Advertise on podcast: Living In Carver County Minnesota

Estate planning attorney Karl Tsuchiya pulls back the curtain on the legal decisions families face when a loved one starts declining or when life throws unexpected curveballs. This conversation gets real about capacity issues, protecting vulnerable adults, and why every family needs certain documents in place regardless of their net worth. Karl's a partner at Helmuth & Johnson with deep experience in estate planning, elder law, guardianship, and conservatorship. He explains the practical differences between a power of attorney and a guardianship, walks through what actually happens when an adult child has concerns about a parent's mental state, and gives straight talk about the costs and emotional toll of going through the court system. We also tackle timely questions about immigrant families navigating uncertain times. What documents should be ready and accessible? What happens to property and children if someone is suddenly unavailable? Karl shares strategies that range from straightforward to unconventional, all while being honest about the tradeoffs involved. The bottom line: a little planning now prevents a lot of heartache later. And that one thing you can do this week? Check your beneficiary designations on every account you own. Topics covered: mental capacity and the gray area, guardianship vs. conservatorship, power of attorney basics, healthcare directives and living wills, elder abuse warning signs, protecting assets during detention or deportation, mixed-status family planning, the five-year look-back for medical assistance, compensating caregiving children fairly, and why trusts aren't just for wealthy families. Disclaimer: General information only. Not legal advice for any specific situation. Consult an attorney for guidance on your circumstances. CONNECT: Guest: Karl Tsuchiya, Partner, Helmuth & Johnson Law Firm Host: Greg Anderson, RE/MAX Advisors West Podcast: Living In Carver County – Connecting friends, building community

Why does downtown Chaska look the way it does? How did a small river town of 8,000 people become one of the most sought-after suburbs in the Twin Cities metro? This is the first episode of "Origins"—a new series exploring the backstory of things Carver County residents take for granted. And there's no better place to start than with Dave Pokorney, who served as Chaska's city manager for 25 years. In this conversation, Dave walks us through the strategic decisions that transformed Chaska: a $49 million flood control project that removed downtown from FEMA flood maps, a municipal electric utility that still saves residents 10% on their bills, a community center that won national awards, and a golf course deal partly negotiated at a bar in Colorado. We dig into the relationship with the Bernardi family (who owned 80% of Chaska's future development land), the Cloverfield neighborhood's innovative school partnership, and why the city council's simple filter—"Will this help us be the best small town in Minnesota?"—made all the difference. Whether you're a longtime Chaska resident curious about the history under your feet, or someone considering a move to eastern Carver County, this conversation provides context that no real estate listing ever could. Topics covered: The 1965 flood and downtown Chaska's pre-levy challengesFederal, state, and local funding for the flood control projectHow municipal utility ownership works and why it mattersThe community center's evolution from YMCA model to destination facilityTown Course golf and the Hazeltine parking lot connectionCloverfield's neighborhood school conceptStrategic city planning and managing growthInfrastructure advantages for Chaska's real estate futureWhy Victoria may become Carver County's largest cityGuest: Dave Pokorney, Chaska City Manager 1984-2009 Host: Greg Anderson, RE/MAX Advisors West | 3,000+ homes sold since 1985

Carver County Commissioner Lisa Anderson explains how your property taxes are calculated, why growth doesn't automatically lower your tax bill, and how residents can influence local decisions before they're made. What does a Carver County Commissioner actually do? How are your property taxes calculated? And why doesn't all that new construction in Chaska, Victoria, and Waconia automatically lower your tax bill? Commissioner Lisa Anderson represents District 1 on the Carver County Board. She brings 13 years of school board experience and one year on the county board, and she's refreshingly honest about what she's learned about the "hidden layer" of government that affects your daily life. In this conversation, we cover: The two pieces of your property tax bill and how the 2026 levy affects the average Carver County home. Why Carver County's 2.5% growth rate doesn't fully offset rising costs. Minnesota's property tax lag and why your 2025 remodel shows up on your 2027 bill. The state funding squeeze and what an $8 million cost shift could mean for 2027 taxes. Met Council's role in controlling growth through sewer and water expansion. The Highway 5 widening project from Chanhassen to Victoria starting in 2026. How Highway 212's expansion to Norwood Young America came together as a bipartisan effort. Orderly annexation and how cities like Victoria and Carver actually grow. Mental health services including First Street Center in Waconia. The new Chaska Library project and reimagining libraries as community spaces. How to get involved in county government before decisions get made. Lisa describes county government as "a mile wide and a foot deep" compared to her school board days. Her memorable phrase: "The federal government makes their rules, the state government makes laws, the city makes their plans, and we just sort of have to deal with it. We take lemons and make lemonade." Whether you live in Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria, Waconia, Carver, Cologne, Norwood Young America, Mayer, or anywhere in Carver County, this episode gives you the insider perspective on how local government actually works. Guest: Lisa Anderson, Carver County Commissioner, District 1Host: Greg Anderson, RE/MAX Advisors West The Living in Carver County Podcast: Insider conversations with the people who make Carver County the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Connect with Greg:Substack: HelloIamGregAnderson.substack.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/gregoryranderson

