Living in Carver County Podcast

Carver Mayor Courtney Johnson: Growth, Local News, and Getting Involved

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 14:41:00 +0000

Carver’s mayor shows up to everything. Touch a Truck, Steamboat Days, Santa’s fire truck ride to City Hall, and nearly every ribbon cutting in town. So, when Courtney Johnson walked out of my open house in Carver and the two neighbors walking in had no idea who she was, I knew what we needed to talk about.

Courtney is back on the podcast as she runs for her fourth term as Mayor of Carver, Minnesota, and her first without an opponent. Carver has about 7,500 residents today, and the Met Council projects it will grow to nearly 19,000 by 2050, the fastest growth rate in the region. We talk about what it means when a community changing this quickly is this quiet about its local government.

Courtney explains how the mayor’s role actually works in Carver. She’s one vote out of five, and the council’s job is policy, not deciding where stop signs go. She also shares what she’s hearing from cities across Minnesota in her new role as President of the League of Minnesota Cities, including data centers, budget pressures, and rising incivility toward local officials.

We get into what Carver lost when the Chaska Herald closed and how the city reaches people now: livestreamed council meetings, a monthly newsletter, the new Carver app, mayor’s office hours, and even chili dinners at her kitchen table. She’s candid about it, too. She gets maybe half a dozen phone calls a year.

We also talk about the upcoming Public Services facility listening sessions, how new neighbors in the Enclave and Summerfield can get connected, and something I wish more homebuyers would do: stop by City Hall before you buy and ask what’s planned for the field behind the house. And yes, we answer the Trader Joe’s question.

Courtney’s one wish for every Carver resident this year is simple: read the city newsletter.

0:00 Welcome and the open house story
1:33 Being recognized (and not recognized) around town
3:17 Carver’s growth: 7,500 people today, nearly 19,000 by 2050
5:45 Leading the League of Minnesota Cities
8:36 How the mayor and council actually work in Carver
11:25 Life after the Chaska Herald
13:50 How Carver keeps residents informed now
16:13 Community Facebook groups and misinformation
17:56 Young families and quiet engagement
20:25 Listening sessions on the Public Services facility
24:03 Running unopposed for the first time
25:59 Welcoming new neighbors in the Enclave and Summerfield
28:19 What homebuyers should ask City Hall before they buy
32:19 The Trader Joe’s question
33:29 One thing every resident can do

Visit: https://cityofcarver.com/Archive.aspx?AMID=39

Is a Data Center Coming to Chaska? Matt Podhradsky Answers Your Questions

admin — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 23:17:00 +0000

What would a hyperscale data center actually mean for Chaska? Chaska City Administrator Matt Podhradsky is back for his fourth conversation on the show, and this time we tackle the questions neighbors have been asking on social media.

Matt explains why Chaska already hosts four data centers and how its city-owned electric utility makes the community attractive to them. He also lays out where the proposed CloudHQ project stands today. The power for that project would come through the Minnesota Municipal Power Agency rather than Chaska's local system, and the agency requires data centers to bring their own generating capacity. Matt explains why that matters for your electric bill. We also get into the closed-loop water system, the independent noise study now underway, and how the city council weighs resident concerns against tax base benefits.

Before that, Matt gives an update on the Public Safety Center, where 24/7 fire duty crews have cut response times to four or five minutes. He also covers what's coming next: Big Woods Business Park with Amazon as its first tenant, a new roundabout at County Road 11 and 44, the full Highway 212 interchange, a Nordic spa and Marriott redevelopment of the old Oak Ridge Conference Center, and the final phase of Southwest Chaska housing.

We close with grid cybersecurity, what the city does during a multi-day outage, and some calm, neighborly advice on whether you really need a generator. Matt's take on all the online fear is worth hearing: we're much stronger talking to each other than about each other.

Living In Carver County. Connecting friends, building community.

He Ran for City Council Over Shovels and Became Chaska’s Mayor for 18 Years | Bob Roepke

admin — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 14:45:00 +0000

Season 8 kicks off the way it always does, with former Chaska Mayor Bob Roepke. Bob was one of the first people willing to take a chance on this podcast back in season one, and our annual conversation has become a tradition I look forward to every year.

Bob grew up at 204 Ash Street in downtown Chaska, back when there wasn't much north of old Highway 212. He spent 35 years in HR at 3M, then walked into a Chaska City Council meeting to ask for a variance, heard the council debating how many shovels to buy, and decided City Hall could use some of the long-range planning he'd learned at 3M. Homemade signs, every door in the First Ward, and a 34-vote win over a 17-year incumbent later, he was on his way to 18 years as mayor.

