Eagan News
“For us, there’s no other place we’d rather be. Minnesota isn’t just where we live — it’s our home, and it’s where we see our future.” — Bashir Ali, executive director of the Somali Community Action Coalition (SCAC)
Not long after Operation Metro Surge began in December, leaders of our local Somali and East African community spoke to the City of Eagan to discuss both ICE immigration enforcement and the harmful rhetoric circulating about their community in national media.
“We had heightened concern in the community,” says Bashir Ali, executive director of the Somali Community Action Coalition (SCAC). Most local Somalis, he points out, are law-abiding American citizens, born and raised in Minnesota, and “yet they can’t go outside of their homes because of fear. They can’t go to work. How can we help the community?”
Since then, Ali and other community members are staying in close contact with City leaders, deepening their working relationship and continuing the conversation. This includes a town-hall style meeting where more than 50 members of the Somali community asked questions and shared stories about the impact on their lives and businesses. The group also has planned a Ramadan Iftar dinner hosted at City Hall.
After a conversation with the SCAC, the City put out a statement about its commitment to the entire community, including immigrants, and partnered with area nonprofits to support families impacted by lost wages.
To learn more about Ali, his community advocacy, and the SCAC, Eagan Business News (EBN) reached out for an interview. Read on for his thoughtful, insightful answers.
EBN: Tell us about SCAC’s origins and work in the community.
Ali: Several years ago, many of us started noticing the same quiet struggles around us: families unsure where to turn, parents overwhelmed by unfamiliar systems, young people searching for stability and belonging. What started as neighbors talking and community members listening to one another gradually became something more intentional. SCAC grew out of a simple but deeply felt responsibility — the belief that no family should feel alone when facing hardship.
Eventually, SCAC evolved into a space for civic engagement, public dialogue, and community advocacy — a bridge between communities and local institutions. Especially during the past several months, when many families have lived with heightened fear and uncertainty surrounding immigration enforcement in Minnesota, our role became even more urgent. We witnessed anxiety, isolation, and real instability affecting households, and we felt compelled to respond not only with information and resources, but with presence, empathy, and solidarity.
EBN: Who serves on SCAC?
Ali: SCAC is made up of individuals from many walks of life who share a common sense of responsibility toward community well-being. Among us are educators, youth mentors, small-business owners, professionals, parents, and volunteers. Each person brings their own experiences, skills, and perspective. They contribute in ways that range from community outreach and resource navigation to program coordination, public engagement, and relationship-building with local leaders and institutions.
In this moment, one of the most pressing priorities we see is strengthening understanding, trust, and civic confidence. Much of our work centers on helping people better understand how our country and its institutions function, encouraging constructive participation, restoring a sense of belonging, and bridging gaps between communities and public systems. For many within SCAC, this is about more than programs or initiatives — it’s about safeguarding dignity, voice, and the social trust that healthy communities depend upon.
EBN: What draws you to this advocacy work?
Ali: For me, advocacy has never been abstract. It’s deeply human, born from witnessing fear, but also extraordinary resilience and dignity. Much of the work isn’t about grand gestures — it’s about listening, offering clarity, sharing information, and helping people feel less isolated during times of uncertainty.
At the end of December, I sat with a father who spoke quietly about being afraid to step outside his own home, despite being a citizen. In early January, I spoke with legal residents who’d stopped going to work, not because they lacked opportunity or motivation, but because fear and stress had begun to shape their daily decisions. Just weeks ago, I listened to parents express deep worry about their children’s sense of safety, identity, and belonging. I heard from small-business owners who shared fears about the survival of their businesses after years of sacrifice and hard work.
I also think of my own children, who’ve known no other home but Minnesota, yet still find themselves asking difficult questions about safety and belonging.
All of these moments are deeply personal. They’re reminders that behind every policy discussion are real families, with real fears, and human emotions.
EBN: Would you mind sharing a bit of your own story?
Ali: My personal and professional journey has been shaped by different lived experiences. I left Somalia at a young age, fleeing the realities of civil war, and spent my formative years in refugee camps in Kenya. Like many who grew up in that environment, life was defined by uncertainty and constant adjustment. Those years taught me lessons you can’t learn from books — resilience in the face of instability, creativity when resources are scarce, and a deep appreciation for how much people depend on one another to survive and move forward.
Living in the refugee camps instilled in me a strong sense of adaptability and problem-solving. More importantly, it nurtured an understanding of community — how support, trust, and shared responsibility become essential when formal systems are limited or absent.
After coming to Minnesota, my work naturally gravitated toward leadership, education, and community engagement. I’ve spent much of my professional life working within educational settings, supporting individuals and families — particularly newcomers — as they navigate unfamiliar systems, seek employment, and build stability. My roles have often required bridging two spaces: institutional structures on one side and lived community realities on the other.
