Tonka Talk Community and Connection
Welcome to Tonka Talk, the podcast that explores community and connection around Lake Minnetonka.
Nestled near the serene shores of Lake Minnetonka in the Twin Cities, our show is your guide to discovering the inspiring stories of individuals and groups who are crafting vibrant, meaningful community and connection in this picturesque setting.
From lakeside gatherings to community events, from stories of local heroes to heartwarming tales of collaboration, we dive into the ways people are coming together to create a strong sense of belonging.
Whether you're a longtime resident, a newcomer to the area, or simply interested in the power of community, Tonka Talk has something for you.
Do you know of someone creating community and connection in a unique or big way? Share it with us. We would love to hear from you.
Learn more and connect with us at https://www.tonkatalk.com
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Tonka Talk Community and Connection
First Female Firefighter to First Female Mayor: Johanna Mouton's Tale of Service to City of Wayzata
As the sun kisses the shores of Lake Minnetonka, Mayor Johanna Mouton, with her tapestry of experiences from firefighter to political leader, sits with us to weave a story of passion, service, and adventure.
This episode is an intimate journey into the heart of a community through the eyes of a woman whose life has been fueled by the desire to serve and enhance the lives around her.
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Hello everybody and welcome to Tonka Talk. I'm Natalie and we love to share the ways people create community and connection all over Lake Minnetonka, and today I'm very excited because my guest today is the mayor of Waiseta, one of our beautiful lakeside cities, johanna Muton.
Speaker 2:Hi, natalie, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1:I'm super excited because I was telling her earlier how, in our office, we were totally fangirling because you have such an interesting background. First, I want to find out, because I was having a hard time with the name and I'm like where are you from?
Speaker 2:Well, it's a long, convoluted story. My parents were born and raised in Belgium. My great-grandfather is originally French, so I have dual citizenship. I made French and US citizen. Wow, After my parents met, they were high school sweethearts. My father had a job straight out of school at a resort in Freeport, Bahamas, and so he went down there for about six months to a year. My parents were engaged right out of school. At that point he came back to Belgium, married my mother. They packed their bags, they went down to Bahamas. I was born about 18 months later and they spent three years there. And then, at the age of about two and a half or three, we moved to the United States and I grew up right outside of Washington DC in a Northern Virginia bedroom community. And then in my early 20s, I moved to Minnesota, which is where I finished my education I'm a proud alum of the College of St Benedict and then, post-graduation, I started working. I got married, had two kids, and here I am today, loving Minnesota and relishing in all it has to offer.
Speaker 1:Yeah, by way of the Bahamas. I was born and raised in Hawaii. Yes, you mentioned that Island people as well.
Speaker 2:I know it makes us wonder. We left the island life for the tundra. Of course, not this year, not this year, no, but it is so beautiful here, it's a wonderful way of life and it was a place that I decided was a wonderful location to raise a family.
Speaker 1:Oh, I agree.
Speaker 2:Just a sense of community, which is what this show is all about a sense of community.
Speaker 1:Tell me this. I know that I think it was in 1996 you became the first female firefighter with the Wizedata Fire Department, wasn't it? That's correct? Yes, Tell me about that.
Speaker 2:Well, my husband at the time was on the fire department. This was before we were married. We were engaged to be married and I could see how much he really connected and enjoyed the work, and it was something I had, frankly, never really given much thought about, but I always had this sense of adventure. I mean, I guess you could ask my parents and they could attest to maybe not always the best sense of adventure, but I thought what a great way to really connect with other members of the community who have a similar passion and do something outside of my normal day to day work. And so I expressed interest, I was interviewed, I was hired, I went through the training and I spent about five years on the department, first woman, and you learn a lot along the way.
