Government

At the League of Women Voters’ “What’s Up?” gathering on Monday, Mark Henke, President and CEO of the Northfield Hospital, said that “this is the best job I’ve ever had”.  Speaking and answering questions for almost 2 hours to at the Hideaway Coffeehouse and Wine Bar, Henke explained the reason for his job satisfaction.

Every year, over 100 citizen members provide valuable leadership to the City through their participation on groups and special study committees, where they participate in advisory, regulatory, governance and oversight activities in a wide variety of fields. Service on a city advisory group broadens the involvement of citizens and draws from the expertise and energy of people willing to commit their time and thought to forming city policies and programs.

At the end of December, the terms of several members of the City’s boards, commissions and committees will expire. Mayor Mary Rossing and the City Council are seeking applicants to fill open positions on these important groups. To learn more about the work of each of the boards and commissions and to find an application form go to: http://ci.northfield.mn.us/government/boards.

Mark Henke, President and CEO of the Northfield Hospital will be the guest of the League of Women Voters of Northfield & Cannon Falls' "What's Up in the Community?" gathering from 7-9 p.m. on Monday, November 15th. League President Teena Keiser said the League invites the community to come to the Hideaway at 421 Division Street to meet and talk with Mr. Henke. Henke will share his vision and plans for the Northfield Hospital and its future, including future growth, budgeting issues, how health care reform will impact the hospital and its patients, and the role of the hospital in the community.

Election results from the Minnesota Secretary of State's office.

• Northfield City Council
• Northfield School Board
• State House District 25B
• State Senate District 25
• Rice County Commissioner District 2
• Rice County Sheriff

Election results from the Northfield News.

Election results from the City of Northfield.

State election coverage from Minnesota Public Radio.

Kid's Voting results (see attachment).

This week at the Hospital Board:

• Board in negotiations to purchase Village School property
• Free care in September was 0.2% of net revenue; discounts to those without insurance were 2.7% of net revenue

This week at the City Council:

• Carleton Parking and the Land Development Code
• Downtown streetscape recommendations
• Special revenue funds in the 2011 budget bring discussion of library’s role and future

This week at the School Board:

• Board votes down proposal to share facilities with YMCA
• High school receives Energy Star award
• Girls’ soccer team receives Healthy Communities Initiative Award

The Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) will host Interim City Administrator Tim Madigan at its November Downtown Forum on Tuesday, November 2nd, beginning at 8 a.m., in the Riverview Conference Room (lower level) of the historic Archer House River Inn, 212 Division Street.

Madigan, who replaced the departing Joel Walinski on September 3rd, has decades of experience in city administration, including cities with historic downtowns such as Excelsior, Waseca, and Faribault. In a meeting with the NDDC Board of directors last month, Madigan said that a city’s downtown can be the key driver behind the overall economic success of a community.

Northfield.org's Election 2010 page. Candidate bios, statements, and answers to questions posed by the League of Women Voters.

Also make sure to visit the Northfield News election page. Read candidate Q and As, endorsements, and other election related articles, and find sample ballots. 

Other Local Election Coverage and Resources

• KYMN archived video of the October 18, 2010 League of Women Voters' candidate forum.  
• KYMN Live Video Stream of the League of Women Voters' candidate forum (Saturday, October 23, 9:30 am). Live from City Hall.  
• Minnesota League of Women Voters' Voter Information page.
• Voter Information page from the Minnesota Secretary of State office.
• Don't know where to vote? Use Polling Place Finder.
• Northfield Rotary is also sponsoring Kids Voting at polling places from 6:30 a.m to 8:00 a.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day.

Looking for more information about local candidates? Not sure where they stand on the issues?

Northfield.org has collaborated with the League of Women Voters of Northfield and Cannon Falls to provide what we hope will be useful information as citizens prepare to vote on November 2, 2010. 

We solicited questions to be asked of candidates for the Northfield City Council and School Board and the Rice County Sheriff and County Commissioner District 2 (which encompasses much of the west side of Northfield and all of Dundas).

In addition to responses to questions, we also asked candidates to include any personal information they chose to share, to explain why they were running for office, and to tell what experience and insights they bring to their candidacy.

