By Andrew Tellijohn

Justin Miller helped oversee the promotion of a new League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) executive director, worked at the state and federal levels to preserve local control on several contentious issues, and balanced the needs of large, small, urban, and rural cities, peers say.

But as Miller wraps up his year as past president of the LMC Board of Directors, his biggest contribution may have been his unflappable calm during a period of heightened discourse between cities and many constituents, said Executive Director Luke Fischer.

Over the past half-dozen years, Minnesota cities have faced a global pandemic, civil unrest following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, and an uncertain relationship with federal and state governments — all of which challenged their ability to provide certainty around basic services.

“We’ve been in unprecedented times for an unprecedented amount of time,” Fischer said. “That has brought out the best in the very best and Justin Miller certainly is that.”

Drew upon varied experiences

Those conditions often required difficult conversations, which Miller handled with composure and professionalism.

“He always leads with his values, with his ethics, and he’s always upfront with people, which is just really wonderful to work with and be around,” Fischer said.

Miller, Lakeville’s city administrator since 2014, has drawn on more than 25 years of experience in communities ranging from smaller cities like Falcon Heights to fast-growing ones like Chanhassen and Lakeville. As Board president, he put that experience to work traveling across the state, connecting with members, and engaging officials in a wide range of communities.

Selecting a new League executive director

While there have been challenges, Miller said he’s proud of the Board’s work on several issues, including Fischer’s promotion following former LMC Executive Director Dave Unmacht’s 2023 retirement.

“That was a really big decision,” Miller said. “I think we absolutely nailed it. He’s absolutely the right person for the job. I hope that decision continues to leave a legacy on the organization.”

Miller also pointed to the League’s Grant Navigator program, which helps cities assess and apply for grants for city projects.

“That has been an extremely successful program to communities across the state,” he said. “It has helped multiply the level of funding that’s been out there.”

Important issues

Edina City Manager Scott Neal said Miller brought a smart, steady, and thoughtful approach to leadership, with a strong ability to understand and explain complex policy issues.

Miller has been instrumental in helping cities maintain local control on issues like affordable housing. Less publicized, but also controversial, were discussions around how cities and school districts were at odds over the role of school resource officers. Miller understood how communities were handling the issue and where perspectives differed between metro and Greater Minnesota cities. Ultimately, the resolution kept officers in schools, with insurance liability coverage in place.

“That could have been a mess if we had somebody in League leadership who wanted to pick a fight about it,” Neal said. “He didn’t want a fight. He wanted to resolve it so we could have dependable relationships between police and schools.”

Mentorship role

Past LMC Board President Wendy Berry, who joined the West St. Paul City Council in 2019, said she appreciated Miller’s detailed approach to the Fischer hire.

“My day job is in HR, so I’ve seen a lot of people make really bad hiring choices,” Berry said. “The care and intentional thought he put in that process of interviews, the questions that we asked, and the expectations we had for that role were so important.”

She also appreciated his mentorship.

“Over the course of five years, it’s just been really nice to physically sit next to someone who has all this experience and understands how things impact the bigger picture,” she said. “It helped me be a better Board member and a better City Council person.”

A family man

Miller’s colleagues expressed admiration for his ability to balance his work with Lakeville and LMC alongside his commitment to family. He is married to Dianne Miller, Eagan’s city administrator, and they have four daughters.

“Justin is a family guy through and through,” Fischer said. “Him leading with those values has made it easier for me to prioritize my own family.” While Miller said he’s looking forward to having more free time, he will miss his regular involvement.

“It’s been an honor to serve the League of Minnesota Cities and represent the 800-plus cities across the state,” he said. “I really enjoyed getting out across the state, meeting so many people that work for our cities — elected or appointed — and finding out that while we’re all different, we all have the same issues on a different scale.”

Andrew Tellijohn is a freelance writer.