Inver Grove Heights is the latest city in Minnesota to switch back to flying the old state flag.
The City Council voted 3-2 to make the change during a Monday night meeting, after a lengthy public hearing and debate.
Council member Sue Gliva said the old flag, based on an 1892 design and updated in 1983, is a nod to the state’s past.
“I think it's very important, even symbolically, to represent the flag that I feel represents our history,” Gliva said.
That history sparked debate over the flag. The old flag was retired in 2024 after a state process selected a new one, based on input and design suggestions from the public. The old flag bore the state’s former seal: an image of a farmer, and a Native man on horseback riding into the distance. Historians said that represented the incoming white settlers and the ousting of Native peoples. Critics and civil rights advocates have long called for a change to that imagery on the state’s emblems.
That led state legislators to vote for a redesign. But some residents at the city council meeting said they didn’t feel represented in the design process, which unfolded under a Democratic trifecta at the state level.
Inver Grove Heights resident Patti Mikulski said she doesn’t feel the new flag adequately represents Minnesota.
“Every time somebody like me sees it who did not appreciate the manner in which it came about, I'm reminded that my voice was silenced during the process,” Mikulski said.
Some residents argued that there were plenty of chances for the public to weigh in on the lengthy process. A flag selection panel considered thousands of submissions and public comments before settling on a final flag based on the designs submitted.
Resident Eric Holberg told the council that the flag debate is a partisan issue, and urged the council not to fly the old flag.
“You'll be broadcasting to everyone who drives by that Inver Grove Heights is a wonderful place to live, as long as your politics swing one way,” Holberg said. “It will be a pox on you all. It will be a pox on the mayor. It will be a pox on the city.”
Some city council members questioned whether revisiting the flag was a good use of city time and resources. Council member Tony Scales said the issue should be left to the state.
“This issue falls outside the scope of our responsibilities, no matter how we each might feel about the flag and as a member of the City Council. Our mandate is to serve the needs of our community,” Scales said.
He voted against switching back to the old flag, along with council member Mary T’Kach. Mayor Brenda Dietrich, and council members John Murphy and Gliva, supported the switch.
Mayor Dietrich said it will cost the city between $500 and $600 to replace the flags.
Inver Grove Heights joins several cities in reverting to the old flag, including Elk River, Champlin, Zumbrota, North Branch, Detroit Lakes, Pine Island, Wadena, Crosslake and Babbit.
Several Minnesota House Democrats have introduced a bill that would withhold some state funding to counties and cities that adopt a flag other than the official state flag. It’s been referred to the House committee on taxes and has not yet seen a vote.