Speaker 2:The fire service has definitely changed over the years, but it was so incredibly fulfilling, incredibly hard work, very fulfilling, and it really opened my eyes to what the fire service, not only in Wizedata but around the country, was like at that time but continues to be, and that is predominantly volunteer firefighters around the country, all over small towns to relatively larger cities, and we are on call 24-7. There is no day off. So holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, they all get interrupted, sleep nonexistent. When that pager goes off in the middle of the night, you jump out of bed, you get in your car, you go to the fire station, you respond to a call. So it really is a commitment. Simply speaking, I was on for a short amount of time, but it was definitely an experience that forever changed my life.
Speaker 1:I bet it sounds like something that would also prepare you in a way for other public service, because you've been prior to becoming the mayor of Wizedata. You were on the city council for was it six years?
Speaker 2:It was.
Speaker 2:I left the fire service after I had my children you can't have mom and dad both responding to a call at the same time when you have an infant at home and so I decided it was time to hang up my gear, so to speak, and so I continued raising a family and working full time.
Speaker 2:I was involved in city type affairs, but from a citizen standpoint, and had concerns that I would discuss or raise at city council meetings. And it wasn't until nine years ago almost 10 years ago now that someone had approached me on the city council at the time and said we really think you would be a good addition to the city council, would you consider running? And I had considered serving on the planning commission prior to that, but some personal events had transpired that precluded me from being able to dedicate that amount of time, so I put that on the back burner. I talked to my family at the time. My kids were young and I said you know this is going to be a lot of work, mom's going to be away, and what do you think? Course they're like yeah, sure.
Speaker 1:Whatever, whatever.
Speaker 2:We don't even know what that means. But okay, and so I threw my hat in and I ran. It was a highly contested election, but I was elected and I learned so much and understanding how city operates, how decisions are made, public input, community engagement, and I spent six years learned so much from such an amazing mentor, former mayor Ken Wilcox, who I consider a friend and a colleague, and when he was ready he had dedicated so many years of service, both when he lived in Minnetonka he served in an elected capacity and also for the city of Wyseta. When he decided he was retiring, I had spoken to him and he supported me in my decision to run, and so, three and a half years ago now, I ran for mayor.
Speaker 1:And you became the first female mayor of Wyseta.
Speaker 2:That's correct. Yes, so another, very proud, another verse. Yeah, yes, so never anticipated being a groundbreaker or you know, the first of anything.
Speaker 1:That's where that sense of adventure comes in handy.
Speaker 2:I think so. I think so and a sense of I never considered myself a competitive person, but I guess I am when I really reflect on my personality and you know, the commitment to community and really being the best version of myself for my community and ultimately laying the groundwork for a healthy, robust city and making decisions that aren't about me, what I want.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:What's best in the short term, but also in the long term.
Speaker 1:What has been some of your, some of the projects there's been so much going on in Wyseta over the years since you've been mayor that have been have meant the most to you or that have gotten you excited.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's a great one. So when I initially ran for council, we had our telecommunications our cell tower communications were on our water tower. Our water tower is located in one of our parks and we have homes around there and it was disruptive, and so there was a pocket of the community that was really concerned about that and wanted to see that equipment moved. So that was something I was very passionate about, working for those community members to have that done. And we did it and we raised the money. We moved all of that equipment off site so it was not disturbing to them any longer. So that was one. I was, admittedly, very reticent about the municipal parking ramp when I was first elected, didn't really understand the immediate need for it. I was a large financial investment, but I was. I learned a lot and through that became more involved in the planning for that and the design and I'm a believer in a municipal project is no different than any private project that might happen. It needs to be the best.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And this is something that's going to be in our community for decades to come. So it better look really nice, and so I led the design committee as the council representative, and then we ended up winning a lot of awards for it. Oh, that's fantastic. So that was really a very nice feather to have in my back and also to be able to say I didn't know at all. I went in with some preconceived notions, but I left my mind open enough. I had great dialogue with staff, council and community members to be open enough to consider new ideas.
Speaker 1:That is so key and I think what you just said there is just so important because that's if you can have your mind open to it and I think that's what really makes somebody good at being in public service is it's about the community and you made it about the community and you had an open mind and look, then you guys go and win a bunch of awards for this 100%, and it's OK to have your thoughts.
