City of Carver Mayor Courtney Johnson

09/02/2026

September 2026 Carver Newsletter

September's buzzing with Carver's Steamboat Days from the 11th to 13th, plus hikes, a new Taco Bell, and community updates. Don't miss out!...

https://cclocalnews.org/2026/09/02/september-2026-carver-newsletter/

09/02/2026

09/01/2026

I had the opportunity to connect with Assistant Chief Perez over a cup of coffee last month and I am so excited he's Jessica Heger for Sheriff's pick as Chief Deputy!

If you're aware of the transformation he's been involved with in Golden Valley (building a department back up after a significant exodus of officers) you know why he's so needed at the Carver County Sheriff's Office.

I am excited to announce that Assistant Chief Rudy Perez will be presented to the Carver County Commissioners to join me as the Chief Deputy of the Carver County Sheriff's Office if I am elected in November.

Rudy brings more than 20 years of law enforcement experience, including executive command, investigations, school safety, mental health, community policing and so much more. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy and former president of the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO).

In addition, he has taught at the World Police Summit in Dubai and has testified at the White House as an expert on community and school safety. He is also the co-founder of Friends of Safe Schools U.S.A.

As a Carver County Resident, Rudy is committed to the safety of our community and shares my commitment to strong, professional and accountable leadership.

I am proud to have him on our team. Together, we will bring proven experience, strong leadership and a fresh vision to the Carver County Sheriff's Office.

I would be honored to earn your vote on November 3rd.

If you would like to learn more about Rudy, please check out "Chief Deputy" on my website, www.jessicahegerforsheriff.com. I have also pinned it in the comments.

Please remember to "like" and "share" this post.

08/31/2026

🍂 New Fall Hours🍂

08/31/2026

Throwback to school.

Celebrating a new school year with a couple of my favorite back-to-school pictures. I wish everyone a great year!

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

After hearing the same question multiple times during Night to Unite earlier this month, I thought I’d share information on the topic of bringing a grocery story to Carver here too!

Last month I connected with a grocery store executive. After telling them all about our community, explaining how badly we want a grocery store and sharing the growth we’re anticipating in the next 15 years, I asked about the likeliness of getting a grocery store in Carver sooner rather than later.

Their answer was clear - At this time Carver doesn’t have the population required for this grocer to consider our community. While each community is unique, their minimum population generally is 10,000 with three to five times that amount in the trade area, which is the geographic zone from which a business expects to draw the majority of its customers.

While this was one grocer, it wasn’t the first time I heard Carver’s population is what is keeping us from getting a grocery store.

I understand there is a strong desire among many folks in Carver to have a grocery store in our community. While the City itself ultimately doesn’t determine which businesses come to Carver, we have both met with grocers and shared our desire for a grocery store with the developers who are working to sell commercial property in Carver. I’m confident the day will come when we will have a grocery store. I also think we will have to be patient.

For the Trader Joe’s fans (like me - I have been filling out the “Request a Trader Joe’s in My City” form since shortly after I was first elected Mayor in 2018), unfortunately I’m not sure our dream of a TJ’s in Carver will come true… at least, not anytime soon. I went down a rabbit hole and looked up the population of the ten Minnesota cities with TJ’s on the days those stores opened. The “smallest” was Shoreview, which had a population of just under 26,000 when it opened in 2013. The other communities had populations between 44,000 - 430,000 when they opened. That’s all to say, I think Carver will have to grow significantly to be considered desirable for Trader Joe’s.

I believe that clear is kind. While I anticipate this isn't the news some may want to hear, I want you to know I am aware of the desire to have a grocery store in Carver and I am trying!

08/27/2026

It’s always fun when you see someone you know on TV and that certainly was the case earlier this week when my neighbors, Dash and Jace Nelson were on Fox 9 promoting their annual lemonade stand. That lemonade state is happening tomorrow, Friday, Aug. 28, from 1 - 5:30 p.m. at the corner of Kirche Hill Drive and High Street in Midtown Carver.

https://www.fox9.com/video/fmc-wbahjvgap7jk40q9

08/27/2026

It was a great night for a movie in the park! Thanks to everyone who came out to watch The Super Mario Galaxy Movie in Ironwood Park tonight.