St. Joseph Mayor Scepaniak Delivers First State of the City Address, Highlights Growth and Hard Decisions

(KNSI) – St. Joseph Mayor Adam Scepaniak recently delivered his inaugural State of the City address, a 40-minute presentation that offered residents both a civics refresher and a candid look at the city’s wins and losses over the past year.

The first half of the 20-slide presentation was dedicated to educating attendees on how their city government actually works, from the various departments and their responsibilities to the people who lead them. The mayor emphasized that while most people have a reasonable sense of what state and federal governments do, city government often flies under the radar despite having the most direct impact on daily life.

The second half turned to a progress report on 2025, broken into successes and failures, with the mayor pulling no punches on either side.

On the housing front, Scepaniak says St. Joseph added 18 single-family home lots, the most in over a decade, along with 69 apartment units currently under construction across two developments. Housing has consistently ranked among the city’s most requested needs, and while the mayor acknowledged the numbers are modest, he called them a meaningful step forward after years of slower progress.

The city’s parks also saw significant investment. Improvements included an ADA-compliant canoe and kayak dock at River’s Edge Park on the Sauk River, new pickleball courts at Millstream Park, and upcoming handicap-accessible playground equipment at Klinefelter Park. The city also established its own Arbor Task Force to address the threat of Emerald Ash Borer and protect trees on both public and private land.

St. Joseph’s growing reputation as a business destination was another highlight. More than a dozen businesses opened or relocated to the city in 2025, including The House Food and Tap, WELL and Company, Blush Salon, Pierce Insurance, Crafted Skin Clinic, Floor to Ceiling, Premier Stone Design, AVX Audio/Video, Hansen and Company Woodworks, and Interstate Bearing, among others.

Scepaniak was equally forthcoming about setbacks. The planned Community Center was canceled after fundraising fell short. He described the decision as painful but fiscally responsible, saying he was unwilling to raise taxes on residents to cover the gap. Efforts to establish a municipal cannabis dispensary have been slowed by what the mayor characterized as shifting rules and a lack of transparency from the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management, though the city is still working to secure an operator and a location.

He also addressed the broader climate of uncertainty that marked late 2025 and early 2026, citing concerns around statewide fraud cases, ICE activity, and their emotional toll on the community. While he noted these issues are not specific to or prevalent in St. Joseph, he acknowledged the difficulty of providing reassurance during a turbulent period.

Those who missed the presentation still have other opportunities. On April 7th, Scepaniak will give the address at Woodcrest of Country Manor at 1:45 p.m., bringing the update to residents of one of the city’s senior living communities. On April 8th, he will speak to residents at La Playette bar starting at 6:00 p.m. The confirmed schedule wraps up on April 15th with a 3:30 p.m. stop at St. Benedict’s Monastery.

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