Speaker 2:We have a very cohesive council and we all have come at it from different perspectives. We don't always agree, but we always approach it in terms of what is best for the community and are able to have that open, professional, respectful dialogue. And it's not always unanimous, but that's OK. That's what the process is about and that's something I'm super proud of. Another project that was incredibly meaningful to me and my peers on the council understood this was my desire to lead our police memorial design and installation Excuse me and so when it came time to do that, we had one already for one of our fallen officers, sergeant Anderson, who had died back in the 80s, killed in the line of duty, and it's interesting we're speaking about this today in light of the events from this past weekend.
Speaker 2:But we designed the memorial and before the installation of the memorial, we lost another officer. We lost Officer Bill Matthews, and this was in 2017. And so, unfortunately, when it came time to dedicate the memorial, we were dedicating it to two officers, and that was a really collaborative process between staff and a designer. We had a member of the community that wrote the words that were etched in the stone. We had representatives from the police department and it was such a meaningful tribute. It's very difficult. It was one of those times where you try to be professional.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yet your emotions are right at the surface, especially having been a firefighter working along by the police like that, I would imagine that's difficult.
Speaker 2:It is very difficult and it was such a tragic event for our community, as it is for any community that loses any member who dedicates their life and their career to serving others. And so anybody who knows me, they know I'm a crier, I wear my heart on my sleeve, but I was able to get through that and understanding that there's a place of remembrance for the people who meant so much to me and that I was able to lead. That was really meaningful. It holds a special place for me. And then, most recently, we have Panaway. Yeah, the Panaway.
Speaker 1:That is such a huge project and personally I'm a fan. When I saw the images of it, I saw it go up I thought, oh, this is great and I've been able to raise it up a few times. Wonderful, and I found it to be very inviting and having so many places where you can sit and just feel like you can park. And if you don't, I'm not a huge stopper but I like to spend time in an excelsior. But then there's the commons, there's even places you can sit, there's benches along Water Street and Excelsior, and there wasn't that as much in Wyseta until the Panaway and there's so much there. Of course, the biggest question with the Panaway that comes out that I get a lot is what is up with those bathrooms and they're almost like a spaceship, a cube that's there and, for people who don't know, it's right alongside, like Minnetonka. I guess.
Speaker 1:And the feedback at times that I have heard is you walk in and you walk towards the Panaway and it's right by Cove, the restaurant right outside. Are these restrooms right there? And there's been a question about why there and why it set up that. Is there a reason for that? There was a lot of discussion about that.
Speaker 2:So Panaway, the concept of Panaway, dates back many, many decades, and when I first got on the council, we really kind of started putting things into motion, not without a lot of community engagement. Part of that community engagement included the discussion of having public restroom facilities. Yeah, because there were none. There were none. Well, there were, they were portable huddies.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, not exactly Minnetonka the type of facility that most people choose to use. But it was not only from residents that we heard we needed public bathroom facilities, but the businesses and then understanding who uses them. What is it? The use of the space, who and how do people come to use the space and part of that. We've looked at many, many locations. The depot is a very difficult location that was a consideration but that's a historic building and so that's very difficult to work around. You've got the lake and plumbing issues and infrastructure issues that have to be considered. We considered the parking ramp facilities that were built prior to Panway to incorporate restrooms there, but then there were public safety concerns. Right, if you have something that's open 24-7 and it's not readily patrolled and, in a way, hitted away like that yeah that's a good point, and a lot of the businesses were having people walk in off the lake to use the restrooms.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, and so how do we? Because if you put it somewhere where nobody's going to go, yeah, then what's?
Speaker 1:the point.
Speaker 2:Then what's the point? And a lot of the folks come in off the lake.
Speaker 1:Yeah, which is right there, Right there, right where the bathrooms are now Exactly.
Speaker 2:And with the plaza being where it is, we were looking for kind of transition and location and I understand some people. They didn't like the design and beauty's in the eye of the beholder.
