2026 Election: Inver Grove Heights City Council

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We talked with candidates running for Inver Grove Heights City Council. Our candidate questionnaire covers priorities, taxes, data centers, the maintenance facility, and more.

• More: See our full voter’s guide for information on other local races.

Race profile: Inver Grove Heights City Council is a non-partisan position elected to a four-year term. There are two seats on the ballot so voters will choose two candidates. These are at-large seats representing all of Inver Grove Heights.

Who’s running:

• Matt Mills – Works as a director of supply chain.
• Tony Scales – Incumbent first elected in 2022, Scales works as an engineer.
• Kevin Sethre -(no website) – Sethre did not respond to our questionnaire.
• Mary T’Kach – Incumbent first elected in 2022, T’Kach works as a part-time ecological affairs consultant.

Candidate Questions

We asked the candidates a series of six questions and asked them to respond in 250 words or less. The questions cover priorities, taxes, data centers, the proposed maintenance facility, immigration response, and city leadership.

Priorities: What are your two to three top priorities and how will you address those issues to actually accomplish something?

Matt Mills: My first priority will be to reassess the large-scale capital projects planned for the next fiscal year. We need a clear understanding of how these projects are being funded and whether they represent the most urgent needs of our community. If a project is not critical and cannot be funded without unnecessarily raising taxes, we should be willing to pause, scale back, or phase the project until a responsible funding solution is available. My second priority will be expanding affordable housing opportunities for people who want to call our community home. Inver Grove Heights needs options that allow young families, working people, and first-time homebuyers to establish roots here. I support bringing back the decommissioned Housing Commission and working with organizations that help communities develop affordable housing and connect prospective buyers with opportunities to enter the housing market. We need thoughtful planning, responsible spending, and a commitment to making Inver Grove Heights a community where people can afford to live, grow, and build their future.

Tony Scales: My top priorities are economic development, diverse housing development, and public safety.

To accomplish economic development, I will leverage my engineering and management expertise alongside resident input to support existing businesses and attract companies providing quality jobs and sustainable tax revenue.  This builds financial independence and helps reduce reliance on unpredictable state and federal funding.  I will continue to actively work with our city staff to market our strategic location near highways and the airport, streamline permitting, and target businesses aligned with community values.

For diverse housing development, my Planning Commission experience taught me that not all growth benefits communities equally.  I’ll carefully evaluate projects to ensure long-term fiscal benefits rather than project that put a strain on our resources.  I will balance growth with community character.  This means working with developers to help deliver real value through jobs, infrastructure improvements, and community investments.

On public safety, I’ll protect first responder funding through disciplined budgeting, identify efficiencies, and explore alternative funding sources when state support is uncertain.  Equally important is transparent communication about trade-offs and difficult choices we face together.  Our first responders need our continued support for all the support they give our community.

My leadership is collaborative and service oriented.  I believe councils work best by bringing people together, listening to diverse perspectives, and finding solutions benefiting all residents.  Most importantly, I ensure every voice matters through inclusive decision-making, always putting Inver Grove Heights residents first.

Mary T’Kach: Having served on the City Council for nearly four years, it’s clear IGH is faced with many simultaneous priorities that need to be addressed. It’s also clear that adhering to a comprehensive vision for our city is crucial as we make decisions that will impact today and the future. Development projects, zoning, expanded green spaces, clean air and water, all overlap and can be harmonized to follow a vision for how we want to live in IGH. I believe we need to prioritize both housing and climate readiness.

Housing that meets the needs of people at all stages of life and with varied incomes is part of the vision noted in the city’s 2040 Comprehensive Plan. Unfortunately, city leadership has not followed this vision and framework set by the community that supports the kinds of housing options it wants. We have settled for a take-what-we-can-get housing situation which has resulted in higher-end housing construction where developers maximize their profit at the expense of housing choices that truly meet the needs in our community.