EBN: How did you come to call Minnesota home?
Ali: Like many immigrant stories, my journey to Minnesota was guided by hope — hope for stability, safety, and the chance to build a meaningful future. Minnesota didn’t become home overnight. It became home gradually, through relationships, through community, and through the simple but powerful feeling of belonging that grew over time.
What rooted us here was not only opportunity, but the character of the place and its people. We experienced kindness, openness, and a sense of humanity that made it possible to rebuild and to dream again. Minnesota became the place where families could breathe, raise children, form friendships, and contribute to the life of their cities.
Over the years, Minnesota transformed from a destination into a home in the deepest sense of the word. It’s where our lives unfolded, where our children grew up, and where our sense of identity and community took shape. There’s a genuine love and appreciation for this state and its people — for their warmth, decency, and welcoming spirit.
For us, there’s no other place we’d rather be. Minnesota isn’t just where we live — it’s our home, and it’s where we see our future.
EBN: Based on news of the announced ICE drawdown, how is your community feeling?
Ali: For many people, the reaction is caution and uncertainty. It’s difficult to fully believe change is happening when families still report seeing immigration enforcement vehicles moving through their neighborhoods.
For some, even the possibility of change brings a quiet sense of hope. Many families have lived under prolonged stress, anxiety, and disruption, so any sign of stability is deeply meaningful.
At the same time, resilience within the community remains powerful. People continue supporting one another, sharing information, and leaning on community networks. Organizations and local leaders stay focused on offering clarity, reassurance, and practical help regardless of changing narratives.
There’s also a strong sense of guarded realism. Many community members feel they’ll believe meaningful change when it’s consistently reflected in everyday life — when families can move freely, work without fear, and feel a genuine sense of security rather than temporary relief.
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Fire Chief Hugo Searle will conclude his service with the Eagan Fire Department following a distinguished 34-year career. Chief Searle has served nearly five years as fire chief for the City of Eagan, during which he guided the department through a pivotal period of growth and transformation.
Chief Searle joined the City of Eagan in August 2021, after previously serving as assistant fire chief with the Saint Louis Park Fire Department. Chief Searle played a key role in strengthening Eagan’s full-time fire department model, improving emergency response times, and fostering a culture of kindness, mentorship, and service.
“Serving as fire chief for the City of Eagan has been the most rewarding professional experience of my life,” Chief Searle said. “This department is filled with dedicated, talented professionals who care deeply about one another and about this community. I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together and grateful for the trust placed in me by the City Council, City leadership, and our residents. Eagan is in an excellent position for the future, and I look forward to watching the department continue to thrive.”
Mayor Mike Maguire praised Chief Searle’s leadership and impact on the community.
“Chief Searle has been an outstanding leader for Eagan,” Mayor Maguire said. “He left an indelible mark on the Eagan Fire Department and on me as mayor. His commitment to teamwork, continuous improvement, and community service has strengthened our Fire Department and enhanced public safety across the City. We thank him for his service and dedication.”
City Administrator Dianne Miller also recognized Chief Searle’s contributions to the organization and the community.
“Chief Searle led the Eagan Fire Department with a genuine care for both the firefighters he served alongside and the community they protect,” City Administrator Dianne Miller said. “He prioritized supporting his staff, building strong relationships, and creating an environment where people could do their best work. His leadership has positioned the department well for long-term success, and we are grateful for his professionalism and the positive impact he leaves on the organization and the community.”
Prior to joining Eagan, Chief Searle served 19 years with the Saint Louis Park Fire Department and 10 years with the Brooklyn Park Fire Department. Over the course of his career, he served as a firefighter, trainer, union member, assistant chief, and mentor. He is also a high-altitude mountain guide who has led teams around the world, including in the Himalayas and to the top of Mount Everest — experience that helped shape his leadership philosophy centered on teamwork, preparation, and trust.
Chief Searle's last day will be Friday, April 3, 2026.
The City will begin the recruitment process for our next fire chief in the coming weeks, with the position posted on our website. The City expects to have a new fire chief in place by early June 2026 to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
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At City Hall, maps are for more than just directions. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) combine maps with data to help city staff members work smarter, faster, and more efficiently, saving time and taxpayer dollars.
WHAT IS GIS?
GIS is a computer-based system that captures and displays all types of data and the places the data references. GIS overlays data on maps, so that users can visualize and understand patterns, relationships, and trends.
WHAT CAN GIS DO?
- Display information in a map-based format, making it easier to understand than a spreadsheet or table.
- Analyze spatial relationships, answering questions like "What’s the most efficient route between two points?" and "Which areas are most at risk for flooding?"