Speaker 1:Exactly.
Speaker 2:The day we can't make everybody happy. You have to think about materials and size and functionality and all of that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Make some sense, though what you're saying is because you're right, people come off the lake right there Out of curiosity. Did Cove have any input or concerns about it, Because it is fairly away from there?
Speaker 2:It is fairly away from there. So the plaza is city-owned land and everybody was invited to provide feedback, and so I don't recall the specifics of what feedback, if any, they provided specific to the restroom facility per se. But again, it was to avoid people going into places like Cove or now with grass people or McCormick's across the street Right off the water, exactly, exactly that aren't patrons but are just going in to use the facilities. So that's a little bit of the background of how the bathrooms came to be. I never thought about that.
Speaker 1:I wasn't thinking about the people on the boats coming off, because I've done that too. We've boated over and gone to lunch in YZETA and you're right, the restrooms. Having them right there, that would be really handy. There are more plants for the pan away. Can you tell us more about what the future plants are?
Speaker 2:Oh, I'm so excited to share. So we completed phase one, which was everything along Lake Street the removal of the parking lot, the construction of the restrooms and the plaza area, all of the seating. Phase two is nearing completion, should be completed this spring and that is the actual lake walk. So it's 1200 feet, I believe, of an actual lake walk in the lake to bring people access to the lake who otherwise don't have it, and the precast is completed. What's precast? Precast is precast concrete. So we had to drive piles into the lake and then the over the water People will be able to walk. So it's essentially a short not short in length but short in height bridge or the water. So it's an engineering feat, right when you think about ice on the lake and how the water moves and how Would this be permanent.
Speaker 2:It is permanent. So the decking now will go on, the railings will go on and people can walk, essentially from the west end, where the depot is, all the way down towards where the Broadway docks eventually will be. We're reconstructing the docks there, sure. So from the depot to Cove and it's a meandering boardwalk that people will be able to enjoy the lake up close and personally, and it's over the water the whole way.
Speaker 1:It's over the water the whole way. Oh, my goodness, I've seen, you know, I have seen images of it, but this is exciting. So this is going to open this spring.
Speaker 2:It will open this spring. So the weather has been challenging. Yeah, let's say the least, from the number of different fronts for everybody. It is difficult for us this year in terms of not having any ice, so our docks were anticipated to be built from the ice. Since we don't have enough for all of the equipment, we're working with the construction company, the dock installer, to figure out what method they will use to build the docks. So the docks may be a little bit later than we had initially planned. Sure, the lakewalk will be open. The docks will be new and improved, permanent docks to be able to accommodate the different size boats that are out on the lake compared to 20 years ago, and there will be more docks we originally had, and these are public docks.
Speaker 2:These are transient docks, yes, so people who are coming to Wyseta can dock their boat and come into town and enjoy everything that Wyseta has to offer.
Speaker 1:Is it pay parking, if you will, for the boats, for the boat slips.
Speaker 2:Well, it's interesting Right after this, our chat today, I'm going to City Hall for a workshop with the rest of the council and staff to talk about different policies for those docks, including pay as you go kind of system or pay by the hour for people who are coming to visit, and yeah. So we'll see kind of what direction the council has, a whole give staff and how that works out.
Speaker 1:But more to come on that, but there'll be more slips, so more people will be able to come, correct? I love, too, that the lake walk, like you're saying, gives accessibility to people to get out and get near the water and enjoy it. Will it be handicap accessible as well?
Speaker 2:Absolutely so. That was one of the requirements, a goal and a requirement. Yeah, it had to be an ADA accessible, pardon me, both the docks and the lake walk. So there won't be. You know the rules will be likely no bikes and no authorized vehicles, but strollers and wheelbangers obviously will be allowed, and that was something you know.