Protecting the health of residents, schools and businesses as we prepare for extreme weather and hazardous air-quality events is crucial. Communities that do not adapt will see higher insurance rates, more mental health issues, and increased hospital visits due to heat related illnesses. We need to take meaningful action to plan for a hotter, dryer (but still humid!) climate. We need increased tree shade canopy, more public water and cooling areas, and more energy efficient city operations.

Taxes: Property taxes are always a concern, but this year they’ve drawn headlines. Do you support the current property tax proposal for Mendota Heights? How do you balance local government needs with what residents can bear?

Tony Scales: I support the currently proposed 7.9% property tax increase because it reflects the reality of maintaining quality services we depend on while protecting our community’s future.

This is not an arbitrary number as it funds essentials we cannot defer without greater long-term costs.  My engineering and facility management background taught me that delaying infrastructure maintenance and underfunding public safety creates expensive emergencies that cost taxpayers far more later.  

The 7.9% increase addresses critical needs such as:

• Public safety funding ensuring our first responders have adequate staffing, equipment, and training. With uncertain state and federal funding, we cannot compromise police and fire protection.
• Appropriate staffing levels to support our residents.
• Infrastructure maintenance for roads, utilities, and sidewalks, directly affect daily lives.  Deferring these investments accelerates deterioration and multiplies future costs.

I understand this creates real financial strain for homeowners.  That’s why my other priorities include strategic economic development and smart commercial growth.  Building a stronger commercial tax base will reduce the burden on residential property owners.

This increase represents disciplined budgeting focused on fundamentals, not expansion of unnecessary programs or staffing.  I’ve examined where this money will go and believe this funds what we genuinely need to maintain the Inver Grove Heights we value

I’m committed to transparent communication about how these funds are used and continuing to pursue economic development that diversifies our tax base.  Supporting this proposal means protecting our community’s financial health and quality of life for the long term, even when it requires difficult decisions today.

Mary T’Kach: I support the property tax levy proposed at the time of this questionnaire’s deadline, which is 7.9%. This translates into a city property tax increase of approximately $116 for a median value home in IGH.

This budget ensures funding for the maintenance of streets, parks, city facilities, fleet vehicles and other city assets. However, this budget barely keeps pace with the needs of a growing city that has new parks and old pipes to maintain, along with infrastructure that is reaching the end of its service life.

Although the city generally runs on a lean budget, we can do more to reduce operational costs by setting specific goals for waste and energy use reduction.

The city can minimize continued increases for gasoline, diesel, natural gas, printing, and other operating expenses by creating an internal revolving loan fund for departments to use to achieve reduction measures and then using the net avoided costs to repay these loans.

Matt Mills: I am deeply concerned about the upcoming property tax proposal. Dakota County is already projecting property tax increases of 14% to 24% for 2027. When combined with the large capital expenses proposed by the current council, Inver Grove Heights residents could face a significant and growing financial burden. The City ended 2025 with a Net Position nearly $22.9 million stronger than the previous year, yet municipal property taxes still increased by 5.74%. While the City must remain financially prepared for unexpected expenses, we also have a responsibility to recognize the cumulative impact that rising federal, state, county, and local taxes have on working families and residents. Before asking residents to pay more, we need to explore every available alternative. Federal and state grants, infrastructure programs, and other outside funding sources should be aggressively pursued to help pay for critical city needs. Raising taxes should not be the default solution. We need smarter planning, stronger financial oversight, and a commitment to using every available resource before placing additional burdens on our residents. Our community deserves responsible leadership that protects taxpayers while still investing in the services and infrastructure our city needs.

Data centers: The City Council approved a one-year moratorium on data centers. Do you support that moratorium? What (if any) limitations should the city impose on future data center proposals? 

Mary T’Kach: I support the original moratorium passed by the City Council. The moratorium will allow the city to catch up with the latest information on the ramifications of data centers of all sizes, on communities of all sizes. I won’t know what specific limitations the city should impose on future data center proposals until I learn more and can make a more informed decision. What I am sure about is that the city needs to protect the public from any harmful impacts of data centers.