- Store and manage large datasets of geographic information, such as the locations of all water pipes in a city.
- Help with planning and decision-making in various fields, such as engineering, urban planning, emergency response, and asset management.
HOW DOES EAGAN USE GIS?
The City has used GIS for nearly 30 years. Users include our Fire and Police departments, plus our Community Development and Public Works departments. For Public Works, GIS helps us plow the roads more efficiently, prioritize ponds and lakes for pollution treatment, and effectively coordinate projects to replace water pipes while reconstructing streets.
Planning: Over the next 50 years, Eagan will replace most City public sewers and water mains with scheduled and financially coordinated projects. Cities with older infrastructure and a lack of records for their underground utility systems can’t proactively plan this level of replacement. Instead, they can only react to broken pipes, which leads to a more significant expense and hassle for community members.
GIS offers a more efficient approach. By combining maps and data about the pipe system with street conditions and pipe life expectancies, staff can create a replacement plan with optimal timing for each area. This keeps utility bills and property taxes lower and makes the most of our resources.
GIS also helps create snowplow routes. Using data that includes types of roads and how much traffic they experience, the City prioritizes plowing routes that clear roads for the greatest number of people.
Visualizing: Meanwhile, the Eagan Police Department worked with GIS staff to layer crime data on maps. The resulting crime map is available for residents to check out at cityofeagan.com/crime-map. It’s also a useful tool for police when looking for patterns of crime activity. In addition, a fire hydrant City map is especially useful when hydrants aren’t visible under snow, helping police and fire staff shave off time during emergencies.
Discovering: Sometimes unexpected — or expected — patterns emerge that can prove an educated guess. One example: To reduce pollution in LeMay Lake, Water Resources staff members used GIS to pinpoint the best location for a stormwater treatment system. This successfully improved the lake’s water quality — and won the lake its removal from the state's list of impaired waters.
Ultimately, GIS helps the City move from reacting to problems to planning with foresight. By turning data into actionable insights, GIS supports fiscal responsibility and better outcomes for Eagan residents.
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We know that Eagan is a successful city and a strong community when we all work together. Thankfully, residents have a variety of volunteer opportunities. Featured below are two: helping with City programs and serving on advisory commissions.
CITY VOLUNTEERS
Eagan’s Water Resources team is a great place to start volunteering. Water Resources volunteers help with a variety of Lakefest tasks each year, including teaching participants the basics of fishing and running craft projects. Volunteers also support lake cleanup days, help keep storm drains clear, and provide valuable wetland monitoring through the summer months with our Dakota County partners.
Holz Farm offers other outdoor opportunities. Every spring, volunteers help clean up the farm — clearing away last year’s foliage, planting annuals, and freshening up the farmhouse. Holz Farm participants also help out during the Spring Festival, Harvest Festival, and Old-Fashioned Holiday events.
The Eagan Historical Society is also seeking volunteers to help protect and preserve historical elements of the City.
Besides these roles, you can find other opportunities geared toward seniors, event support, with ETV, and with the Eagan Police Department.
Discover all of these opportunities and more at cityofeagan.com/volunteer, and spot the perfect way to get involved with or give back to your community.
ADVISORY COMMISSIONS & BOARDS
Consider making a direct impact on Eagan by sharing your thoughts and your time as a commission or board member. Advisory commissions meet regularly to review ideas, gather information, and make decisions that help the City Council accomplish initiatives across a variety of topic areas, including sustainability, planning and zoning, and parks and trail amenities.
All are encouraged to apply — we want our commissions and boards to reflect the diversity of lived experiences and perspectives in our community. You can positively impact Eagan by sharing your expertise and views.
Applications are being accepted by the following organizations:
- Advisory Planning Commission
- Advisory Parks & Recreation Commission
- Sustainable Eagan Advisory Commission
- Eagan-Inver Grove Heights Watershed Management Organization
Apply online at cityofeagan.com/commissions or visit City Hall to fill out an application. The deadline for appointment this spring is Friday, March 13. Our application takes just a few minutes to complete and questions are structured to capture other types of relevant leadership or community experiences you may have, including leading a church group, coaching or helping with youth sports, and volunteering for a nonprofit. We welcome any Eagan resident who’s at least 16 years of age to apply to serve. Please consider applying even if this is your first time volunteering with the City or a commission.
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In 2025, Eagan was recognized as a top performer in five categories and won the top award in Health & Wellness.
Each year, the City of Eagan partners with Polco, an independent research firm, to conduct surveys. These gauge our community members’ perceptions of Eagan. We then use that information to gain insights into community priorities, to track our performance over time, and to make comparisons with peer cities — both local and national.