Speaker 2:If I can go back a little bit, so when, during COVID, we were supposed to begin construction of phase one, which is everything you see now right, it's all the public infrastructure underneath the streets that you don't see, the less sexy, glamorous new roads, new curbs, new sidewalks, the lawns All of that was constructed. We decided during COVID, really, you know what, let's do it. You know COVID be damned. Yeah, let's get it done, let's make it happen, and we're so glad that we did. Yeah, it was really challenging on so many different levels, but I remember when we took the barricades down and the people came out and the first time I saw multi generational families of all different abilities walking safely down the sidewalk and able to enjoy this outdoor space together. It's like you know all the blood, sweat and tears that we say, was 100% worth it, and it was so satisfying to see.
Speaker 1:That's so great, I know I love it. So once the Lakewalk is in, is that pretty much the end of that of the Panaway project? As far as what's going to be done so far, that will be the end of phase two. Okay.
Speaker 2:So then we broke it up into phases, because all of this is being done not through our levy dollars that you know the residents pay for. This is all being done through grants through the state and through financial contributions through the Wysetic Conservancy. So they're raising money to do this.
Speaker 1:Wow.
Speaker 2:Phase three incorporates all of the remaining aspects. So rehabbing the at the Depot and the Depot Park, so that piece of allowing people to come and be outside have a picnic yeah, really enjoy that aspect. And the Section Forman House as another example of phase three. So the Section Forman House is also a historical building. It's on the US National Historic Register. It is to be remodeled to be a learning center. Oh, what it's a really cool learning center about the lake. So in partnership it classes from the YMCA, wysetic School District, three Rivers, four small class sizes, 20 to 25 students. You're going to come in and learn about the ecology at the park. Wow, and really be just a learning center.
Speaker 1:Yeah, three more For some together People at stewards to take care of, like Minnetonka.
Speaker 2:Absolutely so. The ecology how do you take care of it? Why is it so important? And then we have a retention pond just beyond that, so rebuilding that as well. So you know, ecology, sustainability, environmentalism and being stewards of Lake Minnetonka is really important to us, and it's one of our goals and our missions as a council and as a city.
Speaker 1:That's so great. It really seems like. Why is that is leading the way in that way? Because I'm not aware of. I'm sure the other cities are doing great things too.
Speaker 2:They are.
Speaker 1:But that really is a next level of educating and having it where kids can go in and have access to that kind of an education, because so often we hear about what the rules are, what the rules are, you know what the wake rules are, what the this rules are, but what's often missing is the why Absolutely why. What will happen if we don't follow those rules, why those rules exist in the first place. So I think that's absolutely wonderful. Are there any things coming up in WISETA in the future that you're excited about or can talk about?
Speaker 2:Yeah, a lot of this information, if it isn't already out on the website, will be shortly because we're in the planning phases. So we will have a state of the city at WISETA City Hall. Okay, I don't recall. I know staff told me the date. My memory fails me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that, but it'll be out on the website.
Speaker 2:So it'll be at the city hall in the community room. There will be a short reception followed by a program where we'll talk about all of the great things that have happened over the course of the year in WISETA. What people can expect in the coming year, ask questions, there'll be a Q&A. So that'll be more a cheap real time frame. Sure, so I'm looking about paying away. So in probably Memorial Day or some time in the summer we're looking to have a big crowd for the big ribbon cutting, slash, unveiling of the Lakewalk to celebrate everybody's hard work and accomplishments and welcome everyone to our community.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So for our residents who live there and get to enjoy it every day with the folks who also maybe only come once in a while and get to see everything it has to offer.
Speaker 1:And this is your fourth year now as mayor, so are you going to run for reelection again?