Matt Mills: Given the uncertainty surrounding the long-term impacts of data centers, I support the current moratorium and believe we should take a very serious look at whether they belong in Inver Grove Heights at all. Before considering any approval, we need to fully understand their impact on our electric grid, water resources, noise levels, and overall quality of life. At a minimum, our zoning regulations must be strengthened to prevent data centers from being located near residential neighborhoods, childcare facilities, and senior living communities. Protecting our most vulnerable residents must be a central consideration. The moratorium gives us an opportunity to step back and determine whether the potential benefits of data centers outweigh the long-term costs and risks to our community. If we cannot establish that these developments can operate without unacceptable impacts on residents, our environment, or city infrastructure, then we should be prepared to say no. Inver Grove Heights should not accept every development simply because it brings investment. We have a responsibility to protect the community we have built, and sometimes responsible leadership means deciding that a particular type of development is not right for our city.

Tony Scales: I proudly supported and made the motion for the 12-month data center moratorium passed June 26th, giving us essential time to research and answer critical questions about community impacts.

However, the lawsuit resulting from including the existing application has created serious consequences. Legal counsel indicates we face minimum costs of around $20 million if we lose, which appears likely.  This demonstrates we must approach limitations carefully, balancing community protection with legal and fiscal responsibility to all residents.

Future data center limitations should include:

• Comprehensive impact requirements mandating detailed studies on infrastructure capacity (utilities, roads, emergency services), environmental effects (water usage, energy consumption, noise, heat), and fiscal analysis.
• Strategic location restrictions prohibiting data centers in residential areas or locations straining existing infrastructure. Proper zoning protects neighborhoods while enabling appropriate commercial development.
• Community benefits requiring meaningful contributions: infrastructure improvements, quality local jobs, sustainable revenue, and commitments addressing environmental concerns.
• Transparent public process with genuine resident engagement before and during the approval process.  I strongly encouraging full public participation as your input determines our path forward.
• Performance standards for energy efficiency, water conservation, noise mitigation, and ongoing monitoring with enforcement.

In the next 12 months we must answer: What scale can our infrastructure support?  What protections ensure developments benefit rather than burden residents?

This isn’t about opposing all data centers, it’s ensuring any approved truly serves Inver Grove Heights best interests with appropriate limitations protecting our community’s future.

Maintenance facility: The city has a $52 million maintenance facility proposal that will require a voter referendum if it is paid for with bonds. Should this project move forward? How will you balance the needs of the city and the cost for residents?

Matt Mills: The current Maintenance Facility is not up to code and needs to be addressed. I fully support renovating and modernizing the facility so our city employees have a safe, functional, and appropriate place to work. However, fixing the facility does not mean we should approve every proposed expense. We need to carefully evaluate the project against the city’s budget and distinguish between what is necessary and what is simply nice to have. Every dollar spent should have a clear purpose and provide value to our residents. I support making the necessary investments to bring the facility up to modern standards, while maintaining the fiscal discipline our residents expect. We can have a safe, modern Maintenance Facility without spending beyond what is necessary.

Tony Scales: The $52 million maintenance facility proposal addresses a legitimate need, but I believe the current proposal is more costly than necessary, especially given residents’ financial pressures including the proposed 7.9% property tax increase.

My engineering and facility management background gives me practical insight into what’s truly needed versus what isn’t.  I support building a new maintenance facility as our current facilities have limitations affecting operational efficiency and our ability to maintain roads, utilities, and equipment properly.  However, $52 million appears excessive for our community’s actual needs.

