Board of Commissioners

The Metro Bus Board of Commissioners is made up of five members. Two members representing the City of St. Cloud. One member each from the City of Sartell, City of Sauk Rapids, and City of Waite Park. Board members traditionally have been either the current elected Mayor or City Council member.

Elections are held in July in even numbered years to determine which member will serve as the Board's Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary. A member may nominate themselves or another member to serve a particular position on the Board. A vote among members will determine who wins the nomination.

Metro Bus Transit Commission Board Meetings
The Commission meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month to conduct business which includes reviewing the operating data, budgets and determining policy.

The current Metro Bus Board of Commissioners as of January 2013:

Chairperson Paul Ringsmuth, City of Waite Park
Phone: 320-251-7326

Paul Ringsmuth has a long history of public service to the area. He graduated from St. John’s University in 1968, followed by a M.S. from St. Cloud State University in 1972. In the intervening years, he also spent time in Viet Nam. He is married to Linda and has two children.  He has worked as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor since 1972.  

Paul was member of the Waite Park City Council since 1996.  Following in his father, Al Ringsmuth’s, footsteps, Paul has served on the Metro Bus Board of Commissioners since 1998. His father was an original Metropolitan Transit Commission board member in 1969 and dedicated Metro Bus servant for 29 years. 

Paul respresents Metro Bus on the St. Cloud Area Planning Organization, is treasurer of the St. Cloud Area Disabilities Council, volunteers with the St. Joseph’s Parish Bazaar Chance Books, St. Joseph’s School Board, and St. Cloud Area Catholic Schools Strategic Planning Committee. 




Vice Chairperson, Steve Hennes, Council Member, City of Sartell
Phone: 320-253-1926

Steve joined the Metro Bus Board of Commissioners July of 2007 after being appointed by the City Council. He was elected to the Sartell City Council in November of 2006. 

Steve was born and raised in Little Falls and joined the Air Force in 1969 and served a year in Vietnam. He received a Bachelors Degree in Social Work from St. Cloud State University in 1977. 

In his first job out of college Steve initiated the Sherburne County Transit Program and ran a successful volunteer driver program. 

Since 1981, Steve has been the Director of the Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud and in 2007 was named Director of the new Aging Services Department. He also is a member of the St. Cloud Area Planning Organization. 

Steve is married to Wendy and has two children, as well as two grandchildren. In his spare time he enjoys camping, biking, traveling and being outdoors. 


Secretary, Dave Kleis, Mayor, City of St. Cloud
Phone: 320-253-9535
 
Dave Kleis joined the Metro Bus Board of Commissioners in 2005 after being elected Mayor of St. Cloud.  He is a Magna Cum Laude 1989 graduate of St. Cloud State University, and a nine year veteran of the Air Force and Air Force Reserve.

He served the St. Cloud area in the Minnesota Senate from 1994 through 2005---seven years as Assistant Senate Minority Leader and six years as ranking Minority member on the Senate Crime Prevention Committee.

He established and owns the Central Minnesota Driving Academy since 1991, a driver’s education business that employs 25 people in St. Cloud.

Dave was elected by the St. Cloud community as mayor in November 2005. In June 2007, Governor Pawlenty appointed Mayor Kleis to the Commission on Judicial Selection. He also serves on numerous local boards and committees within the St. Cloud community. 


Treasurer, Carolyn Garven, Council Member, City of St. Cloud
Phone: 320-252-7737 

Carolyn joined the Metro Bus board in July 2006 after being appointed by the City Council to represent the City of St. Cloud. Carolyn began her involvement in city government in 1999 by running for a City Council position in St. Cloud. She is completing her second four-year term in 2007 and will run for a third term. She is a retired public school teacher, teaching for over 30 years in the Sauk Rapids school system. She is married to James and has two married daughters and five grandchildren. When she isn't working on City Council business you will find her playing with her grandchildren or walking her dog Skip. 

Carolyn enjoys public service. Not only does she serve on the St. Cloud City Council and Metro Bus Board of Commissioners, she also serves on the Benton County Economic Development Board, Eastside Boosters, St. Cloud Arts Commission, Whitney Senior Center Advisory Board, the Salvation Army Board and is the Metro Bus representative on the Northstar Corridor Development Authority...to mention a few. Carolyn apprecitates the opportunity to serve our residents on the Metro Bus Commission.

Member, Harold Jesh, City of Sauk Rapids
Phone: 320-253-6424

Harold was appointed by the Sauk Rapids City Council in January 2013 to fill the remaining term held by former Mayor Dave Saunders who did not run for reelection in November 2012. 

Harold was previously a Metro Bus Commissioner while serving as Mayor of Sauk Rapids from 2001 to 2004. 

Harold served as Chairman and member of the Sauk Rapids Planning Commission and City Council prior to being Mayor.  He is also a retired volunteer firefighter where he served on the Sauk Rapids Fire Department for 23 years. 

Harold currently provides consulting services for multi-family and assisted living housing projects.