Speaker 2:Well, you heard it here first. Yes, I hadn't officially announced, but yes, I've had several people ask me. I just I have to say it has been such a rewarding experience to lead and represent such an amazing community that has done so much, both in terms of for its residents but the surrounding metro area. We have a vibrant commercial core, which is so critical to our vibrancy, and we have such an engaged citizenry that loves their town, their history and I would you know I'd be honored to continue to serve and represent such an amazing community that has given me so much, and this is my way of giving back to it.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's fantastic. I'm not a YZeta resident so I don't get to vote, but I would totally vote for you.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you, I appreciate it In spirit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I love what you've done. I love, I think it's so exciting to have I mean to be just all of these firsts and so much of what's happening in YZeta. I love that it's also being done with the intention of opening the community up, making it more accessible for so many different people. Just it just adds to it, because everybody that comes out there and enjoys it and supports it and gets to experience the beauty of Lake Minnetonka, the more the better that way. And then I can visit the shops and the restaurants because, like you were saying, YZeta just has some incredible shopping and, even though I'm not huge on shopping, when I do want to go, there's a few shops in YZeta that I like to go to and the restaurants.
Speaker 2:They are absolutely fantastic. It's a one-step shopping kind of community. You do it by the day. You can, you absolutely can. You need to get your dry cleaning done. You're banking, you're grocery shopping, you name it. You buy some crystals and some wonderful things, a jewel weed, which is one of my favorite. I love jewel weed, it's so wonderful. And they've expanded. Oh, they did they did. Oh, they moved better. They moved to a spot, same street, a little bit further west. So they're doing incredibly well. High-craft Lennon's amazing. That's actually owned by one of our council members. Oh, what? So she has just a lovely store, our jewelry store. So Valentine's Day is coming on, you know flower shops and you have Art of Optics.
Speaker 1:That's one of my favorites. That's where I get my glasses from Art of Optics, Absolutely. They've been there forever.
Speaker 2:They have. We have a vibrant medical community too, dermatologists and a medical clinic, so it really is an all-encompassing little community. That's only three and a half square miles, so it's that's crazy, oh, with a population of 4,500 people, but you would think we were so much bigger. Yeah, and we like to say we punch above our weight but we're like, okay, we'll take it and that's. And we have people who have been there for generations. So that speaks to what the community is about and we have to recognize it has changed. Yes, it has definitely changed. Many communities, almost all communities have, in one form or another and, as I've been fortunate to travel around the state in my capacity as mayor or personally, or even go back to where I grew up, they've all changed considerably. Yeah, infrastructure changes and it's hard sometimes. It's hard for communities to adapt to that change, but I think we've done it really well. It's not without a. It's controversy sometimes.
Speaker 1:Sure.
Speaker 2:But I also say that if we're not hearing from somebody some of the time, we're not working hard enough. Yeah, you're not reaching enough people.
Speaker 1:Exactly, I say that too. Yeah, if I don't get the occasional hate or email that I'm just not doing my job, right there you go. Not reaching enough people. It's statistically going to happen. Absolutely Like you said about the bathrooms, you can't meet everyone's expectation all of the time. But with a good intention and a good heart, and just that intention of wanting to do good for the community I think shines through. I mean, you had me at first female firefighter in 1996. I'm like I need to talk to this woman.
Speaker 2:Thank you. Thank you, it certainly helps you develop a tough skin. Yes, yeah, Absolutely.
Speaker 1:I appreciate so much that you took the time to come do this and to share more about why Zeta with people who listened and who watched Tonga Talk. I think it's fascinating how our late communities continue to grow and work together and there's so much to look forward to, and we'll definitely share news of when it's time to go check out the new Lakewalk and everything else. So thank you so much for being here.
Speaker 2:Well, thank you, and if I may, just as we wrap up today, this weekend our neighbor, the city of Burnsville. They lost three members of their one member of their fire department and two police officers.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's incredibly difficult time for them and for all first responders, not only in Minnesota but around the country.
Speaker 1:Yeah, All over.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we just ask everybody to please keep the city of Burnsville in their thoughts, specifically the families of those fallen first responders, and then also the first responders in your own community. They feel it. It is raw for them. Let's all give each other some grace, some kindness, and hold each other close and take care of each other and take care of yourself as well. It's a tough time.
Speaker 1:You're right, you're so right. I love that. Thank you very much.
Speaker 2:My pleasure.
Speaker 1:And everybody else. I will talk to you later.