I believe we can address our actual needs at significantly lower cost by:

• Right-sizing the project to meet operational needs without over building. What do we genuinely need versus want?
• Value engineering the design, to identify where costs can be reduced without compromising functionality or safety.
• Phasing construction to address critical needs immediately while deferring less urgent components until a future time.
• Exploring alternatives including renovating or expanding existing facilities if that’s more cost-effective than building entirely new.

I will advocate strongly for revisiting this proposal with disciplined cost analysis.  A well-designed, appropriately sized facility serving actual operational needs.  Residents deserve transparent cost breakdowns, alternatives considered, and honest assessment of what’s essential versus optional.  I am committed to supporting a maintenance facility that meets legitimate city needs while respecting taxpayers’ financial constraints.  We can build what we need without building more than we can afford.

Mary T’Kach: I believe the city needs to be realistic about the scope and details of this maintenance facility. With technology changing ever faster and faster, how can we predict the city’s fleet maintenance needs 40 years into the future? There is clearly a need for either remodeling the current facility or building new, but the number of viable years for this facility should be given more thought and will impact the cost. And of course, the city needs to look at where funding for a remodeled or new maintenance facility will come from. Will it use city funds that have been talked about as “available” to pay for part of a proposed hockey hall of fame or use those same funds for this essential city facility that benefits public safety for all residents, businesses and local institutions in our community, and reduces the cost burden on the community.

Bonding for the maintenance facility technically will not require a voter referendum unless a new petition is submitted by voters following a council decision to bond for this project.

Immigration: Minnesota saw significant impacts from the increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations earlier this year, including closed businesses, students missing school, protests, and law enforcement conflicts. How do you rate the city’s response and what should the city do in future conflicts?

Tony Scales: I support the city’s response to immigration concerns as this is not an area where city government has jurisdiction.  The cities proper role is maintaining local public safety while respecting federal authority.

Immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, not a city function.  Our police department’s mission is to protect all Inver Grove Heights residents, investigating local crimes, and responding to emergencies, not enforcing federal immigration law but we should work with them when there are legitimate concerns for public safety.  My commitment to supporting first responders includes ensuring they focus on their actual mission to keep our community safe.

The city’s response appropriately maintained this distinction. We cannot direct our limited police resources toward federal immigration enforcement as that is outside our jurisdiction and diverts attention from local priorities residents elect us to address.

I believe the city should:

• Maintain clear role boundaries between local public safety and federal immigration enforcement
• Communicate with residents about what city police do and don’t enforce
• Ensure all residents feel safe accessing emergency services
• Cooperate with federal authorities on legitimate matters within our jurisdiction while not assuming federal responsibilities
• Focus resources on local public safety priorities residents fund through property taxes

This isn’t about immigration policy preferences; it’s about appropriate governmental roles and effective local law enforcement.  State and federal governments handle immigration policy, city government handles local public safety for all residents.

Mary T’Kach: IGH was unprepared for ICE operations this year. Communication between City Hall and the community, schools and social service providers appeared to be limited.

I understand not wanting to draw attention to IGH and making matters worse, but I think the Police Department was not open enough in communicating what they could or couldn’t do during the ICE activities and this created additional concerns among residents. Better communication would have helped the public understand the limitations and responsibilities of local law enforcement.

The majority of City Council was unwilling to publicly discuss the ICE operations that affected community members and businesses. Residents asked the Council multiple times to host a public meeting about the ICE crisis; after weeks of no official Council response, I co-hosted a meeting with residents concerned for the safety of others in our community. Nearly 80 attendees listened, asked questions and learned from residents and business owners impacted by the ICE actions and from local resource providers who shared their perspectives and how they were addressing the needs of people who needed immediate help. State and local elected officials were also in attendance and offered resources from their offices.

These experiences convinced me that City Hall needs to communicate more quickly in the future and expand relationship building with traditional and non-traditional organizations that serve our community, so that we know each other better and have built the trust necessary to more quickly work together to serve the needs of the community in another such crisis.

