Jason Schaal for Champlin Mayor

09/03/2026

Candidates Ryan Sabas and Jason L. Schaal discuss issues in the 202...

09/01/2026

September is National Recovery Month.

This month has been meaningful to me for a long time.

In 2016, while I was serving as a Salvation Army officer in Gary, Indiana, I had the opportunity to be part of the first 5K Bird Walk for Recovery, created in memory of Seneca “Bird” Gibbs. I had gotten to know Seneca’s family through my work with The Salvation Army, so being part of that first walk carried a personal connection for me.

What began as a community coming together in the midst of loss became something bigger: a way to celebrate recovery, challenge the stigma surrounding addiction, support families, and remind people that recovery is possible.

Years later, that work is still part of who I am. Today, as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and mental health therapist, I continue to have the privilege of walking alongside people as they work to rebuild their lives.

Recovery is about much more than simply stopping the use of a substance. It can mean rebuilding relationships, learning to trust yourself again, finding purpose, reconnecting with community, and beginning to believe that your story is not over.

And recovery rarely happens alone. It happens through families, friends, counselors, peer recovery specialists, faith communities, treatment programs, healthcare professionals, and neighbors who are willing to walk alongside someone without reducing them to the hardest chapter of their life.

That is one of the reasons National Recovery Month matters to me.

Every person has value. Every person has dignity. Every person matters.

To those who are in recovery, those still trying to find their way there, and those walking alongside someone they love: your story matters, and recovery is possible.

08/30/2026

Host/Sponsor a sign

Want a sign? I am looking for host properties for signs and donations to purchase. I have a few left of the first batch and will be placing another order this week.

To request a sign:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfgy4uSkn0tCnXaMw7O-4kHric1GNsZO_tEkBU7oCi5O8yBdw/viewform?pli=1

To sponsor a sign/donate:

https://secure.anedot.com/friends-of-jason-schaal-champlin/donate

Thanks to all!

08/30/2026

Spending some time with the eldest son with at the ball game …. Hope you are all well this Sunday….

08/29/2026

Can you afford a $10,345 special assessment added to your property tax bill?

That is what Valley Forge Lane homeowners could face under the current reconstruction proposal.

The City of Champlin should take this as an opportunity to listen.

The residents of Valley Forge deserve to be heard, and their concerns deserve to be fully addressed.

Some infrastructure work is clearly needed. Before moving forward, however, the City should clearly explain:

* Which improvements are required and which are optional?
* Which needs have been created or intensified by increased traffic from recent development?
* Which improvements will also benefit recently developed areas, future development or the broader community?
* If those benefits extend beyond Valley Forge, how should that be reflected in who pays?

The Council made the right decision by continuing the public hearing. Now the City should use that time to research these questions, provide residents with clear answers and demonstrate how their input can still influence the project.

Transparency means making those connections understandable. Responsible stewardship means addressing necessary infrastructure while protecting both City resources and residents’ household budgets.

Valley Forge residents deserve listening, transparency and responsible stewardship.

08/29/2026

08/27/2026

What elevates a manager from someone who simply manages tasks into a legendary leader who transforms organizations? It is the profound realization that real leadership is never about managing work—it is about inspiring and elevating the human spirit.

Great leaders don't just chase goals, they inspire people. They don't just give direction, they give purpose. And they don't just make an impact, they leave a legacy. When you ground your leadership in vision and empathy, routine duties transform into a shared mission. People stop showing up just for a paycheck and start bringing their passion, creativity, and entire hearts to work every day.

By connecting daily efforts to a higher calling, true leaders instill a deep sense of belonging and psychological safety. They understand that metrics fade, quarterly targets reset, and projects complete, but the purpose you ignite within your people endures forever. When you lead with heart, trust, and vision, your ultimate achievement becomes the lasting footprint of growth, confidence, and human excellence you leave behind.

Metrics fade, but legacy endures. Lead with purpose, inspire passion, and unlock the extraordinary potential within your team.

Ready to master the ultimate blueprint of human-centric leadership and cultivate a high-trust, purpose-driven culture where every team member thrives? Order copies of my book The Blueprint of Leadership on Amazon for your entire team today. Lead with purpose, inspire with passion, and build a human-centric legacy that endures long after you leave the room.

