With official proclamations, the St. Paul City Council said goodbye to six longtime public servants leaving City Hall, including Mayor Melvin Carter, mayoral adviser Russ Stark and Fire Chief “Butch” Inks. Each was recognized with a day dedicated in their honor.
Also recognized by the council on Wednesday were three senior planners and project leads with the city’s department of Planning and Economic Development — Ross Currier, Paul Dubruiel and Marie Franchett — who have played no small role in determining the contours of some of the city’s most visible construction projects.
Franchett in particular served 32 years with the city, serving as project lead on Allianz Field, the Verdant at the West Side Flats, the downtown Penfield apartments and their adjoining grocery space, and other key housing and mixed-use developments.
Dubruiel, who oversaw lot splits and other Planning Commission work, spent 30 years working for the city, and Currier was with PED for 11 years, handling dozens of STAR grants, as well as business Bridge Fund grants during the pandemic.
Council Member Nelsie Yang said the mayor always appeared cool in a crisis, and the city weathered several during his two terms, from riots to pandemic.
“There has not been a better ambassador and champion for our city throughout incredibly difficult times than Mayor Carter,” said Council President Rebecca Noecker.
Council Member Anika Bowie noted Carter had a history of centering children in his policies, from forgiving library fines and dedicating college savings accounts for newborns to lifting fees for youth sports at rec centers.
“It will take years, and even decades, for the seeds that he has planted and so much of the work to come to fruition,” added Molly Coleman, one of the newest members of the council.
Fighting tears, Council Vice President HwaJeong Kim said Inks, a 41-year city employee, was fresh off of arm surgery when she called him about a person injured during a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement action two weeks ago. Inks still showed up in person and demanded of ICE agents, “Are you denying this person medical care?” The individual was soon removed on a stretcher.
Kim said Stark — who had once served as president of the council — had touched myriad aspects of the city by leading on the development of St. Paul’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan, the Evie electric car-sharing program and the EV Spot charging network. Through his efforts, carbon emissions in the city’s municipal buildings dropped 46%.
Stark was also instrumental in establishing 55 miles of new bikeways, including the fully completed Grand Rounds and the nearly complete Capital City Bikeway, and installing geothermal systems and solar panels in The Heights development and the new North End Community Center, among other projects. St. Paul repeatedly reduced the amount of parking developers are required to install for new real estate development citywide, eventually eliminating parking minimums entirely.
By order of the council, Wednesday was named Russ Stark Day in the city, to be followed by Melvin Carter III Day on Thursday. Dec. 30 will be “Butch” Inks Day in the city.
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