Matt Mills: I have been outspoken about what I believe was an inadequate response from our city government to Operation Metro Surge. While surrounding communities stepped up to support residents who were impacted, Inver Grove Heights remained largely silent, aside from a statement buried on the Mayor’s page expressing support for our local police, something no one was questioning. As city leaders, our first responsibility is to protect and support the people we represent. That means standing up for our residents when they are facing threats or uncertainty, regardless of where that threat comes from. We cannot sit on the sidelines while members of our community are afraid to leave their homes. Leadership means being present, communicating clearly, and standing up for every resident, even when doing so is difficult or uncomfortable. If elected, I will be a voice for all of Inver Grove Heights and will make sure our residents know that their city government will not abandon them when they need it most.

City leadership: Inver Grove Heights is currently searching for a new city administrator, a position that runs the city and the only city staff position hired and fired by Council. How do you rate the current city operations? What would you look for in a new city administrator?

Mary T’Kach: Our current city staff continue to work hard running the city as smoothly and efficiently as possible given the volume and complexity of projects going on this year under our Interim City Administrator.

The City Administrator position will be reposted in January 2027. The position requires a candidate with a record of success with organizational development and clear, excellent communication skills working with varied city audiences. This position requires the ability to identify, prioritize, and address the competing concerns of staff and the council, and an ability to set a short-term and longer-term action plan. We need someone skilled in contract negotiations, team building, strategic planning and implementation, council management, and the ability to be comfortable working in ambiguity at times. Equally important is the ability to pay attention and anticipate issues of concern in the city and relay these far enough in advance for the council to be able to discuss and make necessary decisions.

The new administrator needs to be resilient in a fast-paced environment and able to listen to and respect staff expertise, and be open to the idea that they may not know it all all the time.

Matt Mills: While I believe the city currently operates effectively in many areas, there is still significant room for improvement. The new City Administrator must be a strong and effective leader within City Hall. Someone who can clearly communicate the city’s vision, empower employees to carry it out, and ensure departments are working toward common goals. That leadership also means taking responsibility for the workplace itself. The City Administrator should use every resource available to ensure City Hall employees have a safe, healthy, respectful, and productive work environment. Just as importantly, the Administrator must provide steady and accountable leadership when concerns or complaints are brought forward. Residents and employees deserve to know that their concerns will be heard, taken seriously, and addressed appropriately. Accountability cannot stop at the Council level. It must exist throughout city government, and the City Administrator should set that standard from the top. We need a leader who will listen, act when necessary, and hold both themselves and the organization accountable to the people we serve.

Tony Scales: City operations currently function quite well in my opinion, but we face significant challenges requiring strong leadership due to many of the current issues we are facing such as: the data center lawsuit, a $52 million maintenance facility proposal that needs right-sizing, possible MN Hockey Hall of Fame, budget pressures amid the 7.9% tax increase, and ongoing economic development needs to strengthen our tax base.

The city administrator position is critical as this person runs daily operations, implements Council direction, manages all departments, and shapes organizational culture.  Getting this hire right impacts every city function.

What I’m looking for in our new city administrator:

• Proven financial management expertise with experience navigating complex budget challenges, managing legal risks, and protecting taxpayer interests. Given our current fiscal pressures, this is non-negotiable.
• Strong communication skills both with Council and residents. Transparency and accessibility must be priorities, not afterthoughts.
• Strategic economic development experience attracting quality businesses, negotiating favorable agreements, and building sustainable tax base growth.
• Collaborative leadership style that works effectively with Council, staff, businesses, and community members.
• Municipal government experience understanding how cities operate, legal constraints we face, and best practices from other communities.
• Problem-solving, someone who identifies root causes, evaluates alternatives systematically, and implements effective solutions.
• Commitment to operational efficiency eliminating waste while maintaining service quality.

This hire will significantly impact Inver Grove Heights’ future.  I’m committed to a thorough selection process prioritizing qualifications over politics, ensuring we hire someone serving all residents’ best interests during this challenging period.

