Waite Park · On the record

How the council voted

Every recorded council vote in this guide where two or more of the people we profile voted, side by side. Each line was checked against the meeting minutes it links to. Only candidates and members with a page in this guide are listed; open the minutes for the full roll call.

Waite Park voter guide

23rd Avenue project

Sep 14, 2026

The resolution ordering road and utility improvements and plans for 23rd Avenue South

Result as recorded: 3-2, failed for lack of a four-fifths vote, Aug. 2026

YesKenneth SchmittVoted for the resolution ordering road and utility improvements and plans for 23rd Avenue South (3-2, failed for lack of a four-fifths vote, Aug. 2026).
YesSarah StarlingVoted for the resolution ordering road and utility improvements and plans for 23rd Avenue South (3-2, failed for lack of a four-fifths vote, Aug. 2026).
YesVic SchulzVoted for the resolution ordering road and utility improvements and plans for 23rd Avenue South (3-2, failed for lack of a four-fifths vote, Aug. 2026).
NoFrank TheisenVoted against the resolution ordering road and utility improvements and plans for 23rd Avenue South (3-2, failed for lack of a four-fifths vote, Aug. 2026).
NoShawn BlackburnVoted against the resolution ordering road and utility improvements and plans for 23rd Avenue South (3-2, failed for lack of a four-fifths vote, Aug. 2026).

City of Waite Park · Sep 14, 2026 Link

Billboards

Jul 20, 2026

A conditional use permit for a digital billboard by RHL Inc. along Highway 23

Result as recorded: passed 4-1, June 2026

YesFrank TheisenVoted for a conditional use permit for a digital billboard by RHL Inc. along Highway 23 (passed 4-1, June 2026).
YesKenneth SchmittVoted for a conditional use permit for a digital billboard by RHL Inc. along Highway 23 (passed 4-1, June 2026).
YesSarah StarlingVoted for a conditional use permit for a digital billboard by RHL Inc. along Highway 23 (passed 4-1, June 2026).
YesShawn BlackburnVoted for a conditional use permit for a digital billboard by RHL Inc. along Highway 23 (passed 4-1, June 2026).
NoVic SchulzVoted against a conditional use permit for a digital billboard by RHL Inc. along Highway 23 (passed 4-1, June 2026).

City of Waite Park · Jul 20, 2026 Link

Data centers

Jun 15, 2026

Adopt a moratorium on uses associated with data centers

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, May 2026

YesFrank TheisenVoted to adopt a moratorium on uses associated with data centers (passed unanimously, May 2026).
YesKenneth SchmittVoted to adopt a moratorium on uses associated with data centers (passed unanimously, May 2026).
YesSarah StarlingVoted to adopt a moratorium on uses associated with data centers (passed unanimously, May 2026).
YesShawn BlackburnVoted to adopt a moratorium on uses associated with data centers (passed unanimously, May 2026).
YesVic SchulzVoted to adopt a moratorium on uses associated with data centers (passed unanimously, May 2026).

City of Waite Park · Jun 15, 2026 Link

Fire chief hiring

Apr 6, 2026

The fire chief job description requiring a four-year degree, with the position moved to pay grade 11

Result as recorded: passed 3-2, Feb. 2026

YesKenneth SchmittVoted for the fire chief job description requiring a four-year degree, with the position moved to pay grade 11 (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).
YesShawn BlackburnVoted for the fire chief job description requiring a four-year degree, with the position moved to pay grade 11 (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).
YesVic SchulzVoted for the fire chief job description requiring a four-year degree, with the position moved to pay grade 11 (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).
NoFrank TheisenVoted against the fire chief job description requiring a four-year degree, with the position moved to pay grade 11 (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).
NoSarah StarlingVoted against the fire chief job description requiring a four-year degree, with the position moved to pay grade 11 (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).

City of Waite Park · Apr 6, 2026 Link

Apr 6, 2026

Change the fire chief job description to require a bachelor's degree instead of an associate degree

Result as recorded: passed 4-1, Jan. 2026

YesFrank TheisenVoted to change the fire chief job description to require a bachelor's degree instead of an associate degree (passed 4-1, Jan. 2026).
NoSarah StarlingVoted against changing the fire chief job description to require a bachelor's degree instead of an associate degree (passed 4-1, Jan. 2026).