In addition, Polco uses resident responses, from the hundreds of communities that participate from around the country, to select their annual National Voice of the People Awards. What’s unique about these awards is that they’re based on how residents view and rate City efforts and performance based on facets of livability. This year, our residents’ responses resulted in Eagan receiving the 2025 Voice of the People National Champion in Excellence award in Health and Wellness.
Eagan was also recognized as a top performer in multiple categories in the 2025 Voice of the People Awards. These include Trust in Government, Health and Wellness, Community Design, Mobility, and Parks and Recreation. These recognitions reflect both the high ratings Eagan receives from its residents and the City’s demonstrated improvements over time. Eagan is honored to receive this national award, along with recognition in the other five categories.
“Eagan’s award in the health and wellness category shows our commitment to constantly improving access to and quality of spaces and places for active living,” said Andrew Pimental, Eagan's director of Parks & Recreation. “The current refresh of the Eagan Community Center will continue this trajectory, and we’re proud to be recognized for our unwavering focus on health and wellness in Eagan.”
The Eagan Community Center refresh is expected to be complete next year, with improvements including a new upper-level fitness center, a larger group fitness studio, a dedicated personal training room, more bathrooms, new meeting and event spaces, a relocated and upgraded senior room, a new elevator, a renovated indoor playground, and an updated lobby and staircase.
Every year the City improves parks, paths, playgrounds, and other amenities that support an active and healthy community. Details are at cityofeagan.com/parkprojects.
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Discover spring activities and summer camps in Eagan
Your season of fun starts next week! Registration for spring activities and summer camps opens at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, through our online Discover catalog. Find new classes, activities, and events for March, April, and May, plus a wide variety of summer camp options for kids of all ages and interests.
Registration for fall preschool opens Monday, Feb. 2. Eagan’s preschool programs focus on learning through play, including outside exploration. Sign up for classes for kids ranging from almost 3 years old up to age 5.
Sign up online at discovereagan.com, in person at the Eagan Community Center, or over the phone at 651-675-5500.
Register now for:
- Youth activities (preschool through teen)
- Eagan Art House classes & workshops
- 50+ Seniors programs & activities
- Adult athletics
- Summer camps
- Community events
- And more!
Find everything for your family from preschool to 50+ Senior activities, with activities and connections for all interests and from art to sports to teen meetups. We also offer a variety of summer camp options for kids including full- and half-day options focused on sports, art, nature, and more.
See all opportunities and sign up to get the digital Discover in your email at cityofeagan.com/subscribe.
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The City of Eagan formally welcomed Salim Omari as its new police chief following his swearing-in at the Tuesday, Dec. 2 City Council meeting. Chief Omari steps into the role immediately and brings with him more than two decades of experience and a strong commitment to community-focused policing.
Chief Omari began his law enforcement career in 2004 with the Bloomington Police Department before joining the St. Paul Police Department in 2007. Since then, he has served in a variety of leadership and operational roles — from SWAT commander and district chief to major crimes division commander — gaining a reputation for thoughtful, steady leadership.
Mayor Mike Maguire shared his enthusiasm for the appointment, noting, “We’re excited to welcome Commander Omari to Eagan. He brings a strong record of leadership, experience in complex policing environments, and a commitment to building trust with the community. His thoughtful approach to public safety and team development will serve our residents well.”
Over his 21-year career, Chief Omari has worked across patrol, investigations, and training. His experience includes serving in the Gang Unit, leading the Internal Affairs and Training Units, and overseeing the Western District Patrol. He also spent more than two years as district chief of St. Paul’s Eastern District and most recently served as commander of the Major Crimes Division and SWAT commander.
“I’m honored to be chosen to lead the highly respected Eagan Police Department,” Omari said following his swearing-in. “I believe in the power of collaboration and community engagement to keep our neighborhoods safe. Eagan is a thriving community, and I look forward to working alongside residents, city leaders, and officers to continue building trust and delivering excellent public safety.”
Beyond department leadership, Chief Omari has contributed to public safety statewide. He has served as deputy commander of the Minnesota Law Enforcement Memorial Association Honor Guard, earned national recognition as an IACP 40 Under 40 honoree, and was appointed by both Gov. Mark Dayton and Gov. Tim Walz to the Minnesota Sentencing Guidelines Commission.
Chief Omari holds a Bachelor of Arts in criminal justice and a master’s degree in police leadership and administration from the University of St. Thomas. He is also a graduate of the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute.
City Administrator Dianne Miller noted, “Commander Omari has a proven track record of effective leadership, operational excellence, and a clear commitment to equity and community engagement. We’re confident he will continue Eagan’s strong tradition of public safety and help shape its next chapter.”
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