GRAND RAPIDS — Tasha Connelly is the new mayor of the city of Grand Rapids.
The City Council unanimously accepted the resignation of Mayor Dale Christy at its Monday, Jan. 8, meeting and then appointed Connelly to the position.
Christy submitted his resignation last week after finding he no longer had the time to serve as mayor with his new role as the Grand Rapids School District’s activities director.
Connelly was elected to the Grand Rapids City Council in 2016, serving on the city’s policy and ordinance committee, the Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority, the city/county cooperative board and the Human Rights Commission.
“Thank you for your vote of confidence,” Connelly said after switching seats on the dais. “And I look forward to continuing to work alongside all of you and our future, yet-to-be-determined council member.”
She is a Grand Rapids High School graduate and attended Itasca Community College before obtaining a bachelor’s in social work and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.
She now works as a student support specialist with the Grand Rapids School District and lives in the city with her husband and two sons.
With Connelly’s appointment to mayor, her city council seat is now vacant.
The council agreed to advertise for the open position with plans to interview those who’ve applied later this month.
Christy’s term was up this year, so the mayoral position will be on the ballot this November.
-
Plus: State officials say proposed cuts to the federal energy assistance program will disproportionately affect Northern Minnesotan families and ratepayers; residents of an unorganized St. Louis County township voted to incorporate as a new town; and construction on Highway 87 in Hubbard County begins May 19, 2025.
-
With cuts to federal and state funding expected, Beltrami County is starting its annual budget a few weeks early this year, as discussed in a May 6, 2025, work session.
-
Minnesota Department of Transportation crews plan to reconstruct Highway 87 near Hubbard, with project details including culvert replacements and new curb and gutter.
-
Residents of St. Louis County's Unorganized Township 63-17 petitioned the county last year to incorporate as a town and cast ballots in a special election on May 13, 2025.
-
The Minnesota Department of Commerce warns that eliminating the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, would especially impact Northern Minnesota families and utility ratepayers.
-
With four days left in the legislative session, the agreement does not appear to have the support required to pass the Senate. A special session is likely.
-
Plus: the state Commission on Judicial Selection has put forward three candidates to fill the bench vacated by the upcoming retirement of an Aitkin County judge; and the Beltrami County Historical Society will present "Women of Law and Order" for a special panel discussion on May 15, 2025.
-
The Beltrami County Historical Society will host four women serving their community through their careers in public safety on Thursday.
-
Three large wildfires continue to burn in rural St. Louis County amid days of critical fire weather. Conditions are expected to turn more favorable for firefighting later this week.
-
Plus: MnDOT to host meeting on 2027 plans for Highway 371 between Nisswa and Pequot Lakes; and Pequot Lakes Patriotics are state champions in robotics.