City of Waite Park · Apr 6, 2026 Link

Jul 20, 2026

Appointing Shawn Downs as fire chief with all the pay and moving terms he requested

Result as recorded: failed 2-3, June 2026

YesSarah StarlingVoted for appointing Shawn Downs as fire chief with all the pay and moving terms he requested (failed 2-3, June 2026).
YesShawn BlackburnVoted for appointing Shawn Downs as fire chief with all the pay and moving terms he requested (failed 2-3, June 2026).
NoFrank TheisenVoted against appointing Shawn Downs as fire chief with all the pay and moving terms he requested (failed 2-3, June 2026).
NoKenneth SchmittVoted against appointing Shawn Downs as fire chief with all the pay and moving terms he requested (failed 2-3, June 2026).
NoVic SchulzVoted against appointing Shawn Downs as fire chief with all the pay and moving terms he requested (failed 2-3, June 2026).

City of Waite Park · Jul 20, 2026 Link

Jul 20, 2026

Appoint Shawn Downs as fire chief, with the $10,000 moving payment made only if he lives in Waite Park within one year of hire

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, June 2026

YesFrank TheisenVoted to appoint Shawn Downs as fire chief, with the $10,000 moving payment made only if he lives in Waite Park within one year of hire (passed unanimously, June 2026).
YesKenneth SchmittVoted to appoint Shawn Downs as fire chief, with the $10,000 moving payment made only if he lives in Waite Park within one year of hire (passed unanimously, June 2026).
YesSarah StarlingVoted to appoint Shawn Downs as fire chief, with the $10,000 moving payment made only if he lives in Waite Park within one year of hire (passed unanimously, June 2026).
YesShawn BlackburnVoted to appoint Shawn Downs as fire chief, with the $10,000 moving payment made only if he lives in Waite Park within one year of hire (passed unanimously, June 2026).
YesVic SchulzVoted to appoint Shawn Downs as fire chief, with the $10,000 moving payment made only if he lives in Waite Park within one year of hire (passed unanimously, June 2026).

City of Waite Park · Jul 20, 2026 Link

Park fees

Apr 6, 2026

Raising Community Park rental fees by $10 starting in 2027

Result as recorded: passed 3-2, Feb. 2026

YesKenneth SchmittVoted for raising Community Park rental fees by $10 starting in 2027 (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).
YesShawn BlackburnVoted for raising Community Park rental fees by $10 starting in 2027 (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).
YesVic SchulzVoted for raising Community Park rental fees by $10 starting in 2027 (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).
NoFrank TheisenVoted against raising Community Park rental fees by $10 starting in 2027 (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).
NoSarah StarlingVoted against raising Community Park rental fees by $10 starting in 2027 (passed 3-2, Feb. 2026).

City of Waite Park · Apr 6, 2026 Link

Personnel board

Sep 14, 2026

The resolution placing the question of abolishing the Civil Service Personnel Board on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot

Result as recorded: passed 4-1, July 2026

YesKenneth SchmittVoted for the resolution placing the question of abolishing the Civil Service Personnel Board on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (passed 4-1, July 2026).
YesSarah StarlingVoted for the resolution placing the question of abolishing the Civil Service Personnel Board on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (passed 4-1, July 2026).
YesShawn BlackburnVoted for the resolution placing the question of abolishing the Civil Service Personnel Board on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (passed 4-1, July 2026).
YesVic SchulzVoted for the resolution placing the question of abolishing the Civil Service Personnel Board on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (passed 4-1, July 2026).
NoFrank TheisenVoted against the resolution placing the question of abolishing the Civil Service Personnel Board on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot (passed 4-1, July 2026).

City of Waite Park · Sep 14, 2026 Link

Water treatment and PFAS

Jul 20, 2026

Approve a PFAS pilot study and preliminary engineering for PFAS mitigation and water treatment plant upgrades

Result as recorded: passed unanimously, June 2026

YesFrank TheisenVoted to approve a PFAS pilot study and preliminary engineering for PFAS mitigation and water treatment plant upgrades (passed unanimously, June 2026).
YesKenneth SchmittVoted to approve a PFAS pilot study and preliminary engineering for PFAS mitigation and water treatment plant upgrades (passed unanimously, June 2026).
YesSarah StarlingVoted to approve a PFAS pilot study and preliminary engineering for PFAS mitigation and water treatment plant upgrades (passed unanimously, June 2026).
YesShawn BlackburnVoted to approve a PFAS pilot study and preliminary engineering for PFAS mitigation and water treatment plant upgrades (passed unanimously, June 2026).
YesVic SchulzVoted to approve a PFAS pilot study and preliminary engineering for PFAS mitigation and water treatment plant upgrades (passed unanimously, June 2026).

City of Waite Park · Jul 20, 2026 Link

A “—” means the line records something other than a plain yes or no (a motion, an abstention, or two votes in one line); read the line itself. How this guide works