Invest in your team’s growth. Order on Amazon today: https://geni.us/s2nooOD

08/27/2026

For those who have purchased or are considering purchasing an E-bike or E-moto - for themselves or their kids- I highly encourage attending this informational session.

Let’s keep Champlin’s Roads safe, together.

Hey Champlin!

🚲⚡E-BIKE SMART: Ride Safe. Ride Right.

We’re inviting kids, teens, and parents to join the Champlin Police for an evening dedicated to learning about e-bikes and e-motos – and this one is all about education 🤓

📅 Thursday, September 17
⏰ 5:00pm - 7:00pm
📍 Mississippi Crossings Event Center

Stop by to:

🚲 Meet our Bike Patrol Officers
⚡ Bring your own e-bike or e-moto and learn more about what you’re riding and what rules apply
❓ Ask questions about e-bikes, e-motos and Minnesota laws
🍦 Enjoy a sweet treat
⛑️ Enter our drawing to win a new bike helmet

🎤 At 5:30pm, one of our Bike Patrol Officers will give a 30-minute E-Bike & E-Moto 101 presentation. We’ll cover the difference between e-bikes and e-motos, where you can legally ride, rules of the road, safety, and some issues our officers are seeing in the community.

Already own one? Thinking about buying one for your child? Not quite sure whether that electric bike sitting in your garage is actually an “e-bike”? This is a great opportunity to find out.

Bring your bike. Bring your questions. Bring the family. 🚲

We hope to see you Thursday, September 17 at Mississippi Crossings!

08/27/2026

Today marks one year since the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School in Minneapolis—a day that took the lives of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel and 10-year-old Harper Moyski and left so many others carrying injuries, grief, and trauma. (Star Tribune*)

My thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones, the children and adults who were injured, the students, staff, parishioners, first responders, and everyone whose sense of safety was changed that morning.

This tragedy has always felt especially close to home for me. My own son attends a church not far from Annunciation. Like so many parents, it is difficult to think about children gathering in a place meant for faith, community, and safety—and having that peace shattered by violence.

From a mental health perspective, anniversaries like this can carry their own weight. Grief and trauma do not follow a calendar, and dates, places, sounds, news coverage, or even ordinary routines can bring memories and emotions rushing back. For some, today may feel very heavy.

I hope we make room for that.

I hope we remember that healing is not simply “moving on.” It is learning how to carry what happened while continuing to live, connect, grieve, hope, and care for one another.

Today, I am holding the Annunciation community and all those affected close in thought.

May we continue to choose compassion, care for one another, and work toward communities where our children can learn, worship, and grow in safety.

*https://www.startribune.com/the-annunciation-diaries/601661751?utm_source=chatgpt.com

08/27/2026

Every dollar matters.

One of the concerns I hear most often from residents is pretty straightforward: Are we being careful with the money people work hard to earn and send to City Hall?

I think that’s a fair question.

Responsible fiscal stewardship doesn’t mean automatically saying no to spending. Cities need to invest in roads, public safety, parks, infrastructure, economic development, and the services residents rely on.

But every investment should come with questions.

Is this necessary?
Is the cost competitive?
Have we considered alternatives?
What will it cost to operate and maintain over time?
Does it reflect the priorities residents have told us matter?
And can we clearly explain the decision to taxpayers?

Sometimes the least expensive option today becomes the most expensive option tomorrow. And sometimes a project that sounds exciting simply isn’t the best use of limited public dollars.

Good stewardship means being willing to make both kinds of decisions.

It also means transparency. Residents shouldn’t have to dig through hundreds of pages of meeting packets to understand where their money is going or why a major expenditure is being considered.

As Mayor, I want budgeting and major spending decisions to be easier to understand, more transparent, and grounded in thoughtful long-term planning.

Because public money isn’t the city’s money.

It belongs to the people we serve.

And every dollar matters.

If you have concerns about how Champlin is spending public dollars, ideas about where we should be investing, or simply want to talk about our city’s financial priorities, I’d like to hear from you.

Community. Transparency. Service.

Learn more at Schaal4Champlin.com