05.a Dolores Peterson GOOD NEIGHBOR Proclamation
SCANDIA GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARD PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, respecting, caring for, and helping others is a hallmark of the American character, and central to how we as a
community live; and
WHEREAS, respect and care for and from neighbors creates a more sustainable, resilient community and makes Scandia a
great place to live and be; and
WHEREAS, Scandia throughout its history has been the beneficiary of being a community of Good Neighbors; and
WHEREAS, Dolores Peterson throughout her many years of service to the Scandia community exemplified being a good
neighbor; and
WHEREAS, Dolores, for 32 years beginning in 1974 served as the New Scandia Township Clerk where she oversaw the
budget (which grew during her time from $150,000 to over $2,000,000); organized elections, and kept the Township’s official
records. For years she took all of the township meeting minutes in longhand; she filled 13 books from 1974 to 1986 when
the township bought its first typewriter; and
WHEREAS, Dolores enjoyed her favorite day of the year – Election Day – when she would treat election judges like the
most special people, serving them fine food; she supervised all personnel working in the office, did payroll and accounts
payable. She also managed significant projects, including the bidding and contract signing for paving the township’s gravel
roads and the 1985 construction of the Community Center; and
WHEREAS, the Scandia Community Center was often referred to as “the house that Dolores built”: she picked out the
wallpaper and blinds, decorated the walls with historic photos and even picked out the flowers for the rest rooms; and
WHEREAS, Dolores decided that the Town Hall chambers needed photos of the township chairmen; she spent months
tracking down the photos which date back to 1883 including that of F.J. Lake which she found in Flo rida, while others were
found in Stillwater, Bayport and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Dolores talked about her position in a very personal way; she said “I’ve always treated this (the city offices and
community center) like my home and taken care of it like my home…I love to entertain and just think it’s nice to always
have the coffee pot on.”, and that she did; and
WHEREAS, Dolores also treated her home like an extension of the township office; she conducted township business out
of her home keeping all of the things for town business in a drawer in her dining room’s china cabinet; people would come
to her house to get permits; and
WHEREAS, Dolores attended to the details of making the city a great place to live like when she pushed for str eetlights in
the Village Center and toured St. Paul until she found ones she liked that she felt would enhance the character of the Village
Center and was persistent in convincing the Town Board that those were the ones that should be installed; and
WHEREAS, Dolores’ personal connection to the township included her knowing the names (and reportedly the phone
numbers) of most of Scandia’s residents; and
WHEREAS, Dolores has been described by town officials and citizens as “an icon”, “an institution”, “forcef ul”, “fearless”,
“the public face of township government”; and
WHEREAS, Dolores led the city through the terms of three town board chairs; and
WHEREAS, in 2006 Dolores was elected to the first Scandia City Council where she served her final four years in c ity
government; and
WHEREAS, Dolores Peterson, through her dedication and care for Scandia and its residents clearly demonstrated the
qualities of being a Good Neighbor and has been nominated to receive this Award.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City of Scandia presents the Scandia Good Neighbor Award posthumously to
Dolores Peterson in recognition and appreciation.
Presented this 21st day of February, 2023
_____________
Christine Maefsky, Mayor City of Scandia