Thursday, October 11, 2018

Contact:    Tim Behrendt
Streets & Parks Manager
(507) 645-3027
 tim.behrendt@ci.northfield.mn.us

Northfield¾The Compost Site located at 1801 Armstrong Road will return to normal hours, Saturday, October 13, 2018.  The hours are as follows,  

Monday - Closed
Tuesday - Friday 2:00PM- 7:00PM (or sunset)
Saturday 8:00AM - 5:00PM (or sunset)
Sunday 12:00PM- 5:00PM (or sunset)

Storm damage debris pick up is complete.  Crews are out removing boulevard tree stumps, damaged boulevard trees and trimming broken boulevard tree branches.  This will continue for the next couple of weeks.

For more information, contact City Streets & Parks Manager Tim Behrendt at 507-645-3027 or tim.behrendt@ci.northfield.mn.us .

Northfield, MN - City Staff have been working with the National Weather Service (NWS) to evaluate the rainfall amounts and corresponding effect on river levels in the area.  Areas to the south of Northfield in the Straight and Cannon River watershed areas have received consistent rainfall in the previous 48 hours, and water levels in the Cannon River are expected to rise as the rains continue.  Rainfall is expected to continue over the next 48 hours.

NWS professionals have created the attached graph depicting potential rainfall and resulting possible Cannon River levels in Northfield.  NWS is still predicting the Cannon River to peak at approximately 898’ on Thursday, October 11, 2018.  The river level is expected to slowly fall after that time.  In Northfield, 897’ is considered flood stage.  If the river reaches that level, some Northfield properties and park areas along the river would be directly affected. 

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Contact:    Tim Behrendt
Streets & Parks Manager
(507) 645-3027
 tim.behrendt@ci.northfield.mn.us

Northfield- The Compost Site located at 1801 Armstrong Road will re-open tomorrow, Thursday, October 4, 2018.  The rodeo grounds (700 Hwy 3), an alternate compost site since the September storm, will be closed Thursday (October 4, 2018). 

For more information, contact City Streets & Parks Manager Tim Behrendt at 507-645-3027 or tim.behrendt@ci.northfield.mn.us .

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Compost/Debris Drop Off Open Weekdays and Weekends 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Due to the volume of trees being disposed of at the City Compost Site, the Site is full and now closed. The City opened Babcock Park Rodeo Grounds 700 Hwy. 3 South (by the Dog Park, north of Culvers) as the City drop off for tree debris, leaves, and grass clippings.  Follow this link to the full press release with map.  https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/7029/Compost-Site---PressRelease-1---092818

Check the City of Northfield website for updates https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/. Please contact Public Works at 507-645-3045 between 7 A.M and 4 P.M. with any questions or leave a message after hours.

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT David E. Bennett, Public Works Director

PRESS RELEASE – UPDATE

September 26, 2018

Property Damage Assessment

This week, the City will perform an initial assessment of private property structural damage in Northfield, specifically, damage to homes.  The assessment will only include location and general category of damage, not specific dollar values of the damage.

In order to perform the assessment efficiently, the City will use two methods of reporting.

NORTHFIELD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT David E. Bennett, Public Works Director

September 26, 2018

PRESS RELEASE - UPDATE

Requests for Assistance and Volunteering

The amount of tree damage across the City is extensive and there may still be many property owners still working to clear trees on their property.  Northfield Shares and Rice County have many resources available to all county and city residents regardless of income or status.

The individuals and groups offering assistance are eager to help; please do not hesitate to request assistance.  Also, please check with neighbors and reach out to those you know to make sure storm recovery needs are being addressed.

Northfield Shares

Scottish businessman Andrew Carnegie made a fortune in the steel industry and became a philanthropist later in life, donating money to build a total of 2,509 libaries, built between 1883 - 1929 in the United States.  Northfield Public Library, built in 1910, is a Carnegie Library.  Carnegie funded the buildings, but money was needed to purchase books for libraries. The public libraries in the midwest would never had thrived in the early 20th century if the women in small towns and remote communities had not fundraised, by sponsoring waffle suppers, mintrel shows and women's baseball games.  With the money earned, they provided money for books.   Tilghman writes about the beginning of the Carnegie Libraries and fundraising for books in her novel To the Stars Through Difficulties.  Come and listen to the author read from her novel and talk about the history of Carnegie Libraries on Monday, October 15, at 7:00 pm

 NORTHFIELD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT David E. Bennett, Public Works Director

PRESS RELEASE - UPDATE

Disaster Cleanup  

September 23, 2018

Dear Members of the Northfield Community,

Due to the volume of trees being disposed at the City Compost Site, the City will open Babcock Park Rodeo Grounds 700 Hwy. 3 South (by the Dog Park, north of Culvers) on Tuesday, September 25 at 8:00 a.m.

The City is currently focusing its effort in the southeast portion of the City where the most damage occurred.  Click this link to see the progress of clearing trees.  The map will be updated daily.  https://bit.ly/2xFCVcW

Organized Cleanup from Private Property

Northfield Reads is focusing on race for the academic year, and the community will be reading A Good Time for the Truth; Race in Minnesota, a collection of essays by writers of color in Minnnesota.  The first Northfield Reads event for this year will be on Thursday, September 27, 7:00 at the First UCC. 
A panel of Northfield residents from the global majority will discuss what it was like moving to Northfield with different skin color and perhaps a different accent.  How were they treated by other Northfielders?    What were the difficulties?  What went well?  What would have helped?  All members of the Northfield community are invited.  Reading the book is not a requirement for attending Northfield Reads events.  Content bookstore will sell books at the event.  Copies are are also available at the Northfield Public Library.

Northfield Reads is focusing on race for the academic year, and the community will be reading A Good Time for the Truth; Race in Minnesota, a collection of essays by writers of color in Minnnesota.  The first Northfield Reads event for this year will be on Thursday, September 27, 7:00 at the First UCC. 
A panel of Northfield residents from the global majority will discuss what it was like moving to Northfield with different skin color and perhaps a different accent.  How were they treated by other Northfielders?    What were the difficulties?  What went well?  What would have helped?  All members of the Northfield community are invited.  Reading the book is not a requirement for attending Northfield Reads events.  Content bookstore will sell books at the event.  Copies are are also available at the Northfield Public Library.

 NORTHFIELD PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT David E. Bennett, Public Works Director

PRESS RELEASE - UPDATE

Disaster Cleanup  

September 21, 2018

September 20, 2018

Northfield MN -  The City of Northfield crews are cleaning up debris after this evening's storm.  

Call (507) 645-3045 for non-emergency issues.

Your safety is our concern.  For everyone's safety and so first responders can do their job, we are asking the public please do not travel to storm damaged areas.  Only call 911 if it is an emergency so that the line may remain open for those in need.  Law enforcement and emergency responders are out assisting as needed.

Power outages are reported.

No injuries.

We will continue to keep you updated as we assess the damages.

Thank you

Who are these Northfielders? I heard over the weekend that Dan Buettner is coming to Northfield for a free presentation next Monday, courtesy of Northfield Shares, our local community foundation. (Event\tickets page here.)

No, Dan is not going to talk about his world record-setting bike expeditions in the 80s & 90s. He's now all about Blue Zones and what communities can do to help their citizens live happier and longer.