Food insecurity is surging in Carver County—and it doesn't look the way you might think. In this powerful conversation, Bountiful Basket Executive Director Patti Sinykin reveals why demand has jumped 72% in just one year, who's really walking through their doors, and what it takes to serve 9,615 people annually with dignity and compassion. You'll discover: Why hunger exists in one of Minnesota's most prosperous countiesHow the "super shelf" grocery store model restores dignity to families in crisisThe real faces behind food insecurity—teachers, neighbors, families just like yoursWhy Bountiful Basket serves anyone who walks through their doors, no income requirementsHow 3,000 pounds of food goes out daily (and what that actually looks like)The community resource navigator helping families beyond just foodHow you can help—whether through volunteering, food drives, or donationsPatti shares heartbreaking and hopeful stories: the teacher who drove to another city so his students wouldn't see him, the woman who lived in Chaska 30 years before learning help existed, the family that went from stable to struggling in just one month. With locations in Chaska and Cologne, Bountiful Basket isn't just feeding people—they're building community, restoring hope, and proving that kindness matters. RESOURCES MENTIONED:Bountiful Basket Food Shelf: bountifulbasket.orgPhone: (952) 448-9117Chaska Location: 1951 Park Place BoulevardCologne Location: 125 Village Parkway TOP NEEDS: Cereal, hearty soups, crackers, volunteers (especially in Cologne) Living in Carver County Podcast - Connecting friends, building community through conversations with the people who make Carver County the best place to live, work, and raise a family. Host: Greg Anderson, licensed real estate professional serving Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria, Waconia, and Carver County since 1985. Subscribe for weekly conversations with local business owners, community leaders, educators, and changemakers. #CarverCounty #FoodInsecurity #CommunityService #Chaska #Chanhassen #Minnesota #Nonprofit #Volunteer #FoodShelf #LivingInCarverCounty

Living in Carver County Podcast: Building a Better Society with Heather Tran In this episode of Living in Carver County, Greg sits down with Heather Tran, co-founder of A Better Society, a Chanhassen-based nonprofit that’s redefining how communities come together to solve problems. Founded in 2008, A Better Society takes innovative social ideas, incubates them, and scales them into sustainable projects that strengthen local communities from the inside out. Heather shares how their mission—to discover needs, collaborate on solutions, and activate sustainable outcomes—has led to meaningful partnerships and upstream thinking. Instead of simply reacting to challenges, Heather and her team are helping communities ask deeper questions: Why do these needs exist in the first place—and how can we prevent them? We’ll talk about the organization’s unique data-driven approach to understanding community needs, how collaboration fuels real impact, and projects like Project Lin-kij, which connect people and resources in creative new ways. If you’ve ever wondered how local innovation can create lasting change—or how you can be part of a more connected, compassionate Carver County—this conversation is for you.

In this episode of the Living in Carver County Podcast, host Greg Anderson talks with David Brecht, Director of Finance & Operations for Eastern Carver County Schools (District 112), about the upcoming November 4th school funding referendum. They discuss Minnesota’s state funding gap, how local referendums support classrooms in Chaska, Carver, Chanhassen, and Victoria, and how the proposal could affect homeowners’ property taxes. You’ll learn how housing growth, student enrollment, and inflation shape the district’s financial outlook. It’s everything voters need to make an informed choice this fall. Learn more at eccsvote.org, call 952-556-6107, or email [email protected]

Taylor Hubbard is the new Mayor of Chaska after years on the city council and time on the board of the Chaska Human Rights Commission. We talk about municipal projects underway as well as upcoming commercial development happening in Chaska. She has a huge heart for service, a sharp mind and commitment to the community. Please refer to the City of Chaska's web site for information about new developments in Chaska at www.chaskamn.gov/174/Proposed-Developments

The South West Chamber of Commerce serves the cities of Chaska, Chanhassen, Victoria & Carver as well as the broader Carver County area. Since combining the chambers several years ago, the combined efforts have been a force multiplier and enabled business to expand, network and collaborate across city boundaries to promote local business and commerce. Steve has brought a breath of varied work experience along with a renewed sense of enthusiasm. Steve shares the exciting events they have on the horizon.