Lightning Round

We asked candidates a series of 10 simple questions and asked them to respond briefly in 25 words or less.

1. Do you have a library card? When did you last use it?

• Matt Mills: Yes! August of this year to get books for my kids.
• Tony Scales: I do have a library card and last used it about a week ago
• Mary T’Kach: I have always had a library card, since I was a child. I last used my card about two weeks ago.

2. How many City Council meetings have you attended in the past year?

• Tony Scales: I have attended all city council meetings in the last year
• Mary T’Kach: I believe I’ve attended all our City Council meetings in the past year; mostly in-person and a few remotely.
• Matt Mills: Too many to count!

3. Have you volunteered in your community in the past year? Where?

• Mary T’Kach: I grow vegetables for food pantries and worked a shift with IGH Cares and at Pine Bend Bluffs SNA with Friends of the Mississippi River.
• Matt Mills: Yes, I am on my neighborhood’s HOA board.
• Tony Scales: I have volunteered for a blood drive packaging food

4. Do you support more affordable housing in your city?

• Matt Mills: Absolutely. We need to bring back the Housing Commission (see top priorities for more!).
• Tony Scales: I support more affordable housing along with a diverse range of housing for all that would want to live in IGH
• Mary T’Kach: Yes. IGH needs housing that is financially attainable for as many people, in as many stages of life as possible, especially seniors and young families.

5. Have you attended city events in a non-campaign capacity in the past year? Which ones?

• Tony Scales: I have attended many city events, IGH Days, Ribbon Cutting ceremonies, Farmers market, Chamber events and many more.
• Mary T’Kach: Yes. Police & Fire open-houses, openings for parks, new businesses, IHCC Technology & Business Building, ground-breaking for CDA Senior Housing, IGH Days, & many more.
• Matt Mills: I am a regular at the Farmer’s Market. Love to support local!

6. Do you support more pedestrian and bike access?

• Mary T’Kach: Yes. I support more and safer options for pedestrians and bike access as both a mode of transportation and for leisure use.
• Matt Mills: Yes! We have a beautiful city, and we should be doing more to allow people to take it all in.
• Tony Scales: I support more pedestrian and bike access in appropriate areas

7. What’s your favorite local park?

• Matt Mills: South Valley, although Oakwood holds a special place in my heart since we used to bring our oldest there as a baby.
• Tony Scales: My favorite city park is Rich Valley Park as we take walks there often
• Mary T’Kach: Heritage Village because of the diversity of people that shared a vision, secured funding, and created a beautiful park for a wide range of residents.

8. Do you support displaying the new state flag at city buildings?

• Tony Scales: I support the new flag; it is not our job to determine what flag to fly as it is decided at the state level
• Mary T’Kach: Yes. I support and voted to display the Official State Flag of Minnesota in IGH.
• Matt Mills: Yes. The flag currently flying in IGH is outdated and archaic. It does not represent us as a community.

9. Who is someone that inspires you?

• Mary T’Kach: Neil deGrasse Tyson because he’s effective at turning important, complex scientific information into positive and easy-to-understand concepts for people of all ages and educational backgrounds.
• Matt Mills: My wife. She amazes me every day with her hard work ethic paired with her gentle heart and strong moral compass.
• Tony Scales: My wife and son’s inspire me to keep working to make our city a great place to live for everyone

10. Do you use social media to connect with the community?

• Matt Mills: Yes, my Facebook page is Matt Mills for IGH City Council
• Tony Scales: I use social media to connect with the community and continue to work to be better at it
• Mary T’Kach: Yes. I also host in-person community meetings.

More Information

• Ballotopedia survey: Mills, Scales, Sethre
• East Metro Voter Guide
• Town Square Television Candidate Forum
• IGH Cares Primary Candidate Forum (which included all four candidates who advanced to the general election)

See our full local voter’s guide for information on more races and candidates.

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