Minden remembers Susan Jackson

A memorial to Minden native Susan Jacobsen Jackson will likely be near the entrance to the pavilion in the wetlands named after her father.

Jackson, 65, died on Valentine’s Day after a 14-month battle with cancer. She served on the town board for almost five years, starting out as an appointee and then was elected in 2020.

She served as vice chairwoman and chairwoman during her tenure on the board.

Born Jan. 16, 1959, to Lawrence “Jake” and Beatty Jacobsen, she expressed interest in politics from an early age but didn’t hold elected office until joining the town board.

“She was an enthusiastic board members and resident, who loved the town dearly, and showed it many ways,” according to the town. “She cared deeply about everything from historic preservation, participating and giving back in town events, beautification of our parks and open spaces, the health and wellbeing of town staff, and close to her heart was Jake’s Wetland.”
Town Manager JD Frisby said Jackson would often come into the town office to report some issue with the wetland.

“When I think about Susie Jackson, I think about Jake’s,” Frisby said.

Frisby said one of the things he thought Jackson wouldn’t want was to take away from her father’s memory in whatever the town decided to do.

Town Board members voted in favor of a plaque, and instructed staff to work with the family on the wording.

A thornier issue was whether to replace Jackson on the town board. Because her death was so close to election filing, the town board was advised they could leave the seat open until voters picked someone.

That was something Chairman Bryan Davis and Larry Walsh felt was appropriate, but that Bill Driscoll and Steve Thaler felt shouldn’t be left for six months, demonstrating the possibility of deadlocked votes until the end of the year.

The board settled on advertising for the position and recommending someone to county commissioners. Applications are due April 19.

Anyone seeking to serve on the board must live within the town boundaries and be a qualified elector.

Depending on who’s selected, their term would end on Dec. 31, since three people have filed for two seats on the board.

Robbe Lehmann, Mimi Moss and board member Steve Thaler are all on the ballot for the nonpartisan board in November.