When the Chaska Herald shut down in April 2024 after being bought by anout-of-state ownership group, Eastern Carver County became a "newsdesert." No coverage of city council meetings. No school board reporting.No accountability. What filled the void? Facebook rumors and misinformation. Former Chaska City Council member Mike Huang watched residents show up tomeetings outraged about things that simply weren't true, convinced by socialmedia rather than facts. So he and a dozen other concerned citizens didsomething remarkable: they started their own nonprofit news organization. In this conversation, Mike shares: Mike's journey from California transplant to Planning Commission chair toCity Council member to citizen journalist shows what's possible when peoplechoose to be part of the solution rather than just complaining on Facebook. EASTERN CARVER COUNTY LOCAL NEWS: Website: Eastern Carver County LocalNews Coverage: Chaska, Chanhassen, Carver, Victoria Subscribe: Free emailnewsletter (daily or weekly digest) Social: Facebook, Instagram To scribe: http://cclocalnews.org To donate: http://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_id=2GMD9J9LAM54S Living in Carver County Podcast - Connecting friends, building communitythrough conversations with the people who make Carver County the best place tolive, work, and raise a family. Host: Greg Anderson, licensed real estate professional serving Chaska,Chanhassen, Victoria, Waconia, and Carver County since 1985. Subscribe for weekly conversations with local business owners, communityleaders, educators, and changemakers. #CarverCounty #LocalNews #Journalism #Chaska #ChaskaHerald#CommunityMedia #Nonprofit #Chanhassen #Victoria #Carver #Minnesota#CivicEngagement #LocalGovernment #NewsDesert #LivingInCarverCounty

Welcome to the 1st episode of SEASON 7! :-)If you've been around for a while, you know I like to start with Chaska community champion Bob Roebke and we like to discuss the latest comings and going in Chaska and Eastern Carver County. Bob is a champion for building community and is the "OG" of this podcast agreeing to be interviewed before anyone knew how this would unfold. He is always pitching in and helping out for anything that brings the community together. That is our mission. "Connecting friends, building community" and that in Carver County Minnesota means giving people good information so they can make up their own minds and also giving them a place, chance to contribute to making this; "The Best Place to Live, Work and Raise a family" Welcome back :-)

Erin Rathke is the new superintendent for Eastern Carver County school district 112. She gets to flex about the great things happening in the district and also addresses some of the challenges of late. We talk about what is is like to be in the fastest growing county in MN.

Have you ever wondered how your brain works? Why do you respond a certain way when something that you don't like happens? Is there a way to train your mind to be more intentional? This interview was very fun to do and I learned a lot and connected several dots in my head. Bhante is on a mission to help people be more mindful or intentional about how they engage with the world. For additional information visit www.triplegem.org

Graham Johnson wanted to be a writer most of his life. He landed what he thought was going to be a dream job reporting for SW News on the Chaska Herald and Chanhassen Villager. Unfortunately for Graham and the community, the parent company decide to close both papers. We visit a little about the importance of local news and then dig into effective story telling. Graham is kind, thoughtful and gives some wonderful insights and crafting communication. Please enjoy this fun conversation and be sure to check out-https://carvercurrent.com/villager-tower for some local news with a flair by Rickie Schultz per Graham :-)

Have you ever read those thoughtful editorials about the human condition in the Chaska Herald or Chanhassen Villager? Doug and Lynn Nodland offer readers wisdom and assurance based on years of life experiences as accomplished professionals, Lynn in counseling and Doug practicing law. They now run a successful coaching business and work with clients of all ages but with a specialty with people going through profound live changes. Whether it is in caring for family members at end of life or people going through career or personal changes, they help clients navigate with grace and confidence. I invite you to really listen for their warmth and sage insights. To find out more and to read other columns they've published, visit them online at: TheBalanceCenter.com SharingLifesLessons.com

Erika has a compelling story filled with overcoming adversity, perseverance, grit and a sense of being part of something bigger than one's self. Hers is the story of an immigrant who has overcome many challenges with grace, determination all while being good natured and committed to giving back to her community in her work with the county and in her personal life. She is a strong, determined and accomplished woman and I am delighted to get to call her a friend.