market-rate housing with NO subsidies or tax breaks; addresses housing needs and lowers the tax burden for everyone.

• Paid off old debt with no new debt despite major infrastructure wins like the roundabout, new water well (currently being drilled), water tower refinishing, sidewalks & lighting, etc.

• On track to be tax levy debt-free after 2029 (rare in MN). We are planning long term to avoid borrowing money. Which saves you money!

• More transparency: livestreamed meetings + 3000% increase in city social media reach. We want people to know whats going on!

• 2a dedicated city resolution- keep Isanti Great

• New city railroad crossing upgrades and developed a plan for future railway spurs for large commercial/industrial use and creation of high paying local jobs.

• Started a park fundraising & sponsorship task force to maintain and improve our parks without taxpayer impact.

• Creative partnership with the U of M for an Emerald ash borer treatment study. This is the first full-scale research study that's been done.

• Revitalization of downtown main street through state grant funding. Focus on small businesses!

• Renovated the City Community Center and created a better reservation system to fit more uses & events.

• Rezoned the highway 65 overlay district, which was previously severely handcuffing businesses

• Currently building a new, cost-effective and unique nature-based park in the Northeast quadrant of the city.

• Added an archery range, volleyball courts, affordable shade structures at multiple parks, etc. All done without taxpayer levy dollars!

• Added free brush disposal to the compost site for residents

• Common Sense. Taxpayer Focused Leadership. 

• Promises kept!

Luke's Long Term Goals for Isanti

• I am community engagement driven, with no specific agenda. I’d rather listen to what the community wants and make the wisest fiscal decisions for the majority of the community. Things that the community has said and I am working my best to address:

  • Keep Isanti Small and prosperous

  • Work to reduce speeding

  • Tax reductions, government needs to stay out of our pockets.

  • More food options would be nice

  • Continued work on sidewalks, street lighting & safety

  • Pursue a railroad spur development in the industrial district to bring in large business which will stimulate economic growth and provide many well-paying jobs for the community. We are one of the very few communities in MN with the option to do this with the railroad.

  • Promote market driven business growth. No taxpayer funded subsidies or tax breaks.

  • Long-term park fundraising for better, tax-free, park maintenence.