Mayor Kleis Takes Latest Town Hall Meeting to the Streets [AUDIO]

ST. CLOUD - A brisk night in St. Cloud, but that didn't stop Mayor Dave Kleis from hosting his inaugural street-side Town Hall Meeting.

Armed with a heat lamp, Kleis stationed himself in a tent along the pedestrian-heavy zone of 5th Avenue and Division Street beginning at 9p.m.

He says the purpose of the unorthodox meeting is to greet folks on their way downtown for the evening, give them a place to warm up for a minute, and hopefully get the chance to discuss their individual concerns related to community and student safety.

Kleis says the upshot to a streetside town hall meeting is the chance to hear from people who might not typically attend a regular town hall meeting - people like SCSU student Alisabeth Kuol.

Kuol says she appreciates the efforts of the mayor and law enforcement to emphasize safety - particularly in the wake of the recent deadly assault against 20 year old Colton Gleason.

Kleis says, in spite of some high-profile crimes in recent weeks,  he believes St. Cloud is a safe community - something he hopes to reinforce by staying out in the tent until 3 a.m.

He hopes the conversations had during the  "meeting" will serve to remind students and others to look out for one another, and act safely and responsibly.