Today’s news update | Rossing to join MN Mayors Board

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  Mayor Mary Rossing

  Northfield Mayor Mary Rossing is joining the Minnesota Mayors Association executive board. She says it’s an opportunity to let lawmakers know what cities need, especially when it comes to budgets and cuts to local government aid. Mayor Rossing’s term on the board will begin in January.

• The 2010-2011 budget was a topic of discussion at Tuesday’s city council meeting. Northfield Finance director Kathleen McBride says that as a result of cuts to local government aid $310,000 needs to be cut for 2010. Looking ahead to 2011, she calls it “foolhardy” to think Northfield would receive its allotted $2.9 million. She says it could likely be closer to $1.9 or $2 million. In the short term, city staff has reviewed and classified city services ranging from what is mandated to what is desirable. The council voted to support the direction of the city administrator in proposed short term expenditure reductions totaling more than $350,000. The reductions proposed include employee furloughs, the elimination of squad car replacement for 2010 and a possible 37.5 hour work week across all city departments. The council did discuss the possibility of bringing utility fees back to the budget discussion as a possible future revenue source. 
• The Northfield city council has granted preliminary approval to the Northfield youth baseball association’s baseball field expansion project at Sechler Park. The NYBA is proposing fund-raising and design work for the field additions. City administrator Joel Walinski says the NYBA would like to construct a mid-level field to accommodate increased activity. Walinski says moving forward, one of the key issue for the city will be future maintenance costs for the city. Final approval of construction will be contingent upon a review and recommendation by the Park and Recreation Advisory Board, review by city staff and development of agreement between the NYBA and Northfield addressing ownership of the facility and construction oversight management.