We talk about the vision of Chaska as “the best small town in Minnesota,” the planning culture that attracted business and industry and built the tax base, and the bold bets like the Chaska Community Center, the Chaska Town Course, and the flood control project that protected downtown and the homes around it.

Then we get into what's happening right now. Bob shares his take on the new Chaska Public Safety Center, the municipal services building, the community center updates, and the property tax weariness a lot of Carver County homeowners are feeling. We dig into why tax impact estimates are so hard to calculate, how losing the local newspaper changed the way residents get information, and why the vision behind city projects deserves more airtime than the project list.

We also cover the data center conversation, Chaska's municipal electric utility, and how the city's core community values, including environmental stewardship, can help guide decisions on large-scale development.

Bob closes with a few things he's excited about: Chaska Hawks football and head coach Bryan Dahl's focus on developing young men of character, the Eastern Carver County Schools 2040 plan, the new Miracle Field at the 50-acre park, his pitch for a historic downtown theater in the old high school auditorium, Dave Pokorney's philanthropy award from the Community Foundation for Carver County, and the effort to grow the Chaska Community Fund into a Chaska Community Foundation.

Living IN Carver County is an insider's conversation with the people who make Carver County the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Connecting friends, building community.

David Sherman Disability Consulting Solutions. Before the Crisis Hits — What Families Need to Know About Disability and Aging

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:27:00 +0000

Most families don't know David Sherman exists — until they're already in crisis. As the owner of Disability Consulting Solutions, David has spent over 30 years working alongside families navigating disability, chronic illness, cognitive decline, and the decisions that come with aging. His work sits in the gaps — the space between what county case managers can provide and what families actually need.I first connected with David through a client situation involving diminished capacity and a home heading into foreclosure — a referral that came through previous guest Michael Boylan on a Halloween night that I won't forget.In this episode, David breaks down what disability consulting actually is and what that first phone call looks like, what goes into a Personalized Support Plan, how disability and chronic illness trigger financial crises that put housing at risk, when aging in place stops being a safe option and how families navigate that conversation, what conservatorship and guardianship actually mean and when they become necessary, the early warning signs adult children should watch for, and what waiting too long actually costs a family in options — not just dollars.RESOURCES:Disability Consulting Solutions: www.disabilityconsultingsolutions.comCONNECT WITH GREG:Substack: HelloIamGregAnderson.substack.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregoryrandersonRE/MAX Advisors West — Carver County Real Estate

From Cologne to Chaska. World-Class Dermatology in Carver County | Dr. Kamruz Darabi

admin — Sat, 28 Mar 2026 12:31:00 +0000

Dr. Kamruz Darabi didn’t take the obvious path. Trained in Germany, New York, and Ohio, fluent in four languages, he could have practiced anywhere. He chose Chaska — and then chose to go out on his own. In this conversation, Greg Anderson talks with the founder of Darabi Dermatology about what that journey actually looked like, and what Carver County residents should know about their skin health.

In this episode:

Why Carver County caught the attention of a physician with a genuinely global background
The overwhelming reality of going from employed doctor to business owner — and what no one teaches you in medical school
Triple board certification in dermatology, Mohs surgery, and dermatopathology — what it actually means for patients
Why you probably don’t need to drive to Minneapolis for serious skin care
The skin cancer statistics every person over 60 should hear
SPF numbers decoded, moisturizer, saunas, and cold plunges — straight answers from a dermatologist
How AI is already changing the patient experience at Darabi Dermatology
Why private practice access is a bigger deal than most patients realize

Dr. Darabi has been named Best Dermatologist in Carver County by Sun Patriot readers four consecutive years and Top Doctor by Minnesota Monthly. His practice, Darabi Dermatology, serves patients in Chaska and surrounding Carver County communities.

Living In Carver County — connecting friends, building community.

Highway 5 Chanhassen to Victoria: Inside Carver County’s Biggest Road Project with Lyndon Robjent

admin — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:30:00 +0000

If you drive Highway 5 between Chanhassen and Victoria — or you own property anywhere near that corridor — this is the episode to listen to before construction season shifts into full gear.

