Government

There are two questions on the ballot for Northfield voters in this Tuesday’s election. Note that the polling locations originally listed in this story were inaccurate. The information has been updated.

The Ballot Questions

Question 1 asks the community to approve an operating levy for $1,604 per pupil for ten (10) years beginning in the 2012-13 school year. This levy would replace the current operating levy of $1,270 per pupil two years before it is set to expire.  An operating levy is a funding option provided by the State to allow school districts to request authority from the community to locally provide the necessary revenue to operate their schools. (Source: Northfield Public Schools)

Question 2 asks the community to renew the current Capital Projects Levy of $750,000 for an additional 10 years when it expires in 2013-14. Passage of ballot question #2 for the Capital Projects Levy is contingent on the successful passage of ballot question #1 for the Operating Levy. If the Operating Levy does not pass, the Capital Projects Levy will not pass even if it has enough votes. A Capital Projects Levy is a funding option provided by the State to allow school districts to maintain and update facilities and to replace instructional technology and textbooks. Funds raised by a Capital Project Levy can only be used for facilities, technology and textbooks. (Source: Northfield Public Schools)

Click Read More for voter resources.

On November 8, voters in the Northfield School District will be asked to vote on operating and capital projects levies to support the Northfield Public Schools.

High school students in the Mayor’s Youth Council (MYC) recognized that while there has been considerable community discussion about the levy, the voice and opinions of local youth have been largely absent from the conversation.  In the end, they noted, the outcome of the levy vote will have a significant impact on local young people.

The MYC is charged by the Northfield City Council with working to increase youth input into civic affairs.  As a result, the MYC educated themselves on the upcoming levy and spoke with high school students about the vote.  The MYC members did not advocate for one side, but instead only provided information about the levy costs and impact.

On Tuesday, November 1, at 7:00 p.m., the city council will hold a hearing in the Council Chambers to take public comment on proposed changes to the Northfield City Charter.  Subject also to state law, the charter is the city’s guiding constitution and establishes among other things, the form of government, council procedures, nominations and elections, initiative, referendum and recall, and administration. When it was established on March 11, 1910, the charter was intended to be flexible, allowing changes to be made following an approval process contained within the document.  Since 1910, it has been amended as the city has grown.

If you have questions on the proposed school levy referendum set for a vote on November 8th, come to the Hideaway on Monday, the 17th, starting at 7:00 p.m.

Dr. Richardson will be available to guide us through the rationale behind the School Board's decision to ask for a new 10-year levy from voters. The Northfield School District is one of 133 districts in the state that will be asking taxpayers for a levy increase this year.

The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Northfield & Cannon Falls invites the community to learn why League members across the country are taking a strong stand against "Voter ID laws." Join us at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Northfield on Sept. 29 at 7 pm to hear Sherri Knuth, Public Policy Coordinator and chief lobbyist for the League of Women Voters MN.

Topics explored will include:

• Why do so many consider this pending amendment to Minnesota’s constitution a significant reversal of what was won in the Voting Rights Act of 1964?
• Why do those who would be negatively affected include the elderly, college students, the handicapped, members of the military, and the poor?
• How prevalent is voter impersonation in MN? How common is it for ineligible voters to cast a ballot?
• What’s next after Governor Dayton’s veto?

The Rice County Chemical Health Coalition is looking for youth (ages 12 – 20) to become members of the Youth Advisory Board – YAB!

The Chemical Health Coalition is committed to preventing alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and abuse among Rice County youth.  In  order to keep doing this important work, we must have the influence and perspective of local young people.

Youth members will give input/ideas and will help complete projects and programs of the coalition.

Applications are due by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 20, 2011.

To access the application form, click HERE.

Dozens of park neighbors, along with members of Friends of Way Park, the Northfield City Council, and the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, celebrated the beginning of construction in the south half of the park at a ceremonial groundbreaking on August 30. Visit the Northfield.org photo gallery to see a dozen photos from the event, and learn more about the new developments in the park at waypark.blogspot.com.

This Week at the City Council

• The Council held a joint meeting with the Economic Development Authority - work plans were discussed but no decision was made regarding the future of the EDA.
• Councilwoman Nakasian, on behalf of the Save Our Post Office task force, circulated a memo with options for preserving the downtown post office.
• The future of Jefferson Road was discussed and a feasibility study approved - seven citizens commented, mostly in opposition to proposed improvements.
• Council approved grading and site work plans for Way Park.

These updates brought to you by the Observer Corps of the League of Women Voters of Northfield - Cannon Falls. For more on what we do, how you can join the League, and what's happening in your local government, visit our website.

At their May 2011 board meeting, the Northfield Healthy Community Initiative (HCI) Board approved mini-grants to support four projects and activities designed to benefit Northfield youth.  Funded applicants included:

• Nicholas Gonnerman for GPS Check-out.  Nicholas would like to have individual GPS units available to the community to check-out in order to explore Northfield in a fun way.  Nicholas was introduced to geocaching in his 8th grade geography class at Northfield Middle School and wants other kids to enjoy the activity.  His teacher, Mr. Sawyer is helping him with this project.  They are working with Northfield Public Schools Community Services to handle the “check-out” system for the GPS units.

This Week at the City Council

• The Council discussed the Save the Northfield Depot organization's response to questions posed by the council in April.
• The Public Safety Center Site Committee reported that five sites have been removed from consideration and two have been added.
• Consultant Tom Clough joined the council to discuss priorities for economic development for 2011 and 2012.
• Mary Rossing reported that letters from the council seeking postponement or rescission of the Post Office closure have gone out to the postal service and members of Congress.

This Week at the Northfield Hospital Board

• Dr. Tim McKone reported that the the Mayo Clinic Radiation Oncology Center project is on schedule - an open house is planned for July 27.
• Board members discussed recent Webinars on Accountable Care Organizations and Value Based Purchasing/Reimbursement.
• The hospital is implementing electronic medical orders for MDs - physician feedback was presented.
• The Board had a lengthy discussion on the recent loss of 2 physicians from the clinical system.

Monday is Memorial Day and there will be an observance at the Northfield Area Veterans Memorial Park, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The Northfield High School Band will open the proceedings, playing the Star Spangled Banner. Ken Grism is Master of Ceremonies, and Retired Army Major John Fleming will give the Memorial Address. 

In their ad in the Northfield News, the 2011 Memorial Day Committee said:  "In these uncertain times, we realize more than ever the vital importance of the men and women who serve in our country's military. On Memorial Day, we pay tribute to our fellow countrymen who died in wartime, fighting to preserve the freedoms we enjoy today."

The audience is urged to bring lawn chairs.

The Northfield Community Video project has launched nine “webisodes” featuring stories about the people, places and qualities that make Northfield a special community. Funded by a number of local organizations and businesses, the videos are intended to introduce Northfield to people in their 30s and 40s.

While the videos are intended to promote the community to people outside of Northfield, anyone may see the entire series on the City website.  The sponsoring organizations (see below) will also include links or embedded videos of some or all of the segments on their own websites. Northfielders are encouraged to promote the videos on Facebook pages and in news feeds.