Inver Grove Heights is considering joining the majority of Minnesota cities by adopting a four-year mayoral term, rather than the current two-year term.

The City Council approved the first reading of the four-year term ordinance earlier this week, with all but one council member voting in favor. Before the ordinance can be adopted, it must be read and approved three separate times by the city council.

Inver Grove Heights Mayor Brenda Dietrich (Courtesy of Brenda Dietrich)

Mayor Brenda Dietrich and Councilmembers Sue Gliva, John Murphy and Tony Scales made up the ayes with Councilmember Mary T’Kach voting no.

A four-year mayoral term would match city council seats, provide more consistency for city projects, which can take years to complete, said City Administrator Kris Wilson during Monday’s presentation. A four-year term also would allow the mayor more time to settle into the role before planning for reelection.

On the other hand, with a two-year mayoral term, the majority is in the voters’ hands as every two years three of the five city council seats – mayor and two councilmembers – are up for reelection, Wilson said.

In Minnesota, 75 cities have four-year mayoral terms, according to Inver Grove Heights staff, and 27 cities have two-year terms.

Mendota Heights and West St. Paul are the only other Dakota County cities that have a two-year mayoral term, Wilson said, adding that Inver Grove Heights is the largest city in the state with a two-year term.

According to city records, a four-year mayoral term was discussed in 2010, but no action was taken. It may have been discussed informally at other times, Wilson said, but 2010 was the last time the topic was listed on a city council agenda.

Opposing council members

T’Kach expressed concern about the timeline, which, if approved, would require the ordinance to be adopted and published four weeks prior to June 4, when the election filing period closes.

Inver Grove Heights Councilmember Mary T’Kach (Courtesy of Mary T’Kach)

“It feels odd for us to be making such a big decision in the community and for the community during an election year,” T’Kach said Monday, adding that she wished it had come up last year.

Scales disagreed, saying, “As long as we hit our standard practices, our first, second and third readings without trying to squeeze them together, I don’t feel like it’s rushing.”

Murphy, who is serving as acting mayor while Dietrich is away, said Monday that he had spoken with residents about a four-year mayoral term in recent years and ”without fail, they are all supportive of a four-year term for mayor,” he said.

The city plans to inform residents about the potential change through its website, social media accounts and the spring edition of the city’s INSIGHTS newsletter, which is expected to hit mailboxes early April.

The second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for the March 18 city council meeting and the third on April 22. Both meetings will be open to the public for comment and residents are also able to submit comments to cityclerk@ighmn.gov.

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Yoán Moncada pulled a double into the right-field corner during the second inning of an April 2 game against the Houston Astros last season at Minute Maid Park.

The Chicago White Sox third baseman doubled again — this time pulling a grounder that just stayed fair down the first-base line — in the sixth inning. Batting left-handed again, the switch-hitter capped the day by going the other way with a two-run home run to left field in the ninth.

Moncada had a strong start to the season, going 8-for-18 (.444) with two homers and four RBIs in the series against the Astros as he built off his All-Tournament Team performance for Cuba during the World Baseball Classic. Then came the back issues that led to two trips to the injured list.

“During the first half of that season, it was painful, stressful,” Moncada said through an interpreter Thursday at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago in Bridgeport. “I couldn’t do anything. I wanted to do stuff and help the team but I couldn’t. It was a really tough time for me.”

He was out from April 11-May 12 with lower back soreness and again June 14-July 25 with lower back inflammation.

Moncada rebounded after returning from the second IL stint, slashing .280/.323/.430 with two home runs and 12 RBIs in August and .298/.344/.560 with six home runs and 12 RBIs in September.

“Once I started getting better and stronger, I felt much better and I felt good,” Moncada said. “That was why I was able to finish the way that I did and that’s how I feel right now.”

The 28-year-old is aiming to use that late-season bounce back as a springboard for 2024.

“He feels great, the back feels great, he’s motivated,” manager Pedro Grifol said. “He’s going to get to spring training early on the 31st of January or first of February, which is a great sign and he’s going to put himself in a position to have a great year. We need Moncada.

“He’s motivated to having a full season under his belt, which is good for him.”

Moncada slashed .260/.305/.425 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs in 2023. After appearing in 144 games in 2021, Moncada played 104 games in 2022 and 92 in 2023.

His offseason work has included strengthening his abs, back and legs to “get all that core really strong,” he said.

“The way I’m preparing myself for this coming season is to play 202 games,” Moncada said, when asked about attempting to play as close to 162 games as possible. “That’s an exaggeration, but that’s how I’m preparing myself.

“I want to be healthy. I want to be on the field every day.”

Moncada said he is motivated and excited because he’s healthy.

“That’s the only thing I want — if I’m healthy, I know I can do a lot of good things in the field,” Moncada said. “I’m excited right now to get to spring training and start working.

“I think God has saved something good for me. Hopefully we are going to see that. Hopefully I’ll be able to be healthy and really show and really display all I can do on the field.”

Moncada’s best season was in 2019, when he established career highs in several categories, including OPS (.915), doubles (34), home runs (25) and RBIs (79). He signed a five-year, $70 million extension in March 2020 — a deal in which the Sox hold an option for $25 million in 2025 with a $5 million buyout.

The solid defensive third baseman knows he’ll be fielding questions from reporters about the future.

“I would love to stay with the White Sox if they want me here,” Moncada said. “I’m very thankful for the White Sox for the opportunity they have given me after I was traded from the Red Sox (in December 2016). They’ve been treating me very well. I like the organization, I like the city, I like the fans. I would like to stay here.”

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