Carver County is in the middle of a $116 million Highway 5 overhaul. A 3.5-mile stretch from Highway 41 in Chanhassen to downtown Victoria is going from a two-lane rural road that was already carrying over 20,000 vehicles a day to a divided four-lane highway. Greg Anderson, Carver County REALTOR® since 1985, sat down with Public Works Director and County Highway Engineer Lyndon Colebrook-Robjent to unpack what’s happening, when, and why it matters — both for your daily commute and for the long-term value of real estate in Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria, Waconia, and the surrounding communities.

They cover what’s already underway on the ground, which roads close in 2026 and what the detour picture looks like, the full Highway 5 closure coming in 2027, the engineering challenge of building a four-lane road through the Lake Minnewashta wetlands, why the trees had to come down in February before any road work started (it involves an endangered bat), the roundabout strategy and why Carver County keeps building them, and the connection between this level of infrastructure investment and where Carver County real estate is headed.

Lyndon also makes a point that transportation investment and land use go hand in hand. When you build the infrastructure right, the communities around it get stronger. Victoria is proving that right now.

Public open house: Wednesday, March 25th, 5–7 p.m., University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska. If you live near this corridor, go.

More at HelloIamGregAnderson.com

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Molly Koivumaki- Executive Director of Beyond New Beginnings-Beyond New Beginnings: How Carver County Rallied Around Its Young Moms

admin — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 17:30:00 +0000

What does it actually take to keep a community’s most vulnerable families from falling through the cracks? In this episode, Greg sits down with Molly Koivumaki, the first Executive Director of Beyond New Beginnings — a supportive housing program in Chaska that provides safe, stable homes for young moms and their children as they work toward independence.

Molly brings nearly 25 years of Chaska roots, a background in municipal government and affordable housing, and a front-row seat to one of Carver County’s best grassroots stories. It started with a Rotary meeting in 2019, when local businessman Russ St. John heard a presentation by New Beginnings High School teacher Sue Schmidt about the housing struggles facing young moms after graduation — and decided to do something about it. A few years later, that conversation has become a thriving program serving families in a beautifully rehabbed historic building in downtown Chaska, with a brand new fourplex on the way thanks to developer Dave Pokorney and Community Asset Group.

Greg and Molly talk about what it actually looks like when a young mom walks through the door at BNB, why this program earns support across every political line, and what the community’s response has revealed about the character of Carver County. Spoiler: it’s not what Molly expected — and her answer might surprise you too.

If you caught Greg’s earlier episode with Sue Schmidt about the New Beginnings High School program, this is the next chapter. And if you haven’t, this one stands completely on its own.

Beyond New Beginnings is community-funded, volunteer-supported, and always looking for people who want to get involved — whether that’s teaching a class, bringing a Monday night meal, or making a financial contribution.

Learn more at beyondnewbeginnings.org

Chaska City Manager Matt Podhradsky talks about the City Safety Center

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Chaska City Manager Matt Podhradsky returns to the podcast to talk about the city’s brand-new $48million Public Safety Center, set to open in just weeks. Greg got a privatetour of the facility and sits down with Matt to unpack the full story — fromwhy the old buildings couldn’t keep up, to the historic Chaska elements builtinto the design, to the decontamination zones protecting firefighters fromcancer-causing carcinogens.
Matt explains how Chaska is transitioning its 165-year-old volunteer fire departmentto a modern duty crew model, why the police station built for 11 peoplecouldn’t serve 32 officers fielding 13,000 calls a year, and what the buildingimprovement program means for the city’s future — including a new municipalservices building and a downtown library.
They also talk about the real cost to homeowners ($8/month for the averagehousehold), how data drove the decision to build new rather than remodel, andwhat Matt hopes residents feel the first time they walk through the doors.
This is Living IN Carver County — connecting friends, building community.
Host: Greg Anderson | RE/MAX Advisors West
Newsletter: HelloIamGregAnderson.substack.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregoryranderson

Ernise Beckel: How Caring Transitions Helps Carver County Families Navigate Senior Downsizing

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:57:00 +0000

What do you do when your parents have 40 years of stuff in a 4,000 square foot house and they need to move to a 1,200 square foot assisted living apartment? Most families are paralyzed by this question—and Ernise Beckel has spent her career solving it.Ernise is a registered nurse with 20 years of experience who kept walking into seniors' homes and seeing the same problem: people discharged from hospitals into houses filled with clutter, creating fall hazards and overwhelming situations that nobody was addressing. Now she co-owns Caring Transitions of Eden Prairie with her mom, serving families throughout Carver County and the southwest metro.In this conversation, we get into the actual mechanics of how this works:THE PROCESS• Free consultation: 30-60 minutes, includes walkthrough and density assessment• They measure the new space and tell you exactly what will fit• SOD method: Sort, Organize, Donate, Dispose• They photograph everything and recreate familiar arrangements in the new home

