The Clearwater City Council’s April meeting included an impressive agenda item; recognition of Clear Lake fifth-grader Winward Nicol, one of the winners of the recent Mayor for a Day essay competition sponsored by the League of MN Cities (LMC).

This year marked LMC’s 12th annual essay contest. Minnesota students from grades 4, 5, and 6 are asked to write about their ideas for improving city services as part of the contest. This year a record 850 entries were received from across the state, of which four winners and four honorable mention recipients were chosen. 

The essay contest asked students to respond to the following scenario: “Cities provide a variety of services and programs that make our lives better, including parks and rec, street maintenance, water and sewer, libraries, police, fire, and more. If you were mayor for a day, what would you do to make one of the services that your city provides even better?”

During the council meeting, Clearwater Mayor Andrea Lawrence Wheeler presented Nicol with balloons and a certificate. His essay focused on waste management, and outlined the organizing of a city recycling competition to help educate people and get them involved with how garbage is dealt with. 

Nicol’s winning essay was published in the March/April issue of Minnesota Cities magazine. In addition to publication, winners received a plaque and $100 check.

LMC hosts the annual competition to raise awareness of everyday city services and to inspire the next generation of city leaders. This year’s student essays focused on issues that included supporting local leaders, enhancing community care, promoting youth involvement, improving environmental practices, fostering a sense of unity, and improving public spaces. 

The League of Minnesota Cities is a membership organization dedicated to helping cities throughout Minnesota build quality communities through effective advocacy, expert analysis, trusted guidance, and collective action. The League serves its more than 830 member cities through advocacy, education and training, policy development, risk management, and other services.