Government
Meeting the Needs and Expectations of Area Residents
City of Austin
The City of Austin was first platted in 1856. During the past decades, the city has grown in population to more than 23,000 in a 6,400-acre, 10-square-mile area. Austin is among the larger cities in greater Minnesota, and serves as the county seat of Mower County.
The City of Austin employs 146 full-time employees and is governed by a Home Rule Charter adopted in 1903. Elected officers include the mayor and seven city council members, two from each of the three wards and one at-large. Officers appointed by the city council include the city administrator, city records/treasurer, city engineer, and city attorney.
A full-time police force of 30 and a combined force of 10 full-time and 24 part-time firefighters provide protection services. Utility services are provided by the Austin Utilities Commission, a community-owned electric, water and natural gas supplier.
In 1996, the Austin Public Library was constructed overlooking the historic Mill Pond and is adjacent to Horace Austin Park. The library boasts more than 90,000 volumes and provides various services including meeting rooms, a computer lab with Internet access and audio-visual equipment and an innovative children’s section.
Currently, the city is upgrading the Austin Municipal Airport to facilitate expanded corporate business travel and enhance public safety for air traffic.
We believe you will find that Austin city government is responsive to its citizens and provides for effective services and facilities to meet the needs of the community.
Mower County
In 1852, Jacob McQuillin and his family settled what was to become Mower County. By 1855 the area had grown enough to merit official formation and on March 1, 1856, Governor Willis A. Gorman signed the act organizing Mower County. The county was named in honor of John Edward Mower, a member of the territorial legislature.
Today, Mower County is one of 87 counties in Minnesota. The latest census shows a population of more than 38,000. Mower County’s rich rural heritage is well represented by the diversity of its 14 incorporated cities and 20 townships with Austin as the largest city.
Mower County is governed by an elected five-member board. The board has specific financial, legislative and administrative controls over personnel and functions of the county. More than 15 departments provide a myriad of services for residents throughout the county, including human services, law enforcement, road maintenance, land use and more. All work together in a spirit of cooperation with county cities and townships to efficiently provide residents with a full range of needed services throughout their lifetime.
That spirit of cooperation between all units of government is another example of how people work together to make Austin Someplace Special for everyone.