WHERE THE STUFF GOES• CT Bids online auction platform reaches 300,000+ registered shoppers nationwide• About 75% of household items can be sold• Revenue split: 65% to homeowner, 35% to Caring Transitions• Items ship nationwide—not limited to local buyers like estate sales

TIMELINE & PRICING• Full liquidation (selling everything): 3-4 weeks• Cleanout only (donate/dispose): approximately 1 week• Cost: $3-5 per square foot depending on density• Recommended lead time: call at least one month before you need completion

WHY IT'S DIFFERENT FROM ESTATE SALES• No strangers walking through your house• No cars parked on curbs (HOA friendly)• Online bidding reaches national market• They handle ALL remaining items—nothing left behind• Items are shipped to buyers, not picked up on-site

THE EMOTIONAL SIDEErnise talks about why she insists on meeting mom (not just the adult children), how to handle situations when the senior doesn't want to move, and why patience is essential. Her nursing background shapes everything about how she approaches these transitions.

PRACTICAL ADVICEFor families avoiding the conversation: bring it up when multiple family members are present (holidays can work), focus on benefits like being closer to family or having built-in social connections, and give them time to process—this usually takes months, not days.

SERVICE AREA: Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, Chaska, Waconia, Victoria, and surrounding Carver County communities

CONNECT WITH CARING TRANSITIONS: Website: caringtransitions.com

ABOUT THE HOST: Greg Anderson has been selling real estate in Carver County since 1985 with over 3,000 homes sold. Living IN Carver County is his podcast connecting friends and building community through conversations with local business owners, nonprofit leaders, elected officials, and community members.

Substack: HelloIamGregAnderson.substack.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregoryranderson

From Social Worker to Sourdough Entrepreneur in Cologne, Minnesota | Elaine Dubbe

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 17:01:00 +0000

From social worker to sourdough entrepreneur—Elaine Dubbe turned a friend's encouragement and a 106-year-old sourdough starter into Hello Simple; a business teaching hands-on sourdough classes across Minnesota. Elaine moved to Cologne, Minnesota in December 2023 and started by simply posting in the local Facebook group asking if anyone wanted to learn sourdough. Twenty-five people said yes. Now she's teaching sold-out classes at wineries, breweries, and venues from the Arboretum to Sapsucker Farms in Mora.In this episode, we talk about the realities of building a business while raising two young daughters, how western Carver County has been “wildly supportive” of small business owners, and why keeping things simple is at the heart of everything she does.WHAT WE COVERThe winding path from Upper Peninsula Michigan through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Nebraska, and finally to Cologne, Minnesota. How her sourdough starter has been passed down for 106 years and why that matters for beginners. What you actually need to start a food-based business in Minnesota, including the cottage food producer license, forming an LLC, and getting insurance coverage. The trial-and-error of pricing creative services when there's no established market. Building community connections as a newcomer through Oakwood Community Church, local schools, and Logan Pass coffee house. Why she's chosen Facebook and Instagram over TikTok and YouTube to stay focused on real human connection. Structuring a business around young kids and leaning on your village of support. What happens at a Sourdough 101 class and what participants take home. Her dream of a brick-and-mortar location with a teaching kitchen and boutique.Elaine's advice for anyone thinking about turning a hobby into a business: start small, take the chance, and follow where the business wants to go rather than forcing it in a direction.ABOUT COLOGNE, MINNESOTACologne is part of western Carver County along the Highway 212 corridor, about 35 miles southwest of Minneapolis. Elaine describes it as a mix of old and new—the original Cologne, established neighborhoods south of 212, and newer developments to the north where young families are putting down roots. It's a small town with a strong sense of community that's proven to be welcoming to newcomers and supportive of local entrepreneurs.

ABOUT THIS PODCASTLiving IN Carver County is hosted by Greg Anderson, a Carver County real estate professional with RE/MAX Advisors West who has sold over 3,000 homes since 1985. This podcast features conversations with the people who make Carver County the best place to live, work, and raise a family—from Chaska and Chanhassen to Victoria, Waconia, Cologne, Carver, Mayer, and Norwood Young America.

CONNECTHello Simple (Elaine's business): hellosimple.comHost: Greg Anderson, RE/MAX Advisors WestSubstack: HelloIamGregAnderson.substack.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregoryranderson

Living In Carver County—Connecting friends, building community.