Burnsville mayor says job creation, retention key challenges facing cities

The mayor of Burnsville will be sworn in as the president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Tuesday. Mayor Elizabeth Kautz will head the non-partisan organization that represents over 1,100 cities with populations above 30,000.

Kautz has been mayor of Minnesota's 10th largest city since 1994, and during that time, she said Burnsville has become a leader in the area of energy efficiency. She points to a rain garden program that has been emulated elsewhere in the country, and Kautz said Burnsville was out in front of the green movement with development of its innovative land fill.

"And because of our partnerships with the private industry, we have a methane collection plant and that collection plant powers about 2,500 homes," she said.

Kautz said the main challenge facing U.S. cities today is job creation and retention in the global economy. Her term as president of the conference of mayors will run through June of 2011.

Kautz talked with Tom Crann about about the most pressing issue facing U.S. mayors.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.