Coming into the last stretch of last term, Conger Mayor Carla Lindeman said she’s learned a lot.

“It’s been a learning experience,” she said.

Lindeman’s second term ends this year and she said she doesn’t plan to run for another. After four years serving her civic duty, she said at times the job consumed her. In addition, she works a full-time job as a licensed chemical dependency counselor.

But through it all she said she learned and grew from the experience, and hopes Conger benefited from her.

A major project coming to a close this year is the city’s new sewer system that will allow new houses to attach to the system, something that wasn’t able to happen before.

“We’re looking to improve the water quality of the area,” she said.

As mayor, Lindeman said she enjoys knowing what’s going on with the city and her constituents. In addition, she has learned how to deal with all kinds of people.

Many people don’t realize the dynamics of small city governments, she said, adding she encourages people to get involved.

Due to reductions in local government aid, smaller cities are having a problem keeping afloat.

“For small cities, survival is getting to be a challenge now,” she said.

That is why she said she thought it was important to upgrade the city’s sewer, even with the cost being over $1 million.

The new sewer system could help the city become attractive to new residents — which is already starting to happen. Younger families are moving into the city, and she said there are a lot of children running around.

“It’s really a beautiful little town, great to raise kids in,” she said.

Conger has nice industry, Lindeman said, a nice city park, a community center that can be rented, a senior citizen group and a 4-H club. Plus it’s part of the Alden-Conger School District.

Lindeman said she ran for mayor because she likes living in Conger and cares about the community. She and her family moved to the city 28 years ago because her husband, Allen, is from the area. They now live on the edge of the city.

Before being elected mayor, Lindeman served on the City Council for one or two terms and was involved in the auxiliary — which is no longer active.

Lindeman and her husband have three grown and married children with seven grandchildren.

During her free time — which will become more after this year — Lindeman said she enjoys walking, reading, spending time in northern Minnesota, fishing, riding her bicycle and spending time with her grandchildren.

She grew up in the country near Geneva and went through the Ellendale school system.