The League of Women Voters Northfield - Cannon Falls is now offering a weekly digest of highlights from the reports published by our diligent Observer Corps. Click through to read the full reports on our website. Here's what happened in local government this week:

At the School Board:

• Board unanimously approved changes to bus policy, eliminating option for students to be dropped off somewhere other than their home
• Community Services budget revised with less revenue and higher expenses than expected

At the County Board:

• Immunization Practices Improvement
• Library Services Contract
• Faribo Sno-Go Club
• Promotional Video Project

At the City Council:

• Council discusses Economic Development Authority goals
• Interim Administrator offers observations on the city budget

On Monday, October 18, at 7:00 p.m. Northfield City Hall, there will be a candidate forum for the public to hear Northfield School Board and City Council candidates.  They will respond to prepared questions and those from the audience. On Saturday, October 23, at 9:30 a.m., candidates for Minnesota Senate District 25 and House District 25B as well as candidates for Rice County Sheriff and County Commissioner District 2 are scheduled to appear, also at City Hall.  Both of these events will be taped for viewing on NTV.

The third forum, at which Dundas City Council and Mayoral candidates will appear, is scheduled for Wednesday, October 20, 7:00 p.m. in the Rejoyce! Church in Dundas. This event is cosponsored with the Dundas Business and Professional Group.

To submit questions for any of the candidates for the forums, contact mwalters@integra.net.

Because of utility work required for the new Mayo Clinic Radiation Oncology Center, patients and visitors will not be able to access Northfield Hospital and its on-campus clinics from Cedar Avenue Tuesday, Oct. 12 through Friday, Oct. 15.

Traffic will be detoured to allow access to the hospital campus from the west. This will require patients and visitors to travel on Highway 19 to Eaves Avenue, north to North Ave and then east to the hospital entrance.

Hospital signs will be repositioned to direct drivers on the four-mile detour. Please call the hospital at 507-646-1000, if you need assistance.

It’s not news that Minnesota’s cities and counties are under pressure to make ends meet. Meanwhile, assistance from the state is melting like snow on a 60-degree day. How will Northfield keep its lights on and its police patrolling? How can we keep our city bright within a tight budget?

The League of Women Voters Northfield-Cannon Falls tackles this thorny subject at its first meeting of the fall on Thursday, September 30, at the First UCC Northfield church, on the corner of Union and Third. The program will start at 7:00 pm, with a social period beforehand starting at 6:30.

Presenters include Kathleen McBride, Finance Director, City of Northfield, Debby McNeil, Minnesota LWV Action Committee member who covers state financing, and Laura Wang, Legislative Coordinator for Minnesota LWV.

Eligible voters who will be unable to go their polling place on Election Day may vote by absentee ballot. Absentee ballots are available during the 46 days prior to the election, from September 17 through November 1. Voters can request that an absentee ballot be mailed to them or they may vote in person at one of the locations listed in the information on the web site. Northfield’s City Clerk Deb Little has posted information about absentee voting on the city’s web site (http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/a/ABSENTEE-VOTING-GENERAL.pdf )  Additional information regarding absentee voting, as well as application forms, can be found at Minnesota Office of the Secretary of State or by contacting Deb Little at 507-645-3001 or via e- mail at deb.little@ci.northfield.mn.us .

The City Economic Development Authority (EDA) is holding a public open house on Thursday, September 23 from 6:00-8:30 p.m. at the Community Resource Bank, 1605 Heritage Drive, to present, review and receive public comments on drafts of the two business and industrial park master plans for the approximately 530 recently annexed acres northwest of the city and for an area in Bridgewater Township which has not been annexed, but about which the city and township have had discussions. The public is encouraged to attend the open house and provide input to city officials and the planning team.

The EDA has been working on the master planning process supporting recommendations stated in the 2006 Comprehensive Economic Development Plan. The City is committed to developing business park plans that will be embraced by the larger community.

The city’s Arts and Culture Commission seeks nominees for the annual Northfield Living Treasure Award which honors individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to arts and culture in the community. The recipient may be a practitioner in the arts or of cultural endeavors or be a supporter of and advocate for the arts and or culture. The award is one of recognition and has no financial value. It is also sponsored by the Northfield News.

The Arts and Culture Commission was created in 2007 as a result of recommendations made by Arts Plan 06, a community arts and cultural planning process, which assessed the strengths and weaknesses of current arts and cultural realities along with citizens' aspirations for the future. The ArtsPlan06 process was initiated by the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation and funded by the City.